BY GRACE
As I think back on the days of my life before I answered Jesus when
He called I was a mess.
Ephesians 2:1 says; "And you He made alive, who were dead in
trespasses and sins."
That is exactly where I was.
The funny thing is I guess I thought I was alright.
I knew there was something missing in my life but didn't know what it
was.
I had been searching for some time.
We were all at that place not knowing what we were looking for.
Paul is saying here that we were dead in the world and lost spiritually.
Ephesians 2:2 says; in which you once walked according to the
course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the
air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.
This verse is pretty much to the point and it should scare us into
getting busy in the Lords work.
When I think that I was serving Satan I feel aweful.
Paul is even speaking of Christians that are being disobedient are
serving Satan.
When we are out of Gods will we are serving the enemy.
That is why it is so important to seek the Lord and make sure we are
in His will.
When we look to man for the answers and cling to the things of the
world we have turned to the enemy and doing his bidding.
To be honest I didn't think that I had ever served the enemy.
At least since I asked Jesus into my heart.
But now I see all the times I turned away I was serving the one that
hates me and came to kill me.
This lesson is wake up call for all Christians who are disobedient, (not
in Gods will), to get back in Gods will and get busy with His work.
Ephesians 2:3 says; among whom also we all once conducted our-
selves in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and
of the mind and were by nature children of wrath, just as the
others.
Lust means strong desires.
Paul is not just talking about sensual lust, but the lust of money,
power, material things the world is trying to sell us.
Galatians 5:19-21 says; Now the works of the flesh are evident,
which are: adultry, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry,
sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, out burst of wrath,
selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murderers, drunken-
ness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as
I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things
will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
When you see all the different sins written down and think about how
you are living, do you see any of those things working in your
lives?
If you do it is time to get on your knees, as I am going to do, and
ask the Lord to help you get what ever it is out of you.
I know one thing for sure, I don't want to serve the enemy and that is
what we are doing if any of those things are working in us.
Ephesians 2:4-7 says; But God who is rich in mercy because of His
great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in
trespasses, made us alive together and made us alive together
with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up
together, and made us sit together in the Heavenly place in Christ
Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding
ricdhes of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Paul is telling us in these verses is that it is Gods love for us and His
mercy He has shown us.
Ephesians 2:8-10 says; For grace you have been saved through
faith, and not of yourselves; it is a gift of God not of works, lest
anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that
we should walk in them.
You and I did absolutely nothing to be saved.
God is a mreciful God that is why we are saved.
He had His only begotten son come to earth in the form of a baby.
Jesus died for the sins of the world all sins not just some.
For every child born and grew up and sinned against God.
Where did you get the faith that goes with the grace of God?
You got your faith from God it is also a gift from above.
Are you showing mrecy for someone that hurt you?
Every man, woman, and child has hurt God many times.
Yet God shows us all mercy and calls us to be His own.
By grace you ae saved through faith.
Jonah 2:9 says; But I will sacrifice to you. With the voice of thanks-
giving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is free but you do have responsibilities that go with it.
You must change your life style and walk in the ways of the Lord.
You must seek the Lords will in all that you do.
You must glorify the Lord in everything that you do.
You must witness to the lost souls let Jesus shine through you.
You must live what you are witnessing to the lost souls.
You can talk the right stuff but if you are living by the rules of the
world no one will ever turn to God.
Remember when mom or dad said do as I say not as I do.?
yep, you did just as they did.
If it was okay for them, then it was okay for you.
Why would anyone turn to God when you are living the same way they
are?
These are the scriptures I used for this word the Lord gave me.
I encourage you to read them for yourself and see what the Lord will
show you in the scriptures.
Ephesians 2:1-10, 4:1, 4:17, 5:2, 5:8, 5:15, 4:9-10, 1:20,
Romans 3:27, 4:4-5, 4:16, 6:4-5, 5:6-8, 10:12,
John 1:31-32, 3:16, Psalms 1:1, 51:5, Galatians 5:19-21, 5:16,
Matthew 16:23, Luke 22:31-32, Acts 5:3, 1John 4:9-10, 1Peter4:3,
Isaiah 19:25, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 3:4, Colossians 3:6
My prayer is that who ever reads these words, the Lord gave me, has
shed some light on this subject. That when we are out of Gods
will we are working for the one that truly hates us and wants to
hurt God by taking His children from Him. I pray that you get very
serious about seeking the Lords will in all things. God loves us so
much. We need to remember that. It is all about Gods love for
us. We are to worship Him for who He is. So lets get with it
brothers and sisters in the Lord. Seek the lost souls and share
with them what God has done for you and will do for them.
God bless you and your family, may the Lord keep you close to Him.
PRAISE GOD THE FATHER, JESUS OUR SAVIOR, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
THAT LIVES WITHIN ALL CHRISTIANS.
