Sermon Manuscript: Ephesians

Series: Undeserved

Title: Undeserved Identity

Date: 4.30.23

Location: Lakehills Community Church, Lake Elsinore, Ca

Ephesians 2:1-2 (NIV)

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

Ephesians 2:3-5 (NIV)

3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Point number 1 in your notes:

There is always something or someone helping you produce the identity of you that you convey to others.

Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Exodus 20:4-5 (NIV)

“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV)

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV)

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Point number 2 in your notes:

When God gives gifts, He does not give fairly.

Ephesians 2:6-7 (NIV)

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Point number 3 in your notes:

You didn’t earn, nor do you deserve this identity in Christ, but still, it is yours - if you will accept it.

Ephesians 4:24 (NIV)

and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Psalm 17:15 (NASB)

As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Point number 4 in your notes:

Your true handmade identity has been created in Christ and prepared by God.

Colossians 3:10 (NASB)

and have put on the new self, which is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it—

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Romans 12:2 (NASB)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Here’s point number one in your notes this morning:

God, by his own nature, cannot be second.

Point number 2 in your notes is this:

There is always somebody or something helping us write our priority list and put them in order.

Point number 3 in your notes is this:

You cannot hide your priorities from God.

Exodus 20:3 (NASB)

You shall have no other gods before Me.

Point number 4 in your notes is this:

Our behavior is going to show how honest we are about our priorities.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NASB)

and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Colossians 3:23-24 (NASB)

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Numbers 18 (NASB)

18 So the Lord said to Aaron, “You, your sons, and your father’s household with you shall bear the guilt in connection with the sanctuary (that is, you should do the work), and you and your sons with you shall bear the guilt (that is, you should do the work) in connection with your priesthood.

Point number 1 in your notes:

God has appointed people to manage His church.

Numbers 18: 20-21, 25-26 (NASB)

Then the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel. 21 “To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel as an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting.

Leviticus 27:30 (NASB)

30 ‘Now all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord. This is the instruction that God gave to Aaron and the priests who were to run the houses of worship.

Numbers 18: 25-26 (NASB)

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 26 “Moreover, you shall speak to the Levites and say to them, ‘When you take from the sons of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present an offering from it to the Lord, a tithe of the tithe.

Point number 2 in your notes:

Everyone has a responsibility to Tithe.

Deuteronomy 12:13-14, 19 (NLT)

Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings just anywhere you like. 14 You may do so only at the place the Lord will choose within one of your tribal territories.19 And be very careful never to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.

Point number 3 in your notes:

God did not allow anyone to make an excuse not to give Him His tithe.

Matthew 23:1-3 (NLT)

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.

Matthew 23:23 (NLT)

23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

Mark Batterson

"Let me be blunt, because on the subject of money Jesus was. Obedience can be measured in dollars. So can faith. So can sacrifice. It’s certainly not the only measure, but it’s one of the most accurate. If we give God 2 percent of our income, can we really say we are 100 percent committed to Him? I think not. If we withhold the tithe, can we really say, “In God we trust”? If we give God our leftovers instead of the firstfruits, can we really say we’re seeking first His kingdom?" ― from "All In: You Are One Decision Away From a Totally Different Life"

Point number 4 in your notes:

What if our love for God was measured by our obedience to giving?