God is working everyday to unite all things in heaven and earth under the leadership of Christ, bringing us together as adopted sons and daughters into one family. This love of God surpasses conventional knowledge and understanding. The church’s approach to the world is not an “Us versus Them” but instead an “Us for Them.” The church that looks like Jesus breaks down walls and wins others through love and courage.
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.
In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.
In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory. —Ephesians 1:3-14
and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. —Ephesians 3:19
I. IDENTITY CHECK - GOD SEES US AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS
God’s love adopts us into His family as sons and daughters, giving us an identity rooted in His love rather than in the labels, failures, or roles we assign to ourselves.
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. —Ephesians 1:3-8
Orphans are vulnerable in two ways: they lack provision and they lack protection. If you do not walk in an identity of sonship (or daughter-ship), you may walk in an “orphan spirit.” This means you carry the same concerns that orphans carry.
Provision:
Philippians 4:19
Matthew 6:31-33
2 Corinthians 9:8
Psalm 34:10
James 1:17
Protection:
Psalm 23:4
Psalm 46:1
Psalm 91:4
Psalm 121:7-8
2 Thessalonians 3:3
II. GOD’S PLAN IS UNITY UNDER CHRIST
God’s ultimate purpose is to unite all things in heaven and on earth under Christ, breaking down divisions and calling us to embrace an “Us for Them” mindset that reflects His heart for reconciliation.
He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. —Ephesians 1:9-10
Scripture shows us God’s attitude toward division:
1 Corinthians 1:10
Ephesians 4:3
Proverbs 6:16-19
John 17:20-23
Romans 16:17
What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? —Romans 8:31
III. YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit, fully present in each believer, empowers us to walk in faith, love courageously, and fulfill God’s purpose to unite and redeem all things through Christ.
In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.
In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory. —Ephesians 1:11-14
Two things about the Holy Spirit in your life:
1. The Holy Spirit is not a
2. You have not been given a “demo” version of the Holy Spirit with