Title: Worshiping God the Father Meta: The worship of God in the New Testament always begins with God the Father. We are never right, balanced, or in accord with God's Word if our worship starts and ends with the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus is indeed most worthy of our praise, but we must start with the God of our Lord Jesus...the Father of Glory! Tags: Ephesians,God,Father,Worship 1 00:00:00,099 --> 00:00:04,285 You can open your Bibles to Ephesians chapter one. 2 00:00:04,286 --> 00:00:09,751 "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, 3 00:00:09,752 --> 00:00:16,473 to the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 4 00:00:16,474 --> 00:00:22,112 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (P) 5 00:00:22,113 --> 00:00:25,114 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 6 00:00:25,115 --> 00:00:31,381 who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 7 00:00:31,381 --> 00:00:35,296 even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, 8 00:00:35,297 --> 00:00:38,697 that we should be holy and blameless before Him. 9 00:00:38,698 --> 00:00:43,741 In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, 10 00:00:43,742 --> 00:00:48,780 according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, 11 00:00:48,781 --> 00:00:53,097 with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. 12 00:00:53,098 --> 00:00:55,664 In Him we have redemption through His blood, 13 00:00:55,665 --> 00:00:57,878 the forgiveness of our trespasses, 14 00:00:57,879 --> 00:01:00,005 according to the riches of His grace 15 00:01:00,006 --> 00:01:03,723 which He lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight, 16 00:01:03,724 --> 00:01:08,776 making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, 17 00:01:08,777 --> 00:01:13,602 which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, 18 00:01:13,603 --> 00:01:17,413 to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth. (P) 19 00:01:17,414 --> 00:01:20,071 In Him we have obtained an inheritance, 20 00:01:20,072 --> 00:01:23,366 having been predestined according to the purpose of Him 21 00:01:23,367 --> 00:01:27,622 who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 22 00:01:27,623 --> 00:01:30,323 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ 23 00:01:30,324 --> 00:01:32,476 might be to the praise of his glory. 24 00:01:32,477 --> 00:01:35,417 In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, 25 00:01:35,418 --> 00:01:36,994 the gospel of your salvation, 26 00:01:36,995 --> 00:01:40,881 and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 27 00:01:40,882 --> 00:01:46,138 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, 28 00:01:46,139 --> 00:01:49,008 to the praise of His glory." (P) 29 00:01:49,009 --> 00:01:51,345 Let's pray. 30 00:01:51,346 --> 00:01:59,674 Father, You have allowed some of Your thoughts, 31 00:01:59,675 --> 00:02:04,006 Your purposes and Your plans 32 00:02:04,007 --> 00:02:14,127 to be revealed to the holy apostles and prophets by way of Your Spirit. 33 00:02:14,128 --> 00:02:21,471 You have revealed, and they are being declared. 34 00:02:21,472 --> 00:02:27,639 You're letting us in to the realm of Your own knowledge, 35 00:02:27,640 --> 00:02:30,862 Your ways and Your purposes. 36 00:02:30,863 --> 00:02:36,547 Lord, there is a reason why You have told us these exact things. 37 00:02:36,548 --> 00:02:44,543 And I pray, Lord, give us the grace as a church to be able to draw out, 38 00:02:44,544 --> 00:02:49,508 to suck the nectar out, whatever that is. 39 00:02:49,509 --> 00:02:57,819 Lord, may You help us to just span the depths 40 00:02:57,820 --> 00:03:02,481 and to reach the heights and to be able to lay hold. 41 00:03:02,482 --> 00:03:07,730 Lord, I pray that we would be changed as a result of the rich truths that are found here. 42 00:03:07,731 --> 00:03:14,397 Lord, I can speak, and I can say things. 43 00:03:14,398 --> 00:03:18,318 These are your truths, and I pray that You would empower them 44 00:03:18,319 --> 00:03:23,499 in a way that would help us to be what You want us to be. 45 00:03:23,500 --> 00:03:28,588 We find in Your Word that You are looking for those to worship You in spirit and truth. 46 00:03:28,589 --> 00:03:34,096 And I pray, Father, that as we go through these verses, may that be a reality. 47 00:03:34,097 --> 00:03:41,522 May we be those kind of people: worshipers in spirit and in truth. 48 00:03:41,523 --> 00:03:48,199 Lord, may our capacity to be that be enlarged. 49 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,402 We ask for help in this place. 50 00:03:51,403 --> 00:03:56,666 I ask in Christ's name, Amen. (P) 51 00:03:58,359 --> 00:04:07,344 Well really, verse 3, the first word - Blessed. 52 00:04:07,345 --> 00:04:14,577 Paul pretty much sets the agenda for my sermon 53 00:04:14,578 --> 00:04:20,167 as I am going to transition from verse 2 to verse 3. 54 00:04:20,168 --> 00:04:23,499 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 55 00:04:23,500 --> 00:04:28,461 who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places." 56 00:04:28,462 --> 00:04:32,602 Blessed be the God and Father. 57 00:04:32,603 --> 00:04:36,553 Now look, if we read this calmly and coolly, 58 00:04:36,554 --> 00:04:46,569 if we just simply read this like sometimes we are so apt to do; 59 00:04:46,570 --> 00:04:54,048 if your devotional time lands you in Ephesians chapter 1, 60 00:04:54,049 --> 00:04:56,340 you know, probably you just woke up 61 00:04:56,341 --> 00:04:58,617 and you're barely even into your coffee, 62 00:04:58,618 --> 00:05:03,729 and you start reading this - "Blessed be the God and Father," 63 00:05:03,730 --> 00:05:07,684 I don't doubt that most of us have read that verse 64 00:05:07,685 --> 00:05:12,983 without feeling the passion that Paul felt with it. (P) 65 00:05:12,984 --> 00:05:18,182 And you know what the struggle is? 66 00:05:18,183 --> 00:05:25,769 It's kind of like sitting in a service - I was speaking to somebody this week, 67 00:05:25,770 --> 00:05:32,696 and they said that they believe their lost and they've been sitting in a service, 68 00:05:32,697 --> 00:05:35,054 and they've been watching Christians. 69 00:05:35,055 --> 00:05:39,728 And this guy said that he saw other Christians 70 00:05:39,729 --> 00:05:44,562 as they were talking about the truth from John 17 71 00:05:44,563 --> 00:05:49,281 about the fact that the love that God has for His Son, 72 00:05:49,282 --> 00:05:51,436 we get drawn into that love. 73 00:05:51,437 --> 00:05:55,328 The love God has for His Son is the same love He has for us. 74 00:05:55,329 --> 00:06:00,697 And this guy was saying that it was being shared in a prayer meeting, 75 00:06:00,698 --> 00:06:04,659 and that God's people were relating to that, and there was some excitement. 76 00:06:04,660 --> 00:06:07,248 And he said, "I couldn't enter in." 77 00:06:07,249 --> 00:06:10,252 And sometimes, we are in the same place, even if we are Christians. 78 00:06:10,253 --> 00:06:14,772 We can look at the apostle Paul, we hear him explode out. 79 00:06:14,773 --> 00:06:18,343 Paul starts with this tremendous burst of praise, 80 00:06:18,344 --> 00:06:21,987 and obviously he wasn't faking it. 81 00:06:21,988 --> 00:06:25,881 It came from some reality that was welling up within him. 82 00:06:25,882 --> 00:06:35,894 And the problem that we have is, we sit back and we don't feel what he feels. (P) 83 00:06:35,894 --> 00:06:40,184 Now, obviously, Paul knows what he is about to say. 84 00:06:40,185 --> 00:06:44,165 And how he feels in this "blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" 85 00:06:44,166 --> 00:06:49,221 is obviously coming from what he knows he is about to say. 86 00:06:49,222 --> 00:06:52,972 If we had the ability, I was just thinking about this. 87 00:06:52,973 --> 00:07:02,057 Obviously, nothing about this required Paul to actually cry out audibly with his voice. 88 00:07:02,058 --> 00:07:05,333 You know, you can feel excited on the inside, and then pen that on paper. 89 00:07:05,334 --> 00:07:08,664 And I was thinking, even if he didn't make any external noise, 90 00:07:08,665 --> 00:07:11,522 there is a decibel level to this. 91 00:07:11,523 --> 00:07:13,702 I mean, as far as what was happening in his heart 92 00:07:13,703 --> 00:07:15,838 and came out through the end of that pen. 93 00:07:15,839 --> 00:07:18,837 And I was just thinking that if we had the ability 94 00:07:18,838 --> 00:07:23,810 to measure the decibel level of Paul's heart, what is this? 95 00:07:23,811 --> 00:07:30,970 Is this cold, cool, calm, collected, dry, emotionless? 96 00:07:30,971 --> 00:07:33,302 I think it's a shout. Right? 97 00:07:33,303 --> 00:07:34,775 That's what you're getting from him. 98 00:07:34,776 --> 00:07:37,239 And that's what these truths ought to do to us. (P) 99 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:42,040 You see, the first thing we recognize is this: Even if I don't feel like Paul feels, 100 00:07:42,041 --> 00:07:46,845 I recognize that this truth ought to produce that response. 101 00:07:46,846 --> 00:07:49,867 And if it's not producing that response in me, 102 00:07:49,868 --> 00:07:52,722 well, a couple of things might be the issue. 103 00:07:52,723 --> 00:07:58,633 One, I may not understand the things Paul understands that produced this. 104 00:07:58,634 --> 00:08:02,328 And if that's the case, then I need to understand them. 105 00:08:02,329 --> 00:08:04,661 The other thing is, I might be exposed to the same truths, 106 00:08:04,662 --> 00:08:06,687 but like this guy that was talking to me, 107 00:08:06,688 --> 00:08:13,108 it is possible to sit among God's people and hear the truths that they are hearing, 108 00:08:13,109 --> 00:08:16,562 but not feel the joy that they feel. 109 00:08:16,563 --> 00:08:20,947 Why? Well, because you are on the outside looking in. 110 00:08:20,948 --> 00:08:23,111 And so, you don't want to be there. 111 00:08:23,112 --> 00:08:26,751 I mean, Jesus says, "Come to Me," there is no reason to stay on the outside. 112 00:08:26,752 --> 00:08:30,700 "Come, come," He is inviting you to come. (P) 113 00:08:30,701 --> 00:08:40,275 But when I see this, you see, this is kind of a barometer on our own spiritual well being. 114 00:08:40,275 --> 00:08:42,846 Because I look at the apostle Paul, and I say, you know what? 115 00:08:42,847 --> 00:08:47,365 Sinner saved by grace; he is an apostle, he is under inspiration. 116 00:08:47,366 --> 00:08:49,836 He obviously, being under inspiration, means 117 00:08:49,837 --> 00:08:56,288 Paul is showing the proper proportion of affection and heart and joy. 118 00:08:56,289 --> 00:08:59,562 He is under inspiration as he's reading this. 119 00:08:59,563 --> 00:09:02,997 But you got to believe the Spirit of God is carrying him along 120 00:09:02,998 --> 00:09:07,941 in more than just what to say, but how to say it. 121 00:09:07,942 --> 00:09:11,100 And if he is saying, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ;" 122 00:09:11,101 --> 00:09:14,953 if he is erupting in praise, the Spirit of God is leading him along. 