Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 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, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
This last Sunday, Pastor Kyle preached on this passage and prayer in Holy Scripture, giving us two Biblical reasons to be continually focused on life advancement. (1) God saves us from something to something. Many times, the Lord saves us from ourselves, for our own good and the good of the kingdom of Heaven. Whatever vices He pulls us out of, He has a virtue which He puts us into. The Lord may put a hedge of protection around us from the enemy, but directs us to good works within the perimeter and boundaries. (2) Prayer has unimaginable power. Philippians 4:6-7 instructs us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Prayer changes things.
Pastor Kyle gave us three keys to experiencing abundantly more in 2024. (1) Start by cleaning up areas of disobedience and removing blind spots. From the heart, desire to do what is “right” in the eyes of the Lord. Psalm 139:23-24 beseeches the Lord, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (2) Think like a tortoise and work like a beaver. The old proverb says, “Slow and steady wins the race”, so take things step-by-step, moving forward with perseverance.” Romans 5:4 tells us that godly perseverance produces character; and character, hope. (3) Do not shrink back ever. Hebrews 10:39 declares that “we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. We are not the way we were or the way we are, but the way that we are become in Christ; always improving.
Remember that 2 Peter 3:9 proclaims, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. If God is for us, then who can be against us? We are to be growing in grace and in faith, so that we are living abundantly more in 2024, while advancing the kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Your brother in Christ, Brian
No comments:
Post a Comment