The Power of God That It Is

Notes: Valor - The Power of God That It Is

Pastor Jason Powell

November 17, 2015

Ephesians 1

Harvest OC

Having something is a lot different than knowing how to use it.

When we have something and know how to use it makes a profound difference.

The Bible tells us that God provides us all that we need.

As believers we have an endlessness of riches that God has given us that we don't typically use to its full advantage.

The Ephesians are a growing healthy church that Paul is writing to. He helps open their eyes to see the riches they have been given in Christ.

There are a lot of affirming truths as we read the book of Ephesians.

Ephesians is all about us as believers. Paul wrote this while he was in prison.

Ephesians 3:1 NKJV

[1] For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles-

The earliest manuscripts did not have the name of Ephesians on it. Ephesians was added later, it was more like a circular that went around in the area when Paul wrote it.

Ephesians 1:15-16 NKJV

[15] Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, [16] do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

Paul is thinking, thanking and praying for them.

Ephesians 1:17-18 NKJV

[17] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, [18] the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Paul is praying that they will get supernatural wisdom from God.

2 Corinthians 4:6 NKJV

[6] For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Jason thinks of...

2 Kings 6:17 NKJV

[17] And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

This is the kind of enlightening that Paul wants us to see in our view of God.

1. The Hope that we have

2. The holiness we are given.

3. The heavenly power we are given.

Ephesians 1:18 NKJV

[18] the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

God has brought us from death to life.

Ephesians 1:14 NKJV

[14] who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

God chose you before the world started.

Revelation 17:8 NKJV

[8] The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Ephesians 1:6 NKJV

[6] to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Ephesians 1:7-11 NKJV

[7] In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace [8] which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, [9] having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, [10] that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth-in Him. [11] In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

Ephesians 1:12 NKJV

[12] that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 1:13-14 NKJV

[13] In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, [14] who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

When you understand what God has done for you, it brings hope.

Philippians 1:6 NKJV

[6] being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

We have hope in knowing that God has called us. God is with me.

2. The Holiness that I am called to.

Ephesians 1:18 NKJV

[18] the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

God is bringing you into glory. We are the inheritance that God gets.

Why are we called to holiness? Don't you understand the amount of love that God has for you?

Ephesians 1:4 NKJV

[4] just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

When we understand that we get God at the end, it should change us completely.

3. The Heavenly power that belongs to me.

Ephesians 1:19 NKJV

[19] and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

We can rely on the power that God provides.

Ephesians 1:20-23 NKJV

[20] which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, [21] far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. [22] And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, [23] which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

The power of the Holy Spirit is working in you right now. You need to accept it as the power of God that it is.

The Surrender Project

Notes: The Surrender Project

Major Damon Friedman

November 10, 2015

Valor- Harvest OC

One out of every two marriages ends in divorce and the mother raises 80% of those kids.

Satan attacks the family and that destroys a nation. Satan will use whatever he can.

The smartphone is a very easy way for Satan to attack your kids.

Kids are revolting against their parents in even greater numbers.

Satan is using the Government now and our right to praise Jesus.

Jesus died for all of us past, present and future.

1. We are either part of the solution or the problem.

Psalm 144:1 NLT

[1] Praise the LORD, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle.

We are built in such a way as man for war. As God builds the man, He builds the family.

No matter how ugly it ever gets, there is always hope, God can do anything!

I want my God, my liberty, my country and one nation under God.

1. Declare war against the enemy.

Your either are going to take it to the enemy or get it brought to you.

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war. Defeated warriors lose first and then go to war and hope to win.

We need to know where the enemy is and who to bring the war to.

Is it an addiction, a group , an insecurity? Where do you need to be prepared to bring the battle?

Warriors are dependent and more powerful with their wives. Wives makes us stronger, we must take care of them.

You need to be proficient with your weapons.

The enemy with AK47s seem to fire for their weapons for the first time when soldiers show up.

Ephesians 6:10-18 NLT

[10] A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. [11] Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. [12] For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. [14] Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. [15] For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. [16] In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. [17] Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. [18] Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Putting on the whole armor of God is not easy, but it is all needed. The enemy is strong and knows what it takes to take you down.

