1. Sealed by the Spirit Ephesians 1:11-14 and God’s Mark of Ownership Ryan Habbena Twin City Fellowship June 25 2006 June 25 2006

2. The Sovereign’s “Inheritance” Ephesians 1:11 ( In Him) also we have [been] obtained [as] an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

3. Israel as God’s “Inheritance” Deuteronomy 9:26 And I prayed to the Lord, and said, ‘O Lord God, do not destroy Your people, even Your inheritance, whom You have redeemed through Your greatness, whom You have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.’

4. Saved to Praise Ephesians 1:12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

5. God’s Possession who Praises Him 1 Peter 2: 9-10 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

6. Sealed by the Spirit Ephesians 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation -- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,

7. The Precious Pledge Ephesians 1:14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.

8. The Holy Spirit and the Promise But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: "Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. “For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: 'And it shall be in the last days,' God says, 'That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams; Even on My bondslaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit And they shall prophesy. (Acts 2:14-18)

9. The Promise and the Inheritance For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:13-15)

10. Inheritance: Already/Not Yet Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5

11. 3 Exhortations to the Sealed Heirs

12. Grieve Not the Holy Spirit Ephesians 4:30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

13. Be Assured by the Spirit John 14:16-17 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

14. Guard the Gospel through the Spirit 2 Timothy 1:14 Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.