"Plugged In to God's Purpose, Plan, and Power"
Eph.1:3-23 May 4/03
Exiting the Post-modern Fog
It's essential to be able to answer the question for yourself, "Why am I here?" If we don't know why we're here, it shows a lack of purpose and sense of direction. Life can become meaningless and intolerable without an awareness of our purpose for being here. Ever since Jesus' resurrection though, He's been helping those who believe to tap into His purpose, plan, and power for their lives.
In these early years of the 21st century though, there are an increasing number of people who not only haven't heard the message about Jesus; they are groping about in a haze devoid of what they would consider real benchmarks or reference points for their lives. In the post-modern culture, and even much current education, absolute truth is "out"; subjectivity, relativism, and individual opinion are "in". Wednesday night Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition presented a fascinating talk at the Wingham Right to Life annual dinner meeting. Mr Schadenberg was saying how hard it is to get the message about the Sanctity of Life across to the younger generation today because they're lost in a fog of relativism. Many of them have never heard the Christian story; they're not for or against it, that's just not a part of their experience. They may listen to you for a while but are hard to persuade because everything you say is just one more person's opinion to them. They find it hard to accept that there might be absolutes. What seems closest to reality for them is if they say, "I saw it on TV." Consequently the younger generation wanders in what Schadenberg calls a fog or haze; they lack an overarching sense of purpose.
Meanwhile the whole of society is becoming increasingly secular; at the other end of the age spectrum, elderly people worry more and more about their worth and loss of meaning. They become susceptible to the Destroyer's tactics promoting assisted suicide. One organization produces what it calls "exit bags" which people can use to suffocate themselves! In countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland, euthanasia and assisted suicide are becoming acceptable and frequent. What was the number one reason people gave for considering it? Not pain - that was down at the bottom of the list; but the people were concerned about becoming a burden on their relatives or society. Also close to the top reason was loneliness. In a culture that idolizes youth and beauty, the elderly start to feel worthless, purposeless. Consequently people are exiting the relativistic fog by taking their own lives, thumbing their nose at their Maker by denying life's sanctity. If you don't know why you're here, why linger around when people consider you "a waste of good air"?
God's Purpose: Bring Everything Together under Christ
Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus offers perhaps more than any other New Testament passage a lasting sense of purpose for those who believe in Jesus Christ. You might call it the Christian's "Magna Carta" of belonging in the universe, through Jesus; of having purpose, being wanted, valued, loved and treasured by our great God. The focus or theme that runs through the passage is that of being "in Christ", "in Him", in the Beloved -- such phrases occur 8 times in 11 verses (Eph.1:3-13). Verse 9 brings out most clearly the overarching PURPOSE of God that's behind our reason for existence: "And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ..." That's not a "proposal" but a "purposing", willing, intending, meaning to have something come about. For the grand scheme of what God wants to have happen in the cosmos, look at v.10: the umbrella purpose "to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment" is this: "to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ." That's it folks, the final harbour towards which God is guiding the ocean liner of free-willed beings in the cosmos: to bring all things together under Christ. To "sum it all up" in Him (it's an interesting word study in the Greek, that one word consists of 17 Greek letters - a mother of a word!). Col.1(19f) and 2Cor.5(19) say God was pleased to reconcile all things to Himself through Christ. The relationship the Creator enjoyed with the "very good" creation was fractured by sin, but Jesus died so that people and all things might find communion again with God.
V.5 narrows in the focus on this purpose specifically to believers: it says God "predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ". We're not going to try to wade through the complexities of predestination today, other than to acknowledge it as a marvelous and mysterious interplay of God's sovereignty and human free will. God doesn't bully or force the finally impenitent to receive a salvation they stubbornly don't want. Neither have we who believe any right to boast as if we earned it or were enlightened of our own accord; we were all lost sinners, and are saved by sheer grace. The point is that "through Jesus Christ" God was electing or choosing a group of people who would respond to the message and be adopted as sisters and brothers into Jesus' heavenly family. The Father loved the Son in a unique way and from that sprung this "purpose" to have more creatures like the Son come into this eternal community. It's those who trust in Jesus and thus find themselves "in Christ" who are predestined to be adopted as God's offspring.
