1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,440 Hey man, if you have your Bibles Ephesians 1, 2 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:07,200 we're gonna finish up the longest sentence 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:09,840 of the Bible today through verse 14. 4 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:11,340 So that's exciting, I think. 5 00:00:17,220 --> 00:00:20,320 Still living at home, bored, 6 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:23,160 and expecting to inherit a fortune 7 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:28,160 when his sickly father, Wittewar father died, 8 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:33,160 Robert decided he needed a woman to keep him company. 9 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:36,100 So he went to a singles bar and he searched 10 00:00:36,100 --> 00:00:39,140 until he spotted a woman whose beauty took his breath away. 11 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:43,180 Right now I'm just an ordinary man. 12 00:00:43,180 --> 00:00:46,200 He said as he walked up to her in the bar, 13 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:47,680 but within a month or two, 14 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:51,840 my father will pass away and I'll inherit $20 million. 15 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:52,680 $20 million. 16 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:57,960 The woman went home with Robert that night 17 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:02,440 and four days later she became his stepmother. 18 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:14,220 No wonder they say some men never learn. 19 00:01:15,540 --> 00:01:18,440 It's amazing what lengths we will, 20 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:22,720 some people will go to for an earthly inheritance 21 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:26,960 only to be disappointed when they don't actually receive 22 00:01:26,960 --> 00:01:29,160 what they think they're going to get. 23 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:32,160 But there is a spiritual inheritance 24 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:34,640 that is far more valuable than any inheritance 25 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:37,360 that we could ever receive here on this earth. 26 00:01:38,860 --> 00:01:40,760 And the good news is that for those of us 27 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:44,680 who have accepted Jesus as our savior, 28 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:49,620 that inheritance is guaranteed by God himself. 29 00:01:49,620 --> 00:01:52,480 Last month we began our spiritual basic training 30 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:55,640 by going verse by verse through Paul's letter 31 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:57,600 to the Ephesians. 32 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:00,000 After the introduction in the first two verses, 33 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,220 Paul writes one long sentence that describes 34 00:02:03,220 --> 00:02:06,200 the spiritual riches that God has given to us. 35 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,920 This morning we'll wrap up then our look at that sentence 36 00:02:09,920 --> 00:02:12,240 which we find in verses three through 14. 37 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:17,240 We began by looking at the work of God the Father 38 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:21,920 as he chose us before the beginning of the world 39 00:02:21,920 --> 00:02:24,960 and predestined us to be a part of his family. 40 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:28,320 And he accomplished all of that by pouring out grace 41 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:30,000 into our lives. 42 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,600 Then we've seen the work of God the Son, Jesus, 43 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,360 through his death and resurrection 44 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:38,000 has purchased our redemption. 45 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,880 He has freed us from all that life is characterized 46 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:45,000 from all of life carried by slavery to sin. 47 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,720 And one day all of God's creation 48 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,400 will once again be centered, focused 49 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:54,000 and brought together in him. 50 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,360 And this morning we're gonna wrap up this section 51 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,880 by looking at the work of God the Holy Spirit 52 00:02:59,880 --> 00:03:02,920 and blessing us with the spiritual riches of God. 53 00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:05,880 So if you have your Bibles verse 13 of chapter one. 54 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:10,880 In him you also when you heard the word of truth, 55 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:15,360 the gospel of your salvation and believed in him 56 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:18,320 were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit 57 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:19,960 who is the guarantee of our inheritance 58 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:21,880 until we acquire possession of it 59 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,360 to the praise of his glory. 60 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,680 So this whole section of Ephesians 61 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:31,360 and indeed much of Paul's letter 62 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:36,040 focuses on this idea of an inheritance. 