Miracle Math (-) + (+) = (x)

(-) is what we can subtract from our life = Sacrifice

(+) is what we can add to our life for Kingdom Purpose

(x) is God’s miraculous supply for this life and all eternity

Sacrifice = giving up of something valuable or important for somebody or something else considered to be of more value or importance

• Just as “love that doesn’t cost is just a feeling”, giving without sacrifice is just a tip
• “Something valuable or important” is a matter of the heart
• Sacrifice is a matter of the heart and it costs

Like Fasting – its not so much about what we are fasting from as what we are fasting to

• Sacrifice – Its not so much about what we are giving up as what we are gaining
• In God’s light, sacrifice doesn’t cost, it pays!

The Cross 

• The Greatest Sacrifice! (for the joy that was set before Him, he endured the cross)
• The Great Exchange – not for us to continually consider our sin forgiven, but to continually consider Him the author and finisher of our faith…

Miracle Math is the formula that God uses and will use to produce the miracles needed to build His Church, corporately and individually

Example: Mk 10:17-30  

• 17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” 
• 18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 
• 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’
• 20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” 
• 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” 
• 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 
• 23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 
• 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 
• 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 
• 26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” 
• 27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” 
• 28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.” 
• 29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 
• 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.”

The (-) is house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, land…

The (+) is for Jesus and the Message

The = is (x) of what he gave up and what we gave to for now, and eternity

Sacrifice has always been looked at from the negative perspective of what we have to give up (what we will have less of)…

• in actuality it is the small door by which we enter into the Large life of what we get – miraculous supply, God’s glory, devil defeating victory, Godly relationships

• When we let go of what is in our hand for our purpose and release it to God’s hand for His purpose, we get God’s miracle multiplication for His Kingdom and our blessing

Miracle Math is not a magical formula… it is not some gimmick…

• we are not raising these funds with fundraisers, bazaars, raffles…
• we will be teaching what God expects of us as managers of our financial resources… Stewardship is Management For Eternity
• we will all become better managers and God will provide all the finances we need to build corporately and individually
• Haggai 1:9 God explains His priority and why His people were not experiencing His miraculous supply – they had pockets with holes in them – “Because while you’ve run around, caught up with taking care of your own houses, my Home is in ruins.”

3 Important Questions as we move into this season of Stewardship:

1. Why should I want to give?

1. To bring glory to God = Build The BEST for His Cause
2. Being faithful with what we have is God’s way to the blessing of More (being faithful in the little things…) (Equal sacrifice, not equal gift)
3. We All Need the Opportunity to Give

• Corporately, We together need finances to serve our world (the gospel is free but it costs money to proclaim)
• Personally, Our personal growth comes through giving (our generosity is the measure of our capacity)
• Protectively, Giving is the best guard against greed and selfishness
• Productively, Giving stimulates faith

2. Is God able and wanting to Multiply what I give to Him?

2 Cor 9:10  “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,”

3. How should I plan my involvement in this miracle campaign?

• Start where you are at
• Give purposefully, cheerfully and consistently
• Put God and His Kingdom first (Tithing) (if God were to take your tithe and times it by ten and made that your income…?)
• Plan what you could sacrifice in your lifestyle that would make more seed available
• What minor important things could you give up for the Major important purpose of God and your eternity?
• Look at practical ways that you could save a little here and there – over time and together with many doing the same thing, it ADDS UP!
• Pray about a God given goal that you could believe for

You can still register and invite others to join you at lifewomen.com

hope to see you there,

John Burns

Eph 4:25 – 32 “Therefore, putting away lying, “ Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor. for we are members of one another. Be angry, and do not sin” do not let the sun go down on your wrath nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

1. Behavior always follows believing
2. Speaking the Truth builds, all else corrupts
3. Let righteous indignation be your resolve but under His control
4. Fighting injustice should start at home
5. Anger not submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit is allowing the devil a foot in the door
6. The Holy Spirit is grieved when we give control to circumstances
7. Our behavior should point others to Jesus – don’t just work enough for self…

• There is a difference between things that seem true for the moment and what is True for eternity – eg. 10 spies came back saying what seemed true for the moment and God called it an evil report = non truth
• Since we have encountered the Truth (Jesus) we should let our speech be only in line with what he says (Mt 12:36 – give an account for every idle word)
• Words that line up with God’s Word are powerful and they are life
• The reason we NEED to speak the Truth is that we are part of one another – we are our brother’s keeper – we have a responsibility

Eph 4:26 “Be angry, and do not sin” do not let the sun go down on your wrath”

