MESSAGE BY PASTOR ROB INRIG
FROM BETHANY BAPTIST IN RICHMOND, BC
I invite you to pray with me, Father God hear our prayer, and we humbly cry to you as it is written in your word, Lucas 11:9:” Keep asking and it will give to you, Continue searching and you will find it, Keep knocking and it will be open for you)” We are requesting healing for our dear members of our family and also dear friends who are suffering from illnesses in their lives fighting and suffering under a lot of pain, You know them by their names; (Gaby P, Vicky O, Nancy R, Tere G, Liz N, Gloria F, Stevie A, Les N, Miguel A H, Socrates D, Sara's mom H, Sergei B, Margarita G, Fega G. Manuel D, Marlen C.) Also, some of them are tired of spiritual struggles, losing their faith in you, Strengthening their trust in you with a miracle in their lives, oh! Father God hear our prayer, and we also pray for all the people around the world especially the children, who are suffering from wars, devastation, hunger, pain, hate and disbelieve in you also bless to the one is reading this message. Heal the Land of those Countries at war; you love them so much, oh Father God, hear our prayer, we ask you in the name of Our Lord of Lords and King of Kings, your beloved son Jesus Christ. AMEN!
As we opened the first pages of Ephesians, we were taken into a long run on sentence of flowing praise to God. In it, Paul teaching us critical understandings of who we are in Christ.
Looking from afar, it’s possible to hear what he says as interesting but so what? The truths stated a far cry from where we do life. How on earth does knowing this put money in my bank account so I can look after my family; how does it give me a clearer understanding of where I’m to live or what I’m to do and what on earth does it have to say about the lab report I just got from my doctor? Those are the things with which I struggle. Where life is real. Where life bends and sometimes breaks. In short, Paul – this may be great pastor talk but what’s the application to my life?
Glad you asked, because I’m confident Paul would argue that it has everything to do with our lives because what he speaks to addresses the very core of our life. These truths if grasped, shape how we do life, how we do relationships and whether life works or falls woefully short. Shortly, Paul will get very practical in pages soon to come but without embracing what he says in these opening chapters, life will get fouled up because our actions will be reduced to principles of how best to live without the power to live out those principles.
In short, Paul writes in the 1st three chapters to put the truth IN, pray the truth ON and then in 4 & 5, live the truth OUT.
:15 having heard of: the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you
As reminder, Paul pens this letter from a Roman prison not some away from the battle retreat center. Years earlier, he invested in the lives of the Ephesians, doing so despite tremendous opposition. This city of great importance and wealth centered around the worship of Artemis Diana the goddess of fertility. It was a goddess they ‘worshipped’ with over a 1000 temple prostitutes. The wealth they enjoyed and the success they pursued as the Greeks believed, came only as Artemis blessed. Such was her stature that the Great Temple of Diana was one of the 7 Wonders of the World. Alongside her a multitude of other gods worshipped, a major one declaring, kýrios Kaisar - Caesar is Lord.
But as Paul writes, he is now encouraged that the believers who came to faith under his ministry are only bowing to - Kýrios Iēsoûs– Jesus is Lord. Earlier Paul in prison wondering had his investments with the Ephesians had been worth it. Had it made a difference? Had they held true to what he had taught?
More often than not, we aren’t given a window on the impact our lives make. We just parent as best we know how. We just serve in the market place with faithfulness. We just come alongside that person others ignore. We just bend down to a child others don’t even see.
Quiet encouragers living out Kýrios Iēsoûs being watched by a Father whose pleasure is determined by faithfulness not impact. The Lord using our faithfulness in ways we do not see.
Paul is also encouraged because he hears that despite immense pressure, faith is being lived out in ways that go beyond just holding strong. The witness of their faith is more than gritted teeth and deeply planted feet.
He is so encouraged by:
: the love you have for one another :15
Attractive faith. Other centered faith. Lived out faith. The litmus test of faith isn’t limited to how we stand in the end at some future time. The litmus test is how well we live in the here and now. That love was something their enemies could not understand and could not defeat. Jesus Himself said, By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another John 13:35.
It’s love that looks past:
violations instead choosing to value
Failures instead choosing the better still to come
The blemishes to see the beauty
And the result? a spirit of thankfulness that takes over and shapes our lives as well
No wonder Paul could say, I don’t cease giving thanks. :16
One of the best known verses in the Bible for Christians is John 3:16. For many, it is the verse that brought them to faith in Jesus. But John’s other 3:16 verse, 1 John, shows us how this faith is to be worn, “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren”.
So, because of that faithfulness and because of that love, “We don’t cease to pray for them” – ‘them’ in God’s family who are different from us - those who are louder, those who are more opinionated, those who are more showy - members of God’s family who fail and disappoint – just like we do – yet who are chosen, predestined, loved, sealed, blessed and recipients of every blessing in the heavenlies.