63 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:37,880 But the great thing about this inheritance 64 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:41,160 is that we don't have to wait to enjoy it. 65 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:43,880 In fact, our inheritance has a past 66 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:46,880 and present and future part to it. 67 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:51,360 My inheritance, number one deals with my past sins. 68 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,520 When Jesus redeems us, 69 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:56,960 he deals with all of our past sins 70 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:59,200 since there is absolutely nothing 71 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:03,040 that you or I can do to deal with the guilt, 72 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:05,720 to deal with the penalty for my sins. 73 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:09,720 Jesus paid the penalty for our sins on the cross 74 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:14,440 and that frees me from the guilt associated 75 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:15,600 with my past sins. 76 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:17,240 Some of you are carrying around past sins 77 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:18,760 that you can't get over. 78 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:20,960 He's already dealt with them, get over it. 79 00:04:22,280 --> 00:04:25,640 Second thing is it allows me to live an abundant life now 80 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:28,640 in the present, right now. 81 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:30,160 You've probably all seen, 82 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:31,240 if you've ever taken a road trip, 83 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:35,040 you've probably seen a bumper sticker or some sort, 84 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:39,280 usually on the back of a large, slow-moving RV 85 00:04:39,280 --> 00:04:42,880 that reads, I'm spending my children's inheritance. 86 00:04:44,280 --> 00:04:46,960 In fact, I've heard that from some people I know. 87 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:48,000 I'm gonna go buy a new car, 88 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,880 I'm gonna go spend my kids' inheritance. 89 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:54,480 But the great thing about our inheritance in Christ 90 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:57,760 is that even though I get to spend it now, 91 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:01,440 it doesn't reduce by one iota 92 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:04,960 what I'm still going to get in the future. 93 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:07,040 Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way 94 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:10,400 when it comes to our earthly inheritance. 95 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:13,160 I read this week about a woman whose husband had died. 96 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,280 He had $20,000 to his name. 97 00:05:17,280 --> 00:05:21,400 After everything was done at the funeral home and cemetery, 98 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:24,500 she told her closest friend that she had no money left. 99 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:26,560 The friend asked, how can that be? 100 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,840 She told me a few days ago, he had $20,000. 101 00:05:30,840 --> 00:05:33,000 How could you be broke? 102 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:37,560 The widow replied, well, the funeral home cost me $6,500. 103 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,240 And of course, I had to make the obligatory donation 104 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:41,640 to the church and the musicians 105 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:43,400 for the use of the facilities. 106 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:45,120 That was $500. 107 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:48,960 I spent another $500 on the food and the drinks 108 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:50,540 and you know all that other stuff. 109 00:05:50,540 --> 00:05:53,080 And the rest went to a memorial stone. 110 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:58,080 The friend asked $12,500 for a memorial stone? 111 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,320 My goodness, how big was it? 112 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:03,560 The widow answered, well, three carats. 113 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:13,040 But we get to enjoy our spiritual inheritance now. 114 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,760 We've been freed from the bondage of sin 115 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:19,880 so that we can live an abundant life now, today. 116 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:22,240 But in the future, we're still going to receive 117 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:26,760 the entire inheritance that God has purchased for us 118 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:27,720 through his son. 119 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:30,040 Which means the third thing, 120 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:33,280 I get to spend eternity with God in the futures 121 00:06:33,280 --> 00:06:35,240 as part of our inheritance. 122 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:38,320 That is the primary emphasis of this passage 123 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:39,620 that we're looking at this morning. 124 00:06:39,620 --> 00:06:41,840 Although we certainly see at least 125 00:06:41,840 --> 00:06:44,320 a passing reference to the past 126 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,080 and present aspects of our inheritance here, 127 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:50,640 the main emphasis is on the future aspect 128 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:52,760 of that inheritance. 129 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:54,960 Although all three persons in the Godhead, 130 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:58,040 the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit take part 131 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:00,760 in all the aspects of our inheritance, 132 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,920 it is the Holy Spirit who takes the lead, 133 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:06,280 takes the role in guaranteeing 134 00:07:06,280 --> 00:07:09,520 or securing our future inheritance. 135 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:12,680 It is through the Holy Spirit that our inheritance 136 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:15,080 is signed, sealed, and delivered. 137 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:18,280 When we receive the Holy Spirit of Jesus, 138 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:19,200 we get the spirit. 139 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:21,000 Including this passage, 140 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:23,120 including this passage we're looking at this morning, 141 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:27,000 Paul has already used the phrase in Christ, in him, 142 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,680 or something similar 11 times. 