Podcasts about when gods

When Gods says He will restore He means it! Join us as we discuss how God keeps His word and lovingly encourages us and restores all that has been lost! Be sure to SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a video from TFI! Donate to TFI: https://www.togetherforisrael.org/givingpageVisit our Website: https://www.togetherforisrael.orgJoin us for a tour: https://www.tfi.tours

Being the Church God Called Us To Be Romans 12:6-18 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Dont just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When Gods people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Dont curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Dont be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And dont think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Keep Serving Romans 12:7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. Romans 12:11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Galatians 6:9 So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvet of blessing if we don't give up. Keep Encouraging Romans 12:8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. Hebrews 10:25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Keep Being Kind Romans 12:8 And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Ephesians 4:32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearded, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Colossians 3:12-13 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Keep Loving Romans 12:9-10 Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Colossians 3:14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 1 Peter 4:8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Keep Honoring Romans 12:10, 17 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Romans 13:7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord's work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. Keep the Harmony Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all! 1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. Romans 14:19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. Psalm 133:1-3 How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron's head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting.

When God presence leads you, victory is settled. When Gods presence leads you, protocols become suspended. Protocols become overruled, protocols become disqualified.

Level Up Your Faith 2 Peter 1:3-11 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. There's No Real Excuse Not To 2 Peter 1:3-5 2 Timothy 1:7 Make Every Effort Goodness Romns 16:19 I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. Hebrews 5:11-14 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and dont seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about Gods word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesnt know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. Knowledge 2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge James 1:5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. 1 Peter 3:15 - And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. Self Control Proverbs 25:28 A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Dont you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. Perseverance John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside Gods throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you wont become weary and give up. Galatians 6:9 So lets not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we dont give up. Romns 5:3-4 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. Godliness 1 Timothy 4:7-8 Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come. Psalm 1:1-6 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. Mutual Affection (Brotherly Love) Romans 12:10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honouring each other. 1 John 4:19-21 We love each other because he loved us first. If someone says, I love God, but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we dont love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers. Love John 15:13 There is no greater love than to lay down ones life for ones friends. 1 John 4:7-12 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real lovenot that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. We're In It To Win It 2 Peter 1:8-9 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Romans 12:6-13 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Dont just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When Gods people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Galatians 6:7-8 Dont be misledyou cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. Conclusion Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Jude 20-23 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in Gods love. And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

Vision Sunday Message: When God Sends The New Pastor Kenny Green In a growing church you have to lean into the new. We love the new as long as it benefits us. We love the new until it comes to church. Two things a growing church needs to know: 1. When God sends the new we have to manage the tension. 2. When Gods sends the new we have to embrace the change. Join us at https://citylightlive.online.church/ for the full Church Online experience every Sunday at 9AM & 11AM! If you're interested in taking your next steps with a City Light Church, please send an email with your name, location, and contact information to connect@citylightchurch.cc We would love to pray with you! https://www.citylightchurch.cc/prayer There are four easy ways to give at City Light Church! Visit https://www.citylightchurch.cc/give, you can text to give by texting any $ amount to 84321 or you can give in person and/or mail a check to P.O Box 8734 Chattanooga, TN 37414.

If time and chance happen to us all that means that you can be the one to fast and pray more than anyone and still miss your chance... When Gods kairos meets our chronos there is an assortment of supernatural possibilities in that incapsulated allotment = RESERVED TIME Are you ready for God to meet your chronos!? Follow us on our social platforms: @LEVELUPGIRLGLOBAL @LUZHERNANDEZMINISTRIES

