Note on the worship. It’s very normal. That must have been the most mellow My Life Is In You I have ever seen / heard. If not for the backup vocalist hopping in her high heels …
A video clip is shown of a worship session without the PA system. It’s a recruitment drive by the drew crew.
Pastor Cheah emphasized that the church needs many different people in the team, some on stage, some off the stage and some backstage. A team of 9 is going to a fishing village Kuala Kurau for a short mission.
The text is taken from Ephesian 1:14.
Eph 1:1-14 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: (2) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, (4) even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love (5) he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, (6) to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. (7) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, (8) which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight (9) making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ (10) as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (11) In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, (12) so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. (13) In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, (14) who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesus is mentioned in Acts 17 and 18. It is located in Asia Minor, near modern day Turkey. It is an important political and economical hub. One of the seven wonders of the world, the Temple of Artemis is found here. Paul spend a few years there. Many left idolatry when they saw the miracles performed by Paul. There were of course oppositions.
The theme of Ephesus is the characteristic and the mission of the church and it’s relationship with Christ, the head of the church. The church is not a building. It’s the people who worship God. the 1st three chapters discusses the blessings of God while the next three talks about the necessary response to the blessings.
The details of the blessings mentioned in Eph 1:3":
The source is the Father. The condition to receive blessings is in Christ. The characteristics of the blessings = every spiritual blessings in the heavenly places.
The blessings of the world is temporal, cause people to forget God, just crave for peace, prosperity and glory in the world, pleasure of the flesh with sorrow, can be obtained from the devil or people, can be purchase with money.
The spiritual blessings are eternal, cause people to love God more, peace in God, good for the spirit and body, loved by God, only from God when we depend on God.
In Psalm 17, David mentioned men whose portion is of this world. David is satisfied with God’s likeness when he awakes.
We may have the blessings of the world but we should desire more the spiritual blessings from the heavenly places.
Blessings from God are
- Spiritial blessings
- from heaven
- of different varieties
- already given to us
- in Christ
1. Election - before the foundation of the world (v4) out of God’s grace.
2. Loved – adoption as sons (v5)
Results: to the praise of his glorious grace. (v6)
3. Redemption in Christ (v7)
4. United in Christ (v10)
5. Became heir of inheritance (v11)
Results: “to the praise of his glory”
6. Sealed with the Holy Spirit (v13)
7. Guarantee of the inheritance (v14)
Results: “to the praise of his glory”
Conclusion:
The blessings to the church from God:
- The election and pre-destination of the Father (vv 3 to 6)
- The redemption and inheritance of the Son (vv 7 to 12)
- The seal and guarantee of the Holy Spirit (vv 13 to 14)
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