143 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:32,000 That's why it's so stinking hard to memorize it. 144 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:36,920 Paul wants there to be absolutely no doubt whatsoever 145 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:39,920 in our minds that all of the spiritual blessings 146 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:41,560 that we receive that we get, 147 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:43,640 come to us through Jesus Christ. 148 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:45,320 There's no doubt about it. 149 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:46,840 There's no other way. 150 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:49,840 The same thing is true when it comes to receiving 151 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:51,520 the Holy Spirit into my life. 152 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:53,480 There's nothing that we can do on our own 153 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:55,680 to receive the Holy Spirit. 154 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:59,120 We can't pray and ask God to give him to us. 155 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:02,720 But we can't perform some act to get him into our life. 156 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:04,360 There are only two classes of, 157 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:07,120 I mean, there's not two classes of Christians. 158 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,560 Those who have some special manifestation 159 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:11,720 of the Holy Spirit and those who don't. 160 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:13,960 The Bible is clear that the Holy Spirit 161 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:16,440 comes into the life of every person 162 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:18,040 and the life of every believer 163 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:21,480 at the very moment he or she becomes a believer. 164 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:25,280 And this passage describes two essential elements 165 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:26,480 in that process. 166 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:29,920 It's not one and then later the other. 167 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:34,760 The two actions occur in concert with one another. 168 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:37,520 So how do I receive the Holy Spirit? 169 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:38,560 Two things must occur. 170 00:08:38,560 --> 00:08:40,360 Number one, I must hear the word of truth. 171 00:08:42,060 --> 00:08:43,640 I must hear the word of truth. 172 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,900 I lived in a world that was a lot like ours. 173 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:50,900 One where there were all kinds of ideas 174 00:08:50,900 --> 00:08:52,540 of what comprises truth. 175 00:08:53,540 --> 00:08:57,540 Or perhaps even worse, the idea that there is no such thing 176 00:08:57,540 --> 00:08:59,820 as absolute truth. 177 00:08:59,820 --> 00:09:02,620 A poll taken by the Barna Institute recently 178 00:09:02,620 --> 00:09:05,920 showed that only 22% of Americans 179 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:08,920 believed that moral truth is absolute. 180 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:12,760 And there's been a lot of other polls with similar results. 181 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,840 Even more sadly, however, is that among those 182 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:18,800 that consider themselves Christians, 183 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:20,700 the numbers aren't a whole lot higher. 184 00:09:21,940 --> 00:09:26,080 But Paul is very clear here that there is an absolute truth. 185 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:29,940 When he writes about the word truth in verse 13, 186 00:09:29,940 --> 00:09:32,180 he includes the article with the word truth. 187 00:09:32,180 --> 00:09:34,620 So we could literally translate the phrase, 188 00:09:34,620 --> 00:09:37,260 the word of the truth. 189 00:09:38,660 --> 00:09:40,420 And then Paul goes on to further identify 190 00:09:40,420 --> 00:09:44,500 the word of the truth as the gospel of our salvation. 191 00:09:45,460 --> 00:09:47,960 The gospel, or the good news, 192 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:50,440 is the very essence of the truth. 193 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:55,340 And its very essence has at least three crucial areas 194 00:09:55,340 --> 00:09:57,540 that you must understand when we're dealing with truth. 195 00:09:57,540 --> 00:10:00,980 The first one being the truth about the condition of man 196 00:10:00,980 --> 00:10:03,920 is that we are dead in our sin. 197 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,360 Paul is going to go into much more detail later 198 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:07,560 when we get to chapter two. 199 00:10:07,560 --> 00:10:10,920 Most people would admit that they're not perfect. 200 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:14,520 If you can't admit that, let me know, I'll help you out. 201 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:18,100 But most of them think that they can take care of themselves. 202 00:10:18,100 --> 00:10:19,460 Right? 203 00:10:19,460 --> 00:10:21,340 Just get rid of a few bad habits here. 204 00:10:21,340 --> 00:10:25,100 Just add a little bit of morality here, and then we're good. 205 00:10:25,100 --> 00:10:27,540 And then maybe they'll even start reading their Bible 206 00:10:27,540 --> 00:10:29,100 or going to church. 207 00:10:29,100 --> 00:10:34,120 But the truth of the gospel is that man is totally depraved. 208 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:38,060 He is spiritually dead in his transgressions and sin, 209 00:10:38,060 --> 00:10:42,060 and there's absolutely nothing you or I can do about it. 210 00:10:42,060 --> 00:10:45,220 The second thing about truth is the truth about God's love 211 00:10:45,220 --> 00:10:47,560 is shown to us on the cross. 