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Sunday, December 17, 2017

The Work of Reconciliation

The Blessing of Reconciliation

Book of Ephesians 2:11-22


Reconciliation is a change from being an enemy to becoming a friend and it is mutual between both parties.

Before we begin this lesson today, we must clearly understand God will never compromise His position or go against His Word to become our friend.

It is we who are sinners who must make a change. It's called "repentance"!

Today many of the church are trying to compromise with the sin of the world, and going against the Word of God.

That congregation may feel they have done the right thing, but God will never approve of such things!

We can never compromise the Word of God because His Word is settled In Heaven and it cannot be changed on earth!

We need to understand what God has already done:

1) Before Jesus Christ, God dealt with man through the Jewish nation. Since Christ (the Messiah) has come God has dealt with humanity on a world-wide scale in those who would follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

Note: Those who claim there were writings before the time of Moses have forgotten the Tower of Babel, where God scattered all people to their different locations and certainly there would be many similarities, but the 66 books we have are the complete and the whole truth.

God takes the Jew and the Gentile (all others than Jews) and creates a new race of people called the Christian by this evil world!

2) Before Jesus Christ, God dealt with nations but after the Messiah, God is dealing with the individual through Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit.

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

3) God is no longer dealing with earthly divisions of nations. God is dealing with a new nationality a new body of people, the Body of Christ, the Church! These are the same ones who will join Christ in His New Kingdom!

These are all those who have been born again into the family of God.

These are the same ones who can look back and see how far they have come, since accepting the work of the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation.

*****Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
As Christians we should be able to look back at the miserable condition we were in before coming to know the Lord Jesus Christ in a personal way.

The word Gentile means all others but the Jews. (Sometimes even called Heathen)

The word uncircumcision means all those who are not in the covenant that God made with the Abraham.

The word Circumcision would mean Jews, but only the Jews who are under the covenant God made with Abraham. (would include some Proselytes)
Circumcision involved the removal of a certain piece of flesh by some other human being, with that skill.

The most important statement in this Scripture is, "that we were without Jesus Christ". "We were cut off and separated from God"!

To be a Christian is to say, "I am not what I once was"! "I am a used to be"

We were not only lost through our sin, but we were one step away from eternal death, eternal separation from God!

When we remember these things, we should feel joy.

1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

As Christians when we look back, we can see that we once lived in spiritual misery!

When I look back, I can remember many days that I thought I was having fun, but I can remember just as many days I was in total misery!

The Jews intended to keep God to themselves and this led to their own downfall!

No one, nor no one nation owns God!

The Jews rejected God's Son, and it brought their destruction, a destruction that just recently has shown signs of recovery.

God turned to the Gentiles and this allowed the Jews to grow again. The Jewish nation has always grown through adversity!

The all-time greatest event by far in the history of our world was the visit of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ!

If the world cannot accept this, then this world will see the wrath of God while still living in a world with no hope.

In this season of the birth of Jesus Christ, there far too many who suffer from SAD. This is Seasonal, Affective, Disorder and the cause of this thing which brings so much "depression" into their lives is a lack of light. Many believe it is a lack of sunlight because of the winter months but , they suffer from a lack of the Light of Jesus.

Do not fall into this trap of depression but come to know the Savior, who is also the Light of this world!

Those so full of depression and live without hope will stand before God in their own person and be separated from Him forever.

Those who have trusted in the work of the Lord, the light of this world will stand before God, with Christ, and will live eternally with God.

To be without Christ is to be lost and to have no hope!

Isa 45:19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
Isa 45:20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.

To know Jesus Christ is to be washed in His blood and freedom from sin!

*****Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

The world is so blind not to realize that it is "sin" that separates humanity from a loving God!

It is sin that separates one group of people from another.

It is sin that destroys families!!!!!!!!

Sin not only has broken harmony with God but has continued to bring this world toward destruction!!!!!!

Only Jesus Christ can bring us near to our God, the only God.

We are made nigh to God "by the blood" of our Lord!

The blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is the blood of the everlasting covenant that can never be changed nor made to be void!

Jesus Christ came to this earth to give every human being an opportunity to draw nigh to God!

God loved each of us enough that He was willing to forgive us of all our sins.

