His Glorious Inheritance
Ephesians: The Mystery of God • Sermon • Submitted
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INTRO:
Self
Series: Ephesians: The Mystery of God / Eulogy of Praise / Prayer of Thanksgiving & Intercession / Church at Ephesus: 3 years/Loved/Letter written to them from Prison
Topic: 10 Year Anniversary / 5 States / 5 Churches / 3 yrs in Washington, 3 yrs in Mass. , 1yr NC, 3 yrs Wichita /
Passage: Crying/ hugging / kissing / Final words / Thinking about them after time has passed, and giving thanks for them
For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,
Paul’s relationship to the Ephesian Church
Paul’s relationship to the Ephesian Church
Ephesians 1:
Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them:
“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them:
“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Acts 20:2
nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for
“ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’;
as even some of your own poets have said,
“ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.”
Acts 20:17-
And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
Paul tells the elders to recall their time together. How Paul taught them the whole counsel of God. Not just the New Testament, which had not been fully written, but all of the Old Testament.
Much like our Pastor does for us. Every pastor worthy of his calling, must not “shrink back” from declaring the whole counsel of God.
He said he did so under trials and persecution, and did so with tears, as he loved them and strived with all his might to present them mature in Christ.
He called them to remember those three years and the priority he placed on preaching the word and teaching about the gospel of the kingdom of God.
He then warned them. Wolves will come in among you, after I have left you. They will attempt to lead you astray from the flock.
As is the strategy of wolves.
Wanting to lure them away with false teaching.
The elders of Ephesus would need to stand guard of their flock, for whom Christ shed his blood, and love them as Christ has loved them.
To watch over them and protect them, all the while being faithful to Christ in the midst of such persecution and trials.
I assure you, your elders at Exodus stand watch over your souls, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, shrinking back from nothing. Laboring in love to present you mature in Christ.
For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
Ephesians 1
This word faith in our Bibles is less like the word “faith” in our vocabulary. The greek usage of such a word speaks more to “faithfulness” or “loyalty”. You have kept the faith. That is, you have persevered in loyalty and faithfulness, like a couple married many years, amidst all the temptations and trials and struggles.
When you see the word “faith,” think “fidelity.”
When you see the word “faith,” think “fidelity.”
Paul says, I have heard of your fidelity in the Lord Jesus. And of your love toward all the saints. All those who have been set apart and made holy and blameless by the blood of Christ, the church, intrusted into your care. He now gives thanks for them, for they have done the very things he commission the elders with before he departed from them.
Be faithful to Christ, and love his sheep.
I do not cease to give thanks for you. Remember you in my prayers.
Let me ask you this… Do you have anyone you could say this about? Faithful brothers and sisters in Christ who are like family to you, for as Jesus said, those who do the will of the Father are my brothers, and sisters, and mother. Do you have anyone like that, whom you could write a letter to? Send a text? OR call on the phone? Someone not in your life now, but you know is remaining Faithful to Christ and who loves the church.
Rich Culp - Maryland - North Carolina (13 years)
Andrew Hanna Spokane - Michigan (10 years)
Kyle Lammott Massachusetts - Wichita (7 Years)
Do you have anyone you could say this about? That you do not cease to give thanks when you hear of their fidelity to the Lord Jesus and their love for all the saints.
Are you that person? There is so much encouragement and inspiration that comes from having friends that are walking with the Lord. And such a discouragement which comes from hearing about a friend or family member who has walked away from the faith. Please, Be that person who remains faithful to the Lord Jesus and who loves well the saints of God.
Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving then turns into a prayer of supplication and intercession on behalf of his brothers and sister in Ephesus.
He prays…
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, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, 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,
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, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, 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, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
Ephesians 1:
Ephesians 1:17-18
That the Father of glory…
May give you the Spirit of wisdom
And of revelation in the knowledge of him
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened
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
what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe
according to the working of his great might
that he worked in Christ
when he raised him from the dead
and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places
Let’s work backwards on this for a moment…
If we are able to see Christ as Risen and Ascending
Having the eyes of our hearts enlightend
This will be the spirit of wisdom and revelation of knowledge of him as he truly is
And seeing him high and lifted up
We shall then know what is the hope to which he has called us
what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints
and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe
that same power which raised Christ from the dead and seated him at the right hand of the throne of God
We must see Jesus now as Daniel saw him long ago in his vision from God…
“I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
“I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
Not first coming, nor second coming…
Not first coming, nor second coming…
The elevator cloud is going up!
This is not when Jesus came to us, but when Jesus came back to the Father, the Ancient of Days.
Thursday the church celebrates, “Ascension Day” which is 40 days after Easter, Christ resurrection, and 10 days before Pentecost
It is so important that we do not forget about the Ascension! When Jesus, the Christ, the son of man, ascends on the clouds in acts 1 fulfilling the vision of Daniel here in chapter 7:13-14.
This good news of the Kingdom is what Paul did not shrink back from declaring to the Ephesians.
