Ephesians 1: 3-14  New King James Version

(3)  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. 

(4)Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

(5)Having  predestined us to adoption as sons of Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

(6)To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

     Okay let’s stop here for a moment.  God has, first of all, blessed us with every spiritual blessing. So even before we were born we received every spiritual blessing.  God was preparing us to be able to be holy.  God had a plan and just like every loving parent, He was enabling us to fulfill that plan.

     His plan was to bring us to Himself.  Adopt us as sons without blame (holy) through Jesus, because this brings Him pleasure.  Family is important to God.  He loves having family gatherings.  Therefore because of His grace, He made us acceptable.  The New Living Translation says in verse 6,

So we praise God for the wonderful kindness He has poured out on us because we belong to His dearly loved Son. (7) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

So when we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are redeemed or cleaned up, forgiven for all our wrong doings, because of God’s kindness and love.

(8)which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,

The New Living Translation says in verses 6,7&8,  So we praise God for the wonderful kindness He has poured out on us because we belong to His dearly loved Son.  He is so rich in kindness that He purchased our freedom through the blood of His Son, and our sins are forgiven.  He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

(9) having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,

It isn’t a mystery anymore, He has revealed His plan to us.  That it pleases Him to give His son, so that we can be included in the family.

(10)that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth-in Him,

When the time (of God’s choosing), is right then He will gather together everything that is under the authority of Christ, both in heaven and in earth.

A big family reunion full of love and acceptance.

(11) in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

If we have chosen Jesus, then we also have an inheritance that God determined to give us long ago when He chose us.  We must remember that when God chose us and made a plan, He also decided to give us a part in that plan.  That part was the freedom to choose Him and participate in all that He has for us.  If we do not choose Him, we don’t nullify the plan we just aren’t included.   He has laid it before us and encourages us to join the family but He will not force us to enter in.

(12) that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

(13) In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,(14) who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

When we hear the good news of the gospel and ask Jesus to be our Lord, we can trust that God will be faithful to keep His promises.  He even gives us the Holy Spirit as a seal of that promise.  A wonderful gift of a teacher and encourager to be with us constantly to help us make the right decisions.

The New Living Standard says it this way, The Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will give us everything He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people.  This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God.

     Now we must live as a son of God and fulfill the call He has on our lives.

I often hear the words, I can’t do that.  God wouldn’t ask me to do that.  I’m not able.  Can I just say, “ That is stinking thinking and it is a lie of the enemy. Quit believing that garbage!”  When God made His plan He gave you all that you need to complete your portion.

     Scientists have found that within our DNA is a program for each individual.  Your DNA, found within a tiny cell in your body, is a program listing all your attributes.  It identifies you from all others.

      If God would do that, would He leave you helpless to do the things that He wants accomplished?  I submit to you that within your Spirit is all that you need to complete whatever God has called you to do.  We are not to operate out of the flesh but to walk in the Spirit where all power and authority resides.  You have access to that authority through your relationship with Jesus that brings you as a son into the relationship with God, the father.  No greater power or authority exists and all that is available to you. 

     Romans 8:28 says,  (28) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (29) For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of He Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (31) What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us? (32) He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

     This scripture which is often quoted, used to be terribly confusing to me.

Now I find it very comforting whenever fear tries to keep me from doing something the Lord has asked me to do.  This scripture tells us that we are a part of God’s plan.  That He loves us so much that He made it possible for us to become His own sons.   By sending His son to make a way for us, He laid out a marvelous plan of a good life for us.  Jesus paid the price for all our shortcomings.  The plan was to let someone who was strong, brave, and

determined give His life in our place.  Then, if we chose to accept this gift,

we have all the family valuables.  All that Jesus had, could become ours, if we choose to become a part of the family.  The choice is ours because God already chose us.  He laid out a wonderful life with all the riches in glory for eternity and then gave us a key that would unlock that life.  He did the work and then gave us a way to enjoy it.

     The New Living Translation says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.  For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters.  And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him.  And He gave them right standing with Himself, and He promised them His glory. (31) What can we say about such wonderful things as these?  If God is for us, who can ever be against us? (32) Since God did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else?

     So if God has the master plan for our lives and we have agreed to come into alignment with that plan; and, if God has given us everything else…. then how can we think we aren’t able to do something God wants us to do.

We are able because He has made us able.  When we choose to follow Jesus,

We become supernatural beings filled with the power of God, lead by the Spirit of God, and capable of completing anything asked of us.  Always bringing glory to our creator and Father.  So yes, you can.