WELCOME
Good morning First Baptist. We welcome you to worship this morning. Be sure to remember your brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the week as you pray for them, and as the Holy Spirit brings their faces to your mind. Be sure to also connect with them in the ways that are possible. And if you have any questions or would like to talk to someone, please don’t hesitate to contact the church through the church telephone and leave a message. (519-733-4144)
Songs
Call to Worship
How wonderful it is to sing our praises to God!
Praise the Lord who gathers us together.
God’s mercy is given generously to all in need.
We are never out of the reach of God’s love. Come, worship and celebrate. God is reaching out to you this day!
Powerful God, from the very beginning you blessed creation. You have loved and shielded your people through all joys and trials of life. We come to you this day, rejoicing in the many blessings you have given to us. We open our hearts again to hear your word for us and to gather strength and joy for service in your world. Be with us and bless us again, we pray.
AMEN.
FBK, WELCOME TO WORSHIP!
Songs
Prayer
Prayer of Confession & Assurance
Father,
How can we look at this world and not sing of your praises, O God? The beauty and majesty of the world is overpowering!
Yet we have a tendency to take all that you do for us for granted.
We treat the world with callous indifference, using its resources carelessly and with little regard to the future.
We insist on war as solutions for problems rather than peaceful striving. We turn our backs on people in need, the weak and downtrodden go unnoticed in our midst.
We always believe that someone else will care for those in need.
How foolish we are, O God! How ignorant we have become!
You have given to us all that we need.
You have blessed us with the witness of Jesus Christ who came so that we might learn how you would have us live, in honor and peace.
Forgive us. Heal our hearts and spirits.
Make us fully aware of all our blessings and our responsibilities.
Give us again a spirit of joy in serving you.
Help us be agents of peace and hope to others.
For we offer this prayer in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.
Words of Assurance
Jesus has come to heal our spirits and our souls. The demons of arrogance, indifference and apathy are being cast out. New life is offered to you in Jesus Christ.
Rejoice! Be Glad! For God’s love is poured out to you this day. AMEN.
BLESSED ASSURANCE
Unfathomable
Today's Message: Pastor Dave Page
This morning we’re to look at the 2nd thing Paul does in the book of Ephesians – he prays for believers in Ephesus. I’m grateful his prayer is recorded here because it shows us how to pray and it shows us what God wants us for us. (This is how we pray for our family and how we pray for you)
In this portion of Paul’s letter we will discuss it in 2 parts:
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,
— Ephesians 1:15–18
Before we go to far into another LOOOONG sentence – recall that we said Paul doesn’t write in this way anywhere else – look at what Paul says here – He says I have heard about your FAITH. Now Paul, like many of the New Testament writers is an Old Testament thinker, writing in Koine Greek – so when he talks about their faith, he’s referencing their understanding of faith – faithfulness in OT context – which is always God focused. God is the one who is always faithful to his chosen ones. Today in the western World we get this backward. We think about our own faithfulness, my faithfulness, how faithful I am…
One day in the future, when we give an account to God, I fear that if our discussions begin with I as opposed to you – You, God were faithful, You God in your great mercy provide a way of salvation. If we start with anything other than that idea of faith, we’re gonna have a problem! God is faithful first and because of that we show our love to God and others
Now, focus on those words, “spirit of wisdom” and revelation”; “having the eyes of our hearts enlightened”. This is a prayer for spiritual sight. Paul has just taught them this incredible truth about how much God loves them and that, as we’ve discussed already, is in many ways a mystery. So, after Paul tells them these deep, mysterious, amazing truths about God’s love, he prays for them to be able to see it – to see it with their heart; to feel it.
Sight is one of those things you don’t want to miss out on isn’t it. You don’t want to lose it because your life would be drastically different without it. I remember how scary it was when I had welders flash as a young boy on the farm..… Anybody had that? It happens so fast, the whole thing happens in a flash…and it has consequences, lots of pain and then tea bags…..ultimately in a day or so I could see 20/20, but it made me appreciate my sight in a whole new way!
The point I’m trying to make is, sight is something you don’t want to be with out, because there’s so much of life that you’d miss out on.
