Our Purpose: to Bring Glory to God - #3

I AM ENCOURAGED!! Today is my 62nd birthday, and I am alive, well and enjoying life. God has been good to spare my life in order that I may continue to serve Him and enjoy you.

Last Sunday I had the privilege of preaching at the Japanese International Baptist Church of Phoenix. Dr. Shiro Sasaki and his wife, Toshiko, welcomed us with open arms. JIBC was started nine years ago as a mission of Church on Mill.

The other day I went to the jar with the pens in it, selected a pen and tried to write. The pen was out of ink. It took three or four pens before I found one that would write. I pitched them into the waste basket and used the one that performed for the purpose it was intended. You also have a purpose. You were designed with the purpose of bringing glory to God.

Ephesians 1:12 "God's purpose was that we who were the first to trust in Christ should praise our glorious God." (NLT) The Apostle Paul is very aware of our needs and continues with prayer for those who trust Christ. The prayer is quite simple.

1. Verse 17 He prays that we would have knowledge of God.
2. Verse 18 He prays for an understanding of our wonderful future.
3. Verse 18 He prays that you would know of your rich and glorious inheritance.
4. Verse 19 He prays that you would know the greatness of his power toward you.

God has given us, those who trust in Christ, this same power and authority that He used when He raised Christ from the dead. Resurrection power. As we celebrate Easter on Sunday, remember it is more than just an event in history. It is the endowment of God's power on your life. No wonder the letter to the Philippians says: "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection.
He has given Jesus all power and authority over all rulers and authorities in this world and the world to come. God gave to Christ this authority for the benefit of His Body, the Church. (Vs 22)

You and I have the authority of Christ as we are used of God for the purpose he created us: to bring glory to our Creator.

Never sell short your importance as you fulfill your purpose.
Bring glory to God today by allowing God to fill your life with His resurrected life. May you be richly blessed as you live the resurrected life and find purpose for your life today.

Our Plans, God's Plans #2

I have always been a planner. Maybe that is why I enjoy maps and calendars. God placed the planning gene in all of us when He created us in His image. God is a planner. Ephesians reminds us of that character quality of God.

Ephesians 1:5 in the New Living Translation says: “His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. And that gave Him great pleasure.” WOW!!!

As a father and a grandfather I know what great pleasure my family brings to me, but to image that the God of the universe and all creation receives pleasure through us, His family, is beyond comprehension. He chose us “in Christ” before the foundation of the world. It is in Christ that we are holy and blameless before Him.

God’s plan is centered in Christ. Ephesians 1:10 (NLT) “And this is His plan: at the right time He will bring everything together under the authority of Christ, everything in heaven and on earth.” As believers we long for the day when everything is under the authority of Christ.

The ultimate purpose of God is that He will receive all the glory. Ephesians 1:12 “God’s purpose was that we who were the first to trust in Christ, should be to the praise of His glory.”

Whenever we place our faith and trust in Christ God places His Holy Spirit within us as a guarantee He will fulfill His promises to us. Ephesians 1:14b “This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God.” (NLT)

Although our plans and activities change day by day we can rest assured that in Christ we can fulfill our purpose as God’s family by bringing glory to Him. As the song says, “To God be the glory, great things He has done.”

May you be blessed with every spiritual blessing as you find God’s purpose for your life today.

The Joy of Ministry #1

II Corinthians 3:18 “And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.” (NLT)

What a joy to be involved in the ministry of the New Covenant, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because God has removed the veil of the Old Covenant of Law we can live in the Spirit and reflect the glory of God. It was after all His plan and purpose that we bring glory to Him. The Holy Spirit lives in the life of every believer in order to accomplish God’s purpose. As the Spirit works in us we become more and more like Jesus and shine forth the glory of God. To Him be the Glory.
____________________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Sandy and I have had a great two months beginning our volunteer mission work. We spent ten days in Quartzite, Arizona at the Gem Show. Almost one million people descend on the little town of fifteen hundred during January every year. Our AZ Campers on Mission’s group met the challenge by providing the message of salvation, prayer and encouragement through a revival at the Quartzite Southern Baptist Church and by handing out bottles of water and engaging people in conversation about Jesus. I had the privilege of preaching at Corona Baptist Church in Chandler, AZ and Sandy taught at a women’s retreat in Payson, AZ. Both were rewarding times of ministry.

We spent a week in Cochise Baptist Association where we had the privilege a spending time with Tommy and Liz Stevens. Tommy is the Director of Missions in that Association. Two other pastors and their wives were with us. I also met with a couple of local pastors. What a joy to see the work of God in that area of Arizona. I taught a breakout session at the Valley Rim Baptist Association’s Net Conference. The title of my session was “Starbucks Evangelism”.

Pray for us as we begin a new phaseof our lives. We look forward to the ministry opportunities God has instore for us.

May God bless your life today in Jesus Christ.