• The anger that Paul is talking about is not the explosive, uncontrolled reaction or the bitter, stored up wrath but the anger that is aroused by unrighteous conditions and looks to respond with righteous action
• When someone devalues what you value – you should feel anger – but what we do with that emotion can either right the wrong or make it worse – HS led is key
• Disappointment can be the spark that ignites anger = normal… its what we do with it that counts
• “Be angry” commands a continuous, abiding, settle attitude of righteous indignation against sin and sinful things together with the appropriate actions
• Today, the ‘in’ thing is to be active with righteous indignation against injustice globally – but what about in your home/family/marriage/friendships? – don’t let the sun go down on your wrath == deal with it! Don’t stuff it… bitterness

-       But “And do not sin” is a warning… we can easily cross over to anger that is uncontrolled and reactionary or bitter in its intent

Eph 4:27 “nor give place to the devil”

• This command is to stop an action that is presently happening – when we don’t harness our anger we give place to the devil

Eph 4:28 “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.”

• Literally, “let the one who is stealing, steal no more”… stealing was not wholly condemned by ancient heathen opinion
• Paul now offers a corrective answer – WORK!

Eph 4:29 “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

• Any word that doesn’t build, is a wasted word = idle
• Building words carry grace = empowering

Eph 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

• Again, this is a command to stop an action that is already happening – stop grieving the Holy Spirit…
• This statement is not a general exhortation but one referring back to vs 29… idle or worthless words are repugnant to the Holy Spirit
• The Holy Spirit is here seen as capable of feeling… He is love and love has its wrath side and its grieving side

Eph 4:31 “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”

• “Let” = a choice to be in control
• Don’t give control to emotions leading to evil words and actions

Eph 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

• This is a command to start a new behavior… become kind – they need to abandon their former to start a new… the Opposite – Kind, gracious, forgiving…
• Again, Paul points us to follow His example (1 John 2:6)

Vs 17 “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind”

• “futility of their mind” = vain, aimless, resultless, futile… not merely the intellectually but also morally and spiritually… the description of the heathen lifestyle

Vs 18 “having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;”

• darkened = blinded in their thinking, feeling, desiring
• Alienated = they have estranged themselves from the life of God (walk of faith/love – usually by isolation from fellowship… this is a downward spiral (also found in Rom 1)
• Blindness = hardness of heart… choices to go your way in opposition to His Way – every step away from God further calcifies the heart and darkens us with less want to come back to God = downward spiral
• This hard heart is not comfortable in the light… therefore it runs from truth and fellowship = isolation = alientation from the life of God

Vs 19 “who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

• “past feeling” = seared conscience = the deadness that supervenes when the heart is disconnect from the conscience
• “given themselves over” = sold out to the devil
• “lewdness” = one who acknowledges no restraints – complete surrender of self
• “greediness” = the path that leads to this demise – that’s why Paul says that the LOVE of money (greediness) is the root of all evil… that’s why “tithing” is such a God protection from evil because tithing is our declaration and response that God is first, not money

Vs 20-21 “But you have not so learned Christ, ²¹ if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus”

• “But you” This is not a question but a statement that you as Christians have met Him, heard Him and follow Him – so your walk, thinking, understanding should be different

Vs 22-24 “that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

• This is a description of the process of ‘repentance’ = come back up in your thinking
• To come back up, you need to stop going down and turn around by thinking new higher thoughts – change your mind = come to your senses
• The defeats and victories of life start in our thinking
• Pr 23:7 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he”
• Rom 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”

Eg. The Prodigal (extravagant to a degree bordering on recklessness)

• Lk 15:11-24 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
• 13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
• 17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
• 20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.[a]’
• 22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

- Notice that the father said “quick” to his servant, “bring the finest robe…” He didn’t wait for his son to take off the old dirt and dung before He put on the new – the Father wanted to cover his son’s shame as soon as possible… Love covers!