Vv.11-12 speak again of God's mega-purpose: "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, in order that we...might be for the praise of his glory." We were chosen to show God's glory, His wonderfulness by the transformation in our lives. Because ratty fallen sinners aren't impressive when it comes to giving God credit, He doesn't leave us in the gutter and snares we'd fallen into: v.4, "He [the Father] chose us in Him [Christ]
...to be holy and blameless in His sight." God's long-term project is to brush us off, clean us up, and sanctify us totally in our being and behaviour so His glory will be noticeable through us. So the doctrine of Election doesn't just mean, "Yay, I got picked," but "I've been chosen to become holy and blameless just like the Saviour." How's that for a mind-bender? Considering the end-product God's aiming for, I'd say His purpose is pretty spectacular!
God's Plan: Steps in Salvation, Remodeling His Inheritance
But a purpose without a plan goes nowhere. "Plan your work, work your plan." We have a fine purpose of wanting Emily and Trenton to enjoy a fine outdoor wedding as they wished, July 9 in our backyard. But a lofty purpose needs to be translated into action steps as part of a manageable plan. This week I got around to ordering the portable toilets - all those guests, you have to look after the necessities! Also I got measuring out on our lawn just how big certain tents were - will the 20x50 do or should we opt for the 40x100? (But then maybe we'll have to go see a counsellor if we've gotten 'two tents'!) Then at the Right to Life dinner meeting we were sitting there and noticed the salt and pepper shakers on each table. Where do you rent dozens of salt & pepper shakers? Something else to go down on the list! But step by step, we're developing a plan which hopefully as the weeks pass will achieve our overall purpose of a memorable wedding.
God has a plan as well for bringing about His purpose. V.11 talks about being chosen "according to the PLAN of Him who works out everything in conformity with the PURPOSE of His will..." The first part of Ephesians 1 mentions several steps in this wonderful plan: v.4, God "chose us in Him before the creation of the world." Now that's planning in advance! God knew you before you were born, before the universe and time even came into being, God was intimately familiar with those who are "in Christ".
But given the conundrum that all of us were born sinful, there was a barrier to our potential for fellowship with God. We weren't good enough to rate an audience for a second with an infinitely holy God; we were only fit for the eternal inferno. This is where grace stepped in. Vv.6-8, "His glorious grace...He has freely given us in the One He loves...the riches of God's grace...He LAVISHED on us..." Some remember "grace" as an acronym, "God's Riches At Christ's Expense", though that's a very short definition. Grace is multi-dimensional, rich, lavish, you could go on exploring its benefits forever. Justice is getting what we deserve. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Grace is getting what we don't deserve!
Next step in the plan, if God was going to offer grace, would be an actual sin-offering, a means of making atonement or covering or disposal of our objectionable immoral mess. V.7, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our sins." The Son of God became Son of Man, incarnated, born in a stable, raised in a carpenter shop, rejected by the religious who's who, betrayed by a kiss in a garden, nailed to a cross to drain away his mortal life. The Lord's life and death on earth was a necessary ingredient in God's plan to reconcile us to Himself. Christianity is essentially not a philosophical or theoretical but an historical religion, because God's stepping into history was what made it possible for us to fly into eternity.
The next step in God's plan, v.13, takes the account of that Cross-Resurrection event and brings it home to us as individual persons. "And you also were included in Christ WHEN you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.Having BELIEVED..." The story of Jesus is at the heart of witnessing: will someone accept and believe it, or reject it as nonsense or irrelevant? Those who hear the message and recognize it as the answer to life's problems will put their trust in such a Saviour, will yield to such a Servant Lord. As v.12 puts it, they come to "hope in Christ". Keep sowing the word, just as widely and creatively as God gives you opportunity; you never know who might be secretly yearning for it, or soon to have their final appointment with their Maker.
