Scripture References: Ephesians 1:17-18; Philippians 3:4-9; Acts 9:3-18; Galatians 1:11-12; Genesis 2-3 (implied)
Intro: Good morning. Today's sermon is titled "The Chase for Significance and Truth." While I don't have one specific date I became a Christian, I've always had a heart for God. Different scriptures become "life verses" for different seasons. Today, I want to focus on Ephesians 1:17-18, Paul's prayer: "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints." This prayer reflects a deep need I discovered in my own journey.
Key Points:
- My Story: Outward Success, Inner Struggle:
- Grew up hungry for God, good kid, parents supportive. Excelled in school, sports (basketball recognition), had good friends. Outwardly, seemed to have it all together.
- Inwardly: Struggled with fear, insecurity, a broken heart (difficult relationship), wondering "what's wrong with me?" Knew how to perform and compete, but lacked peace.
- Turning Point: Attended a youth conference; speaker ignited a deep hunger to truly know God. Began spending hours in worship and prayer, seeking relationship, not just religion. Needed wisdom and revelation, eyes enlightened (Eph 1:17-18).
- Paul's Story: Credentials vs. Christ (Phil 3; Acts 9):
- Paul had impeccable credentials by worldly/religious standards (circumcised, tribe of Benjamin, Pharisee, zealous, legally faultless - Phil 3:4-6). Peak human/religious achievement.
- Turning Point: Dramatic encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road; blinded, then scales fell from his eyes (Acts 9). A supernatural revelation.
- Transformation: Counted all his credentials and self-righteousness as "rubbish" compared to gaining Christ and His righteousness through faith (Phil 3:7-9). Stopped chasing significance in his own efforts.
- The Root: The Two Trees & The Identity Crisis (Gen 2-3):
- The Garden offered Life (dependence on God) or Knowledge of Good/Evil (self-reliance).
- Choosing self-reliance (eating the fruit) led to self-awareness, self-righteousness, shame, hiding from God – the start of the identity crisis.
- We inherit this tendency to seek significance outside of God, trying to cover our own "nakedness" through performance, status, relationships, etc. ("What names you owns you"). It's an exhausting, never-ending chase.
Conclusion: The chase for significance and identity apart from God is a futile hamster wheel rooted in the Fall. True significance isn't earned; it's received as a gift through faith in Christ. When our identity is secure in Him, knowing we are loved and accepted sons/daughters, we're freed from striving. We can lay down worldly ambitions (like basketball dreams), make counter-cultural choices (marrying a single mom, mission work), find strength in trials, and learn to love sacrificially because our core need for significance is met in Him alone.
Call to Action: Where are you getting your significance and identity from today? Your job? Status? Relationships? Performance? Appearance? Ask God honestly. Repent from the self-righteous chase. Ask God, like Paul prayed, for the "Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know Him better." Ask for the scales to fall off your eyes. Ask for your heart to be enlightened to the hope and inheritance you already have in Him. Rest in His acceptance. (Optional
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