212 00:10:48,560 --> 00:10:51,540 So although he cannot excuse our sin, 213 00:10:51,540 --> 00:10:54,540 the Bible is very clear that God loves us. 214 00:10:54,540 --> 00:10:56,900 He wants the very best for us. 215 00:10:56,900 --> 00:11:00,980 And he's willing to let his only son die on the cross 216 00:11:00,980 --> 00:11:04,340 to demonstrate that love for us. 217 00:11:04,340 --> 00:11:08,220 Now, there's a lot of people that I love. 218 00:11:08,220 --> 00:11:11,220 And many I would be willing to die for. 219 00:11:14,220 --> 00:11:17,420 But you aren't getting my son. 220 00:11:17,420 --> 00:11:19,700 You're not getting my kid. 221 00:11:19,700 --> 00:11:22,400 I am not giving up one of my children 222 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:25,240 so that somebody else can live. 223 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:28,780 That is a love beyond my comprehension. 224 00:11:28,780 --> 00:11:31,100 And that's what he did for us. 225 00:11:31,100 --> 00:11:32,680 The third thing of truth, 226 00:11:32,680 --> 00:11:36,720 the truth about God's plan is only Jesus. 227 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:38,880 It's only Jesus. 228 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:42,820 Since people have so many ideas of what truth is, 229 00:11:42,820 --> 00:11:47,820 we shouldn't be surprised that there's a multitude of ideas 230 00:11:47,820 --> 00:11:50,260 on how to be made right with God. 231 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:54,160 Much like in Paul's day, we live in a culture 232 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:58,560 that says it doesn't really matter how you get to God. 233 00:11:58,560 --> 00:12:00,200 Just be a good person. 234 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:01,880 Just be spiritual. 235 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,600 It doesn't matter how you do that 236 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,820 because there's many paths to God, right? 237 00:12:11,540 --> 00:12:13,120 Just be kind. 238 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:13,960 Be loving. 239 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:19,120 We all just need to be tolerant of each other's religion. 240 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:20,920 But that's not what Jesus said. 241 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:24,520 He declared the unambiguous truth 242 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:26,320 that God has only one plan 243 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:28,860 and that plan is faith in His Son. 244 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,400 Jesus says in 14-6, we talked about this several months ago, 245 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:36,240 I am the way, the truth, and the life. 246 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:39,840 No one comes to the Father except through me. 247 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:41,280 That's a bold statement. 248 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:44,980 No wonder Paul has consistently reminded us 249 00:12:44,980 --> 00:12:49,560 that we can only come to God when we are in Christ. 250 00:12:49,560 --> 00:12:53,000 I don't care what any other denomination or church tells you. 251 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:55,720 Christ is the only way. 252 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:58,440 It's not a social justice issue. 253 00:12:58,440 --> 00:12:59,960 It's not a social issue. 254 00:12:59,960 --> 00:13:01,960 It's not a, well, that's offensive issue. 255 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:04,120 That's the truth of the gospel. 256 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:06,520 He is the only way. 257 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:09,080 The second thing we do when we receive the Holy Spirit 258 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:12,240 is we believe in Jesus. 259 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:15,400 So we hear it and then we believe it. 260 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:17,400 It's not enough just to hear the gospel, 261 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:18,720 we have to act on it. 262 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:21,120 The word that Paul uses here for believe 263 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:23,440 is a word that indicates it's not just 264 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:25,760 mere intellectual ascent. 265 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:28,840 It goes way beyond just head knowledge. 266 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:31,320 The word implies the kind of faith 267 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:35,000 that will result in a changed life. 268 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:37,960 It's the kind of faith that James writes about in his epistle. 269 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:39,800 In James chapter 2, 17, he says, 270 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,240 in the same way faith by itself, 271 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:46,520 if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 272 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:49,400 The entire second half of the book of Ephesians 273 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:53,120 is going to focus on the fact with the way 274 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:55,560 that we live our lives and it needs 275 00:13:55,560 --> 00:13:58,040 to be consistent with what we believe. 276 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:00,920 That's weeks and months down the road. 277 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:04,400 That's evidence of the fact of the kind of belief 278 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:06,760 Paul writes about here. 279 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:10,400 This morning, you've heard the word of truth, 280 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:12,840 the gospel of our salvation. 281 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:18,840 So the important question is, have you also believed in Jesus? 282 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:23,040 Have you trusted in him and his death and resurrection alone? 283 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,160 That's the only way to be made right with God. 284 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:28,880 You've heard it, but do you believe it? 285 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:33,920 And does your belief, think about your last week, 286 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:38,080 does that belief affect the way you live your life 287 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:40,200 each and every day? 288 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:41,480 You've heard the truth. 289 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:43,160 You've proclaimed to believe the truth. 