Staying on Target

EPHESIANS 1:10C-14 A BOY WAS WALKING ALONG •A DUSTY COUNTRY ROAD, A RIFLE SLUNG OVER HIS SHOULDER. •A MAN IN A CAR SAW THE BOY, STOPPED AND ASKED HIM WHAT HE WAS HUNTING. •“DON’T KNOW,” SAID THE BOY. “I AIN’T SEEN IT YET……” IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT •YOU’RE HUNTING, YOU’LL PROBABLY END UP SHOOTING SOMETHING ELSE…. •KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE HUNTING… •BEING ABLE TO CLEARLY STATE YOUR OBJECTIVE •IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF ANY TASK. WE DO MANY THINGS IN THIS • CHRISTIAN LIFE…. •WE SERVE GOD, WE STUDY HIS WORD. •WE TELL OTHERS THE GOSPEL, THE GOOD NEWS. •BUT ALL THESE THINGS WE DO.. •SERVE ONE GOAL… ONE OBJECTIVE… ALL THESE THINGS HAVE ONE •PURPOSE.. ONE TARGET.. •WE ARE CALLED TO DO ALL THAT WE DO… •TO BRING PRAISE TO THE GLORY OF GOD… •THIS IS OUR MISSION… THIS IS OUR PURPOSE… THIS IS WHAT WE ARE HUNTING… •AND IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE HUNTING •YOU WILL PROBABLY END UP SHOOTING SOMETHING ELSE. •TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT •AT A PART OF PAUL’S INTRODUCTION IN HIS LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS TURN TO EPHESIANS 1:10 •IN THIS PART OF THE INTRODUCTION •PAUL IS GOING OVER SOME REASONS •WHY WE SHOULD PRAISE GOD. •GOD HAS BLESSED US… GOD HAS ADOPTED US… •GOD HAS REDEEMED US… GOD WILL BRING ALL THINGS TOGETHER IN CHRIST… EPHESIANS 1:10C–12 “IN HIM ALSO WE HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE, HAVING BEEN PREDESTINED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE WHO WORKS ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS WILL, TO THE END THAT WE WHO WERE THE FIRST TO HOPE IN CHRIST WOULD BE TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY.” I ALWAYS ASSUMED THAT •WHEN PAUL SAID •IN HIM ALSO WE HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE, •THAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT ALL BELIEVERS…. •THAT WE IN THIS VERSE WAS ANYONE WHO TRUSTED IN JESUS CHRIST. BUT AS I STUDIED IT.. •AS I LOOKED AT THE WHOLE BOOK… •I STARTED TO SEE PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT JEWISH CHRISTIANS •IN HIM ALSO WE (THE JEWISH CHRISTIANS) HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE…. AND PAUL IS VERY CLEAR •THAT THIS INHERITANCE HE IS TALKING ABOUT IS IN CHRIST… •HE SAYS IN HIM.. AND THAT HIM IS CHRIST •SO, THE QUESTION BECOMES… •WHAT INHERITANCE DID JEWISH CHRISTIANS OBTAIN IN CHRIST? WELL JESUS IS THE MESSIAH… •THE PROMISED ONE OF GOD… •AND PEOPLE OF THE JEWISH FAITH… •WHO TRUSTED IN HIM AS MESSIAH •RECEIVED OR OBTAINED THE INHERITANCE OF THOSE PROMISES… •MESSIAH WOULD BLESS ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD. HE WOULD BE A WONDERFUL •COUNSELOR, MIGHTY KING •MESSIAH WOULD BE PRINCE OF PEACE… •HE WOULD BE PIERCED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS… •HE WOULD REIGN FOR ALL ETERNITY… THAT IS THE INHERITANCE •THEY OBTAINED IN CHRIST… •THE IDEA OF INHERITING THE PROMISES OF THE COMING MESSIAH •WAS SOMETHING UNIQUE TO JEWISH CHRISTIANS… •IT IS NOT THAT WE DON’T GET THE SAME THINGS… THE DIFFERENCE IS… •JEWISH BELIEVERS HAD BEEN WAITING FOR THIS COMING MESSIAH •FOR A VERY LONG TIME… •THEY KNEW THE PROMISES MADE ABOUT HIM •AND THEY RECEIVED THE FULFILLMENT OF THESE PROMISES ↓ WHEN THEY TRUSTED IN •JESUS CHRIST…. •AND THEY KNEW HE WAS