"FROM THE GRAVE TO GLORY"
TEXT: EPHESIANS CHAPTER TWO
INTRODUCTION
TODAY WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE OUR STUDY OF THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS; A BOOK THAT THE APOSTLE PAUL WROTE FROM A ROMAN PRISON CELL TO A CHURCH THAT HE HAD ESTABLISHED OVER 10 YEARS EARLIER. A GROUP OF CHRISTIAN MEN AND WOMEN WHO HE DEARLY LOVED.
LAST WEEK WE STUDIED CHAPTER 1 -- AND THE MESSAGE WAS THAT "IN CHRIST" WE ARE RICH. HOWEVER, WE CONCLUDED THAT WE WILL NOT FIND THESE RICHES IN OUR BANK ACCOUNT OR CHECK BOOK, BECAUSE THESE RICHES "IN CHRIST" ARE LOCATED IN THE HEAVENLIES. YES, THE BULK AND THE GREATEST OF OUR BLESSINGS "IN CHRIST" ARE SPIRITUAL NOT PHYSICAL -- ETERNAL NOT TEMPORARY.
WE TALKED ABOUT SEVEN OF THE BLESSINGS THAT ARE OURS "IN CHRIST":
WE ARE CHOSEN;
WE ARE HOLY AND BLAMELESS IN GOD’S SIGHT;
WE ARE ADOPTED AS HIS CHILDREN;
WE HAVE THE REDEMPTION FROM AND THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS;
WE HAVE HAD THE RICHES OF GOD’S GRACE LAVISHED UPON US;
WE ARE "IN THE KNOW" ABOUT LIFE’S MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AND WE HAVE BEEN SIGNED, SEALED, AND DELIVERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT -- WHO IS A DEPOSIT GUARANTEEING OUR ETERNAL FUTURE...
BUT NOT ONLY DID PAUL TEACH US THAT WE ARE RICH "IN CHRIST" -- HE ALSO DECLARED THAT FAR TOO MANY CHRISTIANS DON’T REALIZE JUST HOW RICH THEY ARE...
AND THEY THEREFORE LIVE LIKE SPIRITUAL PAUPERS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE SURROUNDED BY GREAT WEALTH...
AFTER STUDYING THAT POWERFUL CHAPTER FORM THE PEN OF PAUL LAST WEEK, DID YOU FEEL RICH? WERE YOU ABLE TO BEGIN TO SEE MORE CLEARLY THOSE SPIRITUAL RICHES?
AND WE CONCLUDED LAST WEEK BY SAYING THAT IF WE "REALLY" WANT TO KNOW THE HOPE TO WHICH WE HAVE BEEN CALLED (A HOPE THAT KEEPS US GOING DESPITE LIFE’S OFTEN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES); IF WE RALLY WANT TO KNOW THE GREAT INHERITANCE WE HAVE IN CHRIST AND THE INCOMPARABLY GREAT POWER AVAILABLE TO US WHO BELIEVE.....
THEN WE NEED TO TAKE 2 ACTION STEPS; WE NEED TO CLOSE OUR EYES TO THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD -- OPENING THEM TO THE THINGS OF GOD >>> AND THEN WE NEED TO GET TO KNOW GOD BETTER THROUGH REGULAR AND CONSISTENT TIME WITH HIM...
IF YOU DIDN’T "REALLY" FEEL RICH LAST WEEK; IF THOSE SPIRITUAL RICHES WERE TO GRASP AND GET A HOLD OF; DID YOU TAKE THOSE ACTIONS STEPS?
WHY NOT? (DO YOU LIKE LIVING IN SPIRITUAL POVERTY?)
IN A NUTSHELL THAT IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK.
TODAY, WE ARE GOING TO STUDY THE SECOND CHAPTER OF THIS GREAT LETTER. AND WE WILL SEE THAT PAUL CONTINUES TO POINT OUT THE "AWESOME" BENEFITS OF BEING A CHRISTIAN. AND IN THIS CHAPTER WE UNCOVER A DOUBLE BARRELLED BLESSING THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO THOSE "IN CHRIST"
EPH 2:1-10
WE HAVE ALL SEEN ON TELEVISION, IN MAGAZINES AND IN MEWSPAPERS THOSE ADDS EITHER FOR DIET PLANS, HAIR IMPLANTS, OR EXERCISE EQUIPMENT, ADDS THAT PROMOTE A PRODUCT WITH BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES OF PEOPLE.. MANY TIMES THE PICTURES ARE QUITE GRAPHIC AND THE CHANGES ASTOUNDING... AND THE GOAL OF THE ADVERTISERS IS TO CONVINCE YOU TO BY THEIR PRODUCT BY IMPLYING THAT IT MAY BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU THE SAME GREAT RESULTS...