123 00:09:14,954 --> 00:09:17,612 And so what I can do is use that as kind of a mirror, 124 00:09:17,613 --> 00:09:21,597 and I look at that and I say, "Does that resemble anything in my life?" 125 00:09:21,598 --> 00:09:24,269 Now look, Paul undoubtedly had the mornings, 126 00:09:24,270 --> 00:09:27,909 you've heard Andy Hamilton say - dead as a hammer. 127 00:09:27,910 --> 00:09:32,171 You know, we can all relate to that. 128 00:09:32,172 --> 00:09:34,117 The times when we have gone to the Word of God, 129 00:09:34,118 --> 00:09:38,362 and how many of you have tried to read the Word, and you know, you're falling asleep. (P) 130 00:09:38,363 --> 00:09:41,677 Once in a while, my wife will try to leave coffee alone, and she says, 131 00:09:41,678 --> 00:09:45,395 "I just can't do it, because I fall asleep," when she is studying the Word. 132 00:09:45,396 --> 00:09:46,999 Maybe some of you can relate to that. 133 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:50,724 You try to read the Bible at just a time when you are distracted, 134 00:09:50,725 --> 00:09:53,088 or a time of the day that's not good. 135 00:09:53,089 --> 00:09:56,338 We all know that. Paul would have known that. 136 00:09:56,339 --> 00:10:00,974 But what we can do is, we can look at this and we can say this is a measurement. 137 00:10:00,975 --> 00:10:03,729 This is a barometer. This is a thermometer. 138 00:10:03,730 --> 00:10:09,387 This is a measuring device of how it's proper to respond to the kind of truths 139 00:10:09,388 --> 00:10:13,678 that Paul is going to lay out before us. 140 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:18,002 You know what the proper response is to these things? 141 00:10:18,003 --> 00:10:19,289 Praise. 142 00:10:19,290 --> 00:10:23,848 The proper response is worship. 143 00:10:23,849 --> 00:10:32,633 If the truths that we learn do not produce worship and praise and outburst, 144 00:10:32,634 --> 00:10:34,476 then we are really not processing them right, 145 00:10:34,477 --> 00:10:39,256 because God wants us to process them this way. 146 00:10:39,257 --> 00:10:44,827 Praise and joy and worship and exaltation and adoration; 147 00:10:44,828 --> 00:10:47,616 that needs to be our response. (P) 148 00:10:47,617 --> 00:10:51,476 We need to recognize this. Why did God save us in the first place? 149 00:10:51,477 --> 00:10:53,580 Why did God even plan this? 150 00:10:53,581 --> 00:10:57,496 What Paul is going to repeatedly tell us is: For His glory. 151 00:10:57,497 --> 00:11:00,231 He wants to be recognized by this. 152 00:11:00,232 --> 00:11:02,877 He wants us to glory in Him. 153 00:11:02,878 --> 00:11:04,501 He wants us to come back to Him. 154 00:11:04,502 --> 00:11:08,181 He wants us to take and embrace these truths, and drink them in, 155 00:11:08,182 --> 00:11:12,737 and see who He is; and He wants response. 156 00:11:12,738 --> 00:11:16,166 That response that can just look at the truths of salvation 157 00:11:16,167 --> 00:11:18,310 and look at the truths of God's character, 158 00:11:18,311 --> 00:11:23,074 the God behind all these aspects of our salvation, 159 00:11:23,075 --> 00:11:25,821 that God who did these things. (P) 160 00:11:25,822 --> 00:11:28,313 We sang it in the song about the angels. 161 00:11:28,314 --> 00:11:33,833 I mean, one song we said was that the angels basically can stop inquiring; 162 00:11:33,834 --> 00:11:35,491 they can stop asking. 163 00:11:35,492 --> 00:11:39,463 But, (how did the line go?) 164 00:11:39,464 --> 00:11:41,926 [Audience Speaks]. 165 00:11:41,927 --> 00:11:43,245 Say it loud. 166 00:11:43,246 --> 00:11:45,054 [Audience Speaks]. 167 00:11:45,055 --> 00:11:46,625 The angels what? 168 00:11:46,626 --> 00:11:51,679 [Audience Speaks]. 169 00:11:51,680 --> 00:11:54,472 Yeah, "Inquire no more." 170 00:11:54,473 --> 00:12:00,763 What? You know, that's Wesley lifted up with great ability in song writing. 171 00:12:00,764 --> 00:12:04,638 But, and I recognize what he is saying. 172 00:12:04,639 --> 00:12:08,063 Do you recognize what he is saying? 173 00:12:08,064 --> 00:12:13,973 Why would he say that they can inquire no more? 174 00:12:13,974 --> 00:12:18,380 [Audience speaks]. 175 00:12:18,381 --> 00:12:22,691 God is enough? 176 00:12:22,692 --> 00:12:26,997 Probably what he means there is that such things have happened 177 00:12:26,998 --> 00:12:30,903 and been brought to the surface and made public, 178 00:12:30,904 --> 00:12:32,791 that they need not inquire anymore. 179 00:12:32,792 --> 00:12:34,688 Christ has done what Christ has done. 180 00:12:34,689 --> 00:12:40,128 I don't know, but the fact is, inquisitive and inquiring and finding out and learning, 181 00:12:40,129 --> 00:12:42,085 and coming to greater and greater knowledge, 182 00:12:42,086 --> 00:12:45,834 and seeking to look into these things and processing them, 183 00:12:45,835 --> 00:12:48,288 and coming to know more and more who He is, 184 00:12:48,289 --> 00:12:53,135 and having a response on our part that reacts to these truths that we come to. (P) 185 00:12:53,136 --> 00:12:55,836 Brethren, let's just think about worship for a second. 186 00:12:55,837 --> 00:12:57,764 What is worship? 187 00:12:57,765 --> 00:13:03,124 Is worship just basically bringing up a chorus, 188 00:13:03,125 --> 00:13:05,545 you know how it is in some churches, any of you been in a church 189 00:13:05,546 --> 00:13:10,221 where they just sang the same chorus over and over and over and over, 190 00:13:10,222 --> 00:13:14,197 any of you been exposed to that? 191 00:13:14,198 --> 00:13:21,944 And you know what? The thought is, that produces worship. 192 00:13:21,945 --> 00:13:26,066 What that produces is mindless affection, 193 00:13:26,067 --> 00:13:30,463 and that's the devil's playground, when we don't think. 194 00:13:30,464 --> 00:13:34,197 That's not what Scripture wants of us, that's not what God wants of us. 195 00:13:34,198 --> 00:13:39,784 Listen, what worship is, is when our minds first lay hold of doctrine; 196 00:13:39,785 --> 00:13:42,544 when it lays hold of truth; 197 00:13:42,545 --> 00:13:46,618 and we are so moved by that truth that it moves our heart, 198 00:13:46,619 --> 00:13:49,877 and moves our affections - to where? - 199 00:13:49,877 --> 00:13:53,640 to where we feel small because we see He is big. 200 00:13:53,641 --> 00:13:55,513 Where we recognize how big He is. 201 00:13:55,514 --> 00:14:02,099 Where we are brought to a place of recognizing what God is, and who God is, 202 00:14:02,100 --> 00:14:07,282 and the greatness of who God is, and things about His character and His attributes. (P) 203 00:14:07,283 --> 00:14:13,614 Brethren, God saved us the way God saved us to teach us about Him. 204 00:14:13,615 --> 00:14:18,027 The reality of eternal life is to come to know God. 205 00:14:18,028 --> 00:14:22,675 And God does what God does so that He might be known by what He does. 206 00:14:22,676 --> 00:14:26,309 He did not do this salvation just because; 207 00:14:26,310 --> 00:14:29,824 He did it because He meant for the angels to inquire. 208 00:14:29,825 --> 00:14:31,770 He meant for us to watch. 209 00:14:31,771 --> 00:14:33,517 And He meant for us to learn, 210 00:14:33,518 --> 00:14:37,054 and He meant for us to be filled with wonder and to be blown away. 211 00:14:37,055 --> 00:14:44,001 And you see, when I grasp doctrine — deep, heavy-duty doctrine — about who God is, 212 00:14:44,002 --> 00:14:48,794 that's where my affections get lifted up and they break forth, 213 00:14:48,795 --> 00:14:51,459 because I'm impacted by this. 214 00:14:51,460 --> 00:14:57,626 Not this chorus over and over that kind of fills me with this fuzzy feeling. 215 00:14:57,627 --> 00:15:02,493 Typically, chorus singing like that and those kind of worship services 216 00:15:02,494 --> 00:15:05,584 aren't really the kind of biblical worship that we find here. 217 00:15:05,585 --> 00:15:09,296 What Paul is going to do is take us to the mountain ranges 218 00:15:09,297 --> 00:15:13,681 of some of the most majestic truth imaginable. (P) 219 00:15:13,682 --> 00:15:16,032 I mean, you can hardly compare. 220 00:15:16,033 --> 00:15:22,852 I recognize, Romans, yeah that's long and extensive and takes us deep. 221 00:15:22,853 --> 00:15:26,555 But as far as the majesty of our salvation, 222 00:15:26,556 --> 00:15:31,508 really there is no more majestic Epistle in our Bibles 223 00:15:31,509 --> 00:15:33,799 than what we are going to find right here in Ephesus. 224 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:40,177 I mean, this is Paul taking us up into the heavenly places again and again and again. 225 00:15:40,178 --> 00:15:43,884 And what he says is, "For the praise of His glory." 226 00:15:43,885 --> 00:15:45,700 This is what it's all about. 227 00:15:45,701 --> 00:15:50,188 It's that I see who God is by what God has done, 228 00:15:50,189 --> 00:15:52,655 and the glory is revealed to me. 229 00:15:52,656 --> 00:15:55,091 And what that does is, it gets processed here; 230 00:15:55,092 --> 00:15:57,886 but God did not mean for us to stay here. 231 00:15:57,887 --> 00:16:00,376 God did not just make us thinking creatures, 232 00:16:00,377 --> 00:16:03,524 He made us feeling creatures and He gave us affection. 233 00:16:03,525 --> 00:16:08,529 These cold reformed churches that don't want to show [affection], 234 00:16:08,530 --> 00:16:12,476 you know, the kind of churches that rebuked Bob Jennings for raising his hand, 235 00:16:12,477 --> 00:16:15,055 that is not what God wants. 236 00:16:15,056 --> 00:16:19,192 He doesn't want us so cold, in light of these truths, 237 00:16:19,193 --> 00:16:22,144 that we don't respond to them. 238 00:16:22,145 --> 00:16:23,711 He wants us to respond. 239 00:16:23,712 --> 00:16:25,195 And that's what Paul is doing. 240 00:16:25,196 --> 00:16:26,558 You see, the thing about it is, 241 00:16:26,559 --> 00:16:30,192 we typically are going to respond after we hear what Paul says; 242 00:16:30,193 --> 00:16:34,071 but because Paul is the author, he knows what he is going to say before he says it. 243 00:16:34,072 --> 00:16:38,745 That is why he is erupting in "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" 244 00:16:38,746 --> 00:16:40,752 as he is getting underway. 245 00:16:40,753 --> 00:16:45,857 Because he already knows, he is already feeling the glory resonating with himself. (P) 246 00:16:45,858 --> 00:16:49,933 So, what is happening here? I'll tell you what is happening. 247 00:16:49,934 --> 00:16:56,502 You open this letter, and you've got Ephesians who are now Christians. 248 00:16:56,503 --> 00:16:58,771 Who are they? They are saints. 249 00:16:58,772 --> 00:17:03,123 They are full of faith. They are in Christ. 250 00:17:03,124 --> 00:17:09,877 They are objects of God's grace and peace. 251 00:17:09,878 --> 00:17:13,333 These guys were idol worshipers not too long ago. 252 00:17:13,334 --> 00:17:16,912 It's kinda like the people in here. 253 00:17:16,913 --> 00:17:21,478 I was at Craig's on Friday night 254 00:17:21,479 --> 00:17:26,310 and we got talking about the place that we used to work in Michigan; 255 00:17:26,311 --> 00:17:29,949 and part of the time I worked there, I was lost. 256 00:17:29,950 --> 00:17:34,414 And it really started making me think about when I was lost. 257 00:17:34,415 --> 00:17:38,147 Sunday mornings - 258 00:17:38,148 --> 00:17:46,678 a time to clear the cobwebs out of your head from the sin the night before. 