Exodus 3:7-8 - The Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.”
Exodus 3:10 - Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.
Exodus 3:14-15 - God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.”
Exodus 4:11-12 - The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? “Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.”
Exodus 4:13 - But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.”
Exodus 4:14-15 - Then the anger of the Lord burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do.”
Exodus 5:6-9 - So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying, “You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously; let them go and gather straw for themselves. But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall impose on them; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, therefore they cry out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.”
3 responses to God’s provision of the Holy Spirit
I. Remember the Prerequisite of God’s Seal on Your Life
Soteriology – the doctrine of salvation
1:4 - Just as He chose us in Him
1:5a - He predestined us
1:5b - …according to the kind intention of His will
1:6 - He freely bestowed on us
1:9 - …according to His kind intention…
1:11a - …having been predestined according to His purpose
1:11b - …who works all things after the counsel of His will
Ephesians 2:1 - And you were dead in your trespasses and sins…
Ephesians 1:13 - In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation –having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise…
A. You listened
Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
1. to the message of truth
2. to the gospel of your salvation
Romans 10:15 - How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!
B. You believed
Ephesians 1:13 - In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation –having also believed…
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Ephesians 1:13 - In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation –having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise…
II. Reflect on the Significance of God’s Seal on Your Life
A. Because of what it means
1. Your salvation is authentic
1 Kings 21:9-10 - Now she wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people; and seat two worthless men before him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
1 Kings 21:8 - So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent letters to the elders and to the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city.
2. Your salvation is binding
Jeremiah 32:9-12 - I bought the field which was at Anathoth from Hanamel my uncle’s son, and I weighed out the silver for him, seventeen shekels of silver. I signed and sealed the deed, and called in witnesses, and weighed out the silver on the scales. Then I took the deeds of purchase, both the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions and the open copy; and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the sight of Hanamel my uncle’s son and in the sight of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, before all the Jews who were sitting in the court of the guard.
Jeremiah 32:14-15 - Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Take these deeds, this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, that they may last a long time.” For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Houses and fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.”
Ephesians 1:14 - …with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession…
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
True or False – When you come to Christ, you are no longer enslaved
Romans 6:22-23 - But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3. Your salvation is irrevocable
Daniel 6:12 - Then they approached and spoke before the king about the king’s injunction, “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions’ den?” The king replied, “The statement is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.”
Daniel 6:17 - A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel.
Ephesians 4:30 - Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
B. Because of how it was predicted
Joel 2:28 - It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind…
C. Because of what it provides
III. Rejoice in the Future of God’s Seal on Your Life
Ephesians 1:14 - …who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
- Have you ever been in a situation where we you were asked or expected to perform a task or complete a project/assignment – but were not given the tools, or the training, or the resources to fulfill that responsibility successfully?...
- you may remember how this theme emerged – both positively and negatively -- when the Lord began the process of leading the children of Israel out of Egypt and toward the promised land…
- it started when God revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush…and said…Exodus 3:7–8 - The Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.
- but then the Lord says to Moses…Exodus 3:10 - “Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.”
- did you see the important logical transition – the Lord plans to do something marvelous for His people (that’s good news)…He says “I have come down…”…
- but then the Lord calls Moses to have a central role in the accomplishment of that plan…including going and seeing Pharaoh…and leading 600,000 slaves and their families out of Pharaoh’s workforce…(that’s maybe not such good news, at least not to the man who being given that assignment)…this story has the word “outrageous” written on it from beginning to end…
- that sets off an interchange between the Lord and Moses…where Moses focuses on his lack of abilities and resources…and God promises to give Him all that He needs to fulfill this divine assignment…
- remember Moses says – well, who am I going to say sent me?...that’s a fair question…
- and that leads to the revelation of one of the most significant names of God – He said – I’m YHWH - Exodus 3:14–15 - God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.
- in other words – I am the eternal, self-existent, all-sufficient God of the universe who will be with you throughout this endeavor Personally…the God who makes promises to people and the One who has the ability and character to carry them out…
- so this is a big assignment with divine provision…
- as you may recall, it took Moses a bit of time to get on the same page…and I think we can cut him a little slack for that…it’s not everyday you’re having a spiritual conversation with a burning bush…about a job like this…
- so Moses says – what if the people won’t listen to me?...
