I AM What I Am! III
I AM what I am! • Sermon • Submitted
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Become What You Believe (Ephesians) – Part 3
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
2:5 – we were BORN DEAD, but God QUICKENED us
When people are born again one of the hardest things to do is to RETRAIN them not to continue to operate ACCORDING to the world.
It took one night to get Israel out of Egypt, but forty years to get Egypt out of Israel.
There is always a battle between the NEW MAN and the OLD MAN
BUT ... WE ARE NOT DEAD ANYMORE – SO DON’T ACT LIKE IT!
Just do right!
2:5 – “by grace” – grace is not God’s ability to overlook our sin, it is the ability He gives to us to live above sin!
GRACE = power or empowerment
GRACE is the power to CHANGE!)
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
2:6 – “raised us up together”
you cannot be blessed outside God’s BODY
“made us sit together”
your victory depends on the BODY of Christ
That is why the devil constantly seeks to bring DIVISION among the church
So God’s presence, provision and power can never be manifested in us.
We should be on the lookout for division because that identifies the attack of the enemy!
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
2:7 – “he might show”
God likes to show US off (think about Job in the OT)
God even wants to use your PAST for His glory (“such were some of you” 1 Cor. 6:11)
In the ages of eternity God will say “Look how much I did with so little”
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
2:8-9 – “by grace” / “through faith” / “gift of God” / “not of works”
Grace + Faith - works = Gift of God
GOD DID IT, BUT WE NEED TO WALK IN IT!
SALVATION IS THE MOST ELASTIC WORD IN THE BIBLE ...
JUSTIFICATION = Past “I was saved”
SANCTIFICATION = Present “I am being saved”
GLORIFICATION = Future “I will be saved”
I WAS, AM and WILL BE saved from the PENALTY of sin POWER of sin PRESENCE of sin
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
2:10 – “we are His workmanship”
God is working to the OUTSIDE what He has deposited on the INSIDE
we were created to perform GOOD WORKS
2:10 – “that we should walk in them”
literally, we should ORDER OUR LIVES within the sphere of the works God has destined for US to perform
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;
2:11 – “remember”
look back with APPRECIATION for what God has done 2:12
“without Christ, being aliens ... strangers ... having no hope”
Going to see this in verse 14.
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
2:13 – “but now ... MADE NIGH BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST”
Brought into the same room… by the blood
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
2:14 – “he is our peace”
Christ not only GIVES peace (temporary), He IS our peace (permanent)
2:14 – “made both one” – Jew and Gentile
later in Ephesians, same phrase would be used to describe husband and wife
they are TOGETHER - inseparable
Here is what Paul is talking about...
In the temple stood a wall beyond which no Gentile was allowed to go, bearing this inscription:
"No foreigner may enter within the barricade which surrounds the sanctuary and enclosure. Anyone who is caught so doing will have himself to blame for his ensuing death."
This is the “middle wall of partition” that Paul refers to in Ephesians.
2:14 – “broken down the middle wall of partition”
We have been brought into the room!
We have access to the Holy Place!
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;
2:15 – “enmity” – great hostility or extreme conflict
the LAW was the root cause of this hostility, but Jesus fulfilled the law and abolished the conflict
2:15 – “make in himself”
Jesus became SIN that we might become RIGHTEOUS
(i.e. injecting a virus in the bloodstream to create an antibody)
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
2:17 – “afar off” = Gentiles
“nigh” = Jews
“ONE BODY” = now!
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
2:18 – “access” – depicts a formal entrance into the presence of a king or deity (i.e. a “royal audience”)
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
2:19 – “household of God”
YOU LIVE HERE!
It is as though he was saying… “what are you doing standing outside ringing the bell when Jesus died to give you the key?!”.
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
2:20 – we are built on the “foundation” of what the apostles (NT) and prophets (OT) SAID, and on the cornerstone of what Jesus DID
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
2:21-22 – “fitly framed together” ... “builded together”
Satan’s only hope of overthrowing our faith is creating DISUNITY
if we live in UNITY, it creates a “habitation of God” among us
Key point: YOU CANNOT LOVE CHRIST WITHOUT LOVING HIS BODY!
John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
ONENESS IS MORE THAN A DOCTRINE ABOUT THE GODHEAD!
It’s the ability to be all I was created to be!
14 October 2020
14 October 2020
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
3:1 - Paul had a Jewish PEDIGREE
but he became a PRISONER on behalf of Gentiles he wouldn’t have even spoken to before he knew Jesus Christ!
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3:2 – “dispensation”
“administration” of God’s grace to the Gentile.
Paul’s role to the Gentiles
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
3:3 – the church is “THE MYSTERY”
The carnal mind cannot understand it...
