The plan of God is humbling when you understand His grace. God had determined that He is going to reach the nations through the church, through sinners-redeemed, through us! He doesn’t just get the ball rolling and leave it up to us, He pre-plans the steps, orders the circumstances, and equips and enables us to become part of His work. Amazing, just amazing!
God has equipped you to display His gracious plan through your life.
Observations:
- All credit and glory belong to God
- If you are in Christ, you are a new creation
- God’s work is meant to be displayed
- God has a grace plan, from beginning to end
- Good works are received by following God’s plan
Conclusions:
- From – All that you have is from God
- His Word
- His Spirit
- His Church
- Through – God has chosen to work though you
- To – All that you have will be returned to God
Application:
How has God equipped you?
Romans 11:36
“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”
Romans 9:16
“It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Ephesians 1:4-6
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”
Ephesians 2:1-2
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”
Hebrews 13:20-21
“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
2 Corinthians 9:8
“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
2 Peter 1:3
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
2 Timothy 3:14-17
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
1 Corinthians 12:7
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
Ephesians 4:11-13
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 5:9-10
“So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”