What are we here for? (Ephesians 1:11-23)

What are we here for? That is the big question, one often posed when big philosophical questions about the meaning of life, and when asking not so philosophical questions about the purpose of a meeting. For our time together, I want to talk a little bit about why the Church at Ephesus, and the church in general is here. The church at Ephesus seems to be at peace, but there is a battle going on, not the flesh and blood kind. The spiritual kind for Ephesians 6:12 says: 

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians is here to tell us we have won the battle through Christ. My seminary professors drilled it into me that Christ is not a person, Christ is a title, and that Jesus became the Christ after rising from the dead. After suffering on that old rugged cross. 

The cross was a humiliating item used to dispose of the common criminal. The cross was not for necklaces, expensive jewelry, or a decorative item for your wall during these biblical times. The sign of the cross is meant to shame, to embarrass, but Jesus took something meant to be bad and make it good. So much so, that the author of this Book is able to write it from jail in chains.  And in writing in chains, he talks about setting our hope on Christ. That is a good thing to hope for Amen, Christ will never leave you nor forsake you. Christ will be there for you thick and thin, good times and bad, Jesus is a true friend indeed. 

Reason 1 Possessions 

Full Definition of INHERITANCE

1

a :  the act of inheriting property

b :  the reception of genetic qualities by transmission from parent to offspring

c :  the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations

2

:  something that is or may be inherited

3

a :  tradition

b :  a valuable possession that is a common heritage from nature

4 :  possession

What are we possessing, through Christ suffering, death, and resurrection? We get possession to spiritual blessings, the Holy Spirit, and salvation.  You know, I have been hearing a few things about salvation. I hear a lot of things regarding what man says about salvation, but I would rather go to the Word and see what it says about salvation. What does the Bible say about salvation?

Romans 10:1-17

New King James Version (NKJV)

10 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”(that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’”(that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”(that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,

Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

We possess salvation as Christians, and it is our duty to share the Gospel with all mankind. Then there is that word pledge: 

pledge

  noun \ˈplej\

: a serious promise or agreement

: a promise to give money

: something that you leave with another person as a way to show that you will keep your promise

The Holy Spirit is that something left with us to show that God will keep His promise. 

Numbers 23:19

New King James Version (NKJV)

19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

God does not go back on His word, and the Holy Spirit is here as a pledge to remind us of what God says, and will do. That is what we can take comfort in.

Reason 2 prayer

Even though he commends them on their faith and love, he still prays for them to grow in it. “ I have heard of your Faith in the Lord Jesus and your love. 

The prayer is continual. 

Philippians 4:6

New King James Version (NKJV)

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

1 Thessalonians 5:15-18

New King James Version (NKJV)

15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Ephesians 6:18

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.

I can’t go to the gym one time and declare that I am in shape, I can’t cook one meal and demand you all start calling me Chef Simpson, everything requires work, so should our faith walk. They have books out on business and personal success about something called the 10,000-hour rule, the point of the rule is that people say to be good at any given task; it takes 10,000 hours of practice. 

They say that once you have practiced something for that long, music, athletics, public speaking or preaching, practicing medicine, practicing law, singing, advanced mathematics, what ever you chose as a profession, around 10,000 or 5 years at 8 hours a day, your mind and body begin to groove together in accomplishing the task, everything is not a blur, the game slows down for you so you are able to function well at a particular task. Some argue, that if you are genetically gifted, or predisposed to particular skill set it may take 8000 hours, or 5000 hours. T The point that is being made is that it takes practice; it takes time to grow at any given thing. You cannot just roll out of bed, start something new, then get mad that its not working to your satisfaction the next week. Success leaves clues, and success takes time. So we could all spend a little more time praying, but not just praying, studying, worshiping, fasting, giving, and every other thing that could be classified as Christian behavior, and not just on Sunday.

Reason 3 His Power

The last point is power let the church say Power. God has put everything under His feet, everything, your problems, you sickness, your disease, everything. It may not be done the way you want it to be done, but God will take care of it in due time. If everything was done the way you wanted it to be done, what would be the purpose of God? And he not only rules this age, but the ages to come. He has put all things under his feet. 

1 Corinthians 15:25-26

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

When one uses the term “head and shoulders above the rest.” That person or that thing is clearly superior to anything else you can put up against it. Some would even say there is no competition. If there is no competition when something is head and shoulders above the rest, how much greater is our God if everything is under his feet? When Christ rose from the dead, the ultimate victory was proclaimed, the power was proclaimed. This also made Christ the head of the Church, for now and forever. Just like when we sing the end of the Gloria Patri, world without end, Amen, Amen. Christ is in charge and this thing is not going to end. The final victory has already been proclaimed we just need to realize it, take our possessions, keep praying, and realize the power.