Don't Miss Out / Ephesians 1:15-23

Hello! My name is Zachary Ginn. I am the Pastor of Students and Young Adults at Ironbridge Church near Richmond. I’d like to thank Monty and Lauren for the invitation to be with ya’ll this evening.

Let me give you some encouragement: you are so close to summer! Raise your hand if you love Summer. Raise your hand if you love winter (weirdo’s). I love summer! Growing up my dad would take me on Canoe trips. We would canoe down a river all day, pitch a tent on the bank for the night, and wake up and repeat. It was awesome! Each year I got to bring one friend along for the ride.

Typically, my friends didn’t know how to canoe so we’d put them in between me in the front and my dad in the back. As I rode in the front, I was the canoe’s eyes! I would give direction: rock! snake. rapids! With my dad in the back, he was the canoes power. Together, we were unstoppable and my friend was in good hands.

But imagine if my friend, said to me in the front I don’t need your direction you can go to sleep. Imagine him saying to my dad, I don’t need your power you can go to sleep. While he sits in the middle without even having a paddle or training.

At first, we’d simply drift, spin around, and hit a couple of branches. But once we meet some rapids, we’d be in trouble.

What advice would you have for this friend in the middle of the boat? You need direction! You need power! You’re missing out.

It’s sad to me that Christian teenagers are worried about missing out on evenings with friends, while not caring that they are missing out on a deeper connection with God.

In Ephesians chapter 1, Paul prays for believers to fully enjoy their relationship with God. Here are four things God doesn’t want you to miss.

1. Don’t Miss Experiencing Jesus

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened,

Christians typically pray for people who’s lives are a mess. In this passage, Paul prays for people who are doing well. They trust Jesus. They are close friends with other Christians. But though they are Christians, they are still missing out on a deeper experience of Jesus.

One of my side-hustles a few years ago was being a barista. On the job, I learned a lot about coffee. The coffee bean is a seed from a fruit that looks similar to a cherry. The outer layer is removed by drying in the sun or being washed with water. Then those green looking seeds have to be heated in a way that draws out the flavors, that wake us out of bed.

It’s fun to have this knowledge, but it’s much better to have the experience of tasting. In documentaries I’ve watched on coffee, there have been farmers who’s sole job is coffee beans, but they’ve never tasted coffee. They’re missing out.

The same can be true of our relationship with Jesus. If I were to give you a test about him, you’d pass. But do you love him? Do you talk to him? Is he real to you?

Words in this verse like spirit, revelation, and enlightenment seem mystical. Like you can get know God better by crossing your legs alone on top of a mountain. Hmm. But Paul desires for their experience to be practical, gritty, and real.

You can get to know about a stranger by scrolling their instagram. But to experience a person you must listen to them and talk to them.

So if you want to experience God more, here is what you should do. When you wake up tomorrow, instead of immediately taping on your go-to social media app. Turn the Bible app on audio as you’re getting ready for the day. Listen to God through his word. Respond to him though prayer.

As you spend more time with him, the eyes of your heart will begin to see clearly.

The Bible talks a lot about the heart. When it refers to the heart, it’s not only talking about emotions. It is referring to the whole inner person. Your will, your feelings, and your thoughts. Your heart is your core.

Similar to how your body has eyes to see direction and enjoy beauty. Your heart has metaphorical eyes. Your heart wants to know who to trust. What to do. How to love.

Paul uncovers that all of these desires are fulfilled when our hearts are opened to enjoy a clear vision of who Jesus is.

Your heart will not become whole by looking at a girl, a boy, or even yourself. Your heart will only become whole by seeing Jesus. And it is the Holy Spirit who reveals Jesus to us most clearly and vividly.

And as you experience Jesus through his word, instead of seeing him in 2-D black and white, you’ll begin to experience him in 3-D color.

2. Don’t Miss Spiritual Wealth

that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

We often use ‘hope’ as a synonym for wishful thinking. Like, we hope the Tennessee Volunteers will beat Alabama again on day…

This is not how the bible uses the word hope. The Bible links hope with assurance for the future. We do not hope that Jesus will be true to his promises. We have hope, because Jesus has already secured his promises.