God had already said that the wages of sin was death and this problem had to be overcome and only He had the power to do this!

Since we as individuals could not solve this problem without our own death and since there had never lived a perfect human being, then God had to do this thing Himself!

God had to provide the perfect and ideal man who was willing to die, so all mankind could get an opportunity to be saved that they never had.

The Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth to die for our sins. This was His mission. But while He was here He took the time necessary to see that all the world would have the knowledge of salvation, then named the "Gospel" which is the "Good News" of God's plan of salvation!

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

God had to physically show us all just how much He loves us!

Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who has made a way for us to be at peace with a God who despises sin!

*****Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

The Lord Jesus Christ did not purchase our peace because the Lord Jesus Christ "is our peace" in His person, simply because Jesus Christ is the Peace-Maker!

Jesus Christ has broken down the wall that was between the Jews and Gentiles to form the Church, the Body of Christ.

What was the Apostle Peter's greatest lesson?

Act 10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; "but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean".

The majority of our world still have not learned this lesson!

We are all in this thing together and together we can be a force for peace, that peace being in Jesus Christ.

There are no barriers in the Church caused by God, there are only those barriers we put up ourselves.

All those who come to Jesus Christ by faith, not only receive the free gift of salvation, but all receive a common love, a common purpose, and a common work.

Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

If we go back to the Tower of Babel we know that those who had forsaken the commands of God, the Heathen, were scattered all over this world and had wandered far from God.

Gen_11:9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

God then chose one people who became Israel to continue to bring forth the true Word of God not like the distorted writings of others.

In fact, it is the Jews who took so much care to preserve the Word of God!

Because Israel later forsook God, God then forsook these people for a time. Remember Israel was just one speck on the globe and God's plans included all people who would call upon His name in this entire world.

Rom_10:13 For "whosoever" shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (red and yellow, black and white, they are all precious in His sight)

1Ti_2:4 Who will have "all men" to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (all humanity)

The Jews not only had the Word of God, but they had the laws of Moses. There 613 laws that the Jews tried to keep just for one year and then they could be forgiven and then begin a new year, but it was impossible for any human being to keep all those laws.

Just to break one of those laws would mean they had failed and the wages of sin was death even at that time.

This is the thing that the Lord Jesus Christ abolished with His own death on the Cross at Mount Calvary, where He also spilled His life saving blood!

Mat_5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, "but to fulfil".

God would never destroy the Law because all the Word of God is perfect, but the ceremonial law was imperfect in that it was not the answer to salvation.

Heb_9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

It was only the Lord Jesus Christ who could do these things because He was also perfect.

No one has to ever approach God through laws and sacrifices or works or ceremonies of any kind.

The only way to approach God is "by faith" in the work of His Dear Son!

Those that still choose to try to reach God by some law need to realize that they must obey all the Law everyday of their lives, which is impossible.

Rom 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

That word enmity is the opposite of friendship. Those who remain in opposition to the truth of God!

We do not have the right to choose what manner we will worship our God and He has established that we will worship Him by faith in the work of His Son!

There is no way to worship God beyond this truth!

It is Jesus Christ that has broken down the wall of partition between all mankind and God!

*****Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

What is it to be incorporated?

We must be united in one body. This is the Church. This is the Body of Christ

We must be incorporated with Jesus Christ before we can be reconciled to God!

Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

That word reconcile means to change thoroughly, (from enemy to friend), to restore the relationship that Adam once had with God, before sin entered his life.

Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

In the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, the veil of the Temple was rent into from the top to the bottom and a way was made into the throne room of God because this is the only way we can approach the throne of "Grace", it is by His Dear Son.

Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

There is just no way to realize all the things that Jesus Christ finished when He gave us His life to reconcile us to His Father and our God!

Joh_19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

As believers we are not only free from sin, but we are forever free from the punishment for sin.

God is the One who has done the reconciling, we had absolutely no part in this work. God is the One who reached out to humanity and not that mankind reached out to God!

From the very moment the Lord Jesus was born upon this earth, His actions were there to teach us peace.

Luk 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Luk 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

The Virgin birth.
The Manger.
The swaddling clothes.
The shepherds.
Many other things.