259 00:17:46,679 --> 00:17:53,567 We got a room full of people that 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 25 years ago, 260 00:17:53,568 --> 00:17:58,432 just like these Ephesians, going our own way, doing our own thing. 261 00:17:58,433 --> 00:18:01,295 And now you have saints. 262 00:18:01,296 --> 00:18:05,299 It's like, how is all this made possible? 263 00:18:05,300 --> 00:18:06,651 How does this happen? 264 00:18:06,652 --> 00:18:10,469 What accounts for Christians? 265 00:18:10,470 --> 00:18:12,532 That's really where Paul is going with all this. (P) 266 00:18:12,533 --> 00:18:20,119 What accounts for our salvation from God's perspective? 267 00:18:20,120 --> 00:18:21,970 Where does he start? 268 00:18:21,971 --> 00:18:24,205 Oh, he doesn't start with us. 269 00:18:24,206 --> 00:18:28,117 He doesn't start with our faith. He doesn't start with our freewill. 270 00:18:28,118 --> 00:18:30,035 He starts with God. 271 00:18:30,036 --> 00:18:36,469 And he starts with God in eternity past, before the foundation of the world, 272 00:18:36,470 --> 00:18:42,436 because our salvation isn't a reaction in time. 273 00:18:42,437 --> 00:18:43,962 A lot of people have this idea: 274 00:18:43,963 --> 00:18:48,576 "Oh, Adam fell, now God had to come up with some way to resolve that." 275 00:18:48,577 --> 00:18:50,596 No no no no no. 276 00:18:50,597 --> 00:18:58,220 Before the foundation of the world, God had already purposed to save. 277 00:18:58,221 --> 00:19:01,753 You see, that means that God knew we were going to fall beforehand. 278 00:19:01,754 --> 00:19:03,218 "Why did He make us?" 279 00:19:03,219 --> 00:19:05,804 You see, a lot of times, people ask that question, 280 00:19:05,805 --> 00:19:13,053 "Wait! If God knew we were going to fall, before the foundation of the world, 281 00:19:13,054 --> 00:19:14,751 why make us at all? 282 00:19:14,752 --> 00:19:16,431 Or why not make us to not fall?" 283 00:19:16,432 --> 00:19:21,147 Don't you recognize, it's because the fall, it's because Satan being here, 284 00:19:21,148 --> 00:19:23,634 it's because man being in the state man is in, 285 00:19:23,635 --> 00:19:29,769 it's because of the whole way that this whole matter is orchestrated in this world today; 286 00:19:29,770 --> 00:19:32,082 brethren, it's not like this by chance. 287 00:19:32,083 --> 00:19:43,311 It's like this because this is how God thought to most precisely demonstrate Himself to us. (P) 288 00:19:43,312 --> 00:19:47,832 Don't you recognize if there wasn't sin, there is much we would not know about God. 289 00:19:47,833 --> 00:19:50,746 If God didn't rescue people from sin, 290 00:19:50,747 --> 00:19:54,706 there would be much we would not know about God. 291 00:19:54,707 --> 00:19:58,551 God does what God does to put Himself on display. 292 00:19:58,552 --> 00:20:01,485 And the thing is, before you say, "Well, that sounds selfish. 293 00:20:01,486 --> 00:20:03,993 That sounds self-absorbed." 294 00:20:03,994 --> 00:20:07,787 But the thing you have to recognize is this: 295 00:20:07,788 --> 00:20:13,811 That God is who God is, 296 00:20:13,812 --> 00:20:18,544 and this stuff all resonates with the glory of who He is. 297 00:20:18,545 --> 00:20:21,956 And the thing is, He really is indeed worthy; 298 00:20:21,957 --> 00:20:26,699 and when He demonstrates these realities, they really are glorious. 299 00:20:26,700 --> 00:20:31,934 And to be objects that He saves and reveals these things to, is, 300 00:20:31,935 --> 00:20:37,862 brethren, for a created being, this is the height. 301 00:20:37,863 --> 00:20:44,320 This is the height of love, and this is the height of God's compassion and kindness. 302 00:20:44,321 --> 00:20:45,835 What you have to recognize is this: 303 00:20:45,836 --> 00:20:50,935 if eternal life is to know the one true God and the Christ that He sent, 304 00:20:50,936 --> 00:20:55,764 for God to do the things that He's done so that we might come to know Him 305 00:20:55,765 --> 00:20:57,743 in a way that we would have never known Him, 306 00:20:57,744 --> 00:21:02,248 if He had not allowed man to fall into sin and to be rescued from it, 307 00:21:02,249 --> 00:21:06,440 what God is doing is He is opening our eyes to realities about Himself 308 00:21:06,441 --> 00:21:09,024 that are going to pull us in and sweep us into the glory, 309 00:21:09,025 --> 00:21:13,070 more than we ever would have been able to otherwise. 310 00:21:13,071 --> 00:21:26,071 To God's elect, this is a manifestation of love to us that really should blow us away. (P) 311 00:21:26,072 --> 00:21:34,427 So, I want to point something out right here at the beginning. 312 00:21:34,428 --> 00:21:36,726 We need to recognize this. 313 00:21:36,727 --> 00:21:44,129 The key to worshiping God is not repetitious choruses. 314 00:21:44,130 --> 00:21:50,513 It's not soft music that's going to start playing five minutes before I finish the message, 315 00:21:50,514 --> 00:21:55,705 and get turned up by increments as I get to the end. 316 00:21:55,706 --> 00:22:04,641 What Scripture tells us, the very heart, the very fuel of true worship is knowledge. 317 00:22:04,642 --> 00:22:06,380 Don't miss that. 318 00:22:06,381 --> 00:22:11,915 A lot of people scoff at doctrine as though it's not needed. 319 00:22:11,916 --> 00:22:16,207 "Doctrine, it's a lot of [learning]. Doctrine divides." 320 00:22:16,208 --> 00:22:20,517 Listen, doctrine divides because truth divides. 321 00:22:20,518 --> 00:22:23,871 And truth is always going to divide us from those who hold to error. 322 00:22:23,872 --> 00:22:28,441 But the thing is this: Doctrine is teaching. 323 00:22:28,442 --> 00:22:31,203 And the truth is that worship is going to come 324 00:22:31,204 --> 00:22:36,148 as we come to have a fuller and greater knowledge of who God is. (P) 325 00:22:36,149 --> 00:22:40,582 Knowledge; you say, "Are you sure? Are you sure?" 326 00:22:40,583 --> 00:22:41,815 Yeah, I am sure. 327 00:22:41,816 --> 00:22:44,748 A lack of knowledge is at the root of most of our problems. 328 00:22:44,749 --> 00:22:46,407 Just look at the letter here. 329 00:22:46,408 --> 00:22:52,646 Ephesians 1:16, let your eyes cruise to the next page probably, 330 00:22:52,647 --> 00:22:58,309 Ephesians 1:16, " I do not cease to give thanks for you, 331 00:22:58,310 --> 00:23:00,507 remembering you in my prayers," 332 00:23:00,508 --> 00:23:03,824 How is Paul praying for them? 333 00:23:03,825 --> 00:23:07,707 "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, 334 00:23:07,708 --> 00:23:12,472 may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him." 335 00:23:12,473 --> 00:23:15,146 Did you get that? This is his prayer. 336 00:23:15,147 --> 00:23:20,751 "Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, 337 00:23:20,752 --> 00:23:23,204 that you may know - there's knowledge - 338 00:23:23,205 --> 00:23:26,571 that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you." 339 00:23:26,572 --> 00:23:32,064 Now go further, Ephesians 4:13. 340 00:23:32,065 --> 00:23:35,561 We see that Christ gave gifts to men, and He gave apostles, prophets, 341 00:23:35,562 --> 00:23:38,398 evangelists, pastors, teachers - to do what? - 342 00:23:38,399 --> 00:23:40,444 to equip the saints for the work of ministry. 343 00:23:40,445 --> 00:23:45,693 When you get to verse 13, "Until we all attain to the unity of the faith 344 00:23:45,694 --> 00:23:48,047 and of the knowledge of the Son of God." 345 00:23:48,048 --> 00:23:50,642 You see, that is the direction. 346 00:23:50,643 --> 00:23:53,664 That is where we are headed if we want maturity. 347 00:23:53,665 --> 00:23:56,101 That is where the church gets built up. 348 00:23:56,102 --> 00:23:59,987 That is how the church doesn't get blown about by every wind of doctrine. 349 00:23:59,988 --> 00:24:03,478 That is how we defend ourselves against the wiles of the devil 350 00:24:03,479 --> 00:24:05,161 and all the errors in this world. 351 00:24:05,162 --> 00:24:09,351 That is how we defend ourselves against worshiplessness. 352 00:24:09,352 --> 00:24:11,977 How? Knowledge. Knowledge. 353 00:24:11,978 --> 00:24:15,851 Your hearts enlightened so that you may know something. (P) 354 00:24:15,852 --> 00:24:21,462 If you don't know..., listen, ignorance is a problem in the church. 355 00:24:21,463 --> 00:24:22,700 Ignorance. 356 00:24:22,701 --> 00:24:24,724 Ignorance does not help. 357 00:24:24,725 --> 00:24:31,554 Bible-less Christians, if there is such a thing, is bad news. 358 00:24:31,555 --> 00:24:36,900 It leads to all manner of decay and breakdown, 359 00:24:36,901 --> 00:24:41,705 instability and weakness and sickness. 360 00:24:41,706 --> 00:24:44,703 The key to worship is knowledge. 361 00:24:44,704 --> 00:24:48,942 A lack of knowledge, a lack of understanding, what does it lead to? 362 00:24:48,943 --> 00:24:51,322 It leads to all manner of things. 363 00:24:51,323 --> 00:24:54,952 It's the root of so many of our problems and our troubles. (P) 364 00:24:54,953 --> 00:24:56,842 Doctrine is what we need. 365 00:24:56,843 --> 00:25:00,500 And what the apostle Paul is going to do is, he wants us to praise God, 366 00:25:00,501 --> 00:25:05,628 as he's going to give us some of the richest, deepest, most amazing doctrine. 367 00:25:05,629 --> 00:25:12,564 Why? I mean, what happens when you fill your head with truth? 368 00:25:12,565 --> 00:25:21,586 Well, what happens is, for one thing, your faith cannot latch on to what you don't know. 369 00:25:21,587 --> 00:25:24,306 We are to be people who walk by faith, 370 00:25:24,307 --> 00:25:30,353 but your faith can't be rich and full and overflowing 371 00:25:30,354 --> 00:25:33,998 if there isn't something there to believe. 372 00:25:33,999 --> 00:25:40,143 But the other thing is, as Christians who possess the Spirit of God, 373 00:25:40,144 --> 00:25:45,293 what is interesting is, the Spirit of God works in conjunction with the Word of God 374 00:25:45,294 --> 00:25:50,939 in such a way that as we come to know, God moves. 375 00:25:50,940 --> 00:25:53,259 Your heart is enlightened. 376 00:25:53,260 --> 00:25:56,543 What happens is: light in the heart. 377 00:25:56,544 --> 00:25:59,589 What happens is, things become clear and you behold them. 378 00:25:59,590 --> 00:26:02,302 And as you behold them, you experience them. 379 00:26:02,303 --> 00:26:05,913 And what God does is He visits us in that truth. 380 00:26:05,914 --> 00:26:07,094 God comes. 381 00:26:07,095 --> 00:26:08,639 We heard about it from David. 382 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:10,885 He talked about the root of all of our joy. 383 00:26:10,886 --> 00:26:12,867 It's got to do with the presence of God. 384 00:26:12,868 --> 00:26:15,935 Brethren, this isn't just some dry, dead Book. 385 00:26:15,936 --> 00:26:20,599 What we read is that the truth here is active and it's powerful. 386 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:26,333 And what happens as we behold these things is, God rushes in with His presence 387 00:26:26,334 --> 00:26:29,512 and He causes us to experience these things. 