Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. In the formation of Israel

a) God provided

b) He protected

c) His Presence was with the nation

d) Israel was given wonderful blessings!

e) But all God’s blessings are conditional   (Deuteronomy 27-28)

2. In the formation of the Church

a) God also provided

b) He protected

c) His Presence was with the Church

d) The Church has also been given wonderful blessings

SERVANTS OF THE LORD

1. In the Old Testament era

a) God gave Patriarchs

b) He also gave priests and kings

c) He gave prophets

2. In the New Testament era

a) God gave Apostles

b) Pastors-teachers

c) Evangelists

3. They were God’s special blessings to His people

a) They were preachers/ teachers who brought His messages

b) They were Intercessors

4. An appropriate Response

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,

Ephesians 1:3

a) To bless the Lord’s name

b) To thank Him for every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ

A SHORT LIST OF THE BLESSINGS OF GOD

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,

9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,

10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.

11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 1:4-14

1. Our Redemption

a) Chosen in love to be holy and without blame

b) Predestined to be God’s children by adoption

c) Made accepted by the Lord by the richness of His grace

2. Blessings of Redemption

a) Forgiveness of sins

b) Reconciliation through His blood

c) Rich grace abounded in wisdom and prudence

d) The mystery of the will of God revealed

e) The Gift of the Holy Spirit:

i) Seal of God’s promise of salvation

ii) Guarantee of our inheritance

3. How Salvation is made possible

a) Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ

b) Hearing the word of truth

c) Faith in the Gospel of salvation

d) Regeneration from the Spirit of God

i) A glorious work of the Spirit

ii) Born again to become the children of God   (John 3 )

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To check our understanding of Salvation

2. To cultivate our knowledge and faith

3. To consistently bless the Lord for His wondrous plan of salvation revealed to us