Updated Friday, Dec. 14, 2007

Formations lesson for Jan. 6: Preach Christ

By Wayne Proctor

Focal Passage: Ephesians 1:3-14

What happens to you when you are asked to "pray?" Do you think, "Oh, no!" or do you respond, "Yes, what a privilege."

Like you, I've heard several thousand prayers in my lifetime. Since I'm the "preacher," I've also been the one to speak many of those prayers. I think for many, delivering a prayer or a blessing is not easy. Some can do it spontaneously quite well, while others would like to have the time to really think about it, maybe even to write it down. While there are many formulas to prayer, one that I have found easy to remember is this: ACTS.

Prayer is to include Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. As Paul began this letter to his Christian friends in Ephesus, he began his thoughts with a beautiful blessing or prayer that focused on thanksgiving, what we have received from God through Jesus Christ. In truth, the idea of blessings received "in" and "through" Jesus Christ permeates this prologue. Let us look briefly at some of them together.

We are a chosen people (v. 4). Paul describes this chosen-ness as something God planned in creation. Jesus was always in His plan for salvation. Furthermore, Christian believers were also part of that original plan, even to be identified as God's "children" via the relationship with God's Son.

We have received grace, redemption, and forgiveness (v. 6, 7). Paul's blessing tells us that we have earned nothing, but who we are and what we have received in Christ is unmerited favor, a wonderful gift not deserved, but freely and joyfully received by confession of sins and profession of faith.

We have discovered the mystery of God's will (v. 9). This mystery includes salvation to non-Jews, a universal gospel. Paul's audience was mixed. While his preaching tactic was to go to the Jews first, he invariably found the Gentiles to be the more receptive audience. The Christian's inheritance (v. 11) is the result of faith, not works or blood-line.

Finally, we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit (v. 13). To be sealed is to be protected. While we each have free will, and can and do make wrong choices, one of the purposes of the Holy Spirit is to indwell us and guide us to make right choices. In a sense, the Holy Spirit is Jesus with us, unlimited by time and space. In a word, it's about Christ.

When you're asked to pray and are trying to think about what to say, think about Jesus. Think about what He has done for you. Think about what He wants you to be and do.