я
Thank you.
Amen.
Thank you.
Amen.
Let's stand and sing.
Thank you.
One church.
Thank you.
Amen.
Thank you.
We're in the
and we're in the
in the
and we're waiting for the
that is our inheritance.
face forever.
We have redemption.
We're waiting for our inheritance.
If you're satisfied.
and you're in the and we're in the
there's a team.
and if you're sitting in this waiting room
and you're tired and you're weary
and you think that there's no end
hear this
there is an end
and it's so worth it
you have an inheritance
and it is glorious
and you will look back on this life
at the end of time
you will look back on this waiting room
and you will think
that was so worth it
I'm glad I made it to the end
but when you're waiting for something
when you're waiting for the inheritance
it can feel like it's never coming
and how do we know it's coming
how can we be sure of what lies ahead of us
well Paul spends the rest of this passage
assuring us of what's coming
but he doesn't tell us to look forward
he tells us to look back
at what God has done
he says we can be sure of what's coming
because God has predestined us
and this is my next point
we have been predestined
so look to verse 11 again
in him we have obtained an inheritance
having been predestined
according to the purpose of him
who works all things
according to the counsel of his will
we're in Christ
and we have this inheritance
because we've been predestined
now we saw this word a few weeks ago
so it's a bit of a big word isn't it
predestined
it just means
God writes the ending of your story
before your story's even begun
God writes the end of your story
before your story's even begun
and so God has chosen his people
from eternity past
and written their ending
saying they will receive an inheritance
and there's no other ending
it has to happen this way
and it will happen this way
for those in Christ
God has written your ending
saying they will be mine
and they will be with me for all eternity
and you can have no other ending
because look what else Paul says here
we're predestined according to the purpose of him
who works all things
according to the counsel of his will
so God not only writes our ending
he works all things to make it happen
he's the one who works all things
did you see that?
he works all things
now this is a profound truth about God
Paul is saying
God works all things
God controls
and has his hand on all things
so not just some things
not just a lot of things
God works all things
according to the purpose of his will
that means God has his hand over creation right now
and is in charge of every single part of it
God controls the movement of the earth around the sun
he controls every global event in this world
he controls every moment of your life
even every atom in the air
not a single thing can happen
unless God decides it
and says it can happen
he's working in this room
right now
you know the kids song?
it's a great song
he's got the whole world in his hands
that's not just a kids song
that kids can sing
that is a profound truth
God has the whole world in his hands
look what else Paul says
it's all
he says all this working
is according to the counsel of his will
now counsel just means advice
you might say I'm seeking counsel from someone
which means you're seeking their advice
but who does God seek advice from?
well
he says he works all things
according to the counsel of his will
he looks to his will
he looks to himself
when working all of this
and planning all this
he looks to no one else
he relies on nothing else
this means
God has
when God has decided to do something
to give you an inheritance
to unite you to Christ
and bring you to that final inheritance
Paul is saying
he makes it happen
nothing can stand in his way
he doesn't look to sin
and think
oh no
I didn't know about that
I need to change my plan now
no
he doesn't look to the devil
and think
oh I didn't see that coming
okay
I need to work something else out now
and he doesn't look at you
and say
oh I know I chose them
but look at them
look what they've done
or look how they're feeling
I don't think they're going to make it to the finish
no
God works all things
he makes it happen
he works all things
according to the counsel of his will
so that you will receive this inheritance
he brings you to the end
so just look to verse 12
he works all things
so that we who were the first time in Christ
might be to the praise of his glory
so he doesn't just work all things
so that he can just say
I'm in control of all things
he doesn't just do things aimlessly
he has something particular
at the centre of all he does
he works out all things
he works all things out
so that we might be to the praise of his glory
he works all things out with us
the church in mind
so that we will reach the finish line
and receive our inheritance
and praise and glorify God on that last day
God is crafting history
so that you will make it to the end
now
it may be that God does things in your life
that you can't understand why
like you think
how is this helping me get to the end
why is God doing this
or why did God do that
and in those times
we need great faith and humility
because we can't understand
why God does everything
it doesn't always make sense to us
but it's very clear here
what has God told us
everything in our lives
is planned by God
to bring me to that end
and so we can say
in those moments
even if I don't understand it
even if this is painful
I know that this is for my good
and this is God
bringing me to my inheritance
he's working all things in your life
to bring you there
and when we get there
at the end of time
we can look back on our lives
in the waiting room
and we will see
ah yes
that was all for my good
that was all for God's glory
he really did bring me to my inheritance
and that's what Paul is showing us
behind the scenes here
that God is working right now
in every moment of our lives
but the question remains
how do I know I'm one of those
who God is bringing to the end
maybe you've thought that
how do I know
if I have this inheritance
well this is my final point
we have been sealed
look to verse 13 with me
in him
you also
when you heard the word of truth
the gospel of your salvation
and believed in him
were sealed
with the promised Holy Spirit
Paul says that we've been sealed
with the Holy Spirit
now what does that mean
well a seal is something
you might see on the back of a letter
so a king can't write a letter to someone
and then you put wax on the back
have you ever seen that wax on the back
and it closes up the letter
and then he would stamp
his personalised royal stamp on the wax
and it kind of engraves on the wax
and you see his royal marking on it
well that royal marking on the back of the letter
that's his royal seal
so not kind of like walruses
and penguins
not that type of seal
a seal is like a marking
it's a distinctive marking
that letter has been sealed
by the king
and what does that seal do?
