Ephesians 1-3

Good morning. Are we ready to be still? And listen to what God has for us from his word? Not my words. My words really don't matter God's words, matter. Hopefully my words are infused with God's word, so that helps things, the matter, if you have your Bibles turn with me, if you will read Ephesians chapter 1, we're going to begin. Book of Ephesians. Today, we went through the book of Galatians, we see what Paul is saying about the church, the glaciers, now we see what he has to say to the Church of Ephesus. How they need to live their life and what they got to be doing. Today, as we prepare our hearts to Worship the Lord, there's a lot of things going on. We have an opportunity, this tomorrow, this next week to minister, to a large group of people in our community, those who may know, the Glen Aiken, family, his wife came and passed away and then we'll be doing the funeral tomorrow. So that's a large family between the Athens, the fans in the Davis's, so keep them in prayer. Good to have the Ed Johnson. Andrew Johnson had buried his father Ray yesterday, so, keep them in prayer. Has just been one of those weeks of a lot of things going on, and that's good. I'm not complaining. It keeps me out of trouble, when I'm busy doing other things, but keep these folks and prayer as they go through and navigate these new days before them. Paul is talking to the Church of Ephesus in Ephesians chapter 1, on his second missionary journey. He visited Ephesus, he left behind Aquila, and Priscilla to carry on the ministry that was started. He returned to Ephesus two years later and he ministered there for 3 years. What he did while he was in Ephesus. Was he reached the whole province of Asia with the gospel? In three years, I've been 30 years here at hoosac Valley Community Church, 37 years in the area. I'm not sure. I reach the whole province of this area. I wish I had, I wish I was able to minister to people the way that Paul was able to and especially in today's society, in the time frames that we have of social media and the ability to get online and administered. In fact, when, when you have a gimmick where you pass out on a Wednesday night, you get a lot of use Right over three hundred views that Wednesday night. Usually, it's maybe fifty at the most. I'm not going to pass out in up my plan. One of my plan Wednesday night to pass out two weeks ago, but that's we have an opportunity to be able to share the gospel with crossed. This whole nation. In fact, we've been doing our videos and and live streaming for quite a while. Now we have a lot of folks who like to go to Florida for the winter for some reason and and they've asked for us to be able to Live streaming, so they can watch church when they're at home. So those of you that are watching church at home this morning, didn't want to get out of the house and still have your pajamas on. We'll see. See her next week. It's too easy to do it the way we want it. Here's the thing that was going on, even with Paul, Paul is saying to the Church of Baptist, listen, things of the world are creeping in to the church. The things of God are being pushed out to sort of like maybe our own Nation, when we sort of began to remove God from schools in the courtroom and different things like that, taken, down to 10 commands that we don't want to offend people. the moment we began to remove God from our lives, in from things, in our lives of blessings of God, become less, and less, we need to be aware of that Paul medicine and some years later, as after he was done Ministry, he was a prisoner in Rome and he writes this letter He writes his letter of encouragement to the Church of Ephesus. He writes, many letters of encouragement to other believers, other churches that he has been a part of starting And my question, when I read that is where would I be if I was in prison because of my faith? If I was put in prison because of what God has called me to do, what I be, Excited enough to share the gospel message with people that are going the wrong direction, trying to draw them back or would I be the person to say? Well, that's it. I've done my part. God, I'm done with them and you got to ask yourself that same question, see Saul of Tarsus, Paul the Apostle, the one who was at one time out, persecuting the church, who got to be an apostle. For Jesus Christ, is now encouraging people in the latter days of his life to continue on the faith in which they had first learned to not listen to the fables, not listen to the ways of the world to stay strong in the word of God. so he wrote this letter to the Believers in Ephesus, one of the major themes that he is giving here is that God is at work in this world and he is no matter what we think about the world God is at work. God sets kingdoms up heaters kingdoms and he allows things to happen. I mean you can look and read in the Old Testament, you see how God allows things to happen, even if it's not the way he wanted it because of the hearts of the people is, okay? That's the way you want it. That's what you're going to get. And then you have to deal with the consequences of those choices that we have made. So he has that theme of working in this world. God is working through his church at you and me. And those of us who are believers, those of us who know Christ is our Lord and savior. Those of us here in the walls of this building. This building is not the church. This is just a building The church are the Believers sitting in the seats those who know Christ as their lord and their savior. This building could be turned into a lot of things. It could be Apartments, it could be a business, it could be all other kinds of things so it's not the building. That is a church, it's the people who are the church. We find that he's putting things together, that's what he tells us. In verse 10 of Ephesians chapter 1. I just want to read that real quick, and then we'll go back to the first one. So that in the dispensation of the fullness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ. Both of which were in heaven, which are on the earth in him, he wants to gather us together. He wants to put things together. He wants us to minister for him. Because he has ministered to us. We find the differences was an important city that boasted of being the custodians at Temple of Diana. Their worship of the Goddess, Diana. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. So Paul, is there any preaching of this new God, he's preaching, all this God of the creator of the universe that, hey, we need to follow this. God, don't worry about the God, small G's of the world, get them out of your life, follow the Creator, and if you follow the Creator, you'll you will be blessed. He will guide you. He will direct you. The city of Ephesus was devoted to a Dollar Tree. That explains why Paul had so much to say about defeating. The devil will get that to that when we get to chapter 6 of Ephesians not today, we'll get there later on in the in the summer. But what we find here is what he talks about salvation here in verse 1. So if you hear this morning and you're not sure where you're going to spend eternity, listen up, get your antenna out. So you get some good reception, not from me. But from God, cuz I'm going to share his words that you may know. It's not about how good we are and how much work we can do. If that was true, then that cross wouldn't need to happen, right? Jesus wouldn't have needed to go to that cross. He wouldn't have needed to lay his life down for you and me to shed his blood to go through all that pain. If he is God's son, if he is, God In the Flesh and he knew that that wasn't the way. Why would he do that? So this morning, as we begin chapter 1, let's read these first few verses and see what God has for us. Paul, and Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God to the saints were in Ephesus. In faithful. In Christ Jesus grace to you and peace from God. Our father in the Lord, Jesus Christ blessed, be the God, and father of our Lord. Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Heavenly places in Christ. When did he do that? Look what he says before the foundation of the world. That we should be holy and Without Blame before him and love stop right there. For a second with me this morning before the foundation of the world, before he put the world together, listen to this. Before he formed the world, he knew you and he knew me and that amazing. If he's God then yes, okay, that's awesome. That's great. He can do that. He had a plan of his son going to the Cross before the foundation of the world was even done. He knew us. He's got the beginning and the end all figured out. He's the Alpha and the Omega. He knows it all. Why wouldn't we want to trust him to guide us and direct us when we know that he knows that all. Well, here's the reason why Because sometimes God does not do things our way. Have you noticed that?

