"But God"

Ephesian 2:4

But God.. is the most significant, eloquent and inspiring transitions in all of literature. The BUT of the text turns everthing around…i’m convinced today that if we would just put a “But God” as a book-end to every situation, that will make everything alright.

By now all of us have experienced some “But God” moments in our lives...

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where all hope seemed lost? Where the odds were stacked against you, and it felt like the walls were closing in? and just when you thought you were going to lose your mind God intervenes and provides for you a “a but God” 'But God” is powerful phrase that has the ability to change everything.

Let me see if I can help you. Have you ever been broke…so broke that you couldn’t rob peter to pay Paul because Peter didn’t have it either? Broke- when you got more month than you’ve got money but out of nowhere 'But God' steps in, providing unexpected provision, opening doors you never knew existed, turning your lack into abundance. turning your trial into triumps…look at your neighbor…BUT GOD!!

Have you ever been sick, when doctors gave grim diagnoses and fear gripped your heart. 'But God' intervenes, bringing miraculous healing, defying medical odds, and proving that nothing is impossible for Him.

I’m so glad that I talked to Wanda this week, because she helped me to understand that…although this is the worst day of her life…BUT GOD..

Paul offers for us a BUT GOD Moment in the text: (look at your neighbor, and tell em this is not for Bo Bo…this is for me) verse once says “you”

What we once were (Ephesian 2:1-3)

Dead in Trespasses and Sin- Paul uses this metaphore to describe the state we are in, when we don’t know Jesus.

The problem is, most of the time we think we are really living…we got our bae, we got our boo, we got our drink, we got our gas and we are just living. Paul sends us a reminder today that, that’s not living at all...

Vs. 2 “they walked according to the course of the world”

they comformed to the spirit of the age

They indulged in teh sins of the times

The world had them in chockhold

Paul paints a pretty grim picture of our reality...

Dead in sin

Influenced by satan

Controlled by lust

under God’s wrath

Pagans without God

Seperated from Christ

Without hope in this present world

But God…

The word but innotates that there is about to be a shift in the text.

I got a feeling that there is not only a shift in the text…but there is about to be a shift in the atmosphere.

But- offers us joy in the midst of sorrow

But GOD! = God Himself

NOtice that he did not say, but the universe, or but the man upstairs. BUT GOD! God all by himself…no one else could have done, no one else would have done it.

2. What God Did (Ephesians 2:4-6)

a. He loved us “because he was rich in mercy”- when he doesn’t give you what you really deserve.

b. He liberated us- vs. 5 “while we were yet in sin, Christ died” while you were still doing your thing he never got you out of his mind. He still died.

c. He Lifted us - “by Christ grace we have been saved, and raised up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” This is a But Moment, because We did deserve it...when we did not deserve it His loved lifted us.

Love lifted me: I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peace of shore...

3. Why God did it? Ephesians 2:7 “so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

in other words, He did it to show off…What

4. How did He do it?

a. Through His special favor- Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,”

b. Through Faith

c. Through the blood Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

we are his handy work