- that’s when God introduces him to the new abilities of the staff he’s carrying…which he threw on the ground and it became a snake…
- then he told Moses to put his hand in his robes, and it came out completely leprous…and then to put it back in his robes (would you have done it the second time?)…and it came out instantly and completely restored…
- then Moses said – I’m not very eloquent…do you remember the Lord’s response?... Exodus 4:11–12 - The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? “Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.”
- what happened next?...Moses still objected…Exodus 4:13 - But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.”
- in other words…get somebody else…and the Lord’s response shows that part of His provision to enable His people to fulfill our responsibilities is His incredible patience…
- Exodus 4:14–15 - Then the anger of the Lord burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do.
- do you see the theme – when God calls you to do something, He stands ready to give you all the resources necessary to serve Him well…
- but as that story progresses, there’s a clear contrast, isn’t there…because not all leaders believe in resourcing those under them well……(would you agree with that?...have you ever experienced that?...)
- because when we get to the Pharaoh…he didn’t like Moses and Aaron’s request that the children of Israel be allowed to go into the wildness and worship…so how did He respond?...
- Exodus 5:6–9 - So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying, “You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously; let them go and gather straw for themselves. “But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall impose on them; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, therefore they cry out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ “Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.”
- do you see the contrast?...between a God who calls His people to important tasks but gives them all the resources they need to succeed…and an Egyptian Pharaoh who does the polar opposite…
- here’s my question this morning – when it comes to Faith’s last sixty years and the mission to which God has called us…has our experience been like God’s treatment of Moses…or like Pharaoh’s treatment of the children of Israel?...
- abundant provision…or unreasonable and under-resourced demands?...
- and what does that answer suggest about how people like you and me should think about…Building on Our Heritage?...with that in mind, please open your Bible to Ephesians chapter 1…page 150 of the back section of the Bible under the chair in front of you…
- our church’s theme this year is Building on Our Heritage…because we are right on top of our 60th anniversary…
- God in His grace has given us a wonderful heritage and the question we’re considering this year is…what does it look like to build on their heritage wisely and well?...
- in these early months of 2024, we’re working through Ephesians chapter 1 where we want to Remembering Our Identity as One in Christ…
- let’s read the first 14 verses…looking today for what Paul tells us about an amazing aspect of God’s provision for us…that You are Sealed…read Ephesians 1:1-14
- so we are talking this morning about the believer’s seal, and with the time we have remaining, let’s think about Three responses to God’s provision of the Holy Spirit
I. Remember the Prerequisite of God’s Seal on Your Life
- we recognize that some of you may have been a bit troubled by some of what we’ve studied so far in chapter 1…about God’s role in the salvation process…
- I mentioned several weeks ago when we started all of this that I had a friend in another state who was an associate pastor…he preached on Ephesians 1:4 on Sunday and was fired on Monday…
- because people were unwilling to hear what Scripture clearly teaches on this matter…
- there is no doubt that in this longest sentence in the Bible, where Paul thoroughly discusses the doctrine of Soteriology – the doctrine of salvation – that a primary emphasis is how God initiates the salvation process, not man…
- · 1:4 – Just as He chose us in Him
- · 1:5a – He predestined us
- · 1:5b - …according to the kind intention of His will
- · 1:6 – He freely bestowed on us
- · 1:9 – according to His kind intention…
- · 1:11a – having been predestined according to His purpose
- · 1:11b – who works all things after the counsel of His will
- and I realize someone might say – well I see what’s going on here, the pastors at Faith are Calvinists…or Faith is Calvinistic…
- and if you allowed us some time to explain our response, we’d say that those statements are true…
- however, it’s not because of our adherence to the teachings of a particular theologian…it’s because that is a plain reading of the text…
- human beings do not have the capacity in and of ourselves to move toward God in repentance and faith…
- and if you say, well, is Paul done insulting me now?...actually, no…
- and although I want to stay off of the real estate assigned to other pastors in this series…we could just peek quickly at what is taught at the beginning of chapter 2…
- Ephesians 2:1 - And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
- that means fundamentally that spiritual life is a gift from God, not an act of man…
- another way of saying that is – regeneration precedes faith…
- this issue is actually woven into our church’s history…
- because the two options are being Calvinistic…(although there are many different shades/degrees of that position) which emphasizes God’s primary/initiatory role in the salvation process…
- or being Arminian which emphasizes man’s role in the salvation process…
- Pastor Goode and I had a number of very thorough discussions about this topic and his own testimony was that he began ministry from more of an Arminian perspective…that was true of many fundamental Baptists…
- but then as he became more involved with the other first generation leaders in the biblical counseling movement…they were almost all reformed in their theology…many of them Presbyterians, or reformed Baptists…who tended to be much more Calvinistic…
- so Pastor Goode did what he often did in moments like that…he began studying his Bible…one aspect of our heritage for which we should be profoundly thankful is how diligent people like Pastor Goode and Doc Smith and many other men and women in this congregation were regarding the careful study of God’s Word…
- and the way Pastor Goode explained it to me was – he was driving one day and essentially had a conversation with himself…and said, you know – you teach on every other topic in the Bible – why are afraid of teaching on election?...
