Ephesians 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
As mentioned in the previous devotion, it is through Christ that we have power. Philippians 3:10 says, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;" God's mighty power is working in us through Jesus Christ. The mighty power of God was wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead. As believers in Jesus Christ we too have resurrection power available to us. This is the mighty power of God that rose Christ from the grave. Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. One day we too will rise but until then we remain truly blessed to have an High Priest seated at the right hand of the throne of God. In Colossians 3:1, it says, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." Our High Priest is in Heaven! We should be seeking Him. What an advantage we have as a result of Christ being in heaven! Let me elaborate on it. First in Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God. Then in Hebrews 4:14,15 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. One of the great benefits of having Jesus at the right hand of God the Father is we have an intercessor. Think of it, right now, Jesus is praying that thy faith fail not. He is praying that you would have all your needs met. He is praying and defending you from the accusations that the accuser of the brethren is hurling at you. Jesus never fails! Jesus is praying for you! In Hebrews 7:24,25 the Bible says, "But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." Everyday we wake up we need to remind ourselves that Jesus is praying for me today. Any need, any problem, any issue I face throughout the day has the Saviour interceding for me. Now because He has died and risen again and returned to Heaven we have a great blessing, Jesus is praying for us! Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Listen my friend, no matter what your facing, realize who's on your side and who is fighting for you in prayer at the throne of God. Jesus never fails! His prayers always get answered!
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Friday, July 26, 2019
His Mighty Power
Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
God has saved us and wants to make Himself known in our lives. The Lord wants to show us how powerful He really is. In the Old Testament God took His people out of Egypt by His mighty power. In the book of Deuteronomy 4:37 it says, "And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;" Then we also see in Deuteronomy 9:29 Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm. God bringing His people out of Egypt was a display of His mighty power! Likewise when God brought us out of Egypt (the world) and saved our souls, that too, was a display of His mighty power! Psalm 106:8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known. For those who believe and are born of the Spirit, we have an exceeding great power within us. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit gives us power! God wants to show His mighty power working through us. In the Old Testament a man by the name of Zerubbabel was leading the Jews in the building of the second temple. God told an angel to tell Zerubabbel how he was going to accomplish that work. Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. When God's Spirit is upon us then we have mighty power to do good and to accomplish great works for Him. It is said about Jesus Christ himself that He did His work in the power of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 10:38 it says, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." As a result of salvation our relationship with Jesus Christ enables us to have power. Philippians 3:10 says, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;" God's mighty power is working in us through Jesus Christ. The closer we are to Christ the more power we will have to accomplish great things for God. Today, will you spend time with Christ and yield yourself to His Spirit so that the mighty power of God can rest upon you? As a child of God who has been delivered from the sin of Egypt you have experienced this power, but God wants to make His mighty power known to you in every area of your life. Pray for Power! Surrender to Christ. Yield to the Holy Spirit and watch God work!
God has saved us and wants to make Himself known in our lives. The Lord wants to show us how powerful He really is. In the Old Testament God took His people out of Egypt by His mighty power. In the book of Deuteronomy 4:37 it says, "And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;" Then we also see in Deuteronomy 9:29 Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm. God bringing His people out of Egypt was a display of His mighty power! Likewise when God brought us out of Egypt (the world) and saved our souls, that too, was a display of His mighty power! Psalm 106:8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known. For those who believe and are born of the Spirit, we have an exceeding great power within us. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit gives us power! God wants to show His mighty power working through us. In the Old Testament a man by the name of Zerubbabel was leading the Jews in the building of the second temple. God told an angel to tell Zerubabbel how he was going to accomplish that work. Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. When God's Spirit is upon us then we have mighty power to do good and to accomplish great works for Him. It is said about Jesus Christ himself that He did His work in the power of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 10:38 it says, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." As a result of salvation our relationship with Jesus Christ enables us to have power. Philippians 3:10 says, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;" God's mighty power is working in us through Jesus Christ. The closer we are to Christ the more power we will have to accomplish great things for God. Today, will you spend time with Christ and yield yourself to His Spirit so that the mighty power of God can rest upon you? As a child of God who has been delivered from the sin of Egypt you have experienced this power, but God wants to make His mighty power known to you in every area of your life. Pray for Power! Surrender to Christ. Yield to the Holy Spirit and watch God work!
