The Fullness Of God

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians was not the usual —“bless me and mine and make us happy,”— but “Lord, do whatever it takes to make us holy.”

Ephesians 3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

When the people of God yield to the Spirit of God and let Him control us, there’s no lack of power and glory and blessings for us.

Sadly, most believers live like spiritual paupers but possess limitless spiritual wealth. They are more concerned with the physical than the spiritual.

When we dip the puny buckets of our lives into the vast ocean of God’s glory, we are instantly filled with Him. 

But these finite vessels cannot contain all that He is. Yet, we find that being open to His power, His glory and His fullness enables us to hold even more of Him.

— Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed written permission

Manna From Heaven

When the people of Israel first encountered the little pieces of bread lying on the ground they called it Manna. Manna means “What is it?”

For forty years God sent Manna from Heaven to feed about two million people in that harsh desert land. Manna paints a beautiful picture of Jesus. 

It Was Small – Like when He humbled Himself and became a servant to die for lost sinners on a cruel cross, Phil. 2:5-8.  What love!  What grace.

It Was Round – Like a circle that has no beginning and no ending, Jesus is eternally God.  

It Was White – Like the purest of snow—Jesus lived a sinless life to be a perfect sacrifice for sin, Heb. 9:26.

It Was Sweet – Like wafers made with honey. When you come to know Jesus you find Him to be the delight of your soul. 

Regardless of where you are in life or where you’ve been, Jesus is the Bread of Life sent down from Heaven to redeem mankind. 

— Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed written permission

Worship God

Jesus is our superior Savior, and we should love Him, follow Him and worship Him as such.

He is to be first in our lives, our families, our priorities, our churches, our dreams - in our everything. 

Colossians 1:16-17 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Every rock, every river, every plant, every animal, every person, every government, everything you can see and everything invisible was brought into being by Him.

The only reason the planets and stars follow their prescribed orbit is because God holds them in place. The only reason the molecules that make up our bodies and the world around us don’t fly off into space is because He holds it all together. 

Don’t think for a minute that we don’t need Him. He is sovereign over the entire universe which He has created. Worship Him. 

— Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed written permission

Love

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Have you ever been to a cymbal solo? It’s not very exciting. A great speech can move emotions, mind and will; but love can move a person's heart. Without love, talk is cheap—just noise. 

Oratory can move one to tears, but only love can move one to Jesus.

We are never more God-like than when we learn to love like God, for God is love, 1 John 4:8.

Love is the greatest possession a believer can have. If our love is right, our faith is right. If our love is right, our hope is in the right place. When our love is right, we are right.

Someone said, “What is love?—It is silence when your words would hurt.—It is patience when your neighbor's curt.—It is deafness when a scandal flows.—It is thoughtfulness for other's woes.—It is promptness when duty calls.—It is courage when misfortune falls.”

— Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed written permission

The Door Of Our Hearts

Jesus takes us where He finds us and gently leads us to the place of faith in Him.  He stands at the door of our hearts and knocks, patiently waiting until that door is opened and He can come in. 

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Most of us who are saved can look back over our lives and see the patient hand of God guiding us to the point of faith. Praise His Name. I’m glad I believed. 

This is another reason why we should not be discouraged when we pray for lost loved ones.  

God may be working in their lives, leading them along, and we can’t see what He’s doing.  

Be patient and keep praying. 

— Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed written permission

Forgiveness

Regardless of what someone may do or say to hurt us, can we forgive them? It isn’t always easy. 

A long time ago a lady chewed me out in front of several people. It was uncalled for and I was devastated. I had to pray hard for the Lord to help me forgive her. In time He did and I felt better for it. 

Instead of dealing with a problem requiring forgiveness, we often allow it to fester and grow into a terrible sore spot in our lives.

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

We are never to render evil for evil. If someone needs to be taken down a notch or two, that isn't our place, it’s the Lord's, Rom. 12:19.

Total, unconditional forgiveness is God's will for every believer; Matt. 18:21-35; Luke 17:3-5. 

— Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed written permission

Look To Jesus

What do you see when you look at Jesus? Do you see a poor fellow who got himself crucified on a cross or a Man with strange ideas who went around preaching love and doing good? Some do. 

Do you see Him as Savior, a Man who died for your sins and calls you to come to Him? Do you see in Jesus hope and rest for your weary soul?

Look to Jesus and see Him for who He is. He is the best friend you will ever have. 

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

— Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed written permission