- and then as his studies continued, he saw that sometimes if not often, when doctrines like election, predestination, and foreknowledge were emphasized in Scripture – it was in the context of suffering and trials…
- and he concluded that by avoiding that concept, he was not preparing our people to handle difficult times as well as he should…
- and those who have been at Faith for a long time will remember the way Pastor Goode summarized this doctrine – God didn’t just start thinking about you yesterday…
- which is classic Pastor Goode – take a challenging theological concept…and make it biblical, understandable, and practical…
- I hope we will always be thankful for that aspect of our heritage…
- however, it’s amazing how the verses we have before us balance those concepts…because verse 13 emphasizes man’s role in the process, doesn’t it?...
- Ephesians 1:13 - In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
A. You listened
- please go back to your earliest recollections of hearing the gospel…
- for some you hearing God’s Word in the nursery…
- for others it was in your teenage years…
- or maybe as an adult and perhaps in the middle of a crisis…
- but you had to make a choice about whether you would…listen…
- Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
- friend, that’s the other side of the equation…
- I often quote the old-time Bible teacher Warren Wiersbe who said that balance is that illusive point I pass on the way to my next extreme…
- praise God that at a moment in time…you were willing to listen…
1. to the message of truth
- you had to decide what you believed was true about the nature of man…about the nature of God…about the nature of each of these powerful words we’re studying in this chapter…
- is it true that a person like you can be adopted in God’s family, to be forgiven, to be redeemed through His blood…
- and sure, all of that has the potential to offend mankind’s modern sensibilities…
- but praise God for whoever told you the truth about these matters…
- this might warrant a call to your parents this afternoon if they’re still alive and if this is the case in your situation…mom/dad – thank you for telling me the truth…
- or reaching out to a Sunday school teacher or a youth worker…thank you for telling me the truth…
- a friend, co-worker…whoever it was…
- but also thank God that He allowed you to listen
2. to the gospel of your salvation
- that’s why we’re gearing up for Palm Sunday, and Good Friday, and Easter Sunday services which come very early in the calendar this year…
- and here’s the challenge I’d like to make to you…
- we’re going to be pushing out graphics you can post on your social media platforms…
- and we can do all sorts of advertising…and we will…but there is no doubt that the most effective proclamation of the gospel is personal…
- think of what would happen if every social media platform represented in our church family was absolutely lit up with invitations to come to church at Easter time and hear the message of the gospel?...
