Scripture:
Ephesians 1:3-14 NKJV
[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, [4] just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, [5] having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, [6] to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. [7] In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace [8] which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, [9] having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, [10] that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. [11] In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, [12] that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. [13] In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, [14] who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Observation:
I felt like it was important to take a look at this letter written by Paul to the church in Ephesus. I have several reasons to be honest. First and foremost I feel like this letter is important to gain an understanding of because it’s a big part of the collective word that GOD gave us as a road map to life, and knowing our predestined path, I think we need to know who we are. This letter helps us to see that clearly. Another reason I feel like it’s important to take a look at this letter is because the men in the group chose to study through it over the course of the next few weeks and this SOAP is me doing my part to lead by example. So let’s take a look at what GOD wants to tell us in the letter to the church in Ephesus. First and foremost I think it’s important to look at who we are listening to. Paul authored 12 out of 26 books that are collectively called the new testament. The word testament comes from or can be linked to the word testimony. So as a whole the new testament is the testimony of Jesus Christ being revealed to the world. First as the worthy sacrifice then as the risen LORD and SAVIOR. It’s an important part of the Bible, because it reveals GOD’S plan to redeem those whom HE had chosen from the foundation of the earth. As we have begun to read here in this letter. Now as we begin to dive in, I believe it’s important to pay attention to the way things are phrased. Paul had an extremely brilliant mind and his analytical skills are far beyond anything that I can understand at times. I like to sound smart. That doesn’t necessarily mean that I am. Relying on the Holy Spirit is the key to gaining an understanding of what the Bible is saying. Paul wrote this letter to the church in Ephesus because of the spiritual warfare they were facing. Outward pagan hostility and internal threats of division between the predominantly gentile members of the church and the messianic Jews that had joined. Paul begins to lay the groundwork for a powerful teaching about the spiritual battles that will be faced by all true believers, knowing that they must first know exactly who they are in Christ. After introducing himself. He gets right to the point. First giving glory to GOD the Father and our LORD Jesus Christ, and explaining that GOD has already given us everything we need. l. HE does this by the statement which says,”Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ. That statement in and of itself empowers the church and identifies the fact that what we are about to hear has very little if anything to do with the flesh. As he continues to help this church see exactly what has happened. He feels it necessary to tell them it’s way bigger than them. What is going on happened way before the 4 words that brought it all into motion, “LET THERE BE LIGHT.” It’s a decision that GOD had made before the beginning of time, HE had chosen them to be a part of HIS family by adopting them through the blood of Christ, and all this gave HIM pleasure. What is being said may sound difficult but it’s not. It may be difficult for those who are stuck in the flesh but here is the just of it. Before GOD spoke the world into existence HE saw exactly how things would go, in HIS infinite wisdom and knowledge HE knew what would have to happen and put everything in motion for you to be reading this right now. HE chose you. Paul has been given that revelation and is doing his absolute best to explain that to this church here in Ephesus. Knowing that if they truly understand who they are in Christ Jesus, and the grace that HE was dying to give us which became the reason that we are able to be accepted into the family of GOD. While Paul begins to not only build this church’s understanding of exactly what has happened here. I feel it’s important to understand that he himself was facing some spiritual warfare. This letter, much like several other letters he had written, was composed from a Roman prison cell. So Paul understood what it was like to face a spiritual battle. His armor had dents, scratches, and maybe a puncture or 2. He was a spiritual warrior. Ephesus was a hub of occult practice, magic, and worship of the goddess Artemis/Diana, which pushed believers to combat the spiritual evil that surrounded them. Knowing exactly what Christ had done was vital to that battle. The redemption, forgiveness and grace that made them children of the one true GOD was important to keep in focus. Being wise in their assessments as they approach every situation was important. The word dispensation caught my eye so I decided to look it up. What I found was amazing. The biblical definition is eye opening. It means, “Stewardship, Administration, or management of a home. It refers specifically to the arrangement or epoch in which GOD manages human affairs, revealing HIS will and testing human obedience in different, distinct ages.” In other words GOD is consistently looking at the heart to see if our desire is to obey HIM or not. Hence the lesson that Paul is giving here in the letter to the church in Ephesus about spiritual warfare that’s found in this letter. Paul knew that the enemy would be doing his best to deceive believers. That’s why the word predestined is used several times in these 11 verses. What Paul is teaching this church and us is that GOD’S plan will prevail. It’s been set in place from before time began. The inheritance is not in question. As he begins to segue into the next portion of what the church needs to know he starts to wrap up his thoughts that brought about the beginning of this teaching, reminding this church and us exactly what it is that we possess through the grace of GOD through Christ Jesus. The word of truth, the gospel. Jesus died for the salvation of all whom GOD has predestined to come to know that very truth. That salvation is sealed with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, who guarantees our inheritance, until our faith is completed by the author and finisher of it, and all this is for HIS glory. Not ours. We did nothing.
