Joy in Serving God

A Summary of Lessons from Ephesians

As we draw to a close the epistle of Ephesians, let’s reflect on some major lessons learnt in the epistle.

1.       Remembering our RICH blessings in Christ

His Grace

1:7-8 “We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us through all wisdom and understanding.”

His Peace

1:2 “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Our Sonship

1:5 “He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will,”

We have the privilege to fulfill His pleasure and purpose

1:9 “He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure that He planned in Him”

We have the privilege to glorify Him

1:12 “so that we who had already put our hope in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory”.

His calling of us and us gaining His inheritance

1:18 “you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints,”

His Power and Strength to us

1:19 “what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.”

His Love for us

2:4 “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us,”

We are His workmanship

2:10 “For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared of time so that we should walk in them.”

His Spirit Strengthening Us Spiritually

3:16 “I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit,”

His Offering and Sacrifice for Us

5:2 “And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.”

His Armor for Us

6:13 “This is why you must take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.”

With so much richness in Christ, what is our response?  Not interested, not concerned? Is this whole thing just fictional, some cleverly invented tale? Or yes, I want the riches but with regards to the costs, I am not willing to pay the price yet as I am still young? For now, I just want temporal earthly riches which will vanish like a vapor instead of storing treasures in heaven for eternity that will not root or decay?

Let us seek Christ’s richness. It infinitely surpasses earthly riches. Even the financial rules of present/future value will prove this. Temporal present value vs Eternal present value. Do the math.

Still finding it hard to seek Christ’s richness?

Let me tell you three verses from Matthew.

13:44 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy, he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.”

13:45-46 “Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one priceless pearls, he went and sold everything he had, and bought it.”

Are you feeling weary, depressed, empty? There is joy like no other in the richness of Christ. For it brings eternal REWARDS. How do we have joy in service? Aim for the heavenly rewards which result from the richness of Christ. This is the TRUE PROSPERITY GOSPEL. The Heavenly Prosperity gospel. It far exceeds the material prosperity gospel which spurs the lust and greed of the human heart for material wealth distancing oneself from God.

Matt 5:12 “Be glad and rejoice, BECAUSE your reward is great in heaven.”

It is perfectly ok to have joy because of striving for that reward in heaven.

Matt 10:37-39 “The person who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, the person who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Anyone finding his life will lose it and anyone losing his life because of Me will find it.”

It is not self defeating or simply being a passive, negative, sorrow filled believer that we take up our cross to follow Jesus. It is for the sake of truly finding LIFE. Finding the riches of Christ. Finding the rewards of Christ. Striving for it.

Heb 11:26 “For he considered the reproach because of the Messiah to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since his attention was on the reward.”

1 Cor 9:24 “Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.”

Php 3:14 “I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.”

Pursue the Riches and Rewards of Christ. It brings about true, heavenly, fulfilling joy.

More summary lessons in future posts…