The Lord Jesus had to wait until the age of 30 according to Jewish law to be a relevant preacher and during His short time of 3 and 1/2 years, He preached not only to the Jews but to the Gentiles.

We certainly must understand that by the Holy Spirit, The Lord Jesus Christ is still preaching every day to all those who call on Him through "Faith".

Joh_14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Jesus Christ will preach to those who love Him until we meet Him face to face!

*****Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Those who reject the power and the truth of the Triune God certainly do not understand the truth of God, because only the believer can understand the riches of God's Word.

Through Jesus Christ all mankind can have access by the Holy Spirit to our Father in Heaven.

There is nothing confusing about these words!

The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity is at the center of all Christian Doctrines!

This is a thing we know of our God, but it is only part of His Wonderful Character. Three natures but One God!

It can be called the mystery of mysteries to those who are lost but also the absolute understandable truth to the true Christian!

He is also Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier in three persons but One God!

The source of all things is One God, whose name is Jehovah!

Exo_6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

Through the Lord Jesus Christ, all those who believed, have "Faith", can one day come face to face to Jehovah God!

Jesus Christ is the only One who can open the door into God's presence!

Jesus Christ is the only One who can cause us to be citizens in Heaven!

*****Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

The household of God begins as the Church here on Earth and ends in the New Heaven throughout eternity.

1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

How did we all begin before we met the Lord Jesus Christ? we must remember verse 12.

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

How did these things change?

Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

If we be Christ's, it is because we have the "faith" of Abraham!

1Jn 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

We are not angels, we are not Jews, "we become Christians" if we follow the example that Christ has given us but more important we become Saints.

There is no other way to become a Saint of God!

As Saints we are set aside for God's use as He sees fit!

We speak of people and we speak of nations but as saints we are citizens of the New Nation that God is creating!

A nation that consist only of one family, the family of God.

We are adopted children who will be before the Lord continuously throughout eternity!

To understand adoption, we should understand we have a new relationship with God forever.

Our relationship is as a Father to His newly born child, "a baby".

We will always, even throughout eternity, have moment by moment contact with our Father.

We will have a special relationship, a family relationship, with all the other of God's children.

We are no longer under the authority of the powers of this world but are now under the authority of our heavenly Father!

We have already been adopted and we are waiting our Lord Jesus to pick us up and take us home to be presented to our Father!

Our big Brother, who is our God, will soon come to take us home.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

And we will be just like Him!

1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

All because we have faith in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and the words He gave to those 12 Apostles and by understanding that God had said these things could happen all along.

*****Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Notice how God builds His Church to house His Saints.

Every building needs a solid foundation!

The greatest of buildings also have a Chief Cornerstone!

Each "Born Again" child of God are then the building material to construct the greatest of buildings which is the Church.

Psa 46:5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

Remember that word dispensation actually means "house-management", God personally manages the building up of His house.

Remember the Tower of Babel how those people tried to build a building that would reach into Heaven, but this could never be done because it did not have the proper foundation.

God also builds His army by making the Lord Jesus Christ the Captain of our salvation.

Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

God has written the Words of salvation by His Personal Author.

Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

The Church that God builds will be "fitly" framed together!

*****Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

To have a perfect understanding here, we must remember the Temple that King Solomon built how the stones were so perfectly cut that when they were put together they did not require any mortar because there were no gaps.

Mortar would represent sin in this example.

Those who reject the Old Testament, reject some precious examples that God used to explain the "Gospel" to the Jewish People.

Those that reject the Old Testament reject that salvation came by "faith" such that Abraham had, just as it does today. A faith such as Abraham had in the truth of God!

We cannot reject any part of the Word of God and "yes all denominations", we must understand "a literal translation" of the Word of God!

Just had to throw that in.

The whole structure of God's Church rises like a great pile of "everlasting living" materials into an Holy Temple of the Lord!

This structure is dedicated to Jesus Christ and will be inhabited by Him in New Jerusalem!

The Church is alive today and the Church will always be alive because it cannot die!

Every living member of this Church will always have a function and a purpose.

Every believer from every "Age" since the time of Adam, will have a part in this Holy Temple of God!

