Exodus 3:7-8 - The Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.”
Exodus 3:10 - Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.
Exodus 3:14-15 - God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.”
Exodus 4:11-12 - The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? “Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.”
Exodus 4:13 - But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.”
Exodus 4:14-15 - Then the anger of the Lord burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do.”
Exodus 5:6-9 - So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying, “You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously; let them go and gather straw for themselves. But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall impose on them; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, therefore they cry out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.”
3 responses to God’s provision of the Holy Spirit
I. Remember the Prerequisite of God’s Seal on Your Life
Soteriology – the doctrine of salvation
1:4 - Just as He chose us in Him
1:5a - He predestined us
1:5b - …according to the kind intention of His will
1:6 - He freely bestowed on us
1:9 - …according to His kind intention…
1:11a - …having been predestined according to His purpose
1:11b - …who works all things after the counsel of His will
Ephesians 2:1 - And you were dead in your trespasses and sins…
Ephesians 1:13 - In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation –having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise…
A. You listened
Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
1. to the message of truth
2. to the gospel of your salvation
Romans 10:15 - How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!
B. You believed
Ephesians 1:13 - In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation –having also believed…
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Ephesians 1:13 - In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation –having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise…
II. Reflect on the Significance of God’s Seal on Your Life
A. Because of what it means
1. Your salvation is authentic
1 Kings 21:9-10 - Now she wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people; and seat two worthless men before him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
1 Kings 21:8 - So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent letters to the elders and to the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city.
2. Your salvation is binding
Jeremiah 32:9-12 - I bought the field which was at Anathoth from Hanamel my uncle’s son, and I weighed out the silver for him, seventeen shekels of silver. I signed and sealed the deed, and called in witnesses, and weighed out the silver on the scales. Then I took the deeds of purchase, both the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions and the open copy; and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the sight of Hanamel my uncle’s son and in the sight of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, before all the Jews who were sitting in the court of the guard.
Jeremiah 32:14-15 - Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Take these deeds, this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, that they may last a long time.” For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Houses and fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.”
Ephesians 1:14 - …with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession…
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
True or False – When you come to Christ, you are no longer enslaved
Romans 6:22-23 - But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3. Your salvation is irrevocable
Daniel 6:12 - Then they approached and spoke before the king about the king’s injunction, “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions’ den?” The king replied, “The statement is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.”
Daniel 6:17 - A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel.
Ephesians 4:30 - Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
B. Because of how it was predicted
Joel 2:28 - It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind…
C. Because of what it provides
III. Rejoice in the Future of God’s Seal on Your Life
Ephesians 1:14 - …who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
- Have you ever been in a situation where you were asked or expected to perform a task or complete a project/assignment – but were not given the tools, or the training, or the resources to fulfill that responsibility successfully?...
- Well, let me tell you that our God does not work in that manner… We see that in the life of Moses.
- you may remember how this theme emerged -- when the Lord began the process of leading the children of Israel out of Egypt and toward the promised land…
- it started when God revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush…and said…Exodus 3:7–8 - The Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.
- but then the Lord says to Moses…Exodus 3:10 - “Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.”
- did you see the important logical transition – the Lord plans to do something marvelous for His people (that’s good news)…He says “I have come down… and you could imagine the response to that, “Yes, Lord! Come down, I’m ready”…
- but then the Lord calls Moses to have a central role in the accomplishment of that plan…including going and seeing Pharaoh…and leading 600,000 slaves and their families out of Pharaoh’s workforce…
-That may seem like a big task and not much resources to go on… In the moment, we may not remember that God is faithful to provide…
-In fact, from man’s perspective this story has the word “outrageous” written on it from beginning to end…
- that sets off an interchange between the Lord and Moses…where Moses focuses on his lack of abilities and resources…and God promises to give Him all that He needs to fulfill this divine assignment…
- remember Moses says – well, who am I going to say sent me?...that’s a fair question…
- and that leads to the revelation of one of the most significant names of God – He said – I’m YHWH - Exodus 3:14–15 - God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.
- in other words – I am the eternal, self-existent, all-sufficient God of the universe who will be with you throughout this endeavor Personally…the God who makes promises to people and the One who has the ability and character to carry them out…
- This is a big assignment with divine provision…
- as you may recall, it took Moses a bit of time to get on the same page…and I think we can cut him a little slack for that…
- so Moses says – what if the people won’t listen to me?...
- that’s when God introduces him to the new abilities of the staff he’s carrying…which he threw on the ground and it became a snake…
- then he told Moses to put his hand in his robes, and it came out completely leprous…and then to put it back in his robes (would you have done it the second time?)…and it came out instantly and completely restored…
- then Moses said – I’m not very eloquent…do you remember the Lord’s response?... Exodus 4:11–12 - The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? “Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.”