Continuing on from v.13, "you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance..." When we open the door of our soul to welcome Jesus in, the Holy Spirit takes up residence right along with our own spirit in our hearts, our innermost core. God's Spirit brings both gifts (1Cor.12) and fruit - re-shaping of our character to match Jesus' attractive qualities, love, joy, peace, kindness, and so on (Gal.5:22f). This "Paraclete" - Helper or Counsellor - marks us as belonging to God, "sealing" the deal. The Spirit's a deposit, a down payment or first installment on all the better things to come in the future. Don't worry if you don't "feel" different, it's not necessary to fall on the floor (though some do) or get warm fuzzy sensations (though some do); the sure sign Paul gives is that no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit (1Cor.12:3). The Holy Spirit's main objective is to show you and focus you increasingly on Jesus, to let Him become more and more what's really important to you. To focus on the feelings or the phenomena is to miss the point - the point being "Christ in you".
The remodeling has begun. V.11 in the Greek talks about God making us His own "inheritance" (maybe you didn't know God had an inheritance; and it just happens to be you!). Similarly in the Old Testament the people of Israel were God's "inheritance", His own chosen special people are called His "portion" (Deut.32:9). When we buy a parcel of land, maybe with the idea of passing it on to our descendants, we often get it surveyed and mark it with stakes, maybe a fence or sign as well. The Holy Spirit is God's "marker" or stake or sign identifying you as His inheritance. But it's not a static thing; God grows us all the time. In vv.17-18 Paul prays that God would give his readers "the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better," and "that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you." This is our ongoing stage of development between becoming a Christian and either earthly death or the Lord's return, whichever comes first: growing to know God more intimately as we read His Word, talk with Him in prayer, reflect on His promises and seek to sense the Spirit's nudges when we please or disappoint the Lord in our actions. The Counsellor or "Spirit of truth" is always trying to open our heart's eyes to see beyond the surface of things in our relationships with people, and to see and appreciate more the good things God has waiting for us.
The last step mentioned here in God's plan is not here yet - we find it in v.14, "the redemption of those who are God's possession..." Paul doesn't mean redemption as in forgiveness of sins - we already enjoy that (v.7); he's talking about Jesus' return, the rapture and resurrection of Christians. At that time these decaying bodies we now occupy will slough off like dirty coveralls and be changed to resemble Jesus' glorified body. I don't think doctors and nurses will mind the break from looking after sick people! As Paul told the Romans, glory will be revealed in us; "The creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God." (Rom.8:18,21)
God's Power: Resurrection Energy at Work Today
Later in the chapter, Paul turns from God's purpose and plan to mention how His power is now available to make the changes in our lives needed to bring us into line with God's vision for us individually and as a church. God chose us in Christ "to be holy and blameless in His sight" -- and we have a ways to go before that describes us accurately. Attempts at self-reform go so far but then you hit a brick wall; only the Lord's power can take us those next steps beyond sin's grip, the ruts of destructive habits.
One of the most moving moments of the Steve Masterson seminar last Saturday was a young man's brief testimony. He had come with the group from Teen Challenge. Shortly before coming, he'd been addicted to cocaine; but now he had turned his life over to Jesus' control, and was experiencing real freedom from the pull of that gripping drug. Christ's power was stronger, and available to help him say "no" to what previously was dragging him down and destroying him.
In the Saturday session, Steve announced 9 men had made the decision to become Christians that morning. All through the weekend, women were praying for the speaker and conference in an adjoining room. Steve shared that when he'd told them the news about 9 new believers, the women had broken into spontaneous singing, the hymn "To God be the Glory!" It was very fitting that they shared in the rejoicing, for they had laboured spiritually in the praying beforehand. Christ's body celebrated the latest addition of members.