WELL, PAUL IN CHAPTER 2 OF EPHESIANS IS PROMOTING THE GREAT BENEFITS OF BEING IN CHRIST AND HE PAINTS FOR US 2 GRAPHIC BEFORE AND AFTER SNAPSHOTS OF THOSE WHO ARE "IN CHRIST." AND I BELIEVE THAT THINK BY THE TIME WE ARE DONE WITH OUR STUDY YOU WILL AGREE THAT THE CHANGES AND RESULTS BROUGHT ABOUT BY BEING "IN CHRIST" ARE QUITE ASTOUNDING...
I. BEFORE; DEAD IN SIN
AFTER; ALIVE IN CHRIST"
A. THE BEFORE PICTURE
PAUL IN THE EARLY VERSES OF CHAPTER 2 GIVES US A FULL LENGTH (HEAD to TOE) SNAPSHOT OF THE TERRIBLE CONDITIONS OF THE UNSAVED PERSON... OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT "IN CHRIST." AND IT IS NOT A PRETTY PICTURE;
THE UNSAVED PERSON IS:
1. DEAD (VS 1)
NOW OBVIOUSLY THIS MEANS SPIRITUALLY DEAD; THE UNSAVED ARE UNABLE AND UNWILLING TO UNDERSTAND OR APPRECIATE THE THINGS OF GOD.. JUST AS A PERSON PHYSICALLY DEAD DOES NOT RESPOND TO PHYSICAL STIMULI, SO A PERSON WHO IS SPIRITUALLY DEAD DOES NOT RESPOND TO SPIRITUAL STIMULI; TO THE THINGS OF GOD THINGS.
A CORPSE DOES NOT HEAR THE CONVERSATION GOING ON IN THE FUNERAL PARLOR, HE HAS NO APPETITE FOR FOOD OR DRINK, HE FEELS NO PAIN; SEES NO SIGHTS >> HE IS DEAD. AND IN LIKE MANNER, ONE WHO IS SPIRITUALLY DEAD HAS NO APPETITE, USE OR FEELINGS FOR THE THINGS OF GOD....
BUT UNLIKE A PERSON WHO IS PHYSICALLY DEAD, A PERSON WHO IS DEAD IN THEIR SINS CAN STILL WALK AROUND AMONG US. BUT HE IS CUT OFF FROM GOD JUST AS MUCH AS A MAN IN THE GRAVE IS CUT OFF FROM US...
AND THE CAUSE OF THIS CONDITION, OF THIS DEATH >> IS SIN; ROMANS 6:23 DECLARES , "THE WAGES OF SHIN IS DEATH...."
IN THE BIBLE DEATH MEANS "SEPARATION"
>>>PHYSICAL DEATH = BODY & SPIRIT
>>>SPIRITUAL DEATH = SEPARATION OF SPIRIT FROM GOD; ISAIAH WRITES IN THE 59TH CHAPTER OF HIS BOOK; "..YOUR INIQUITIES HAVE SEPARATED YOU FROM YOUR GOD; YOUR SINS HAVE HIDDEN HIS FACE FROM YOU, SO THAT HE WILL NOT HEAR...."
THE UNSAVED, THOSE NOT "IN CHRIST" ARE NOT SICK; THEY ARE DEAD. THEY DO NOT SIMPLY NEED RESUSCITATION; WHAT THEY NEED IS A RESURRECTION! AND UNDERSTAND THAT ALL LOST SINNERS ARE DEAD, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE SINNER AND ANOTHER BEING THE STATE OF DECAY.... THE LOST PROSTITUTE -- DRUG USER LIVING ON THE STREETS MAY BE MORE DECAYED OUTWARDLY THAN THE BUSINESS EXECUTIVE IN HIS ARMANI SUIT, ITALIAN SHOES, BMW, CELL PHONE AND WIFE AND KIDS AT HOME IN THEIR SPACIOUS HOUSE AT THE COUNTRY CLUB, BUT BOTH ARE JUST DEAD IN SIN....
