in Our Last Two Times Together, We Studied the Why and How We Jesus

Ephesians

Living Jesus

A New Purpose (Ministry) - 3:1-3:21

-  Good morning church; as we continue our trek through Ephesians, the question we are answering is “how do we Jesus?”

-  In our last two times together, we studied the why and how we Jesus

-  Why we Live Jesus – the reason being that in Christ we are a new creation – Eph 1:7-10 - 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8which he lavished upon us… to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth

-  How we Live Jesus – namely together as the church - Eph 2:19-21 - 19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord

-  Here is the connection from Why and How to the What…

-  That church we discussed last week, the conglomerate collective of living stones IS God’s intentional and purposeful creation

-  this morning we will be studying the What of Living Jesus – specifically what are we to be doing

-  Israel was the beginning of God’s “ekklesia” – His “called out” assembly – As he said in Isaiah 43:1

-  “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.

-  The church that Jesus built in Matthew 16:17-18 – when He said: “Simon son of Jonah, p you are blessed because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father in heaven. 18And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the forces of Hades will not overpower it. – THIS is the continuation of Israel

-  Both forms have a purpose to proclaim the glory of God – this is in part what Paul referred to when he wrote Eph 2:10 – the good works prepared in advance:

o  Jer 13:11 - this is the Lord’s declaration—“so that they might be My people for My fame, praise, and glory

o  Eph 3:6 - This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

-  Let me show you something about proclaiming the gospel and worshipping the Lord with praise and thanksgiving

ILLUSTRATION OF SALT – Part 1

-  Matthew 5:13says: 13“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men

-  Eggs don’t float and if we apply nothing of what we learn, we are no better than those around us… so what if we “go to church”

-  Going to church doesn’t make you holy any more than going to a fast-food shack makes you a cheeseburger

-  (volunteer comes to dump salt into the water and stir through this part of the message)

The Message & the Mission –

Paul Summary - Ch1&2 in his life - 3:1-6

-  we are called, maybe not by being blinded by the Holy Spirit on the road to Florence, but we are all called to share the message of the gospel – the good news of rescue from sin by the blood of Jesus

Ministers of the Gospel - 3:7-9

-  The gospel is for everyone – Acts 10:13-16 –

13Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat!” 14“No, Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything common and ritually unclean!” 15Again, a second time, a voice said to him, “What God has made clean, you must not call common.” 16This happened three times, and then the object was taken up into heaven.

Intentional Plan - 3:10-13

-  The church will teach the angels to worship better –

-  1 Peter 1:12 - 12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Angels desire to look into these things.

-  V 11 – “accomplished” grammar – aorist indicative – meaning a complete whole (no moving parts, no further development, still presently relevant)

-  Realized (ESV), carried out (NLT, ASV), purposed (KJV), accomplished (NKJV, NIV), executed (MSG)

(1)  Quote from John Stott, Living Church

- The church lies at the very center of the eternal purpose of God. It is not a divine afterthought. It is not an accident of history. On the contrary, the church is God’s new community. For his purpose... is not just to save individuals and so perpetuate our loneliness, but rather to build up his church, that is, to call out of the world a people for his own glory.

(The Living Church, 19–20)

-  Our ministry is to proclaim Christ crucified for sin to everyone the Lord brings into our lives as we are able

ILLUSTRATION OF SALT – Part 2

-  Matthew 5:13says: 13“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.

-  We, the saints of the church, exist to provide the flavor of a life not cursed and bound by sin; we struggle, but not out of compulsion as slaves.

-  We exist to provide preservation, the word of reconciliation from 2 Cor 5:19

-  19That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

-  Living as SALT can make us a target of resentment and prejudice (i.e. Christians think they are better than, they are judgmental, etc) (shake the floating egg to crack)

-  But, let’s face it, we are just as messed up as anyone else on the planet

-  Those who come to faith in Christ late in life often bear the scars of rebellion against God Almighty; those who came early in life bear the scars of betrayal against our Savior – who is to say which is worse

-  But I know that our Lord is gracious towards His people

-  Romans 8:37-39

-  37No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. 38For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, 39height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!

-  AMEN!

The Power Source – PRAYER

-  We accomplish this in the power of the Holy Spirit through prayer just as Paul the apostle did

-  Engine of the church - 3:14-16

-  Paul was praying for their courage in his sufferings, but prays for many people all over the NT and usually begins or ends a letter (and sometimes in the middle) with prayers for the saints

(a)  Thanksgiving – Rom 1:8, 1 Cor 1:4, Phil 1:3

(b)  Strength – Eph 3:16, Col 1:11, 1 Thes 3:12

(c)  Rooted & grounded in love of Jesus – Eph 3:17

(d)  Love – 1 Thes 3:12, Phil 1:9,

(e)  Hope – Eph 1:18, Rom 15:13

(f)  Wisdom – Eph 1:17, Col 1:9; Eph 3:18

(g)  Righteousness – Phil 1:9-11, 2 Cor 13:7, 1 Thes 5:23-24

(h)  Filled with God to His everlasting glory - 3:19

-  Leads to Worship – Eph 3:20-21 - 20Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.