Sermon Notes; a Daily Devotional

Ephesians 2:5&6 "5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: By GRACE Ye Are Saved Mercy is from God, we don't deserve it, we cannot earn it, it's a GIFT from God. It's GRACE. We are RESCUED, we have salvation in heaven and we have GRACE in this life. "made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" IN SPITE of our sins. IN SPITE of our wanting to do things our own way. IN SPITE of all our betrayal. GOD LOVES US! In this letter, Paul illustrates that we all had relationships with lifestyles that gratified our wild desires. What we are experiencing in our culture is nothing new. People have always argued that their desires are God-given. People will say; "That's how God made me." But, that's NOT we learn when studying GOD'S WORD. Paul reminds us that we were sinners before. The...

Ephesians 2:3&4 "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. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us," We are on our way to learn about GRACE in our FAITH WORDS series. We have returned to the letter Paul wrote to the Ephesians. Paul covers a wide range of moral and ethical behaviors. He is challenging believers to live up to their heavenly calling. He reminded us that we all were sinners before. The culture of the world has always taught, "If it feels good do it." This is the way of the world. This tells us to gratify our desires. Following this idea will lead to death in our sins. In today's verses Paul futher illustrates his point; "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 min...

Ephesians 2:1&2 "1 And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 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:" This week, we will study GRACE in our FAITH WORDS series. We are learning more about our beliefs as we look into the meaning of the words we use. Last week was TRUST, and we read about the founding father, Abram! We are inspired by his TRUST becoming actions that form the foundation of our beliefs.  Today, we turn to the letter Paul wrote to the Ephesians. Paul covers a wide range of moral and ethical behaviors. He is challenging believers to live up to their heavenly calling. In today's verses we read a reminder that we all were sinners before; "And you hath He quickened, who WERE DEAD in trespasses and sins; Wherein in TIME PAST ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the princ...

James 2:26 "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." What is your "body of work?" We trust and grow in God's plan. Trust becomes action. Even the devil believes in God, but he doesn't TRUST God. It's our actions that define us. On the sea of Galilee, it was Peter's TRUST in Jesus that got him to step out of the boat and walk on water! Briefly, he walked on water like Jesus. But, then he sank when he looked at what was happening. Maybe, he doubted. People can do amazing things when they TRUST in GOD. Pray and rely on GOD.  From our study this week; the one thing Abram got right was TRUSTING GOD. He was 75 years old when he left his hometown. With his wife Sarai and extended family. They were a rag-tag group of people who looked like they were unlikely to survive, much less become a great nation that would give rise to the Savior of the world!!! But that is what GOD did with them in spite of the many mistakes Ab...

Genesis 12:5 "And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came." The one thing Abram got right was TRUSTING GOD. He was 75 years old when he left his mother's basement! Setting out to make his way in the world. At that time, Abram, Sarai, and family were just a rag-tag group of people setting out on their own. It would have looked like they were unlikely to survive, much less become a great nation that would give rise to the Savior of the world!!! But, that is what GOD did with them in spite of the many mistakes Abram and Sarai make along the way. Today, we read about their destination, Canaan, about three-hundred miles from Haran, their hometown. The Canaanites were descended from Noah’s grandson Canaan, the son of Ham (Genesis 9:18). They are second cousins to Abram and his fami...

Genesis 12:4 "So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran." People TRUSTING GOD is our focus in Genesis. GOD told Abram to "GET OUT." Abram has to TRUST that leaving everything he knows is the right thing to do. If we read Abram's story, we see an example of a person GROWING in TRUST and obedience. GOD promises that Abram will bless the WORLD! For thousands of years, these words were just a promise. They were not fulfilled until Jesus's birth. AND, when these words were spoken, Abram, Sarai, and family were just a rag tag group of people setting out on their own. It would have looked like they were unlikely to survive, much less become a great nation that would give rise to the Savior of the world!!! AND on top of that, Abram was no spring chicken! Today's verse; "So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram w...

Genesis 12:3 "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." People TRUSTING GOD is our focus in Genesis. GOD is telling Abram to leave his father’s house and country. GOD'S command is definitive with "GET OUT." Abram has to TRUST that leaving everything he knows is the right thing to do. He is demonstrating true obedience. More important than Abram’s TRUST is God’s promises. God says; "I WILL" two times. It's all GOD'S doing. Abram will go on to become the father of the believing! (Galatians 3:7) If we read Abram's story, we see an example of a person GROWING in TRUST and obedience. In today's verse, we read God's promise to make Abram LEGENDARY! "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall ALL FAMILIES of the earth be BLESSED." We can take this verse for granted. We read it and say, of course, i...