290 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:46,200 But if you look at the past week, 291 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:50,200 does your life reflect the fact that you believe it? 292 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:52,760 The fact that I receive the Holy Spirit 293 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:55,280 when I hear the gospel and believe in Jesus 294 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:59,360 is only part of the story in regards to my inheritance. 295 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:02,880 Paul goes on to describe how the Holy Spirit secures 296 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:05,040 my inheritance. 297 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:06,960 Paul gives us two pictures of the Holy Spirit 298 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:10,480 in order to help us understand how the Holy Spirit works 299 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:12,680 in our lives to secure our inheritance. 300 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:16,560 The first thing is, he is a seal. 301 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:20,000 In Paul's day, important documents 302 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:22,520 were sealed with wax and then imprinted 303 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:25,480 with an identifying symbol, usually 304 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:28,920 by pressing a signet ring into the wax. 305 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:32,120 And that seal had three major functions, 306 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:34,560 each of which helps us understand something 307 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:38,080 of how the Holy Spirit secures our inheritance for us. 308 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:41,520 It's a mark of ownership. 309 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:45,160 In Paul's day, livestock and even slaves 310 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:47,400 were marked with a seal to show ownership, 311 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:52,000 similar to how ranchers brand their cattle today. 312 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,600 The seal helped to prevent theft, 313 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,720 and it avoided disputes of ownership. 314 00:15:57,720 --> 00:15:58,920 Hey, that's my cow. 315 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:01,880 No, it's got my brand on it. 316 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:06,320 In much the same way, the Holy Spirit seals us 317 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:09,320 as proof that we belong to God. 318 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:12,200 Paul writes about this idea in 2 Corinthians, chapter 1. 319 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:15,680 He says, now it is God who makes both us and you 320 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:17,280 stand firm in Christ. 321 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:20,960 He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, 322 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:23,880 and put his spirit in our hearts as a deposit, 323 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:27,800 guaranteeing what is to come. 324 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:31,120 It's also a symbol of preservation. 325 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:33,960 You'll recall that when Jesus was taken off the cross 326 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:37,560 and placed in the tomb, the tomb was sealed with the seal 327 00:16:37,560 --> 00:16:39,840 of the Roman emperor. 328 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:42,920 The purpose was to protect or preserve 329 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:47,320 what was in that tomb from any outside interference. 330 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:50,800 And when the Holy Spirit seals us, 331 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:54,760 He comes into our lives to preserve us and protect us 332 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:57,080 from outside influences. 333 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:59,800 This doesn't mean we won't face pain or suffering. 334 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:01,880 This doesn't mean we'll never sin again. 335 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:04,840 But it does ensure that nothing can keep us 336 00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:10,480 from our ultimate inheritance, protects us. 337 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:14,640 It's an indication of a completed transaction. 338 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:16,760 Whenever a transaction is completed, 339 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:20,080 the purchase of a piece of land, for instance, 340 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:23,880 the party's involved with signed legal documents 341 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:26,360 to indicate that the transaction was complete. 342 00:17:26,360 --> 00:17:33,240 When the Holy Spirit seals us, He reminds us that just before 343 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:39,080 He gave up His life on the cross, Jesus' final words were, 344 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:43,000 it is finished, complete. 345 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,040 The Holy Spirit seals us to make it clear 346 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:50,120 that there is nothing that we can do to earn our inheritance. 347 00:17:50,120 --> 00:17:55,600 Jesus has already completed that transaction on the cross. 348 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,440 He is a down payment. 349 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:03,880 The word translated guarantee literally means a down payment. 350 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:07,520 Now, that's certainly something we're all familiar with, right? 351 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:12,160 If we buy something large on credit, such as a car or a house, 352 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:16,320 the lender requires us to put down a down payment. 353 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:20,040 And that down payment makes the lender very happy 354 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:24,280 because it is a guarantee that there's more to come, right? 355 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:26,360 In some cases, when you buy a house, 356 00:18:26,360 --> 00:18:29,520 there's a whole lot more to come. 357 00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:33,600 Usually several times the amount of the down payment. 