- what happened next?...Moses still objected…Exodus 4:13 - But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.”
- in other words…get somebody else…and the Lord’s response shows that part of His provision to enable His people to fulfill our responsibilities is His incredible patience…
- Exodus 4:14–15 - Then the anger of the Lord burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do.
- do you see the theme – when God calls you to do something, He stands ready to give you all the resources necessary to serve Him well…
- but as that story progresses, there’s a clear contrast, isn’t there…because not all leaders believe in resourcing those under them well……(would you agree with that?...have you ever experienced that?...)
- because when we get to the Pharaoh…he didn’t like Moses and Aaron’s request that the children of Israel be allowed to go into the wildness and worship…so how did He respond?...
- Exodus 5:6–9 - So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying, “You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously; let them go and gather straw for themselves. “But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall impose on them; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, therefore they cry out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ “Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.”
- do you see the contrast?...between a God who calls His people to important tasks but gives them all the resources they need to succeed…and an Egyptian Pharaoh who does the polar opposite…
- here’s my question this morning – when it comes to Faith’s last sixty years and the mission to which God has called us…has our experience been like God’s treatment of Moses…or like Pharaoh’s treatment of the children of Israel?...
- abundant provision…or unreasonable and under-resourced demands?...
- and what does that answer suggest about how people like you and me should think about…Building on Our Heritage?...with that in mind, please open your Bible to Ephesians chapter 1…page 1,169 of the Bible under the chair in front of you…
- our church’s theme this year is Building on Our Heritage…because we are celebrating our 60th anniversary…
- God in His grace has given us a wonderful heritage and the question we’re considering this year is…what does it look like to build on our heritage wisely and well?...
- in these early months of 2024, we’re working through Ephesians chapter 1 where we want to Remembering Our Identity as One in Christ…
- let’s read the first 14 verses…looking today for what Paul tells us about an amazing aspect of God’s provision for us…that You are Sealed…follow along as I read Ephesians 1:1-14
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus cby the will of God,
To the dsaints who are at Ephesus and who 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 with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on 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 on us. In all wisdom and insight
9 He amade known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him
11 also we ahave obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,
12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 who is agiven as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
- so we are talking this morning about the believer’s seal, and with the time we have remaining, let’s think about Three responses to God’s provision of the Holy Spirit
I. Remember the Prerequisite of God’s Seal on Your Life
- we recognize that some of you may have been a bit troubled by some of what we’ve studied so far in chapter 1…about God’s role in the salvation process…
- Pastor Viars has mentioned several times since the start that his friend in another state who was an associate pastor…had preached on Ephesians 1:4 on Sunday and was fired on Monday…
-Now I hope that is not the outcome today, but rather that you are willing to hear what Scripture clearly teaches on this matter…
- there is no doubt that in this longest sentence in the Bible, where Paul thoroughly discusses the doctrine of Soteriology – the doctrine of salvation – that a primary emphasis is how God initiates the salvation process, not man…
- · 1:4 – Just as He chose us in Him
- · 1:5a – He predestined us
- · 1:5b - …according to the kind intention of His will
- · 1:6 – He freely bestowed on us
- · 1:9 – according to His kind intention…
- · 1:11a – having been predestined according to His purpose
- · 1:11b – who works all things after the counsel of His will
- and I realize someone might say – well I see what’s going on here, the pastors at Faith are Calvinists…or Faith is Calvinistic…
- and if you allowed us some time to explain our response, we’d say that those statements are true…
- however, it’s not because of our adherence to the teachings of a particular theologian…it’s because that is a plain reading of the text…
- human beings do not have the capacity in and of ourselves to move toward God in repentance and faith…
- And this is not Paul insulting us... don’t worry I am included…
- Let’s take just a quick little peek at what is taught at the beginning of chapter 2…
- Ephesians 2:1 - And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
- that means fundamentally that spiritual life is a gift from God, not an act of man…
- In other words – regeneration precedes faith…
- this issue is actually woven into our church’s history…
- because the two options are being Calvinistic… which emphasizes God’s primary/initiatory role in the salvation process…
- or being Arminian which emphasizes man’s role in the salvation process…
-Now, I know there are varying degrees of both of these beliefs…
- however, it’s amazing how the verses we have before us balance those concepts simply and plainly…because verse 13 emphasizes man’s role in the process, doesn’t it?...
- Ephesians 1:13 - In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
- Did you catch that?..
A. You listened
- please go back to your earliest recollections of hearing the gospel…
- for some you hearing God’s Word in the nursery…
- for others it was in your teenage years…
- or maybe as an adult and perhaps in the middle of a crisis…
- but you had to make a choice about whether you would…listen…
- Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
- friend, that’s the other side of the equation…
- praise God that at a moment in time…you were willing to listen… What did you listen to?...
