God gave us brains so we can see, listen, and respond!
Some of you have better brains than others. But in spite of the fantastic abilities of our brains, we all have a problem remembering everything. Even those who we may say has “photographic memory” still will not remember everything they see or hear! You see, we all have a tendency to only remember what we want to remember. And of course as we get older, it becomes harder and harder to pull things out of our brains! Don’t’ be too hard on yourself; God understands our problem.
Even the first disciples who spent three years with Jesus Christ were afraid of what happened even though Jesus told them what was going to happen! Of course God knows our memory problem. God actually tells us with the word remember almost 200 times in the Bible to remember something! And there are many other passages which God reminds us of something important!
We have been studying the Letter to the Ephesians and we noted after 5 chapters of information and instructions we read in Ephesians 6:10 - Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Does anyone remember how we can be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power??
And how many pieces are there in the full Armor of God??
How many of you remember the specific pieces of the armor and what they mean??
And why do we need to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power? Please open your Bibles to the Letter to the Ephesians Chapter 6 Look at verse 11……….
The devil is an enemy of God and loves to bring people to his side; the dark side, the evil side, the side of empty promises! Do you really want to go there?
God is so good to us!
• He tells us what we need!
• He provides for us what we need!
• He reminds us of what we need!
2 Peter 1:3 states, His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
God has given us everything we need!
Now, we could just live life and let God do all the work; but is that living by faith in God?
We are to live by faith to have real meaning in life.
Faith is taking actions on what we believe God says!
When God tells us something, are we really listening?
When God provides for us, are we really accepting and experiencing it? When God reminds us of things, are we trying our best to remember?
Next week we will look at Ephesians 6:5-9 and after that we will finish our study of Ephesians by looking at verses 19-20. But today, in connection with our celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, turn with me to the end of this Letter to the Ephesians.
Ephesians 6:23-24 - Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
After all the instructions and reminders for us in this Letter to the Ephesians, God finishes for us 3 important things we need. What is God saying we all can have?
God’s desire is that ALL have peace, love, and grace!
What’s important about these three things?
What does God mean with these things?
The original Greek word for peace here is eirene = a state of untroubled, undisturbed, well being.
The original Greek word for love here is agape = cherished and esteemed unselfishly.
And grace is charis = unearned, unmerited favor to cause joy and pleasure!
God wants everyone to have untroubled and undisturbed well being, to be cherished and esteemed, and to have favor which leads to joy and pleasure!! WE can all have it! One would be a fool not to desire godly peace, love, and grace!
We can all have godly peace, love, and grace! God says so! The question is, do we desire to have godly peace, love, and grace that is on-going?
Now, again, God has done everything for us to have all of this. It is up to each of us to realize godly peace, love, and grace that is on-going! And so, what must we do?
How can we have godly peace, love, and grace and have it on-going? What color is George Washington’s white horse??
Where does godly peace, love, and joy come from??
Peace, love, and grace are God’s attributes. Galatians 5:22 tells us that the fruit of God the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control! Therefore, if we have a right relationship with God, we will have His fruit, including peace, love, and grace.
Ever since Adam and Eve, every person has sinned against God. Unless the sins of a person can be cleansed, an eternal separation exists and God’s peace, love, and grace can not be experienced. Unless our sins are forgiven and we are cleansed before God, we are enemies of God forever. We read in Acts 13:38-39, "Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.”
A belief in Jesus Christ provides forgiveness of sins and makes one justified, right before a Holy God. What are we to believe about Jesus Christ to be justified?
We are to believe that Jesus Christ is God who became a man, died on a cross for man’s sins, was buried, but on the third day He rose again, and is King of kings and Lord of lords. If you truly believe all of this about Jesus Christ, then we are no longer enemies of God! You and I can have peace, love, and grace!
Know and believe in Jesus Christ, Savior and God!
We all have a choice: either believe and receive God’s gift who is Jesus Christ or be an enemy of God forever. What are you choosing?
And for many of us who already believed in Jesus Christ, our sins rob us of peace, love, and grace.
What must we all do?
Claim the power of Jesus resurrection in your life!
When Jesus rose from the dead, how much sin was taken care of by God??
Can God take care of your personal sins?
Jesus Christ died for all our sins and He has already claimed victory over all our sins with God’s resurrection power!
Claim the power of Jesus resurrection in your life!
Live daily with the power of resurrection!
When you are confronted by a sin, say to yourself, “I have a new life with the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, sin has no part in me!”