:17 Paul seems to suggest that our revelation of the wisdom and knowledge of God is linked to our choice to love ALL God’s people :15, giving thanks for one another. Which means, people who actively forgive one another, Preferring one another in love Rom 12:10 In this place God, the Father of Glory, reveals His glory. This also is to say that when we speak wrongly of one another, we are doing damage to the body of Christ – to others, yes but also to ourselves.
But Paul understands our commitment to live in ways that please Christ can waver and actions can fail – unless they are sustained from the center of who we are.
:18 Paul says, I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened.
When Scripture refers to the “heart”, it is referring to “the real you,” the place inside where life decisions are made - the values we live by, the directions we go, the decisions we make. Every important decision we make is made by our heart. And our heart has eyes that can be opened or shut. The biblical understanding of the heart is that it is the core of our lives – body, soul and spirit. It is the place of our mind and our will. BUT make no mistake, it is the center of our emotion – our passion.
Some of us here this morning have hearts that have been closed off. Sure, still going through the motions - doing the right thing, saying the right words, meeting the right expectations but with hearts that are robotically dead.
The closing off process in many cases understandable – broken dreams and broken hopes; prayers not answered as hoped; injustices that have never been made right. Disappointments taking up residence until slowly, imperceptibly life became emotionless; passionless; joyless.
But Paul’s prayer gives hope that all this can change. He prays for an enlightened heart; a soft heart, a willing heart, a bowing heart.
That word enlightened is interesting because it has so many shades of meaning. So many pictures God uses to open us so we can experience love again. He knows that it’s risky to open up a heart that’s been closed off but He also knows that it’s the only place where joy is found.
An En lightened heart – where the things that weigh down are lifted OFF.
En lightened heart – where light shines IN, darkness is put out.
En lightened heart – where light shines ON and with it, revelation – seeing what we have not seen and embracing what we have not known.
AND an en lightened heart where God’s Glory streams IN and transformation radiates OUT - His Truth, His Love and His Peace
An enlightened heart, where we are FREE to embrace who God has called you to be, more importantly, who God’s declared you to be.
May your heart be enlightened SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW:
1st - the HOPE OF HIS CALLING
You are a called person. Your identity is found in Him and your purpose is found in Him. The place He has put you is chosen by Him. The things He has called you to do have been fashioned by Him. A calling that is uniquely held by you. A calling He determined before the foundation of the world. As Ephesians 2:10 reminds, We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. In 1 Corinthians we’re told, Each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that, ... given for the common good 1 Cor 7:7.12:7.
Sadly, most of us fail to believe this. Instead we are like bench warmers sitting on the sidelines, laughing and exchanging jokes while the game is going on. The only expectation we ever had was to wear the uni and attend the photo shoots. But as for making it on the field, we excuse - there are far more who are game ready and game skilled than me. I’m not good with words or gifted in how to fix things. I don’t have the right words to say.
And with these disqualifiers, we’ve reduced our identity as a Christ follower to be uniformed and on the bench when we’ve been created to be in the game as Christ’s called ones. ‘Uni’d’ as a carpenter, a student, a neighbour, a teacher, a receptionist - His person in that place.
But once the eyes of our hearts are opened, the light of God’s truth comes flooding in and we’ll never look at anything the same way again.
The Hope of His calling brings us back to what Paul outlined in Eph 1:3-14 to see who you are:
Blessed with every spiritual blessing :3
Chosen IN Christ :4
Predestined to be Adopted as sons :5
Recipients of His grace :6
Redeemed through His blood :7
Forgiven of sin :7
Recipient of wisdom and understanding :8
Gifted by having God’s plan made known to us :9-10
Chosen and predestined by God :11
Included in Christ :13
Sealed by the Holy Spirit :13
Given the earnest (security deposit) of the Spirit :14
Not theological truth that applies to all, the permanent possession of every child of God BUT the truth about YOU! This isn’t some fishing dragnet where you got caught up with a whole bunch of others - It’s how God sees YOU! Let that sink in. From before the foundation of the world, YOU were CHOSEN of GOD, YOU were predestined to be adopted as His son, as His daughter. YOU were predestined to be the recipient of His Grace. YOU! As you student, as you do the 9-5, as you parent young kids.
Listen, as I said 2 weeks back, two things are true though they seem opposite of each other – God chose you through the blood of Christ to be His child - TRUE! And you cannot be a child of God without choosing Christ – TRUE! OPPOSITE but true. Let me give you another opposite to ponder, in Ephesians writes, it’s all about CHRIST – everything we have and everything we are – CHRIST. We are nothing and He is everything. But His PLAN is about YOU! He became nothing so YOU would become everything!
