Ephesians 2:6,7 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Not only have we been quickened; made alive and no longer separated from God, but He also hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. What this simply means is that God has positionally sanctified us. That is God has placed us already in His mind to be separated unto His Kingdom. God views us as already seated in heaven because we are in Christ. Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: As a result of being in Christ and therefore seated with Him in heavenly places we are richly blessed! We have an inheritance from Almighty God! Beyond that inheritance and the position of privilege in heaven, we also here have a promise from God That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. We have already spent time in previous devotions talking about the exceeding riches of his grace, so here, I now want to focus on "His Kindness Toward Us." This kindness first appeared in providing salvation. Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, in saving our souls! God's kindness continues on today for the child of God. Our Father enjoys showing kindness to His children. His kindness is so great and overwhelming! We have two Old Testament Prophets who testify of His great kindness. Joel 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Jonah 4:2 And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. We have a very kind God as our Father! It's out of His great charity and love that He shows us this great kindness. We don't deserve it! Now think of what it means to be kind to someone. Do you have some examples in mind? Even the world today emphasis being kind. Every way you can think of to show kindness to someone can not begin to reach His great kindness that He expresses to us. I have a loving, kind Heavenly Father who treats me so good!! Every little act of kindness from God should not go unnoticed. What has He done for you? How has He been kind to you lately? Today would be a good day to stop and meditate on the blessings in your life! Begin to ponder on what God has done for you. I am confident you will see His great Kindness!
Monday, May 18, 2020
Monday, May 11, 2020
A Sinner Saved by Grace
Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Yes! Even when we were dead in sins, separated from God the Father, Christ Jesus our Lord came to save sinful man. Lost and undone, without hope, on my way to hell! Then Jesus reached out His hand to a sinner such as I, and upon receiving Him, He pull me out of the miry clay. I have no reason to boast, there is nothing I did to deserve His helping hand. I can't glory in the fact I took His hand, it would be unreasonable not too! Salvation is truly ALL of God!! He absolutely does the saving, but that does not negate our part to believe. When we do believe in Christ and receive Him then we are quicken as a result of faith! That faith creates in us eternal life. For He who is eternal life; Christ, now lives in us. 1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. If you could see what I once was If you could go with me back to where I started from then I know you would see. As Paul said, I am the chiefest of sinners, to that I myself agree. However, one day a miracle of love took me in it's sweet embrace and it made me what I am today, just an old sinner saved by grace. I'm just a sinner saved by grace! Hallelujah!! What a Saviour!!! I did nothing to deserve it! It was not me "repenting of all my sins" that saved me. It was repenting of unbelief and then placing faith in Christ. No act that I may do, no good work that I may do, could ever or will forever have anything to do with my salvation. It's by GRACE!!! Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Be careful there are many deceitful voices out there today that tell you that you must do this or do that, but that's not what the Bible says. We are freely given salvation. What a great salvation it is! While I am still a sinner in the flesh in my spirit and soul I am justified, that means I am declared NOT guilty. God does not see my sin, He sees the righteousness of His Son. The fact that I am a sinner saved by grace gives me great delight. It makes me joyful in that I know how God sees me and it also keeps me humble and grateful because I know what I am. Naught have I gotten but what I received; Grace hath bestowed it since I have believed. Boasting is excluded, pride I abase, I'm only a sinner saved by grace! Yes, my friend only a sinner saved by grace! This is my story to God be the glory! I'm only a sinner saved by grace! This is the old time religion that remains good enough for me, thank God for Grace! Whatever your doing today, please take the time to stop and thank Him for His Amazing Grace! Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Yes! Even when we were dead in sins, separated from God the Father, Christ Jesus our Lord came to save sinful man. Lost and undone, without hope, on my way to hell! Then Jesus reached out His hand to a sinner such as I, and upon receiving Him, He pull me out of the miry clay. I have no reason to boast, there is nothing I did to deserve His helping hand. I can't glory in the fact I took His hand, it would be unreasonable not too! Salvation is truly ALL of God!! He absolutely does the saving, but that does not negate our part to believe. When we do believe in Christ and receive Him then we are quicken as a result of faith! That faith creates in us eternal life. For He who is eternal life; Christ, now lives in us. 1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. If you could see what I once was If you could go with me back to where I started from then I know you would see. As Paul said, I am the chiefest of sinners, to that I myself agree. However, one day a miracle of love took me in it's sweet embrace and it made me what I am today, just an old sinner saved by grace. I'm just a sinner saved by grace! Hallelujah!! What a Saviour!!! I did nothing to deserve it! It was not me "repenting of all my sins" that saved me. It was repenting of unbelief and then placing faith in Christ. No act that I may do, no good work that I may do, could ever or will forever have anything to do with my salvation. It's by GRACE!!! Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Be careful there are many deceitful voices out there today that tell you that you must do this or do that, but that's not what the Bible says. We are freely given salvation. What a great salvation it is! While I am still a sinner in the flesh in my spirit and soul I am justified, that means I am declared NOT guilty. God does not see my sin, He sees the righteousness of His Son. The fact that I am a sinner saved by grace gives me great delight. It makes me joyful in that I know how God sees me and it also keeps me humble and grateful because I know what I am. Naught have I gotten but what I received; Grace hath bestowed it since I have believed. Boasting is excluded, pride I abase, I'm only a sinner saved by grace! Yes, my friend only a sinner saved by grace! This is my story to God be the glory! I'm only a sinner saved by grace! This is the old time religion that remains good enough for me, thank God for Grace! Whatever your doing today, please take the time to stop and thank Him for His Amazing Grace! Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
But God
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
We were in an awful state! We were by nature the child of wrath and of Satan. A member of the wrong family destined for destruction, separated from God and under the powerful influence of the evil one! We were born in bondage to this world and were under the evil spirit of this world. Lost and undone, wicked and depraved to the core. We were headed on a fast track towards hell and forever to burn in the lake of fire. But God! Yes, amen! Glory to God, hallelujah! He always has the last word! God's rich mercy spared me! Psalm 145:8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. If it were not for His great, abundant mercy I know were I'd be! Thank God for mercy! Mercy was not alone in rescuing me. Oh, no it had a partner called love. Just as rich and great as mercy was so was the love of God towards me. The Love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell; It goes beyond the highest star. To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry, O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! His love is an everlasting, unconditional love that I do not deserve, but that which I actually long for. It is that love that draws me to Him. Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. I thank God for His amazing love! I was sinking deep in sin, very deeply stain with, but the Master of the sea heard by despairing cry! His love lifted me when nothing else could help! Amen! Praise the Lord for these two short words, "But God."These two great words together, "But God," are mentioned 43 times in the Word of God. Let's explore some of them. A man by the name of Epaphroditus was on his death bed and would have died, but God! Philippians 2:27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. When you feel like your circumstances and feelings are unique and you desire to give in and walk away, but God! 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. When we were at our worst and completely undeserving of His grace, but God! Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. When I feel my heart failing for fear or when I am physically having heart issues, but God! Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. When evil has come my way and people have done me wrong. When I have been treated unfairly, lied about, and falsely accused, but God! Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Here are a sample of instances where God stepped in and made the difference. I am so grateful for Calvary! Calvary made the difference. I was lost, on my way to hell, but God because of His great love and mercy found away! Whatever you are facing today, no matter how dark and bleak the situation may look remember this could be your "but God" moment. Trust Him!