Spiritual sight is something you don’t want to miss, either. Paul says, I want you not to just agree to the fact that God loves you and is working all things for your good, I want you to feel it – to feel it in your heart.
Because, you see, that’s what really changes your life. Seeing God’s majesty with the eyes of your heart and feeling His love for you changes your heart. It creates in us a love for Him; a love that drives out the craving for sin, and a love that overflows into a love for others.
God doesn’t want religious rule followers, He is calling out each of us as a people to love and worship Him. And let me just say again that for some of us, in our churches, this is the one element we are missing (that’s what makes this prayer so relevant).
You see, our problem is not that we don’t understand the truths about God’s love, it’s that we don’t feel them; we don’t taste them, they haven’t burst alive in our hearts. The sense of God’s love never causes us to weep or to worship.
Many of us are good at knowing and memorizing stuff … you know what Jesus followers believe and what they should do, but do we really live with a passion for God.
Let me ask you to think about this…. How often do you feel dry spiritually? Your theology is fine, you’re not involved in some big embarrassing sin; but maybe, you just don’t feel love for God.
The point is not what you believe or what you do, the point is loving God. When I was in seminary, one of our Prof’s. Warned us about the danger of experiencing God’s word and God himself as something academic. He said it was likely a great love and deep relationship with God that had brought us to Seminary that was not something to be turned into academia, that was good advice!
For Paul, he can’t start talking about the love of God w/o bursting into worship and praise. Several places in Paul’s letters he’ll say,“Don’t you realize how big and huge and deep and glorious God and His plan are for you?”
So, what specifically does He want the readers of this letter to see? 4 phrases that give you 4 Truths he hopes you see. They are a review of what He just described in the first 14 verses of this chapter.
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:18-23
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
— Ephesians 1:18–23
Truth #1 “the HOPE to which he has called you” (v. 18) (hope)
First, let’s talk about the word “hope.” A lot of times in English ‘hope’ means a desire that you’re not sure will come to pass. For example, “Is Matthew Stafford really going to lead the LA RAMS to victory in the Super Bowl this year…. I hope so, but, at this rate, there’s no telling. We can only hope Biblical hope is different. Biblical hope is irrefutable, without question. Let me give you a definition: Biblical Hope: A life-altering certainty that hasn’t happened yet, but you trust is going to happen.
Here’s the hope we should have – What God has long ago determined to give you and what He’s making you into is settled forever, Paul says … God has set His love on you from all eternity and He’s never turning back. You are going to know Him, and be filled with Him, and be like Him. And Paul says, “I pray that you might be able to see the hope-filled certainty of that and know the immense value of that in your life!!!!.”
So, stay with me here … why is it important for us see that? It’s because understanding “the hope to which we are called” allows us overcome sin and the temptation of the world around us. I’ve often read that many people who overeat do so because they are bored or stressed. Eating is like a small way to add some adventure to your life or a way to escape pressure. That’s a problem, eating is supposed to be enjoyable, but if you eat food to feed your soul, then you’re going to overeat. In the same way, when your soul is hungry … the potential for you to pursue things that aren’t good for you increases greatly. But having your heart fixed on what God is doing in you and what He’s going to give you will keep you from that. Listen, the only way you will avoid the trappings of materialism or the rat race to get ahead is by a greater, and more certain hope.
Knowing the hope to which you are called not only helps you overcome sin and temptation, it helps you endure trials in your life. If you know what God is doing in you and giving to you, it changes your perspective on trial and trouble and even pain.
So, what trial are you enduring right now?
- Someone you love suffering?
- Your own physical pain?
- Bad marriage?
- Frustration at work or in school?
Whatever trial you are going through, you have the assurance of God’s love. That is the hope to which you are called.So no matter what happens, whether people are mistreating you, or life has blown up on you, or even if people are just annoying you, you can always respond to what God is doing. That is the hope to which you are called.
Stay with vs 18 …
Truth# 2: “what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,” (v. 18)
This one might throw you—sounds like religious speak doesn’t it, “what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” So, let’s break it apart.