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
A Prayer for the Brethren
Ephesians 1:17,18 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
So what was Paul's prayer for the brethren? As we enter verse seventeen we are given a sample prayer that we can pray for all saints. This is how Paul prayed for the faithful brethren. First Paul prayed unto God the Father. Our Father what art in heaven? Yes, of course because of regeneration and adoption He is our Father, but more specifically in this prayer he starts with: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory. So Paul first prayed to the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Second, we see Paul's understanding that the same God that manifested His glory in His Son, the person of Jesus Christ; would also provide for us and give us what we need through the Son also. Thirdly, notice what is asked for: spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. This is exactly what we should be praying that our brethren would be given everyday. James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. We ask God to give them wisdom and a knowledge of Christ in their heart. Wisdom is the ability to apply biblical principles, therefore making Godly decisions. Then we ask God to reveal or make known in us who Jesus Christ is! To know Him is the most important thing any believer can obtain. To know Christ is to have wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:24 says, "But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." The spirit of wisdom comes from a personal, close, intimate relationship with Christ! We are truly complete in Him! Fourth, we ought to pray that our brethren's eyes would be open to see and understand what God's calling is. When we having a true knowledge of who Christ is, then we will see what God's will is for each and every decision that we have to make throughout the day. God's wisdom, which is found in Christ enables us to make Godly decisions. When you know Christ and fellowship in His presence, then every need you have will be met. You will know what it is to be rich! You will not have any need unmet and at the same time you will have all the resources you may need. My inheritance, my sufficiency, my provisions, my needs are all met in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ! This is the way we should be praying for the brethren.
So what was Paul's prayer for the brethren? As we enter verse seventeen we are given a sample prayer that we can pray for all saints. This is how Paul prayed for the faithful brethren. First Paul prayed unto God the Father. Our Father what art in heaven? Yes, of course because of regeneration and adoption He is our Father, but more specifically in this prayer he starts with: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory. So Paul first prayed to the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Second, we see Paul's understanding that the same God that manifested His glory in His Son, the person of Jesus Christ; would also provide for us and give us what we need through the Son also. Thirdly, notice what is asked for: spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. This is exactly what we should be praying that our brethren would be given everyday. James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. We ask God to give them wisdom and a knowledge of Christ in their heart. Wisdom is the ability to apply biblical principles, therefore making Godly decisions. Then we ask God to reveal or make known in us who Jesus Christ is! To know Him is the most important thing any believer can obtain. To know Christ is to have wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:24 says, "But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." The spirit of wisdom comes from a personal, close, intimate relationship with Christ! We are truly complete in Him! Fourth, we ought to pray that our brethren's eyes would be open to see and understand what God's calling is. When we having a true knowledge of who Christ is, then we will see what God's will is for each and every decision that we have to make throughout the day. God's wisdom, which is found in Christ enables us to make Godly decisions. When you know Christ and fellowship in His presence, then every need you have will be met. You will know what it is to be rich! You will not have any need unmet and at the same time you will have all the resources you may need. My inheritance, my sufficiency, my provisions, my needs are all met in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ! This is the way we should be praying for the brethren.
Thursday, July 11, 2019
Grateful For Brethren
Ephesians 1:15,16 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
The apostle Paul at this point in his letter to the Ephesians, expresses his gratitude and love for the brethren. After I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus... So not only did Paul hear of their faith in Jesus Christ, but he saw the manifestation of that faith in the way they loved other believers. The saints at Ephesus had a genuine love for their fellow saints in other towns and in other churches. A love unto all the saints, blessed Paul's heart. Jesus taught this important principle in John 13:35, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." When believers love each other a great testimony is given to the lost. How sad it is today that there is so much discontent and lack of love among believers today. This is not to say that there will never be disagreement or even division, but it ought always to be done in a spirit of love and humility. It is that love in hearts that also gives us an assurance of our salvation. 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Here at this church in Ephesus the saints had a genuine love for ALL the family of God. For this cause Paul took great joy and was moved with compassion and gratefulness as he saw God's children loving each other. I am grateful for the brethren all across America and even the world that I get to share in Christ's love with. The fellowship of brethren has been so refreshing to me over the years. Many times we will meet a Christian for the first time and feel like we've known each other for years. What a great blessing it is to have brothers and sisters in Christ who love each other and encourage each other with prayer. This love and spirit of being grateful for brethren is a maturing of our faith. In 2 Thessalonians 1:3 it says, "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;" Our love for our brethren is the evidence of growing faith. Paul then reminds them of his commitment to them in the fact that he prayed for them faithfully! Nothing can be more loving and more Christlike as when we intercede for a brother or sister in Christ. Are you grateful for your brethren? How much do you pray for them? It is imperative that we that are Christ's express our love and gratitude to the brethren by ceasing not to give thanks for them, making mention of them in our prayers. Be grateful, be prayerful for the brethren!