Next Week’s Verse:  Eph 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption”

Eph 4:7 “But ​​to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”

• The first word is a conjunction tying what came before to this new series of thoughts – What came before is the “Calling” we each have individually
• Grace = God’s empowering to accomplish His assignment
• Gift = the ministry gift that we individually are to the Body of Christ
• Measure = how much power you will need in your gifting

Eph 4:8-10 “Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)”

• Therefore = “This is why…” – Ps 68:18 – He completed the payment for our debt, set the OT prisoners [waiting in the bosom of Abraham] free, sat down at the right hand of the Father and poured out His HS to fill us to be the Church – (Eph1:23 “which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”)
• Everyone of us is a “gift” given by Jesus, empowered by the HS to minister/serve

Eph 4:11 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,^”

• This is a short list of ministry gifts He has given the Church – a longer list is found in 1 Cor 12:28 “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.” — this is followed by 1 Cor 12:31 “But earnestly desire the best gifts…” = earnestly desire to be the best gift you can be – this is not to compare yourself with others – that is dealt with in prior verses… eye can’t say to the ear…
• This is the only list put in order… the “Apostle” is the best only in that he has served in all the other offices; start where you are and be the best gift to the Body and God will continue to use you in greater ways – “Promotion comes from the Lord”
• “Some” = not all!

Eph 4:12 “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,”

• Our goal for each of us is to help each other be better and do better… and in this way we all grow

Eph 4:13 “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”

• Our bottom-line goal is that we all become more like Jesus – individually and corporately – This Glorifies God!
• In her book, “Love Revolution”, Joyce Meyer sites and example of a hurting young women that finally braved entering the doors of a church but walked away hurt and more broken than when she started because corporately and individually the church did not characterize Jesus – She then compares this to a later experience of the same girl going to a church that open-heartedly accepted, loved, served, reached out to… and her life was changed!

Eph 4:14 “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting”

• Disconnected, uniformed, non-functioning Christians are like ‘small children who are an easy mark for imposters’ (Message translation)
• There will always be voices peddling ‘get-rich-quick’ schemes and ‘short-cuts’ to success

Eph 4:15 “but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—“

• We need to be connected with strong enough relationships within the church that friends will speak the truth to us when we need to hear it – Pr 27:6 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful”

Eph 4:16 “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

• The very interesting thing about a cell within a complicated organism such as a human being, is that its individual development has been hardwired within it since conception (DNA) yet, it is wholly dependant on the environment of cells around it as to its final development.  Each individual cell has the capacity to become whatever is best for the whole body. (stem cell research)

• The path of development each cell takes is ultimately determined by the need of the whole… its future is secure only in serving the whole… the greatness of the species is dependant on each cell’s resigning to serve the whole.

• This is what Church is made of… the resigning attitude of each to serve the other.

How are you serving?  How are you helping others in the Church to be better and do better?  How could you serve better?  As a result, what developments have you seen in the person you are becoming?

Nxt Wk Vs – Eph 4:24 “and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

Eph 3:14-21 “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,[a] 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Vs 14,15 -  “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,[a] 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,”

• This is the continuation of the thought started in 3:1… the reason is the Unity defined in Chapter 2 regarding the Jews and Gentiles – the gospel that breaks down the walls that separate us… this good news causes Paul to go to prayer (this is the common meaning of “I bow my knees”… it doesn’t literally mean that he kneels)
• We often go to prayer when we need something… Paul is moved by the potential he sees for the church, by the good things that God has in store for people –

1. WHAT BRINGS YOU TO YOUR KNEES?

Vs 16 – “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man”

• “the riches of His glory” = the superabundant measure that is immeasurable
• “strengthened with might” comes through His Spirit “IN” the inner man – most are looking for His strength and power to come from without but we are conduits where it comes from within!

Vs 17-19 “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God”

• The Results of Holy Spirit strengthening is LOVE that is non-comprehendible and uncontainable
• Love = God, Power, Action
• “With all the saints” = can’t be known alone
• Filled with God – don’t know if your full till you overflow

1. WHERE DOES YOUR POWER COME FROM?

Vs 20 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us”

• AMP  “Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—“
• God’s Word Translation  “With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine.”
• With God, we can do beyond! – Phil 4:13
• Mother Theresa once wanted to build an orphanage, but she had only three shillings, and someone jeeringly said to her, “What can you do to build an orphanage with only three shillings?” “Theresa with three shillings,” was the answer, “can do nothing, but with three shillings and with God to help her there is nothing that Theresa cannot do!”

3. HOW BIG IS YOUR GOD?

Vs 21 “to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

The bottom line purpose for all that we do is to bring Him glory = and He has chosen to show His glory through His Church to all generations

Eph 3:1-13 “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. 8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship[a] of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;[b] 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.”