- we can’t expect people to listen if we’re not willing to talk…Paul also reminded the Romans…
- Romans 10:15……“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
- not only did you listen, but…
B. You believed
- I would ask you this morning…are you among the “you also”…
- Ephesians 1:13 - In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed…
- what do you believe about these matters?...and if you never have before, are you willing to listen to the truth that our sin has separated us from a holy God…and our role in the matter is to believe the gospel…to trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord…
- John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
- and if you would say this am – PV, I know I have both listened and believed…I would encourage you to pause and reflect on all the people and places and events God used to bring you to Himself…and praise the glory of His grace…
- but where then does that take us?...to the title of our message…here’s an essential aspect our identity…
- Ephesians 1:13 - In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
- my dear friends, that is some incredibly good news…so…
II. Reflect on the Significance of God’s Seal on Your Life
A. Because of what it means
- if you’ve studied the Bible before, you know that the concept of a seal is fairly well-known, and comes up in several memorable places in Scripture…
- and it was also a term that was very familiar and powerful in that culture…
- so here’s part of what it means…
1. Your salvation is authentic
- In 1 Kings 21, when a man named Naboth would not sell his vineyard to a wicked king named Ahab…the king’s even more wicked wife named Jezebel sent letters to the elders and nobles of the city…1 Kings 21:9–10 - Now she wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people; and seat two worthless men before him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
- and since those elders and nobles might doubt the reliability of the accusation, what did Jezebel do?... 1 Kings 21:8 - So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent letters to the elders and to the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city.
- see, in the Bible, a seal signifies authenticity…and what does Paul say in Ephesians 1:13 about those who have listened to and believed the gospel…you have been sealed in Him…
- friends, there is no greater authenticity than that…
- picture hot wax being poured on a letter…and then the image on a unique signet ring being pressed into that hot wax…
- nobody is going to question the authenticity of that seal…
- there’s no more important phrase that you would want to describe you identity than that you’ve been sealed in Him…
- you’re the real deal…not because of your righteousness and reliability…but because of His…
- this word picture also means that…
2. Your salvation is binding
- often a seal was used when land or property was being sold…
- that happened in Jeremiah 32, the chapter right after the New Covenant was given…
- where the Lord has the prophet buy a piece of land…and the story goes like this…
- Jeremiah 32:9–12 - “I bought the field which was at Anathoth from Hanamel my uncle’s son, and I weighed out the silver for him, seventeen shekels of silver. “I signed and sealed the deed, and called in witnesses, and weighed out the silver on the scales. “Then I took the deeds of purchase, both the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions and the open copy; and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the sight of Hanamel my uncle’s son and in the sight of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, before all the Jews who were sitting in the court of the guard.
- now you might say – why was this so important…and why was the seal necessary?...it was actually a sign of great hope…because Babylon was already besieging Jerusalem…and Jeremiah had clearly prophesied that Jerusalem was going to fall, that the people would be taken captive to Babylon…
- which is why Jeremiah was in jail because King Zedekiah didn’t like that message…
- but God has the prophet buy this piece of ground…seal the deed to the land which signified ownership…in this case, ultimately to God Himself…
- because here’s what happens next…
- Jeremiah 32:14–15 - ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Take these deeds, this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, that they may last a long time.” ‘For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Houses and fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.” ’
- in other words – yes, there’s going to be a captivity, but it won’t last forever…because ultimately who owns that land?...God Himself…which is one of the reasons that deed needed to be sealed…
- and what happens to people like you and me when we listen to and believe the gospel?...we’re sealed…which we now belong to whom?...
- we belong to the Lord…
- how did Paul say it in Ephesians 1:14 – with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession…
- that’s also emphasized in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 - Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
- let’s pause and think about that one for a minute…
- T/F – When you come to Christ, you are no longer enslaved.
- friends, that’s false…you go from being enslaved to a cruel taskmaster to being enslaved to a wonderful Father…
- Romans 6:22–23 - But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- that is why this chapter is not about our will or our glory…not at all…it’s about God’s will and His glory…
- and over our 60 year history…we’ve watched sisters and brothers endure all sorts of hardships with dignity and grace…why?...how?...
- because these…believers…that is, believers in the gospel…viewed themselves as being sealed…as a sign of divine ownership by a God whose ways are both mysterious and perfect…
- the metaphor also screams the message that…
3. Your salvation is irrevocable
- there are many examples of this emphasis in Scripture…
- like when Daniel’s enemies wanted to extinguish his life because of his faithfulness to his God
- amazingly, they couldn’t find any dirt…unless it related to his devotion to the Lord…
- so what did they do?...they talked the king into signing a document that anyone who prays to any god other than the king will be cast in the lion’s den…
- and if you read chapter 6…it’s amazing how much emphasis is played on that issue…get the king to sign it…
- Daniel 6:12 - Then they approached and spoke before the king about the king’s injunction, “Did you not sign an injunction that any man who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, is to be cast into the lions’ den?” The king replied, “The statement is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.”
