great things he has done

Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees to
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, (15) from whom
the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (16)
that He would grant you, according to the riches of
His glory, to be strengthened with might through His
Spirit in the inner man, (17) that Christ may dwell in
your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and
grounded in love, (18) may be able to comprehend
with all the saints what is the width and length and
depth and height-- (19) to know the love of Christ
which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with
all the fullness of God. (20) Now to Him who is able
to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask
or think, according to the power that works in us,
(21) to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to
all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

EPHESIANS
A.Ephesians is about riches and blessings from God in
Christ Jesus
1. Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His
blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches
of His grace
2. Ephesians 1:18 the eyes of your understanding being
enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His
calling, what are the riches of the glory of His
inheritance in the saints,
3. Ephesians 2:7 that in the ages to come He might show
the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness
toward us in Christ Jesus.
4. Ephesians 3:8 To me, who am less than the least of all
the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach
among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
5. Ephesians 3:16 that He would grant you, according to
the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might
through His Spirit in the inner man,
6. Ephesians 3:21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ
Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.).

EPHESIANS
B. Eph. 1:3 gives a panoramic view of God’s blessings to us:
1. Source of blessings - “the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ,”
2. Scope of blessings - “every [all] spiritual blessings,”
3. Sphere of blessings - “in the heavenly places in Christ.”
C. We give God glory because of these blessings!
1. Revelation 4:11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory
and honor and power; For You created all things, And by
Your will they exist and were created."
2. Romans 11:33-36 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of
the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable
are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 "For
who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has
become His counselor?" 35 "Or who has first given to
Him And it shall be repaid to him?" 36 For of Him and
through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory
forever. Amen.
3. Matthew 5: Let your light so shine before men, that they
may see your good works and glorify your Father in
heaven.

EPHESIANS
D. Consider the blessings we have received
from God in Christ Jesus:

I. GOD SETTLED MY LARGEST
DEBT - SACRIFICE.
• Ephesians 2:1 And you He made alive, who were
dead in trespasses and sins,
• Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who
once were far off have been brought near by the
blood of Christ.
• Ephesians 2:16 and that He might reconcile them
both to God in one body through the cross,
thereby putting to death the enmity.
A. Three crosses stood on Calvary many years
ago:
1.A Cross of Rebellion,
2.A Cross of Repentance
3.A Cross of Redemption.

DEBT - SACRIFICE.
B. When I survey the wondrous Cross of
redemption,
1.I see Heaven’s promise - John 14:2 In My
Father's house are many mansions; if it were
not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a
place for you.
2.The Devil’s defeat - Hebrews 2:14-15 Inasmuch
then as the children have partaken of flesh and
blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same,
that through death He might destroy him who
had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and
release those who through fear of death were
all their lifetime subject to bondage.

DEBT - SACRIFICE.
B. When I survey the wondrous Cross of redemption,
3. The sinner’s plea - Romans 5:6-8 For when we were
still without strength, in due time Christ died for the
ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one
die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even
dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love
toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ
died for us.
4. The Christian’s hope - Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of
God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly
lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in
the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and
glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus
Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might
redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for
Himself His own special people, zealous for good
works.

DEBT - SACRIFICE.
C.Paul said, “Christ, our Passover, is
sacrificed for us” - 1 Corinthians
5:7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that
you may be a new lump, since you truly
are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our
Passover, was sacrificed for us.
D.TO HIM BE GLORY!

II. GOD SATISFIED MY DEEPEST
NEED - FORGIVENESS.
• Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption
through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of His grace
• Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as
God in Christ forgave you.

NEED - FORGIVENESS.
A.Sin is our #1 problem.
1. Sin causes guilt - James 2:10 For whoever shall keep
the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty
of all.
2. Sin associates us with Satan - John 8:44 You are of
your father the devil, and the desires of your father you
want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and
does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in
him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own
resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
3. Sin makes us sick - Matthew 7:17 Even so, every good
tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
4. Sin separates us from God - Isaiah 59:1- Behold, the
LORD'S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor
His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities
have separated you from your God; And your sins have
hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

NEED - FORGIVENESS.
B.Since sin is our #1 problem, forgiveness is our #1 need.
1. Forgiveness removes condemnation - Romans
8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those
who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to
the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2. Forgiveness reunites us with God - 2 Corinthians 5:17-
21 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; old things have passed away; behold, all
things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God,
who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ,
and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that
is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to
Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has
committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now
then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God
were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's
behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who
knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him.

