LBC Sermons & Messages

Text: Ephesians 2:1-7

If we forget where we came from, we will most likely never understand truly what we are in Christ. To start off, Paul reminds us that we are new creations in Christ alone. There is no other way to be made new apart from Christ. We cannot do enough good works to gain favor with the Father. It is only through Christ and His mercy, grace and love.

Now, let us discus just a few benefits that come with being a new creation. First and foremost, we have an eternity of life. Apart from Christ we only have death and torment in hell to look forward to. Now with Christ we shall live eternally in heaven with the Father, John 3:16.

Secondly, we have newness, II Cor. 5:14-18. The word used in this passage give the idea of freshness. When Christ lives in us the world becomes fresh. The problems and hurt do not magically go away but we begin to see them in the light of truth and we have understanding. We begin to see that the Father has a purpose for everything.

Next, we have victory, Gal. 6:15, I Cor. 15:52-f.f. No matter if we hurt, get walked on, and understand it or not we will one day have the victory. Even more than that, we can live each day in the victory that we have in Christ. No matter what happens Satan will one day get his due.

Lastly, we have purpose, Ii Tim. 1:8-11. We were placed on this earth with a purpose. We did not evolve or come from some other planet. We are all a special creation by God even though we are born into this world broken and sinful. The love of God enters into our lives in the form of Christ the Savior and when we allow Him to come in, He alone makes the difference. Christ then fixes our broken estate and sets us on a new path. We no longer have to mindlessly wander around wondering why we exist. The Bible now is illuminated to us by the Holy Spirit and we know that we are special creations of God that are placed here to honor and glorify Him. The best way to do this is to spread the gospel message. So, this week why not live like the new creation you are?

Text: Ephesians 2:1-7

Paul reminds us in the first chapter of how even before the fall of man, God chose to redeem man through Jesus Christ. Then, when man chooses to follow Christ he or she is predestined to a home in Heaven. We are so blessed.

In chapter 2, Paul continues to encourage the church by reminding them of where they came from. We all have a natural estate and a natural master. Our natural estate is that we are born into this world as children of wrath, vs. 2, 3. We deserve the full wrath of God the Father because we are sinners and He is a holy and just God. We also are enemies of God by nature, Rom. 5, Col. 1:19-22. Even while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, the Just for the unjust. Also, we are in spiritual darkness, Acts 26:15-18. We cannot understand the truths of God’s Word for we have not the Holy Spirit to illuminate us.

We also have a natural master that each person ever born serves from the time of birth until they turn to Christ as Savior. John 8:42-47 tells us that everyone naturally serves the Devil himself. We are his children when we are born into this world. We also are dead in sin meaning that we cannot help but serve sin, vs. 1, I Peter 2:24. We also serve our selves, Rom. 1. We must use the knowledge of our natural estate as fuel to go out and tell others that they too can be adopted into the wonderful family of God, receive forgiveness, and have a Savior for all of eternity.

We also, must not forget that Satan wants so badly to destroy us and anything that has to do with God. He is a roaring lion on the prowl, I Peter 5:8. All through scripture, God has given us Satan’s game plan and it is plainly found in Matt. 4. Satan attacks us in the flesh first, 1-4. If he fails he will then move on to attacking our pride or the mind, 5-7. Then as a last attempt, he will attack us spiritually, 8-11. Satan is really a fool. He does not alter from his game plan and yet we fall. God has given us strength, wisdom, and everything we need to defeat Satan and yet we struggle. We must remember where we came from, where we are going, and what we are called to do in between. If this world does not hear the truth, their natural estate will send them to Hell.

Text: Ephesians 1:15-f.f.

Happy Thanksgiving. This is my favorite time of the year. I love to look over the last year and see what God has done in His church, my family and in me. He truly is a wonderful Savior.

What are you thankful for? It is very ironic but some of the most ungrateful people I know will force their children to say thank you when you give them something. We all do not want rude and ungrateful children. However, forcing them to say thank you will not change the lesson they are being taught by the action of their parents and adults around them. The world today grows more and more ungrateful and selfish. Look at all these occupy groups. They should be thankful for all that free market capitalism has done for them as they talk and make transactions on the cell phones, drive cars powered by gasoline, live in tents and everything they have at their disposal. It is all because of free market capitalism and yet they are ungrateful and even hateful.

So, what are you truly thankful for? Paul in this last section of the first chapter thanks God for the church. Are you thankful for temporal possessions? Are you thankful for eternal blessings? We must realize what we have in the Lord and be thankful before we can be grateful in this world.

