Bible

Benefits for Believers

Benefits for Believers

Sean Vickers

Psalm 103

Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget none of His benefits.
He forgives all your sin; He heals all your diseases.
He redeems your life from the pit, He crowns your with faithful love and compassion.

He satisfies you with goodness, your youth is renewed like the eagle.

This is a Psalm of David that is a song of praise. In this Psalm David does not request anything. He simply praises his God.

I wonder how long you could talk to the Lord without asking for anythings? <- try it out

In verses 1-5, David mentions three things to remember that lead to a life that remembers to praise God.

1. Forgiveness Psalm 103:3

  • Perfect creation corrupted by sin
  • Hospital visitation

2. Redemption Psalm 103:4

  • Boaz the kinsman redeemer in the book of Ruth
  • President James Buchanan would purchase slaves in Washington D.C. and let them go in Pennsylvania.

3. Satisfaction Psalm 103:5

It Is Well
Bethel Music

Verse 1
Grander earth has quaked before
Moved by the sound of His voice
Seas that are shaken and stirred
Can be calmed and broken for my regard

Chorus
And through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
And through it all, through it all
It is well

And through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
It is well with me

Verse 2
Far be it from me to not believe
Even when my eyes can’t see

And this mountain that’s in front of me
Will be thrown into the midst of the sea

Chorus
Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
Through it all, through it all
It is well
It is well

Bridge x3
So let go my soul and trust in Him
The waves and wind still know His name (repeat last line during 3rd run)

It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well it is well with my soul x3

Chorus x2 (softly slowly)
Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
Through it all, through it all
It is well with me.

4 Steps to Greatness

4 Steps to Greatness

Sean Vickers

Mark 10:35-45 accounts the request of James and John to seat at Jesus left hand in glory. Jesus used this request to teach them a lesson about true greatness. Verses 42-45 contain 4 steps to greatness:

  1. To be great, don’t live like a superstar. v.42
  2. To be great, live like a servant. v.43
  3. To be the greatest, live like a servant for everyone. v.44
  4. To be great, live like Jesus. Spend your life focused on others. v.45

 

Identity – Powerful

Identity – Powerful

Sean Vickers

Ephesians 3:14-21

#1 POSTURE OF THE HEART Ephesians 3:14-15

#2 PRAYER FOR POWER THROUGH THE SPIRIT Ephesians 3:16-17a

#3 POSSESSING MEASURELESS LOVE Ephesians 3:17b-19

#4 GOD’S POWER TO DO THE IMMEASURABLE Ephesians 3:20

#5 PRAISE FOR OUR GOD FOREVER Ephesians 3:21

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

Identity – Confident

Identity – Confident

Sean Vickers

Ephesians 3:1-13

#1 CAPTIVE OF CHRIST Ephesians 3:1,13

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.                                                   Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV)

#2 THE MARVELOUS MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL Ephesians 3:2-6

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:6 (NIV)

#3 GOD’S SELFLESS SERVANT Ephesians 3:7-11

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.                                                       2 Timothy 4:6 (NIV)

#4 CONFIDENT CONNECTION TO GOD Ephesians 3:12-13

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:19-25 (NIV)

IDentity Citizen

IDentity Citizen

Sean Vickers

Ephesians 2:1-10

#1 REMEMBER YOUR LIFE BEFORE CHRIST  Ephesians 2:11-12

For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Romans 5:10 (NIV)

#2 ACCESS TO GOD THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST Ephesians 2:13-18

It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Acts 15:19 (NIV)

#3 YOUR NEW IDENTITY Ephesians 2:19-22

  • Citizens of the Kingdom of God
  • Members of God’s Family
  • Stones in God’s Temple

#4 YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

  • Personally
  • Corporately
Identity Alive

Identity Alive

Sean Vickers

Ephesians 2:1-10

#1 DEAD DESERVING THE WRATH OF GOD Ephesians 2:1-3

It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:31 (NIV)

#2 ALIVE WITH CHRIST Ephesians 2:4-5

#3 EXPRESSIONS OF GOD’S GRACE Ephesians 2:6-7

#4 NO BOASTING CORPSES ALLOWED Ephesians 2:8-9

As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. Romans 3:10-12 (NIV)