The apostle Paul at this point in his letter to the Ephesians, expresses his gratitude and love for the brethren. After I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus... So not only did Paul hear of their faith in Jesus Christ, but he saw the manifestation of that faith in the way they loved other believers. The saints at Ephesus had a genuine love for their fellow saints in other towns and in other churches. A love unto all the saints, blessed Paul's heart. Jesus taught this important principle in John 13:35, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." When believers love each other a great testimony is given to the lost. How sad it is today that there is so much discontent and lack of love among believers today. This is not to say that there will never be disagreement or even division, but it ought always to be done in a spirit of love and humility. It is that love in hearts that also gives us an assurance of our salvation. 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Here at this church in Ephesus the saints had a genuine love for ALL the family of God. For this cause Paul took great joy and was moved with compassion and gratefulness as he saw God's children loving each other. I am grateful for the brethren all across America and even the world that I get to share in Christ's love with. The fellowship of brethren has been so refreshing to me over the years. Many times we will meet a Christian for the first time and feel like we've known each other for years. What a great blessing it is to have brothers and sisters in Christ who love each other and encourage each other with prayer. This love and spirit of being grateful for brethren is a maturing of our faith. In 2 Thessalonians 1:3 it says, "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;" Our love for our brethren is the evidence of growing faith. Paul then reminds them of his commitment to them in the fact that he prayed for them faithfully! Nothing can be more loving and more Christlike as when we intercede for a brother or sister in Christ. Are you grateful for your brethren? How much do you pray for them? It is imperative that we that are Christ's express our love and gratitude to the brethren by ceasing not to give thanks for them, making mention of them in our prayers. Be grateful, be prayerful for the brethren!
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
God's Down Payment
Ephesians 1:13b,14 ... ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Our salvation has been sealed with the Holy Spirit. The other day I put a check in an envelope and sealed it shut. Then I went to the Post Office and mailed it. As I left the Post Office I had full confidence that the envelope would reach its destination and that the rightful owner of the check would receive it. That envelope that was sealed shut, remained so until the rightful owner broke the seal and opened it up and to obtain the check inside, which was rightfully his. The envelope was sealed in order that only the buyer could open it and take possession. Likewise God has placed us (the check) in an envelope (in Christ.) At salvation we were placed, created in Christ and were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. The Holy Spirit is the seal that keeps the envelope shut until the rightful owner receives it and takes possession. The Holy Spirit keeps the check secure in the envelope until God gets it and takes full possession. As believers we are in the mail on our way from one destination to another. The envelope that we are in is Jesus Christ and that envelope is sealed by the Holy Spirit until it reaches it's destination in Heaven. At that point God will break the seal and take full possession of that which He has purchased. Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. One day God will unseal the person that He has purchased with His own blood. So if your sealed, your secure until redemption day. Also in this text we see the Holy Spirit is called the earnest of our inheritance. The word "earnest" means a down payment or a promise of full payment to come. The Holy Spirit was given to us as promise from God that He would give us a full inheritance. Of course Heaven is apart of the inheritance put that is just the land God is giving us. He has a mansion and riches stored up for us as well. Everyday we live as believers with the indwelling Holy Spirit is God's guarantee that we are His and He will receive us for good. This is exactly why He the Holy Spirit is called, the Holy Spirit of promise. Have you spent time talking with the Holy Spirit today? What a great friend He is!