Ephesians 6:10 NLT

[10] A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Paul knew without the power of God that he was weak. He needed to put  on the armor of God daily.

Acts 2:42 NLT

[42] All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer.

Those are the four food groups of spiritual warfare.

The Bible is the Word of God and it is your strongest weapon.

Jesus used the Word of God against satan.

If you don't understand the power of the Word of God then you will never get it.

The Word of God can do absolutely anything.

2. Prayer is a weakness we must work on.

Prayer literally moves mountains. We must use it and understand it.

Prayer is more powerful then any man made weapon.

Getting on your knees in prayer is a position of power.

A church that is united is a force to be reckoned with.

3. Fellowship and unity, not only helps defend you but your brother also. Together we are strong.

We are not alone, we are put together to build each other up.

4. Teaching

2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT

[9] The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war."

We only get one chance on this earth. We all think we are going to make it to tomorrow, but that is not always true for all of us.

You have to be vigilant. God call us to be vigilant from Genesis to Revelation.

Acts 17:6 NLT

[6] Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. "Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world," they shouted, "and now they are here disturbing our city, too.

These are regular guys that stand firm for the Lord.

Elijah was a man that was there for God. He called down fire from God.

James 5:17 NLT

[17] Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!

In 1 Kings, Elijah is watching these kings run the nation into the ground.

In a time of tyranny God raises up real warriors, are you one of them?

2. Real men answer the call.

Every person is given the weapons they need when they answer the call. God gives you what you need.

Elijah is protected by the Lord while he is doing what God calls him to do. God called him to take on the most powerful man in the nation.

My God can bring fire from the sky. The God of the universe is on my side.

You present Jesus for who Jesus is and God will do the rest.

Other religions can call on their God all they want. I know their God is not going to show up.

1 Kings 18:38-39 NLT

[38] Immediately the fire of the LORD flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! [39] And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, "The LORD-he is God! Yes, the LORD is God!"

If you have something destructive in your life, your need to take it out and kill it.

Acts 1:8 NLT

[8] But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

In the first century, only kings and emperors had power. These people didn't know what the power was that they were given.

They received Heavenly power.

People are still being freed every single day from the Heavenly power God has given us.

What are you willing to sacrifice to be a warrior for God?

Satan already has a plan to keep you from becoming a strong warrior. What is the idol he is using against you right now?

You must be honest with yourself. How long do you have on this earth?

We represent the King of kings. What are you doing with the mission you have been given?

Luke 10:18-20 NLT

[18] "Yes," he told them, "I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! [19] Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. [20] But don't rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven."

It Is Finished!

Notes: It Is Finished!

Matthew 27

SPEAKER:

Greg Laurie

MUSICAL GUEST:

Danny Gokey

WORSHIP TEAM:

Harvest Worship Band

SERIES:

God Came Near

Sunday, November 8, 2015 — 10:00 a.m.

God always finishes what He begins.

Philippians 1:6 NKJV

[6] being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

We are looking at the story of the death of Jesus.

Jesus gave 7 significant statements from the cross. The statement and the order was important.

Today we are looking at the statement "It is finished."

Jesus did this so that God could treat us as if we had lived his life. So God treated Jesus as if he lived our lives.

Jesus interceded for us.

When Jesus said "I thirst" this showed us even though Jesus is fully God, he is also fully man.

1 Peter 5:7 NKJV

[7] casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

When you go through pain, you can let it destroy you or you can let it transform you.

Your pain doesn't go away, but you can view it from an eternal perspective.

Thirst has been said that it is the most agonizing of all pain.

Statement 6 is "It is finished"

This is not a shout of a victim being overcome by their circumstances. This is the shout of a victor overcoming their circumstances.

Jesus came to die for the sins of the world, at this point it was performed.

Hebrews 2:14 NKJV

[14] Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

No Christian has to be under the power of sin anymore.

We all sin, but we do not have to live under the power of sin.

Pastor Greg and his wife Cathe have been married for over forty years. If you want to be married for over forty years, the only way to do that is to do it God's way.

In light of "it is finished" we should live that out. God has set us on a track that we should follow.

In Jesus' seven statements he addressed the Father 3 times. In the beginning, the middle and the end.