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.                                 John 6:44 (NIV)

ID CHECK #2    [] DEAD    or    [] ALIVE

#5 MAGNUM OPUS FOR HIS SERVICE Ephesians 2:10

Identity – Valuable

Identity – Valuable

Sean Vickers

Ephesians 1:15-23

#1 FAITH AND LOVE MAKE A LASTING IMPACT Ephesians 1:15-16

#2 PRAYER 1: Growing Knowledge of God Ephesians 1:17

#3 PRAYER 2: Illuminated hearts for God Ephesians 1:18

  • Hope
  • Value
  • Power

#4 MIGHTY STRENGTH FOR LIFE IN CHRIST Ephesians 1:19-21

#5 THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH: JESUS! Ephesians 1:22-23

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV)

IDentity Blessed

IDentity Blessed

Sean Vickers

IDentity – Blessed

Ephesians 1:3-14

#1 THE BLESSINGS OF BEING “IN CHRIST.” Ephesians 1:3

#2 BLESSINGS FROM GOD THE FATHER Ephesians 1:4-6

  • Chosen  by God

Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility. Baptist Faith and Message 2000

  • Adopted by God

#3 BLESSSINGS FROM GOD THE SON Ephesians 1:7-12

  • Redeemed by Christ
  • Informed by Christ

#4 BLESSINGS FROM GOD THE SPIRIT Ephesians 1:13-14

  • Marked by the Spirit

woody

  • Guaranteed by the Spirit

#5 BLESSED TO PRAISE Ephesians 1: 3,6,12 and 14

—to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:14b (NIV)

God’s Will

God’s Will

Sean Vickers

There is much conversation about God’s will for individuals and organizations. Some wrongly describe God’s will as being a secret or hard to find. Even worse is the pursuit of God’s will apart from a pursuit of God Himself. The truth is that God wants you to live in His will daily and have confidence for your life. In the devotional Experiencing God Day by Day, Henry Blackaby writes,

“If you are walking daily with the Lord, you will not have to find God’s will—you will already be in it. If you are walking with Him in obedience day by day, you will always be in the will of God. The Holy Spirit’s role is to guide you step by step to do God’s will. Walking closely with God each day guarantees that you will be exactly where He wants you to be. You would have to reject all of the Holy Spirit’s activity in your life in order to get out of the will of God.”

Devotion

Devotion to God and a close growing relationship with Him is essential for living in the will of God. The disciplines of the Christian faith become paramount in order to live in God’s will. The disciplines of prayer (John 10:27) and fasting, reading the Word of God (Psalm 119:105), and worship (Romans 12:1-2) lead you to a closer relationship with Him. As you abide in Him, He will direct your steps.  John 15:5

Desire

As you devote yourself to God you will notice something amazing happening in your life. The Holy Spirit will work in your life to transform your heart and mind and lead you to God’s perfect will (Romans 12:2). Following God’s desires is the natural response of a believer what is devoted to Christ. Through your transformed desires God’s is leading you from the inside out. Psalm 37:4 says,

Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Determination

Your devotion to God will also lead you to a determination to do God’s will. In Ephesians 1:2, Paul describes himself as an “apostle of Christ by the will of God.” Paul had a determination to follow Christ even though his path was hard. It’s the power of God working through devoted followers that allow them to do God’s will in sometimes hostile environments.

Living daily in God’s will is more a matter of “being” His child than “doing” His will. He is the goal. Philippians 3:14.

Identity #1 SAINT

Identity #1 SAINT

Sean Vickers

IDentity –  Saint Ephesians 1:1-2

In the New Testament book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul writes about a believer’s position “in Christ.”

#1 YOUR IDENTITY MATTERS.

Genesis 1:26, 2 Corinthians 5:17

#2 GOD’S WILL IS A JOYFUL JOURNEY OVER SMOOTH ANBD ROUGH TERRAIN.

Psalm 40:8, Ephesians 3:1

#3 ID Check:  SAINT or SINNER

Colossians 3:3

#4 A GREAT GREETING

Ephesians 1:2

#5 AN AMAZING MESSAGE

Ephesians 1:3, Ephesians 4:1