06-16-2019 – God’s Blessings in Christ…

Bible Text: Ephesians 1:15-23 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: Ephesians | Here is the outline from Sunday’s Bulletin to help you follow along. The full sermon notes are a click below.

Ephesians 1:15-23

“For this reason,” relates to
verses 3-14, i.e., to the blessings we have in Christ. Paul praises the believers for their Christian love
toward one another (cf. 1John 4:7-11; John 13:34). Read Ephesians 1:17… Paul prays for us to become
more intimate with all God has given us in Christ.
Paul isn’t praying for us to have more of Jesus! You you have all you need to serve God honorably.
Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His [God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 4:4-6, “There is one body and one Spirit… one Hope, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all, through all and in all.” See 1Corinthians 12:13; 2Peter 1:2-3…
At salvation, repenting of our sins, confessing Christ as Lord, believing in Him as Savior, we belong to God.
See John 14:26…
Read Ephesians 1:18-19a… The Holy Spirit is able to
speak to our heart/soul, the center of our spiritual person, where there is deep understanding that the brain cannot comprehend (cf 2Corinthians 5:17).
Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.”
Proverbs 15:14, “The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.” Proverbs 15:28, “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”
Proverbs 16:23, “The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, And adds persuasiveness to his lips.”
Romans 10:9-10, “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
Paul is praying for us to understand in our spirit, just what we have been given and who we are in Christ.
Romans 8:29, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son.”
See 2Corinthians 13:5; 1John 2:4-6; 5:10…
God’s master plan allows Christians to display the very power and presence of God in their lives, as they follow the example of Christ.
Paul prays for a divine awareness of just how great this power is that believers possess through Christ.
Read Ephesians 1:19b-21… The greatest example of this power, was displayed when Christ rose from the grave, proclaiming victory over sin, death and judgment; this same power is now being revealed in the lives of those who believe, follow, and obey Him who has all authority, power and dominion (see Philippians 2:8-11; Revelation 1:8, 18; 5:11-13).
Read Ephesians 1:22-23… Christ is the head of the Church, His body, the fullest expression of Christ in us.
All that we have as believers is by God’s provision in Christ. Paul prays for us to understand and appropriate what we have been given in Christ.
The very power that God displayed in raising Christ from the dead, is the same power that has saved us, marked us, and will bring us to be with Him in heaven!
God will faithfully and sovereignly complete all things, for He is Almighty God, Creator, Sovereign Lord, sustainer, and Judge over All.
God’s people must unify in prayer and purpose, bringing salvation through Christ to this decaying world.
Christians are fully equipped to express their faith in God, to love for their brothers and sisters in the family of God, and to be witnesses of Christ, so others might come to know the Lord: crucified, resurrected and coming again!