Sometimes God does not do the things we want. And then we try to subvert the things of God to get our way. But God's way is a God's way and there is no changing that. We met. Had some consequences of the things that we do and that's the world we live in today, living with the consequences of those first disobedient parents. We had back in the garden when Adam and Eve decided to do things their way. Why? Because they thought their way was better. God knew us before the foundation of the world. The purpose of knowing us is that we might be holy. And Without Blame In him. In his love. Look what he says. Has two adopted as Sons or children by Jesus Christ himself. According to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of the glory of his grace by which he made us accepted in the Beloved and him. We have Redemption through his blood, the Forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, which he made to abound toward us, in all wisdom and improve. Having made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in himself. Did God's got a plan for you? He's got a plan for me and that plan is listen folks. Follow my lead. I will lead you down the path of blessed. Would you get off that path? You got to step on things, you wish you hadn't stepped on you going to do things. You wish you hadn't done situation is going to happen in your life that you just wish never happened. What type of Pastor Clyde I've been trying to follow Jesus, all my life and, and those things still happen. What you have because he says, in this world, there will be tribulation will be hard, like, you'll be hardships. But it says, be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. So if we're following God, if we're doing everything God, once doing, we have trial and tribulation of heartaches and hardships, and we will Imagine how much worse it's going to be by not following him. Imagine how much worse is going to be by not doing the things he's called us to do. Remember when you called Saul of Tarsus when he blinded him on that Damascus Road, when he sent him to ananias and told and I are going to take care of this guy and then a nice as well. But God don't you know who he is? Of course, God knew who he was. That's all I'm one of them and what's going to keep him from?

