Restoration

Big Idea of the Message: The purpose of God is to bring all things together under Christ.

God’s Purpose (v. 9-10)

Everyone like to have a purpose in life - be it family, employment, financial or spiritual;

Then life happens and as our dreams fade so goes also our purpose and with that we begin to feel unwanted, not useful, and maybe even lost in the world around us;

We may even begin to question “does God even know me or want me anymore - am I still useful to Him or His church;

The answer is an emphatic yes;

As many of you know I am a little obsessed with home improvement shows and Flea Market Flip, yes even over The Curse of Oak Island - why because of how these people can take something that is in total disarray and with a purpose turn it back into something beautiful and useful;

What’s even more interesting is how they will have to tare down parts of that something before they bring them back to a new purpose;

Is it not interesting how God will tare us down by revealing our sin just so He can build us back to a new purpose - His purpose;

How, by revealing the mystery of salvation which is Jesus Christ;

So that we would glorify Him as we glorify Christ through this new purpose;

God’s purpose is that “none should perish” 2 Peter 3:9 but come to everlasting life;

Your purpose has not been removed it has just been buried under the trials of your life but today Jesus wants to set your free - He wants to take your mess and turn it into His purpose for you.

Hope in Christ (v. 18-19)

Read v. 18-19

Everyone has hope in something or someone, yet just like our purpose hope can slowly fade;

Casting Crowns has a song called Slow Fade and in this song it says “People never crumble in a day it’s a Slow Fade”;

Christians, for what ever reason, choose to loose hope in Jesus as life piles up;

People begin to turn to other things, drugs, alcohol, pornography to try an fill their emptiness;

Others may to turn to work, sports or kids;

However these things you place your hope in will also fade over time, they will pull you into places you do not want to go and will cause you to keep searching for the next hope which has to better than the first - the fade will never slow;

But praise God that He sent us the only Hope that we will ever need which is Jesus Christ our hope and Salvation;

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 1

The Greek word used here, elpis, refers in this context to the fullness of salvation that believers will experience at Christ’s return (see Eph 1:14 and note).

He called you to a hope in Him so that we will be drawn to Him through understanding and knowledge by His word;

His power is beyond comprehension, beyond self desire, and beyond explanation;

Why - because His the fullness of our salvation which makes Him our only and ultimate hope.

Christ’s Resurrection (v. 20-23)

Read v. 20-23

This the bow that ties all of this together - Jesus was raised from the dead;

This was done for the glory of God’s Purpose so that you can have an ever lasting Hope in Christ;

But beyond His resurrection come His authority “in heaven and on earth” Matthew 28:18;

Now if Jesus has all authority do you think He can handle your mess - if so why will you not fully give it to Him;

Maybe because of a slow fade caused by listening to the voices in our head or the world that says “if you don’t handle this mess no one else will” - while God may not stop your mess totally He can walk you through it, if you will let Him;

Are you willing to let Him use His authority today?

Application Point: We can know God’s purpose by knowing God.