Around Easter, we're awed to think of the power that transformed Jesus' body into eternal capability, and rolled back a monster stone that blocked the tomb. But did you know that same power is available to you here today? V.19, Paul describes God's "incomparably great power for us who believe - that power is like the working of His might strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms..." There are other powers, other authorities, he acknowledges - some of them evil - but Jesus has more power than any other being. He said in Mt.28(18), "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." What a statement! What power is available to us in Him when we pray!
But we don't have a 500 kVolt line direct from Bruce Nuclear hooked into the breaker panel on our home. Turn on the switch and that would fry the whole house! Jesus' immense power and authority is channelled and distributed in usable amounts through this organization we call the church. V.22, God appointed Jesus "to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way." Godly church leaders plan colleges where Spirit-led, knowledgeable teachers train pastors and specialists like Steve Masterson who in turn can teach others. God uses humble servants like David Wilkerson and reformed drug addicts like Nicky Cruz to start organizations like Teen Challenge; volunteer workers help build vocational training shops there so guys like that converted cocaine addict can learn useful skills and lead productive lives. The women praying long and hard in that next room were no doubt part of the reason 9 men gave their lives to the Lord. Jesus' power flows through the many different members in the church; we need each other with our variety of gifts and strengths. How wonderful it has been for our family to be on the "receiving end" of your kindness through cards, calls, and culinary caring the past while. Most of the time we may experience God's power and encouragement through the touch of another churchgoer on our life rather than in a supernatural way during private worship. That doesn't make it any less special, or less from God; we are Christ's body to each other. He's the head, directing things, reaching out to those who are failing.
Church behind Bars lends Strength
Chuck Colson had an experience in which he was refreshed by God's power in an unexpected way. On the day before Easter in 1988, exhausted from an over-booked schedule, Colson arrived in rain and fog at a prison in remote Montana. He was to speak at two services that morning, and the first went badly. Dog-tired and dry, his preaching lacked enthusiasm, and he sensed he wasn't reaching the men at all. Between services, he went to the chaplain's office, sank to his knees beside the desk, and earnestly asked the Lord to take away his frustration, exhaustion, and despair. But as he rose from his knees, he felt no different and was too tired to greet the inmates as they began assembling. Waiting as long as possible to enter the service, he was surprised to find the room packed. As he took his seat, one of the inmates rose and said: "Ten years ago when Chuck Colson came to this prison, I was in my cell. I had no intention of coming to the chapel to hear him. I knew he was a phony, and I wanted nothing to do with Christianity. But everyone in the prison seemed to be talking about the visit. The governor was coming with Colson, as well as a lot of television and newspaper reporters. If Colson can get the governor to come to prison, I thought, I might as well see what he is all about."
Then the man turned to Colson and said, "I listened to you preach, and I was impressed, but I wasn't buying it. When the meeting ended, I headed for the door. Somehow you were there before me, and you cut me off at the pass. You looked right at me and asked, 'Do you know Jesus Christ as your Saviour?' I looked back at you and said, 'No.'" The man continued, "I'll never forget -- you looked me straight in the eye and said, 'Well, why are you here, then? You'd better get with it.' That exchange haunted me. It was the beginning of my spiritual journey. Soon after I gave my life to Jesus, and everything has been different ever since."
The inmate, having given his own heart to Christ, had begun to evangelize inside the prison. One after another, prisoners had come to Christ. "You see all these men, Chuck? This is the body of Christ that has grown up as a result of that meeting ten years ago. The church is alive inside this prison." Amid thundering applause, the inmate proceeded to give Chuck a collection taken in the prison for Prison Fellowship's ministry.
Later, Chuck recalled, "I felt their vitality flood into me. I had come to them weary and worn out, and the church inside the prison -- planted without my knowledge 10 years earlier -- replenished me with its love and faithfulness. Just at the point of need, the power of the resurrected Christ flowed from one part of His body into another. That Easter I had proof once again, in His living presence among a band of Christian inmates, that Jesus Christ is risen again." Let's pray.