WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:05.280 Well, before the sermon, I want to take just a moment and speak to the tragic events of this week. 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:09.199 As you know, Charlie Kirk, who's a Christian political activist, was assassinated. 00:00:09.279 --> 00:00:13.119 And then as well in Denver, yet another school shooting. 00:00:13.279 --> 00:00:18.719 And it's just we as a church, we just want to come in agreement and to say uh this saddens us. 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:22.480 And this is tragic, and it is darkness, and it is evil. 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:25.120 And we as a people, we want to pray. 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:28.160 We want to pray for peace and unity in our country. 00:00:28.239 --> 00:00:29.519 So let's pray together. 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:40.079 Heavenly Father, we confess with sorrow the anger and the division and the strife that is in our country and in our society. 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:44.799 Would you please look with mercy upon our country in this time? 00:00:45.920 --> 00:01:06.560 Would you grant your holy and life-giving spirit that you would move every human heart, that you would move the barriers which divide us, that those barriers may crumble, that suspicions disappear and hatred cease, that our divisions being healed, that we may live in justice and peace through Jesus. 00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:11.040 Guide our leaders with wisdom, protect the innocent, strengthen the weary. 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:18.799 Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us, that healed and renewed, we may walk together in justice, mercy, and mutual respect. 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:25.519 When we don't know where to turn or where to put our eyes, would you help us put our eyes on you? 00:01:25.760 --> 00:01:32.159 Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:33.120 Amen. 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:38.239 Well, this morning is our second week studying our way through the book of Ephesians. 00:01:38.319 --> 00:01:41.840 If you remember from last week, the main point of Ephesians is this. 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:42.879 You can look to the screen. 00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:49.040 The main point is what God has done for us in Christ and how we should live in light of it. 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:55.200 What God has done for us in Christ, how we should live in light of what Jesus has already done. 00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:58.000 Let's read our passage, break it down, and make sense of it. 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:02.879 Ephesians 1, 15 through 19, for this reason, because I have heard of your faith. 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:09.360 So this is Paul in prison in Rome, and he's writing to this church that he knows about and he loves these people in Ephesus. 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:42.080 So he says, Because I've heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation and the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his great might. 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:49.759 So point number one is this that we are called, we are to know God in mind and experience. 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:54.560 So an intelligent comprehension and a personal experience. 00:02:54.719 --> 00:02:56.240 Let's start there in verse 19. 00:02:56.479 --> 00:02:59.680 Immeasurable greatness of his power, that phrase. 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:01.919 I mean, I hear that sounds amazing. 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:03.280 Like, sign me up for that. 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:05.680 Ameasurable greatness of his power. 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:09.919 That sounds amazing, and yet I don't know about your life. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:13.280 I'm guessing, I'll guess, it doesn't always feel like that. 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:18.960 I mean, in my life, it does not always feel like immeasurable greatness of his power. 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:22.400 Okay, I mean, my life doesn't always feel like that. 00:03:22.639 --> 00:03:27.520 If this power is so great, why am I still impatient? 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:33.919 Or greedy or angry or resentful or petty or jealous or envious? 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:39.280 Like, why am I still concerned about what people think so much? 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:43.120 Why do I care? 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:46.159 Why do I care so much about Taylor Swift's engagement? 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:47.360 Like, so much. 00:03:47.840 --> 00:03:51.840 Like, it's not natural the amount that I care and I have invested in this. 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:53.120 Are you up to date on it? 00:03:53.360 --> 00:03:55.919 Six weeks ago, Travis asked her dad. 00:03:56.319 --> 00:03:58.719 Two weeks ago, Travis asked Taylor to marry him. 00:03:58.800 --> 00:03:59.360 This is amazing. 00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:01.439 If if you're a Taylor fan, raise your hand. 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:05.680 Taylor, we've been, it's been a long journey for us, okay? 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:08.719 Some of you aren't Taylor fans, you don't know what we've been through. 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:14.960 It's been a lot of guys and a lot of breakups, a lot of breakup songs, and we just want her to be happy. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:19.519 We've been wanting her to be happy for a long time, and we think we have it with Travis. 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:22.959 We just want her to have love finally. 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:25.519 So we think we have it in this power couple, right? 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:31.360 The alpha of music in the entire world and the alpha of football. 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:34.240 Now he's only worth 90 million, okay? 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:38.160 So, you know, 1.6 billion, Taylor, he's only worth 90. 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:39.680 Now, why do I know that? 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:44.319 Why do I know the jets that she owns? 00:04:44.560 --> 00:04:47.759 Why do I think that I could handle it better than her? 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:49.759 I really do. 00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:50.959 I really do think that. 00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:58.720 I really do think secretly in my heart, underneath, I really do think I would handle all of that so much better than her. 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:03.199 I mean, I would let sick children ride on my jet to go get care. 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:05.360 I mean, I would do all sorts of generous things. 00:05:05.439 --> 00:05:16.800 I mean, and there's just this part of me, there's this part of me, even though I know it's a facade, that I just keep secretly believing things that don't really deliver. 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:28.639 Oh, if I had that kind of power, like that influence, that success, that money, then I will be fulfilled, happy, satisfied, at peace. 