Steph Curry - I remember like it was yesterday, the day I gave my life to Christ. I was in fourth grade, and I recall hearing and understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ and walking down the aisle to give my life to Him. My parents continued to pour into my faith from that point on, making sure I understood the commitment I'd just made."
"God's given me talents to play basketball for a living, but I still have to work hard to improve every day. I know that in the grand scheme of things, this is just a game that can be taken from me at any moment. But I love that basketball gives me the opportunities to do good things for people and to point them towards the Man who died for our sins on the cross. I know I have a place in heaven waiting for me because of Him, and that's something no earthly prize or trophy could ever top. There's more to me than just this jersey I wear, and that's Christ living inside of me.
May your heart be enlightened SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW:
THE HOPE OF HIS CALLING
2nd THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS
Notice, this doesn’t say, an inheritance for the saints. Lots of places in Scripture tell us that - that there is an inheritance awaiting for those who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ but here Paul isn’t saying that. Here he says,
HIS inheritance IN the saints Here’s the thing – WE are Christ’s inheritance.
In the past, the Canucks spent years in mediocrity which brought them to the NHL draft table waiting to select a franchise player who would turn their fortunes around. All dependent on how ping pong balls would fall to determine their place in the selection process. But without fail, those ping pong balls never fell as the Canucks hoped, their draft position always lower than wanted. The ‘inheritance’ less than stellar and in response Canuck nation was despondent.
But if you want to know what despondency really is, let me give you a heavenly scenario: Jesus, you know how You and I made the heavens and the earth. How we threw constellations into the skies and filled ocean depths with creatures not yet seen. Mysterious and mighty. Majestically large and microscopically small. And the animals? those that caused us to laugh the aardvark and platypus and the proboscis monkey. Then there’s the sublime - the eagle that soars and the lion that prowls. Remember?
Well bearing that in mind – Jesus, it’s inheritance time – kept just for you, designed just for you, crafted just for you, and here it is – Rob and Joanne! So what do you think? - How’d we do?
Really? And the Lord’s reaction? - GREAT JOY! Everyone You’ve given is glorious. Father, all the ones designed for My kingdom reign, my inheritance, loved, treasured, kept.
Everyone! Father, I didn’t lose one. All the ones reserved for me, kept for what’s ahead.
Take a look around, as you look, you are surrounded by the riches of the glory of His inheritance. We are saint surrounded!
Sometimes we saints may not look like much. Time and again we don’t act like much BUT just you wait who we will be once we wear the full glory that’s intended for us. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM; for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2
SO, as Christ’s inheritance, start living according to the God given value you have and according to the purpose you have been given! But don’t stop there, start living out the value God has placed in the other members of His inheritance. Can there be any greater purpose than this – to live in accordance with the value we have been given by God?
May your heart be enlightened SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW:
THE HOPE OF HIS CALLING
THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS
3rd THE SURPASSING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TOWARD US WHO BELIEVE 1:19
Paul uses different Greek words for power: dunamis (dynamite) the word from which we get “energy”, kratos meaning muscular strength and exusia meaning courageous power.
HERE it is dunamis. God’s explosive power, sufficient for all we need to overcome fear, insecurity, inadequacy, weakness. God’s power wrapped up in Jesus. This is the power that exploded in Christ when He rose from the dead. If you know Him, you have the greatest power source in the universe living within you.
The story is told of Randolph Hearst, who at one point decided to invest in great pieces of art many of which he stored in various warehouses.
One day he read of an incredibly valuable piece of art, and determined that he had to have it. So he sent his agent all over the world to find it. Months later the man returned, Mr. Hearst I found it”. “Where, where was it?” “In your warehouse. You bought it years ago.
How much like us – failing to appropriate what we already possess.
As Paul writes, he doesn’t know what awaits but one thing is clear, he is possessed by God’s incomparably great power. Christ’s power that is above all - in heaven and on earth. Far above every realm – all rule and authority and dominion and every nation that is named and is to come Eph 1:21. His authority over every power, every authority, every realm.
His power over the things that are before you and me today. His power over the spiritual forces of darkness who intend to destroy. You and I IN HIM meaning POWER given in His authority, His PRESENCE assuring that authority and His PEACE enacted in that authority. You - victorious in His authority. Ephesians 2:6 tells me, [God] raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
So where Christ is, so too am I. It isn’t something that will one day be true of you, rather it is something that is true of you right now. This is resurrection power now. The power that took Jesus from death and put Him eternally in God’s presence, put us there too, and keeps us there.
So to remember what you have been given, one word –
HIP
HOPE, INHERITANCE, POWER
–all yours, all mine - waiting to be embraced by an enlightened heart. -
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