388 00:26:29,513 --> 00:26:33,199 It impacts us. (P) 389 00:26:34,676 --> 00:26:46,399 So, I was meeting with a brother, Thursday maybe, 390 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:50,403 who presently is in another church. 391 00:26:50,404 --> 00:26:55,166 And he and his wife are contemplating moving to this church; 392 00:26:55,167 --> 00:26:56,700 and he wanted to meet with me. 393 00:26:56,701 --> 00:27:06,571 As we were discussing things, we got to talking about accountability partners. 394 00:27:06,572 --> 00:27:12,161 Let me tell you something; I see this on a regular basis. 395 00:27:12,162 --> 00:27:21,310 Young Christians who feel like, "The secret to me really becoming a godly man, 396 00:27:21,311 --> 00:27:24,331 or godly young woman - I need a mentor. 397 00:27:24,332 --> 00:27:26,142 Or, I need an accountability partner." 398 00:27:26,143 --> 00:27:29,520 I see that on a regular basis. 399 00:27:29,521 --> 00:27:34,975 Listen, think about the moral compulsion behind an accountability partner. 400 00:27:34,976 --> 00:27:37,829 "OK, I am living my life, and I am thinking, 'You know, if I fall into that sin, 401 00:27:37,830 --> 00:27:46,016 I'm going to meet with Joe on Friday, and I'll have to admit it to him.'" 402 00:27:46,017 --> 00:27:51,550 Let me tell you something: Paul doesn't believe that the primary thing we need 403 00:27:51,551 --> 00:27:54,845 to live the Christian life is an accountability partner. 404 00:27:54,846 --> 00:27:59,556 I'm not necessarily knocking that we hold one another accountable. 405 00:27:59,557 --> 00:28:01,543 But listen, if you're going to hold one another accountable, 406 00:28:01,544 --> 00:28:03,379 then you need to do what Paul did. 407 00:28:03,380 --> 00:28:07,336 Not just say, "Tell me about your life over the last week, did you sin or not?" 408 00:28:07,337 --> 00:28:13,162 You need to be implanting the same truths into the heads of your brethren 409 00:28:13,163 --> 00:28:16,947 that we see being put in their heads right here in this letter. 410 00:28:16,948 --> 00:28:18,214 This is what helps. (P) 411 00:28:18,215 --> 00:28:28,770 I'll tell you this: When somebody is beholding glories of God that impact their lives, 412 00:28:28,771 --> 00:28:34,482 when God sweeps in with His presence as you come to know some new reality, 413 00:28:34,483 --> 00:28:37,837 some new glory about the God behind your salvation, 414 00:28:37,838 --> 00:28:42,335 and you're affected by that, and you see His greatness and your littleness, 415 00:28:42,336 --> 00:28:44,720 and you feel adoration and you feel praise, 416 00:28:44,721 --> 00:28:49,404 brethren, there is a moral compulsion behind that unlike anything in an accountability partner; 417 00:28:49,405 --> 00:28:52,646 unless the accountability partner is sharing truth with you 418 00:28:52,647 --> 00:28:54,980 that brings that thing to reality in your life. 419 00:28:54,981 --> 00:28:58,280 But the moral compulsion of me feeling the embarrassment 420 00:28:58,281 --> 00:29:03,276 of sitting down with you on Friday morning, for you to ask me about my life, 421 00:29:03,277 --> 00:29:06,701 is minimal compared to the moral compulsion 422 00:29:06,702 --> 00:29:13,714 that Paul knows comes forth from big views of God. 423 00:29:13,715 --> 00:29:17,303 We need to be clear on that. 424 00:29:17,304 --> 00:29:24,980 Because what he means is, we need to spend a lot of our time digging deep. (P) 425 00:29:24,981 --> 00:29:30,932 I mean, we get further on in this letter, and Paul is actually praying; 426 00:29:30,933 --> 00:29:37,314 his desire for them is that they would have the ability to comprehend 427 00:29:37,315 --> 00:29:41,032 or the power to comprehend with all the saints, 428 00:29:41,033 --> 00:29:44,627 what is the height and depth and length and breadth, 429 00:29:44,628 --> 00:29:52,542 and to know the knowledge of Christ that surpasses knowledge. 430 00:29:52,543 --> 00:29:58,841 I mean, there is a power, there is an ability. 431 00:29:58,842 --> 00:30:00,030 We've got to dig. 432 00:30:00,031 --> 00:30:04,847 There are expanses, and he says it's beyond knowledge. 433 00:30:04,848 --> 00:30:10,812 But that's never to make us stop dead in our tracks. 434 00:30:10,813 --> 00:30:12,923 That's to go deeper and deeper and deeper. 435 00:30:12,924 --> 00:30:15,760 It means that no matter how deep you go, there is always more to go. 436 00:30:15,761 --> 00:30:20,501 You can never feel like, "Oh well, I've got there; I've achieved this." (P) 437 00:30:20,502 --> 00:30:25,459 A lack of knowledge, brethren, a lack of knowledge - basic test of Christianity. 438 00:30:25,460 --> 00:30:28,034 Let's talk about this. 439 00:30:28,035 --> 00:30:35,803 As I said before, seeing Paul erupt like this in light of these truths, 440 00:30:35,804 --> 00:30:41,818 we have to ask ourselves this: When we go deep, does it produce the same thing? 441 00:30:41,819 --> 00:30:47,593 This is really a test of Christianity, because God does say in John 4, 442 00:30:47,594 --> 00:30:55,966 that Jesus says that God is seeking worshipers. 443 00:30:55,967 --> 00:30:59,786 He is seeking worshipers in spirit and truth. 444 00:30:59,787 --> 00:31:01,199 They have the truth; 445 00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:07,215 and in spirit - the insides, the affections, the heart - they worship Him. 446 00:31:07,216 --> 00:31:08,395 That's what He is seeking. 447 00:31:08,396 --> 00:31:11,436 That's the kind of worshipers that He makes; 448 00:31:11,437 --> 00:31:15,311 not the kind that do it coldly, callously. (P) 449 00:31:15,312 --> 00:31:17,797 Now what we need to ask ourselves is this: 450 00:31:17,798 --> 00:31:24,876 (Brethren, I am not saying do you live on in the heavenly places all the time. 451 00:31:24,877 --> 00:31:27,972 I am not asking you whether you experience 452 00:31:27,973 --> 00:31:31,838 one continuous outpouring of the Spirit in your Christian life. 453 00:31:31,839 --> 00:31:38,129 I've been a Christian long enough to know that's not even close to realistic.) 454 00:31:38,130 --> 00:31:44,672 But, I want to ask you this, because this really is a test of Christianity: 455 00:31:44,673 --> 00:31:50,703 As those people who God is making into worshipers in spirit and truth, 456 00:31:50,704 --> 00:31:53,422 do you know this reality? 457 00:31:53,423 --> 00:31:58,121 Do you know what it is to dig into the depths of doctrine, 458 00:31:58,122 --> 00:32:02,121 and come up with the riches of it and have it thrill your soul, 459 00:32:02,122 --> 00:32:07,044 and to feel adoration and praise, and to feel like, 460 00:32:07,045 --> 00:32:12,841 "Blessed be the name of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." 461 00:32:12,842 --> 00:32:13,974 Do you feel that? 462 00:32:13,975 --> 00:32:17,313 Whether it comes out in exactly those words, but do you feel the thrill? 463 00:32:17,314 --> 00:32:21,289 Do you feel the joy? Do you feel the delight? 464 00:32:21,290 --> 00:32:24,746 Because, brethren, I'll tell you this: 465 00:32:24,747 --> 00:32:31,369 When you walk out into the world with that reality, you don't sin lightly. (P) 466 00:32:31,370 --> 00:32:34,661 You can go visit your accountability partner; 467 00:32:34,662 --> 00:32:37,427 and yeah, you gotta meet with him a week later, and you don't want to fall again, 468 00:32:37,428 --> 00:32:39,525 'cos you don't want to admit the same thing to him. 469 00:32:39,526 --> 00:32:41,944 But see, there is a different moral compulsion. 470 00:32:41,945 --> 00:32:44,290 And if your heart is lifted up with gladness 471 00:32:44,291 --> 00:32:48,316 and you've got glorious views of God, 472 00:32:48,317 --> 00:32:51,197 I mean, you've been walking up on the heights of the mountains, 473 00:32:51,198 --> 00:32:55,638 you've tread in those special places and you've come close to Him 474 00:32:55,639 --> 00:32:59,572 and close to His presence in the truth of His doctrine, 475 00:32:59,573 --> 00:33:02,070 you don't lightly sin after you've been there. 476 00:33:02,071 --> 00:33:06,061 You may lightly sin after you've been with your accountability partner, 477 00:33:06,062 --> 00:33:08,871 but you would not lightly sin if you've been with God, 478 00:33:08,872 --> 00:33:11,745 and in His presence in the riches of His Word, 479 00:33:11,746 --> 00:33:13,992 and it's come with power to your soul. 480 00:33:13,993 --> 00:33:16,593 You don't lightly go sin. 481 00:33:16,594 --> 00:33:20,438 It impacts. This is what we want. 482 00:33:20,439 --> 00:33:25,432 We want this kind of impact from Ephesians. 483 00:33:25,433 --> 00:33:31,370 We want it to weigh heavily on us. (P) 484 00:33:31,371 --> 00:33:56,573 Brethren, the world is full of grumbling, complaining. 485 00:33:56,574 --> 00:34:00,434 But when you are shouting, "Blessed be the name of God the Father; 486 00:34:00,435 --> 00:34:02,395 of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," 487 00:34:02,396 --> 00:34:05,632 when you are shouting out like that, brethren, again, 488 00:34:05,633 --> 00:34:15,443 that is the cure-all of being like Israel in the wilderness; being upset. 489 00:34:15,444 --> 00:34:20,401 Why? Because if you're experiencing these things the way they are meant, 490 00:34:20,402 --> 00:34:26,139 God meant you to experience the realities behind your salvation. 491 00:34:26,139 --> 00:34:29,540 He means for you to experience them. 492 00:34:29,541 --> 00:34:31,341 And if you do, 493 00:34:31,342 --> 00:34:36,729 you come to recognize that to be one of the people of God is such a high privilege. 494 00:34:36,730 --> 00:34:40,204 To be granted that privilege to come into His presence 495 00:34:40,205 --> 00:34:42,662 and to have your eyes opened, 496 00:34:42,663 --> 00:34:45,271 to have them enlightened that you can comprehend, 497 00:34:45,272 --> 00:34:55,202 a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of these things, 498 00:34:55,203 --> 00:35:00,569 it's difficult to feel like you're not getting your fair share, 499 00:35:00,570 --> 00:35:06,746 and to grumble and complain when that's been the case. (P) 500 00:35:06,747 --> 00:35:09,959 Brethren, worship, worship; 501 00:35:09,960 --> 00:35:13,281 that needs to be one of the primary reasons of why we preach, 502 00:35:13,282 --> 00:35:17,295 why we teach, why we do some of the things we do. 503 00:35:17,296 --> 00:35:22,148 Brethren, some of you have wondered, "Hey, why have we moved the seats?" 504 00:35:22,149 --> 00:35:25,379 We did this last week and we heard numerous people say, 505 00:35:25,380 --> 00:35:27,592 "Eh, we don't like it; we don't like it." 506 00:35:27,593 --> 00:35:31,266 Primary reason, which was accomplished; 507 00:35:31,267 --> 00:35:36,336 Now this whole thing is in process. 508 00:35:36,337 --> 00:35:39,590 So, don't be discouraged by the fact you couldn't see this today. 