May 24, 2015

1. May 24, 2015 That We Might Know…

2. What were you doing six years ago?

3. Ephesus: A City Church - Timeline - From: A Case Study of Ephesus Pete Hammond(Intervarsity)

5. 36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, 38 sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship. Acts 20:36-38

6. Ephesus

8. 15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

9. 15 Therefore…

10. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him Ephesians 1:14

11. Paul’s Inspiration to Pray 15Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

12. Paul’s Primary Request 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

13. 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

14. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 1 Corinthians 2:10-12

15. To know: 18the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

16. “An essential characteristic of Christianity is its ‘tilt’ toward the future, and Paul desires his readers to have a sense of what God’s present call means for their future.” C.F.D. Moule

17. My HOPE is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus NAME

18. When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh may I then in Him be found; Clothed in His righteousness alone Faultless to stand before the throne.

19. On Christ,the Solid Rock I stand All other ground is sinking sand All other ground is sinking sans

20. To know: 18the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of Hisinheritance in the saints,

21. HMS Kelly, Malta WWI

25. To know: 18the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

26. “…what is the hope of the calling of Him, what the riches of the glory of the inheritance of HIM in the saints…” Literal transcription: Ephesians 1:18(b)

27. Paul wants His audience – including us – • to appreciate: • the glory [present and future] that is an integral part of being called by the Father; AND • the delight that will be His when the FATHER inherits His own people

28. “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1Corinthians 2:9

29. To know: 19and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

30. [Calvin] points out that there is a logical flow here: “He first speaks of energy, a power in action; and then says that it comes from a force which is irresistible, which in turn comes from the ocean of God’s might, the eternity of God’s illimitable power.” Martyn Lloyd-Jones (God’s Ultimate Purpose)

31. To know: …20which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

32. an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door…3His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. Matthew 28:2(b)-4

33. To know: …His might power… 20which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

34. God’s right hand “the power which the Father has bestowed on Christ, that He may administer in His name the government of heaven and earth.”

35. God’s right hand “the power which the Father has bestowed on Christ, that He may administer in His name the government of heaven and earth.” In the heavenly places “…directs us to contemplate the heavenly glory amidst which our Lord Jesus dwells, the blessed immortality which He enjoys, and the dominion over angels to which He has been exalted.” John Calvin

36. What Next? • The focus here is not on God’s inherent power or some display of force

37. What Next? • The focus here is not on God’s inherent power or some display of force • The focus here is on God’s life-giving power specifically available IN believers.

38. What Next? • Paul’s prayer emphasis is on God’s planning and working in believers:

39. What Next? • Paul’s prayer emphasis is on God’s planning and working in believers: • for our salvationand

40. What Next? • Paul’s prayer emphasis is on God’s planning and working in believers: • for our salvation and • for our living for Him