AND ONE CORPSE IS NOT MORE OR LESS DEAD THAN ANOTHER..
IN A SPIRITUAL SENSE THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE IN IS ONE VAST GRAVEYARD, FILLED WITH PEOPLE WHO DEAD WHILE THEY LIVE...
AS WE LOOK CLOSER AT THIS BEFORE PICTURE WE SEE THAT LOST ARE ALSO:
2. DECEIVED (VS 2)
"...THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE WAYS OF THIS WORLD AND THE RULER OF THE KINGDOM OF THE AIR..."
THOSE NOT IN CHRIST -- THOSE LIVING IN SIN >>>
ARE FOLLOWING SATAN....
NOW, MOST SINNERS WOULD EMPHATICALLY DENY THAT THEY ARE DIRECTED BY ANY OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. THEY PRIDE THEMSELVES ON BEING SO FREE, SO EMANCIPATED THAT THEY CAN DO AS THEY PLEASE -- MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS... CHOOSE THEIR OWN WAY -- WALK THEIR OWN PATH, DETERMINE THEIR OWN DESTINY... NO ONE IS GOING TO TELL HEM HOW TO BE OR WHAT TO DO >>> BUT THEY DO NOT REALIZE THAT THIS IS SATAN’S METHOD FOR DIRECTING THEIR LIVES.... THAT THEY IN REALITY ARE FOLLOWING HIM -- PLAYING BY HIS RULES....
THEY HAVE BEEN DECEIVED BY THE MASTER DECEIVER.... THE FATHER OF LIES.... (JOHN 8:44) WHO HAS BEEN DECEIVING MANKIND SINCE THE GARDEN...
TELLING THEM; "YOU WILL NOT SURELY DIE -- WHEN YOU DISOBEY GOD; THE REASON GOD HAS GIVEN YOU THIS COMMAND NOT TO EAT OF THE TREE IS BECAUSE -- FOR GOD KNOWS THAT WHEN YOU EAT OF EAT YOU EYES WILL BE OPENED AND YOU WILL BE LIKE GOOD..."
WE ALSO SEE IN THIS BEFORE PICTURE THAT THE LOST ARE:
3. DEPRAVED (VS 3)
THE LOST; THOSE NOT "IN CHRIST" ARE DEPRAVED; THEY ARE AS PAUL SAYS IN VERSE 3; LIVING ONLY TO SATISFY THEIR OWN SINFUL DESIRES -- THE CRAVINGS AND LUSTS OF THE FLESH.. THE CARE ONLY ABOUT THEIR DESIRES, THEIR NEEDS, WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM...
AND IF SOMEONE GETS HURT IN THE PROCESS (AND THEY OFTEN DO) THEIR ATTITUDE IS "OH WELL I’M SORRY IT HAPPENED BUT I MUST TAKE CARE OF ME..."
FINALLY THERE IS A DARK CLOUD IN THE HORIZON OF THE BEFORE CHRIST SNAPSHOT -- BECAUSE THE LOST ARE:
4. DOOMED (VS 3)
THE LOST ARE DEAD; THEY HAVE BEEN DECEIVED, THEY LIVE A DEPRAVED LIFE AND THEY ARE DOOMED.... THEY ARE OBJECTS OR CHILDREN WHO WILL SUFFER TERRIBLE WRATH...BECAUSE OF THEIR SIN...
THE UNSAVED STANDS CONDEMNED BEFORE GOD....
"WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED, BUT WHOEVER DOES NOT BELIEVE STANDS CONDEMNED ALREADY...."
UNLESS THE UNSAVED CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND TURN TO GOD THEY ARE DOOMED -- THEY WILL ONE DAY COME UNDER GOD’S WRATH....
THEIR FUTURE IS DARK...
LISTEN TO HOW THE APOSTLE JOHN DESCRIBES THE VISION GOD GAVE HIM REGARDING THE SOON COMING JUDGEMENT OF GOD AGAINST THOSE NOT "IN CHRIST."