509 00:35:39,591 --> 00:35:42,158 We obviously recognize that there are things we have to deal with, 510 00:35:42,159 --> 00:35:43,740 and hopefully when we are done, 511 00:35:43,741 --> 00:35:48,063 but the primary object was to keep the traffic coming in and out 512 00:35:48,064 --> 00:35:52,764 during the services at the back where you can't see it. 513 00:35:52,765 --> 00:35:58,027 Why? Because, brethren, when we had the pulpit over here, 514 00:35:58,028 --> 00:36:01,252 and some brother is up, and he is preaching the Word of God, 515 00:36:01,253 --> 00:36:05,962 and he is preaching these very truths that ought to thrill your soul, guess what? 516 00:36:05,963 --> 00:36:08,983 Constant streams of traffic at both end. 517 00:36:08,984 --> 00:36:11,348 And I'll tell you this: If you are sitting back here, 518 00:36:11,349 --> 00:36:15,445 and a brother is hitting you with some truth that ought to cause you to shout, 519 00:36:15,446 --> 00:36:18,107 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ;" 520 00:36:18,108 --> 00:36:26,447 and right then, your head turns to see who didn't get out of bed on time, 521 00:36:26,448 --> 00:36:29,807 it's very doubtful the very next instance you're saying, 522 00:36:29,808 --> 00:36:32,633 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." 523 00:36:32,634 --> 00:36:35,888 Why? Distraction. (P) 524 00:36:35,889 --> 00:36:40,755 Brethren, the one primary thing that I have been grieved about with this building, 525 00:36:40,756 --> 00:36:44,495 ever since we've been here, is the traffic that interrupts. 526 00:36:44,496 --> 00:36:48,201 You have men handling the Word of God, the doctrine of God, 527 00:36:48,202 --> 00:36:52,251 the truths of God that are supposed to impact the people of God, 528 00:36:52,252 --> 00:36:55,471 that saved the lost sheep of God, 529 00:36:55,472 --> 00:37:02,594 and we've got people streaming in and out of here very casually. 530 00:37:02,595 --> 00:37:07,148 Worship. Worship. This is a big thing. 531 00:37:07,149 --> 00:37:08,957 God does what He does; 532 00:37:08,958 --> 00:37:19,191 God takes notice when we give the due emphasis that we should give to seeing Him, 533 00:37:19,192 --> 00:37:21,846 and beholding Him. 534 00:37:21,847 --> 00:37:25,024 And so, hopefully when this is all done, you won't be able to see outside, 535 00:37:25,025 --> 00:37:28,190 you won't be able to see anything, you won't be able to be distracted. 536 00:37:28,191 --> 00:37:33,228 And after the first week, I recognized that having the people move in and out, 537 00:37:33,229 --> 00:37:35,730 (and we're going to bring even the people way back, 538 00:37:35,731 --> 00:37:37,873 we don't want to move the Spanish speaking section yet,) 539 00:37:37,874 --> 00:37:40,636 but the reason I am explaining this to you 540 00:37:40,637 --> 00:37:47,001 is because worship has been the driving motivator in my own heart 541 00:37:47,002 --> 00:37:52,722 ever since we've been in this building to actually re-position things. (P) 542 00:37:52,723 --> 00:37:56,516 Worship. Undistracted. 543 00:37:56,517 --> 00:38:03,047 Well, the worship that we are looking at here - look at the text - 544 00:38:03,048 --> 00:38:11,753 Verse 3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (P) 545 00:38:11,754 --> 00:38:22,297 Blessed be the God and Father - Paul's worship starts with the Father. 546 00:38:22,298 --> 00:38:26,946 And so, as a worshiping church, 547 00:38:26,947 --> 00:38:31,644 you know I mentioned this in the first message on Ephesians, 548 00:38:31,645 --> 00:38:33,598 that we need to be really careful 549 00:38:33,599 --> 00:38:38,218 that all of our worship does not start and end with the Lord Jesus Christ. 550 00:38:38,219 --> 00:38:42,259 Listen, we need to worship Christ. He is worthy. 551 00:38:42,260 --> 00:38:45,017 Worthy is the Lamb who was slain (Rev. 5:12). 552 00:38:45,018 --> 00:38:48,050 We need to sing that and shout that. 553 00:38:48,051 --> 00:38:56,353 But we want to be very careful in our song, in our worship, in our preaching. 554 00:38:56,354 --> 00:39:02,332 The worship of Scripture starts with the Father, 555 00:39:02,333 --> 00:39:08,507 and you see this everywhere if you have eyes to see it. (P) 556 00:39:08,508 --> 00:39:11,564 Let's just think about this. 557 00:39:11,565 --> 00:39:14,334 Now look, worship is Trinitarian. 558 00:39:14,335 --> 00:39:17,040 There's no question about it. 559 00:39:17,041 --> 00:39:24,734 There is no question about the fact that all three Persons of the Triune Godhead 560 00:39:24,735 --> 00:39:29,413 are worthy of praise; are involved in our salvation. 561 00:39:29,414 --> 00:39:32,817 Ephesians is Trinitarian. 562 00:39:32,818 --> 00:39:36,857 I mean, through and through; just look right here where we are at. 563 00:39:36,858 --> 00:39:40,946 You have, "Blessed be the God and Father" in verse 3. 564 00:39:40,947 --> 00:39:47,286 You have the Lord Jesus Christ, the second Person, the Son of God, right after that. 565 00:39:47,287 --> 00:39:53,435 You see verse 5, there's Jesus Christ, but it's the purpose of the Father's will, 566 00:39:53,436 --> 00:39:56,153 to the praise of the Father's glorious grace, 567 00:39:56,154 --> 00:39:59,874 (which if you follow this, you see that that's exactly what's happening,) 568 00:39:59,875 --> 00:40:03,129 with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. The Beloved is Christ. 569 00:40:03,130 --> 00:40:06,148 In Christ we have redemption through Christ's blood, 570 00:40:06,149 --> 00:40:07,746 the forgiveness of our trespasses, 571 00:40:07,747 --> 00:40:10,961 according to the riches of God the Father's grace, 572 00:40:10,962 --> 00:40:14,213 which God the Father lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight, 573 00:40:14,214 --> 00:40:17,133 making known to us the mystery of God the Father's will, 574 00:40:17,134 --> 00:40:20,944 according to His purpose which He set forth in Christ. (P) 575 00:40:20,945 --> 00:40:28,366 You get down to verse 13, "In Christ you also, when you heard the word of truth, 576 00:40:28,367 --> 00:40:31,358 the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Christ, 577 00:40:31,359 --> 00:40:33,862 you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 578 00:40:33,863 --> 00:40:39,062 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, 579 00:40:39,063 --> 00:40:42,096 to the praise of the Father's glory. (P) 580 00:40:42,097 --> 00:40:44,611 Like I say, if you read this whole thing through, 581 00:40:44,612 --> 00:40:48,440 you'll see this is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 582 00:40:48,441 --> 00:40:52,355 What we are going to see as we march through these verses, 583 00:40:52,356 --> 00:40:59,178 especially in chapter one, you are going to see the different ways, 584 00:40:59,179 --> 00:41:07,894 the different responsibilities of each of the Persons of the Godhead 585 00:41:07,895 --> 00:41:11,381 with regards to our salvation. (P) 586 00:41:11,382 --> 00:41:19,804 But this worship begins with the Father, and I want you to see this. 587 00:41:19,805 --> 00:41:25,964 Notice Ephesians 5:19, turn later in the book. 588 00:41:25,965 --> 00:41:28,761 I just want to give you a feel for this in the New Testament. 589 00:41:28,762 --> 00:41:32,606 We read these things, but sometimes we don't... 590 00:41:32,607 --> 00:41:36,383 We read it, we understand it, we see what it's saying, 591 00:41:36,384 --> 00:41:39,973 but it almost takes somebody coming along and saying, 592 00:41:39,974 --> 00:41:43,545 "Look, if you really study the New Testament, you are going to find 593 00:41:43,546 --> 00:41:47,938 that the vast majority of times that God is thanked, it's the Father. 594 00:41:47,939 --> 00:41:54,534 The vast majority of times where prayer is specifically delegated to a certain person of the Godhead, 595 00:41:54,535 --> 00:41:55,772 it's to the Father. 596 00:41:55,773 --> 00:42:01,609 Where praise and worship are found being expressed towards God, 597 00:42:01,610 --> 00:42:03,444 it begins with the Father. 598 00:42:03,445 --> 00:42:05,988 I am not saying exclusively. 599 00:42:05,989 --> 00:42:12,230 Undoubtedly, the Son is brought in, in a way that the Spirit is not. 600 00:42:12,231 --> 00:42:14,390 But even there, we would say the Spirit is worthy. 601 00:42:14,391 --> 00:42:17,643 We are going to see what the Spirit does. The Spirit seals us. 602 00:42:17,644 --> 00:42:19,825 The Spirit intercedes for us. 603 00:42:19,826 --> 00:42:22,880 The Spirit causes us to be born again. 604 00:42:22,881 --> 00:42:28,583 The Spirit of God is very much involved in our lives, 605 00:42:28,584 --> 00:42:33,074 and we are going to look at the doctrine of the Spirit of God 606 00:42:33,075 --> 00:42:34,017 as we move through this. (P) 607 00:42:34,018 --> 00:42:37,219 But right now, I just want to start where Paul starts. 608 00:42:37,220 --> 00:42:43,632 And he starts by praising the Father specifically. 609 00:42:43,633 --> 00:42:48,992 And if you look here at Ephesians 5:19, 610 00:42:48,993 --> 00:42:53,520 "Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, 611 00:42:53,521 --> 00:42:58,082 singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart," 612 00:42:58,083 --> 00:43:00,016 and you're making melody to the Lord, 613 00:43:00,017 --> 00:43:04,484 and typically we can look at the Lord here as being the Son of God, 614 00:43:04,485 --> 00:43:05,888 the way that it's used here. 615 00:43:05,889 --> 00:43:17,057 Notice this, "giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father 616 00:43:17,058 --> 00:43:19,566 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." 617 00:43:19,567 --> 00:43:22,908 We have access only through Christ; only being in Christ. 618 00:43:22,909 --> 00:43:24,695 God makes it clear to us. 619 00:43:24,696 --> 00:43:26,245 This is what we are going to find: 620 00:43:26,246 --> 00:43:28,405 You can't pray to the Father, you can't worship the Father, 621 00:43:28,406 --> 00:43:32,170 you can't thank the Father, except you have access through the Son. 622 00:43:32,171 --> 00:43:33,997 The Son is the way to the Father. 623 00:43:33,998 --> 00:43:37,020 In Him. In the Beloved. 624 00:43:37,021 --> 00:43:39,621 But it's the Father who is thanked. (P) 625 00:43:39,622 --> 00:43:44,181 Now if you jump; don't jump, just let me quote this to you. 626 00:43:44,182 --> 00:43:49,778 Colossi ans 1:3, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 627 00:43:49,779 --> 00:43:51,132 when we pray for you." (P) 628 00:43:51,133 --> 00:43:55,227 Or Colossi ans 1:11, "May you be strengthened with power, 629 00:43:55,228 --> 00:43:59,592 according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 630 00:43:59,593 --> 00:44:03,878 giving thanks to the Father, 631 00:44:03,879 --> 00:44:08,211 who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 632 00:44:08,212 --> 00:44:11,265 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness 633 00:44:11,266 --> 00:44:15,263 and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son." (P) 634 00:44:15,264 --> 00:44:18,185 Colossians 3:17, "Whatever you do, in word or deed, 635 00:44:18,186 --> 00:44:20,264 do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, 636 00:44:20,265 --> 00:44:24,297 giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (P) 637 00:44:24,298 --> 00:44:30,379 Or Romans 15:5-6, "May the God of endurance and encouragement 638 00:44:30,380 --> 00:44:32,741 grant you to live in such harmony with one another, 639 00:44:32,742 --> 00:44:36,311 in accord with Christ Jesus - notice this - 640 00:44:36,312 --> 00:44:47,302 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (P) 641 00:44:47,303 --> 00:44:54,726 That's us. With one voice. With unity. 