1. to the message of truth
- you had to decide what you believed was true about the nature of man…about the nature of God…about the nature of each of these powerful words we’re studying in this chapter…
- is it true that a person like you can be adopted in God’s family, to be forgiven, to be redeemed through His blood…
- and sure, all of that has the potential to offend mankind’s modern sensibilities…
- but praise God for whoever told you the truth about these matters…
- this might warrant a call to your parents this afternoon if they’re still alive and if this is the case in your situation…mom/dad – thank you for telling me the truth…
- or reaching out to a Sunday school teacher or a youth worker…thank you for telling me the truth…
- a friend, co-worker…whoever it was…
- but also thank God that He allowed you to listen…
2. to the gospel of your salvation
- that’s why we’re gearing up for Palm Sunday, and Good Friday, and Easter Sunday services next week!…
- and here’s the challenge I’d like to make to you…
- we’ve been pushing out graphics you can post on your social media platforms…
- and we can do all sorts of advertising…and we will…but there is no doubt that the most effective proclamation of the gospel is personal…
- If you’re at the grocery store check out line… at the park… In the Playspace… Those are all great opportunities to invite folks to come and listen… We need to come out and say it…
- As a reminder, we can’t expect people to listen if we’re not willing to talk…
- Romans 10:15……“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
- not only did you listen, but…
B. You believed
- I would ask you this morning…are you among the “you also”…
- Ephesians 1:13 - In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed…
- what do you believe about these matters?...and if you never have before, are you willing to listen to the truth that our sin has separated us from a holy God…and our role in the matter is to believe the gospel…to trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord…
- John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
- and if you would say this am – Pastor, I know I have both listened and believed…I would encourage you to pause and reflect on all the people and places and events God used to bring you to Himself…and praise the glory of His grace…
- but where then does that take us?...to the title of our message…an essential aspect of our identity…
- Ephesians 1:13 - In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
- my dear friends, that is some incredibly good news…so…
II. Reflect on the Significance of God’s Seal on Your Life
A. Because of what it means
- if you’ve studied the Bible before, you know that the concept of a seal is fairly well-known, and comes up in several memorable places in Scripture…
- and it was also a term that was very familiar and powerful in that culture…
- so here’s part of what it means…
1. Your salvation is authentic
- In 1 Kings 21, when a man named Naboth would not sell his vineyard to a wicked king named Ahab…the king’s even more wicked wife named Jezebel sent letters to the elders and nobles of the city…1 Kings 21:9–10 - Now she wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people; and seat two worthless men before him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
- and since those elders and nobles might doubt the reliability of the accusation, what did Jezebel do?... 1 Kings 21:8 - So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent letters to the elders and to the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city.
- see, in the Bible, a seal signifies authenticity…and what does Paul say in Ephesians 1:13 about those who have listened to and believed the gospel…you have been sealed in Him…
- friends, there is no greater authenticity than that…
- picture hot wax being poured on a letter…and then the image on a unique ring being pressed into that hot wax…
- nobody is going to question the authenticity of that seal…
- there’s no more important phrase that you would want to describe your identity than that you’ve been sealed in Him…
- you’re the real deal…
- Realize, though, this is not because of your righteousness and reliability…but because of His…
- You belong to Him because of the payment He gave…
2. Your salvation is binding
- often a seal was used when land or property was being sold…
- that happened in Jeremiah 32, the chapter right after the New Covenant was given…
- where the Lord has the prophet buy a piece of land…and the story goes like this…
- Jeremiah 32:9–12 - “I bought the field which was at Anathoth from Hanamel my uncle’s son, and I weighed out the silver for him, seventeen shekels of silver. “I signed and sealed the deed, and called in witnesses, and weighed out the silver on the scales. “Then I took the deeds of purchase, both the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions and the open copy; and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the sight of Hanamel my uncle’s son and in the sight of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, before all the Jews who were sitting in the court of the guard.
- now you might say – why was this so important…and why was the seal necessary?...it was actually a sign of great hope…because Babylon was already besieging Jerusalem…and Jeremiah had clearly prophesied that Jerusalem was going to fall, that the people would be taken captive to Babylon…
- which is why Jeremiah was in jail because King Zedekiah didn’t like that message…
- but God has the prophet buy this piece of ground…seal the deed to the land which signified ownership…in this case, ultimately to God Himself…
- because here’s what happens next…
- Jeremiah 32:14–15 - ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Take these deeds, this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, that they may last a long time.” ‘For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Houses and fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.” ’
- in other words – yes, there’s going to be a captivity, but it won’t last forever…because ultimately who owns that land?...God Himself…which is one of the reasons that the deed needed to be sealed…
- and what happens to people like you and me when we listen to and believe the gospel?...we’re sealed…which we now belong to whom?...
