Bible verses referenced
Ephesians 4:13
"Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ."
Ephesians 1:3
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,"
Philippians 4:8
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."
Teaching notes
Introduction
Pastor Lenny and Pastor Lori open their sermon with gratitude towards their congregation, appreciating their love, prayers, and support. They announce that while continuing their study of Ephesians, they are moving ahead slightly due to a pressing message Pastor Lenny feels led to share.
Spiritual Blessings and Identity in Christ
Pastor Lenny reflects on the teachings from Ephesians 1, emphasizing that God has blessed believers with all spiritual blessings. He reinforces that God saw us in Christ as holy and blameless before the world's creation. This powerful truth underscores our redemption and the completeness of forgiveness we receive through Christ, as if sin never existed.
Expectations vs. Desires
Pastor Lenny and Pastor Lori discuss whether God has expectations for believers. They conclude that God indeed expects us to walk in the empowerment of the blessings He has given us. God desires us to live out our identity in Christ, acknowledging that He has made us righteous and restored us to perfection.
Growth in Understanding
The pastors stress the importance of not misusing God's love and grace by being complacent. They challenge listeners to take control of their spiritual growth, recognizing that they are dead to sin and alive in Christ (referenced from Romans).
Parental Comparison
Pastor Lenny uses the analogy of parenting to illustrate how expectations change with maturity. Just as parents expect more from their children as they grow, God expects believers to grow and mature in their faith.
Empowerment Through Identity
Pastor Lori shares how she relies on "power verses" to remind herself of her identity in Christ. She emphasizes the importance of aligning thoughts with what is true, pure, and righteous as instructed in Philippians.
God's Expectations
Pastor Lenny explains that God expects believers to walk in the fullness of what He has provided, using the gifts and empowerment given by the Holy Spirit. The expectation is to grow into the fullness and stature of Christ.
The sermon concludes with a call for believers to actively reject anything that contradicts their identity in Christ. Pastor Lenny emphasizes that while the Holy Spirit does the transforming work, believers must choose to believe and step into their new identity.
Closing Thoughts
Pastor Lori encourages listeners to rely on the Holy Spirit, who provides all the necessary power and comfort. She assures them that they are equipped to live out their identity in Christ.
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