Paul is talking about an inheritance. What is an inheritance? Something of great value you get when a rich relative dies.
2nd question: Whose inheritance is he talking about?” To often we miss this – Whose Inheritance? Not ours. God’s. God has an inheritance? Yes.
What is it? – The saints.
Who are the saints? The ones who come marching in??? No, the saints are all those that God has chosen. You. You are God’s inheritance.
Paul says that I am praying that you might know that you are God’s greatest treasure. Write this down – we made space on your notes for that….Truth #2 is the value God has placed on you
Think about how staggering that is for a minute. What could God possibly get excited about as an inheritance? Think about it: What is the only thing you get God as a gift that He didn’t already have?
Just ask that same question about Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk – these super rich people?? If you were related to Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, what would you get him as a gift? Could you imagine getting him something and he said, ‘Wow. I’ve always wanted a flat screen TV.”…..so … What do you get God?
You – it’s you, you are God’s inheritance, I am God’s inheritance. God considered me so precious to Him that Jesus gave up the universe, came to earth and suffered and died to save me.
Paul is praying that we must see that … that we would feel it, and be overwhelmed by our value to God and His commitment to us.
– remember us not being the pick of the litter – yet when God saw us, He saw everything, all of our flaws and shortcomings, and loved us anyway.
Look at vs 19 – what is “the incomparably great power for us who believe”?
Truth #3 is the incredible power that is available to you
Paul prayed that you will know how much power is at work in you and through you
It’s interesting to me, the measure of God’s power that Paul uses is in this statement: “he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:20).
The measure of God’s power is the resurrection. Honestly, if I were looking for an example of God’s power, I would tend to think of something like creation. “According to the power at work in creation.” Think about it … God created all that we see, out of nothing! He spoke and the worlds exploded into existence. I’d say, “Think about the size and complexity and beauty of God’s creation.” For example….
But that was not the measure Paul used.
Paul said, “The power at work in you is the power of resurrection.”
Resurrection is the greatest possible power imaginable, because it’s the power to bring life out of death. Creation is bringing life out of nothing, which is pretty awesome in its own right, but resurrection is bringing life out of death, which is even greater, because death is not a neutral power, death is a corrosive, destructive, negative power.
Death is at work in the world because you and I rebelled against God. Our rebellion brought His wrath and curse of death on our lives … and it ruins God’s creation and our lives and ultimately everything we, as humanity, touches. By Paul invoking power of resurrection He is saying God is not only powerful enough to create good stuff out of nothing; He is able to create good things even out of bad things.
And this is good news for us, because a number of the most sensitive parts of our lives are touched by the decay of death:
How many people around you are struggling with destructive emotions; obsessive; jealous; selfish; hateful; controlling; Addictions; Brokenness.
But God brought life out of death. And that means He can bring life out of even the deadest and most decayed parts of our lives….
God gives the power:
- To break selfishness in your life.
- To have self-control.
- To have courage where previously you have been a coward.
- To repair hopelessly damaged relationships
- To love God rather than stuff.
Paul says I want you to see that power, a power that can change and heal you.
– can I get real personal with you for a moment…..Some of you need to quit trying to ‘make life work’ and ‘turning over a new leaf’ every January…. and instead just surrender to this great power that is available to you……Paul prays that we would be able to see that God …
Truth #4 – Vs 22…. “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.” (Ephesians 1:22)
Paul wants us to see the ultimate finality of God’s plan.
One of the biggest themes of Ephesians 1 is that Jesus has a plan and a purpose and nothing that trumps His will or thwarts His purpose. Ever!
And in this verse it says that God’s one great purpose in the earth, the end to which He is controlling everything, is the work He is doing in His church … in you, in making you into people who love Him and who resemble Him and that He lives inside of.
Show map of airplanes in the world today….
These maps are tracking what is going on important. You’ll find this hard to believe. On Jesus’ big map of what is going on in the world, I think it’s His work in the church … that’s His purpose and He’s controlling everything. The big deal on the earth, from God’s perspective, is not what is going on in Kingsville, Ottawa or the Ukraine..… The big deal is what is going on in the church….How is FBK responding to my Word and my will for them…..
