Monday, January 17, 2011

The For-Real Prosperity Gospel

 
Hope, riches and power. That was the theme of Sunday’s sermon. And yes, it does sound a little bit like name-it-claim-it preaching. But it's not. It's straight out of Ephesians 1:15-23 and Joe Farrell’s sermon, which was the second sermon in our winter series on Ephesians.

One of my New Year’s blogging resolutions is to write more about ideas, in addition to writing about daily life. Blogging regularly about the Sunday sermon seems like a good place to start. So much goes through my head, and if I’m not careful, the Sunday sermon will be in one ear and out the other. But if I take the time to jot a few notes about it, that might also help me ponder it throughout the week.

I am not promising a post every week. But I’ll see what I can do. OK, back to Ephesians 1.

I have to admit that reading this chapter is hard for me. There is SO much in it. (Last week, Jim Singleton's sermon on the first 14 verses had EIGHT points.) I absolutely cannot take in everything in it, so I often feel like it’s bouncing off my forehead when I read it. But it’s so important. And so encouraging. We are so blessed by our God and he wants to lavish his riches on us.

Joe’s sermon this week had just three points (like a good sermon should, right?):

#1) Hope: Paul tells us that this is what we are called to. Not to a career, or a place, or a vocation. To hope. And hope is a person, Jesus Christ.

#2) Riches: We get to see and receive some of these here on earth, and we will come into the fullness of the riches of God in the life that is to come.

#3) Power: this is the one that grabbed my attention the most, probably because Paul expands on it the most. God’s incomparably great power is for us. It’s the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.

Read that again.

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is for us.

What would it be like if we really understood that?

1 comment:

  1. Do we want to know the power of God? Really. It is a scary thing. Our pastor talked about Jesus' power on Sunday, and how what set him apart wasn't just the power he had, but that he NEVER abused his power. I have so much power as a parent, and keeping that power in balance is such a challenge. I am finding that the power of God in my life is found in surrender, trust, and obedience. And delighting myself in the Lord keeps everything in balance and keeps me from being afraid because my eyes are on him. Rambling again. :o) Love you, thanks for sharing.

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