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:35.920 So, why, if God's power is so great, immeasurably great, do I think this way? 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:40.319 I think perhaps verse 18 begins to give us a little bit of an answer. 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:43.120 Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened. 00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:50.160 So Paul is writing to a group of Christians who are already Christians, and yet he wants their hearts to be enlightened. 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:54.800 So it doesn't feel like great power because of this. 00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:59.120 We have been given sight, and yet we're still learning how to see. 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:00.639 Right? 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:03.759 This is the already, but not yet, of Christian faith. 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:08.639 You are already forgiven and fully righteous in Jesus and Jesus' work alone, nothing for you to add. 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:09.680 It's full, it's a gift. 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:10.240 You got it. 00:06:10.399 --> 00:06:11.439 You already have it. 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:12.800 Already. 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:14.000 But not yet. 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:15.360 You're still learning. 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:20.240 I'm still learning what that means for me and my heart and my mind and my life. 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:25.680 So positionally, we're perfect and victorious, and yet practically, we're still slowly becoming this. 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:28.959 That's why Paul is saying, hey, I want your hearts to be enlightened. 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:33.120 See, we're still learning about this power that is immeasurably great. 00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:39.759 It is powerful enough to deem you something that you are not, even while you're not that, and even while you're slowly going to become that. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:53.600 Verse 14, the knowledge that Paul wants for us is more Hebrew than Greek, meaning this: Paul wants us to have a knowledge of experience matched with a knowledge of understanding. 00:06:53.920 --> 00:07:05.439 That word know or knowledge that we have in there, the knowledge of Him, knowledge of God, means precise and correct knowledge, intelligent comprehension matched with a personal experience. 00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:10.639 So Paul wants you to be a Presbyterian and a charismatic. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:13.600 He wants you to be intelligent and doctrinal. 00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:16.959 Steve Kirschhner with Jill Kirschhner, right? 00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:19.600 If you're in our church, this is what he wants. 00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:24.959 He wants you to be intelligent comprehension and open to the spirit. 00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:27.199 Isn't that lovely? 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:28.560 If we can become that. 00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:33.040 And maybe you lean one way and you need to, you're gonna go, okay, I'm gonna grow in the intelligent comprehension. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:35.360 Or maybe you're like me and I'm like, I'm all intelligent comprehension. 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:35.759 You know what? 00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:37.920 I need to grow and be open to the spirit a little bit. 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:41.279 Paul's saying, I want that kind of knowledge for you. 00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:45.279 I started fly fishing 10 years ago, as you know, because I talk about it all the time. 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:48.639 The first time I went, I went with my friend Trent and my friend Kurt. 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:50.000 Here's a picture of Trent fishing. 00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:53.759 Trent is a phenomenal fisherman. 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:59.120 We get to the Nanahala River in North Carolina, and I've got all my gear, I bought all my stuff, I got all my stuff. 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:10.800 I learned to cast a little bit, and so I get out there, we all split up, and I'm looking upriver at Trent and downriver at Kurt, and they're catching fish, and I am spending all my time tangled in the tree limb, tangled with myself. 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:12.800 I'm cussing words you don't want to know. 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:14.639 You might not even know them as you're a good Christian. 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:16.240 I'm nobody's around. 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:18.160 I am so angry. 00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:19.680 I'm just so angry. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:24.560 I can't even keep the fly in the water, and they're catching fish all day. 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:26.160 They catch like 20 fish each. 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:31.519 I catch one by accident when I'm like reeling in, didn't even mean to catch it, didn't even know I caught it. 00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:34.240 That's the first time I went to the Nalehela River. 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:35.440 I had an experience there. 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:38.320 I had no knowledge, just an experience. 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:42.080 The next time we went and I said, Hey guys, can I just hang with y'all? 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:43.919 Like, can I fish near you? 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:45.759 Like, like I just want to watch you some. 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:47.840 I want to just kind of like sit behind you. 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:49.360 Can you tell me stuff? 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:58.399 And and I fished alongside Trent, and Trent explained to me, oh, well, the trout, you know, they don't want to be in fast water, they're in slow water, they like the seam, they like the tail, they like the pocket. 00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:00.240 They explained the water column to me. 00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:02.720 I mean, the intelligent comprehension. 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:07.279 So the first time I had an experience with the river, but no knowledge. 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:10.159 And then the second trip, I had knowledge. 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:14.399 This is what Paul wants for us: this kind of relationship with God. 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:22.559 Knowledge of experience with knowledge of understanding, correct knowledge with personal experience. 00:09:23.679 --> 00:09:33.759 Paul prays for us in verse 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you, that he may give you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation of the knowledge of Him. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:38.240 So that I that what we're gonna get, that intelligent comprehension of personal spirits, where does it come from? 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:39.679 God would give it to us. 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:47.519 Point number two is that knowing God is a response to God's grace, not a cause of God's grace. 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:53.840 When we look at verse 17 and 18, halfway through 17, may give you. 00:09:53.919 --> 00:09:54.799 So it's given to you. 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:56.480 The spirit of wisdom, it's given to you. 00:09:56.639 --> 00:10:00.000 Verse 18, your hearts are enlightened. 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:02.320 So it's gonna happen to you. 00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:11.039 So the Holy Spirit is at work in you as a Christian, opening your heart, which means there's no pride for any growth that you have. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:13.440 Only gratitude. 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:16.960 Which means there's no judgment to those that don't have growth. 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:19.120 There's only compassion towards. 00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:27.039 Point number three is this our pursuit to know God is from the secure position that He knows us. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:32.559 Last week we spent a lot of time talking about how He knows us, He pursues us. 00:10:32.639 --> 00:10:35.759 That's verses 1 through 14 of Ephesians 1. 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:38.879 Our position with Him is sealed in Jesus' work alone. 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:44.000 He pursues us, He knows us, He holds us, He preserves us. 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:51.679 And then this passage goes from that rooting and foundation to verses 15, 23, not the other way around. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:56.720 We live out knowing God out of that He already knows us. 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:05.600 God's grace to us, our secure pure position with Him, is by His pursuit of us. 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:09.519 It empowers us to want to know Him. 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:14.000 Which means there's no anxiety in your lack of knowing Him. 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:16.879 There's no scorekeeping in how you're doing today. 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:24.080 There's only a further remembering, deepening into His knowledge and pursuit of you. 00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:26.559 I grew up on that song. 00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:28.000 Do you remember this worship song? 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:31.600 I want to know. 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:33.919 Remember this song? 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:38.879 I want to hear your boy. 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:42.559 I want to know. 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:51.679 And I grew up singing that song, but for so many years there was an intensity to it. 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:55.360 I really meant it, but it came out of insecurity. 00:11:55.759 --> 00:12:04.320 Like I need to know you, God, and I need to know more of you because that's how I'm gonna feel secure in you by my work. 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:09.679 Which is just totally forgetting Ephesians 1:1 through 14. 00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:19.759 It's just rather rather than knowing in Jesus alone am I forgiven, and Jesus alone am I righteous, no matter how I feel today, I'm secure. 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:23.360 I can't cause God to love me more or cause Him to love me less. 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:25.919 What security we have in this. 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:32.080 And then you go to sing something like, I want to know you. 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:37.840 I want to hear you boy. 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:42.000 I want to know. 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:49.039 We can sing that in two incredibly different ways, can't we? 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:53.120 But that second way when we're remembering that Jesus really is enough. 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:55.039 I don't have to add my work. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:57.360 Like his work is enough. 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:01.200 Like that song can become gratitude. 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:08.639 That song can can just be a a relieving pursuit of the one who already loves me. 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:15.120 Verses 18 and 19 show us what we're trying to know. 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:16.879 What are we trying to know? 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:18.879 I structured the verses for you. 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:20.720 This is word for word, the verses. 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:22.720 I just added in that one, two, and three. 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:24.879 Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened that you may know. 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:25.919 So what are we gonna know? 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:26.799 What are we trying to know? 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:29.679 Number one, what is the hope to which he called you? 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:31.440 What has he called you to? 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:34.960 What are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints? 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:36.639 What do we have in Jesus? 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:38.960 What is it we have in Christ? 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:43.519 And number three, what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us? 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:45.519 Here's the key. 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:51.200 Paul is not praying that we go and earn the calling or earn the inheritance or earn the power. 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:53.600 Paul is saying you already have it. 00:13:53.919 --> 00:14:00.720 Let's begin to learn more about it, be awakened to it already, but not yet. 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:04.159 I love that story in Luke 19 of Zacchaeus. 00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:09.840 Zacchaeus is that tax collector, all the religious people would have thought Zacchaeus was impure, irreligious. 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:14.399 Zacchaeus hears that Jesus is coming through town, and Zacchaeus just wants to see him. 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:19.600 He's heard about this guy, this guy who loves people even when they're sinners. 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:21.039 He understands who he is. 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:22.720 And Zacchaeus says, I just want to see him. 