FORGIVENESS

We have sinned hundreds of times against our Creator God. Romans 2:5 speaks of “storing up sins against the wrath of God.”

We have sinned thousands of times against this holy God.

And every one of those sins --- be it a sin of the flesh or the sin of the spirit; be it a sin of omission or a sin of commission; be it a vile, wicked act or a little white lie. 

EVERY SIN is worthy of death and judgment and the wrath of God! Why” Because they were committed against an infinite and holy God. 

Every one of us would “un=god God” if we could.

We would take God off His throne and seat ourselves there! 

Agreed? We would enthrone ourselves as God!

Psalm 130:3-4 asks a stunning question:

“If you, oh LORD, should mark iniquities, who could stand?

The obvious answer is nobody.

But verse 4 makes a powerful and gracious statement:

“But there is forgiveness with You, that you may be feared.”

How so? I John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all our sins.”

Did you get that truth? His blood!!!!! ALL our sins!

That, my friends, is forgiveness!

“It Is Well With My Soul” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaxxtIxXKF0

ACCESSING THIS POWER

 ACCESSING THIS POWER 

I love the way Paul ends his prayer in Ephesians 3, verses 20-21:

“Now unto Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we can ask or think, according to the power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever, Amen.” (ESV)

We become aware of this power not by looking at ourselves but by looking at Jesus. We access this power by focusing on Him, not on our problems and struggles. But rather on His grace and greatness.

Ephesians 1:20-21 speak of this tremendous power. It is called:

Resurrection power - v.20a - that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead. That same power is available today.

Ascension power - v.20b - and seated Him at His right hand

Ruling power - v.21a - far above all rule and authority

Sovereign power - v.21b - above all power and dominion

There is no greater power than this!

Do you know anything of this power in your life?

• Power to live for Christ.

• Power to love your family.

• Power to work hard.

• Power to be faithful!

No excuse for being a powerless Christian!

“There is Power in the Blood”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBqUwpCvCL8

A GOD OF POWER

 A GOD OF POWER

The God we worship is a God of power. Incredible power. Infinite power. He is all powerful. That power was seen in creation when He created the world by the mere power of a spoken word. When He created something out of nothing! (Psalm 33:6-9; John 1:1-3.)

We see that power in sustaining life.  Colossians 1:16-20

We saw it when God sent the Flood.

When God sent the 10 plagues upon Egypt.

We see it in His control over nature.

When Jesus healed the sick,

When He cleansed the lepers.

When He raised the dead.

When the Holy Spirit visited Mary.

When we look at the Incarnation and birth of Christ.

When we look at Christ at the Cross.

When we look at the Empty Tomb and Resurrection!

We see it everywhere in the Bible. On every page of Holy Writ.

But do you know where we see the greatest demonstration of God’s power?

We see it in the conversion of a sinner.

In the transformation of a person’s life.

We see it in the salvation of a sinner.

In the regeneration of a spiritually dead person and the impartation of new life!

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart!

“Because He Lives”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1czuvSCXrUE

SPIRITUALLY DEAD?

 SPIRITUALLY  DEAD

Ephesians 2:1-3 lays our very clearly and simply the condition of an unbeliever. The main characteristic is that an unregenerate man is spiritually dead. What does that mean? I am so glad you asked.

Death  = the exact opposite of life

            = antithetical to life in all its forms

To be spiritually dead means just this. You are:

• Dead to God. No relationship. No fellowship. No nothing but an object of His wrath.

• Dead to spiritual truth. Cannot understand Biblical truth. I Corinthians 2:10-14

• Dead to spiritual life. Have nothing with which to serve God.

• Dead to righteousness. That which you need the most is what you have the least.  II Corinthians 5:20-21

• Dead to inner peace and happiness.

• Dead to the reality of going to heaven. Unable. Unfit as you are.

• Dead means you are unresponsive to any stimuli. All stimuli.

• Dead people do not respond to sound. Light. Smell. Touch. Pain. Anything. Lifeless.

