Blessing the Blesser

👋 Introduction: Creation’s Testimony

I JUST LOVE BEING OUTSIDE

🌌 David: Psalm 19:1

Psalm 19:1 (ESV)

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Paul: INVISIBLE ATTRIBUTES ((ETERNAL POWER, DIVINE NATURE))—SEEN in the THINGS that are MADE

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CREATION CAUSES ME to MARVEL

FROM the BIGGEST to SMALLEST THINGS...

✨ Focus: SCRIPTURE PRESENTS: SOVEREIGN CREATOR && GRACIOUS REDEEMER!

TWIN TRUTHS in TODAY’S PASSAGE

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Transition: LOOKING @ EPH. CH. 1:1-14 TODAY—

SERIES— 4 SERMONS

TODAY— 30,000 FT VIEW… OVERVIEW/ 4 REASONS for PRAISING GOD

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✝️ Main Text: Ephesians 1:1–14

Ephesians 1:1–14 (ESV)

1 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.

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.

This is God’s Word for us this morning.

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Background/Setting

LETTER WRITTEN BY PAUL

to CHURCH (EPHESUS)

Ephesus:

THIRD-LARGEST CITY in ROMAN EMPIRE

LEADING CITY of RICHEST REGION

PLAGUED W/ PAGANISM, WORSHIP of IDOLS

OCCULT/MAGIC PRACTICES

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Transition: PAUL OPENS— W/ GREAT PRAISE to GOD

REMINDING BELIEVERS in EPHESUS of THEIR SECURITY

Overview, today’s text:

CALL to PRAISE

4 REASONS

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Transition: FIRST—THE CALL (V3)

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1️⃣ In Him — We Are Chosen (v3–6) 🧡

🔹 Verse 3:

Ephesians 1:3 (ESV)

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,

CALL to PRAISE— BLESS GOD!

SPECIFICALLY: BLESS—the BLESSER—OF EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING!

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Transition: PAUL WILL BEGIN to UNFOLD “SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS” (V4-14)

FIRST— GOD CHOSE US in CHRIST

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 4

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Ephesians 1:4–6 (ESV)

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

FIRST BLESSING— WE = CHOSEN in CHRIST

IN CHRIST—GOD CHOSE to SAVE THOSE THAT BELIEVE

Focus: THIS OCCURRED B4 FOUNDATION of WORLD! (V4)🌍

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I LOVE OUTDOORS—DRAWN to WORSHIP

B4 CREATION—WE WERE on the MIND of GOD!!🤯

B4 WE WERE a THOUGHT in MOM & DAD’S MINDS— PERHAPS WE WEREN’T…

… WE WERE a THOUGHT in GOD’S!

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Theology Focus: CONFUSING to TALK ABOUT TIME W/ GOD

GOD = OUTSIDE of TIME

Reference: Norman Geisler: GOD SEES EVERYTHING in ONE ETERNAL NOW...

Ill.: MAN VIEWING TRAIN on HILL

ALPHA & OMEGA—BEGINNING & END.

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✨OUR PERSPECTIVE— CREATION WASN’T BEGUN— GOD HAD PURPOSED REDEMPTION.

Exhort:

B4 GARDEN PLANTED in EDEN

B4 TREE PLANTED THERE

B4 MAN = CREATED

B4 MAN TRANSGRESSED

B4 WE WERE SINNERS—GOD APPOINTED a SAVIOR!!🤯

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Transition: PAUL WILL CONTINUE—

— PRESS the POINT of GOD’S SOVEREIGN CHOICE to REDEEM

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Ephesians 1:5-6

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.

GOD CHOSE US for ADOPTION!

Adoption Background— 1ST CENTURY ROME:

Background, Quote: Under Roman law, an adopted child acquired all of the legal rights of a natural born child and lost all rights held in his former family.”[1]

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Exhort: SPECIAL LOVE in ADOPTION....

MAKE a BABY—KEEP YOUR BABY

BUT ADOPTION—YOU CHOOSE a CHILD YOU WEREN’T OBLIGATED TO…

APART from CHRIST— WE WERE NOTHING—

— YET OUT of GOD’S GREAT LOVE—HE CHOSE to ADOPT SINFUL HUMANS INTO HIS FAMILY!!🤯

=> ACCORDING to PURPOSE of HIS WILL...

