Ephesians overview – 3:14-19, part 35: Inner man; the good heart.

SUNDAY MAY 17, 2020

 

We have been emphasizing complete devotion to the Lord.

 

Isa 65:1-2

"I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me;

I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me.

I said, 'Here am I, here am I,'

To a nation which did not call on My name.

2 "I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people,

Who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts,

 

Isa 66:3-4

"But he who kills an ox is like one who slays a man;

He who sacrifices a lamb is like the one who breaks a dog's neck;

He who offers a grain offering is like one who offers swine's blood;

He who burns incense is like the one who blesses an idol.

As they have chosen their own ways,

And their soul delights in their abominations,

4 So I will choose their punishments,

And I will bring on them what they dread.

Because I called, but no one answered;

I spoke, but they did not listen.

And they did evil in My sight,

And chose that in which I did not delight."

 

Christ said during the Sermon on the Mount that His disciple is a person of a certain type – extraordinary like He is. 

 

It demands a love of Him, of the Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore a love of His life, which only the born-again can have. The Law and the promise of judgment and curse upon all law-breakers did not change men’s hearts. Even the OT saints were saved by faith in a redemption from God to come.

 

The cross is the expression of the love of God fulfilling the Law of God for us. We must love Him, His life, in our hearts.

 

We have been darting around in Luk 6. Let’s now notice this passage in its entire context.

 

Luk 6:20-26

 And turning His gaze on His disciples, He began to say, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 "Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. 23 "Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets. 24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. 25 "Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26 "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for in the same way their fathers used to treat the false prophets.

 

It is not a sin to be rich or to laugh, but to think of these things, our personal desires, as actual life, the life of self, is a great sin.

 

All of the people who were out to see Jesus that morning, at the base of some hill on the Sea of Galilee, if they had eyes to see, had nothing but Him, no matter how many possessions they had at home. If they had eyes to see from faith, the life of Jesus in the midst of a blind and corrupt world should have made them felt mournful, for Christ and the world. If they were persecuted by other people for following Christ, they should have rejoiced, even while they mourned for their enemy, for they would know that they are a part of His kingdom which will endure forever. Whatever riches, gaiety, comfort, and admiration were at home, in the face of this homeless Man preaching on the hill, they possessed nothing.

 

All things we possess belong to God. All good things that we possess are gifts from God. When we think they are our own, that in some way we have earned them or deserve them, they are truly not our own.

 

It is vital that we know what the reward is for living Christ’s life.

 

When we recognize that we own nothing we are poor and blessed, for what we do possess has been given to God, meaning that it is given to the authority of His will and is used and given to men accordingly.

 

We are hungry and mourn because we are always sacrificial and love as Christ loved. He put duty to the Father before food and personal pleasure. It’s not that He never ate or never laughed, it’s just that the will of the Father always took priority over them.

 

This consistent fidelity to the Father caused Him to be ostracized. Some in the age of the church have taken this to mean that they should ostracize themselves, which is a misapplication. We live according to His will and the world will ostracize us.

 

Jesus says that the reward is great in heaven, and we will see what that reward is. It is vital that we know what the reward is.

 

When we in thanksgiving give our possessions back to God, which is a way of asking God, “Lord, how would You have me use them?” then and only then do they become your possession.

 

Luk 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."

 

Luk 6:34-35

"And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, in order to receive back the same amount. 35 "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

 

The reward is that you will be sons of the Most High, meaning that you live like sons, see and experience what sons of God do, which is what the Son of God did.