Salvation is possessing spiritual life. See John 17:3

God alone is the Source and Author life. Acts 17:24-28.

He alone has immortality.

He alone gives life.

Apart from God, there is no life!

That is why you need Jesus!

“Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXzETuK792E

A PRAYER FOR TROUBLED TIMES

 A SIMPLE PRAYER FOR TROUBLED TIMES

Yes, we are living in troubling times.

What can we do? How can we change things? How can we best help?

Allow me to make a suggestion.

As Christians we can all pray. In fact, we are commanded to pray. And here is what we should pray for:

Pray for individual strength and peace! I Timothy 2:1

Pray for submission to Government! Really? Yes, it is Bible. Look in I Timothy 2:2-3 and Romans 13:1-7. Christians are commanded to be submissive to the governing authorities. It is Bible, my friends. Read your Bibles!

Pray for the conversion of our leaders! I Timothy 2:2-4. Problem is not Democrats versus Republicans. But all of us versus sin!

Pray for the morality of our leaders! Proverbs 29:1-2, 18. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely!

Pray that we trust in the sovereignty of God! Isaiah 40:8, 12-18;, 25-26; Acts 17:24-33. This is my Father’s world and He rules and reigns in it.

Do you believe the Bible? Believe in its truths? In its God?

Then live like it. Act like. It. Pray like it!

“Lord, I Need You”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rR_Rdb1CTE

THE GIFT OF GRACE

 THE GIFT OF GRACE

The Apostle Paul makes a concerted effort to teach the Ephesians something of the greatness of God’s gift of grace! Chapters 1, 2 and 3 are literally filled and overflowing with grace. Paul speaks of the greatness and glory of grace; the majesty and magnitude of grace; the wealth and wonder of grace, and the loveliness and largeness of their salvation.

• We are blessed with every spiritual blessing.

• We were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.

• We were adopted in Christ.

• We were redeemed in Christ.

• We are forgiven in Christ.’

• We have an inheritance in Christ.

• We have been sealed with the Spirit of Christ. (1:3-14)

Do you ever stop and reflect upon the greatness of God’s grace to us?

Chances are good that you haven’t.

I say this > you will never, ever have an adequate understanding of the greatness of God’s grace unless and until you understand what we were BEFORE God saved you. Before God acted. Before God intervened.

We were sinners. Without spiritual life. Without God. Without Christ. And without hope.

But God, who is rich in grace and mercy --- changed all that, didn’t He?

He infused us with life.

He gave us a new life.

He caused us to be born again. And WHY? Grace!

“No Other Word for Grace but Amazing”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbKFNDLcE_A

STRUGGLING WITH DEPRESSION?

 STRUGGLING WITH DEPRESSION?

I have said it many times and it is still true > when God saves you, He changes you. You become a new creation in Christ. You are raised to newness of life, in a spiritual sense. However, you can be a Christian and still face certain challenges that may be peculiar to your temperament. 

You may have a quick temper.

You may have a phlegmatic personality and kinda laid back.

You may have too much zeal without knowledge.

You may talk too much or eat too much.

And life can be hard and difficult, even for a Christian. You can easily get depressed but you should not live there. You should not and you must not dwell there. Allow me to suggest several ways to combat depression. Simple. Easy to remember. Easy to understand. Plus, it works!

First, PRAISE THE LORD! Thank Him. again and again. Worship Him. Psalm 111:1; 112:1; 113:1; 115:1-3; 118:19-24

Secondly, FEAR THE LORD! Psalm 27:1-4. Fearing God eliminates all other fears.

Thirdly, OBEY THE LORD. Psalm 112:1C. There is no such creature as a do nothing Christian. We are saved to serve and work and be active in the Lord’s work.

Fourthly, TRUST THE LORD. Psalm 112:7. To be steadfast means to “be firmly fixed, determined, resolute, constant. Unwavering adherence, and loyal to the Lord alone.”

I guarantee you will overcome your depression!

“Thank You, Lord, For Your Blessings to Me”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAT8qXn6UrU