THE WEEK OF TRINITY XIII - FRIDAYLESSON: COLOSSIANS 1:9‒12“Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10We have seen in our consideration of this Gospel (Luke 10:23‒37) what God means when He says, “You shall love the Lord your God.” He means you, the whole you, not only your hands, your mouth, or your knees. When we love God with such a fullness of our being, we fulfill this law.   But there is not a single person on this earth who fulfills it in this manner. Indeed, we all do the very opposite. This law makes sinners of all of us, so that not even the smallest letter of this commandment is fulfilled, not even by the greatest saint in the world. No one adheres to God with his whole heart in such a way that he could forsake everything for God's sake. We have, praise God, advanced so far that we cannot endure giving up even one little word, yes, not even a farthing, for God's sake! How is it possible to love God if His will is not pleasing to us? If I love God, I also love His will. When Gods sends us sickness, poverty, disgrace, and shame, that is His will. But what do we do? We rampage, snort and groan, and accept matters with much impatience. This is the least of our problems. What would we do if we had to give up body and life for God and Christ's sake? Then I suppose we would show quite another front! In the meantime I act like this Pharisee and lawyer. I lead a fine life outwardly, honor God and serve Him, fast, pray, and always put on a very pious and holy front. But God does not look for this. He wants His will to be accepted joyfully and in love. In this respect we continue to drag our feet. SL 11:1542 (18)PRAYER: O God, make us ready and willing at all times to obey Your holy will, not grudgingly and impatiently, but wholeheartedly, feely and openly, for Christ our Savior's sake. Amen. Editor's note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today's sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 5:17-35. 

www.longviewbaptistchurch.org Acts Book Study (We cannot be silent!) Week 12 Acts 4:13-22 1) When Gods plan and will is your life, the world will know! 2) Let Gods power and works leave an indisputable testimony to the world! 3) The enemy will stop at NOTHING to shut us up!……

The word favour means to feel or show approval or preference toward. When Gods favour is over your life it means doors open when they aren't supposed to. It means thousands of people apply for the job but you're hired even though you are not the most qualified. God favour means that everywhere you go, things are always working out for your benefit. This is what Gods favour is all about. If you want to make the choice to follow Jesus then pray the Salvation Prayer by clicking here. If you need help finding a local church, then click here to email me.  me@chriscreary.com You can listen to any archived episodes by clicking here. If this episode blessed you then subscribe to the podcast for more encouraging episodes weekly. START YOUR OWN PODCAST! If you have a desire and passion to start your own podcast, I want to help you do it THIS YEAR.  You can download my Podcast Quick Start Guide by clicking here.  This will help you get your message out so that it can bless MANY!! Be Blessed!! Some music in this episode was produced by: https://www.bensound.com   

When Gods people read His Word and hear how much He loves them, it leads to repentance without despair because the joy of the Lord is their strength.

When Gods people read His Word and hear how much He loves them, it leads to repentance without despair because the joy of the Lord is their strength. Sermon by Pastor Ben Hyink

Evangelism comes after revival, or perhaps as a result of revival. When Gods people are rejoicing in Him, it becomes very natural for them to seek to bring others to the Jesus who brings them such joy. Revival from Christ changes us into missionaries for Christ.

Evangelism comes after revival, or perhaps as a result of revival. When Gods people are rejoicing in Him, it becomes very natural for them to seek to bring others to the Jesus who brings them such joy. Revival from Christ changes us into missionaries for Christ.

The second part of the ALL Welcome series Pastor Paul is focusing on the principal of having laughter in our lives. Laughter does good like a medicine to a weary soul. Abraham and Sarah were given a promise by God that they would have children. God fulfilled His promise and Sarah not only proclaimed her joy and laughter but that those around her would be filled with the joy and laughter of the Lord. When Gods promise is fulfilled it raises a joy inside us that cannot be extinguished.

The second part of the ALL Welcome series Pastor Paul is focusing on the principal of having laughter in our lives. Laughter does good like a medicine to a weary soul. Abraham and Sarah were given a promise by God that they would have children. God fulfilled His promise and Sarah not only proclaimed her joy and laughter but that those around her would be filled with the joy and laughter of the Lord. When Gods promise is fulfilled it raises a joy inside us that cannot be extinguished.

When Gods go missing or die, you have a story. And every good story needs a reporter. But not every reporter has to die to get access to that story... Hello, I'm Jack Hermes, your average everyday radio host, broadcasting from the Underworld, where it turns out Greek Mythology is real and very newsworthy. Leave us a review on facebook/twitter/iTunes Additional audio effects can be found at 'freesound.org'

When Gods love for you is simply because you are His and how to respond to Biblical love.

When Gods love for you is simply because you are His and how to respond to Biblical love.

