February 20, 2011

HEAVENLY WORKEARTHLY WALKPart 3 - Sealed with the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 1:11-14

BIG IDEA: There is an inheritance waiting for us that exceeds imagination.

OVERVIEW: • We have something to look forward to.• We have a sure guarantee.

OPENING:• We all have things that we look forward to experiencing. What do you look forward

to for this year, for the next 5 years, for your children or grandchildren, for your retirement if you are not there yet?

• Put together a list of spiritual blessings that we enjoy in this life, then add to it a list of spiritual blessings that we will not enjoy until the next.

• How different would your life be if you didn’t have any of these spiritual blessings?

SCRIPTURE:Ephesians 1:11 reads, “In him also we have obtained an inheritance having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.”

• Why do you think that Paul indicates that we have already obtained an inheritance? • You and I have been predestined for an inheritance. Predestined means, “to mark

out with a boundary beforehand.” What does this suggest to you in regard to our inheritance?

Read Matthew 19:16-30

• In the context of the rich young ruler asking about what good thing he needed to do to get eternal life, Peter asks the question about what he will get in the next life. Do you think Peter asked an appropriate question? We don’t know Peter’s response to Jesus’ answer, but how do you think he might have responded?

• John talked about the renewal of all things. It’s only mentioned two times in the Bible. What happens at the renewal of all things?

Read Ephesians 1:13-14

The Holy Spirit is described as a seal. There are four primary reasons for sealing something in New Testament times.

•Sealofcompletion •Sealofownership •Sealofsecurity •Sealofauthenticity Do all these reasons for sealing something apply to the Holy Spirit? Which of these descriptions of sealing best describes the Holy Spirit to you?• The Holy Spirit is described as a deposit. What is God telling us when he calls the HolySpiritthedeposit?Practically,howdoestheHolySpiritconfirmtoyouthatyouwill experience eternal life?

• Commentbrieflyonthesepassagesandwhattheytellyouabouttheinheritancewehave to look forward to receiving. Romans 8:23; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 1 Peter 1:3-4.

REFLECTION• Think of the story of the prodigal son who asked for his inheritance from his father. It was

more important to him to get his inheritance from his father than to be with his father. Do you think people treat God in that way? What really is the greatest part of the inheritance from God?

• What is the greatest inheritance that you can leave to your children?