TAKING IT PERSONALLY

By Jay Pearson

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
(Ephesians 1:4)

Sometimes we read the bible and the passage is so familiar that the truth of that scripture does not penetrate of hearts and minds. Today in this lesson, I want you to take these scriptures that I share as personal to you. For you are in the Bible and you are part of God’s message.

Ephesians 1:1-7
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

In this letter Paul speaks of the good pleasure of God’s will. We see this again in Philippians.

Philippians 2:13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

He also speaks in this section of his grace he has given us. We see this again in many places in scripture, but here is one I have chosen for you.

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

I want to draw your attention to verse 4 from Ephesians 1.

Ephesians 1:4
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Again I will say, I want you to remember to take these scriptures personally. They are for your personal growth in Christ. The Creator of heaven and earth and all that is within them has chosen you.

Do you remember back in school when the teacher would pick a couple of captains and tell them you chose their team. Were you chosen first or last? How long did you have to wait to be picked? God chose you very early. He chose you before the foundation of the world. He chose you for his good pleasure and not your merit.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God gave his Son for the purpose that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. We are part of that "whosoever". Now let us consider what make it personal for you. What makes you the recipient of his grace, his mercy, and his peace? God gave you the faith to believe in his Son, Jesus Christ. He has chosen you before the foundation of the world when you were only in his thoughts. He prepared you to receive that faith in Jesus Christ. That alone is almost unimaginable, but it’s true.

He also sealed you with the holy Spirit of promise.

Ephesians 1:13-14
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

There is nothing for us to glory about. We were contrary to him until, God rich in mercy made us alive from the dead.

Ephesians 2:1-3
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

What were our credentials? God chose you knowing you were going to be and sinner. We were sinners dying in the world around us. After God’s mercy we were forgiven sinners, sinners none the less. Now we still sin yes, but we are Christ’s sinners.

1 Corinthians 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

How did we get in this mess to begin and become sinners.  We became sinners because of our distant relative, Adam being passed disobedient to God. His corrupt blood was passed on to us through him.

Romans 5:12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 5:19
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Praise God, he knew we couldn’t do it on our own so he worked his will in us. Wow. He has chosen you. Take this personally.

Ephesians 2:4-10
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Wow I’m taking this personally. In knowing everything I would do throughout my life and everything I have done in the past, God chose me. God chose you, too. We are in the Body of Christ together. I’m glad I’m not my workmanship cause I continue to mess up, but thanks be to God, he has that all worked out too.

1 John 1:8-9
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Thank you, Lord for choosing us, saving us, forgiving us, and delivering us.

Psalm 139:1-5
1 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

Colossians 1:12-13
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Take it personally.

 

 

Presented 12 March 2023 in French Settlement, LA

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