When Gods people do things based on their own opinion and not God's Word. The Door to trouble is wide open.

Were going to flip the service around today. Because of the nature of the topic that we have, were going to have our music at the end of the service because we want our music to be a response to the things that we have learned. Normally we sing first. It prepares our hearts to receive the Word of God. This morning, were going to share the Word of God first and then our hearts will respond to what we have heard by expressing our love for God. Were going to open our Bibles to Ephesians 1 (page 1156 of pew Bibles). We have been on a series called, Meet the Ephesians. Were going through the Book of Ephesians, but we have not actually been in the Book. We have been taking some time to lay the groundwork and learn about the church in Ephesus, what their life was like and what their culture was like. Paul spent three years there. Weve gone into great detail about their religion, about their lifestyle, about why Paul wrote what he wrote about-why Jesus wrote what He wrote in Revelation 2 to the church in Ephesus. This morning were going to actually get into the Book itself. I know some of you have been reading in Ephesians. Anybody read Chapter 1 recently? Yeah, excellent. Thats a good response. Im glad to see that youve been into it. Were going to focus this morning on the blessings that God has given us, so I get to get up here and tell you about good news today. That's always fun-just get up here and give a sermon full of nothing but good news from Gods Word. Paul writes this as he is in jail in Rome. He is reaching the end of his ministry. Hes not sure how many days he has left, and he looks back and he reflects upon these people to whom he spent three years with. He remembers them in fondness, and he writes this letter encouraging them in their faith and instructing them in their walk. He starts his letter off as he normally does. He says, Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ, who has blessed us in the Heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. What a beginning! So right after the greeting, he goes into a verse which is packed full. You realize what Paul is saying to us here? Hes saying that God has blessed us-past tense-has blessed us, already been done-with every spiritual blessing in Christ. How many spiritual blessings? Every spiritual blessing. You say, Well, whats the difference between a spiritual blessing and a physical blessing? We certainly dont want to diminish the importance of physical blessings; earthly blessings are important. We need earthly blessings, right? Rainfall is a blessing. A family is our blessing. We can think of all kinds of earthly things that are blessings, and theyre important. But a spiritual blessing is number one, secure. God has already given these to us. The full manifestation of them is yet to be revealed, but they are already present in your lives; so they are secure, has given us. Secondly, they are eternal. They are in what kind of places? Heavenly places. Though we put importance to earthly blessing, the greatest importance should be those that are in Heavenly places because they are eternal. The stuff of earth is temporal; the stuff of eternity-the blessings of eternity-last forever. So were going to share some of those blessings with you today. Im going to use the analogy of football since this is a football season and the opening day. I know some of your hearts are going to wander in that direction anyway, so why not just embrace it? Why fight it? Lets just attach a word picture to it, and well use it because your minds are already thinking about the games this afternoon or tonight; so lets just play with that and use that. How many of you out here-men-ever had a dream at any point in your life from the childhood into adulthood of playing in the NFL, that at some point you wanted to play in the NFL? Yeah. Howd that work out? [Congregation laughing.] Not too well, ha? Okay. I didnt think so. Some of you are saying, Theres still hope. Theres still hope for a middle-aged, overweight guy. Well, anyway, I would say you maybe want to set another goal, but… So in our imagination here, were going to pretend, guys, that its draft day. Were going to pretend youve got skills to the level enough that an NFL team who scouted you is going to want you, so its going to be fun. This is our own version of fantasy football, different from the kind you might play-fantasy football in which you are going to be drafted by a team. That's blessing number one-as you look at Verse 4. It says, For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. Blessing number one is you have been chosen by God. When draft day comes, those teams that have scouted are in their war room. Theyre having a conversation, and somebody picks you. Somebody says, You have the talents and abilities that we need on our team. You will make our team better than it is. Were aware of you. We know of you. Whats more, we want you, so the commissioner comes out and calls your name. He says, You have been picked by this team. What a happy day that is for that player, and all their hard work has paid off. Their family and friends rejoice. They think about all the money thats coming their way, right? Theyre ecstatic because they finally get to fulfill their dream of being a professional football player but somebody picked me. It is a wonderful thing to be picked, isnt it? If youre married today, somebody picked you. They had a choice, and they said, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. (Pastor, turning to his wife, Brenda), Honey, what were you thinking? You could have had your pick. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, good and bad. What a compliment that is! Some of you have close friends in your lives. You know what? You chose them. Somebody likes you enough to say, I want to be your friend. I want to hang out with you. I want to spend time with you. I want us to do things together. Friendship is a wonderful blessing. Somebody chose you to be their friend. Hopefully the one youre married to is your best friend. Thats the best of both worlds. Maybe you applied for a job. You sent out your resume, and somebody chose you. They interviewed you. They read your resume, and they said, You have the experience and the talents that this company is looking for. We have a place for you, and so they hired you. Maybe a teacher chose you at school for a project, or maybe somebody in ministry at your church chose you to help in ministry; but if youve been picked by somebody, its an honor because it recognizes your worth and value. Friends, greater than being picked by any person, any organization or any ministry is being chosen by God. John 15:16, Jesus says, You did not choose Me, but I have chosen you that you might bear much fruit. What a humbling thought to think that God has chosen us. Hes looked upon us and said, There are talents and gifts and abilities I can use in My Kingdom, and Im choosing you. God has chosen us. It says Hes chosen us to be holy and blameless. How many of you this morning are holy and blameless? Let me see your hands-holy and blameless. Anybody? Oh, boy. We have problems. We have problems because if youre not holy and blameless, that means God didnt keep this promise. Remember it says He has given us these things. The word holy comes from the root word hagios, which means different. Thats the root word of holiness-different. How many of you are different this morning? Oh, a lot more respond, Yeah, Im different. How many of you know some Christians that are different? Yeah, sure-okay. Now were getting it. They were called to be different. The people of Ephesus, they worshipped Artemis, as weve learned-the goddess of fertility, the goddess of the hunt. Everything they did focused on the here and now, so well sacrifice to Artemis; we will give to Artemis; we will say this incantation and this magic spell, and Artemis will bless us. So everything was concerned with here and now, the stuff of earth. Paul says, I want you to change your mindset. I want you to begin to see, value and appreciate the blessings of Heaven-not just living for the here and now, but those matters that are eternal as well. Hes chosen us in Him to be holy and blameless. Were going to talk in our third blessing about how that is a fulfillment now in your life. Then we will ask for a raise of hands a second time. But speaking of second, lets look at that second blessing in Verse 5, In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will-to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. The second blessing in Verse 5-it says that you and I have been adopted by God. To be adopted by God. We belong to a family. When Gods family photo is taken, you are in the portrait. Youre there. You know when that player is chosen by that team, that team begins to share their traditions with that player. Heres what were about. Heres our goal as an organization. Heres our history. This is our rival. This is the team we really want to beat. Heres our playbook, important information about that team. Heres what were about. You get a jersey that has the name, a symbol, of that franchise, and your name is on the back. You represent that team. You belong. You matter. You have been adopted. Thats a responsibility. Thats a huge responsibility, and its a huge honor to say that I belong. I matter. Im a part. God says, I have chosen you to be a part of My family, be a part of My team. Hes given us His jersey to wear. Youll recognize if youre watching football this week because youll look for a team that has a big C for Christian on their helmets. Youll recognize them. Some of them are already playing today. But we get to put on His jersey, His symbol, His name. We have been adopted into His family. When we think of adoption, our minds primarily think about little children, right? Little children are adopted maybe from an orphanage or from another country, and thats our understanding of adoption; but you know, in the Bible times-in Roman culture-you could be adopted even as an adult. When you were adopted, you became a new person. Not only did your name change, but your past sins, offenses, your past debt-everything was wiped away; and in the eyes of the law, you literally became a new person. So when the Ephesians would have read that they were adopted by God, it would have a greater significance, a greater grip on that than it does for us. They would have seen adoption as something that can happen even into adult life. They would have recognized that adoption is a new identity; its a new beginning. And so we have been chosen by God. We have been adopted into His family. If that's not enough-there is a third blessing that Paul writes about. He says in Verse 7, In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of Gods grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And He made known to us the mystery of His Will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment… In other words, when the time of prophesy had come, Christ was born. When the