REVELATION 5:15-17
REVELATION 20:11-15
THE LOST ARE DESCRIBED AS DEAD; DECEIVED, DEPRAVED AND DOOMED... NOT A VERY PRETTY OR COMFORTING PICTURE. AND ACCORDING TO VERSE 3 OF EPHESIANS; "ALL OF US ALSO LIVED AMONG THE DEAD AT ONE TIME..." THAT TERRIFYING BEFORE SNAPSHOT WAS AT ONE TIME A SNAPSHOT OF US...
AT ONE TIME WE TOO WALKED AMONG THE LIVING DEAD....
NOW LET’S LOOK AT:
B. THE AFTER PICTURE ALIVE IN CHRIST
ALL OF US HAVE SEEN SOME PRETTY DRASTIC BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTO’S, LIKE THE BEFORE AFTER PHOTO’S ON THE NEWS THIS WEEK OF THE LADY WHO HAD A 91 POUND CYST REMOVED FROM HER ABDOMEN... A BIG IMMEDIATE CHANGE....
BUT AS DRASTIC AND AMAZING AS SOME OF THOSE PICTURES ARE -- THEY DO NOT EVEN BEGIN COMPARE TO THE CHANGE BETWEEN THE SNAPSHOT’S OF MEN & WOMEN TAKEN BEFORE WHEN THEY WERE DEAD IN SIN -- DEAD IN SIN -- AND AFTER WHEN THEY ARE ALIVE IN CHRIST...
ONLY ONE THING COULD BRING SUCH A CHANGE....
THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND
WE WERE ALREADY PRONOUNCED SPIRITUALLY DEAD; TO BURIED FOR ALL ETERNITY IN OUR SINS BUT, WE SPRUNG BACK TO LIFE...
JUST LIKE THE ELDERLY WOMAN I HEARD ABOUT ON THE NEWS THIS WEEK... SHE LIVED IN FRANKFORT KENTUCKY. AND DURING THE PAST COLD SPELL UP THERE SHE WAS FOUND AT HER HOME AND IT APPEARED THAT SHE HAD DIED FROM HYPOTHERMIA....
SHE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD BY A DOCTOR AND TAKEN TO THE MORGUE... SHORTLY AFTER HER ARRIVAL A POLICEMAN NOTICED A QUIVERING IN ONE OF HER EYES BUT THE MORGUE ATTENDANT SAID THAT SOMETIMES DEAD BODIES DO THINGS LIKE THAT...
BUT SHORTLY AFTER THAT HAZEL BEGAN TO MOVE EVEN MORE -- AND IT SOON BECAME APPARENT TO ALL THAT SHE WAS NOT DEAD -- THOUGH HER DEATH WAS PRONOUNCED BY A DOCTOR AND SHE WAS IN A PLACE FOR THE DEAD -- HAZEAL WAS ALIVE...
THINGS HAD LOOKED PRETTY HOPELESS SHE WAS IN A MORGUE AND IT LOOKED LIKE THE BALL GAME WAS OVER BUT SHE SPRUNG BACK TO LIFE...
IN LIKE MANNER, THINGS LOOKED PRETTY HOPELESS IN OUR BEFORE PICTURE (DEAD, DECEIVED, DEPRAVED AND DOOMED) .... BUT GOD IN AN INSTANT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST CHANGED ALL OF THAT...INSTEAD OF BEING IN A GRAVEYARD WE HAVE BEEN RAISED UP WITH CHRIST AND ARE SEATED WITH HIM IN THE HEAVENLIES...
LET’S TALK ABOUT WHAT LEAD TO SUCH AN ASTOUNDING AFTER PICTURE...
EPHESIANS 2:4-10
WHILE SIN WORKS AGAINST US -- GOD WORK’S FOR AND IN US:
THE REASON THE AFTER PICTURE LOOKS SO GOOD IS BECAUSE:
1. HE LOVES US (VS 4)
PAUL WRITES RIGHT AFTER TALKING ABOUT THE DOOM THE LOST (SOMETHING WE ALL AT ONE TIME FACED) WRITES; "BUT BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US..." BY NATURE, "GOD IS LOVE" LET’S READ 3 GREAT PASSAGES ABOUT GOD’S LOVE....
"FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...." JOHN 3:16
"GOD DEMONSTRATED HIS OWN LOVE FOR US IN THIS; WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US..." ROMANS 5:8
"THIS IS HOW GOD SHOWED HIS LOVE AMONG US: HE SENT HIS ONE & ONLY SON INTO THE WORLD THAT WE MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM. THIS IS LOVE; NOT THAT WE LOVED GOD, BUT THAT HE LOVED US AND SENT HIS SON AS AN ATONING SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS" I JOHN 4:9,10
2. HE SHOWED US MERCY; (VS 4)
MERCY IS NOT GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE....
JUSTICE DEMANDED THAT THE PRICE FOR OUR SINS RESULT IN OUR DEATH....BUT GOD WHO IS RICH IN MERCY DID NOT GIVE US WHAT WE DESERVED -- HE GAVE US WHAT WE NEEDED -- HE GAVE US SAVIOR...
3. HE MADE US ALIVE! (VS 5)
HE MADE US ALIVE EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN OUR SINS. GOD ACCOMPLISHED THIS SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION BY THE POWER OF HIS SPIRIT, USING THE WORD. IN THE 4 GOSPELS, IT IS RECORDED THAT JESUS RAISED 3 PEOPLE FORM THE DEAD; THE WIDOW’S SON, JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER AND LAZURUS... HE SPOKE THE WORD AND THIS GAVE LIFE. THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND POWERFUL. THESE 3 PHYSICAL RESURRECTIONS ARE PICTURES OF THE SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION THAT COMES TO THE SINNER WHEN HE HEARS THE WORD AND BELIEVES...
BUT OUR SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION IS MUCH GREATER BECAUSE IT PUTS US IN UNION WITH CHRIST: "GOD MADE US ALIVE WITH CHRIST" AS MEMBERS OF HIS BODY WE ARE UNITED WITH HIM SO THAT WE SHARE HIS RESURRECTION LIFE AND POWER.
4. HE SEATED US WITH CHRIST (VS 6)
WE ARE NOT RAISED FROM THE DEAD AND LEFT IN THE GRAVEYARD. BECAUSE WE ARE UNITED WITH CHRIST, WE HAVE BEEN EXALTED WITH HIM AND WE ARE SEATED WITH HIM IN THE HEAVENLIES.
OUR PHYSICAL POSITION MY BE ON EARTH, BUT OUR SPIRITUAL POSITION IS "IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS IN CHRIST JESUS..." LIKE LAZARUS WE HAVE BEEN RAISED FROM THE GRAVE, NOT TO HANG OUT AT THE TOMBS BUT , TO SIT WITH AND ENJOY THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRIST.
5. HE SHOWED US THE "INCOMPARABLE" RICHES OF HIS GRACE
WHERE MERCY IS NOT GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE
GRACE IS GETTING WHAT WE DO NOT DESERVE... (WE TALK ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK)....
WHAT COULD EVER COMPARE TO GOD’S GRACE....
GOD’S GRACE IS: AMAZING, WONDERFUL, GREAT,
FREE, POWERFUL, -- IT CHANGES LIVES --
AND IT IS JUST WHAT WE NEEDED BECAUSE WE COULD NEVER BE OR DO GOOD ENOUGH TO SAVE OURSELVES...
IT IS GOD’S GRACE THAT SAVES US -- NOT WORKS....
WE WERE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT (SIN, UP THE CREEK WITH NO PADDLE) -- WE COULDN’T SAVE OURSELVES -- ONLY GOD COULD...
ANOTHER THING THAT MAKES THE AFTER PICTURE LOOK SO GOOD IS THAT:
6. GOD WAS KIND TO US.....
"..IN ORDER THAT IN THE COMING AGES HE MIGHT SHOW THE INCOMPARABLE RICHES OF HIS GRACE, EXPRESSED IN KINDNESS TO US IN CHRIST JESUS."
HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED AT A BEFORE PICTURE OF SOMEONE STILL LIVING IN SIN... SIN IS NOT VERY KIND TO US... IT ROBS, OUR YOUTH, STEALS OUR DREAMS, SOURS OUR DISPOSITION... DROWNS OUR JOY
CLOUDS OUR VISION, EXTINGUISHES OUR HOPE, HARDENS OUR HEART, CRUSHES OUR SPIRIT AND SEALS OUR DOOM...