Vs 1 “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles”

• Because of Paul’s call to the Gentiles, he prays… continued vs 14 – I bow my knees (next week) – vss 2-13 is parenthetical

Vs 2-9 – “if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. 8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship[a] of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ”

• Paul confirms that he has been entrusted with the grace/power to bring this good news to the Gentiles

• This being a mystery that was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 11 – Communion – words in red = this revelation is as good as Jesus in person)
• God’s commissioned process of communicating this vital revelation was by Pauls’ writing… there is no other way – The Word
• “unsearchable riches of Christ” = the anointed one and His anointing – Lk 16:1-13 “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? 13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Vs 10 – “to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places”

• The Church thus becomes the university for angels, and each saint a professor. Only through the Church can the angels come to an adequate comprehension of the grace of God… the mysteries of redemption.

• I Peter 1:12 “To them (angels) it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.”
• The mysteries of the good news have also been hidden from the fallen angels
• 1 Cor 2:8 “None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

Vs 11-13 – “according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.”

• This gospel is not God’s reaction to mankind’s bad choices but has been God’s eternal plan
• It was ONLY through Jesus that our redemption could be secured
• We have BOLDNESS to enter his presence
• It is Paul’s privilege to go through tribulations for the gospel

Why This Secret Needed to be Revealed

1. This Secret goes against our natural conditioning

• Pavlovian Conditioning = every effect has a cause – “do good, get good”
• People want to blame a natural cause for a natural effect… this gives us the false security that we can always change the effect by controlling the cause = the need to feel in control… the Gospel asks us to trust God is in control and what He says will be – completely disconnected to our performance
• Paul’s gospel of grace took the controls out of our hands and made us dependent on the Holy Spirit’s leading
• The Good News takes down the walls that separate us = disarms the comparing and judging mentality… People like to be able to measure and compare themselves to others
• People often get their identity from what other’s have done (abused,  bullied, scorned…) according to the Good News our identity comes from what Jesus has done
• People want to be in control of their security… not having to trust God alone but able to work for their acceptance and positioning – ??? insurance, “taking the ‘if’ out of life”
• Paul’s
• Paul was persecuted because he proclaimed the good news that we were all made One (the Church) in Christ and through Christ… it wasn’t so much that the gentiles were saved as much as they were equal and one with the Jews (us against them)… It will cost you to minister the Good News

2. This Secret was hidden in Christ

• We were never to be separate from Christ but our very existence was in Him and through Him – Col 3:3 “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” – Our Life is Revealing the All-Time Greatest Secret = HIS GRACE!
• Angels could not know this because they had no entrance into the revelation/throne room of God… only we, through the blood of Jesus have access… come boldly into His presence/revelation (Heb 4:16; Jn 16:13)
• Anthony’s tweet… “When I look at Jesus, I see my Father, when my Father looks at Jesus, He sees me”
• In Him and through Him we are equal, more than enough, more than conquerors, strong, loving, healed, prosperous, able, free, forgiven, redeemed, righteous, new, holy, protected, blessed, wise, bold, fearless, called, equipped, positioned, chosen, loved, accepted, destined, sealed, included, empowered, graced, co-heirs and saved.

Next Weeks Faith Verse – Eph 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us”

Text:            Ephesians 2:17-22 “And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

Ephesians 2:17,18 “And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”

•   It does not matter where we start, there is only One way to the Father = Jesus!

•   John 14:6 (New Living Translation) Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Ephesians 2:19 (a) “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints”

•   Paul is trying to educate us on now, who we are as a result of the cross

•   When Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, he addressed Gentiles who were now Christians. …..He wanted them to remember their previous condition, to provoke gratitude to God who brought them near “by the blood of Christ.” In that context he said: “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,” (Eph. 2:19).

•   The words “now” and “no longer” bring attention to their new, changed status as “members of the household of God.”

•    Because of the blood of Christ, their active faith in obedience to the gospel changed their status.  (With status comes privilege and with privilege comes responsibility)

•   This was a reason to celebrate – to be filled with gratitude and great joy! They were now citizens in the Kingdom, and identified with others who enjoyed the same relationship with God.

Paul is educating us on our new identity and Purpose”

THE TWO GREATEST ‘HEART NEEDS’  OF HUMANITY  ARE:

1. IDENTITY

2. PURPOSE

-                It is in these scriptures that we find the Strength of the HOUSEHOLD of God – what He has built HE will support and it will endure

-                Here we find our reason to be alive… and why we are here: the two greatest days of your life  are the day you were born and the day you discover why.

