Assured in our moments of trial

Welcome-Good morning! We are so glad that you are here to worship with us this morning. Some of you know who I am, but for those of you who don’t, I’m CH Hamlin. I serve as the worship coordinator here at Chapel Next and I am a Battalion Chaplain in 3 Brigade 1-12 Cavalry BN.

Last week we finished our series on ‘We are the Church’ and this week we are kicking of a 10 week series in the book of Ephesians. As we begin this series, we intentionally wanted to spend more time in this book draw out this letter for us. I know many of you like Texas BBQ and the key to good BBQ meat is low and slow. Keeping the meat in the chamber for a longer time to allow the smoke to seep into the meat and truthfully that is our intent with taking 10 weeks in this book. We want to spend time to sit in Ephesians and allow the Holy Spirit to seep into us what the Lord want us to understand and know.

Intro-As we begin this series today we are going to look at Ephesians CH 1: 1-14. As you are turning their and looking at it on the slides, let set up some context and background of this passage.

Background- Ephesians was written by the apostle Paul while he was in prison to the churches of the city of Ephesus in Asia Minor now modern day Turkey. We know if you look at the book of Acts in CH 19, Paul spent two years here on his missionary journey preaching daily their. Many scholars believe that this letter is one of the most profound works of Paul. In this letter to the Church we can look at is almost like a “how to guide” for Christians to thrive in a hostile, competitive environment.

Chapters 1-3 are a basic outline for believers on the foundation of salvation and writes out what I would call some perishable beliefs for Christians to remember. I remember when I came onto active duty my first assignment was at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri as a TRADOC chaplain. I remember my first day in the office and I asked the BN XO where do we keep our Humvee and Radio. He looked at me and pointed to my office and said, “Chap, you get a laptop, that’s it.” For two years I went without having to do FM radio checks and Humvee. I come here and the first week I was thrown into Motor Pool Monday and I forgot all I had to know about the radio. It’s a perishable skill. As a believer it’s easy to forget some basic beliefs of the faith so if you feel rusty in what you believe, Ephesians 1-3 is a great resource to remind you and update you on what we believe. The last chapters of Ephesians Paul shifts his approach to encouraging the Church about being a unified group of people. Why is that? This church was made up of both Jews and Gentiles and Paul reminds them that their unity is rooted in Christ and the work of God. I know for us this seems not a big deal, but if we can put this into context of modern day, it would be like if a principle were to write to a school about maintaining unity during the civil rights and desegregation. That was a tense time incorporating black and white kids in schools. Before the church began, Jews and Gentiles didn’t worship together in the same place. This is a radically new way and Paul encourages them to keep the unity during midst of diversity and that this unity is found in Jesus.

A little bit about Ephesus, it was a port city in Asia Minor and the third biggest city in the Roman Empire. This was a growing, thriving city with all sorts of merchants, trades, and commerce coming in. It’s almost like Austin. I see sometime on facebook a page called Austin memories and it compares pictures of Austin Tx now to Austin Tx 20 years ago and the difference is staggering the growth of the city is huge. If you haven’t been down their you can feel it on the roads, the city is growing so big the roads can’t handle it. Ephesus was like this in this moment. Its growing, its thriving and it was home to one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. The Temple of Artemis. With this boom and prosperous trade as a port city, people with all different kinds of religion, philosophies, and beliefs flooded the city. This was a contested city with diverse beliefs and religions and Christians were still viewed in hostile eyes and the church faced immense adversity.

Pauls letter knowing this city being their for over two years, is one to help them before he faces his death. Diving in, lets go ahead and open this letter as we hear what God has to say to us.

BOOK

Background- Ephesians was written by the apostle Paul while he was in prison to the churches of the city of Ephesus in Asia Minor now modern day Turkey. We know if you look at the book of Acts in CH 19, Paul spent two years here on his missionary journey preaching daily their. Many scholars believe that this letter is one of the most profound works of Paul. In this letter to the Church we can look at is almost like a “how to guide” for Christians to thrive in a hostile, competitive environment.

