"I want to be a better Christian, but I gotta get some things straight first."

"I know I can do better and I’m working on that."

"I know God loves me, but I have to fix some issues before I can follow Him."

"For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;

and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

The law, meaning the Levitical laws, show me that I am a sinner

I can not live up to the law,
no one can

But what does it mean that I died to the law?

Vs 20
I have been crucified with Christ

The life I live in flesh, I live by Faith

So, understand this, you can not get your life straight in your own strength

Why do people today, who have confessed Christ, suddenly try to live through flesh?!?

Who has confused you?
Satan is the author of confusion!

Vs 2
Answer one question

Was it through the law or by faith hearing that you received the Spirit?

In other words
Was it by flesh or Faith?

Vs. 3
Are you a fool?!?

Having begun by the Spirit are you now being perfected by the flesh?!?

The foolish part is we gave ourselves to Christ because the flesh was not able

Did the flesh suddenly become able?

So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law,

Have you ever lived by faith?

Labor Day

The first celebrations of Labor day were municipal ordinances in 1885

Oregon was the first State to make it law in 1887

U.S. Congress passed the Labor Day act on June 28, 1894

Labor day celebrates the social and economic achievements of workers

We are designed to be workers not place holders

Too many Christians today have forgotten the old Hymn “We’ll Work Til Jesus Comes”

John 9:4 NASB

"We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day;

night is coming when no one can work."

This is a Labor of Love

"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world,

according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind,

and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions,

made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:1-10 NASB

First of all, let us understand that we were all once sinners

Verses 1-3

Today, as you sit here or watch on Facebook, you are either dead in sin, or you were

But GOD

Verses 4-6

Because of HIS great LOVE

By GRACE you have been saved or can be saved

Vs. 7

He saved us to show us His grace and kindness over and over again

Are you wrapping your head around this?

Jesus performed a Labor of Love by dying on the Cross to save YOU!

Verses 8-9

Salvation doesn’t come from you or your works it is grace given not earned

I want you to pay close attention to verse 10

"We are His workmanship" meaning He created us, not by chance

We’re not an accident that crawled out of an explosion, we are designed by God

We are designed for "Good Works" which he has already prepared

This Labor of Love means that as Christians, we are designed to work for Him

I am convinced the decline of the church is largely attributed to not WORKING for Him

On this Labor Day weekend, will you decide to "Work 'Til Jesus Comes"

Right now in our world, so many people feel hopeless; and we can show them the Hope

It is time to get back to work for Him!

Do you know who I’m talking about?

In honor of my Amazing friend;
Katherine Ellis

Solomon tells us life is a vapor, dust in the wind, vanity

In other words it goes by very quickly

With the time we have, we need to live life to the fullest

Ecclesiastes 11:1-10 NASB
"Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days.

Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.

If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth;

and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies.

He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.

Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman,

so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.

Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening,

for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed,

or whether both of them alike will be good.

The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.

Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all,

and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many.

Everything that is to come will be futility.

Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood.

And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things.

Some use this as a call to reckless abandonment

Instead, think of it as; make the most of the life you were given

Not a little generous, but a lot generous

"Make your portion seven or even eight"

Live Life
Vs 3-6

Don’t let stuff stop your living

Inevitables

Uncertainties

Mysteries

When it gets hard, double up

Enjoy Life
Vs 7-8

Savor the little things as well as the big

Rejoice in ALL our days!
All means ……

Vs 9-10

Be wise, as we will all give account for our choices

Remove grief and anger and put away pain

John 10:10
This is Jesus speaking

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

Are you ready to have dessert by living life to the fullest?

That can only happen if you give your life to Christ

Do you really understand that this life is temporary?

We are all given a finite amount of time here in this world

What you do with this short time is what really matters

so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience;

We have not ceased praying for you

Doesn’t that seem odd, that upon hearing good news Paul says "we are praying"?

They were praying for Spiritual wisdom for new believers

Lost people act any old way and we expect that because they are lost

Believers need to walk worthy of the Lord for many reasons:

To please Him

To bear fruit in every good work

Without His rescue we would not have hope

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities

all things have been created through Him and for Him.

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church;

The firstborn of all creation

In Him ALL things hold together

He is the head of the body, which is the church

He is the firstborn from the dead!

Without this we would not be resurrected from the dead.

How do we truly walk worthy?

He will come to have first place in EVERYTHING.

Have you given Him first place in EVERYTHING?

What keeps you from being afraid?

What do you hold close that causes fear to flee?

Children may have a blanket or a stuffed animal;

Perhaps it is a person that makes you feel safe.

You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,
And called from its remotest parts And said to you,

`You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you.

`Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you,

In verse 8 God is talking to Israel

He calls them His servant, His chosen,

Descendant of Abraham, My friend

That’s awesome for Israel

to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body,

If you have given your life to Christ

We become one with God’s chosen people

I told you last week that God was the author of Peace

Peace comes from knowing that, to God, we are His friend

You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts,

God has already seen you through so much

He literally takes us to the ends of the earth and back

Most importantly He has chosen you

Did you get that?!? God has chosen you, Christian!

`Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.

I AM

I love scriptures that begin with "I AM"

The name of God given to Moses

I AM that I AM

I AM with you

I AM your God

I will strengthen you

I will help you

I will uphold you

With My Righteous right hand

I AM says you are literally in His hand

Do not fear!
I AM your God

Is He your God today?

What is fear?

An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute,

if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things,

and the God of peace will be with you.

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me;

indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity;

in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

First - Rejoice in the Lord always!

It is impossible to allow fear to come in while rejoicing

We rejoice about the things we know

Fear comes from the unknown

Second -
Look at verse 6

"Be anxious for nothing"

How is that possible to be anxious for nothing?

"In everything by prayer"

Third -
Look at verse 7

"The peace of God that passes all understanding"

Peace:
The greatest enemy of fear

Fourth -
Look at verse 8

"Whatever is….."

If we dwell on these things there is no room for fear

Fifth -
Look at verse 11

"Be content in whatever circumstances I’m in"

Lastly -
Look at verse 13

"I can do all things through CHRIST"

How can we do all things?

Follow the first 5 points as you trust in Him

Do you know HIM?

² And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

³ And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

⁴ And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

⁵ And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

⁶ Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

⁷ And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

⁸ And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

¹⁰ Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

¹¹ And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

¹² And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

¹³ And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

¹⁴ And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.

Why are we living in fear today?

COVID-19,
Uncertainty of America’s future;

Racial Tension,
Financial difficulties.

Certainly these are all things that cause anxiety, but why fear?

Let me tell you about the Good Shepherd

The Lord is my Shepherd

The Shepherd’s job is to take care of the Sheep, right?

Scripture also tells us that we all like sheep have gone astray Isaiah 53:6

Look what He does vs 3

For His name’s sake.
When He takes care of you, people see Him

We hang out here basically our whole lives

Look at the rest of vs 4
I fear no evil!

Because You are with me!

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me

Understand that this seems very strange to some people

The rod was used to punish the sheep when it got out of line

Not most people’s idea of comfort right?

The staff could be used to nudge and to rescue

He anoints us for healing and for a mission to reach people

Do you know the Good Shepherd?