COMING •BECAUSE THEY READ ABOUT HIM IN GOD’S WORD…. •THEY KNEW THE MESSIAH WAS ↓ PART OF GOD’S PLAN…. •PAUL DESCRIBES HOW THEY OBTAINED THIS INHERITANCE •HAVING BEEN PREDESTINED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE, …. •JUST LIKE WE WERE PREDESTINED TO ADOPTION •JEWISH BELIEVERS WERE PREDESTINED↓ TO OBTAIN THIS INHERITANCE… •BOTH OF THESE THINGS WERE PREDETERMINED •ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE •THAT MEANS THEY WERE DECIDED BASED ON GOD’S PLAN… •WHEN WE SEE THIS WORD PREDESTINED WE CAN GET KINDA STUCK ON •THE IDEA THAT GOD DECIDED BEFORE… •BUT I DON’T THINK PAUL’S MAIN POINT IS WHEN GOD DECIDED… •I THINK THE MAIN POINT IS THAT GOD DID NOT DECIDE… •BASED ON ANYTHING ABOUT US… HE DECIDED BASED ON HIS PLAN… •GOD’S PLAN WAS CREATED BEFORE TIME BEGAN… •IT ACCOUNTS FOR EVERYTHING THAT WILL EVER HAPPEN… •SCRIPTURE CONTAINS PROPHESIES ABOUT GOD’S PLAN. •MANY OF THESE PROPHESIES ARE ABOUT THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH AND ALL THESE THINGS WERE DONE •BASED ON GOD’S WILL.. •GOD DID NOT CONSULT ANYONE ELSE… •HE DID NOT TAKE AN OPINION POLL.. •HE DID NOT HAVE A FOCUS GROUP… •PAUL SAYS… •WHO WORKS ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS WILL, THAT MEANS GOD MADE HIS PLAN •BASED ON WHAT HE DESIRED… •WHAT HE WANTED TO HAPPEN… •WE NEED TO NOTICE THAT IT SAYS… GOD WORKS ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS WILL.. •NOT JUST SOMETHINGS… GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL THINGS •AND HE RULES OVER ALL THINGS BASED ON HIS WILL… •NOT BASED ON ANYTHING ABOUT US…. •AND I FOR ONE AM VERY GLAD TO HEAR THAT… •I WOULD REALLY HATE TO SEE HOW MESSED UP THE WORLD WOULD BE IF GOD BASED HIS PLAN ON •ANYTHING ABOUT ME… •GOD’S PLAN IS NOT RANDOM… •GOD’S PLAN HAS A PURPOSE… •THE GOAL OF GOD’S PLAN IS ALWAYS THE SAME… •EVERY PART OF GOD’S PLAN IS.. TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY. •PAUL TELLS US THE GOAL OR PURPOSE OF GOD’S PLAN WHEN HE WRITES. •TO THE END THAT WE WHO WERE THE FIRST TO HOPE IN CHRIST WOULD BE TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY. •THAT PHRASE “TO THE END” IS ONE WORD IN THE GREEK THIS WORD IS A MARKER OF •INTENT… THAT MEANS THIS IS… FOR THE PURPOSE OF.. •OR WITH THE EXPECTED RESULT.. •SO, THE PURPOSE OF JEWISH BELIEVERS •BEING THE FIRST TO HOPE IN CHRIST •WAS TO THE PRAISE OF GOD’S GLORY. AND THAT DESCRIPTION… •THE FIRST TO HOPE IN CHRIST… •THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE CAN BE SURE •THAT THIS SECTION IS TALKING ABOUT JEWISH BELIEVERS… •BECAUSE THOSE WHO HOPED IN CHRIST FIRST, WERE JEWISH… THIS TRUE IN TWO WAYS… •FIRST… EVEN BEFORE THE MESSIAH CAME IN THE FORM OF JESUS OF NAZARETH •THE JEWISH PEOPLE “HOPED” IN THE CHRIST… •WE READ ABOUT THIS IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS. HEBREWS 11:1–2 “NOW FAITH IS THE ASSURANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE CONVICTION OF THINGS NOT SEEN. FOR BY IT THE MEN OF OLD GAINED APPROVAL.” AND WHAT THEY HAD FAITH IN •WAS THE PROMISE OF A COMING SAVOIR •THE MESSIAH… THE CHRIST… •BUT THIS IT IS ALSO TRUE •THAT THE FIRST TO TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST •AS HE WALKED THIS WORLD… WERE JEWISH… ALL THE APOSTLES WERE JEWISH •THE EARLY CHURCH IN JERUSALEM WAS JEWISH… •THERE WERE INDIVIDUALS WHO TRUSTED CHRIST WHO WERE NOT JEWISH… •BUT FOR THE MOST PART THE FIRST TO