We were in an awful state! We were by nature the child of wrath and of Satan. A member of the wrong family destined for destruction, separated from God and under the powerful influence of the evil one! We were born in bondage to this world and were under the evil spirit of this world. Lost and undone, wicked and depraved to the core. We were headed on a fast track towards hell and forever to burn in the lake of fire. But God! Yes, amen! Glory to God, hallelujah! He always has the last word! God's rich mercy spared me! Psalm 145:8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. If it were not for His great, abundant mercy I know were I'd be! Thank God for mercy! Mercy was not alone in rescuing me. Oh, no it had a partner called love. Just as rich and great as mercy was so was the love of God towards me. The Love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell; It goes beyond the highest star. To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry, O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! His love is an everlasting, unconditional love that I do not deserve, but that which I actually long for. It is that love that draws me to Him. Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. I thank God for His amazing love! I was sinking deep in sin, very deeply stain with, but the Master of the sea heard by despairing cry! His love lifted me when nothing else could help! Amen! Praise the Lord for these two short words, "But God."These two great words together, "But God," are mentioned 43 times in the Word of God. Let's explore some of them. A man by the name of Epaphroditus was on his death bed and would have died, but God! Philippians 2:27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. When you feel like your circumstances and feelings are unique and you desire to give in and walk away, but God! 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. When we were at our worst and completely undeserving of His grace, but God! Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. When I feel my heart failing for fear or when I am physically having heart issues, but God! Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. When evil has come my way and people have done me wrong. When I have been treated unfairly, lied about, and falsely accused, but God! Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Here are a sample of instances where God stepped in and made the difference. I am so grateful for Calvary! Calvary made the difference. I was lost, on my way to hell, but God because of His great love and mercy found away! Whatever you are facing today, no matter how dark and bleak the situation may look remember this could be your "but God" moment. Trust Him!
Monday, May 4, 2020
The Children of Wrath
Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
As we remarked in the previous devotion from verse two, as a lost unregenerate man it was natural to follow the desires and yearnings of the flesh. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; The flesh is enemity against God. The lust of the flesh is of the world. 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. When we act in the flesh we are acting like the world and following in the steps of the god of this world. The god of this world, the devil himself is the father of the children of disobedience. John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. There are only two families. The family of Satan or the family of God. Every single person born into this world has a fallen and corrupt nature. This nature can be traced all the way back to Adam when he accepted Satan's seed of deception. Man as a result of disobedience to God became corrupt and inherited a sinful spirit which originated in Satan. Mankind's nature is an offspring from Satan's. From the time of our birth he; the devil is our earthly father and we are apart of his family, unless we decide to seek adoption into another family. The the only other family besides the Devil's family is the family of God. God the Father is willing to adopt us into His family if we accept His Son, Jesus Christ! John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Praise the Lord! I know I am in the right family for I have received Jesus Christ, but my heart goes out to those who don't know Him. All of those who have not accepted the Lord Jesus and received Him as Saviour are apart of a family fitted for destruction. Romans 9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: That ought to make you weep! People who at no fault of their own were born into a family destined for Hell. That was me, that was you. Even now who is it that you love and care about, that remains in that family of destruction. The only hope they have is for those who are apart of God's family to go tell them their destiny and with the power of the Holy Spirit convince them to switch families! Be grateful today that you're apart of God's family and then please use that gratitude to fuel a desire in you to tell all who will listen of the wonderful offer God has for them. Oh, dear friend, let's preach the gospel and tell them the good news! Jesus will receive whomsoever will!
As we remarked in the previous devotion from verse two, as a lost unregenerate man it was natural to follow the desires and yearnings of the flesh. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; The flesh is enemity against God. The lust of the flesh is of the world. 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. When we act in the flesh we are acting like the world and following in the steps of the god of this world. The god of this world, the devil himself is the father of the children of disobedience. John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. There are only two families. The family of Satan or the family of God. Every single person born into this world has a fallen and corrupt nature. This nature can be traced all the way back to Adam when he accepted Satan's seed of deception. Man as a result of disobedience to God became corrupt and inherited a sinful spirit which originated in Satan. Mankind's nature is an offspring from Satan's. From the time of our birth he; the devil is our earthly father and we are apart of his family, unless we decide to seek adoption into another family. The the only other family besides the Devil's family is the family of God. God the Father is willing to adopt us into His family if we accept His Son, Jesus Christ! John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Praise the Lord! I know I am in the right family for I have received Jesus Christ, but my heart goes out to those who don't know Him. All of those who have not accepted the Lord Jesus and received Him as Saviour are apart of a family fitted for destruction. Romans 9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: That ought to make you weep! People who at no fault of their own were born into a family destined for Hell. That was me, that was you. Even now who is it that you love and care about, that remains in that family of destruction. The only hope they have is for those who are apart of God's family to go tell them their destiny and with the power of the Holy Spirit convince them to switch families! Be grateful today that you're apart of God's family and then please use that gratitude to fuel a desire in you to tell all who will listen of the wonderful offer God has for them. Oh, dear friend, let's preach the gospel and tell them the good news! Jesus will receive whomsoever will!