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:25.279 So Zacchaeus goes and gets near, he climbs that tree. 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:28.799 Jesus is walking along, Luke 19, 5 through 7. 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:36.000 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and he said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today. 00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:38.639 Of which all the religious people were said, What is he doing? 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:40.559 Does he know who this guy is? 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:44.639 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:52.960 And when they saw it, like the disciples and the religious people, they all grumbled, He has gone to be the guest of a man who's a sinner. 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:58.960 Jesus loved Zacchaeus exactly where he was at at that moment. 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:03.600 He loved Zacchaeus as he was, not as he should be. 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:08.159 And what we see happen to Zacchaeus is unbelievable transformation. 00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:14.399 He goes from being a very greedy person to an incredibly generous person, and that doesn't come because he's trying to earn Jesus' love. 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:19.440 It comes because Jesus already loved him as he was, not as he should be. 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:26.559 Growth happens when we stop trying to earn something from God or prove something to God or find our value outside of God. 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:35.679 Growth happens when we realize the love and acceptance, the lavish identity that we have as children, sons, and daughters of God, and we already have it. 00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:41.840 And growth happens when we begin to realize how deep and fulfilling that gift is. 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:48.240 Peter writes very similar themes in 1 Peter 1, 3 through 5. 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:52.320 Let's now Peter words, almost the same type things that our passage says. 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:55.279 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:59.440 According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again. 00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:18.399 All right, gift, he caused us to be born again, to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance, there's that word again, that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:26.799 Back in 1677 in England, Sir Thomas Grosvenir, here's a picture of Sir Thomas. 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:28.720 He married Mary Davies. 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:30.720 That's not Mary Davies, says Sir Thomas. 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:32.000 I got confused at first. 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:37.919 The two of them, when they got married, they owned 500 acres just west of London. 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:43.519 Now, through the years, hundreds of years, hundreds and hundreds of years, they just didn't sell off all the land. 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:45.440 They just began to lease it off. 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:50.320 Today, today, the family owns 300 acres of London. 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:54.879 They own 125 city blocks of London. 00:16:55.279 --> 00:17:02.960 In 2016, the sixth Duke of Westminster, so all the way from Sir Thomas, the sixth Duke of Westminster, he passed away. 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:09.039 And he gave an inheritance of$9 billion to this guy right here, Hugh. 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:10.160 His name is Hugh. 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:14.000 And I'm sure Hugh is a lovely guy, 34 years old. 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:15.519 I'm sure he's well educated. 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:17.039 I'm sure he's very polite. 00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:19.759 I'm sure he has all sorts of great attributes. 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:24.400 But do you know what Hugh did to receive$9 billion? 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:27.759 Nothing. 00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:30.000 Nothing. 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:34.240 Hugh received that because he's in the family. 00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:36.880 That's what an inheritance is. 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:43.680 I want us to close just marveling at the inheritance we have. 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:49.119 Silver and gold I do not have, but I have this to give to you. 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:56.480 On my Mac laptop, this is entitled, it's a document entitled In Christ List. 00:17:57.200 --> 00:18:00.559 And if you've been around, you realize about every three to four months I mention this list. 00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:02.160 Because this is our inheritance. 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:04.079 What is it that we've inherited? 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.839 What is it we're to know? 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:12.720 In Christ, we are always forgiven and always righteous. 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:17.119 In Christ, we have secure, forever acceptance and peace with God. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:22.720 In Christ, we are never alone and have endless companionship. 00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:28.720 In Christ, we are liberated from performancism to live by the Spirit and freedom and love. 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:35.279 In Christ, we are relieved of judgmentalism and empowered to live with love toward others. 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:40.559 In Christ, we are both deemed godly and becoming godly. 00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:46.640 In Christ, we have a heavenly home prepared for us when our days on earth are over. 00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:51.839 As we go to pray, let's receive the prayer that Paul prayed for the Ephesians. 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:53.359 And I'll pray it for us. 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:54.799 Let's pray together. 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:57.440 Heavenly Father, we come before you. 00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:10.880 Would you give us the spirit of wisdom and of revelation and the knowledge of Jesus that we would have intelligent comprehension and a personal experience with Jesus? 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:14.400 Would you give us the eyes of our hearts? 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:20.160 Would our eyes of our hearts be enlightened that we may know what is the hope to which Jesus has called us? 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:27.279 What are the riches of this inglorious, this glorious inheritance in the saints? 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:37.839 And what is the measurable greatness of Jesus' power toward us who believe according to the working of Jesus' great might we pray. 00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:39.119 Amen.