And God said, ananias in favor of Saul the Apostle Paul He says a nice. I want you to take care of my want you to provide for him, there's many things he is going to have to suffer for my namesake. And Paul was writing this letter now years later to those, that he is, maybe a one-time guilty of persecuting, but now he's trying to draw them into the fold fold of God to say, listen, that's who I was. This is who I am by the grace of God and you guys are going off the wrong path. You're going in the wrong direction. You're moving away from God, not closer to him.

As we continue on. He says in verse 8, which he made to abound toward us, in all wisdom and Prudence have made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in himself that in the dispensation. The fullness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which were in heaven which are on earth in ham and him. Also we have obtained an inheritance been predestined to cording to the purpose of him who works in all things. According to his counsel of his will that we who first trusted in Christ, should be the praise of his glory. In him in him. You also trusted. After you heard the word of Truth, The Gospel of your salvation, and whom also having believed you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

I like that. God gives me a promise in him because I trusted in him because I believe I am now sealed. By the Holy Spirit of promise. were you see we find that salvation Is a god you and I cannot save our self. Salvation is of the Lord. That's what Jonah said, in the belly of the whale and Jonah 2:9. When he decided to disobey God, do his own direction, do his own thing. He went off to tarshish, got on the boat and he cause trouble for those on the boat, remember that story when we disobey it doesn't just affect us. It affects those around us, don't get on the boat. This wind storm came up, they started throwing things overboard their their goods there. Where is a thing that there was going to prosper their family that they would sell as Merchants throwing them overboard to save their lives. Find. They looked at Jonah's. Hey buddy, what are you doing? And donuts. Running from God, not exact words, he used. So they threw him overboard and I see he's calmed right down.

But all the good that were on the ship, all the things that was going to prosper those people, their merchandise was already floating away.

And a big fish came and swallowed Jonah up for the next three days. Jonah, had some one-on-one time with God. Have you ever been there? Never felt like you got swallowed by the big fish and it's just you and God for three days. The only one you've got to talk to his God. Got Jonah had a little conversation. God says to join the Jordan. Why did you disobey me while I didn't want to go to Nineveh? Lord. Those people. And then over there. Barbarians are terrible people. Why would you want me to go and minister to them?

You know what God's answer is to that. When when there are people that we don't want a miniature, we may ask God, why would you call me to go to them? You know, what God's answer is of that because I love them. I love them. Okay. God finally, I'll go. Salvation is of the Lord Noel, the big fish bombing them up on shore. Can you imagine he was all of that bile and whatever in the stomach, bleached White. Seaweed wrapped around his head. Fish stuck in his ear. I don't know. He's running off the Nineveh. A 3-day trip. Doesn't take him very long to get there. Specially when you know, you're out of the will of God. You're in a hurry to get back in the good graces of God. And it goes in the end of a knee hates the people. He doesn't want to be there. He doesn't want to minister to them. Even tries to make a deal with god and goddess is. Okay, we are whatever. Just go preach the word to him. So he preached the word of God to them with hatred in his heart. You still despise them, he didn't care for him. He didn't want to be there. He preach the word of God to the ninevites with hatred in his heart and because he preached the word of God, not his own words, the whole city of Nineveh came to Faith. And Jonah did not like it. God loved it. She God can use us even when we're out of his will. But man, we're miserable when we're out of the will of God, we're miserable when we're not doing what God wants us to do. And we sometimes we're miserable when we're doing what God wants us to do, but the heart doesn't want us to

God, used Jonah. To bring forth the city, the faith, God, use solid who became Paul the Apostle to bring. A continent, a group of people across the fence to face. Share the gospel with everybody believe, but he was able to share the gospel, across the ministry continues on. Salvation is of God. You receive spiritual blessing from the father. That's what we read in verses 1 through 46. The spiritual blessing that comes from the father we receive spiritual blessing from the Sun and verses 7 through first 12. And then we receive the spiritual blessing for the holy spirit in verse 13 and verse 14. And he says, when you are in Christ, you have all you need for life and for service. Let me ask you this question. Is Christ enough. Is Christ enough for you. Do you need more? Is there something else out there that you feel like you? You don't have that. You need to have

