Stand Alone Sermon

There are, it seems, parts of the Bible that people choose to ignore or overlook. Our passage for today is one of them! More people are familiar with other parts of Paul’s letter to the Ephesian believers than they are the first chapter, specifically, verses 3-14. The best-known part of Paul’s letter would probably be Ephesians 6:10-18, where he instructs believers to “put on the whole armor of God!” Yet the rest of God’s instruction to believers in this letter is built upon the truth revealed in Chapter 1, verses 3-14. In these verses the Spirit reveals through Paul both the source of our salvation and the purpose of our salvation. It is only secondarily about us! It is primarily about GOD!!! The failure to grasp this simple truth has allowed people to believe that God is OUR servant, rather than the other way around. Many people who claim to be “Christians” grumble and complain about things in their lives, blaming God either for doing what they don’t want, or for not doing, what they do want Him to do. An example of that truth is that most people use prayer as a means to get God to do what they want, rather than bringing their requests, then submitting to His will … for His glory! Once you realize that your salvation was and is the result of GOD’s work, from beginning to end, you discover that the purpose of your life, indeed, the very purpose of your existence, is to glorify the God who saved you, by praising Him and thanking Him for His grace, and then giving your life to serve Him in everything you say and do, beginning in your family, then in the Church, and finally in your everyday life at work, at school, and even at play. You exist for HIM and for the praise of His glory! May you be found so living as you look to the future with confidence, knowing that you are HIS … now and forever!!