In this passage, Paul does not pray for these Christians to get something new. He prays for them to grasp what they already have.

"William Randolph Hearst, who invested a fortune collecting art treasures from around the world. One day Mr. Hearst found a description of some valuable items that he felt he must own, so he sent his agent abroad to find them. After months of searching, the agent reported that he had finally found the treasures. They were in Mr. Hearst’s warehouse. Hearst had been searching frantically for treasures he already owned! Had he read the catalog of his treasures, he would have saved himself a great deal of money and trouble." Warren W. Wiersbe

We are just like William hurst. We are searching the world to give us pleasure, when infinite satisfaction is offered to us. C.S. Lewis put it like this, “our desires (are) not too strong, but too weak.”

If you’re addicted to social media, your desires aren’t strong enough.

If you want more popularity, your desires aren’t strong enough.

If you can’t stop doing, _______. Your desires aren’t strong enough.

Your content spending your evenings staring at a black box, when you could be enjoying the adventure of life with God. The life of freedom, joy, peace, and relational connection.

But you may think, “that doesn’t seem fun.” “Sure I have heavenly riches, but heavenly riches aren’t going to help me get a car, more friends, or a college scholarship.”

What do you want from all of those good pursuits? You want things like knowledge, security, friendship, and ultimately; love. All of those (and more) are offered to you through the gospel.

Look at the verse again. what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. You are God’s inheritance. He treasures you. And God is your inheritance. He has given himself to you by giving you life and filling you with his Spirit.

You have everything you need! You just need to start enjoying these riches.

Enjoy forgiveness. Enjoy peace. Enjoy God. Don’t settle for anything less.

3. Don’t Miss Available Energy

19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet

What do you think Jesus looked like? It may be tempting to picture him with long flowy hair holding up a peace sign. This is not the image Paul gives us here. In ancient cultures, victorious kings would stand on the necks of their foes to display their power. All things are under Jesus’ authority. Eugene Peterson put it like this, "God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule."

Ancient Ephesus was a wealthy city, so they could afford to build lavish temples for their idols and false gods. The occult and magic practices were popular in their city. Paul reminds these Christians that they do not need to be overcome by the darkness. Because the light in them is brighter than the darkness that surrounds them.

The power in you is stronger than the darkness that seeks to overwhelm you.

But you may think, “I don’t feel powerful. Why am I still struggling with the same things that I struggled with last year?”

Picture a cell phone charger. It can be in the same room as the outlet, but not charge your phone. It can be close to the outlet, but not charge your phone. To charge your phone, you need to plug-in.

Faith plugs us into God’s power. His power is available to the believer. But we must plug-in.

Next time your mouth is tempted to gossip. Remember, God filled Jesus mouth with air after three days of being dead. He can keep your tongue from gossiping.

Next time your eyes are tempted to lust. Think, Jesus’ eyes were closed for three days. God opened them after Jesus was dead. He can give me power to look away.

God’s energy is available to you. Plug-in through faith.

4. Don’t Miss Meaningful Belonging

and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

If you’ve ever had a concussion, you know that it can temporarily hinder your body’s ability to function properly. The Bible describes Jesus as the leader of the church as the head is the guide of the body. The body relies on the head for vision, food, and direction. We are fully reliant on him. And amazingly, he chooses to use us.

Right now, Jesus is in heaven and yet he is bringing healing to people in Franklin, TN. He is sharing the gospel to believers in Peru. He is building shelter for the needy in the city. How?

Through me and you. His body.

It may be tempting to think that trust in Jesus is mandatory. While, belonging to a Church is optional. But this thinking will lead you to loneliness and purposelessness.

If I lost my wedding ring, it wouldn’t affect my bodies ability to function. But if I lost my hand, we’d have bigger problems.

Not only do you need to be connected to other Christians. But other Christians, need to be connected to you. Through our collective effort we fulfill God’s plans for healing the world.

Don’t miss meaningful belonging. Make FSM a priority in your life.

If you are a Christian, God is in your “canoe.” But some of you are drifting around in circles. Every current and tide of the culture is floating your boat toward rocks. You are missing out on the direction and power that is available to you.

Don’t miss out. Have faith in God. Ask him for direction and power and he will provide.