HOPE IN CHRIST WERE JEWISH… AND GOD’S PLAN HAD PREDESTINED •THESE JEWISH PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE THE FIRST TO HOPE IN CHRIST… •TO TRUST THE PROMISES OF WHAT MESSIAH WOULD BRING… •AND THE GOAL… THE PURPOSE… THE DESIGN OF ALL THIS WAS… •TO THE PRAISE OF GOD’S GLORY…. WHEN WE REACH INTO A TOOLBOX •WE ARE LOOKING FOR A TOOL TO DO A CERTAIN TASK. •KNOWING WHAT A TOOL IS DESIGNED TO DO HELPS US TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT TOOL. •A HAMMER IS DESIGNED TO DRIVE A NAIL, A WRENCH IS DESIGNED •TO TIGHTEN OR LOOSEN A NUT. •WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND •THAT WE ARE DESIGNED TO GIVE PRAISE TO THE GLORY OF GOD. •WE CAN FUNCTION MUCH BETTER •WHEN WE SEEK TO DO THE TASK GOD DESIGNED US TO DO…. WHEN UNDERSTAND THAT OUR •PRIMARY GOAL IN LIFE… OUR PURPOSE… OUR DESIGN •IS TO GIVE PRAISE TO GOD’S GLORY •IT CHANGES HOW WE SEE EVERYTHING.. •PROBLEMS BECOME OPPORTUNITIES… •SUCCESSES BECOME ABOUT GOD AND NOT ABOUT US… WORRY TURNS INTO PRAYER… •WE STOP TRYING TO WIN LIFE… •AND START SEEING ALL THIS AS JUST THE BACKGROUND •FOR OUR PRAISING THE GOD WHO LOVES US… •THE GOD WHO IS WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE.. WE CAN ONLY HAVE ONE GOAL •AT A TIME… WHEN WE FOCUS ON OUR OWN GOALS… •IF OUR GOALS CONFLICT WITH GOD’S PLAN… •WHICH ONE ARE WE GONNA CHOOSE? •THE GOAL OF GOD’S PLAN IS •THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY EPHESIANS 1:13–14 IN HIM, YOU ALSO, AFTER LISTENING TO THE MESSAGE OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION— HAVING ALSO BELIEVED, YOU WERE SEALED IN HIM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE, ↓ WHO IS GIVEN AS A PLEDGE OF OUR INHERITANCE, WITH A VIEW TO THE REDEMPTION OF GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY. TRUSTING CHRIST RESULTS •IN RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT.. •WHEN PAUL SAID IN HIM WE… •HE WAS TALKING ABOUT JEWISH BELIEVERS… •WHEN HE SAYS HERE…IN HIM, YOU ALSO, •HE IS NOW TALKING ABOUT GENTILE BELIEVERS.. AND THAT WORD ALSO IS REALLY •IMPORTANT… THAT MEANS THAT WHAT EVER •PAUL IS GOING TO SAY ABOUT THE GENTILE BELIEVERS •IS ALSO TRUE OF THE JEWISH BELIEVERS… •HE IS LINKING BOTH GROUPS TOGETHER.. A MAJOR THEME IN THE BOOK OF •EPHESIANS IS THIS UNION… THIS ONENESS OF JEWISH AND GENTILE CHRISTIANS… •AND PAUL STARTS THIS THEME •BY SAYING BOTH RECEIVED SOMETHING WHEN THEY BELIEVED IN CHRIST. AND, I LOVE THE WAY PAUL •DESCRIBES THE ACT OF COMING TO CHRIST.. HE SAYS… •AFTER LISTENING TO THE MESSAGE OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION—HAVING ALSO BELIEVED, •SEE THOSE ARE THE STEPS.. WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE GOSPEL •SOME FOLKS WANT TO SAY PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT HOW WE LIVE…. •THAT WE DON’T HAVE TO SPEAK THE GOSPEL… •WE CAN JUST DISPLAY GOD’S LOVE.. AND WITHOUT ANY WORDS •PEOPLE WILL COME TO KNOW CHRIST… BUT RIGHT HERE PAUL SAYS… •AFTER LISTENING TO THE MESSAGE… •I AGREE WE HAVE TO LIVE OUT OUR FAITH… •WE HAVE TO SHOW THEM WHAT THE GOSPEL LOOKS LIKE… •BUT… WE HAVE TO SPEAK THE WORDS.. •THEY HAVE TO LISTEN TO… THEY HAVE TO HEAR THE GOSPEL. ROMANS 10:14 “HOW THEN WILL THEY CALL ON HIM IN WHOM THEY HAVE NOT BELIEVED? HOW WILL THEY BELIEVE IN HIM WHOM THEY HAVE NOT HEARD? AND HOW WILL THEY HEAR WITHOUT A PREACHER?” AND PAUL IS REALLY CLEAR ABOUT •WHAT FOLKS