Read The Bankbook 2
CHECK THE BANKBOOK- Ephesians 1:15-23
INTRO: The late newspaper publisher, Wm. Randolph Hearst, invested a fortune collecting art treasures from around the world. One day Mr. Hearst found a description of some valuable items he felt he needed to own. He sent his agent abroad to find them. After months of searching, the agent reported he had finally found the treasures. They were in Mr. Hearst’s warehouse. He had been searching frantically for treasures he already owned. Had he read the catalog of his treasures, he would have saved himself much money and trouble.
Perhaps this brought a chuckle, or you jumped to a judgment on such a materialistic man. But, Christians too, have immense treasures and sometimes do not know what they are or where they are.
Some of Paul’s letters are called Prison Epistles. In some of these Prison Letter we find Paul’s Prison Prayers. He prays for the Christians at Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossae. We have two of these prayers in Ephesians 1- “that you may know”- a prayer for enlightenment.
Ephesians 3- “that you may do”- a prayer of enablement.
I. HE PRAYS THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW GOD- 1:17b
A. This Is The Highest Knowledge Possible
1. It is not ONLY knowing ABOUT God from the Bible.
2. It is as in “Adam knew his wife...conceived...”
3. ILLUST: Knowledge of God
B. This Is A Result Of God’s Action- “...He may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation...”
1. Paul’s prayer was for GOD to do something.
2. This seems to be OUTSIDE THE BIBLE!?
3. “The” Spirit may be “a spirit.”
C. This Is To Have Eternal Life- John 17:3
1. Do you know God in this way?
2. Are you growing in your knowledge?
II. HE PRAYS THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW GOD’S CALLING- 1:18a
A. “Calling” Is An Important Word For the Christian
1. Church is a two-word combination= “called out”
2. So we read of “”called by God’s grace”; “called
out of darkness”;our “holy calling”; and we should “live lives worthy of the calling...”
3. Do you believe that you were called out?
B. This Is A Calling Of Hope
1. Bible “hope” does not mean “hope so” but an expectant desire.
2. This carries with it “assurance for the future”
3. You went from a state of “no hope”(Eph. 2:12) to one where you should eagerly await the end.
4. Do you live in hope like that? Do you pray for it?
C. This Knowledge Comes From Enlightened Heart Eyes
1. Again, this is not simply more Bible reading.
2. God is being called upon to allow them to see.
3. ILLUST: Things Of Real Value
a. Ephesus had massive wealth, boasted of temple of Artemis.
b. Today it is an archaeologist’s paradise but all of its wealth and splendor are gone.
c. The few to whom Paul wrote- saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus-have also gone...to heaven
III. HE PRAYS THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THE RICHES OF GOD’S INHERITANCE- 1:18B
A. Amazing Truth- We Are God’s Inheritance!?
1. We HAVE and inheritance 1:11 but not here.
2. Just as man’s wealth brings glory to his name, so God receives glory through us(cf.3:21).
B. God Sees What We Can’t
1. Gideon(Jud. 6:12); Peter(John 1:42)
2. ILLUST: An Apple In June
3. Do you already know that God rejoices when he thinks of you?
IV. HE PRAYS THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW GOD POWER- 1:19-23
A. One Important Key Thought- “Incomparably Great Power”
1. Paul calls upon four different words to explain this!
2. Kind of like Eph. 3:20 or Rom. 8:37 or Phil. 4:13
B. One Important Key Phrase- “For Us Who Believe.”
1. This is eternal energy, divine dynamic for US!
2. ILLUST: Know What You Have And Use It.
CONCLUSION: He Believed The Ancient Record
ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS LESSON
KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
The atheist claims there is not God for us to know. The agnostic states that if there is a God we cannot know him. But Paul, who has met God in the person of Jesus, knows that a man cannot fully understand much of anything else without a knowledge of God.
THINGS OF REAL VALUE
Two Christian men were visiting a new family with the desire of offering them Jesus Christ and his hope. They saw a beautiful home, velvet lawn, gorgeous landscaping, two expensive cars, and, through the window, they saw the man of the house lounging in his Lazy Boy watching his big screen TV. When the message was being presented, the wealthy man said, “Now what do you men have to offer me? I already have everything!
AN APPLE IN JUNE
A farmer was giving a friend from the city a tour of his apple orchard. In response to the urban dweller’s inquiry, “How is you crop?”, the farmer said, “It is a great year. I have perfect apples.” With that he pointed to a small, round, hard, green apple and said, “Here is a healthy specimen.” Taken aback, his friend replied, “But that is a tiny green marble-sized fruit, How can you think of as perfect?” The wise farmer answered, “My friend, I have been raising apples for many years. This is the month of June, and this apple will be ripe in September. I see perfection in it now.”
KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE AND USE IT
God power for us is our heavenly treasure. But what good is it if we are too afraid or weak to use it? John D Rockefeller, the world’s first millionaire, lived on crackers and milk for many years due to stomach trouble caused by worrying about his wealth. He rarely had a good night’s sleep. Wealthy but miserable! When he began to share his wealth with others in true generosity, his health improved considerably and he lived to be an old man.
He Believed The Ancient Record
On January 6, 1822, the wife of a poor German pastor had a son, never dreaming that he would one day achieve world renown and great wealth. When Heinrich Schliemann was seven years old, a picture of ancient Troy in flames captured his imagination. Contrary to what many people believed, Heinrich argued that Homer’’s great poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, were based on historic facts and he set out to prove it. In 1873, he uncovered the ancient site of Troy, along with some fabulous treasure which he smuggled out of the country, much to the anger of the Turkish government. Schliemann became a famous, wealthy man because he dared to believe an ancient record and act on his faith.