- we belong to the Lord…
- how did Paul say it in Ephesians 1:14 – with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession…
- that’s also emphasized in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 - Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
- let’s pause and think about that one for a minute…
- You belong to God, right?... So,
- T/F – When you come to Christ, you are no longer enslaved.
- friends, that’s false…you go from being enslaved to a cruel taskmaster to being enslaved to a wonderful Father…
- Romans 6:22–23 - But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- that is why this chapter is not about our will or our glory…not at all…it’s about God’s will and His glory…
- and over our 60 year history…we’ve watched sisters and brothers endure all sorts of hardships with dignity and grace…why?...how?...
- because these…believers in the gospel…viewed themselves as being sealed…as a sign of divine ownership by a God whose ways are both mysterious and perfect…
- the metaphor also screams the message that…
3. Your salvation is irrevocable
- there are many examples of this emphasis in Scripture…
- like when Daniel’s enemies wanted to extinguish his life because of his faithfulness to his God
- amazingly, they couldn’t find any dirt…unless it related to his devotion to the Lord…
- so what did they do?... Well they did what any politician does, they ran a campaign ad and talked the king into approving the message…
- In all seriousness, they talked the king into signing a document that declared that anyone who prays to any god other than the king will be cast in the lion’s den…
- and if you read chapter 6…it’s amazing how much emphasis is played on that issue of getting the king to sign it…
- Daniel 6:12 - Then they approached and spoke before the king about the king’s injunction, “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions’ den?” The king replied, “The statement is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.”
- and what did all of them do when Daniel was cast in the den…
- Daniel 6:17 - A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel.
- was Daniel alone in that den?...no, the text says that the angel of God – perhaps the preincarnate Lord Jesus Christ…had been sent to shut the lion’s mouth…
- you have to imagine the thought that ran in His mind as the king and his nobles are affixing their seals to the stone…
- thinking – a more righteous seal is coming…a more powerful seal is coming…a more eternal seal is coming…and it can never be revoked…
- friend, what happened when you listened to and believed the gospel?...you were sealed in Him…with a mark that is authentic, binding, and irrevocable…
- and how long will that seal last?...Paul actually explains that later in this same book…
- Ephesians 4:30 - Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
- you might ask – Pastor – are you saying that I can’t lose my salvation?...that’s exactly what I’m saying…your salvation was not initiated by you, secured by you, or kept by you…and friends, that is very, very good news…
- and that is not something that I am making up on the spot or that your pastors are inventing…
-That is something that this church and many others have believed for centuries.
- If you don’t believe it, here is a picture of the program for the dedication of Faith’s first permanent facility in January of 1967 [Kari. Please insert a picture of the dedication with the words “Security of the Saved and John 10:26-29 highlighted]…
-Do you notice the highlighted words?... if you cannot see it, it says the church is dedicated to the belief of the Security of the Saved, referencing John 10:26 - 29
- Jesus is saying that we are in His hands and no one can snatch us away from Him, not even our own sin…
- This is because He lives within us… He indwells us and seals us…
- We can trust that we are His and that He will hold us fast…
-We can trust this…
B. Because of how it was predicted
- the prophet Joel predicted a day when…Joel 2:28 - “It will come about after this
That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind…
- Peter explained in Acts 2:16 that this was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost…the day the church of Jesus Christ was born…
- and the amazing reality is…we’re not talking about an impersonal seal of hot wax…
- we’re talking about a very personal, transforming seal on the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit of God…
- and please think about…
C. Because of what it provides
- our church is far from perfect…but there have been plenty of occasions of this church family accepting ministry responsibilities with significant courage and faith?...
- why?...because we believed we were sealed by, and therefore indwelt with the Holy Spirit of God…
- We would not be doing what we do if it weren’t for that…
- Paul concludes by encouraging us to…
III. Rejoice in the Future of God’s Seal on Your Life
- Ephesians 1:14 - who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
- there’s a lot of different ways to interpret that phrase pledge of our inheritance
- perhaps it includes this…as we progressively grow in Christ, walk in the Spirit, and allow Him to develop the Spirit’s fruit in us, it’s a foretaste of heaven and what it will be like to function fully and freely and completely as His own possession…
- that’s something else about this church family – again, not perfect – but do you know what you see a lot of around here?...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control…
- what does that signify?...people who have been…sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise…
- and when you think about the ministries to which the Lord has called us…we surely need those resources, huh?...
- Therefore, we are in deep need of the God that provides those resources…
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