BUT GOD ON THE OTHER HAND IS KIND TO US..... WE ARE MUCH BETTER AFTER WE HAVE BEEN WITH GOD THEN BEFORE....
HE LOVES US....SHOWS US MERCY, RESTORES OUR YOUTH, INSPIRES OUR DREAMS, TRANSFORMS OUR DISPOSITION, OVERFLOWS OUR JOY, CLEARS OUR VISION, IGNITES OUR HOPE, RENEWS OUR SPIRIT AND SEALS OUR AWESOME ETERNAL FUTURE.....
BEFORE DEAD IN SIN >>. AFTER ALIVE IN CHRIST....
BEFORE WE GO ON TO THE NEXT BEFORE AND AFTER SNAPSHOT I WANT US TO TAKE A BRIEF LOOK AT VERSE 10....
"FOR WE ARE GOD’S WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS TO DO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO DO..."
GOD MAKES US A NEW CREATION -- SO WE CAN LIVE AS NEW LIFE.... BUT LET’S UNDERSTAND NOT ONLY DOES GOD WORK IN/FOR US, BUT HE ALSO DESIRES TO WORK THROUGH US. GOD HAS RAISED US TO LIFE FOR A REASON, HE HAS A PURPOSE FOR US. "TO DO GOOD WORKS..."
A SCIENTIST INVENTED A SALVE THAT COULD BRING INANIMATE OBJECTS TO LIFE, AND DECIDED TO TRY IT OUT ON THE STATUE OF A GREAT GENERAL. SURE ENOUGH, THE STATUE GAVE A QUIVER AND A MOMENT LATER, THE GENERAL, CREAKING A BIT IN THE JOINTS, CLIMBED DOWN FORM THE PEDESTAL.
"I HAVE GIVEN YOU BACK LIFE!" EXULTED THE SCIENTIST. "TELL ME GENERAL, WHAT’S THE FIRST THING YOU’RE GOING TO DO?" HE WAS EXPECTING AND HOPING THAT THE GENERAL WOULD SAY HE WAS GOING TO TAKE ON SOME GRETA CAUSE FOR GOOD...
"WHAT’S THE FIST THING I’M GOING TO DO, THAT’S EASY," RASPED THE GENERAL RIPPING HIS GUN FROM HIS HOLSTER. "I’M GOING TO SHOOT ME ABOUT A MILLION PIGEONS."
SOMETIMES CHRISTIANS ARE LIKE THAT THEY’VE BEEN GIVEN NEW LIFE BY GOD, BUT THEY FAIL TO REALIZE ONE ESSENTIAL REASON BEHIND THEIR RESURRECTION... "TO DO GOOD WORKS.." TO SERVE AND LIVE FOR GOD... TO NO LONGER LIVE FOR SELF AND IT’S DESIRES BUT RATHER ....TO DO THE GOODS WORKS THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR US TO DO...
IF GOD WANTED TO HE COULD EASILY AFTER WE CAME TO CHRIST -- TAKE US UP TO HEAVEN.. BUT HE DIDN’T. HE LEFT US HERE FOR A REASON, HE RECREATED US FOR A PURPOSE (AND NOT JUST TO HANG AROUND UNTIL HE COMES BACK FOR US) BUT TO DO GOOD WORKS... TO DO HIS WORKS...
I’D LIKE TO QUOTE FROM CHAPTER 19 OF THE PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH ENTITLED "TURNING MEMBERS INTO MINISTERS..."
NAPOLEON ONCE POINTED TO A MAP OF CHINA AND SAID, "THERE LIES A SLEEPING GIANT. IF IT EVER WAKES UP, IT WILL BE UNSTOPPABLE." I BELIEVE THE CHURCH IS A SLEEPING GIANT.