642 00:44:54,727 --> 00:45:03,484 Paul's desire is that they would glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 643 00:45:03,485 --> 00:45:09,968 This is essential because there can be a tendency, and you see it in churches 644 00:45:09,969 --> 00:45:17,632 where the focus of worship is almost exclusively and primarily Jesus Christ. 645 00:45:17,633 --> 00:45:23,144 And I am not in anyway, (don't misunderstand me here, don't misunderstand,) 646 00:45:23,145 --> 00:45:28,195 I am not saying that Jesus Christ is not worthy of our praise. 647 00:45:28,196 --> 00:45:35,870 But I am saying that the apostle Paul starts, worship starts, 648 00:45:35,871 --> 00:45:48,008 Jesus Christ said, "My Father is seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth." (P) 649 00:45:48,009 --> 00:45:53,522 We need to remember the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 650 00:45:53,523 --> 00:45:55,865 Why should we praise? 651 00:45:55,866 --> 00:45:58,101 Praise, why? 652 00:45:58,102 --> 00:46:02,772 Well, it's because we find admirable qualities. 653 00:46:02,773 --> 00:46:06,047 Praise comes from praiseworthiness. 654 00:46:06,048 --> 00:46:09,452 We find admirable qualities. 655 00:46:09,453 --> 00:46:17,280 It has to do with giving credit to where credit is due. 656 00:46:17,281 --> 00:46:21,412 That's essential. That's huge. 657 00:46:21,413 --> 00:46:25,319 Who is responsible for what? 658 00:46:25,320 --> 00:46:28,400 Oh, this is one of the reasons why we want to have accurate views 659 00:46:28,401 --> 00:46:32,329 of who is ultimately responsible for our salvation. 660 00:46:32,330 --> 00:46:37,546 Listen, say what you want, Arminianism kills worship. 661 00:46:37,547 --> 00:46:41,405 Now look, Calvinism can kill it too if we are not careful. 662 00:46:41,406 --> 00:46:47,236 They have their different ways that they do it. 663 00:46:47,237 --> 00:46:52,786 But who is responsible for what? You get this people, 664 00:46:52,787 --> 00:46:57,831 Jeremy has had lots of interaction lately down in Laredo with Arminians, 665 00:46:57,832 --> 00:47:04,247 and they like to talk about "freewill." 666 00:47:04,248 --> 00:47:13,449 There likes to be this focus on God waiting for sinners to come to Him, 667 00:47:13,450 --> 00:47:17,668 and he wants to boast in what man can do. 668 00:47:17,669 --> 00:47:23,336 But brethren, if we want to know why we should praise, 669 00:47:23,337 --> 00:47:26,223 pay attention to doctrine. 670 00:47:26,224 --> 00:47:32,290 Why? Because the doctrine tells us who is responsible for what. (P) 671 00:47:32,291 --> 00:47:40,185 I mean, one of the problems is that Arminianism tends to be a little unscholarly. 672 00:47:40,186 --> 00:47:43,542 Often, Arminians don't know their Bibles. 673 00:47:43,543 --> 00:47:50,676 I am not saying reformed people have the corner on this. 674 00:47:50,677 --> 00:47:53,747 And I am not saying you can't find Arminians that aren't theologians 675 00:47:53,748 --> 00:47:56,186 and know their Bibles extremely well. 676 00:47:56,187 --> 00:48:03,248 But lots of people who want to really amp up man's responsibility in salvation, 677 00:48:03,249 --> 00:48:06,453 (and man is responsible; and he is responsible to repent and believe,) 678 00:48:06,454 --> 00:48:09,609 but what Paul does is he takes us behind the scenes. 679 00:48:09,610 --> 00:48:11,917 He pulls back the curtain 680 00:48:11,918 --> 00:48:16,236 and he says, "Let's see this thing from God's perspective." 681 00:48:16,237 --> 00:48:17,637 Why should we praise? 682 00:48:17,638 --> 00:48:20,884 Well, because the doctrine shows us why we should praise. 683 00:48:20,885 --> 00:48:24,609 It shows us who we should praise, and what we should praise them for. 684 00:48:24,610 --> 00:48:29,439 If we would worship the One who deserves the worship of the salvation of sinners, 685 00:48:29,440 --> 00:48:32,311 then pay attention to the doctrine. 686 00:48:32,312 --> 00:48:35,353 And what does it say? What is Paul teaching us here? 687 00:48:35,354 --> 00:48:39,874 Go back to Ephesians chapter 1 if you are not already there. (P) 688 00:48:39,875 --> 00:48:43,547 Does Paul burst forth with "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" 689 00:48:43,548 --> 00:48:47,656 as he ponders the amazing freewill of man? 690 00:48:47,657 --> 00:48:51,111 Brethren, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," 691 00:48:51,112 --> 00:48:55,175 Why? Because of what He has done, not because of what man has done. 692 00:48:55,176 --> 00:48:57,089 This does not start with man's faith; 693 00:48:57,090 --> 00:48:59,090 it does not start with man's repentance; 694 00:48:59,091 --> 00:49:01,351 it does not start with man's freewill; 695 00:49:01,352 --> 00:49:03,660 it does not start with man coming to God. 696 00:49:03,661 --> 00:49:07,372 What it starts with is: God is the One who blesses us 697 00:49:07,373 --> 00:49:09,817 with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. 698 00:49:09,818 --> 00:49:12,261 And what are those spiritual blessings in the heavenly places? 699 00:49:12,262 --> 00:49:15,960 It's all the things that we receive and already have been blessed with 700 00:49:15,961 --> 00:49:18,959 and we possess currently if we are Christians. 701 00:49:18,960 --> 00:49:21,042 And it's staggering. 702 00:49:21,043 --> 00:49:24,956 We are no paupers in this room if you are a Christian. 703 00:49:24,957 --> 00:49:28,918 The things that you possess are unbelievable 704 00:49:28,919 --> 00:49:33,913 if you have not looked at the fullness of these things. 705 00:49:33,914 --> 00:49:38,392 You would hardly believe that sinners could actually be possessors of the things 706 00:49:38,393 --> 00:49:40,732 that we are going to find we are possessors of. (P) 707 00:49:40,733 --> 00:49:44,615 But just listen to this: God is the One who has blessed us, in Christ, 708 00:49:44,616 --> 00:49:46,755 with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 709 00:49:46,756 --> 00:49:51,929 even as He (that's the Father) chose us in Christ. 710 00:49:51,930 --> 00:49:53,659 He chose us. 711 00:49:53,660 --> 00:49:55,755 It doesn't say we chose Him. 712 00:49:55,755 --> 00:49:58,398 Paul does not start there by saying, 713 00:49:58,399 --> 00:50:01,209 "We have to choose Him, We have to go to Him." 714 00:50:01,210 --> 00:50:04,567 It's true, we do have to choose Him, we do have to go to Him, 715 00:50:04,568 --> 00:50:07,471 we do have to believe in Him, we do have to call on Him, 716 00:50:07,472 --> 00:50:11,514 we do come unto the Christ that bids us to come unto Him; 717 00:50:11,515 --> 00:50:13,299 but that's not where it starts. 718 00:50:13,300 --> 00:50:15,729 Because by the way, what Paul is going to do is 719 00:50:15,730 --> 00:50:17,665 he is not going to start at the point where we believe, 720 00:50:17,666 --> 00:50:20,934 because salvation never starts at the point where we believe. 721 00:50:20,935 --> 00:50:22,831 He takes us to eternity past. 722 00:50:22,832 --> 00:50:27,690 Why? Because that's where your salvation starts. Christian, did you know that? 723 00:50:27,691 --> 00:50:29,960 Paul wants us to know that. (P) 724 00:50:29,961 --> 00:50:37,519 Look at this: He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world 725 00:50:37,520 --> 00:50:43,699 that we should be holy and blameless before Him. 726 00:50:43,700 --> 00:50:47,102 Did you know that about your salvation? 727 00:50:47,103 --> 00:50:51,229 God chose you. 728 00:50:51,230 --> 00:50:57,965 Your salvation was determined long before you had any will at all, 729 00:50:57,966 --> 00:51:01,731 whether it was free or not so free. 730 00:51:01,732 --> 00:51:05,961 Long before you had a will, God chose you. 731 00:51:05,962 --> 00:51:10,264 You say, "God chose who is going to be saved?" 732 00:51:10,265 --> 00:51:14,706 Well then, that means that He, on purpose, passed over 733 00:51:14,707 --> 00:51:17,752 and did not choose a whole bunch of other people." 734 00:51:17,753 --> 00:51:22,203 Yeah, that's exactly what the Bible teaches. 735 00:51:22,204 --> 00:51:26,332 "What? Ultimately, it's not my decision?" 736 00:51:26,333 --> 00:51:29,934 Well, you can read Scripture as plainly as I can, 737 00:51:29,935 --> 00:51:35,403 and those three words are pretty plain: God chose you. 738 00:51:35,404 --> 00:51:38,118 Pretty simple. 739 00:51:38,119 --> 00:51:41,062 That kinda kills a lot of error in the world, right? 740 00:51:41,063 --> 00:51:44,264 God chose you. 741 00:51:44,265 --> 00:51:47,685 "Seriously? Before I was born; before my parents were born; 742 00:51:47,686 --> 00:51:50,097 before Adam was born; before the foundation of the world?" 743 00:51:50,098 --> 00:51:55,981 Yep; and in fact, in this very letter, it talks about God's eternal purpose. 744 00:51:55,982 --> 00:52:01,204 This happened in eternity past. (P) 745 00:52:01,205 --> 00:52:04,299 There wasn't actually a meeting, undoubtedly, 746 00:52:04,300 --> 00:52:07,516 but whenever that decision was made, 747 00:52:07,517 --> 00:52:12,057 hard to lock things in time or even talk humanly speaking, 748 00:52:12,058 --> 00:52:17,310 but you weren't at the meeting. And I wasn't at the meeting. 749 00:52:17,311 --> 00:52:22,287 We didn't help Him make this decision. 750 00:52:22,288 --> 00:52:27,734 "According to the purpose of His will." (P) 751 00:52:27,735 --> 00:52:30,878 You see what it does? 752 00:52:30,879 --> 00:52:36,473 If you really become gripped by it, this is what is happening to you. 753 00:52:36,474 --> 00:52:45,429 I mean, you're getting smaller; and in your eyes, He is getting bigger. 754 00:52:45,430 --> 00:52:50,246 And you know why people don't like this? 755 00:52:50,247 --> 00:52:59,214 Because they don't like a big God, because big Gods are scary. 756 00:52:59,215 --> 00:53:06,627 But you see, big Gods, big Gods are praiseworthy. 757 00:53:06,628 --> 00:53:10,488 When our ideas about God are small, our worship is small. 758 00:53:10,489 --> 00:53:17,231 When our ideas about Him are big, our worship, I mean, the response — 759 00:53:17,232 --> 00:53:21,356 Brethren, you know, when those people outside Sinai 760 00:53:21,357 --> 00:53:26,769 were hearing the laws being given and God speaking from Sinai, 761 00:53:26,770 --> 00:53:28,191 and they were down there trembling, 762 00:53:28,192 --> 00:53:32,157 and they said, "Moses, you got to go talk to Him for us," 763 00:53:32,158 --> 00:53:34,406 God didn't fault them for all that trembling. 764 00:53:34,407 --> 00:53:40,078 In fact, God said, "You're right. You're right. 765 00:53:40,079 --> 00:53:43,584 Moses you better come speak on their behalf." (P) 766 00:53:43,585 --> 00:53:49,392 When people tremble, God says, "To this man He will look." 767 00:53:49,393 --> 00:53:51,624 Trembling is a good thing. 768 00:53:51,625 --> 00:53:54,724 Trembling is a good response to the truth. 769 00:53:54,725 --> 00:53:55,870 Oh, so is joy. 770 00:53:55,871 --> 00:53:58,550 So is "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." 