Remember that song George Beverly Shea used to sing all the time. I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold. I'd rather have him than riches Untold. Do you feel that way today or are you concerned about The things of the world being more important than the things of God. See when we get that right in our life. God first, the other things fall into place as God sees fifth, not how we want it to be sometimes. Because who really knows better you or God? Well we know the right answer to that is what God knows better but and is that but that gets us into trouble, right? God knows better. But I just think this would be awesome God and we get what we ask for. And we end up with what we didn't want. Because we got what we asked for. All throughout the Old Testament, you can read about that all throughout the old semi, you can find out how people work Desiring other things and God would give it to him. And then is like, what what are we going to do? Is this? That's what you asked for.

Jonah visual. Leaving Egypt God's provision the whole way God provided for them. A Cloud by day to Shield them from the hot sun and Pillar of Fire by night to warm them up in the cold Desert Nights. And Mana every morning God provided food. He said, listen folks, I'm going to give you food, don't you dare worry about it. Go out and get just what you need for today. Don't worry about tomorrow. Don't get what you need for today, enough for your household. That's it.

And every day they would go out, they would get what they needed some days, they may get a little more cuz maybe they didn't want to get up so early the next day and have to go get it. And it rotted in the house overnight. Because God's plan was, I'm going to provide for you daily. Everyday. Go get what you want. Now God's provision for us, may not be what we want.

But God's provision for us is always what we need. So they were go out and get the Mana. Until one day, they decided. Getting sick and tired of all this Mana. Man in the morning, man. At noon Mana at night. Man on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday.

God were tired of this thing that you're providing for us. Give us something different and he did. Remember what he did? He gave them quail quail in the morning. Well, at noon at night.

Do they got sick and tired of the quail? God, we're sick and tired of this quail. Give us something new. We're not any different. Are we God? I need you. I need you to take care of this problem. I need you to help me out in this situation. And he does And we get through it. and we used to turn our back from him and come back from next time we need him. Did God provide for you and for me everyday. He gives us what we need daily. He never promised to give us what we wanted. But you did ask for us to cast all of our cares on him. Why? Because he cares for us, But how many times do we cast our cares on him and then take him back and carry him away cuz he didn't answer them. The way we wanted them to be answered. Or maybe he didn't answer them in the time frame that we expected him to answer them. God says, listen. I provided for you. I've given you everything that you need. Everything that you would like, I even sent my son to die on the cross for you, that whoever believes in him, should not perish but have everlasting life. In this belief thing is not just coming to church is not just showing up, it's having a relationship with him and that relationship with him, needs to be a daily relationship with him. The talk to him. Daily, as you would, somebody that you really care for somebody that you really love and that conversation can't always be Lord. I need this, this this and this

Somewhere in there. We need to say. Okay, Lord, you provided for me, Lord. What can I do for you? How can I serve you today? And you know what the answer to that would be. take his word as Jonah did, but with the right heart to people, That you might not want to have to minister to. Kirby family, I don't know. I don't know. You're all your families. Could be a friend. That's done. You wrong over the years that you want nothing to do with. Could be your enemy, somebody who is striving to get rid of you and to read you all the problems of this world because that's what Jesus did for us. Those whom he came into the world to seek and to save rejected him, he came into his own in his own, received him, not scripture tells us, But you didn't stop. He didn't give up because there was a plan, there's a plan for you and there's a plan for me. And all we have to do is follow God, and he will bless us. He gives us all. We need for life and for service. Do we have salvation is of God, we have salvation is all of Grace. And what is this? Grace? Disgrace is unmerited favor. Unmerited, love. We did nothing and can do nothing to deserve it or the game. That's the God gave us this Grace because he loves us. He cares for us. Unmerited favor. Unmerited love