It is the Lord Jesus Christ and only the Lord Jesus Christ who places every believer in their required position! (He decides this not us)

With every believer being filled with the Holy Spirit, what a magnificent building it will be! Glory, Glory, Glory

*****Eph 2:22 In whom "ye" (you) also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

This "you" represents each believer, each Christian, in the church in Ephesus.
This "you" also represents the Church itself.

Each and every Church that is built with these same guidelines is a building structured for God's purpose!

Each member is an essential, living, stone, placed into this building.

The stability of the Church lies in each stone placed by the hand of God into the exact place, so this building can carry the load, each stone carrying its own load therefore fulfilling the purpose of the Church!

The Holy Spirit of God will dwell within each believer to conform this glorious work of the Lord to an image of God's will in this evil world!

A church is not a church if the Holy Spirit is not in control of its members!

Psa 68:16 Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.

The place that the Lord has chosen is the same place we need to be!

Amen

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Born Again To A New Life

The Blessing of Salvation

Book of Ephesians 2:1-10

What is a blessing?

The average person equates blessings to this physical world as material gain. Nothing is wrong with these blessings if they are obtained legally and according to the Word of God.

In truth the greatest blessings are not physical but spiritual!

The greatest blessing of all is to become a citizen of Heaven!

There are so many today who threaten to forsake their USA citizenship and move to another nation when they need to be forsaking sin and gaining a citizenship in Heaven.

The child of God is a stranger visiting this world, just a pilgrim passing through.

1Pe_2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

There is no greater blessing than salvation!

*****Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

The first thing we should notice is that Paul is speaking to the Church.

The Church consists of those "Born Again" Christians saved by the same almighty power whereby God raised Christ Jesus from the dead!

We, who were dead, "void of all spiritual life", now have life and life eternal by the same power that raised the Lord Jesus Christ from His physical death!

How can there be a blessing as great as this one?

**We were dead because of sin.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

**We were in the family of Satan.

Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

**We walked according to the course of this world.

1Jn_2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

**We did not know our true enemy.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

**We did not understand just how cruel the Devil truly is!

Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Job 1:16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

God did not cause this but, Satan did.

Job 1:19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Satan holds not only his "limited" power of the air but also a "limited" power of the airwaves. What are your children listening to and watching?

1Pe_5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Just as we did not know all these things, "those who are lost are unaware of all these things today", just as they were in the day of the Apostle Paul.

**There can be no doubt that we all will face death!

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

There is also "Spiritual Death". A separation from God's presence forever!

The Scriptures call this the "second death". The eternal state of being dead to God!

But we can defeat this spiritual death by the salvation that comes by "Faith" in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

**To be saved is to repent, bringing a complete change in the whole human character!

The lost do not realize that everything that occupies their time, is sin!

Mar_10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good "but one", that is, God.

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Spiritual death is the separation of any human being from God while they are still living and walking upon this earth and then after a physical death, forever!

The truth:

**A person who walks in life without God and rejecting Jesus Christ, this person is already dead in the eyes of God!

**A person may walk in this life as a religious person, worshipping his own god, of his own thoughts, or his own notions and rejecting Jesus Christ and this person is also dead in the eyes of God!

1Ti 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

**All persons who reject the Lord Jesus Christ and the work He has done for salvation, are dead in the eyes of God!

1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1Jn 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

**Remember Satan is the father of all liars even if this is your pastor or your teacher!

*****Eph 2:3 "Among whom" also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, "even as others".

What is the real truth? All humans by nature are just alike! We all have a sin nature! Even as babies we are sinners!

It is only by the "Grace" of God that the Christian differs from those who reject Christ!

As Christians we must never be ashamed to confess ourselves to be sinners with the worst!

This is the first step toward salvation, knowing we are sinners by nature.

We are not sinners because we sin.
We sin because we are sinners. (We are born separated from God)

There is no one upon the face of this earth that does not have a sin nature! Everyone lives to fulfill the desires of the flesh!

Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Does anyone teach the baby to lie?

Psa 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Jesus Christ is the only perfect One to walk upon this earth and it is because He was God in the flesh and not born into sin!

It is only Jesus Christ who can restore us to be in harmony with God!

Before our conversion, (our salvation), we lived a life with those who are the disobedient of this world. (among whom)

Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The "children of disobedience" are all those who have rejected the Word of God and the works of His Son, Jesus Christ. (Jesus the Messiah)

We live in world that is self-centered and not God-centered!