Our salvation has been sealed with the Holy Spirit. The other day I put a check in an envelope and sealed it shut. Then I went to the Post Office and mailed it. As I left the Post Office I had full confidence that the envelope would reach its destination and that the rightful owner of the check would receive it. That envelope that was sealed shut, remained so until the rightful owner broke the seal and opened it up and to obtain the check inside, which was rightfully his. The envelope was sealed in order that only the buyer could open it and take possession. Likewise God has placed us (the check) in an envelope (in Christ.) At salvation we were placed, created in Christ and were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. The Holy Spirit is the seal that keeps the envelope shut until the rightful owner receives it and takes possession. The Holy Spirit keeps the check secure in the envelope until God gets it and takes full possession. As believers we are in the mail on our way from one destination to another. The envelope that we are in is Jesus Christ and that envelope is sealed by the Holy Spirit until it reaches it's destination in Heaven. At that point God will break the seal and take full possession of that which He has purchased. Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. One day God will unseal the person that He has purchased with His own blood. So if your sealed, your secure until redemption day. Also in this text we see the Holy Spirit is called the earnest of our inheritance. The word "earnest" means a down payment or a promise of full payment to come. The Holy Spirit was given to us as promise from God that He would give us a full inheritance. Of course Heaven is apart of the inheritance put that is just the land God is giving us. He has a mansion and riches stored up for us as well. Everyday we live as believers with the indwelling Holy Spirit is God's guarantee that we are His and He will receive us for good. This is exactly why He the Holy Spirit is called, the Holy Spirit of promise. Have you spent time talking with the Holy Spirit today? What a great friend He is!
Thursday, June 20, 2019
Trusting in Christ
Ephesians 1:12,13 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
God works all things after the purpose that He has determine in His will. This is what predestination means. Now the reason God does that is so that we should be to the praise of his glory. God does everything for His glory! His glory is praised by having an inheritance for His children. He alone deserves all the glory for what salvation brings. We believe, but God does the saving, the sanctifying, the adopting, the conforming, and the reserving of an inheritance. It's ALL for His glory! Now as we look at these two verses we must notice the order upon which someone comes to trust in Christ for salvation. The phrase who first trusted in Christ makes it clear that all the benefits of salvation: blessings, sanctification, adoption, inheritance only come after a person has trusted Christ. Now Paul begins to explain how it came about that they, (the Ephesians believers) received salvation. Here we have the simple order in which someone is saved. First a person hears the word of truth, the gospel of Christ. Second, that person then accepts it and believes it to be true. Finally that person then puts their trust (faith) in Christ. Hearing the gospel, believing it, and trusting in it, is the order and way a person obtains salvation. Contrary to the inaccurate teachings of Calvinists, someone who is dead in their sins can still hear the gospel being preached. Calvinistic false teaching says a person has to be made alive, quicken, regenerated first in order to be able to hear the gospel and believe it. These verses clearly reveal that salvation and the new birth are a result of a person hearing, believing and trusting first. Can you really believe that these false teachers put regeneration; being born again before faith? The Bible is clear, being born again is a result of an individual putting their faith in Christ! Calvinists truly have an upside down and backwards gospel that they preach. A person who is dead in sin (separated from God) has the ability to hear the preaching of the gospel and in conjunction with the conviction of the Holy Spirit, then choose to believe it and trust in Christ for salvation. The moment that happens the believer is then sealed with the Holy Spirit and secure in salvation. Salvation is ALL the work of God but believing is OUR responsibility! God does not regenerate us in order for us to believe, rather our believing initiates regeneration. We must reject Calvinism and just believe the Bible! Romans 10:14-17 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The order is clear they can't call on him (trust Christ) if they have not believed. And they can't believe if they have not heard. And they cannot hear unless we preach the gospel. If we are faithful to preach the gospel those that hear it, believe it, and trust it, have saving faith.
God works all things after the purpose that He has determine in His will. This is what predestination means. Now the reason God does that is so that we should be to the praise of his glory. God does everything for His glory! His glory is praised by having an inheritance for His children. He alone deserves all the glory for what salvation brings. We believe, but God does the saving, the sanctifying, the adopting, the conforming, and the reserving of an inheritance. It's ALL for His glory! Now as we look at these two verses we must notice the order upon which someone comes to trust in Christ for salvation. The phrase who first trusted in Christ makes it clear that all the benefits of salvation: blessings, sanctification, adoption, inheritance only come after a person has trusted Christ. Now Paul begins to explain how it came about that they, (the Ephesians believers) received salvation. Here we have the simple order in which someone is saved. First a person hears the word of truth, the gospel of Christ. Second, that person then accepts it and believes it to be true. Finally that person then puts their trust (faith) in Christ. Hearing the gospel, believing it, and trusting in it, is the order and way a person obtains salvation. Contrary to the inaccurate teachings of Calvinists, someone who is dead in their sins can still hear the gospel being preached. Calvinistic false teaching says a person has to be made alive, quicken, regenerated first in order to be able to hear the gospel and believe it. These verses clearly reveal that salvation and the new birth are a result of a person hearing, believing and trusting first. Can you really believe that these false teachers put regeneration; being born again before faith? The Bible is clear, being born again is a result of an individual putting their faith in Christ! Calvinists truly have an upside down and backwards gospel that they preach. A person who is dead in sin (separated from God) has the ability to hear the preaching of the gospel and in conjunction with the conviction of the Holy Spirit, then choose to believe it and trust in Christ for salvation. The moment that happens the believer is then sealed with the Holy Spirit and secure in salvation. Salvation is ALL the work of God but believing is OUR responsibility! God does not regenerate us in order for us to believe, rather our believing initiates regeneration. We must reject Calvinism and just believe the Bible! Romans 10:14-17 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The order is clear they can't call on him (trust Christ) if they have not believed. And they can't believe if they have not heard. And they cannot hear unless we preach the gospel. If we are faithful to preach the gospel those that hear it, believe it, and trust it, have saving faith.