- and what did all of them do when Daniel was cast in the den…
- Daniel 6:17 - A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel.
- was Daniel alone in that den?...no, the text says that the angel of God – perhaps the preincarnate Lord Jesus Christ…had been sent to shut the lion’s mouth…
- you have to imagine him chuckling as the king and his nobles are affixing their seals to the stone…
- thinking – a more righteous seal is coming…a more powerful seal is coming…a more eternal seal is coming…and it can never be revoked…
- friend, what happened when you listened to and believed the gospel?...you were sealed in Him…with a mark that is authentic, binding, and irrevocable…
- and how long will that seal last?...Paul actually explains that later in this same book…
- Ephesians 4:30 - Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
- you might ask – PV – are you saying that I can’t lose my salvation?...that’s exactly what I’m saying…your salvation was not initiated by you, secured by you, or kept by you…and friends, that is very, very good news…
- and that’s exactly what our theological forbears believed…
- in their program for the dedication of our first permanent facility in January of 1967
- time doesn’t allow us to think much about…
B. Because of how it was predicted
- the prophet Joel predicted a day when…Joel 2:28 - “It will come about after this
That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind…
- Peter explained in Acts 2:16 that this was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost…the day the church of Jesus Christ was born…
- and the amazing reality is…we’re not talking about an impersonal seal of hot wax…
- we’re talking about a very personal, transforming seal on the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit of God…
- and please think about…
C. Because of what it provides
- our church is far from perfect…but there have been plenty of occasions of this church family accepting ministry responsibilities with significant courage and faith?...
- why?...because we believed we were sealed by,, and therefore indwelt with the Holy Spirit of God…
- we had so many wonderful guests at the BCTC, some from countries around the world…including these 3 pastors from Ukraine…
- we asked them how we could serve them…and this week they sent us a letter with a number of requests…
- including their desire to get their key leaders and church members away from the war zone to some kind of a retreat in the mountains where they just get a bit of rest…
- they asked us to consider funding it…and honestly, it would cost a lot of money…
- they also asked Pastor Green and I to come and be the retreat speakers…
- what should we think about that?...
- it goes all the way back to Moses and the burning bush…who probably needed to hear God’s name before anyone else in that story?...it very well may have been Moses…
- YHWH sent you – the self-existent God who will always be with you…
- this belief has motivated so many of the ministry decisions made around here over the last 60 years…in Him, you’ve been sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise…
- Paul concludes by encouraging us to…
III. Rejoice in the Future of God’s Seal on Your Life
- Ephesians 1:14 - who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
- there’s a lot of different ways to interpret that phrase pledge (down-payment?) of our inheritance
- perhaps it includes this…as we progressively grow in Christ (Romans 8:9-11 emphasizes this so powerfully), walk in the Spirit, and allow Him to develop the Spirit’s fruit in us, it’s a foretaste of heaven and what it will be like to function fully and freely and completely as His own possession…
- that’s something else about this church family – again, not perfect – but do you know what you see a lot of around here?...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control…
- what does that signify?...people who have been…sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise…
- and when you think about the ministries to which the Lord has called us…we surely need those resources, huh?...
- we received another letter this week…from our friends in the DR…
- they’re asking for a lot more training…
- the tone of the message was very much…please come help us…
- and you might say – why are they so insistent…
- a few weeks ago I was in the DR for a number of reasons, but especially for the dedication of their VOH (a name used after they asked our permission because they want to have a sister relationship with our VOH)…
- what’s unique about their VOH is that is focused exclusively on serving victims of incest who now have unplanned pregnancies…
- that problem is so rampant in their culture that it necessitated a ministry all by itself…
- this week they received their first resident…would you like to know her age?...
- 12 years old…
- you look at ministry responsibilities and callings like this and say with the apostle Paul…who is sufficient for these things?....
- what’s the answer?...only those who are sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise…
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