Application:
I remember the day I thought GOD chose me. It was about 15 years ago. It wasn’t until I truly understood that HE stands outside of time and knew exactly what it would take to get me to look out that it all started to make sense, HE chose me. Before the foundation of the earth HE knew where my life would be at every moment in it, HE heard the prayers before I ever thought of praying them. I remember sitting in a jail cell years ago. I had been there for 6 or 7 months and was having a pity party. No one was accepting my phone calls coming to see me writing me letters or putting money on my books. I felt like I was alone. The only thing I really had going for me was the fact that I had started reading the Bible. Common practice for a lot of people who end up in jail. I had run across a poem that was circulating through the jail titled “GOD’S hotel” that had a profound effect on my life. The context of the poem was how GOD would allow the natural consequences of our decisions to bring us to a point where we would draw closer to HIM. Finding that poem coupled with doing my best to read the Bible brought me to a point of prayer. It was about the most honest prayer I could pray in that moment. It went something like, “GOD, if you are real, show me that I am not alone.” As soon as I got off of my knees 2 letters came under the door of my cell, and for a second it blew my mind. Until the enemy tried to steal that seed with doubt, by telling me those letters were already on the way. You see, what I didn’t understand at that point in life was that GOD had already seen that very moment before it ever happened, and had chosen to reveal HIMSELF to me in it, HE was drawing me to HIM because HE had chosen me to be adopted into HIM family before the foundation of the world. I could explain countless moments like that in my life. The moment where the creator of heaven and earth said, “I’m right here, can’t you see how much I love you?” The thing is, every hard time, every jail set, every broken relationship, every homeless experience, and every trap house conversation prepared me for the calling HE had placed on me. Nothing has happened in my life that my heavenly Father did not know about or will not use. It’s all designed to draw us closer to HIM, and HE knows exactly what it’s going to take to get us to look up. Much like this letter to the church in Ephesus, GOD is preparing you for a battle. The first part of the spiritual warfare that we fight is coming to the understanding of who HE is, the second part is the realization of how much HE truly loves us. You see it’s no mistake that you find yourself reading this message. GOD had that planned in your life before HE set the earth on its axle. Once you truly know who HE is and what HE has done for you. It’s time to stand at the gates of hell with a battering ram. That’s what we have been trained for. GOD chose you because HE knew that after HE brought you out of the grip that hell had on your life. Fear of it has no place in your life, and it would be time to fight for your brothers and sisters that are still baffled by what the enemy calls power, not understanding the authority that has been given through the blood of Christ. You are chosen, and adopted into the family of GOD, by the blood of HIS SON the inheritance that you are given is heaven. A life far beyond anything this world has to offer. Now you can fall for the lie that says life here matters, but I’m not going to live for this world or anything it can give me. It is not my home, GOD has chosen us for more, HE has made us sons and daughters who would stand and fight for the rest of the family. So that they can see exactly who HE is and precisely what HE has done. My desire this morning is to help us all understand that GOD has called us for this very time, and in this very moment. It’s no mistake. You are HIS, you are a spiritual warrior, suit up… even though the battle has already been won.
Prayer:
Father, we know that you have already given us everything we need, and have prepared us for the fight. But what we also know is that in what you have given us, victory has already been obtained. It took something we were unable to do. Your SON came to earth, walked a perfect life and showed us how to put our flesh to death and walk according to the Holy Spirit. We pray this morning that we would see ourselves as yours, chosen before we ever drew a breath. As we dive into your world, show us the path that you have for us, open the doors that need to be opened and close the doors that need to be closed. Let us see exactly who you think we are and not what the enemy has called us for so many years. As we stand on the battle line show us how cowardly our enemy really is. Just another boastful giant missing a head. We thank you for making us yours and we are forever in your debt. What an amazing GOD you are. Making a way where we see no way. Protecting us when we don’t deserve it and calling us out of the grave by name. All we can say is thank you. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.