1Jn_2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Before our conversion we all lived under the wrath of God!

And as sinners we will reap what we have sown!

Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

As sinners, we will die the second death unless we receive a pardon from God.

There is absolutely no fellowship with God without this pardon!

1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Death to the sinner means God requires his soul for the second death!

Luk 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

We can spend all our lives providing for the flesh but, if we do not take the time to provide for the soul, we will certainly see the wrath of God!

Thank goodness for the God who is so full of mercy and love.

*****Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

We are born so full of sin that it spews out of our mouths even when we are babes, but God is so full of mercy because of His great love that He is willing to forgive us of our sin.

To doubt God's mercy is to dishonor Him!

If we have received the mercy of God, then we are to show God's mercy to all others. God is no respecter of persons and neither are we to be!

When we understand God's love for all that is good, we will then understand God's hatred of all that is bad including all immorality!

The Love of our Father is for His Son Jesus Christ!

Jesus Christ has purchased and redeemed us by His death!

Every soul is a dear property to God and if we have not considered our soul and it is lost due to our rejection of Christ, God has lost something that is very dear to Him.

Be sure to remember, this is our choice and not God's choice!

God will save all that come to Him in faith!

The mercy of God is our greatest need as sinners!

It is by the mercy of God we have an opportunity to know the "goodness" of God! In fact, the name God is derived from the word "good"!

It is instilled in us to long for power.
It is instilled in us to long for fame.
It is instilled in us to long for immortality.
It is instilled in us to long for riches.
It is instilled in us to long for glory, but we can get none of these things without the mercy and the love of God!

Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

We might ask, just what does it take to get God to love us? Well this is really simple for God has always loved us!

1Jn_4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Even when we were dead in sins, God loved us enough to send us all a means to get back in harmony with Him.

Jesus Christ died to save His enemies!

Notice that we were already dead in sin before the Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth. Had He not come, all the world would end up in the Burning Lake that was created for Lucifer and those angels that followed him.

The word Quicken means to make alive. To revive from that death!

How does God make this happen?

Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

It is by the "grace" of God through "faith"!

**The cause of salvation is God's amazing "Grace".

We all know a dead body cannot walk but, nor can a dead soul move of its own free will.

**The means of salvation is by the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Each sinner, by the "Grace" of God, transferring all their sin to the Lord Jesus Christ just before His death.

By faith, the sinner can transfer all his guilt, all his misery, and his curse, to Jesus Christ and therefore each sinner becomes "a use to be", receiving all the riches of God by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

**The effects of salvation. God has raised all believers up together and made us to sit in heavenly places with the Lord Jesus Christ!

Every believer becomes a child of God!

*****Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

It is because of God's mercy that we will sit together with Jesus Christ!

It was the power of God that raised up Jesus Christ from the dead and that same power will raise every believer up sit with Him!

God raised up Jesus Christ for many reasons:

**Jesus Christ led a sin free life upon this earth.

Mankind had already sinned from birth. Righteousness and perfection had already been lost from the time of Adam.

It is only those who are perfect who can stand before God!

**Jesus Christ secured righteousness for us all!

Gal 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Gal 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

Since by the Lord Jesus Christ we are righteous, then even though we are still upon this earth, if we have the faith of Abraham, we have a place reserved for us in the heavenlies!

**The Lord Jesus Christ has already died and been raised from the dead, so God sees all believers as already been raised from the dead, exalted to live with Him forever in Jesus Christ.

When we do get to Heaven, we will not be a stranger who just got home, we will be as a son or a daughter who just left heaven to visit earth and are returning home!

*****Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Some say God was just talking to these Ephesians, but the truth is God is talking to all His Church!

We were all born without a purpose but after our salvation God extends His purpose to all His children.

God intends to show the true church the riches of His "Grace" toward through Jesus Christ!

God's riches can only flow through the Lord Jesus Christ!

We could say that God will do so much for us by His Son Jesus, that it will take an eternity to see and live it all! Amen.

The Lord God is truly King of all Ages!