-       Eph 2:19 (LB) “Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian”

This is the first of three illustrations:

#1. Citizenship – Ephesians 2:19 (a) “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints”

- could be translated, “aliens and outsiders” = made and from different

Cit·i·zen·ship (n)

1. The state of being vested with the rights, privileges, and duties of a citizen.

2. The character of an individual viewed as a member of society; behavior in terms of the duties, obligations, and functions of a citizen:

•   The early church was referred to by locals as the “third race” = usually there is always us and them, like Jews and Gentiles, Greeks and Barbarians, but Jesus has destroyed the wall separating people and brought us together as one – eg. Of Hutu and Tutsi’s? In Rwanda after the genocide but together as one in Church

•   Like being a Canadian citizen – under authority but also protected by that authority; history is important; knowledge of your benefits and responsibilities are important

•   Eg. Traveling with Canadian Passport

•

#2 Family

:19            (b) “and members of the household of God”

•   This is Paul’s second metaphor – we are members of God’s own Family privileges trump staff, secretary of state, dignitaries, etc.

•    Story of Abraham Lincoln putting chief of staff’s mtg on hold for his son

#3. Temple ( The church)

:20-22 “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

•   This metaphor illustrates intimacy between us and God and with each other

•   The chief cornerstone is the key to the whole building – He is the supporting, integral part of both walls (all God and all man), all measurements start and end with Him

•   The household of God was built on, and stands today on the truth of Jesus Christ (who He is, and what He did). “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ,” (1 Cor. 3:11).

•   The household of God is well built, unlike the nations and institutions of men.

•   There is no reason for any member of the household of God to fear the collapse of the structure – individual members may walk out. We must guard against any attitudes or actions that would lead us out of God’s house. But there is no justification to fear that the “building” will be destroyed. If God is building it – it will stand!

•    Structural integrity is assured by the builder.

•   As a Christian, you are not just a guest or occasional visitor – but a permanent member of the family, in a house upheld by divine power! 

And in this place; as a member of this house, we are “being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” God has made it possible for us to enter this building and dwell in Him!

•   Verse 22 is about fellowship with God. 

The impact of this passage for Christians is, this is the strength of the house we live in! Whatever may happen to us on earth, as long as we stay in the household of God, we are secure.

•   We can be part of a family and yet never see the (they live far away), but in a building where we each are the living stones built together, we are so close we touch

•   We are the temple of the Holy Spirit – operative word is WE

•   “A failure of unity among Gods people is a refusal to be part of the mission that God is doing in the world.” MBaterson

The bottom line is WE BELONG!

THE TWO GREATEST ‘HEART NEEDS’  OF HUMANITY  ARE:

1. IDENTITY = WHO YOU ARE

2. PURPOSE = WHY YOU ARE

-                It is in these scriptures that we find the Strength of the HOUSEHOLD of God – what He has built HE will support and it will endure

-                Here we find our reason to be alive… and why we are here: the two greatest days of your life  are the day you were born and the day you discover why.

-       Eph 2:19 (LB) “Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian”

-              The strength of the HOUSE is depending on YOU….together we are building something way beyond us…IT REQUIRES UNITY!

-       A failure of unity among God’s people is a refusal to be part of the mission that God is doing in the world. (Mark Batterson)

Questions: what are the forces trying to pull you out of God’s identity and purpose?

Happy Father’s Day!

“A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society,” Billy Graham

“My father didn’t tell me how to live,” recalled one thankful son. “He lived — and let me watch him do it.”

Today: – We’ve been studying through the book of Ephesians and today’s passage highlights the ultimate battle that Jesus won on Calvary’s cross Making Peace between us and God and between each other

Eph 2:11-16 (NLT) “Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.”

Jesus was/is our example of a real man – God created men to:

1. Protect – Eph 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her”

• • On Calvary’s Cross, Jesus endured the ultimate to protect us
  • The price he paid required absolute commitment – purpose, focus, strength
  • Every man was created with that purpose, focus and strength
  • Love gives and the cross was the ultimate act of unconditional Love
  • We were “brought near to him through the blood of Christ”
  • A good father loves his children unconditionally. If he’s at home, he hugs them — every day. He says the words “I love you”–— every day, several times if possible. That’s not touchy-feely; it’s what your children need, even when they become obnoxious teens and pretend they don’t.
  • (? personal stories of fathers as heroes)

1. Provide - Gen 2:15 ‘Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it”

• • Jesus provided all of our greatest needs through grace, by faith (Eph 2:8)
  • Some of the greatest needs in our world today are in relationships – Marriage, Family, businesses, etc. – He broke down the wall of hostility and silenced judgment and unforgiveness
  • He ended the system of law and gave us a new system of Grace (Mercy is ‘we don’t get what we do deserve’ and Grace is we do get what we don’t deserve [we get what He deserves])
  • God’s provision is through His grace = His goodness
  • A good father provides food, shelter, physical and emotional security, etc. not out of obligation but out of his goodness
  • (? personal examples of fathers providing through grace)