Chapters 1-3 are a basic outline for believers on the foundation of salvation and writes out what I would call some perishable beliefs for Christians to remember. I remember when I came onto active duty my first assignment was at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri as a TRADOC chaplain. I remember my first day in the office and I asked the BN XO where do we keep our Humvee and Radio. He looked at me and pointed to my office and said, “Chap, you get a laptop, that’s it.” For two years I went without having to do FM radio checks and Humvee. I come here and the first week I was thrown into Motor Pool Monday and I forgot all I had to know about the radio. It’s a perishable skill. As a believer it’s easy to forget some basic beliefs of the faith so if you feel rusty in what you believe, Ephesians 1-3 is a great resource to remind you and update you on what we believe. The last chapters of Ephesians Paul shifts his approach to encouraging the Church about being a unified group of people. Why is that? This church was made up of both Jews and Gentiles and Paul reminds them that their unity is rooted in Christ and the work of God. I know for us this seems not a big deal, but if we can put this into context of modern day, it would be like if a principle were to write to a school about maintaining unity during the civil rights and desegregation. That was a tense time incorporating black and white kids in schools. Before the church began, Jews and Gentiles didn’t worship together in the same place. This is a radically new way and Paul encourages them to keep the unity during midst of diversity and that this unity is found in Jesus.

A little bit about Ephesus, it was a port city in Asia Minor and the third biggest city in the Roman Empire. This was a growing, thriving city with all sorts of merchants, trades, and commerce coming in. It’s almost like Austin. I see sometime on facebook a page called Austin memories and it compares pictures of Austin Tx now to Austin Tx 20 years ago and the difference is staggering the growth of the city is huge. If you haven’t been down their you can feel it on the roads, the city is growing so big the roads can’t handle it. Ephesus was like this in this moment. Its growing, its thriving and it was home to one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. The Temple of Artemis. With this boom and prosperous trade as a port city, people with all different kinds of religion, philosophies, and beliefs flooded the city. This was a contested city with diverse beliefs and religions and Christians were still viewed in hostile eyes and the church faced immense adversity.

Pauls letter knowing this city being their for over two years, is one to help them before he faces his death. Diving in, lets go ahead and open this letter as we hear what God has to say to us.

Text-

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. 1

Context-

As Paul begins this letter, scholars believe he is borrowing from a Jewish tradition of Hymn writing. In the original manuscript vs. 1-14 is one long sentence, but as we unpack there are somethings that stand out to me.

LOOK

Tension-

Thinking about the world of Ephesus just stop and imagine yourself in the market of this bustling city that is experiencing a clash of cultures, foods, clothing, religions and beliefs. Just sit in that as a Christian knowing the one true God and having to engage in daily life.

Even though we don’t live on a port, I still think we can feel this sense of overwhelmingness that I can imagine the church felt because we have in our pocket a port that can access the world in a moments notice. If I want to know how to cook a traditional Korean dish I can pull out my phone. If I want to watch a you tuber talk about spiritual manifestation (Yes, that is a thing) I have a port right in my face. I know I’m not the only one that has gotten sucked into this thing and followed a rabbit hole and can distract me from what I need to focus on. When I get anxious, scared, worried, I find myself going for this (phone) over this (Bible). I can only imagine that the Ephesian church had the same difficulty as we do having all of this right in their face on the day to day life. What is encouraging is that Paul lays this foundation for us to remember that is important twelve times Paul uses the phrase “in Christ”. In christ we are chosen, predestined, redeemed, adopted, given generously to. Paul draws us back look before we get into the fundamentals of the faith if you don’t first understand this stop looking at the worldview around stop seeing what is coming into the port and go back that all of what we need is found in Christ. Man this can be an encouragement to me because I do find myself scrolling on youtube trying to find answers to struggles and Paul says, no you don’t have to. In Christ is all we have right here.

I know that as believers we can get held up discussing some of these words he uses “predestination” or “chosen” but scripture reminds us in Duet. 29:29- 29 “The secret things belong to the Lordour God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. 2

What this means is that there are somethings God will understand and know and there are things we are revealed we just have to trust what the bible says and what Pauls says here is that, look it was determined before time God would chose us.