1Ti 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Psa 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Many of us can sometimes think worldly about the wonders of Heaven and it is true that it will be lovely, but we sometimes forget the riches of God's "Grace" He has given us and will continue to give us by and through the Lord Jesus Christ!

Without God's amazing "Grace" we could never know the salvation plan of God!

*****Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

This may be one of the most quoted Scriptures in all the Bible.

The one thing that stands out in this Scripture is that, "salvation comes by faith"!

By definition the meaning of faith is: the settling of the mind to the truth.

So those who are lost have faith in a lie and do not know God's truth!

What is God's unchanging truth?

2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
2Th 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What is the truth?

1) Only Jehovah God can save and He alone!

It is the gift of God!

2) Faith in the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, is necessary for God to be willing to save!

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Rom 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

3) All who have faith will be saved. But remember, faith is not a mere assent to or a profession of the truth; but such a belief as purifies the heart and governs the life.

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is firmly setting the mind on the truth of God!

For those who refuse to believe, God says this: Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

There is no amount of works we can do before salvation by which we can be saved!

There is no amount of works after salvation that can keep us saved!

But after salvation we will be known by our works because we will begin to look more and more like Jesus Christ, becoming Christians, becoming the Saints of God.

1Pe_2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Jas_2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Our salvation flows by the ""grace" of God!
Our salvation is obtained by faith and by faith only!
Our salvation is a very precious "gift" from God!

2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

This thing is so simple that many just cannot fathom such a great gift of God to be so simple.

This salvation means we are saved from the coming wrath of God.

So how can these things be so true?

*****Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

To be saved means we were first born of our parents but we are now born of God. We are God's workmanship, not our parents workmanship!

We had a natural birth but salvation is by a spiritual birth.

Our own spirit which was once dead to God, has been quickened (made alive by God the Holy Spirit) and made alive to God!

Remember verse 1:

Eph 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

We have been "born again" to new life!

Jesus said:

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

We have been made a totally new creation in the eyes of God! (let that sink in)

The saving of the soul is a creation event!

In fact the only new creations since the time of Genesis are those newly born children of the God of creation!

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

God has made each Christian to be new, by the Holy Spirit!

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

**Our new creation could not come about by works or any goodness.
**Our new creation could not be sustained by any works or goodness.
**Our new creation was created to be known by our good works after being made new.

These good works are an evidence of our salvation not a reason for our salvation!

God builds a masterpiece with every "Born Again" child of God but, this is a continuous work till the day He takes us home to be with Him!

Tit 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

The strength to fulfill the purpose God has for His church, must come from Him and not from the world!

1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Amen

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Understanding God and His Plan For Us All

Understanding God's Plan

Book of Ephesians 1:13-23


We could ask ourselves what is God's plan for humanity? God's plan first starts with salvation.

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

We must first know who God is.

Isa 45:21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
Isa 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Isa 45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

We can understand from this passage that our God is Jehovah and He is also Elohim, the One True God!

The Jews considered God's name so Holy they would pronounce His name Adonai meaning the unchanging, eternal, self-existing God.

The "I Am", the covenant keeping God.

It is a shame we do not have that kind of reverence for our Savior today! "Praise His Holy Name"

Let's begin:

We finished last week with verse 12 but let's include it again today.

*****Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom "ye" (you) also trusted, after that "ye" (you) heard the word of truth, the gospel of "your" salvation: in whom also after that "ye" (you) believed, "ye" (you) were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Remember God wants this entire world to know His truth!

The Word of Truth, it is the "Gospel" of our salvation!

Once we believe the "Gospel", then and only then can we be sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise!

What is the "Gospel"?

Let's look at the short version by the Apostle Paul:

1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, "how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures";
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

It is very important that we hear the truth of our existence!

Without hearing the truth of our existence, we will never understand the salvation plan of God.

Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

God's plan revolves around someone (The Preacher, The Missionary) presenting the "Gospel" to someone who has not heard it (the Lost).

It is not just the job of the preacher but "the job of every believer" to tell others about the truth of the "Gospel" and the truth of God's plan!

There is a great importance in hearing the Word of God.

The reading of the Scriptures was a great part of worship in the Jewish synagogues and still is.

Many so-called churches today make very little reference to the Scriptures but teach man-made lessons.