There is so much to praise God for, salvation full and free, John 3:16, Eph. 1:1-7, Heb. 9:11-15. No one deserves it and yet God gives. Praise God we have an unshakable foundation in the Word of God, Col. 2:6-12. We have strength and true courage, Acts 5:27-33, II Cor. 12:6-10, Daniel 3:14-18. God gives us life and provision, John 10:7-30, which no one deserves. Then to get back to what Paul says, we have unity in the church, I Cor. 1:4-10, Phil. 1:25-28. What an amazing God we can have through the shed blood of our Savior.

In closing, if you are feeling depressed and down about the present state of the world, let not your heart be troubled for we are the victors, Rom. 8:33-f.f., I John 5:1-5, I Cor. 15:50-f.f. Everyday we must battle for our Lord and there is no rest with our relentless enemy. However, one day his head will be bruised, the old serpent the Devil will be vanquished, and we will be the Victors to His praise.

Text: Ephesians 1:15-f.f.

We have been given a precious gift that no man deserves and that is the eternal gift of salvation. It was given by a God full of grace, mercy and love. His plan of redemption through Christ’s blood alone was chosen even before the foundations of the world. Once we act favorably to His plan we are then predestined to eternal life with Him and nothing can take that away. We are secure.

Paul then reminds us that we now have a job to do. God has entrusted us with a great treasure and we are foolish if we do not invest it in others. If we are not spreading this gift, we may not even be one of His children, Matt. 7, 25.

Then Paul tells us what tools we will need to please the Father and shows us how to pray for fellow believers. First, we will need the spirit of wisdom. This is not the wisdom of the world but wisdom of the Word, I Cor. 1:26-f.f.; Prov. 1, 2; James 3:11-f.f.; 1:5. We cannot serve our King in foolishness and wisdom comes with knowledge.

Secondly, we are to have the spirit of revelation, vs. 17b. We will not have revelation without knowledge and wisdom. God has given us all we need in His Word and gives us knowledge of His will, Ps. 37:23; 119:104, 105; II Tim 2:15. We just have to look and study.

After we gain wisdom and revelation from God, we can then truly understand the hope that lies within us, vs. 18. We are secure in Him and one day will most definitely live with Him throughout eternity, John 10:27, 28; Rom. 8:38, 39; Heb. 6:17-f.f. There is no one and no thing that can take that away. When we truly understand this truth, it will change our lives and become the focal point of our existence.

Lastly, when we understand this hope and it transforms our lives we will then have boldness to live life as the Father wishes and will see His great power, vs. 19. One example is Paul himself, Ph. 3:7-11. Others are found in Heb. 11. we can know the great and dreadful power of the Almighty. In closing, remember it is not us and sometimes we need to just be obedient and let God. Be still and know that He is God and He is powerful, Ps. 46:10.

Text: Ephesians 1:15-f.f.

We have been given a precious gift that no man deserves and that is the eternal gift of salvation. It was given by a God full of grace, mercy and love. His plan of redemption through Christ’s blood alone was chosen even before the foundations of the world. Once we act favorably to His plan we are then predestined to eternal life with Him and nothing can take that away. We are secure and then have a job to do. God has entrusted us with a great treasure and we are foolish if we do not invest it in others and we may not even be one of His children, Matt. 7:23.

Then Paul prays for the church in Ephesus. Notice that the prayer is based in faith. What is faith? Most will say it is a belief or even more than that it is a conviction. However, if one looks at Hebrews 11 one will find that true biblical faith is much more than a conviction. Faith is substance of things hoped for. It is something that this world can see in a tangible way. A Christian’s life and obedience to the Truth is this substance based on our eternal home in heaven. Then it is evidence of what is unseen. God cannot be seen in flesh but is seen once again through our adherence and obedience to the Truth. It is not enough to just pray. If you pray and God has given you the means to meet the need then do not stop at prayer. Let faith led you to glorify our Father. Prayer is not about letting God in on what is going on down here, it is about a relationship with Him and the God convicting us to act in faith.

Also, Paul’s prayer was based in love. I Corinthians 13 is the love chapter and it would do us all good to read this chapter often. Paul starts off by encouraging the church. It really does not matter what great accomplishments we achieve or what talents we have if all is not done through love. It is a heart issue. In vs. 4 God reminds us that love suffers long. I do not know about you but I do not like this. My flesh kicks in and I want to see justice in other peoples’ lives but not my own. I want everyone to be patient with me but I should not have to be patient with everyone else. True love is longsuffering. It loves no matter what. So, this week are you going to be filled with faith and love? Is there someone God has placed in your life that needs you to be Him?

Text: Ephesians 1:12-14

We that know the Lord have been given so much. Even if we gain nothing in this world we have salvation throughout eternity and a home in heaven with our Lord and Savior. Things of this world are just that. They are temporal and will pass away but our relationship with the Lord will last even when time is no more. The question is, “what will you do with what you have been given?”

