Pastor Pete Hartwig

SLIDE: A Letter to the Ephesians

SLIDE: The Apostle Paul

:10 There will come a day when ALL THINGS will be brought together “In Christ”.   Earth stuff and heaven stuff

TENSION. – Already but Not Yet

SLIDE: MICHAEL RAMSDEN   preaching February 17   – DEEP Stuff  – @ CityChurch

SLIDE: Identity – “BLESSED”

READ: IDENTITY is often described as finite and consisting of separate and distinct parts (family, cultural, personal, professional, etc.), involving our genetics (biology), culture, loved ones, those we cared for, people who have harmed us and those we have harmed, the deeds done (good and ill) to self and others, experiences lived, and choices made come together to form who we are at this moment.

hearing that we are useless and worthless

it is difficult to form normal relationships

dysfunction, destruction and manipulation.

SLIDE: Identity – Who I am and how I relate to the world.

READ: Ephesians 1:3-14 BIG SCREEN!

Bible Verses: Ephesians 1:3-14.   (ONE SOLID SENTENCE)

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

A HUGE BLESSING!

Where does your identity come from?

Negative past… what was said about you?

A new identity in Christ

College…

SLIDE: Praise (blessed) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has “blessed us” in the heavenly realms with every spiritual “blessing in Christ”.  Ephesians 1:3

SLIDE: Blessed  Eulogetos from eu = good + logos = word – English “eulogy”

Paul speaks “Good words to us!

SLIDE: Praise (blessed) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has “blessed us” in the heavenly realms with every spiritual “blessing in Christ”.  Ephesians 1:3

BLESSED… something positive that I do not deserve and didn’t earn!

SLIDE: BLESS YOUR HEART. ( his or hers)

He hit his bosses car.  NJ!

Tom Brady – 9 super bowl appearances, Super Model, Contract

The incentives $5 million. $15 million in base salary for the 2018 season. a two-year, $41 million extension with more than $28 million in guarantees.  Gave up $60-100 million for others. $197 million.  BLESS HIS HEART!

So blessed… there must be more than this!

SLIDE:  VIDEO TOM BRADY… Blessed by what or who?

“gotta be more than this!!” I hope there is!

Material blessing… highest priority.

Warning – version of Christianity

SLIDE: Jesus didn’t come to give better access to what was already available without him! He came to bless with what cannot be accessed anywhere else.  “Every spiritual blessing”

Those that preach – Bless their heart!

SLIDE:  In Christ you are… spiritually blessed, chosen, forgiven, made holy, declared blameless, adopted, redeemed, given and an inheritance “in Christ”

1. Redeemed – slave purchasing freedom
2. Given and inheritance

SLIDE: FEET TO YOUR FAITH

SLIDE: And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Vs. 13

Have you made this choice?

Have you chosen to follow Jesus?

SLIDE: When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.    :13-14

Chocolate cake

chocolate covered BRUSSEL SPROUTS