mySundaySermons

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, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ, we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory. [NRSA: Ephesians 1:3-14]

Spend the Inheritance?

If your financial planner tells you its time to spend all your live savings, you either have a terrible advisor or he or she has some serious insider trading information that you need to listen to quickly.

But our spiritual inheritance is different because of the power to love in the face of our enemies, the grace to look beyond the past that has separated us. Paul writes to the churches of Ephesus calling them to step up their faith and witness. He knows they are able because of God’s plan, Christ’s death, and resurrection, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

A New Year, A Renewed Charge and renewed Strength

I have been fascinated with the unfolding of ancient cultures and people’s structural remains of architecture reveal an obsession with connecting the order of civil life to the sun, moon, and stars. The use of lasers and LIDAR has been scanning the globe revealing lost cities around the world that have been lost in time but reveal very organized people who had advanced knowledge of the order of the creation. The orientation of roads, buildings, mounds, entrances to caves, and the placement of stones and markers are used to measure time, season, and the general order of the earth in the universe. In Turkey, structures are found to orient people long before our accepted understanding, people have celebrated the markers of each new year. In Chine, in the Pacific Islands, in the Amazon, in the Southwestern US, in Europe and Africa, we are finding evidence that we have been looking for order, purpose, and direction for more generations than we can imagine.

As we begin a near year, let us hear these words Paul’s shares with the church then, to allow them to be heard a new, and inspire us into faithful action:

In our reading we learn:

• God has a plan. The plan includes us as children, in God’s family.
• God’s plan includes the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, for us, for God’s purpose.
• God’s plan is lavishly spent on us, therefore we can lavishly praise and bring glory to God.
• God’s Spirit is giving us wisdom, insight, and revealing what once was a mystery.

To what end? For what Purpose?

God’s plan includes a desire for all of us to be united through grace into faithful trust, obedience, and relationship.

What is the measure of a successful parent?

Look to the scriptures:

• Colossians 3:21 do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
• Ephesians 6:4 do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
• Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
• Hebrews 12:11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
• Proverbs 22:6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
• Matthew 6:33-34 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
• Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
• Proverbs 1:8-9 Listen, my child, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. 9 They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
• 1 Peter 5:2-3 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
• Psalm 127:3-5 Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. 4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.
• Deuteronomy 6:6-9 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
• Joshua 4:20-24 And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. 21 He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.”
• Proverbs 3:1-12 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. 11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Psalm 78:1-7 My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old— 3 things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. 5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, 6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they, in turn, would tell their children. 7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

Paul gives the fulfillment of Psalm 78: Christ is revealed. The Holy Spirit is poured out! Salvation is made possible through life, death, and resurrection.

so that: vs 7 of Ps.78, “Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.“

There it is!

God has made spent our inheritance that we might trust God, remember God’s works of love and grace so that we would keep God’s righteousness, commandments, and be a living witness of that trust.

So as we begin this new year, let us do more than resolve to trust God’s righteousness, let us begin now. It is not our goal, it is the mission.

Our key response to the Resurrection and Salvation that God has given us in Christ is to be the inspiration of what John Wesley identified as SANCTIFICATION.

• It is the sum of the activities that we do to grow in faith, share our faith, and praise God.
• If it helps to think in terms of New Year Resolutions, choose a new spiritual practice and set a course to be devoted to it for God’s purpose.

Most of the New Year Resolutions are for our own benefit. We want to lose weight, start exercising for our physical activity for health, We create budgets to save and spend more responsibility.

This invitation is, again, more than a resolution, more than a goal or suggestion. Take the steps of faith to make 2021 the memorable year of our spiritual growth.

• Some Ideas:
• Read through the Bible in 364 days. Start today, there are several good suggestions, simply Google them.
• If your health allows, begin one day a week that becomes your fast each week. Drinking water, coffee, or tea but no food and spend that time on food procurement, preparation, consumption, and cleaning in prayer, study, singing, or service.
• Begin a personal ministry of faith sharing. Write out your faith journey, nuggets of what and why your faith gives you strength, and find ways to bring Christ into your weekly conversations with others.
• Start a prayer group, find a group of people that you share on the phone or texting, or social media, and share prayer concerns and pray to encourage one another and lift others up.
• Start a new devotion reading. There are resources on the Upper Room website and dozens at Christain bookstores. Start the day, end the day, or find a time during the day to start a new spiritual habit.
• Start a new saving plan that is specifically for God to use for others in need. This past year has devastated many and 2021 may hold new challenges that are yet to be experienced that your gifts will be a blessing.
• While worship online has been a challenge for most everyone, it is something that we need to cherish every opportunity to sing, share, and experience the Christain community in every way we can. Be devoted to not miss weekly worship and share the experience with others by sharing links and experiences that encourage others.
• Bottom line, don’t stop what you are currently doing… add a spiritual discipline to what you are already doing. If none of these have been your practice, then start one or some similar spiritual exercise program.

The Goal, the Mission is to praise and grow in our relationship with God and one another.

These are the things that open the door to God’s heart.

These are ways that we show our praise.

“In Christ, we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.“

You are called, you are blessed, you are equipped, you are strengthened, you are saved, you are the investment. Make 2021 the year you begin to mature God’s trust.