time had been fulfilled, He offered up His life upon the cross. …to bring all things in Heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. The third blessing we want to focus on and remember this morning is that we have been redeemed. We have been redeemed. We have been purchased. When you purchase something, when you are that player, and the team says, Okay, we will draft you. Weve chosen you. Youre a part of our team. Now, heres what we have to do! We have to decide what your worth is to this team. Youre going to have a contract that says were going to agree to pay you X amount of dollars for your talents and abilities to help us win games this season. So the team says, Weve picked you. Since this is our football fantasy, well say you win in the first round-good player. Picked you in the first round, and heres what were going to pay you. Your agent goes, Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Maybe youre not aware of the records my clients set in college. Have you seen the game film or the things my client can do? Your pay is much too low. We think our client is worth this. Then the team kind of chokes and coughs and says, Oh, thats veteran money there. This is a rookie just starting out of college. We really think that this figure is more reasonable, so back and forth the two sides go until they finally come to a settlement. They say, Here is what we are willing to pay you. Heres what you are worth to the team this year as a rookie, and you say, I am agreeing to play for that price. That is what I am worth as a rookie. You sign the contract, and they sign the contract; and the deal is made. You have been purchased. Your talents have been purchased. So the question then is what is the purchase price for you and me? What is the price for our redemption, when God pays the price for our soul, what was He willing to pay for you and me? Because what you are willing to pay for something determines the worth of it. It might be a painting by Vincent van Gogh thats worth millions of dollars auctioned off to the highest bidder. Maybe you went to a garage sale this summer, and you bartered back and forth to buy a toaster; and you ended up buying it for $5. They came down from $15, so you agree that this is the price I want to sell it for. Heres what Im willing to pay for that toaster. Its worth $5. That painting is worth $5 million. The marketplace determines that. Those who purchase determine the worth and value of that item. What is the value and worth that God has assigned to us? Turn in your Bibles please to 1 Peter 1. Keep Ephesians 1 available though because were going to come back. In 1 Peter 1:17, page 1200, the Apostle Peter writes these words, Since you call on a Father who judges each mans work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers…but you were redeemed, he says in Verse 19, with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world but was reveled in these last times for your sake. Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God. The price of your redemption is nothing less than the blood of the Son of God, the life of the Son of God. Could there be a greater price paid for your soul? If there had been another way to redeem you, God would have done it; but there was no other way to purchase your salvation. The blood of the sinless Son of God was shed. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 says (page 1145), He made Him who knew no sin… Thats Jesus. …to be sin for us on the cross that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. In other words, an exchange was made. Christ on the cross took our sin upon Himself. By faith, we receive His gift of forgiveness, and then His righteousness is imputed to us. It is given to us as a gift, as an act of grace and love by our Heavenly Father, and so we become righteous in Christ. He sees us through Christ. The blood of Christ is applied to our souls, and our sins are forgiven. Ill ask you the question again, How many of you this morning are holy and blameless? Its hard to raise your hand to that, but thats the reality of the spiritual blessing. You better hope you are because one day youre going to have to stand before God. If youre having to stand before God in your own righteousness, good luck to you; but if you can stand before God clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, you have entrance into the eternal Kingdom. So though it goes against our nature to say, Yeah, Im holy and blameless, cause we know in and of ourselves we are not, but in Him, we are. Its a blessing thats already been bestowed upon you-the forgiveness of sins. Justification: one way to remember what that means is to say just-as-if-I-never-sinned, a new beginning for you. Youve been redeemed; youve been purchased by God. The blessing of being chosen; the blessing of being adopted; the blessing of being redeemed-we could close the book and go home and say, Thats enough blessings for me! But we have one more. Verse 11, In Him we were also chosen, haven been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are Gods possession-to the praise of His glory. In other words, What we have is now, but not yet. We are saved now, but its not yet revealed the fullness of our salvation. Now are we the sons of God? It is not yet revealed what we shall be, but we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is, John writes in 1 John 3:2. The fourth blessing that this says here is that you and I in Christ-that we together-have been sealed by the Spirit of God. Weve been sealed. We have a deposit. You