Engaged to God

Main Point: Discuss the reality of being chosen by God to be his dear children, identify how a child of God should rightly respond to such a privilege and point out some of the obstacles that get in the way. Have you ever seen a proposal of marriage? Its a beautiful thing. The man carefully plans the invitation for weeks even months. He searches for the right place, right time, and right ring. He knows that it will cost him but more than that, he knows the woman he has chosen is well worth the cost and preparation. His desire is to make a family with her and when he asks she says YES! He places the ring on her finger symbolizing a promise. The guarantee that she belongs to him and he belongs to her. They are engaged. Ephesians 1:3-14 (NLT)
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.[a] 7He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christeverything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God,[b] for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.12 Gods purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own[c] by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is Gods guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
3

God chose us to be in his family too (verse 4). He planned the proposal before the earth began and ever since then, it has been His great pleasure to bring us to himself through Jesus Christ (verse 5). He knows that it will cost Him but more than that, He knows that we are well worth the cost and preparation (verse 7). He asked us We said YES and then He gave us the Holy Spirit symbolizing a promise. The guarantee that we belong to Him and He belongs to us (verse 13-14). We are engaged.

Questions: Read Ephesians 1:3-14 1. Now that we see we are engaged to God, how should we respond? See verse 6 & 14 (By giving him praise and glory.) 2. What are some ways you can give praise and glory to God with your life? (personal
devotion/prayer life, giving to the kingdom, loving/reaching people, attending/serving in church, reading bible, share your faith, living by faith, etc.)

3. Being honest with yourself How often do you do those things? In what areas can you do better? (no condemnation) 4. Name some things that can get in the way of us being completely engaged with God. Mark 4:15 (NLT): In this parable of the sower, Jesus shows us a few things that keep people from being fully Engaged toward God.
15The

seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. Apathy:absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitementlack of interest in or con -cern for things that others find moving or exciting.

If we have a lack of interest, passion, or excitement about something, chances are we wont guard that something very well. Things that arent guarded well are easy for thieves to steal. The same is true with our relationship with God. If we dont cherish Jesus and his word, we wont protect it in our hearts and the devil who is walking around like a lion, seeking whom he can devour, will steal the word of God from us. Lets always regard our relationship with Jesus as a precious and valuable treasure that we must protect with our lives.
16The

seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17But since they dont have deep roots, they dont last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing Gods word. Lack of substance can keep us from being engaged toward God. These are the church goers who are there every Sunday but do not have personal devotional time with God. Because of the lack of relationship, there is a lack of trust so when the troubles come they give up. Lets always be sure that we are not allowing corporate worship negate our 1 on 1 time with Jesus. In that personal relationship, we learn to trust him in everything.
18The

seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear Gods word,19but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept Gods word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!
20And

Mark 4:20 IS AN ENGAGED BELIEVER!!! The one who not only hears the word but ACCEPTS the word of God!

Q: What does it mean to accept the Word of God?

Mark 4:20 (KJV) And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. The word receive in this verse is the Greek word paradechomai
1) to receive, take up, take upon one's self 2) to admit i.e. not to reject, to accept, receive a) of a son: to acknowledge as one's own

So according to this verse, the ENGAGED believer hears the word then takes it upon himself! He acknowledges it as his own! It becomes our relationship with God; an everyday engagement to the King of Kings!