But the hearing must be constant, it must be attentive, it must be with reverence, it must be in faith, and we must try our best to retain what we hear and apply it to our daily lifestyle.

What we do not understand can be learned through much prayer, also in faith.

One advantage of hearing the Word of God is that it brings Holy Ghost conviction.

The Holy Ghost will work in each and every individual who hears the Word of God until they make a choice, so He can also choose to stay or leave.

The Holy Ghost will also work on individuals before they have heard the Word of God as God prepares a place to send His missionaries!

Therefore, the world is trying to silence the Word of God today.

Holy Spirit conviction that can also bring conversion!

Conversion brings commitment and commitment brings the sealing of the Holy Spirit of promise. (sealed in Jesus Christ)

2Co 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2Co 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

The Holy Spirit sealed within us, is just a down payment for our redemption!

*****Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Earnest means a pledge between us and our God. A down payment with a promise, (a guarantee) of full payment.

In the day of Jesus Christ, it was used as the bridegroom's betrothal gift to the bride.

Some would say it was the money used to strike a bargain which is false.

In this Scripture it means the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to the saints of God as a part payment of our future glory!

By accepting the gifts of God, we are rescued from condemnation and adopted in the family of God and knowing what our future holds.

Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

As Christians we have been purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ and we belong to God.

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Pe 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

That word "peculiar" means that we are God's "personal property", being set aside for God's purpose!

Without hearing the truth of the Gospel and believing, (having "faith in its truth"), we can be gloriously saved and adopted into the household of God, by His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

*****Eph 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
Eph 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

As Christians we must grow in the Lord and God gives us this opportunity by getting up close and personal with all His adopted children.

Faith and love are the first signs of the "Babe in Christ" and it should be obvious to others.

No one will know about our faith until we have persevered by the "Grace" of God and actually increased our faith!

No one will know about our love until they have seen it in action. "Love is an action word, not a passive word and certainly not lust".

That word "wherefore" is another word that teaches us how to study the Bible.

Wherefore means, because of what we have learned from the previous Scriptures (verses 3-14), because as believers, we abide in Christ and we are sealed by His Holy Spirit.

This Church had a strong testimony and the evidence of this truth had reached the apostle Paul.

Being in Christ means we accept all the Doctrine of the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ and that salvation, being restored in harmony with God, can come only Him.

Our faith must be based upon the Word of God and the truth of His promises, "taking God at His literal Word"!

When we understand what faith is, then we can understand what God says about love.

Luk_10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

God's love toward us must produce a corresponding love toward Him and all others!

We are members of the same family, redeemed by the same blood and filled with the same Holy Spirit!

As Christians we have the same friends but also the same enemies!

We have the same hope and the same fears.

We also have the same promises of the precious things to come! Amen

We will all go to the same New Heaven!

The one thing we all must do is to grow. Standing still is the same as going backwards.

Paul had just explained the blessings of God and these Ephesians were encouraged to grow in the Lord.

2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Sometimes we fail as Christians when we see the bad things of each other before we see the good things we all have as Christians.

Our faith in Christ Jesus is not only to know Him and worship Him, and we can certainly rely on Him!

Faith in Jesus Christ justifies and saves but it is also by His hand we receive God's pardon and God's "Amazing Grace".

It is these things that should bring us to our knees in prayer and it should be obvious that we should first offer thanksgivings to the God of our salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ!

If we never ask of God, then how will we ever receive!

Mat_21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

We get foolish most times when we pray for we ask of material things when we should first ask for wisdom.

We should remember the prayer of Solomon.

1Ki 3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
1Ki 3:10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

Solomon prayed for wisdom and it pleased the Lord.

So, what did Paul teach these Ephesians?

*****Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

We must understand as young believers, these things are much more important than any other thing.

We need a clearer and deeper knowledge of the things that brought us to salvation. We need to grow in the knowledge of God, so we will not be misled by those who would cause us to fall from God's favor.

Faith grows by using faith to reach out to the things of God!

The God we know is the same God that the Lord Jesus Christ worshiped when He walked upon this earth.

Mat 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

We have this access to Divine knowledge, why would we not take advantage of it. The unbeliever will never get this opportunity!

