God's Economy I - Chicken Little
God’s Economy (1 of 5) Eph. 1:7-12 / nv3809am
OS: 1 A little chicken (Chicken Little) “She trembled all over, and shook so hard, half her feathers fell out.” The sky is falling!!! Henny Penny / Ducky Lucky / Goosey Loosey / Turkey Lurkey / Foxy Loxy
I. Have you noticed the news lately?
A. “America's sky is falling. San Francisco Chronicle (Debra J. Saunders)
1. A Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll (June 09) /78 percent of Americans think that the country is heading in the wrong direction….
2. "misery index" - the combined rate of unemployment and inflation that peaked at 22 percent under President Jimmy Carter? Forget it. Not enough misery.
3. Lately, news stories report on American fears about inflation, without reporting the rate of inflation. It's about 3%. With the unemployment rate at 8% percent, the "misery index" is just under 8.
B. Yes, there is bad news. The stock market is down. The federal deficit skyrockets. The immediate future doesn’t look promising…they say.
C. The sky is falling!
TS] The Problem: We can get so wrapped up in the woes of our world with our financial economy we lose our focus on God’s economy.
II. 2 GOD’S ECONOMY SERIES
A. Biblical examples of people who had it rough, but retained their focus on God.
1. Life can get confusing to say the least…
2. Being a victim of circumstances does not alter God’s plan for our lives.
3. We can confidently walk by faith in the midst of any circumstance knowing that God is working out His plan for our good.
B. Define what I mean by economy.
1. 3 Economy = The management or regulation of the parts or functions of any organic whole; an organized system or method.
2. “Economy” comes from a Greek term found in the NT 9 times.
3. 8God’s Economy = God’s management, arrangement, order and plan for humanity from before creation into eternity.
4. Philippians 2:13, It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.
C. Choice: Chicken Little Economy OR God’s Economy
III. 4 5 Ephesians 1:7-12
A. One of the greatest and most concise expressions of God’s Economy found in the NT.
B. Yes, life can get you down.
1. 6 Especially in these “difficult economic times”.
2. But, We can confidently walk by faith in the midst of any circumstance knowing that God is working out His plan for our good.
3. God’s economy cannot be shaken, taken, or anything else.
C. 7 Choice: Chicken Little economy or God’s economy.
TS] Which involves the following...
I. Redemption (Church Word – He paid a price to get us back, even though He created us in the first place.)
A. God’s Economy (Redemption) – necessary for several reasons.
1. He is holy.
2. He loves us – we are created in His image.
3. We sinned.
B. Why would a little sin create the need for redemption?
1. Sin is opposite from God ( like: + & - magnetic fields)
2. Sin is sin because we are created in the image of God, not because of cultural norms. (“un godly”)
C. Notice that redemption came through the shedding of blood – the blood of Jesus.
1. Life itself is in the blood.
2. It is the greatest sacrifice that we could possibly understand.
3. There was more to Jesus becoming sin for us. 8(2C521)
TS] When Adam & Eve sinned against God – being made in His image – they were no longer able to remain with Him in the Garden of Eden – God’s Economy/Plan/arrangements were being made – Jesus began preparations to enter the world and be that price.
II. 9 God’s Economy involves Grace
A. In accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
1. Grace is a gift.
2. It was not because we were so good and loveable.
3. God is a God of love a God of wrath, and a Just God – and that demanded grace.
B. God’s grace is freely offered, but God’s grace was not free.
1. Don’t forget the redemption price!
2. God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense (acronym)
3. This text is a long list of all we have “in Christ”
C. God is a God of Grace – and that demands our greatest effort in being obedient to His will.
1. Grace does not nullify the need for obedience, but rather intensifies the effort.
2. That we should be, ‘to the praise of His glory’
TS] God’s economy is not fulfilled with “redemption, through His blood, … in accordance with the riches of His grace”
III. 10 God’s Economy involves restoration.
A. “The summing up of all things whether in heaven or on earth.”
B. The way it was in the Garden before the fall.
1. Every thing was “good”
2. The Earth was perfect, and there was fellowship between the creation and it’s Creator.
C. The new heaven and the new earth are expressions of this restoration in its completion.
1. 11 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:22-23
2. 12 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 2 Peter 3:7
3. 13 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. Revelation 21:1
D. Then God will be able to say: First you were mine because I made you, now you are mine because I bought you back.
IV. 14 When you look at God’s Economy in the overall scheme of things the distractions of the world fade away. If God is for us who can be against us?
O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1