Got Paul imprecise is throughout the letter, especially in over in Chapter 2. We'll get to that next time. But in Chapter 2, and I just want to read verse one this morning and said, he made you alive who were dead and trespasses and sins. Have you ever made? A big mistake in your life. And that big mistake eagle. My life is over. You don't feel like I can go any further if you don't feel like you can do anymore. But the Lord enters, and because you give it to him. Good Lord guide me, Lord, help me direct me in. And seriously, you're serious about it. You give it all to God and he makes you alive again. He gives you a whole purpose. While we were yet, sinners Christ died for us. And when we died again for me to live is Christ to die. Is gain. Scripture says, old things are passed away, All Things become new. Why? Because when we give our lives to Jesus, we become dead, things of the world and Ally to the things of God. He gives us new life. I did that when I was seven years of age, I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior, say, well what do you know, when your 7 not much? that was 50 plus years ago when I was seven, Right? And here I am. Many years later. Still don't know much. But what I do know is that God loves me. What I do know is that God is faithful when you put him first, when you follow him and you do what he's called you dude, he's faithful. He will guide you, he will direct you, he will help you through but When I get off on my own path and I did that for a few years. I wasn't a big sinner, like some of you, I mean the early service people. Sorry, I got messed up there, then write Jesus didn't die in the cross, just for the big since he died on that cross for sinners. If you send big or small your Center, so we're all in the same boat we were all sinners. We know Christ is our Lord and savior who were saved by grace this unmerited favor, unmerited, love at the age of seven. I gave my life to Jesus. And what I say for the next 14 years old I was 21 was my willingness wanderings. Go to live my life. Hate my dad was a pastor went to church every Sunday?

I'm there, I'm doing my thing. I'm, I'm doing work at the church and I had to do not wanted to do. When your preacher's kid, back at our back in his head when you did a lot of the, we did a lot of the janitorial work. You did a lot of things that needed to be done because they needed to be done before the next service to get things. Looking right you do those things. Not because I wanted to but because Dad the pastor of the Church of sun Before I get home, and he always had a full-time job. He had to go to. And then pastured song before I get home tonight from my secular job, I want you to have this done. Yes. It might have been 30 minutes before he got home that. I got it done. But it got done. And I didn't always do it with the right heart. I just did it because I knew if I didn't

That would be unhappy. So in our daily walk with our heavenly father or Abba, Father or daddy. When we disobey him, when he says, here's a path, I want you to go down and we go down another path. Do it another way. How do you think that? Makes him feel on. We can't hide it from our heavenly father. Why? Because He's always watching you and me there's nothing we can hide before him, if you. And I had to stand before God today, what is it in your life that you don't want him to recognize? He already knows. Before the foundation of the world, he knew us. Enosis. We're special to him. Disgrace is there. So Paul is emphasizing this point disgraced throughout the whole letter. Grace is God's favor. Be stole on people who do not and cannot deserve it. And yet he loves us.

Salvation Point. Number 3, salvation is for God's glory. God, save Sinners. Not the solve their problems, but to bring them or bring glory to himself and their lives. The church will glorify him for all eternity. Let's go back and look at some verses that we've already read, and then some others back to verse 6 of chapter 12, the praise of the glory of his grace by, which he made us accepted, and the Beloved, Ever been someplace. You didn't feel accepted ever been someplace. You didn't feel like you fit in. He makes us accepted and the Beloved. We are to be accepted in his church. When we put our faith in our trust in him, look what he says in first 12 that we who first in Christ should also be to the praise of his glory.

We who first trusted in Christ? Should be to the praise of his glory. Is your life, praising God. Or is your life praising the world? You can't serve God. And Mammon God in the world. You got to make a choice all. But we do, I have God in my life. He's my Lord. He's my savior. I trust him. But every now and then the things of the world Grab hold. This is what Paul is talking about to the Church of Galatians at church of Ephesus. She said, Hey listen guys you let me the world creep into the church, your standard your beliefs are getting lower.

And you're picking up more the things of the world, you raise up the biblical standards of God in your life and the things of the world will go down.

Who do you trust?

The word of God. The Daily News that we need to be listing into. Or turn on the television or radio and listen to what that news has to say.

I'll go with it. I listen to that other news, just I have an idea what's going on in the world around us. But I'm like, you I don't know what's true and what's not true anymore. But I know what's true here. Scripture says, you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free. Do you want to be set free? Get in the word. Get in the word.

One of the most mundane things that I've ever done in my life. That's why we argue like hearing this. One of the most mundane things I've ever done in my life began about three years ago. Two years ago when covid hit and I started doing the most. The early morning Bible reading thing. One chapter every morning. What do you mean that's mundane you try for three years straight.