God has entrusted us with the most precious of gifts and that is a relationship with Him. He takes it very seriously and the does not like it when we squander this gift. Let us now take a deeper look at Matt. 25.

Once again, these parables are about the gift that we have been given and that is salvation not talents or abilities for true believer understands that our abilities are purely God in us anyways. Salvation is a gift given to us personally. The first parable teaches us that we are to be prepared for His coming. One day, Christ will come back in the clouds and call His bride home with a trumpet sound and we all shall be raptured, I Thess. 4:7-f.f. We are to be prepared for He will come back.

Look at Goliath. He faced David unprepared with His weapons in the hands of his armor barer and it did not turn out well for him. I Pet. 5:8 tells us to be sober or once again prepared. Satan is real therefore we must be on guard like the Children of Israel in Neh. 4. We must also be prepared because Christ is coming back.

The second parable teaches us that God has entrusted us with a great gift and we that are truly His children will be investing it. The gift of salvation is given to all men and many will claim to be His, Matt. 7. True believers are known by their fruit. True believers are known by their investing of the great gift of salvation. The Bible is clear and those who are not investing and spreading the gospel are not true Children and then will one day be cast into Hell to spend eternity apart from God in eternal punishment. So, are you investing and spreading the gospel? Are you a true child of the living God? See what great gift you have and then glorify your King!

Text: Ephesians 1:12-14

It would not make sense and would be down right irresponsible to call our soldiers together, given them nothing but cake and junk food and then send them to fight in a war. They would be out of shape, unprepared and unarmed. They would not win unless the enemy did the same thing. Why do we think that the spiritual war we are in everyday is any different? Do we think that our enemy is out of shape, unprepared and unarmed?

God gives us everything we need and pleads with us to work and train to fight the good fight in His power and might. He gives us the Word and the Spirit. He gives us ability, grace, mercy, an eternity in heaven and so much more. He also gives us Himself in the form of Christ. We are given much and according to Luke 12:42-44 much is expected.

Ephesians teaches us that God is trustworthy. The Greek in verse 13 gives the idea that we are connected with Christ. Galatians 2:20, 21 says that we are crucified with Christ. This life that I live is not mine at all but God’s and should be lived to Him.

Also, we see that we were connected after we heard the Word of truth. The word heard means to be noised or heralded. We have an obligation to physically speak the Word of God, Romans 10:14. It also means to understand. We are connected with Christ after we understand the truth about our sinful selves and about His great love.

Then we are told that we are sealed or stamped which is also repeated in 4:30. We are sealed by and with the Holy Spirit. We are also given the Holy Spirit as an earnest payment, II Cor. 1:20-22. We are granted and guaranteed a home in heaven and then we are given the Holy Spirit to seal the deal. Our redemption will happen.

In closing, we read in Matthew 25 that we are to be prepared for the Master’s return. We are to be working and performing the task that He called us to do, herald. Also, in 14-30, we are told that we are to invest what God has given us as wise stewards. It has nothing to do with money and everything to do with service. So, how are you investing what God has given you? God has given you eternal life, now invest it and yield a return.

Text: Ephesians 1:1-6

Last time, we looked at the City of Ephesus and what these people that Paul wrote to were living in. Once again, they were gentiles won to Christ living in a pagan land with a past lifestyle of false worship. However, the Holy Spirit worked on them and they cried out to Christ for salvation. Paul then reminds them of their responsibility to spread the truth and bring others with them.

Now Paul moves into the blessing of Christ. There are two different words used here. Blessed be the Christ gives the idea that Christ is adorable. Not cute but worthy to be adored. Then this adorable Christ turns around and blesses us or speaks well of. Praise be to Christ, the one who maketh intersession for us, Rom. 8:34, I John 2:1. Then, Christ blesses us in heavenly places. We must remember our focus and that is on eternity not in carnal things, Matt. 6:33, Col. 3:2.

Then Paul moves into a topic that has divided many a church, a topic that man has tried to overcomplicate and yet is very simple. The topic is election and predestination. First, let me say that I am not a Greek, Bible scholar but a simple preacher. Secondly, these are two different doctrines. Let us deal with election first.

Election is God’s choosing of the plan not the man. God has chosen to form man in His own image, Gen 1:26. He has made us like Him in that we have a body, and spirit or life, and a soul that is eternal. He has also chosen the plan of redeeming man to Himself through Christ even before the foundation of the world, John 3:16, Rom.
1, II Pet. 3:9. God chooses individuals to do His work but the call for salvation goes out to all. God has placed the Law and a conscience in every person which pushes us to Him. He has given us creation which teaches us about God and his grace. God also is willing that none should perish. Hell was created for Satan and the forces of evil but God has no choice to allow people who reject Him and His plan to spend eternity there. God elects the plan of redemption and then allows man to make God or self his choice. Those who make God their choice are then the elect.