1. Lead – Eph 5:1  “THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father] 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,”

• • A good father leads and encourages his children. (Leadership = Influence)
  • He is available 24/7, regardless of the hour or circumstance. He spends time, pays attention, listens, and teaches his children right from wrong. Firstly, by example and then if need be, by discipline (not punishment!)
  • A good father can encounter failure but he doesn’t give up. He models how to get back up again and never quit
  • Every man is born for greatness… to give/live his life to the generations (for a husband, that starts with his wife)

• • Every boy needs a hero… every dad is born a hero (when a child is born, his dad is automatically his hero by birth) but the dad then needs to live up to these expectations
  • This is the life of a hero
  • (? personal examples of fathers never quitting, being available, etc.)

NEXT WEEKS VERSE: Eph 2:19 (LB) “Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian”

Eph 2:1-10

Eph 2:1-10 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

vs 1 – “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins”

“dead” is nekros = separated from life – in this case from the life of God… unable to detect and respond to the life of God.  I was a dentist for 10 years and when a tooth was dead, its pulp was nekrotic and thus the tooth needed a root canal because nekrotic tissue is poisonous… we all came from a dead existence, poisonous to others seeking life in God

“Trespasses” = deviate, wander away from the right path

“Sin” = to miss the mark – Rom 3:28, “All have sinned (missed the mark), and at present come short of the glory of God.” – sin is not so much an issue of what we do, but of what we fail to do. And man is a sinner because he fails to glorify God.

vs 2 – “in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience”

“In which” goes back to trespasses and sin -We have here the locative of sphere. Our unsaved life was contained within the sphere of inward bound… glorifying self and not God. The word “walked” refers to the whole life of the unsaved person is nothing but sin.

“world” = kosmos gives the over-all picture of mankind alienated from God during all history

“Prince of the power of the air” = The word “air” here = “the lower, denser atmosphere” The kingdom of Satan is in this lower atmosphere and he is the leader/prince of this kingdom

“spirit” refers to one’s way of thinking and acting. It is evil in that it is contrary to our purpose – to glorify God.  Satan is the one who dominates and controls this spirit in man.

“sons” = huios = this is the term given to a child who reaches the age where he takes responsibility for his actions and thus can now receive the inheritance of the family – in this case, the judgement

vs 3 – “among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others”

“among whom” = we were all numbered among the children of disobedience – this was our destiny before salvation

“Lusts” = “a passionate longing, a craving,” good or bad, depending upon the context. Here it is an evil craving since it comes from the flesh. The word “flesh” here refers to the totally depraved nature where our purpose is contrary to God’s purpose that we glorify Him.

“Children” = teknon = born to but not yet obtained adulthood/inheritance – before a child reaches the age of responsibility he does not yet receive the inheritance of the family or in this case the judgement (original sin)

“Wrath” = God’s holy response to sin – God is Holy and He is Love – Faced with man’s depravity, the two were satisfied only by the cross

vs 4 - “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us”

“His great love” = in order to satisfy his great love (agape)

vs 5 – “even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)”

“Made us alive” – Rom 6:3, 4, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” – How and when He made us alive, was the self same action and time the He raised Jesus from the dead – that is why Rom 10:9,10 states that believing that God raised Jesus from the dead is prerequisite to confessing Him Lord and receiving salvation

vs 6 “and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”

“Raised us up together”, “Made us sit together” = “together” is the operative word… we can’t get saved alone and we’ll not have dominion alone = the vital importance of the local Church!

all this “In Christ Jesus”

vs 7 – “that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus”

“ages” = continuous succession – we know a little of God’s plans for the future but this word excites me that there is much more and its GOOD!

vs 8 - For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

“by grace” “through faith” – not ‘by faith’, – salvation has been made available by His grace and apprehended by faith.  Our eyes need only to see His grace for our actions to be of faith.

“it is a gift” - Rom 4:4,5 “Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness”

vs 9 “not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

- the reason = lest any man should boast… grace glorifies God, works glorify man – we were never created to carry the glory… it is a dangerous load that will destroy us

vs 10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

“workmanship” = masterpeice

“good works” are the result of our being made by Him, not the cause

“walk in them” - parallels the sphere of total depravity we came from… now destined to the sphere of relationship with God that we should live in