THE DESIGNATION "ACTIVE MEMBER" IN MOST CHURCHES MEANS THOSE WHO ATTEND REGULARLY AND FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE CHURCH. NOT MUCH MORE IS EXPECTED. BUT GOD HAS FAR GREATER EXPECTATIONS FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN. HE EXPECTS EVERY CHRISTIAN TO USE OR HER TALENT S IN MINISTRY. IF WE CAN EVER AWAKEN AND UNLEASH THE MASSIVE TALENT, RESOURCES, CREATIVITY AND ENERGY LYING DORMANT IN THE TYPICAL LOCAL CHURCH, CHRISTIANITY WILL EXPLODE WITH GROWTH AT AN UNPRECEDENTED RATE. UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY BELIEVER IS CALLED INTO MINISTRY. GOD CALLS ALL BELIEVERS TO MINISTER TO THE WORLD AND CHURCH... SERVICE IN THE BODY DESPITE A COMMON MISCONCEPTION ISN’T OPTIONAL FOR THE CHRISTIAN. IN GOD’S ARMY THERE ARE NO VOLUNTEER - WHEN WE SIGNED UP WE SIGNED ON TO SERVICE...
"FOR WE ARE GOD’S WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS TO DO GOOD WORKS, WHICH HAS PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO DO."
WE WERE DEAD, DECEIVED, DEPRAVED AND DOOMED -- NOW WE ARE ALIVE IN CHRIST JESUS...
LET’S QUICKLY LOOK AT THE NEXT SNAPSHOT
II. BEFORE ALIENS; AFTER; FELLOW CITIZENS
EPHESIANS 2:11-13, 19-22
THERE ARE CERTAIN RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES THAT GO WITH CITIZENSHIP... AND UNTIL YOU ARE A CITIZEN THESE RIGHTS ARE NOT YOURS... WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY OF IMMIGRANTS -- MOST OF OUR ANCESTORS CAME HERE IN ORDER TO ENJOY THE RIGHTS OF BEING AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.... AND THE DAY THEY FINALLY BECAME AN OFFICIAL CITIZEN WAS A DAY OF REJOICING...
BEFORE OUR CITIZENSHIP WITH GOD WE WERE FAR WAY FROM HIM:
WE HAD NO RIGHTS -- WE HAD ONLY PROBLEMS....
IN VERSE 11-13;
PAUL DESCRIBES THIS BEFORE PICTURE
1. WE WERE SEPARATED FROM CHRIST
2. WE WERE NOT GOD’S PEOPLE
3. WE DID NOT KNOW OR UNDERSTAND THE GREAT PROMISES OF GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
4. WE WERE WITHOUT HOPE
5. WE WERE WITHOUT GOD
>>>> THIS IS NOT A PRETTY PICTURE -- AND IT IS THE PICTURE OF ALL WHO ARE NOT "IN CHRIST," IT WAS AT ONE TIME OUR PICTURE...
AND IN VERSES 19-22 PAUL DESCRIBED THIS AFTER PICTURE
YOU’LL NOTICE THAT THINGS LOOK A WHOLE LOT BETTER;
BECAUSE, WE HAVE BEEN BROUGHT NEAR TO GOD THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST....
1. WE ARE NOW FELLOW CITIZENS WITH GOD
2. WE ARE MEMBERS OF GOD’S HOUSEHOLD
3. WE ARE BUILT ON A SOLID FOUNDATION
4. AND WE ARE A TEMPLE IN WHICH GOD LIVES BY HIS SPIRIT
FORM DEAD IN SIN -- TO ALIVE IN CHRIST
FROM ALIENS -- TO FELLOW CITIZENS
FROM THE GRAVEYARD -- TO GLORY
THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS WORLD THAT CAN BRING ABOUT SUCH ASTOUNDING CHANGE... ONLY GOD; AND FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, LONG BEFORE ADVERTIZING GOD HAS BEEN A MASTER A PRODUCING INCREDIBLE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES....
IT’S TRULY AMAZING WHAT CAN HAPPEN WITH JUST ONE TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND....
Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
Who will start bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar then Two! Only two?
Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?
Three dollars once; three dollars twice;
Going for three--But no,
From the room, far back, a gray haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
As sweet as a caroling angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, "what am I bidden for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
Three Thousand, once; three thousand, twice;
And going and gone!
The people cheered but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand
What changed its worth? Swift came the reply;
"The touch of the masters hand."
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scattered with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine;
A game and he travels on.
He’s "going" and almost "gone"
But the Master comes and the foolish crowd
The worth of a soul, and the change that’s wrought
By the touch of the Master’s hand.