Am I plan on just being honest here? Okay, my plan is okay, we'll get through covid. When Coleman's over I won't have to do it anymore.

And then people say, Pastor Clyde your Bible, reading in the morning is what helps get me through the day.

Don't ever stop. What if I'm sick? What if I'm in the hospital? Yeah, I can upload that in the hospital early in the morning.

Because let me give you a heads up. I've learned over 3 years. I did tomorrow morning this morning when I came to the church. Look at the shirt I'm wearing, you can figure these things out. Right. You know why? Because tomorrow morning I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn so I got to get down to the church. I got to do this tomorrow morning. I can lay in bed and press send. Okay, I'm usually not laying in bed, but I kill it if I wanted to. What was pressure? When you do it otherwise now you're all. So disappointed, you think I get up. I do, I come here in the morning and do the one for the next day. So I'm just a day ahead of you guys.

But man doing that everyday for.

Two or three years. We got a year-and-a-half yet to go before we're done with the whole book.

But then, I'm going to be like, Jay Vernon McGee. You just rotate them through. Okay, Jay Vernon McGee, he's been Dead Forever on the Bible bus. Here we go.

But the word of God because you know what I've also found that might be Monday and getting up having to read that every morning. But I'm also just getting one chapter a day and it's like

Let me chew on this for a while and see what God is doing one chapter at a time and try to read through it. I mean, there's a I could do read the Bible in 90 days into, I've done that but you know what you comprehend when you do that

One on one time with God. God, what do you have for me today? You know what I found? I found that when people followed God, he blessed them. I follow, I found out when people did not follow God, follow the world, the blessings came off of them. And they were more or less left to their own devices.

Write a story that we're doing on Wednesday night. Bible study. Today is David and saw the battle between David and Saul. David love Saul Saul despised, David. And now we're at the point where David is in this big depression is often the world doing his own thing for year-and-a-half. He's away from God, not doing the things that God wants. And the blessing of God is off of him, but yet he still to be king someday and yet saw the still looking to kill him because of his own Pride is All devices. God says listen up salvation is for God's glory. Go to verse 12 that we already read what he said that. We who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of his glory. Looking for a 14-2 in the guarantee of our inheritance, until the Redemption of the purchase possession, to the praise of his glory. And then over to chapter 31 verse 21, he says this to him, be glory in the church by Christ. Jesus, to all generations, forever and ever. Where to build him up where the lift him up with his share with those around us, the things that God has done. Salvation is of god, salvation is, all of Grace salvation is for God's glory, not about us. It's about all that he's done for us. And then, lastly, this morning, salvation reveals God's greatness. Look at verse 15, through the end of the chapter, as we read that. She said, therefore, I also after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for some of the Saints. no, he says in your love for who All the saints. Do not cease to give. Thanks for you cuz I'm I'm so proud. Paul's in prison and he's praying for them. Can they be praying for him? Cuz he's got a lot of free time on his hand. What else is he going to do?

I do not cease to mention you in my prayers verse 17, that the god of our Lord Jesus Christ. The father of Glory may give to you the spirit of wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of him. Who does not want that the spirit of wisdom and knowledge from God, who knows all things? Let me have the mind of Christ. Let me see this world. Lord through your eyes. Then I will understand the plight of this world. Verse 18, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened that you may know what is the hope of his calling. What are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints? And what is the greatness of his power towards us who believe according to the working of his mighty power? This Bible that I have up here with me this morning, this Bible that I read from every Sunday. When we were here together, I believe what it says. I don't understand all of it. I'm not sure we're supposed to This Side of Heaven, but I study and I try to figure it out. I believe what it says. Because if God is God, his power is awesome and he wants to bless you. And then blessing, you he will guide you and director and yes, in that guidance and Direction. There may be a few Road bumps along the way. You got a few mountaintops, you got to climb to get to the other side but God is with you yay though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