Matthew 27:51-54 NKJV

[51] Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, [52] and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; [53] and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. [54] So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

1. The veil in the temple was torn.

Originally only the High Priest was able to go to the other side of the veil.

The Lord ripped it from top to bottom.

We now all have direct access to the Lord. No longer did we need anyone to intercede for us. We have direct access to God now.

We have access to the Father through the Son.

Matthew 27:52-53 NKJV

[52] and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; [53] and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Why did this happen? It is sort of a preview of things to come. There will be a bodily resurrection.

Matthew 27:54 NKJV

[54] So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

A Centurion was a man that was a person in leadership. Jesus had moved him.

Luke 23:47 NKJV

[47] So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!"

Through the death of Jesus those who would be enemies, became united.

Ephesians 2:14 NKJV

[14] For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

Luke 23:48 NKJV

[48] And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned.

Isaiah 45:22 NKJV

[22] "Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.

Look and live or look and leave.

Jesus suffered and died for me. Jesus forgives me.

Do you know the God that has died for you?

Invited In

Notes: Invited In

Ephesians 2

Pastor Doug Sauder

Calvary Chapel Ft Lauderdale

October 24, 2015

Can you understand the power that God has?

Ephesians 1:22-23 NKJV

[22] And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, [23] which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Ephesians 2:1-3 NKJV

[1] And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, [2] in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, [3] among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Paul is talking about our past here. We were once dead in trespasses and sins.

When you think about the fact that you are alive as a Christian, it is so much better when you compare it to when you were dead in your trespasses.

God told Adam and Eve they would die on the day they ate the fruit. They died spiritually not physically.

Romans 5:12 NKJV

[12] Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned-

You were born spiritually dead.

You sin because you are a sinner. That is the bad news. We were born an enemy of God, that is what we once were.

Do you get a sense of awe to know that God saved you in the first place?

Do you remember what it was like to be driven by lust and desire?

Jesus made us alive! God quickens dead people and makes them alive.

As the Bible says so often "but God"

Ephesians 2:4-9 NKJV

[4] But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, [5] even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), [6] and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, [9] not of works, lest anyone should boast.

One of the most important truths of all the Bible is that salvation is a gift, not a reward. That is the Good News of the Gospel.

Other religions base being saved on works. Nothing we do can get us to Heaven. We had to be rescued.

The object of your faith is what saves you.

Faith in Jesus is what saves you!

He doesn't just save you... he raises you up.

Like David did for Mephibosheth.

2 Samuel 9:1,3-4,6-7 NKJV

[1] Now David said, "Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" [3] Then the king said, "Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?" And Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet." [4] So the king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar." [6] Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, "Mephibosheth?" And he answered, "Here is your servant!" [7] So David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually."

We were in deadness, Jesus came and found us.

2 Samuel 9:13 NKJV

[13] So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king's table. And he was lame in both his feet.

We are forgiven, raised up, and sitting at Gods table.

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

[10] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

You work from approval, not for it.

We don't live to impress God. We don't have to prove that God made the right decision. We should walk in the grace of unconditional acceptance.

This is the scandal of grace. We don't have to work hard or more.

This is not fire insurance.

Your good deeds are not for God, He doesn't need your good works.

The hard work we do for others is a blessing for us. It's us conforming to the image of Jesus.

Ephesians 2:11-13 NKJV

[11] Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh-who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands- [12] that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

In Christ you have access.

The Jews usually looked at circumcision as making them better than others.

Some Christians that have been saved for a long time sometimes feel higher than new believers.

Ephesians 2:14-18 NKJV

[14] For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, [15] having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, [16] and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. [17] And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. [18] For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Paul is talking to Greeks and Jews, these groups had centuries of hatred towards each other. There was a deep prejudice between these people.

There were signs in the Temple back then that archaeologist have found that said strangers were not welcome and could be killed.

Jesus came and made these people one. Jesus made these groups into a new group, a Christian.

Jesus put prejudice to death. He set an example with Saul, The Ethiopian and Cornelius.

In Christ, we have a new identity.

We were a child of wrath and separated, now we are found and saved.

Jesus said I will die so you can live.