771 00:53:58,551 --> 00:54:02,483 But Brethen, what I want you to recognize is this: 772 00:54:02,484 --> 00:54:08,307 We are going to move through the different qualities, 773 00:54:08,308 --> 00:54:15,026 the different characteristics, the different realities of our salvation, 774 00:54:15,027 --> 00:54:23,587 but God does not intend for you to simply be caught up with what He has done for you. 775 00:54:23,588 --> 00:54:32,175 It is only proper handling of doctrine and of the truths behind our salvation 776 00:54:32,176 --> 00:54:43,716 if we look at what all those realities of our blessings tell us about Him. 777 00:54:43,717 --> 00:54:52,143 You see, you can be really selfish, self-interested and self-focused. 778 00:54:52,144 --> 00:54:56,155 You know, it's kinda like Pliable walking with Christian in Pilgrim's Progress, 779 00:54:56,156 --> 00:55:02,192 "Well, tell us about all the things we are getting." 780 00:55:02,193 --> 00:55:04,460 And sometimes, that's just carnal. 781 00:55:04,461 --> 00:55:07,328 "Tell me all the good things I am getting." 782 00:55:07,329 --> 00:55:13,337 Listen, Paul isn't saying, "O how wonderful is our salvation," as he starts this. 783 00:55:13,338 --> 00:55:17,330 It is. But you see where it all goes? 784 00:55:17,331 --> 00:55:18,718 You see where the focus is? 785 00:55:18,719 --> 00:55:20,123 You see what Paul is doing? 786 00:55:20,124 --> 00:55:25,698 Paul is repeatedly going to tell us, through these verses, 787 00:55:25,699 --> 00:55:30,919 that this is for the praise of His glory. 788 00:55:30,920 --> 00:55:34,370 This is for the sake of us worshiping Him. (P) 789 00:55:34,371 --> 00:55:40,009 Notice verse 5, "He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ." 790 00:55:40,010 --> 00:55:42,901 "Oh, this is great! I'm adopted." 791 00:55:42,902 --> 00:55:44,703 But see, he doesn't stop there. 792 00:55:44,704 --> 00:55:47,596 He doesn't start there, and he doesn't stop there. 793 00:55:47,597 --> 00:55:51,975 He starts with "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," 794 00:55:51,975 --> 00:55:54,052 and he is telling us about our adoption, 795 00:55:54,052 --> 00:55:58,183 not just so that we can say, "This is great. I am adopted by God." 796 00:55:58,184 --> 00:56:02,439 But where does it end? Where should it end? 797 00:56:02,440 --> 00:56:07,115 "According to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace." 798 00:56:07,116 --> 00:56:09,056 You are going to see that kind of thing 799 00:56:09,057 --> 00:56:13,159 repetitiously thrown at us through this first chapter. 800 00:56:13,160 --> 00:56:16,610 Why? Because that is key. (P) 801 00:56:16,611 --> 00:56:21,364 You see, brethren as we go through Ephesians and we think about our salvation, 802 00:56:21,365 --> 00:56:24,111 what you have to recognize is this: 803 00:56:24,112 --> 00:56:26,366 This is meant for your worship; 804 00:56:26,367 --> 00:56:28,955 this is meant for you to see the greatness of God. 805 00:56:28,956 --> 00:56:33,521 You are meant to look at Him bestowing all the blessings— 806 00:56:33,522 --> 00:56:35,798 this fullness of blessings in the heavenly places— 807 00:56:35,799 --> 00:56:40,632 and look past and see what kind of God does that speak to me about. 808 00:56:40,633 --> 00:56:44,422 And then you get to, "He chose me in eternity past." 809 00:56:44,423 --> 00:56:46,632 Get your eyes off you. 810 00:56:46,633 --> 00:56:51,045 If you leave your eyes on you, you're missing what Paul is doing here. 811 00:56:51,046 --> 00:56:54,124 Paul takes us up into these mountain ranges, 812 00:56:54,125 --> 00:56:57,206 brethren, not so that we can look at ourselves in the mirror. 813 00:56:57,207 --> 00:56:59,607 He wants to show you what's true about you 814 00:56:59,608 --> 00:57:02,756 so that you can see what that says about God. 815 00:57:02,757 --> 00:57:04,011 That's the issue. 816 00:57:04,012 --> 00:57:09,719 You will praise the Father when you recognize what it is that the Father is doing in the midst of all of this, 817 00:57:09,720 --> 00:57:13,747 and what it is that He is demonstrating about Him. 818 00:57:13,748 --> 00:57:19,386 Pay attention to the doctrine because the doctrine tells us who our God is. 819 00:57:19,387 --> 00:57:24,503 Doctrineless churches don't know God how God ought to be known. 820 00:57:24,504 --> 00:57:29,383 God gives us this Book so that we might know Him. 821 00:57:29,384 --> 00:57:31,247 That's the primary reason of truth. (P) 822 00:57:31,248 --> 00:57:33,494 Look, there is a lot of things that are true in the world. 823 00:57:33,494 --> 00:57:35,275 But we have a Book that's true; 824 00:57:35,276 --> 00:57:40,590 primarily the reality about this Book is that it gives us the truth about who our God is, 825 00:57:40,591 --> 00:57:44,720 and what He has done; what His Son is like. 826 00:57:44,721 --> 00:57:46,454 What we find here is this: 827 00:57:46,455 --> 00:57:50,333 The doctrine tells us who is worthy of the praise. 828 00:57:50,334 --> 00:57:58,462 The doctrine tells us who has done the things that have been done. 829 00:57:58,463 --> 00:58:01,880 God chose us before the foundation of the world, 830 00:58:01,881 --> 00:58:07,693 and He chose us in Christ, never separate, never outside. (P) 831 00:58:07,694 --> 00:58:10,854 Brethren, I just want to end with this; 832 00:58:10,855 --> 00:58:13,209 I also want you to think about this: 833 00:58:13,210 --> 00:58:20,719 As we think about God, again we can just pass over these things, 834 00:58:20,720 --> 00:58:25,052 if you notice verse 2 and verse 3, 835 00:58:25,053 --> 00:58:40,858 you have a lot of similar words but some variation in preposition and conjunction. 836 00:58:40,859 --> 00:58:53,843 Verse 2, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." 837 00:58:53,844 --> 00:58:58,679 There is actually a variation in possessive pronoun here too. 838 00:58:58,680 --> 00:59:07,136 But notice this: you have "God our Father," and "the Lord Jesus Christ." 839 00:59:07,137 --> 00:59:12,184 Grace and peace come from both of them. 840 00:59:12,185 --> 00:59:20,975 And then, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." 841 00:59:20,976 --> 00:59:25,287 Now, like I say, there is a lot of identical words there, 842 00:59:25,288 --> 00:59:27,390 but there is a difference in possessive pronouns, 843 00:59:27,391 --> 00:59:32,764 there is a difference in conjunction, there is a difference in preposition there. (P) 844 00:59:32,765 --> 00:59:37,733 I want us just to think about this for a second as we close. 845 00:59:37,734 --> 00:59:43,179 When Jesus Christ is called Lord, 846 00:59:43,180 --> 00:59:48,470 I know many of you know the Greek word, Kurios. 847 00:59:48,471 --> 01:00:00,962 But do you know that in the Greek Old Testament, that is exactly the word 848 01:00:00,963 --> 01:00:19,351 that is used for the four consonants (YHWH) we typically pronounce Jehovah, or Yahweh. 849 01:00:19,352 --> 01:00:28,430 What Paul is saying is, this Jesus Christ is the Old Testament Yahweh. 850 01:00:28,431 --> 01:00:32,544 This is Jehovah. 851 01:00:32,545 --> 01:00:39,466 If you were Jewish 2,000 years ago, you'd pick up on that in a second. 852 01:00:39,467 --> 01:00:41,726 What Paul is doing here is, 853 01:00:41,727 --> 01:00:50,755 he's saying grace and peace come to you from God the Father, 854 01:00:50,756 --> 01:00:53,261 there's a conjunction there - and. 855 01:00:53,262 --> 01:00:55,454 Seriously? 856 01:00:55,455 --> 01:01:02,275 The grace of God and the peace of God flow from two Individuals? 857 01:01:02,276 --> 01:01:09,469 Who in the world could be worthy to stand on the other side of a conjunction like that? 858 01:01:09,470 --> 01:01:11,932 He says, it's Jehovah. 859 01:01:11,933 --> 01:01:23,175 "What?! Jehovah? Lord? Yahweh? You just mentioned God the Father. 860 01:01:23,176 --> 01:01:28,063 Who is Jehovah? Who is the Lord?" 861 01:01:28,064 --> 01:01:31,030 He says it's Jesus of Nazareth. 862 01:01:31,031 --> 01:01:33,243 It's the Messiah. (P) 863 01:01:33,244 --> 01:01:41,049 What he is saying is, here is the One who is worthy to stand next to God the Father. 864 01:01:41,050 --> 01:01:43,415 And you have to see how He stands next to Him. 865 01:01:43,416 --> 01:01:49,783 He stands next to Him as the begettor of grace and peace. 866 01:01:49,784 --> 01:01:50,961 It comes from Him. 867 01:01:50,962 --> 01:02:01,800 Paul puts Jesus by the side of God, co-equal, bestowing grace and peace, right along. 868 01:02:01,801 --> 01:02:09,840 From God the Father and from the Lord. 869 01:02:09,841 --> 01:02:21,460 And you know what? He can do so without any irreverence or disrespect to God at all. (P) 870 01:02:21,461 --> 01:02:27,398 "God the Father," we don't typically say it like this, but "God the Father and Jehovah." 871 01:02:27,399 --> 01:02:30,551 That's how the Jews would have heard that. 872 01:02:30,552 --> 01:02:40,103 It's like, isn't God the Father Jehovah? Trinitarian mysteries, brethren. 873 01:02:40,104 --> 01:02:47,283 You know, brethren, the Son of God is right there next to God, 874 01:02:47,284 --> 01:02:53,462 and He is worthy to stand there. 875 01:02:53,463 --> 01:03:00,762 I mean, doesn't Scripture say, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God." 876 01:03:00,763 --> 01:03:03,533 Here He is, with God. 877 01:03:03,534 --> 01:03:08,982 Stands with Him, with a conjunction between - 'and'. 878 01:03:08,983 --> 01:03:12,140 He is with God, and He is God. 879 01:03:12,141 --> 01:03:15,366 He is Jehovah. It's the same truth. 880 01:03:15,367 --> 01:03:16,700 And I'll tell you this: 881 01:03:16,701 --> 01:03:23,310 The cults can scoff, Islam can mock, but this is Christianity. (P) 882 01:03:23,311 --> 01:03:28,055 But we are talking about the worship of the Father, 883 01:03:28,056 --> 01:03:37,504 because in the next verse, the meaning is totally different 884 01:03:37,505 --> 01:03:43,414 because it's not separated by a conjunction. 885 01:03:43,415 --> 01:03:47,541 They are separated by a preposition. 886 01:03:47,542 --> 01:03:56,506 Notice: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 887 01:03:56,507 --> 01:04:01,265 Now we often think about God as the Father. 888 01:04:01,266 --> 01:04:08,041 And by the way, we spoke about this a week and a half ago in a Wednesday service. 889 01:04:08,042 --> 01:04:16,173 God being the Father stresses equality. 890 01:04:16,174 --> 01:04:19,686 Jesus referred to God as His Father, 891 01:04:19,687 --> 01:04:22,762 and the Jews pick up stones to stone Him with, 892 01:04:22,763 --> 01:04:26,011 because He made Himself equal with the Father. 893 01:04:26,012 --> 01:04:31,989 But take Father out for a second. 894 01:04:31,990 --> 01:04:37,374 If you remove "and Father," you have this: 895 01:04:37,375 --> 01:04:44,885 "Blessed be the God of our Lord Jesus Christ." 896 01:04:44,886 --> 01:04:49,829 And when you read further down in Ephesians, in verse 17, 897 01:04:49,830 --> 01:04:53,870 "The God of our Lord Jesus Christ" - there it is. 898 01:04:53,871 --> 01:04:57,065 You say, "Oh, is it even safe to remove "Father" from it?" 899 01:04:57,066 --> 01:04:58,866 Yeah, Paul does. 900 01:04:58,867 --> 01:05:02,423 A little later in the letter, He removes it. (P) 901 01:05:02,424 --> 01:05:13,541 Now think about what this says: God is God of the Lord. 902 01:05:13,542 --> 01:05:16,358 Have you ever said it like that before? 