Thursday, June 13, 2019
A Predestined Inheritance
Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
In whom (Jesus Christ) also we (believers) have obtained an inheritance. As believers in Christ, who have been adopted into the family of God, we now have an inheritance. As John W. Peterson's song says, "God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, The wealth in every mine; He owns the rivers and the rocks and rills, The sun and stars that shine. Wonderful riches, more than tongue can tell - He is my Father so they're mine as well; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills -I know that He will care for me." We have a rich Father. We serve a great God who shares the riches of His grace. I know one day I will receive from Him my full inheritance. Colossians 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. This certainty is based on the fact that I have been predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things. Again Paul mentions here the fact that believers have been predestinated according to God's purpose. Remember nobody is predestined to believe but those who choose to believe are predestined to God's purpose. What is God's purpose for His children? It's plain and it's also the same for all believers. Here it is. First, God purposed that all those who trust Christ would be predestined to become His adopted children. So as a result of being predestinated unto adoption by God the Father, we now have the legal right to the inheritance that belongs to God's children. Second, God has a blanket will or purpose for all His children, as well as a specific will for each of His children. God's blanket will, (the will that is the same for all of His children) is found in Romans 8:28,29, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." God's will for every believer is to be conformed into the image of Christ. Those that God foreknew would believe have been predestined to be adopted and conformed into the image of Christ and also to do good works. Notice, Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. These things have been planned after the counsel of his own will. God desires all men to be saved but only those who receive that receive Him have the power to become the sons of God. After a person is born again and adopted into the family of God, he has the rights to the inheritance. I am praising God! No, I may not have a rich Uncle that's about ready to kick the bucket, but I have a rich Father whose holding onto my inheritance for me. We ought to be giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints. Serve Him today until you come into that inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you!
In whom (Jesus Christ) also we (believers) have obtained an inheritance. As believers in Christ, who have been adopted into the family of God, we now have an inheritance. As John W. Peterson's song says, "God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, The wealth in every mine; He owns the rivers and the rocks and rills, The sun and stars that shine. Wonderful riches, more than tongue can tell - He is my Father so they're mine as well; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills -I know that He will care for me." We have a rich Father. We serve a great God who shares the riches of His grace. I know one day I will receive from Him my full inheritance. Colossians 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. This certainty is based on the fact that I have been predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things. Again Paul mentions here the fact that believers have been predestinated according to God's purpose. Remember nobody is predestined to believe but those who choose to believe are predestined to God's purpose. What is God's purpose for His children? It's plain and it's also the same for all believers. Here it is. First, God purposed that all those who trust Christ would be predestined to become His adopted children. So as a result of being predestinated unto adoption by God the Father, we now have the legal right to the inheritance that belongs to God's children. Second, God has a blanket will or purpose for all His children, as well as a specific will for each of His children. God's blanket will, (the will that is the same for all of His children) is found in Romans 8:28,29, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." God's will for every believer is to be conformed into the image of Christ. Those that God foreknew would believe have been predestined to be adopted and conformed into the image of Christ and also to do good works. Notice, Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. These things have been planned after the counsel of his own will. God desires all men to be saved but only those who receive that receive Him have the power to become the sons of God. After a person is born again and adopted into the family of God, he has the rights to the inheritance. I am praising God! No, I may not have a rich Uncle that's about ready to kick the bucket, but I have a rich Father whose holding onto my inheritance for me. We ought to be giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints. Serve Him today until you come into that inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you!
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