Blessed, By The Will Of God Wk#3

Ephesians 1:1–5 ESV

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,

In regard to functional idols, we like to take good things in creation (treasure, food, work, relationships, sex) and substitute them for the Creator and Redeemer, turning those good things into god things, thereby committing idolatry.

Merida, Tony. Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) . B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Paul says he was an apostle by “God’s will.” God’s will is an important theme in the letter, emphasizing God’s purposes.

Well, what about luck?

You may hear a lot about luck this week.  “Good Luck” is often spoken by well-wishers who certainly have kind intentions, but yet it seems to fall short of one overriding truth.  Mere luck or simple happenstance does not direct our lives. 

God does. 

And I’m so thankful that He does.

As believers we can be assured, our days are not directed by wondering if the stars are lining up in our favor. 

Our future is not dictated by chance encounters, wishful thinking, or how people and life circumstances may treat us.

What does luck have to do with it? So often I hear believers say, "I am so lucky" or "If we are lucky...". We are believers in the one true God. The father of creation. We are adopted sons and daughters of the king.

You, my friend, are blessed not lucky.

God’s will is an important aspect of today as well. Too often we tend to think of random chance.

Merida, Tony. Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) . B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Things like:

I was lucky to find a good job.

I was lucky to meet my spouse.

I was lucky to have the children that I did.

Maybe it is even more mundane than these weighty decisions or experiences.

I was lucky enough to get up today.

I was lucky enough to make it here today.

I was lucky enough to ______________.

I just happened to

Luck

verblucked; lucking; lucks

Definition of luck

intransitive verb

1: to prosper or succeed especially through chance or good fortune

—usually used with out the hero lucks out and is able to escape

2: to come upon something desirable by chance

—usually used with out, on, onto, or into lucked into a wonderful opportunity

Ecclesiastes 9:11 ESV

Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.

Ecclesiates 9:11

Proverbs 16:33 ESV

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

Proverbs 16:9 ESV

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

P

Definition of bless

transitive verb

this is an important distinction- intransitive vs. transitive

1 religion : to hallow or consecrate by religious rite or word

asked the priest to bless their marriage Bless this home.

He blessed himself before liftoff.

2: to invoke divine care for

bless your heart—used in the phrase bless you to wish good health especially to one who has just sneezed

3: PRAISE, GLORIFY bless his holy name

In regard to functional idols, we like to take good things in creation (treasure, food, work, relationships, sex) and substitute them for the Creator and Redeemer, turning those good things into god things, thereby committing idolatry.

Merida, Tony. Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) . B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

4: to speak well of : APPROVE

5: to confer prosperity or happiness upon

God has blessed us with four children.

Do you really want luck, or would you prefer to be blessed?

Romans 8:28–31 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

7: ENDOW, FAVOR blessed with athletic ability

If random chance brings it, random chance can take it.

If you are blessed by the One True God, nothing can take it.

If we are blessed, how are we blessed?

Why are we blessed?

We are blessed “In Christ”.

We will talk more about his next week but I do want you to have this definition.

In Christ means - to be found incased within the person and propitiation of Christ.

Ephesians mentions union with Christ and being “in Christ” more than any other letter, about 36 times (Snodgrass, Ephesians, 39).

This phrase occurs some 164 times in Paul’s 13 epistles.

This is the heart of Christianity: to be united to Jesus Christ.

Christians are people who are in Christ.

You are united in His death and His resurrection (2:5-7).

Only by being “in” Christ can one have access to “every spiritual blessing.”

If you are in Christ, then

“Christ’s riches are your riches, His resources are your resources, His righteousness is your righteousness, His power is your power. His position is our position: where He is, we are . . . what He has, we have” (MacArthur, Ephesians, 10).

And because we are in Christ, though opposition surrounds us on every side, we are secure in Him. Your identity, therefore, is in Christ, not in your performance, your popularity, your productivity, or your prominence.

Merida, Tony. Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) . B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Maybe today you are tired of being lucky, or the lack there of.

Merida, Tony. Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) . B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Today, you can be blessed.

;

Matthew 5:6 ESV

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

St. Patrick lived his years as a great example for us today.  Whether or not one believes his life held the “luck of the Irish," doesn't matter, for this theme shines through it all, God’s Presence and Sovereignty were powerful throughout his years.

At the age of 16, St. Patrick was taken from Britain to Ireland, and sold into slavery at the hands of pirates.  He spent 6 years as a shepherd, living under harsh authority and difficult conditions.  In his hunger, enslavement, and loneliness, he began to find deep closeness with God.  And one day, God set him free, miraculously providing a way of escape for Patrick on a ship.  He made his way back home, and after some time of study, seeking direction, and much guidance by God through prayer, this dear soul traveled back to Ireland, to share Christ with the people.  History tells us that thousands were saved.  Revival broke out.  Lives were changed.

Let me leave you with just a couple reminders of the way our Lord blesses us.

Psalm 31:19 ESV

Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!

Ps.

2 Corinthians 2:8 ESV

So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.

Philippians 4:19 ESV

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:13 ESV

for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Ephesians 1:7 ESV

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

Will you live this week lucky or blessed?

You, my friend, are blessed not lucky.