NEED TO HEAR… HE CALLS IT.. •THE MESSAGE OF TRUTH, •AND THEN JUST TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHAT HE MEANS HE SAYS… •THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT •PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR… GOD’S MESSAGE.. •GOD’S TRUTH.. THE GOOD NEWS •THAT GOD LOVES US AND WANTS AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP… •THAT GOD CAME IN JESUS CHRIST •AND DIED TO PAY FOR OUR SINS.. THAT IS THE MESSAGE OF TRUTH •THAT IS THE GOSPEL OF OUR SALVATION •PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR THAT MESSAGE… •THAT WE SIN… AND WE NEED A SAVOIR •AND GOD PROVIDED THAT SAVOIR IN JESUS CHRIST. •THEY DON’T NEED TO HEAR… BE TRUE TO YOUR SELF… •FOLLOW YOUR HEART… •YOUR WORTH IT.. •IF IT FEELS GOOD DO IT.. •OR ANY OTHER SELF SERVING PLATITUDE… THE WORLD IS FILLED WITH PEOPLE •TRYING TO DRAW US AWAY FROM OUR NEED FOR A SAVIOR… •TELLING US WE ARE FINE JUST LIKE WE ARE… •THAT WE SHOULD EMBRACE WHAT EVER WE DESIRE… •THAT EVERYONE SHOULD JUST DO WHATEVER THEY FEEL LIKE DOING… ONLY WHEN WE UNDERSTAND •OUR FALLEN NATURE… •OUR SEPARATION FROM GOD… •OUR NEED FOR SALVATION… •CAN WE RESPOND TO THE MESSAGE OF TRUTH, •THE WAY GOD WANTS US TO RESPOND… PAUL SAYS THAT WHEN THESE •GENTILE CHRISTIANS HEARD THE GOSPEL THEY BELIEVED… •THAT IS HOW GOD WANTS US TO RESPOND… •HE WANTS US TO HEAR THAT GOSPEL MESSAGE… •AND TRUST… BELIEVE… HAVE FAITH IN WHAT IT OFFERS… THIS IS ALL THAT IS REQUIRED… •BELIEF, TRUST, FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. •THAT HE LIVED A SINLESS LIFE.. •DIED ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR OUR SINS.. •ROSE AGAIN AFTER THREE DAYS… •ASCENDED TO HEAVEN… AND HE IS COMING BACK.. AND THEN PAUL TELLS US •THE RESULT OF THIS FAITH… •YOU WERE SEALED IN HIM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE, •AND DID YOU NOTICE… THERE IS NOTHING BETWEEN •HAVING BELIEVED AND YOU WERE SEALED… NO CLASSES… NO BAPTISM… •NO CONFIRMATION… •JUST FAITH… AND THEN SEALING… •THIS IDEA OF SEALING IS VERY IMPORTANT… •A SEAL INDICATES SECURITY… SAFETY… •IT ALSO SHOWS APPROVAL AND OWNERSHIP… AND DID YOU NOTICE •WHO DID THE SEALING… ITS KINDA TRICKY TO SEE.. •BUT WE KNOW THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SEAL… •AND CHRIST WHERE WE ARE SEALED… IT SAYS..YOU WERE SEALED IN HIM •AND THAT HIM IS CHRIST… FROM WHAT IT SAYS IN VERSE 14 •I THINK WE CAN BE PRETTY SURE THAT •THE ONE DOING THE SEALING IS GOD THE FATHER… •SO… WHEN WE HAVE FAITH… GOD THE FATHER •SEALS US IN CHRIST… WITH THE HOLY SPRIT… THIS MEANS WE ARE SAFE… •AND SECURE… THIS SEAL SHOWS GOD APPROVAL.. •THIS SEAL INDICATES WE GOD’S POSSESSION… •PAUL CALLS THIS THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE • WE SEE THIS PROMISE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT JOEL 2:28 “IT WILL COME ABOUT AFTER THIS THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS WILL PROPHESY, YOUR OLD MEN WILL DREAM DREAMS, YOUR YOUNG MEN WILL SEE VISIONS. BUT THIS PROMISE IS ALSO IN •THE NEW TESTAMENT: JOHN 14:16 “I WILL ASK THE FATHER, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER HELPER, THAT HE MAY BE WITH YOU FOREVER; EACH AND EVERY BELIEVER •RECEIVES THIS PROMISE WHEN THEY PLACE THEIR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. •WE ARE SEALED IN CHRIST WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT •WE ARE SECURE IN CHRIST… •BUT WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE WAITING FOR US.. BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A •DOWN PAYMENT FOR OUR FINAL INHERITANCE… •PAUL TELLS US THE HOLY SPIRIT IS •GIVEN AS A PLEDGE OF OUR INHERITANCE, •THE IDEA OF A PLEDGE IS KINDA LIKE AN INITIAL DOWN PAYMENT THE WORD PAUL USES FOR PLEDGE •MEANS A DEPOSIT MADE THAT GUARANTEES THE FULL PAYMENT… •THINK OF THIS AS A NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT… •AND THE FULL PAYMENT… THE FINAL PAYMENT.. •WELL THAT IS OUR INHERITANCE WE RECEIVE A LOT •WHEN WE TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST.. •WE RECEIVE REDEEMPTION… •FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY TO SIN.. •WE RECEIVE… FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS.. •ADOPTION AS CHILDREN OF GOD… WE RECEIVE THE INDWELLING •OF THE HOLY SPIRIT… •WE RECEIVE THESE THINGS AND MUCH MORE… •THESE THINGS ARE ALL AWESOME… •AND AMAZING…FANTASTIC… BUT AS AMAZING AS THEY ARE •THEY ARE NOT OUR FULL INHERITANCE… •WE DO NOT RECEIVE OUR FULL IN HERITANCE IN THIS LIFE… •THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GIVEN AS A DOWN PAYMENT •FOR THE FULL INHERITANCE WE WILL RECEIVE IN THE NEXT LIFE. YOU SEE… OUR FULL INHERITANCE •COMES WITH THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH.. •OUR TRANSLATION MAKES IT A LITTLE CONFUSING WHEN IT SAYS.. •WITH A VIEW TO THE REDEMPTION OF GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, •THE NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION IS CLEARER EPHESIANS 1:14 WHO IS THE DOWN PAYMENT OF OUR INHERITANCE, UNTIL THE REDEMPTION OF GOD’S OWN POSSESSION SEE… WE DON’T GET THE FULL •INHERITANCE UNTIL GOD’S OWN POSSESSION IS REDEEMED… •BUT… WHAT IS GOD’S OWN POSSESSION… •WELL THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND… •WHAT DOES GOD OWN? EVERYTHING… THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE •AND WHEN WILL EVERYTHING BE REDEEMED? •WHEN WILL THE PROBLEM OF SIN…BE FULLY CORRECTED? •WHEN WILL THE UNIVERSE BE FREED FROM BONDAGE TO SIN? WHEN THE HEAVENS AND EARTH •ARE REMADE… •ISAIAH PROPHESIED ABOUT THIS ISAIAH 65:17 “FOR BEHOLD, I CREATE NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH; AND THE FORMER THINGS WILL NOT BE REMEMBERED OR COME TO MIND.” WE SEE THIS EVENT HAPPEN.. IN REVELATION 21:1 “THEN I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH; FOR THE FIRST HEAVEN AND THE FIRST EARTH PASSED AWAY, AND AT THIS TIME IT SAYS… REVELATION 21:4 “AND HE WILL WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES; AND THERE WILL NO LONGER BE ANY DEATH; THERE WILL NO LONGER BE ANY MOURNING, OR CRYING, OR PAIN; THE FIRST THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY.” AND ACCORDING TO PAUL…. •THAT IS WHEN WE WILL RECEIVE OUR FULL INHERITANCE… •NOW… I WISH I COULD TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT OUR FULL INHERITANCE IS.. •BUT THE TRUTH IS… I AM NOT SURE WE COULD EVEN UNDERSTAND OUR FULL INHERITANCE… WE KNOW WE WILL BE GLORIFIED •FREED FROM THE PRESENCE OF SIN… •WE WILL BE IN GOD’S PRESENCE… AND WORSHIP HIM… •BUT AS AMAZING AS THOSE THINGS ARE… •I THINK THERE IS MORE… BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THOSE THINGS ARE BEYOND WORDS… •GREATER THAN ANYTHING WE COULD IMAGINE OR UNDERSTAND… •AND THE GOAL OF THE PLEDGE AND THE INHERITANCE •IS THE SAME AS THE GOAL FOR EVERY