I AM What I Am II
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11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
I AM What I Am! (Ephesians) – Part 2 of 6
Notice the word “ACCORDING” in Ephesians – same root as the musical
term “chord” – acting in harmony with God’s pleasure, purpose and power.
1:11 – “worketh”
God is constantly manipulating, moving, maneuvering, and arranging all things ACCORDING to His purposes
things don’t happen at random or by coincidence for Christians!
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
1:13 - "sealed" - it is incontestable!
This is why they agreed to baptize the household of Cornelius - because the Holy Ghost already fell on them!
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
1:14 - "earnest" = "downpayment"
"I'm coming back to claim my possession!"
I’m not a human being having a spiritual experience; I’m a spiritual being having a human experience!
I am not my own
But bought with a price!
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
1:17 – many are quick to seek more of God’s power and mercy
But few are hungry to seek for His wisdom and revelation
Many want the hand of God in their lives - miracles, signs and wonders - prophecy - power
But few will seek his face - Relationship!
Ex 33:18-23
18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
Glory: source of honor, fame or admiration
Moses “I want to see your glory”
God “No one can see my face”
God’s glory and his face are one and the same...
You will only access his glory when you seek his face!
Relationship!
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
1:18 – “in the saints”
You don't need to know what you have in God, nearly as much as you need to know what God has in YOU
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
1:19 – “his power to us-ward”
This is INHERENT power, or power that is in our possession but dependent on our releasing it or activating it
and it works ACCORDING to God’s DOMINION, power or authority
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
1:20 – in the OT the defining event of God’s delivering power was the crossing of the Red Sea (Israel and the Lord continually referred back to it)
In the NT the defining event of God’s delivering power is the resurrection of Jesus
It is our “point of reference” for God’s power in our individual lives
Because death is the greatest enemy we will ever have to confront!
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
1:20-21 – “right hand”
Figurative language for the PLACE OF POWER
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
1:22-23 – if it is under His feet, and you are in His body – it is under YOU!
I’m not a human being having a spiritual experience; I’m a spiritual being having a human experience!
I AM what I have been created to be!
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2:1 – “and you” – you have the same resurrection power IN YOU!
2:1 – “were dead” – death in the Scriptures is “separation”
We were dead in the most significant way – DEAD SPIRITUALLY
Just as your body separated from your spirit cannot function on earth, your spirit separated from God’s spirit cannot function in God’s Kingdom!
Physical death “silences” the body, but spiritual death “silences” the spirit!
WE WERE WALKING AROUND, BUT WE WERE DEAD!
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
2:2 – because we were DEAD
We tried everything possible to make ourselves FEEL ALIVE
...that’s basically where SIN comes from
But that little nagging voice from God continually says, “but you’re still EMPTY”)
Remember:
ACCORDING – same root as the musical term “chord” – in harmony with one’s pleasure, purpose and power (watch this word in Ephesians!)
We were in harmony with…
2:2 – “the air” – the atmosphere where human beings live
2:2 – “disobedience” – to be totally noncompliant (OT – “stiff necked”)
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
2:3 – “children of wrath”
Warring and seething against all that is holy by serving the god of SELF
Fulfilling every carnal desire and inclination
THE WAY WE WERE BEFORE SALVATION WAS UGLY!
Satan was supernaturally powerful and much smarter than we were
The world system surrounded us from birth
And we were imprisoned in our carnal sin nature
Yet we somehow managed to escape.
HOW?!?!
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
2:4 – “but God, who is rich in MERCY”
There is no other solution but God!