The King has come and has died for you sins, and he is risen
And he is seated at the right hand of God
And God has given him his kingdom
This is the same power now that God is working in us who believe… the same power
He is king over all
that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 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. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
His rule over all the nations is an everlasting Kingdom
One with no end. No one can overthrow his rule.
None to come after him.
This age and the one to come
King now!
At Jesus’ ascension, he became the king of kings and lord of lords forever!
I prays for them and for you, that you see Christ like this!
We must see Jesus now, both today and forever, as Daniel saw him, and as Paul prays that we see him.
We must see Jesus now, both today and forever, as Daniel saw him, and as Paul prays that we see him.
Paul says, may the spirit of wisdom and revelation come upon you and open the eyes of your hearts so that you might see him HIGH AND LIFTED UP!!!
Open the eyes of my heart lord, open the eyes of heart
I want to see you, I want to see you,
High and lifted up… shining in the light of your glory
Pour out your power and love as we sing as the angles did in Isaiahs vision and John’s vision
HOLY HOLY HOLY!!!!
Transition: If Jesus is sitting on his throne, and is king over the whole world… than
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? Why does our nation approve of the killing babies, the mutilation of the flesh, men becoming women, women becoming men, why does our nation rebel against Jesus and our neighbors resist in bending the knee to the Lord? Because they do not see him as high and lifted up! The eyes of their hearts have not been enlightened, they are blinded to the truth.
Why do we rebel against him? Because we do not see him as he really is. We thank him for our salvation on the cross, for the forgiveness of our sins, and then we wish him still in the grave, so that we might remain kings and queens of our own lives.
Church, this must not be so. We must pray for one another, as Paul prayed for the saints. We must remain faithful to Jesus, the King, who has appeared before the ancient of Days and has been given all authority in heaven and on earth, and we must disciple the nations to obey him. Baptizing them and teaching them all that he has commanded of us, while not shrinking back from the whole counsel of God.
“Join our club” or “King of the neighborhood”
Personal testimony…
Talking to Candice Weathers this past week
She’s Kyle’s new Admin
She was sharing with me how much Exodus has changed her mindset while doing Door to Door: Evangelism.
She said how it use to be that, she felt like she was walking throughout the neighborhood asking people to Join my club?
Exodus has taught her to see Jesus as King over all and that changes everything.
No longer do we go door to door asking people to join our club, but we go declaring that Jesus is King of the whole neighborhood!
Ephesians 1:17-
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, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, 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, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 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. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Transition: Part 3
Prayer of Thanksgiving for those faithful saints in Christ
Prayer of Intercession that we may see Christ as exalted King over all creation
What is this inheritance that keeps coming up in chapter 1?
V. 11, “In Him, we have obtained an inheritance”
V. 14, “sealed with Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance”
V. 18, “what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints”
Ephesians
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, 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,
NOTE: His inheritance… but not apart from us!
So, his inheritance is our inheritance. What the Father has given him, we likewise have been given, because we are in him.
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,
Right to vote in America doesn’t give you the right to vote in North Korea.
Blessed in Christ… adopted in christ… as sons… and as saints in him… we are given an inheritance!
We should then anticipate that if has much to say about the glorious inheritance of the Christ, the son of man, than he must also have much to say about the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints!
that is
Have you ever read past , when Christ is given an everlasting kingdom, with all power, and all dominion.
What the Father gives him is soon after possessed by the saints of the most high!
its his inheritances but the saints get it too!
“As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’
Daniel 7:
And the kingdom and the dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;
his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’
“Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”
Who are these saints of Daniel?
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
Daniel 7:
eph 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
And the kingdom and the dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;
his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’
ephesians 1:
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, 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,
that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
We are the saints of Daniels… those who recieve the
We, the church, are the saints of Daniel 7!
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, 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,
All ready but not yet inheritance
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, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 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, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
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,
Epheisans 1:11-14
Ephesians 1:11
Living in the “all ready, but not yet” of his inheritance
Living in the “all ready, but not yet” of his inheritance
Ephesians 1:
For by faith we have become co-heirs with Christ now, as we shall be in the future
As Jesus King now, since his ascension to this day and forever more, he shall be king now and when he returns
He received his inheritance at his ascension, and we also have received our inheritance.
All ready but not yet inheritance
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,
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, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
We have (past-tense) obtained an inheritance
By his will and his choosing, not our own, and thus to his glory alone.
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, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:13
Salvation: sealed w/ the spirit to inherit the kingdom of God
“acquire possession of it” / Acquire = redemption
Final Redemption
Listen to the
What does this look like?
Fidelity to Christ
Love for the church
Evangelizing knowing that Jesus sits upon the thrown
Parenting like you are a co-heir w/ Christ
Working like you have been given a job to do by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
Praying for one another, giving thanks for one another, pray for each other to never loose sight of Jesus as head over all with all things under his feet and he the head of the church and we his body, so that with the same power that raised christ from the dead and seated him at the right hand of majesty on high, is what empowers us to live a life of fidelity to our King and persevere in love to all who eagerly await his return.
Let us pray!
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, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
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, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 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, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 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, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, 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, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 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. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
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, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 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, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 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, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, 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, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 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. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:1