Friday, May 1, 2020
The spirit of this World
Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Before we were quickened, when we were still separated from God being dead in our trespasses and sins, we walked after the flesh. Wherein in time past refers to the time in our life when we were lost and undone, without Christ in this old sinful world. As a lost unregenerate man it was natural to follow the desires and yearnings of the flesh. This is described as walking according to the course of this world. Here is a sample of that walk: 1 Peter 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries. Therein are the ways of the world that lieth in wickedness. And a whole lot more sins can be added to that list! 1John 5:19 says, "And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness." This world is dominated by evil and has been cursed since the fall. This world we live in is evil and anti-God. Jesus came to change that and one day will! Gal 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: It is God's ultimate plan to deliver us from this sinful, evil world and the effects of it. Now for a Christian to desire to be apart of this world doesn't make a lick of sense. God wants to deliver us from the curse of this world and yet some Christians want to yoke up with the world, act like the world, dress like the world and love the things of this world!! Help us! God has so much better for! Yet, God says in 1 John 2:15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." As God's children we are to be separate from the world! Why? The reason is simply this: this world is run according to the prince of the power of the air. Satan is the god of this world! Satan is the prince of this world! 2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. And over in John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. Did you hear that? The prince of this world; Satan has nothing to do with Jesus. So if he has nothing to do with Jesus, then we as Jesus people ought not have anything to do with this world! This world has the spirit of rebellion and of antichrist. We should not rub shoulders with the enemies of God. It is the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Though we are in the world let us not be of the world. Our relationship to the children of disobedience should be that of a witness or ambassador to them and not a fellow partaker of the things of an evil world. Let us not let the spirit of this world which is evil influence us. Yes, we must live in the world to reach the lost, but we ought not to live like the world!! Amen!
Before we were quickened, when we were still separated from God being dead in our trespasses and sins, we walked after the flesh. Wherein in time past refers to the time in our life when we were lost and undone, without Christ in this old sinful world. As a lost unregenerate man it was natural to follow the desires and yearnings of the flesh. This is described as walking according to the course of this world. Here is a sample of that walk: 1 Peter 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries. Therein are the ways of the world that lieth in wickedness. And a whole lot more sins can be added to that list! 1John 5:19 says, "And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness." This world is dominated by evil and has been cursed since the fall. This world we live in is evil and anti-God. Jesus came to change that and one day will! Gal 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: It is God's ultimate plan to deliver us from this sinful, evil world and the effects of it. Now for a Christian to desire to be apart of this world doesn't make a lick of sense. God wants to deliver us from the curse of this world and yet some Christians want to yoke up with the world, act like the world, dress like the world and love the things of this world!! Help us! God has so much better for! Yet, God says in 1 John 2:15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." As God's children we are to be separate from the world! Why? The reason is simply this: this world is run according to the prince of the power of the air. Satan is the god of this world! Satan is the prince of this world! 2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. And over in John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. Did you hear that? The prince of this world; Satan has nothing to do with Jesus. So if he has nothing to do with Jesus, then we as Jesus people ought not have anything to do with this world! This world has the spirit of rebellion and of antichrist. We should not rub shoulders with the enemies of God. It is the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Though we are in the world let us not be of the world. Our relationship to the children of disobedience should be that of a witness or ambassador to them and not a fellow partaker of the things of an evil world. Let us not let the spirit of this world which is evil influence us. Yes, we must live in the world to reach the lost, but we ought not to live like the world!! Amen!
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