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Tension: CONCEPT of PREDESTINATION = HIGHLY CONTENTIOUS

BALANCING DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY & HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY = SPECIAL INTEREST of MINE

SO HARD to HOLD TOGETHER

I DON’T KNOW HOW IT ALL WORKS—BUT I KNOW WHAT GOD’S WORD TEACHES

GOD is SOVEREIGN—DOES WHAT HE WANTS

MAN is RESPONSIBLE—HAS MEASURE of FREEDOM

Conclusion: FINITE CREATURE—MAYBE I’LL NEVER UNDERSTAND.

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WHAT is CLEAR: GOD CHOSE to ADOPT US

WITHOUT DIVINE INITIATIVE— WE WOULD BE HOPELESS

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Primary Focus: GOD’S PLAN of REDEMPTION PRECEDED HIS ACTS of CREATION. 💡

GOD CHOSE a SPECIAL PEOPLE—TO BE HOLY & BLAMELESS

CHOSE to ADOPT US

ALL TOOK PLACE B4 FOUNDATION of WORLD!🌍

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Exhort: GOD WASN’T PANICKED WHEN HUMANKIND REBELLED in GARDEN.

PEOPLE CANNOT DETRACT GOD’S PLAN.

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(V6) THIS ALL = to THE PRAISE of HIS GLORIOUS GRACE—

— WHICH HE’S BLESSED US WITH in JESUS CHRIST—THE BELOVED...

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Transition: CONTINUING to EXTOL the GREAT WORK of GOD—

— WE’LL SEE 3 THINGS WE HAVE IN CHRIST…

FIRST = FOUND in V7-10

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2️⃣ In Him — We Have Redemption (v7–10) 🩸

Ephesians 1:7–10 (ESV)

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.

I. IN HIM— WE HAVE REDEMPTION!

Redemption = freedom from slavery 🕊️

Focus: BELIEVER HAS EXPERIENCED a SECOND EXODUS!

ISRAEL ENSLAVED in EGYPT

NONBELIEVER ENSLAVED to SIN

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Exhort: GOD HAS FREED US from SIN’S POWER & PENALTY! IN CHRIST!!

RICHES of HIS GRACE

LAVISHED UPON US

=> GOD = GENEROUS GOD!!

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(V9) THIS HAPPENED—WHEN HE MADE KNOWN the MYSTERY of HIS WILL.

MILLENNIA,, PIECES of PICTURE SHOWN— NO FULL PICTURE!

=> WE HAVE FULL PICTURE!

JESUS = the CENTER of GOD’S REDEMPTIVE PLAN!!

ALL THINGS B4 LOOKED FORWARD

ALL AFTER LOOKED BACKWARDS—WHILE LOOKING FORWARD to HIS SECOND COMING...

**CONSIDER—THE CALENDAR WAS CHANGED!**

I STILL BELIEVE IN “B.C.” & “A.D.”

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(V10) GOD’S PLAN—CULMINATES—UNITING ALL THINGS UNDER CHRIST.

👑ALL THINGS in HEAVEN & EARTH—

— ALL BEINGS in HEAVEN & EARTH—

— WILL BE UNITED UNDER KING JESUS SOME DAY...

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Transition: FIRST—WE HAVE REDEMPTION...

SECOND—WE’LL SEE WE HAVE an INHERITANCE...

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 11-12

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3️⃣ In Him — We Have an Inheritance (v11–12) 💰

Ephesians 1:11–12 (ESV)

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.

II. IN HIM—INHERITANCE

NOT JUST SPARED from JUDGMENT—BUT BLESSED W/ ETERNAL, HEAVENLY BLESSINGS!

Exhort: IF GOD JUST WOULD HAVE SAVED US—THAT is ENOUGH!

YET—THERE’S a COMING INHERITANCE— BEYOND COMPARE!

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AGAIN—THIS = RESULT of GOD’S CHOICE

(v11B) GOD is the ALL-THINGS-ACCORDING-to-HIS-WILL-WORKER-TOGETHERER!