know when that player gets ready to sign his contract-he signs his contract, the team says this: Listen, I know youve been in college, and I know youve not been making any money. Youve been playing under a scholarship, but now that youre a pro, youre going to be paid for your services; and because you probably need some money to get situated in your new city and youre thinking about all the dollars youre going to earn, were going to give you some of your contract now. Its called a bonus. They might give you a million dollars just for signing. You havent played a down yet; you havent played a game yet, and the team has said, Listen, just so you know were serious and we value your services, just for signing the contract, heres a million dollars. Quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who used to play for the Dallas Cowboys, said that when he was drafted and got his signing bonus, he would call his bank over and over again; and it would say, For your balance, press this, just so he could hear the voice at the other end saying, You have a million dollars! Then hed hang up and hed call it again just to hear that. When you go to buy a house, you give earnest money to say, Im serious about this. Heres $1,000 or however much people are giving for earnest money these days. Im serious about buying this house. If you walk away from that deal, that earnest money is theirs to keep. Your financing collapses. That earnest money is theirs to keep. Youre saying, Im putting down this deposit because I intend to purchase this house. Heres the earnest money. Its yours, and theres more to come. The Bible says the Holy Spirit is our earnest money. He is our seal. He has been given to us by God. The Holy Spirit is God, and so we have the presence of God in our lives through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is here to comfort us. The Word of God says He is the Parakletos, the One called alongside to help. So when we need to be comforted and encouraged, we have the Spirit. We have the Holy Spirit who guides us into truth and teaches us about Jesus. The Holy Spirit gives us insights into the Word of God. As Im sharing the Word of God with you this morning, the Holy Spirit is your teacher, and Hes pointing things out to you. Hes seeking to make changes in your life. Hes applying this to your life, so youll take this message, and He will adapt it in your life in one way and in your neighbors life over here in another way. The Holy Spirit is working in each of our lives uniquely right now. For some of you who dont know the Lord, the Holy Spirit is using this to draw you to Himself. Sometimes were seeking direction in our lives about a decision we must make, and the Holy Spirit will use His Word or His presence to steer you in a direction; so He leads us. He guides us. When our lives dont honor the Lord, He convicts us of sin and gently draws us back to the cross and says, Heres the kind of life that youre to live. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live a Godly life. All of these things are given by God as a witness of His promise that He means business, that theres more to come, so we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit who will not be taken from us and is ours as our guide, as our friend, for the rest of our lives until faith becomes sight. I love what Peter had to say in 1 Peter when he said, If you call God your Father, then live your lives in fear in your stay on the earth. I love the way he says it-your stay on the earth-like its a night in Motel 6 here on earth. Hes saying, In the eyes of eternity, this is just a visit. Its just a stay in a hotel for the weekend. Thats all this is. Friends, this is the practice field. This is where we get dirty; this is where we make mistakes; this is where we learn our purpose, our talents and our gifts. This is where we learn the playbook, whats expected of us. This is practice. This is pre-season right now, friends. Opening day is yet to come, and opening day comes and the lights go on, its going to be something to be in the presence of God! Well be transformed into the image of Christ. But until that day comes, God has already given us blessings from His Word. Theyre yours. Theyre spiritual blessings. You cant touch it, look at it; but its more real than our earthly blessings because its in Heavenly places. Its secure and its eternal because Christ has risen from the dead. Everything He said of Himself, everything He said about Heaven, is true. His resurrection is proof of that. We rest in faith until our faith becomes sight. We are blessed as believers. In just a moment, were going to listen to a song and reflect on a song; and then were going to have a chance to sing. As we sing this morning, our singing is going to be an expression of our love and worship to God for all the blessings Hes bestowed on us in Christ. You have much to be thankful for today, church. Father, we thank You for the blessings that weve received; the blessing of being chosen, of saying that You want us on Your team; the blessing of being adopted-that You want us in Your family-we belong; that weve been given a new identity and a new life; the blessing of redemption-that weve been redeemed; that we have been purchased with nothing less than the blood of Christ; that we have immeasurable worth in Your eyes; and the blessing of being sealed by the Holy Spirit-the promise, the earnest money; that there is more to come; that we belong to You. Father, for all these blessings and more, we give You thanks today. In Jesus name, Amen.