All this makes me ask 3 questions …If you look at your sermon notes you’ll see we’ve underlined these 3 words in the statements there….hope, value, and power?
What is your source of hope, value, and power?
All these things … hope, value, power … you have a source of them.
You have something that gives you a sense of hope. Is your hope for the future in your your RRSP?
There’s a myth about people who are not Christians: that they feel hopeless; worthless; powerless – I don’t necessarily think that’s true. Most unbelievers have a hope, a sense of self worth, and a feeling of power. – often found in money, stays or power… But what if it’s all an illusion? Can it actually be a good thing when somebody’s life falls apart…then they see a glimpse of the truth.
Value: Most in our world today would define that as what others think about you, how much you make.
It’s the same with Power….Power: my skill; my talents; my ability to always survive. It’s where you turn when the chips are down, what you turn to to tell yourself you’ll be ok …for many in the world it starts with the concept of I or me.
But here’s the real truth….every source of hope, value, and power besides Jesus ultimately will fail you. What happens when tragedy strikes?
If your hope is in your financial security, what happens when it crumbles? This is why the recessions hurt so many.
If your hope is in your family … good until you enter your 30’s and you are still single; or you are 45 years old and get divorced. Or your spouse dies unexpectedly. Or one of your kids makes bad decisions and strays.
I know a lot of you don’t feel hopeless, and that’s a problem. You don’t realize how frail you are.
Church here me now….following Jesus is this – you make Jesus your hope for the future; make what He thinks of you your understanding of value; and you depend on Him to be your power to live and to bring life together.
Do you see the question at the bottom of your notes….What are you living for?
Everything else besides Jesus’ purpose will fail; it will fade with death. God has determined that all of this is going to serve Jesus’ purposes.
This message this morning brings us to the end of Ephesians 1, Paul says this story is all about Jesus. Jesus’ reign is one that goes on for eternity. You get one shot, one life to be a part of this great story.
Get involved in it.
Start living for His kingdom
I want to warp up with this bit of transparency…Personal: I’ve undergone a change in the last few years of being a pastor/teacher.
I used to look at the goal of my messages as being to try to teach to go and do something, or to learn something….what the big words really mean. But just like Paul models for us here, now my goal is for you to worship. (That’s the difference in a lecture and a sermon. In a lecture you leave with knowledge; in a sermon you leave worshipping.)
I want you to walk away thinking about how amazing God is….How unfathomable His love is for you.
I don’t want you to leave here ever again only thinking about what you need to go and do for God, but I want you to walk away amazed at what He’s done for you. I want you to leave with a sense of His Great plan for you and all of us. Because then, you’ll do what you need to do.
Next week another one of Paul’s long sentences – Eph 2:1-10
Let’s Pray.
Prayer
Father,
Tragedies abound, O Lord. Our newspapers, television newscasts, and social media all report the troubled happenings in our world. War and strife seem to be the order of the day. And we are caught up in the midst of this chaos.
Calm our spirits, Lord.
Help us to focus on the love you have given to us in Jesus Christ.
Remind us again that his healing mercies extend to us this day as surely as they did to the people of long ago.
We have gathered on this day to hear your word, to be forgiven and healed, to find ways in which we may serve you in peace.
We have lifted names of those near and dear to us who stand in need of your healing mercies and compassionate love. Some names we have spoken aloud; and others we have uttered in our hearts.
You have heard all our prayers. You know our needs and concerns before our voices can frame them.
Let us accept the unfathomable love you give to us.
Empower us to take that love and use it for good in your world.
Let the message of hope and compassion go forth from us again to this world which focuses on tragedy and turmoil.
And once again, let us know fully that you are with us.AMEN.
Song
Benediction
The God who named the stars has named each of us.
Remember that God is calling your name.
Let us answer God’s call.
Jesus Christ healed, cast out the demons,
and made people whole.
Jesus offers you wholeness.
The Holy Spirit anointed the church,
and is right now blowing you out this door!
Empowered by the Spirit,
we go out to proclaim the Gospel of love!