II Thess. 2:13 is a verse that is used to show that God chooses people to go to heaven. However, in context it teaches once again that God chose the plan not the man. He chooses the plan of salvation through faith and sanctification only found in Christ. There are people who choose not to believe the truth and would rather work unrighteousness. Then there are those who believe and cry out to God becoming the elect or favorite of God because of the work of Christ in them. Election is the plan that shows God’s marvelous Grace.

Text: Philippians 2:5-8

Laboring is a part of life, like it or not. There is no way to get around it and try hard as man may, labor will continue to be a part of man’s life. God tells us in Genesis 3:17-19 that the ground is cursed and man will survive by the sweat of his brow. Because Adam fell, man is now enslaved to labor.

So, the question is, what are you laboring for? Psalms 128 and Galatians 6:7, 8 remind us that we can get what we labor for. If you and I want to sow or labor for fleshly things, we can and we can be good at it. If we labor for the flesh, we shall gain fleshly things; however, these things lead to destruction and emptiness. We can also labor for the Spirit. We can lay up crowns in heaven that will never fade away and this labor will lead to life and life more abundant. The choice is ours and one thing that is certain is that we will reap what we sow.

Therefore, we should labor for eternal possessions, Matthew 6:24-f.f. Seek those things which are in heaven where rust and moth does not destroy and where thieves cannot break in and steal. When we labor for eternal things God promises to then supply all our needs. It is amazing how we like to labor for the flesh, gratify the desires of the flesh and still claim God’s promises to supply our needs. We cannot serve God and the devil. We cannot have two masters, Matthew 6.

Hebrews 4:9-11 reminds us that we will one day enter into the rest of God. God gives us the Sabbath, one day a week to rest and get our bearings and strength back physically and spiritually. However, one day when this old life has ceased I will enter into the rest of God. My faith will be sight and my race will be over. If you know Christ as your Savior, this is true for you as well. Until then, we are to labor for the Master.

God has called us all to do a specific work on this earth. He gives each of us different talents to complete that work and when the church comes together as a body, He is glorified. Each of us is called to do certain tasks though. One is having a devotional life with God. Church is a gift from God but it is for God. Personal devotions are where growth takes place in the life of a Christian. We are all called to pray. We are all called to love one another. God said that if we can only get one thing right, it is to love each other. By this, the world shall know that we are His disciples. Once again, what are you laboring for?

Lastly, we need to remember the promises concerning our labors, Heb. 6:10, I Tim. 4:10, Is. 40:31, Gal. 6:9. We can do it.

Text: Ephesians 1:1-6

Today we will begin to look at the wonderful book of Ephesians. First, to get the full picture of what is going on we need to look at the setting or the town. Ephesus was a thriving ancient Greek town and then later a Major Roman town. It was the second largest town in the Roman Empire, only second to Rome itself and also the second largest city in the world at that time. Ephesus was known for its extravagant bath houses, intricate aqueducts, the library of Celsus, and one of the ancient seven wonders of the world the temple to Artemis or Diane. This information will shed light upon the passages as we read and discuss them. Remember what these Christians came from and lived in day after day.

Now let us look at the letter itself. This is one of four prison epistles that Paul wrote. They are called prison epistles because he wrote them from prison. This letter was also written to the sanctified gentiles in the city of Ephesus. Paul had won many of them to the Lord and birthed that church on one of his missionary journeys. Paul wrote this letter to settle and establish these Christians. In the first three chapters Paul reminds them of where they came from and in the remaining chapters where they are going after their great transformation in Christ. God wants you and I to grow in Christ and not stay where we are today, Eph. 4:15, II Pet. 3:18. So what are you doing to grow?

Lastly, let us look at the author, Paul. Paul was an apostle of Christ. An apostle is one who is called and taught by Christ Himself. You and I are called to be disciples or followers of Christ, Rom. 1:1-7, I Cor. 1:24-29. Noticed he was called by the will of God. What do you know about the will of God? It will endure, Ps. 145:13, II Pet. 3:8-10. His will, His grace, His mercy, His judgments, His Word, His very being will endure forever so why follow anything else? So the question is what will you follow? Your own plans or God’s will, I Pet. 4:2? Then we see Paul was called with a purpose. You and I are called by God Himself with a purpose. That purpose is to reach this lost world with the blessed gospel of Christ, Acts 1:8. What will we do?