January 25, 1998 - LESSON: Ephesians 1:3

SERMON TITLE: The Good Gifts

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INTRODUCTION:

A few years ago I was watching a Packer game.

The quarterback made a bone-head play, a pass was intercepted and the opposition scored a touchdown.

I groaned out loud and Margarete, my mother-in-law heard me.

She excitedly called to Helga to check on me.

Was there something seriously wrong with me; perhaps a heart attack?

She was visiting us from Germany.

She didn't quite understand what was going on.

I was not have a physical problem, it was only a temporary emotional outburst.

It was something that soon passed and would have been forgotten

There was some humor in the experience, and also a lesson.

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MAIN BODY:

I encourage you to contrast the Super Bowl and God and what each may or may not provide.

Today is Super Bowl Sunday.

There will be a lot of groans and a lot of cheers.

We will make a huge investment of our time and energy.

What blessings will be realized by this investment?

Judy, our church secretary, when we were talking about this responded, "Fellowship."

There is some fellowship which occurs.

You might win a bet which could be considered a benefit.

The players and the teams will benefit.

Both the winner and the loser will gain in stature by participating in the game.

Both will be a little wealthier.

Let's phrase the benefits in a different context.

What blessings will be given or received by the investment in the Super Bowl.

Truly none.

The excitement will die

The passion will cool

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The game will not change life for the better.

It will not make our lives easier.

It will not bring comfort.

It will not provide hope.

It will not create love.

It cannot promise immortality.

These are not possible in the realm of the game.

For true blessings we must look to a different source.

Ephesians 1:3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

Here we have

(1) the author of our blessings;

(2) their nature and sphere;

(3) the medium through whom we have them.

The author is "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

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Jesus called God his father (John 20:17) in virtue of the state of relationship in which he had placed himself.

God is thanked because he has blessed us in Jesus.

Every spiritual blessing;

not merely spiritual as opposed to material,

but blessings as applied by the Holy Spirit,

It is the task of the Holy Spirit to bring divine things into actual contact with human beings.

To apply to us the blessings purchased by Christ.

The blessings are in heavenly places.

They belong to the heavenly kingdom; they are the highest we can attain to.

3. The medium through which they come to us is Christ.

They are not fruits of the mere natural bounty of God, but of his redeeming bounty,

They are the fruits of the mediatorial work of Jesus Christ.

Every blessing includes:

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All that the Father can bestow

All that the Son can provide

All that the Holy Spirit can apply.

So what is it that the Holy Spirit can apply?

Jesus in telling the disciples that it was necessary to leave them told them in John 14

(vs. 7) Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

(vs. 8) And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:

Prove the world wrong about some important parts of our understanding of life.

(vs. 9) about sin, because they do not believe in me;

(vs. 10) about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer;

(vs. 11) about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

(vs. 12) "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

(vs. 13) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth;

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He will not speak on his own,

He will speak whatever he hears,

That is whatever he heard from Christ.

and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

(vs. 14) He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

In another place it speaks of the fruit of the Spirit which are:

Galatians 6:22-26, By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

patience,

kindness,

generosity,

faithfulness,

(vs. 23) gentleness,

and self-control.

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So we are encouraged by these words:

(vs. 25) If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

(vs. 26) Let us not become conceited,

competing against one another,

envying one another.

CONCLUSION:

We know that fruit does not magically appear.

It takes time to pollinate and grow.

Grow into maturity and the rich ripeness that creates an enjoyable taste.

Sports are important

I enjoyed playing track, baseball, basketball and football

I enjoy watching sports

The vital blessings that are needed for the improvement of our spiritual lives do not come from sports, but from God.

And so it is with Paul that we also exclaim "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places," (Ephesians 1:3, NRSV)

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