Readings:
Sermon:
My name is Reverend Jess Fellows and I am an Associate Vicar at All Saints Worcester. My full job title is actually Student & 20’s missioner. So I get the joy of sharing the gospel with 18-30’s! Seeing them encounter Jesus, getting to disciple and walk alongside them. It is the best job ever!
Todays lectionary reading I will be looking at Ephesians 1:3-14.
Let’s read this together now…
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
I wanted to focus on verse 13 & 14 today….
You were included in Christ when you heard the gospel of salvation. When you believed you were marked in him with a seal, the promised holy spirit. Who is the deposit, guaranteeing our glorious redemption!
Four words I would love to focus on today: Included, Marked, Promised and Glorious.
- Included….
When we say yes to Jesus we are included in Christ. We are part of this, he scooped us up, he saved us, we are included in the salvation plan because we needed saving. We were lost without him!
Only this week I got to tell someone this for the first time. The person couldn’t believe that the holy spirit makes his home in us. We prayed in the middle of a coffee shop for them to be filled. Their response was 'this is better than drugs'!
2) Marked….
Verse 13 says. Having believed, you were sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit
Sealed with the Holy Spirit.
Sign, sealed delivered, I’m yours. Just like a wax seal on an envelope.
Beautiful quote… from Fredrick Meyer and evangelist in England during the Welsh revival. He said this…
“For sealing there is the need for the softened wax; the imprint of the beloved face; the steady pressure. Oh that the Spirit might impress the face of our dear Lord on our softened hearts, that they may keep it for evermore!” (Meyer)
- Promised…
He is true to his word. The promised Holy Spirit. He always said he’ll send a helper! And the Holy Spirit is always pointed us to Jesus, revealing him to us right here right now. The best gift we could ever receive.
- Glorious… inheritance
Lastly the word glorious….
Vs 13 - The word guarantee (“down payment”)
He is our only down payment of coming glory; nothing else is provided – or needed. He’s done it. It’s paid for and guaranteed. Our glorious inheritance of being with him in the heaven and new earth. Knowing we will see him face to face one day!
there is nothing boring about heaven! We’re going home to be with Jesus. We need a bigger vision of that. The holy spirit is our guarantee of our inheritance. A glorious inheritance.
Spend some time this week looking over this passage:
- What words jump out to you?
- What comes to mind when you hear the words glorious inheritance?
Praying that as you read the words of Ephesians 1 your heart would be enlightened and you’d experience that seal on your hearts as the holy spirit ministers to you.
Amen.