God wants us to know Him in a very personal way if not He would never fill us with His Holy Spirit!

As unperfect as we are, we have something perfect living within us!

We serve a God so loving and so wonderful that He wants to hold our hand as we go through this life, so we can be free!

We can never know too much about Jehovah God and He will teach us all that we can handle for there are many things far beyond our comprehension as long as we live in these bodies of flesh.

We can be nothing without God's wisdom in us!

*****Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

The eye might be the most elegant organ in our human bodies.

If we will undertake to know the wisdom of God, we will begin to see His image in our own eyes!

In reality the eye has direct contact with the soul and it is the soul that needs to be enlightened to the wisdom and understanding of God.

God our Creator is calling out to that eternal soul to take control of that body of flesh.

The eyes of our understanding must first be opened and then God will enlighten them.

Enlighten is to illuminate. God wants us to have a clear picture, to be able to understand the truth of salvation.

That light is the glorious love of Jesus Christ.

1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

God has called each believer to stand before Him in righteousness, but that righteousness can only be in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the perfect Son of God and God expects that same perfection which we will never reach without knowing His Son.

The day is coming when we will be perfect. This is the hope of His returning that then we will be made perfect and acceptable to our Holy God.

Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

As Christians we are God's inheritance provided to Him by His Son. We are God's very own possession!

And as Christians we will share in the inheritance of His Dear Son!

We have a very big God who is also a most powerful God!

*****Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

If we think that there is anything out of the reach of Jehovah God, then we are simply fools.

God cannot sin because He would be less than perfect, and our God is not only powerful, but He is Perfect!

Powerful and Perfect are two of His many names!

It is a fool who rejects the power of God in their lives every day!

To be a Christian is to know and understand the power of God, at least as much as we can understand.

God's power is far exceeding any power of humanity.
God's power is far greater than any power of humanity.

That enormous, exceeding, great power is extended to each believer, through the Lord Jesus Christ. This thing we will realize when we join our Lord in Heaven, but we also have part of that power while we yet live on this earth.

Because of what Jehovah God did for Jesus Christ, by raising Him from death, He will through Jesus Christ do the same for each believer!

Yes, by faith we are saved, and our soul will never see death but in the coming of the Lord, He will then raise that old body of flesh to a new body such as He did to the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

This is the power of God that comes only through and by the Lord Jesus Christ!

We can see that God will extend His power to each and every believer.

1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

God intends for us to know life, not death!

What do we give up? Nothing but our death!

**When Jehovah God raised Jesus from the dead, He demonstrated that it is He who holds the power of life!
As God held the power of our old life, God holds the power of our New Life!

Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

**When God raised the Lord Jesus into Heaven, He demonstrates that He holds the power to raise us up into Heaven.

Mar 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

**God has transferred that same power to His Dear Son who will raise all believers into Heaven!

Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Where the Lord is at, this is the same place we will be one day soon!

*****Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

It is only by the power of God that these things can happen.

Php_3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Heb_7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

God has given The Lord Jesus Christ the power to rule over all the things in creation old and new.

The truth is, God will give the believer the power to rule with Him!

The truth is, all the kingdom of God has He given to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

As believers we first experience the power of God at salvation.

We then become members of the "Body of Christ", the Church.

The Lord Jesus Christ paid the supreme price in order for the Church to have life. Therefore, the Church cannot die!

The Head cannot function without the body and the body cannot survive without the Head!

The Church needs Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ needs the Church to deliver them to His Father.

If God has the power to create the church and it is through creation that God makes a new life, then God certainly has the power to work in our lives!

It is God that has opened our eyes to the gross sin of this world and has given us the tools to combat evil, and witness for the good of Christ, the Good News, the Gospel!

The Church is the Body on this earth that God uses to combat evil!

We fail when we do not use the power God has given us to take His Word to the world, every way we can possibly do this.

Jesus Christ as the Head of the Church gives guidance, life, influence on every member.

To make things right He adopts us into His own family, so we can draw our strength from Him.

It is the family where the strength comes for each single individual to go out in faith with the Sword of the Lord (the Word of God).

We must remember we are at war with evil and God provides the things we need!

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

We are no good to Christ until we get into this war with evil.

God has a plan and every Christian is a major part of that plan!

Amen