903 01:05:16,359 --> 01:05:21,763 God is Christ's God. 904 01:05:21,764 --> 01:05:23,067 You say, "Really?" 905 01:05:23,068 --> 01:05:25,143 Yeah. 906 01:05:25,144 --> 01:05:28,545 We have to stop and think. 907 01:05:28,546 --> 01:05:35,441 God is our Lord's Father, and our Lord's God. 908 01:05:35,442 --> 01:05:41,438 We must worship the One who is the God of Christ. 909 01:05:41,439 --> 01:05:45,734 And we say, "How?" 910 01:05:45,735 --> 01:05:47,857 Well, there's mysteries here. 911 01:05:47,858 --> 01:05:51,047 But what I can tell you is this: 912 01:05:51,048 --> 01:05:58,096 I can tell you that when Jesus came, this is said. 913 01:05:58,097 --> 01:06:02,590 When Jesus came into this world, God was His God. 914 01:06:02,591 --> 01:06:06,401 You may remember Hebrews 10:5-7, "When Christ came into the world, 915 01:06:06,402 --> 01:06:09,008 He said, 'Sacrifices and offerings You have not desired, 916 01:06:09,009 --> 01:06:10,848 but a body You have prepared for Me; 917 01:06:10,849 --> 01:06:13,991 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.' 918 01:06:13,992 --> 01:06:19,742 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God.'" 919 01:06:19,743 --> 01:06:25,764 So when He came into the world, God was Christ's God. 920 01:06:25,765 --> 01:06:32,078 Think about this: He hung crucified, many of you know, you can recite it, 921 01:06:32,079 --> 01:06:35,655 you know these words, "My God, My God..." (P) 922 01:06:35,656 --> 01:06:39,105 When He came incarnate, God was His God. 923 01:06:39,106 --> 01:06:46,211 As He hung dying, crucified between heaven and earth, God was His God. 924 01:06:46,212 --> 01:06:50,786 Remember right after He came out of the grave, 925 01:06:50,787 --> 01:06:54,040 the first one He had dialogue with was Mary. 926 01:06:54,041 --> 01:06:56,056 Do you remember what He said? 927 01:06:56,057 --> 01:07:00,548 "Go tell My disciples..." 928 01:07:00,549 --> 01:07:09,740 He said that He was going to go to His Father and their Father. 929 01:07:09,741 --> 01:07:13,868 "I am ascending to My Father and Your Father, 930 01:07:13,869 --> 01:07:16,914 to My God and your God." 931 01:07:16,915 --> 01:07:20,128 And then when He ascended to glory, and He is at the right hand, 932 01:07:20,129 --> 01:07:24,988 you know, it's the ascended Christ that shows up in the book of Revelation. 933 01:07:24,989 --> 01:07:28,055 And He says, "To everyone that overcomes, 934 01:07:28,056 --> 01:07:34,255 I will make you a pillar in the house of My God." 935 01:07:34,256 --> 01:07:41,654 Is God the Father Christ's God only in His humanity? 936 01:07:41,655 --> 01:07:44,176 I don't know. 937 01:07:44,177 --> 01:07:59,225 He says in John 6 that His life is derived from the Father. 938 01:07:59,226 --> 01:08:05,956 It's never said that the Son is a God to the Father. 939 01:08:05,957 --> 01:08:10,759 But the Father is Christ's God. (P) 940 01:08:10,760 --> 01:08:16,772 Now what should we do with this as far as worship of the Father? 941 01:08:16,773 --> 01:08:19,122 I can tell you this, in the Old Testament they loved to say it 942 01:08:19,122 --> 01:08:20,951 (and you can find this in the book of Acts as well,) 943 01:08:20,952 --> 01:08:24,523 God was called the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. 944 01:08:24,524 --> 01:08:29,073 And if you were a Jew, there was something to that. 945 01:08:29,073 --> 01:08:30,626 You know why? 946 01:08:30,627 --> 01:08:35,963 Because they were the forefathers to whom God had made the promises. 947 01:08:35,964 --> 01:08:43,100 And when you saw Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, 948 01:08:43,100 --> 01:08:48,176 you saw God possessing them as a people, and you're one of their descendants, 949 01:08:48,176 --> 01:08:50,679 it told you about the promises that were made, 950 01:08:50,680 --> 01:08:54,427 and it told you about the position that you had with that God, 951 01:08:54,428 --> 01:08:56,906 being an offspring of Abraham. (P) 952 01:08:56,907 --> 01:08:58,397 What are we to make of it? 953 01:08:58,398 --> 01:09:02,229 When God now, brethren, now God has revealed to us; 954 01:09:02,229 --> 01:09:03,828 what we have to remember is this: 955 01:09:03,828 --> 01:09:12,580 Every time God reveals Himself by a new name, He means to teach us more about Himself. 956 01:09:12,581 --> 01:09:20,981 I'm amazed; In glory, Christ said He is going to reveal to us His new name (Revelation 3:12), 957 01:09:20,982 --> 01:09:29,031 which means there are realities about Christ you do not now know. 958 01:09:29,032 --> 01:09:32,884 I mean, that may not come as any surprise, but when He specifically says, 959 01:09:32,885 --> 01:09:36,135 "I am going to reveal Myself to you by My new name, 960 01:09:36,136 --> 01:09:40,206 He means I am going to show you things about Myself 961 01:09:40,207 --> 01:09:43,274 that have not yet entered into your minds. (P) 962 01:09:43,274 --> 01:09:45,955 And so, as God comes along, and we move and we transition 963 01:09:45,956 --> 01:09:50,018 from the God of Abraham to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 964 01:09:50,019 --> 01:09:53,421 it speaks something to us. And what does it speak? 965 01:09:53,421 --> 01:10:00,409 Brethren, the feeling is, in those words to Mary, 966 01:10:00,410 --> 01:10:06,456 "I have not yet ascended to My Father and your Father; 967 01:10:06,457 --> 01:10:08,278 My God and your God." 968 01:10:08,279 --> 01:10:21,751 I would say this: Though I recognize God is a Father to Jesus that in certain ways declares His co-equality, 969 01:10:21,752 --> 01:10:30,603 and so certainly He is a Father to Christ in ways that you and I cannot enter into, 970 01:10:30,604 --> 01:10:36,446 I get the feeling that when He said those words to Mary, 971 01:10:36,447 --> 01:10:40,962 He was not seeking to call difference 972 01:10:40,963 --> 01:10:44,066 or to emphasize any of the differences. 973 01:10:44,067 --> 01:10:54,968 He was seeking to emphasize that which is true of us, because it's true of Him.(P) 974 01:10:54,969 --> 01:11:00,234 You see, one of the truths that you are going to find throughout this book is our union to Christ. 975 01:11:00,235 --> 01:11:03,325 And the reality is this: 976 01:11:03,326 --> 01:11:07,137 In the same way that the Israelite could look at Him being the God of Abraham, 977 01:11:07,138 --> 01:11:10,698 and say, "That speaks to me about the promises that are mine; 978 01:11:10,699 --> 01:11:13,919 that speaks to me about the connection I have to Abraham now." 979 01:11:13,920 --> 01:11:19,130 God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, what it speaks to us is my identity with Christ. 980 01:11:19,131 --> 01:11:22,085 And if Christ can say, "My Father and My God," 981 01:11:22,086 --> 01:11:24,699 I can say, "My Father and My God," 982 01:11:24,700 --> 01:11:28,607 and I am brought into that love, and I am brought into that relationship. 983 01:11:28,608 --> 01:11:35,663 Oh, I remember being at these preaching modules that they had up in Shreveport, 984 01:11:35,664 --> 01:11:39,302 and Andy Hamilton was speaking, and he got to where he said, 985 01:11:39,303 --> 01:11:45,271 "Brethren, we are going to be swept right into the Trinitarian relationship 986 01:11:45,272 --> 01:11:48,989 and into the Trinitarian love." 987 01:11:48,990 --> 01:11:51,063 Brethren, this ought to blow us away. 988 01:11:51,064 --> 01:11:55,967 When you see "God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," 989 01:11:55,968 --> 01:11:58,304 don't be detached from that. 990 01:11:58,305 --> 01:12:03,855 There is reason for you to say, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," 991 01:12:03,856 --> 01:12:06,153 because of that identity. (P) 992 01:12:06,154 --> 01:12:09,018 Brethren, we are in Christ. 993 01:12:09,019 --> 01:12:12,029 To be in Him is to have what He has. 994 01:12:12,030 --> 01:12:15,815 To be in Him is to go where He goes. 995 01:12:15,816 --> 01:12:18,371 To be in Him is to never be without Him. 996 01:12:18,372 --> 01:12:21,105 It's to have the inheritance that He has. 997 01:12:21,106 --> 01:12:27,939 It's to have a relationship with God that, as the Mediator, 998 01:12:27,940 --> 01:12:35,904 (I know you can't separate God and Man when it comes to Him,) 999 01:12:35,905 --> 01:12:40,357 but brethren, I'll have you know that as a Man, and as our King, 1000 01:12:40,358 --> 01:12:46,822 the King of Israel, and as the Messiah, as the Mediator, 1001 01:12:46,823 --> 01:12:52,242 He served God, and He prayed to God, and He trusted God, 1002 01:12:52,243 --> 01:12:57,075 and He loved God, and God was His God. 1003 01:12:57,076 --> 01:12:59,076 And He has drawn us into that. 1004 01:12:59,077 --> 01:13:01,953 And we are one with Him, and we are attached to Him. 1005 01:13:01,954 --> 01:13:07,010 And if God blesses you, brethren, you have to get this. 1006 01:13:07,011 --> 01:13:09,560 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1007 01:13:09,560 --> 01:13:13,382 who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places," 1008 01:13:13,383 --> 01:13:18,374 brethren, if you are blessed in Christ, you are blessed indeed. 1009 01:13:18,375 --> 01:13:20,783 This is real. 1010 01:13:20,784 --> 01:13:26,910 May God give us the ability in the days ahead to go where we need to go 1011 01:13:26,911 --> 01:13:32,802 to just try to feel some of this. (P) 1012 01:13:32,803 --> 01:13:36,436 Father we thank you. We want to bless your name. 1013 01:13:36,437 --> 01:13:39,991 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1014 01:13:39,992 --> 01:13:44,523 Lord I pray that the truths of Ephesians that in the weeks ahead, 1015 01:13:44,524 --> 01:13:47,063 it would make our hearts jump, that there would be a glow, 1016 01:13:47,064 --> 01:13:49,143 there would be a fire, there would be a warmth, 1017 01:13:49,144 --> 01:13:52,692 there would be a drinking in of these realities that would affect us, 1018 01:13:52,692 --> 01:13:56,379 change us, make us all the more worshipers in spirit and truth. 1019 01:13:56,380 --> 01:14:00,827 I pray that within these four walls, in the months ahead, 1020 01:14:00,828 --> 01:14:06,069 that you would cause true worship to break forth in this place. 1021 01:14:06,070 --> 01:14:07,360 We desire that. 1022 01:14:07,361 --> 01:14:09,294 Lord, we want to glorify you. 1023 01:14:09,295 --> 01:14:13,844 Create in us, Lord, the right heart, the clean heart, 1024 01:14:13,845 --> 01:14:17,597 the united heart, the worshiping heart, 1025 01:14:17,598 --> 01:14:20,794 that we might be a people of Your own possession 1026 01:14:20,795 --> 01:14:22,950 and a people for Your own glory. 1027 01:14:22,951 --> 01:14:27,623 That in whatsoever we do, whether we eat or drink or whether we study the book of Ephesians, 1028 01:14:27,624 --> 01:14:30,309 we might do everything to the glory of our God, 1029 01:14:30,310 --> 01:14:33,984 the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (P)