NEED - FORGIVENESS.
B.Since sin is our #1 problem, forgiveness is our #1
need.
3. Forgiveness makes us friends with God - Romans
5:10 For if when we were enemies we were
reconciled to God through the death of His Son,
much more, having been reconciled, we shall be
saved by His life.
4. Forgiveness makes us alive in Christ - Ephesians
2:1, 5-6 And you He made alive, who were dead in
trespasses and sins,….. 5 even when we were dead
in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ
(by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up
together, and made us sit together in the heavenly
places in Christ Jesus,
C.The lyrics of the gospel song are true: “Burdens are
lifted at Calvary!”
D.TO HIM BE GLORY!

III. GOD PROVIDED MY GREATEST
DESIRE - GUIDANCE.
• Ephesians 3:3-4 how that by revelation He made
known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written
already, 4 by which, when you read, you may
understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
• Ephesians 3:10 to the intent that now the manifold
wisdom of God might be made known by the church to
the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
• Ephesians 3:16-19 that He would grant you,
according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened
with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that
Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you,
being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to
comprehend with all the saints what is the width and
length and depth and height-- 19 to know the love of
Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled
with all the fullness of God.

DESIRE - GUIDANCE.
A.The mystery of Christ has been revealed, inspired and
confirmed - Ephesians 3:3-4 how that by revelation He
made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly
written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may
understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
B.Therefore, Christians are to
1. Walk together in unity - Ephesians 4:3-6
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace. (4) There is one body and one Spirit,
just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
(5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism; (6) one God
and Father of all, who is above all, and through all,
and in you all.
2. Walk in truth and holiness - Ephesians 4:23-24 and
be renewed in the spirit of your mind, (24) and that
you put on the new man which was created
according to God, in true righteousness and
holiness.

DESIRE - GUIDANCE.
B.Therefore, Christians are to
4. Walk in light - Ephesians 5:8 For you were once
darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as
children of light
5. Walk in wisdom - Ephesians 5:15-17 See then that
you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
(16) redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
(17) Therefore do not be unwise, but understand
what the will of the Lord is.
6. Walk by the Spirit in the home and church (5:22-6:9)
7. Walk in submission to one another (wives,
husbands, children, employees, employers -
Ephesians 5:21-6:9 submitting to one another in the
fear of God.
C. All Christians have the Son of God as their example to
follow!
D. TO HIM BE GLORY!

IV. GOD PREPARED MY HIGHEST
LONGING - HEAVEN.
• Ephesians 1:10-11 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,
• Ephesians 1:18 the eyes of your understanding
being enlightened; that you may know what is the
hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory
of His inheritance in the saints,
• Ephesians 5:26-27 that He might sanctify and
cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious
church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such
thing, but that she should be holy and without
blemish.

LONGING - HEAVEN.
A. I want to spend eternity in heaven because—
1. I’ve been invited - Revelation 19:9 Then he
said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who
are called to the marriage supper of the
Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the
true sayings of God."
2. Our citizenship is there - Philippians 3:20-
21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from
which we also eagerly wait for the Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will
transform our lowly body that it may be
conformed to His glorious body, according
to the working by which He is able even to
subdue all things to Himself.

LONGING - HEAVEN.
A.I want to spend eternity in heaven because—
3. It has been prepared for the redeemed - John
14:1-6 "Let not your heart be troubled; you
believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My
Father's house are many mansions; if it were not
so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place
for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and receive you to Myself; that
where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I
go you know, and the way you know." 5 Thomas
said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You
are going, and how can we know the way?"
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and
the life. No one comes to the Father except
through Me.

LONGING - HEAVEN.
B.SONG: This world is not my home, I’m just
a passing through, my treasures are laid
up, somewhere beyond the blue.”
C.C.S. Lewis said in Mere Christianity, “If I
find in myself a desire which no
experience in this world can satisfy, the
most probable explanation is that I was
made for another world” (p.119).
D.TO HIM BE GLORY!

ARE YOU GLORIFYING GOD?
A. The only fitting response to the great things God
has done for us is to give Him glory, honor and
praise.
1. He paid the greatest debt I could ever owe -
Sacrifice
2. He satisfied my greatest need - Forgiveness
3. He provided my greatest desire – Guidance
4. He prepared my greatest longing – Life Eternal
in Heaven
B. Do you recognize the great things God has done
for you?
C. Jesus gave His life for you, what have you given to
Him?
D. 2 Corinthians 5:15 and He died for all, that those
who live should live no longer for themselves, but
for Him who died for them and rose again.
E. Will you make the decision to live for Him?

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great things he has done