How we interpret that doesn’t matter as much as we don’t lose sight that God chose to put you on his team before you were born. Just think that for a moment. Before all your victories, defeats, first and final breath God said I have plan before the beginning of time and I chose you to be adopted.

What qualified for that was nothing that I bring to the table. It wasn’t as if I did some miraculous thing and now God was like, okay your on the team.

When I was growing up my parents made sure my sister and I were in church every Sunday. Look, even on vacation we went to church and we had a letter from that church confirming our roll their so we can give to our home church. I had tabs for perfect attendance for four to five years in a row. It wasn’t like okay that qualifies, no, no, no, what Paul says in vs. 4 is “in love he predestined” that is the good the bad the ugly of my life, God loved me and wanted me still. Church, how freeing that is to know. God wanted me, all of me, as part of his church and one of the biggest lies the enemy says is that he doesn’t. You don’t deserve or your unworthy. Reality is, thats true. It is true, but again this is a mystery we just have to accept that despite who or what we’ve done, God said I want you before you were born.

As we become adopted heirs we are automatically given certain things check this out Paul says it was determined for you to have grace vs 6, redemption vs 7, lavishing his grace vs 8, revealed knowledge vs 9, we are sealed with salvation vs 13, given the holy spirit vs 14.

As I read all these things I get convicted. I’ve had these battles in my own spiritual life where I go through a hard season or life doesn’t go my way and I begin to complain to God asking, “God where were you?” or, “God, where are you?” This passage humbles me because before I begin questioning God I should think of all the things he’s done, look Kyle, before you were born, I was at work for your salvation and your inheritance, who am I to think God doesn’t care? I don’t maybe you are going through a questioning season or have gone through or more likely than not, will go through and Paul starts off listing all that God is, has and will do for you.

If nothing else what this passage can leave us with is that regardless of my obedience, regardless of when I fail. More importantly regardless of when the world changes. Think about how much has changed and is accepted in our society now. Their are things that are accepted and tolerable now that less than twenty years ago was not and things that are accepted are now being considered unaccepted but this passage draws us to the point that

GTT

God is unchanging in a changing world.

TOOK

As we wrap up here are a couple of things that we can learn from this passage

1-

Be assured. God hasn’t changed and will not change how he thinks of you despite what you do. God will always be faithful to you despite what you do. Paul’s intro brings this source of assurance in Christ.

2-

Know we have hope. Since God doesn’t change and all this attributes listed, redemption, grace, inheritance, salvation, our lives can look like a stain glass window. Go to one of our chapels on post and look at the windows. What this tells us is that in all things in my brokenness of life all my failures, God is taking the pieces mending it together so that His light can shine through in my life. This is the hope we have that God will bring about because he doesn’t change.

3-

Lastly this text calls to boldness. I know I can get in front of myself and think it’s all up to me to tell people about the gospel, but the truth is, God is already present where I am at and he will be present when I leave and where I leave to go to He is already there. This reframe truly frees me up to think why am I worried. This passage should boldness us to ask God where can I join in in what you are already doing wherever we are. If you don’t think He’s not their, just remember God knows and is everywhere with his plan.

Takeaway/Challenge-

My challenge for you this week as the band comes up to play and we get prepared to do the lord’s supper, is like the Ephesians being reminded our hope, assurance, and salvation belongs in Christ, where do you need to de-port and reach in with God? Are you influenced in your life by something other than Christ? Are you following God as a father, mother, Soldier, Husband, Spouse, friend? Unplug from the influences of this world and join in where God is.

Lets pray-

LORDS SUPPER

At this time the band will play softly and those that are supporting the lord supper can come up. We invite everyone here who is a believer to partake in this sacrament. When you get your cup and bread have a seat at your pew and we will conduct the Lord’s Supper together. Please come and join us.

Paul writes in Corinthians this.

1 Corinthians 11: 23-26 says this.

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 3

Pray and Benediction.

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eph 1:1–14.

2 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Dt 29:29.

3 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Co 11:23–26.