Ephesians, Week 2

To TEACH you how to read AND apply God's Word to your life. For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) The bible is not a book you read through… It's a book that reads through you. To HELP you see your life from God's perspective. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) The Old Testament POINTS to God… The Gospel is the WAY to God… The New Testament shows us how to WALK WITH God. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Ephesians 1:17-18 (NIV) I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  Ephesians 1:17-18 (NIV) As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. Ephesians 2:1-10 (NIV) All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. Ephesians 2:1-10 (NIV) But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:1-10 (NIV) And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:1-10 (NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:1-10 (NIV) For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:1-10 (NIV) Message Title:  "Good Works" The GOOD WORK God has done FOR us. As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. Ephesians 2:1-5 (NIV) All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. Ephesians 2:1-5 (NIV) But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:1-5 (NIV) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought nearby the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13 (NIV) I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.  Although I am less than the least of all the Lord's people… Ephesians 3:7-13 (NIV) …this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. Ephesians 3:7-13 (NIV) His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 3:7-13 (NIV) In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:7-13 (NIV) The GOOD WORK God wants to do IN us. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus… Ephesians 2:6 (NIV) I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being… Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV) Where His spirit dwells, there He swells. – Matthew Henry …so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ… Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV) …and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV) There is nothing that can overshadow your life when you see yourself as seated with Christ and you allow HIS Spirit to do a deep work in you. Learning to define the work… is key to allowing the work to be finished. The GOOD WORK God wants to do THROUGH us For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV) For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV) God did a work FOR us… that does a work IN us… in order to do a work THROUGH us.  The work God wants to do through you, begins with the work God wants to do in you. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us… Ephesians 3:20-21(NIV) …to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21(NIV)