358 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:37,560 The Holy Spirit serves exactly the same purpose 359 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:39,200 for us spiritually. 360 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:42,840 He is the guarantee that there's more to come. 361 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:44,720 In fact, much more to come. 362 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:49,960 As great it is as it is that Jesus has dealt with my past sins. 363 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:53,040 And He gives me an abundant life now. 364 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,840 The best is yet to come. 365 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:58,960 Paul writes that the Holy Spirit guarantees our inheritance 366 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:04,000 until we acquire possession of it. 367 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:11,240 Literally, that phrase means the redemption of the walk around. 368 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:13,080 The redemption of the walk around. 369 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:14,720 This is a reference to the practice 370 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:18,680 of walking around the perimeter of a parcel of land 371 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:20,760 that was being purchased. 372 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:24,880 When the buyer did that, it was a symbol to everyone 373 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:27,000 that the down payment had been made 374 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:30,960 and that that parcel now belonged to him. 375 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:33,520 That is what God has done for us. 376 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:36,520 He has made the down payment. 377 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:42,880 And He has performed the walk around to make us His. 378 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:46,120 And the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives 379 00:19:46,120 --> 00:19:48,680 is the guarantee that one day God will 380 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:53,000 return to claim our resurrected bodies for Himself. 381 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:55,400 We are His. 382 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,920 It's interesting that in the modern Greek, 383 00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:02,720 the word translated deposit or down payment in this passage 384 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:06,920 has come to mean an engagement ring. 385 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:11,600 Isn't that a beautiful picture of what the Holy Spirit is 386 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:13,000 in our lives? 387 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:17,320 He's the reminder to everyone that God has promised to return 388 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:20,120 and to make us His bride. 389 00:20:20,120 --> 00:20:21,880 The best is yet to come. 390 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:27,160 We're going to close out our time this morning. 391 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:30,240 And I'm going to read this passage 392 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:32,880 from the message translation. 393 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:36,880 As I read this passage out loud, let's 394 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:41,400 focus on the fact that God, the Holy Spirit, 395 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:45,160 is our guarantee and that we've been signed, sealed, 396 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:47,000 and delivered. 397 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:47,640 Listen to this. 398 00:20:50,360 --> 00:20:54,640 It's in Christ that you fill in your name. 399 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:58,120 It's in Christ that you. 400 00:20:58,120 --> 00:21:01,160 Once you heard the truth and believed it, 401 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:07,160 this message of your salvation, found yourselves home free, 402 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:11,360 signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. 403 00:21:11,360 --> 00:21:13,920 The signet from God is the first installment 404 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:17,840 on what's coming, a reminder that will get everything 405 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:24,320 that God has planned for us a praising and glorious life. 406 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:27,080 This morning, we're going to do something 407 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:28,800 a little different. 408 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:29,960 We're going to pause right now. 409 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:38,360 And we're going to give you an opportunity to respond to God. 410 00:21:38,360 --> 00:21:44,120 If you've already made the decision to believe in Jesus 411 00:21:44,120 --> 00:21:46,440 in the way that we've talked about, 412 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:49,240 if you've already responded to that years ago, maybe today, 413 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:54,640 whatever, then I invite you to use this time 414 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:57,240 to give thanks to God for sending the Holy Spirit 415 00:21:57,240 --> 00:21:59,520 into your life. 416 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:02,440 Have you done that recently? 417 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:05,000 God, thank you that I'm sealed. 418 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:10,640 Thank you that you've sealed me with your spirit. 419 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:12,600 But I also know that in a group like this, 420 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:16,360 there's probably some of you who have never made that decision. 421 00:22:16,360 --> 00:22:19,360 You've never trusted Christ as your savior. 422 00:22:19,360 --> 00:22:21,200 You've never trusted Jesus Christ alone 423 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:23,920 to redeem you from your sins and to make you 424 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:26,400 right with God. 425 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:29,000 Perhaps you come to church every week, 426 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:31,960 and you're trusting in your church attendance. 