...unbelievers are supposed to think teachings of Scripture is ridiculous!
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
IN SCRIPTURE, A MYSTERY IS NOT SOMETHING “HIDDEN” BUT SOMETHING “REVEALED”
The church acts today as thought they want to fit in...
Shield their kids from hurtful things that the world may say about them because they look and act different.
By shielding from whatever hurts this society may inflict, you must may be hiding them from the blessing, peace, and fulfilment that God has for them!
Much better to let the world hurt them and God heal them rather than God hurt them and the world try to heal them!
Your job as a parent is not to shield your kids from pain and hurt… it’s to equip them with the tools to deal with it!
Reference only:
44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
Don’t try and fit in...
Don’t try to teach your children to fit in
Teach them to run to the rock!
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
3:5 – we are highly privileged to live in the CHURCH AGE
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
3:6 – GOD BROKE ALL PROTOCOL IN SAVING THE GENTILES!
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
3:7 – Paul is referring to the miraculous moment of his conversion
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
3:8 – “less than the least of all saints”
Paul stood in awe that God would save a murderer of Christians and call him to be an Apostle!
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
3:8 – “unsearchable” = “inexhaustible”
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
3:9 – “fellowship of the mystery / hid in God”
revelation of the church hidden in the Old Testament
3:9 – “created all things by Jesus Christ”
the same God who brought a WORLD out of nothing brings His CHURCH out of nothing!
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
These scriptures deal a death blow to the false doctrine of the trinity.
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
3:10 – “to the intent that NOW”
what was hidden before is revealed NOW
God always reveals Himself, His principles and His purposes progressively in stages.
You couldn’t take it all at once, that’s why God waited until NOW in your life.
With God, timing is everything
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Catch His “proceeding” Word!
Remember: God’s exists in time and eternity SIMULTANEOUSLY!
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
When God says something, His Word continues to work
“let there be light”
And there was light, and will be light and always will be light.
Even when the SUN don’t shine, the SON will!
...the same Word that delivered you still is still delivering you!
21 October 20
21 October 20
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
3:11 – “eternal purpose”
what happens to you as a child of God in TIME was predestined in ETERNITY
God didn’t just redeem you in TIME, but in ETERNITY
Like doing a maze puzzle...
How do you “cheat” doing those?
Start at the destination!
This is how God works all things out for the good!
He starts at your expected end!
The closer you are to him, the more your steps are ordered!
How did God fix the Greatest problem of all time? SIN?
Rev. 13:8 – “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”
GOD FIXED IT IN ETERNITY, AND THEN MANIFESTED IT IN TIME.
That’s why it is only “a matter of time” before God brings me out of my trouble, because He fixed it in eternity!
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
3:12 – “boldness and access with confidence”
3:12 – “by the faith OF HIM” – we live by HIS FAITH!
Did you know God has faith in YOU?
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
It seemed that all was dead when Jesus went into the tomb
BUT every word he had spoken was about to come to pass...
Remember: God’s exists in time and eternity SIMULTANEOUSLY!
And because he rose from the grave
I can rise and walk in newness of life!
13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
3:13 – tribulation for the gospel’s sake brings glory to God and to His church
your tribulations are not only for you
your experiences impact others
MY trouble, YOUR glory!
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
3:14 – “for this cause I bow”
Paul is in awe of the plan of God
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
3:15 – “the whole family”
the church is bigger than North America
the church is also bigger than NOW
it reaches to the PAST and the FUTURE
the whole family includes an innumerable host of saints, and even the angels
REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE NEVER WORSHIPPED ALONE!
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
God knows how to use what we do and say today to bless someone around the world
or even someone in “the whole family” in a future generation!
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
3:16 – “inner MAN”
not “inner child”
you are called to be MATURE
strengthened by God to be MATURE
and expected to be MATURE!
Write this in the margins of your bible:
Pastor believes the best in you, wants the best for you and expect the best from you!
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
3:17 – “dwell”
“to live in as a home”
this means that Christ is not just living in our hearts, but is He he at “feeling at home” in us!
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
3:19 – “passeth knowledge”
greater than what you can figure out!
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
3:20 – “exceeding abundantly above all”
English translators are struggling a bit here to give us the sense of God’s the enormity of His power!
3:20 – “according”
common word in Ephesians, meaning “in harmony with”
in the first two chapters refers to something God or the devil did (in spirit realm)
BUT here it is used to refer to something that WE as the church allow!
We are the gatekeepers!
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
3:21 – “Amen” – “absolutely, unequivocally true”
you can’t argue with a statement that has an “Amen” at the end of it!
2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.