I will fear no evil. Why for thou art with me? Is god with you today. Are you walking places? God wants to walk? Are you walking places that God says, you better not go there? And as Abraham would walk away from God to build an altar and then go off and do his own thing, he had to come back to that off that alter that called Bethel where he walked away from God. And I'm sorry. Again. I got off on my own way as my own things. Look what else he says. Verse 18 Again in the eyes of your understanding be enlightened that you may know, the hope of his calling. What are the riches of the glory of his inheritance? The Saints. And what is he cheating? Greatness of his power towards us who believe according to the working of his mighty power. When she worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and see him at his right hand in Heavenly places principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this age but also in that which is to come and he put all things under his feet. And gave him to be head, over all things to the church. which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all In all. This is Paul's prayer. There's two prayers that we see in, Ephesians, they complement each other. This one here that we read in division, 1 verse 15, through verse 23. And then there's another one in Ephesians, 3:14 through verse 21, Paws prayers, and for the people of episode. Lee says, listen follow God. He's in control of everything is under his feet and he wants you to have this power. You want you to have this wisdom, he wants you to have this knowledge, but it's not about you, it's about him. And when you plug into him, It works. I shared with you Astoria few weeks back a few months back. Whenever that time, was that I shared this story, I'm out. Splitting wood got to outdoor wood stove and I get free. I have to cut it and split it. So I'm out trying to get my wood splitter to start. It wouldn't start. So I fill it up with gas. I'm trying and it wouldn't start and I'm taking it apart and putting it back together cuz I'm pulling, you know, how it goes or not electric. Is it the one that you got both and after a few pulls, you know how, I don't know why that motion wears you out so much. Plummer pool. No it wasn't the day I passed now. And I've been doing I found out the problem. I forgot to turn it on.

There's a little on-off switch there that if you turn it to and pull, it is all warmed up now just for me pulling it. Klein, how stupid are you? The first thing you do is you go to the on switch, you turn it on, then you turn the gas on and you put the choke on and it usually starts right up. But if you don't put the power on, you going to be pulling all day, that's where we are. Many times With God. All, we know he's there. We know the work that he can do, but we, we aren't plugged into the power correctly. Because we want His blessings. Amen. Do you want God's blessings? But we want to do what we want to do.

It's okay to do what you want to do as long as it's in a line with God's blessings with God's will. My God will not give me anyting. That is not in line with his wolf. I can go out and get it for myself. It might not be what he wanted. but I guarantee you when I do what he wants, there's blessing In closing, I just want to go over there. Fish after 3, I didn't do this in the first service but will do it today and read this other prayer verse 14, through verse 21. The two prayers that are here. They compliment each other one focuses on, knowing god and what God has done for you. While Ephesians 3:14 through verse 21, emphasize experiencing his Blessing. Look what he says, verse 14, Ephesians 3. For this reason. I bow my knees to the father of our Lord, Jesus Christ For Whom the whole family in Heaven and Earth is named that he would Grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with Mike, through his spirit. In the inner man, that Christ May dwell in your hearts through faith, that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints. What is the width? The length, the depth in the height to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now, to him, who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us to him, be glory in the church by Christ. Jesus, to all generations, forever and ever, amen.

Is Christ receiving glory in the church. I'm not talkin about the walls of this building, but I am. I'm talking about this individual church that each and every one of us who believe our For when you accepted Christ as your lord and savior, he entered in the Holy Spirit takes up residence with inside us. We had the Holy Spirit. Now, what are we going to do with it? Are we going to walk with God or we going to walk with the world? All we try to walk with God, but we try to walk in the world and we wonder why there's so many struggles. And so many trials that so many tribulations and they just stop and follow God.

I encourage you. But the World Behind. And follow God. And when you do that, you'll see more of the world than you've ever seen before God's ways God's eyes. God's blessing to that first prayer in Ephesians one is for enlightenment. The second prayer in Ephesians 3 is for an Ableton, you'll be enlightened to the things of God. And then able to do the things God wants you to do. It's really about the power of God working through us.

Why is it? that we when we lose power at our houses, Especially in the middle of a television show. We wanted to watch a movie or a sporting event that we get all upset with God or get all upset.

But when we lose power with God, we're not so bothered by it. I'd rather have the power of God in my life. Then being able to go to a outlet flip, the switch and have electricity. Cuz someday. That electricity may not be there. You know I'm saying? Read the book, those last days, who knows? Someday you go to the refrigerator and may not be enough food in that refrigerator to feed your family. Read the book in the last days he talks about that but here's what I know I might if I don't have power I don't really need a refrigerator anyway right?