PART OF GOD’S PLAN.. •TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME •IN THE OPENING OF THIS LETTER •THAT PAUL HAS SAID… TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY. •HE SAID IT WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT GOD PREDESTINING OUR ADOPTION •HE SAID IT WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT JEWISH BELIEVERS BEING THE FIRST TO HOPE IN CHRIST •AND HE SAID IT RIGHT HERE •WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT ALL BELIEVERS RECEIVING THEIR FULL INHERITANCE… •I THINK PAUL KEEPS REPEATING THIS BECAUSE HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE •WE UNDERSTAND JUST HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS…. PRAISING GOD’S GLORY IS LITERALLY •THE POINT …IT IS THE POINT OF CREATION… •IT IS THE POINT OF THE FALL IN THE GARDEN… •IT IS THE POINT OF THE FLOOD… •THE POINT OF ABRAM… •AND JOSEPH… MOSES… PRAISING GOD’S GLORY IS CERTAINLY •THE POINT OF JESUS CHRIST LIVING A SINLESS LIFE... •DYING ON THE CROSS TO PAY FOR OUR SINS… •RAISING TO NEW LIFE AFTER 3 DAYS... •AND ASCENDING TO HEAVEN… PRAISING GOD’S GLORY IS •THE POINT OF EVERYTHING… •THE ONLY PROBLEM IS… WE HAVE A REALLY HARD TIME •STAYING FOCUSED ON THE POINT… •WE GET DISTRACTED AND FOCUSED ON PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING ELSE… I WANT YOU TO IMAGINE BEING • A QUARTERBACK •NOW THE POINT IN FOOTBALL IS TO GET THE BALL ACROSS THE GOAL LINE… •THAT IS THE ONLY POINT…. NOTHING ELSE MATTERS… •BUT NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO THE TEAM↓ CAN’T SEEM TO STAY FOCUSED •THEY KEEP GOING ON AND ON ABOUT •THE WEATHER… OR THE COLOR OF THEIR UNIFORMS… •THEN THEY START ARGUING ABOUT HAIR STYLES…. •AND NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY YOU CAN’T GET THEM TO FOCUS •ON GETTING THE BALL ACROSS THE GOAL LINE. •THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH THAT WOULD ANNOY YOU… •I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE LIKE WHAT GOD GOES THROUGH WITH US.. •HE KEEPS TRYING TO GET US TO SEE THE POINT… AND WE KEEP FOCUSING ON •THE SILLY THINGS WE ALL GET HUNG UP ON… •WE SPEND MORE TIME COMPLAINING… AND ARGUING… OVER POLITICS… •OR MOVIE PLOTS… OVER WHO SAID WHAT… •OVER OUR OPINIONS… ABOUT POINTLESS THINGS.. THEN WE SPEND GIVING •PRAISE TO THE GLORY OF GOD… •I MEAN… I AM THE PASTOR… I AM PAID TO STAY FOCUSED ON GOD’S WORD… •BUT IF I AM REALLY HONEST ABOUT IT.. •I AM NOT SURE HOW MUCH TIME I PUT INTO •PRAISING GOD’S GLORY… WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND •THAT PRAISING GOD’S GLORY IS OUR PRIMARY GOAL… •WE DO LOTS OF THINGS IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE… •WE SERVE GOD, WE STUDY HIS WORD. •WE TELL OTHERS THE GOSPEL, THE GOOD NEWS. BUT ALL THESE THINGS •SERVE ONE GOAL… ONE OBJECTIVE… •ALL THESE THINGS HAVE ONE •PURPOSE.. ONE TARGET.. •WE ARE CALLED TO DO ALL THAT WE DO… •TO BRING PRAISE TO THE GLORY OF GOD… THIS IS OUR MISSION… •THIS IS OUR PURPOSE… •THIS IS WHAT WE ARE HUNTING… •AND IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE HUNTING •YOU WILL PROBABLY END UP SHOOTING SOMETHING ELSE. * THE FIRST STEP IN PRAISING •GOD’S GLORY IS PLACING YOUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST… •TRUSTING THAT HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS PAID FOR YOUR SINS… •IF THERE IS ANYONE HERE TODAY WHO HAS NOT TRUSTED IN JESUS CHRIST….