Illustration: HOW MANY of US—HAVE PLANS FAIL REGULARLY??

SCHEDULING CONFLICTS

WEATHER PROBLEMS

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ALL THINGS ARE BEING WORKED BY GOD—ACCORDING to the PURPOSE of HIS WILL.

💡AGAIN: DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY/HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY = CONFOUNDING!

JOSEPH: YOU GUYS SOLD ME—BUT GOD BROUGHT ME HERE

YOU MEANT EVIL—GOD MEANT GOOD.

PETER (PENTECOST): YOU GUYS KILLED the MESSIAH!

ACCORDING to PERFECT PLAN & FOREKNOWLEDGE of GOD

EVEN REBELS FULFILL GOD’S PLANS!!

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(V12) THOSE to FIRST HOPE— 1ST CENTURY BELIEVERS— to PRAISE of HIS GLORY

2,000 YRS of CHRISTIAN HISTORY—BELIEVERS— PRAISE HIS GLORY!

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Transition: ONE FINAL THING WE HAVE in CHRIST...

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 13-14

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4️⃣ In Him — We Are Sealed (v13–14) 🔐

Ephesians 1:13–14 (ESV)

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.

4TH BLESSING— SEALED

GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT = GIVEN as SEAL of OWNERSHIP, A LABEL.

“I BELONG to CHRIST” — GOD’S STAMP!

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✨HOLY SPIRIT = GUARANTEE/DOWN PAYMENT/FIRST-INSTALLMENT of HEAVENLY INHERITANCE

Ill.: YOU BUY a CAR/HOUSE on PAYMENTS—YOU PUT UP MONEY @ OUTSET as PROMISE YOU’LL PAY IT ALL.

HOLY SPIRIT GIVEN to BELIEVERS = GOD’S FIRST-INSTALLMENT— THERE’S MORE to COME in GLORY!

WE ARE SEALED—TO the PRAISE of HIS GLORY!

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Transition: THIS PASSAGE SHOWS US in SIMPLE TERMS:

🎯 Big Idea:

We ought to bless the Blesser of every spiritual blessing.

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🙌 Response & Application: Worship the Blesser!

🎵 We bless the One who has:

CHOSEN us B4 CREATION ✨

REDEEMED us by His BLOOD 🩸

GIVEN us a glorious INHERITANCE 💎

SEALED us with His SPIRIT 🔐

MORE THAN ENOUGH REASON to PRAISE GOD—BLESS the BLESSER

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SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS:

REMEMBER the SOVEREIGN CREATOR HAD YOU on HIS MIND—

— PURPOSED OUR REDEMPTION… B4 ANY of THIS WAS MADE…

TURN YOUR HEART to WORSHIP FOR ALL YOU HAVE in CHRIST...

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Transition: PERHAPS YOU’RE HERE THIS MORNING—UNSURE of THESE THINGS.

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📣 Gospel Invitation:

THESE BLESSINGS = RESERVED for the ONE “IN CHRIST”

—WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

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ACCORDING to SCRIPTURE:

EITHER in ADAM— NATURAL HEAD

OR CHRIST—SPIRITUAL HEAD

EITHER LOST in ADAM

or REDEEMED in CHRIST

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GOD KNEW YOU WOULD BE HERE TODAY…

INVITATION: THROUGH FAITH in CHRIST—WE CAN BE MADE CHILDREN of GOD:

John 1:12–13 (ESV)

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

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JESUS DIED for OUR SINS—PAYING OUR PENALTY

RAISED to LIFE AGAIN— BRINGING PROMISE of RESURRECTION

IF WE TRUST in HIM—WE RECEIVE the CREDIT for HIS PERFECT LIFE—JUST AS HE TOOK OUR PENALTY.

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Invitation: IF YOU’RE HERE W/O ASSURANCE...

UNSURE “IN CHRIST”

ALL of GOD’S BLESSINGS ARE in HIM

HE is the FOUNT of REDEMPTION

the CENTERPIECE of GOD’S PLAN

SALVATION in NO ONE ELSE...

I’D LOVE to TALK to YOU—ANY POINT TODAY!

TRULY the BLESSINGS in CHRIST ARE BEYOND COMPARE...

🙏 Let’s Pray