427 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:35,280 Or perhaps maybe your parents or grandparents were Christians, 428 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:40,040 and you're trusting in your heritage. 429 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:44,000 Maybe you think that because you read the Bible and pray, 430 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:45,680 and you treat people right, you've 431 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:50,520 earned the right to become part of God's family. 432 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:53,840 But as we've seen the past few weeks, the only means, 433 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:57,840 that God has provided for us to enter into a relationship 434 00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:00,000 with Him is through His Son. 435 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:08,440 You know, sometimes I think we get too focused 436 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:10,680 with feeling the void. 437 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:12,120 I've been guilty of that. 438 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:21,280 We want to feel the void of silence, 439 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:24,840 with music, with distraction, and we 440 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:29,000 miss out on what God wants to say. 441 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:32,000 Very rarely are we still. 442 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:40,040 Scripture says that be still, right? 443 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:44,800 Be still and know that I'm God. 444 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:45,880 Congestion, it's a command. 445 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:50,320 Be still and know that I am God. 446 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:53,200 We have our phones to distract us. 447 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:57,440 We have our families to distract us. 448 00:23:57,440 --> 00:23:59,600 And believe it or not, there's sometimes, I think, 449 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:04,000 we rush up here, and we get the worship band up here, 450 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:07,960 and we allow worship music to distract us. 451 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:14,320 Believe it or not, we're just going to be still. 452 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:16,920 Be still. 453 00:24:16,920 --> 00:24:22,080 So can you, can we just sit in His presence 454 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:25,520 for a couple of minutes? 455 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:30,040 Just sit in His presence for a couple of minutes? 456 00:24:30,040 --> 00:24:35,120 If you know without a doubt that Jesus is your Savior, 457 00:24:35,120 --> 00:24:40,560 if you know without a doubt you've trusted Him to redeem you, 458 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:44,680 in this time, can you just plead right now 459 00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:49,760 for the souls of those who aren't sure? 460 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:54,080 Can you plead to God on their behalf? 461 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:57,000 And if you don't know with confidence 462 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:00,440 that you have surrendered your life to Him, 463 00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:02,720 even if you don't know how to pray, 464 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:06,000 even if you think in your mind you don't know how to pray, 465 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:09,720 could you just ask God to speak to you? 466 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:11,400 I love the prayer in the Scriptures. 467 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:14,320 God, help my unbelief. 468 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:15,240 Maybe that's your prayer. 469 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:18,200 God, help my unbelief. 470 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:20,960 Because the reality is I can't put the right words 471 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:22,720 in the right order, at the right cadence, 472 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:24,800 at the right volume to convince you 473 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:28,760 to surrender your life to Jesus. 474 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:31,680 It's only Him that saves. 475 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:34,960 And sometimes I think we get busy filling the void 476 00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:37,680 that we miss out on His voice. 477 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:38,640 And so I've asked Paul. 478 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:41,320 I was like, just wait. 479 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:43,800 Wait. 480 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:46,360 And so I'm going to pray for us. 481 00:25:46,360 --> 00:25:48,960 And then we're just going to sit in silence. 482 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:50,240 And I'm going to ask God to speak. 483 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:53,240 Can we do that? 484 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:56,480 Father, God, I pray. 485 00:25:56,480 --> 00:26:00,000 I pray right now that you fill the void of silence 486 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:00,600 with your voice. 487 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:08,560 God, I pray that you will free us from distraction. 488 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:13,560 Sometimes silence is deafening. 489 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:20,560 I pray that you speak. 490 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:22,040 I pray that you speak in this moment. 491 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:28,040 Speak to those of us that have trusted in you. 492 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:31,840 Speak to those of us that haven't. 493 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:37,400 I pray that as we walk out of here today, my prayer, 494 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:41,800 is that each and every one of us in this room 495 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:46,280 can stay calm, not only be heard, but speak. 496 00:26:46,280 --> 00:27:08,240 OK, we're going to be still.