well it shows that that letter
is authentic
it's the real deal
it's not some sort of scam
this really is a letter from the king
and it also shows that
this letter is special
it shows that
this isn't any old letter
this is different from all other letters
this is a royal letter
how can you tell?
well look at it's sealed
you can see it
it's been sealed
well Paul says
we were sealed
with the promised Holy Spirit
so we don't have a wax stamp on us
but Paul says
we've been stamped
with the Holy Spirit
when God saves you
and unites you to Christ
God gives you something
well actually
he gives you someone
he gives you
his Holy Spirit
and the Holy Spirit
permanently
marks you
the Holy Spirit
dwells in us
and says
this person is authentic
this is one of God's people
this is the real deal
he says
you are special
and you've been set apart
by God
and you will receive
an inheritance
so look at verse 14
verse 14
the Holy Spirit
is the guarantee
of our inheritance
now here's another big word
quite a few big words today
a guarantee
is like a down payment
or a deposit
so if you buy a house
you usually don't pay the money
straight away
you normally pay
a small amount first
and that small amount
that you pay first
that's the down payment
or the guarantee
and that guarantee
says
don't worry
more is coming
more money is on its way
you're going to get
the full amount later
I'm just giving you
this first bit now
as a promise
to show that
I'm going to pay
the full amount later
well the Holy Spirit
is God's guarantee
saying
I will give you
the Holy Spirit now
and that is the promise
to guarantee
that your inheritance
is coming
don't worry
God says
more is coming
on the way
and so this means
a true believer
can never lose
their salvation
when God chooses
someone
he saves them
and when he saves them
he seals them
and when he seals them
100%
guarantees
they will inherit
eternal life
truly they can never
lose their salvation
and so
when did he give us
the Holy Spirit
when were we sealed
in verse 13
you can see it
in him
you also
when you heard
the word of truth
the gospel of your salvation
and believed in him
were sealed
by the promised Holy Spirit
if you've heard
the gospel preached
and you believe it
you trust in the Lord Jesus
and love him
then you have been
sealed
hearing
and believing
means sealing
now
we can't always
pinpoint
when that first happens
some people
have a clear memory
in their heads
of when they were
converted
and they
can kind of pinpoint it
or
or maybe that's not you
maybe you grew up
in a Christian home
and you've just
you've always believed
or you just can never
pinpoint at any point
like that
well whatever it was
you may or may not know
when you first believed
but what we can know
is that
if we believe
if we believe now
then
there was a first time
you believed
if you look to the Lord Jesus
now
you know that there was
a first time
you believed
and when you did
you were sealed
with the Holy Spirit
your salvation
was locked
in forever
and your inheritance
was guaranteed
and if you're still thinking
oh
but is that me
what if I fall away
what if I don't last
to the end
well can I encourage you
can I encourage you
not to think
in that way
the Bible never
gets us
to look
to our future
and to look
into ourselves
and to doubt
our salvation
and to think
and to rely
on ourselves
because if we do that
that just takes
our eyes off Jesus
and we start
to just look
at ourselves
and rely
on our own strength
no
the Bible
makes us look
back
to assure us
what God has already done
he's united you
to Christ
he's predestined you
he's sealed you
so believe in the Lord
Jesus now
and know in him
you are sealed
forever
and your inheritance
is coming
for those in Christ
you can never be lost
Christ will never lose you
the end of your story
is written
and there's an inheritance
at that ending
this is what lies
behind the scenes
of us
here today
as we open up
the curtains
it's the ending
of our story
and we can see
that it's all planned
and sealed
and secured
by God
your ending
is already written
and a glorious
eternal treasure
is waiting for you
let me pray
Lord God
we thank you
for the Lord
Jesus Christ
and we thank you
that we are
in Christ
and in him
is every
spiritual blessing
and we thank you
for our inheritance
that is
waiting for us
and we pray
that you strengthen us
and keep us
looking to the Lord
Jesus
give us strength
when we are weary
and keep our eyes
on the hope
and the glory
to come
we long for our
inheritance
and we long
for the Lord Jesus
in his name
we pray
Amen
we will respond
to God
by singing
all mercy my God
in a theme
of my song
the joy of my
God
of my soul
is
Let open the channel of mercy for me.
Your mercy is more than a match for my heart.
Great wonders to fill it so proud as we bow.
The door has your goodness, my Lord, to the ground.
And ring to the praise of the mercy I come.
The door of your mercy stands open to all.
The poor and the needy, whoever shall go.
No sinner who's come singing mercy today.
Is that the by Jesus sent empty away?
Bring thou the whole mercy to whom it's all.
And thou the land of all who first in my sight.
O praise to the spirit whose whisper divine.
Sills blessing and pardon and righteousness die.
People of God, receive the blessing by faith of our God too.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The Lord lift up his confidence upon you and give you peace.
Amen.