The church at Ephesus was doctrinally and morally straight but they had left their first love. I think that the "first love" is Jesus. We need to constantly check or love quotient where Jesus is concerned. Like the Ephesians, we can be as straight as we can be, but we must have a deep love for Jesus and not get legalistic and self-righteous like the Pharisees. How can we know whether or not we love Jesus as we should?
I. Do you spend time with Him daily? A. In prayer? B. In worship and celebration? C. Do you enjoy His company and companionship? II. Do you go out of your way to serve Him? A. Do as He says. Jesus said "If you love me keep my commandments...." B. Do His will for your life. (He has a perfect will for you....) C. Obey Him in all of life. III. Do you love HIm enough to tell others about Him? A. Tell them you love Jesus, and why. B. Tell them what Jesus can do for their lives. C. Tell them that He loves them. IV. Do you love Jesus enough to love people? A. According to 1 John 4:20, we can't say that we love God whom we have not seen if we don't love people that we have seen. B. To love Jesus is to love people too. C. To love Jesus is to minister to people. Using the above criteria, do you love Jesus?
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Get a picture in your mind of families or loving couples holding hands. It is a gesture of love. Our text talks about holding hands with God. Think about that and the blessings that can come from that.
I. God is the One doing the holding. "I will...." A. Presence of God with us. (Read Psalm 16:11) In vs. 10 look at the ways His presence helps us. B. Protection of God for us. (Read Psalm 56:3b) We hold our children's hands to keep them out of danger. C. Promise of God to us. 1. "I will hold your hand...." 2. Vs. 12 II. Great truths gleaned from this promise. Vs. 13 A. Holding hands denotes guidance. B. Holding hands denotes love. C. Hold hands denotes closeness and togetherness. III. Gracious words that are spoken as God holds our hands. A. "I will hold thee...." Read John 10:29 B. "I will help thee...." Vs. 10b C. "I will uphold thee...: Vs. 10c God is either holding your hand or offering to do so. Offer you hand to Him. Our text reveals that the devil and his demons go to church. (In this case the synagogue.) From this text we will learn how the devil works and through whom he works.
I. This is nothing new. A. The devil has always entered the sanctuaries of God. Examples: Garden of Eden, Israelites coming out of Egypt, on the mountain with Jesus. B. He is trying to do his work through: 1. Indifference 2. Skepticism 3. Weariness 4. Etc. C. We just need to be aware of his presence and what he is trying to do. II. Vs. 23 - The devil was there in a person. A. Not as a serpent, but in a man. B. He does his dirty work through people. 1. Think again of Adam and Eve. 2. Think of David and Bathsheba. 3, Think of Judas Iscariot. 4. Think of Peter's denial. 5. Think of human history. C. We should be aware of the devil's work in our own lives. Look back up to !. B. as to how he can work through us. III. Verse 24 -He was there to attempt to stop the work of Christ. A. "Let us alone what have we to do with thee?" 1. Notice they spoke up after vss. 21-22 a. They were alarmed at the positive response of the people. b. The devil's and his demons are always alarmed when God's work is going well. Watch out when your church is doing good!!!!!!!! 2. The demons wanted to be "left alone." The devil and his demons always want to be left alone to do their dirty work. B. "Art thou come to destroy us..." According to Hebrews 2:14 the answer is yes, and they are well aware of it. C. The devil and his demons will do what they can to stop the work of Christ, and too often we let them. The bottom line in vss. 25-28 is that the devil and his demons were no match for Jesus. Look at the outcome. It would be great if it was always like this. |
All of these materials are free of charge. There is no copyright on them and you are free to use them as you see fit. I am happy to be of assitance to you in your preaching/teaching minstry.
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