datethewordtest

Tag: Ephesians

  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 20 (3/20) is Ephesians 3:20

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 20 (3/20) is Ephesians 3:20

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 20 (3/20) is Ephesians 3:20
    Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”
    EXPECTING Great Things from God

    As the Apostle Paul wraps us section one of the two sections of his letter to the Ephesians (section one is doctrine and section 2 is practical) he gives a doxology of praise just as he did at the start of the letter. Here he expresses that God gets all the glory (v. 21 to Him be glory,) for how God WORKS in us and that work so exceeds anything that we could ask or even think. 

    To express how God works Paul will connect three Greek words to make one word that gives to us three English words describing the ABLENESS of GOD. Paul tells u that God is able to do EXCEEDINGLY (that is 1) ABUNDANTLY (that is 2) ABOVE (that is 3) anything that we could even think or ask.  Any one word is enough to describe the ABLENESS of GOD, but Paul wants there to be no DOUBT at all that God is ABLE! 

    I remind you that HOW YOU THINK ABOUT GOD DETERMINES HOW YOU PRAY.  As you pray you should EXPECT GOD to answer and to do MORE, exceedingly more, exceedingly abundantly more, exceedingly abundantly above more than what you ask or even think!

    A great example of God doing exceedingly abundantly above what someone prayed is found in the life of Nehemiah. As he prayed for an opportunity to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls he presented his request to God and then to the king.  Nehemiah needed God to work in the heart of the king to give him permission to rebuild the walls and he needed supplies from the king to do the work.  After making these two requests to the king in Nehemiah 2:5 and 7-8 the king grants the request and sends Nehemiah on his way.  In verse 9 we find an interesting addition to what Nehemiah had requested.  Verse 9 says, “Then I went to the governors in the region beyond the River, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.”

    Nehemiah did not ask for what would be a security detail. Nehemiah would tell us that God did exceedingly abundantly above more than he asked or thought!

    The great missionary from England to India, William Carey said, “Expect great things from God! Attempt great things for God.” 

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 20 (3/20) is Ephesians 3:20. It says, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”

    May we attempt great things for God with expectations of great things from God.  He is ABLE, able to do exceedingly abundantly above anything we ask or think!

    Continue Strong with GREAT EXPECTATIONS of God,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
     
  • Verse to DATE the Word on February 18 (2/18) is Ephesians 2:18

    Verse to DATE the Word on February 18 (2/18) is Ephesians 2:18

    Our verse to DATE the Word on February 18 (2/18) is Ephesians 2:18
    Ephesians 2:18 says, “For through Him we both (Jew and Gentile) have access by one Spirit to the Father.”   
    ALL-ACCESS to the FATHER

    CLOSED.  CLOSED.  Think about the meaning of that word, CLOSED.  Think of a time you SAW it and what your immediate feelings were.  Like a time you just pulled off the Interstate to go the bathroom and the sign on the bathroom door read CLOSED.  CLOSED is a word that brings about a variety of emotional reactions, which usually are negative (Unless you are a student (or teacher) and school is closed). You just pulled up to your favorite restaurant and the sign says CLOSED. hmmm. You are running low on gas and you pull off the Interstate and the gas station has a sign saying CLOSED.  You get to your favorite amusement park and the moose is holding a sign saying Sorry folks, WE’RE CLOSED. (yes I got a sermon illustration from National Lampoon’s Vacation).
    CLOSED! How does that word hit you? What does it say to you?  CUT OFF –  BLOCKED –  UNAVAILABLE!  NOT OPEN!!!  INACCESSIBLE.

    INACCESSIBLE – let that word sink in. That is a powerful word to describe our ability to enter heaven – it is CLOSED.  HEAVEN is INACCESSIBLE.   Let that thought sink in.

    HEAVEN is INACCESSIBLE except FOR —- EXCEPT for – – Jesus Christ made it ACCESSIBLE!!! Jesus Christ OPENED – what a beautiful word – OPENED the door of heaven and gave to those who ACCEPT Him ACCESS – I repeat – ACCESS, ALL ACCESS to the Father!!

    For a believer – one who has repented and received Christ as Savior – one who is born again – one who has called on the Lord and is saved they no longer face the CLOSED sign of heaven’s door.  Heaven is no longer INACCESSIBLE!! The believer has ACCESS!!!   The believer has so much ACCESS to the Father the believer can “come boldly to the throne of grace, that they may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  (Hebrews 4:16)

    What a SAVIOR!! What a SALVATION!! 
     
    BTW – if you have not received Christ the opportunity is still open!  Revelation 22:17 says, “And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”

    Verse to DATE the Word on February 18 (2/18) is Ephesians 2:18.  It says, “For through Him we both (Jew and Gentile) have access by one Spirit to the Father.”

    Do you have your ALL-ACCESS pass for Heaven?  

    Continue Strong knowing what you have in Jesus!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on February 8 (2/8) is Ephesians 2:8

    Verse to DATE the Word on February 8 (2/8) is Ephesians 2:8

    Our verse to DATE the Word on February 8 (2/8) is Ephesians 2:8
    Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,“
    Our Great Salvation Explained

    Before us is one of the most important verses that explains salvation.  We learn what salvation is and how salvation happens and how it does not happen! 

    When we consider our precious salvation, we need to recognize first and foremost it is a GIFT from GOD! A gift is something that is not earned. It is something that is not deserved. In Romans 6:23 Paul wrote that “the wages of sin is death, but (BUT) the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Salvation is a GIFT.  The gift of salvation comes to us because of what Jesus purchased!   We are redeemed by “the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:19)

    In Ephesians 2:8 we not only learn that salvation is a gift we learn how we receive salvation. Paul tells us how our salvation HAPPENS and please don’t miss this, HOW IT DOES NOT HAPPEN.   

    In describing how it happens, I heard Pastor Adrian Rogers describe salvation from Ephesians 2:8 this way: God reaches His gracious hand down to us and we reach our hand up by faith and salvation happens!!!  What a beautiful picture of the great salvation we have.  God is so gracious to us and He reaches down to provide us the gift of eternal life.  Our response is to reach up to accept it by faith!  He reaches down (grace) and we reach up (faith).

    Then to make sure we understand how salvation happens Paul tells us how it does not happen saying “it is not of ourselves.”   It is something we could never achieve.  We cannot DO enough to ever purchase our salvation.  Works do not WORK for achieving salvation.  When we hear religions talk about salvation, we hear what one needs to DO.  However, when we listen to Christ regarding salvation, we hear the word DONE.       

    Have you trusted, believed, accepted, looked to, called on Jesus for salvation? Have you received His gracious gift of salvation by faith?  If you have you will read this verse and proclaim WHAT A SAVIOR!!! WHAT A SALVATION!!!  If you have not, know that His gracious hand is reaching down to you today you can take His hand BY FAITH and be saved.  

    BTW – You might know someone who is thinking they can get to heaven by being good and/or by doing good works.  As you talk with them consider sharing Ephesians 2:8 with them.  You might add Ephesians 2:9 as well for it says, “not of works, lest anyone should boast.”  WORKS do not WORK!

    Our verse to DATE the Word on February 8 (2/8) is Ephesians 2:8. It says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”

    Continue Strong praise God for His gracious gift of salvation,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD