Sunday 111724
Don’t let me or my writings influence or scare you in any way, instead, allow me to be used as a vessel to open the Word, just a little bit, and hopefully, together we are going to read and study His Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.
So, as we work through our study, we MUST remember the two ground rules:
1st we’re only going to read and follow the words that we can find in the Holy Bible that are meant for us today.
2nd we’re only going to take away from this study, what we put into it. We need to open our Bible and read it every day. We need to teach ourselves what is the truth and arm ourselves against all the lies that we are confronted with every day.
Here are the verses we will be using in tonight’s study:
Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 5:20-21; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Ephesians 4:7; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Luke 8:16-18; Matthew 25:14-30; Ephesians 6:11-18.
So, let’s begin …
In today’s study, let’s remain in this Gift of Grace that God has given us.
Ephesians 2
vs8 ‘…For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…’
vs9 ‘…not by works, so that no one can boast…’ NIV (New International Version)
Romans 5
vs20 ‘…God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant…’
vs21 ‘…So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord…’ NLT (New Living Translation)
2 Corinthians 12
vs9 ‘…But he replied, My gift of undeserved grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak. So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am…’
vs10 ‘…Yes, I am glad to be weak or insulted or mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for Christ. Because when I am weak, I am strong…’ CEV (Contemporary English Version)
Ephesians 4:7 ‘…But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ…’ KJV (King James Version)
Romans 12
vs6 ‘…So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God’s message, we should do it according to the faith that we have…’
vs7 ‘…if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach…’
vs8 ‘…if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
1 Corinthians 15:10 ‘…But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been in vain. In fact, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God with me…’ NET (New English Translation)
God’s GRACE has been freely given to us all … not for us to just keep hidden away. God gave us His GRACE to free us but more than just that, it is because of this GRACE that we are to go out and GIVE to others. We are to be bold and speak about what we have been given. We are to be brave enough not to worry what others may think because we KNOW that God is the ONLY one that matters.
Luke 8
vs16 ‘…Jesus then said, People do not light a lamp and then cover it. They do not put the lamp under a pot or under a bed. Instead, they put it in a high place. Then other people that come into the room can see the light from the lamp…’
vs17 ‘…God hides some things now. But there will be a time when people will see them. God keeps some things secret now. But there will be a time when people will understand those things clearly…’
vs18 ‘…So you should think carefully about what you hear. The person who has received some things will receive more. But some other people have nothing. They think that they have a little bit. But they will lose even that…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
There is so much in these three little verses …
In vs16 more than anything, we are being told to share what we have been given. Be proud of the fact that God wanted to give us His gift because He wants us to be with Him after we leave this life we are living.
Just think, why would anyone light a lamp and then cover it with a basket? Not letting any of the light be seen by anyone. It wouldn’t make any sense, would it?
God gave us a GIFT and we should be proud of that gift and let this entire world see it and our proudness in our gift.
In vs17, we are shown a hint that there are secrets that God has kept from us. This gift was a secret of His. God knew, that before the earth was even made, He knew, He was going to give us this gift. It has also been shown to us that there may possibly be other secrets we will find out in the future. There is no one that knows for sure these things except for God Himself.
And then finally vs18, the parable of the master and his servant comes to mind.
Matthew 25
vs14 ‘…At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like this. Once there was a man who was about to leave home on a trip; he called his servants and put them in charge of his property…’
vs15 ‘…He gave to each one according to his ability: to one he gave five thousand gold coins, to another he gave two thousand, and to another he gave one thousand. Then he left on his trip…’
vs16 ‘…The servant who had received five thousand coins went at once and invested his money and earned another five thousand…’
vs17 ‘…In the same way the servant who had received two thousand coins earned another two thousand…’
vs18 ‘…But the servant who had received one thousand coins went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money…’
vs19 ‘…After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them…’
vs20 ‘…The servant who had received five thousand coins came in and handed over the other five thousand. You gave me five thousand coins, sir, he said. Look! Here are another five thousand that I have earned…’
vs21 ‘…Well done, you good and faithful servant! said his master. You have been faithful in managing small amounts, so I will put you in charge of large amounts. Come on in and share my happiness…’
vs22 ‘…Then the servant who had been given two thousand coins came in and said, You gave me two thousand coins, sir. Look! Here are another two thousand that I have earned…’
vs23 ‘…Well done, you good and faithful servant! said his master. You have been faithful in managing small amounts, so I will put you in charge of large amounts. Come on in and share my happiness…’
vs24 ‘…Then the servant who had received one thousand coins came in and said, Sir, I know you are a hard man; you reap harvests where you did not plant, and you gather crops where you did not scatter seed…’
vs25 ‘…I was afraid, so I went off and hid your money in the ground. Look! Here is what belongs to you…’
vs26 ‘…You bad and lazy servant! his master said. You knew, did you, that I reap harvests where I did not plant, and gather crops where I did not scatter seed…’
vs27 ‘…Well, then, you should have deposited my money in the bank, and I would have received it all back with interest when I returned…’
vs28 ‘…Now, take the money away from him and give it to the one who has ten thousand coins…’
vs29 ‘…For to every person who has something, even more will be given, and he will have more than enough; but the person who has nothing, even the little that he has will be taken away from him…’
vs30 ‘…As for this useless servant—throw him outside in the darkness; there he will cry and gnash his teeth…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
Does this story sound harsh to you? This parable is told to us by Jesus. It is a ‘view’ of the kingdom. We have been given a gift by God, the gift of GRACE and it should be through this gift that we may be able to attain more. It all matters what we do with this free gift that we have been given.
Are we going to bury our heads in the sand or are we going to go out and shout at the top of our lungs to those around us and let them see this gift and work hard so we might be able to get more in the future?
Many in this world today are too easily influenced by the temptations this world flashes in front of them. Life today in the 21st century is hard. I can only imagine life in Jesus’ time, I bet life was very, very hard.
All we can do is keep our eyes and our ears open and keep our focus on Jesus. Share the joy that we have been given with others and prevent ourselves from being drawn into the evil that the world spews out daily from all angles.
This battle can be won, we need the knowledge to know that we, as human beings, are unable to defeat our enemies alone in this battle; it’s not you and me against them. It is our faith and trust in Jesus Christ that has already defeated our enemies and it is through His power that we will remain safe.
In Ephesians 6, beginning in verse 11 we learn about the armor that God has supplied us with so we will be able to defeat the enemy that hoovers daily around us.
Ephesians 6
vs11 ‘…Put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil’s evil tricks…’
vs12 ‘…For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age…’
vs13 ‘…So put on God’s armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy’s attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground…’
vs14 ‘…So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate…’
vs15 ‘…and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace…’
vs16 ‘…At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One…’
vs17 ‘…And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you…’
vs18 ‘…Do all this in prayer, asking for God’s help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God’s people…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
Every piece of that armor is defensive except for ‘the SWORD (the Word of God).’ It is that one piece of armor that God gave us, that we will be able to defeat that which comes up against us. The more we know about what the Word has for us to know, the more we will be able to defeat that which confronts us.
Study your Bibles.
As I have said many, many times …
… you are only going to get out of this study what you put into it. The more you read His Word, the more you return your voice and pray to Jesus; is the power that you are going to need in this battle.
Always remember vs12 of Ephesians 6
vs12 ‘…For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age…’
The devil is real, and he is constantly lurking in every corner wanting to defeat us. Keep God on your side and walk with the assuredness, knowing that we are protected.
I love you all. Jesus loves ALL of us even more.
Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen.
InHIM. ><)))o>