Pastor Mike : THE FINAL COUNTDOWN : A Ministry of CHRIST-LIVES.ORG

The verses before us speak about spiritual warfare. They remind us that we are in the fight of our lives. Against a relentless, powerful enemy. We are engaged in battle with a spiritual being who is intent on our destruction. We are fighting against an enemy who hates our God, and who hates us too. He wants to devour our families, destroy our testimonies, devastate our church, and discredit our God. But, this enemy of whom I speak is not all-powerful. The God we serve is, 1 John 4:4.

While Satan is intent on our defeat, the Lord is...

In our modern, relatively peaceful world it is easy to forget that we are a people at war. In verse 12, we are reminded that we have a very powerful and insistent enemy. Our enemy, Satan, is doing everything in his power to defeat, dismantle, and destroy the kingdom of God. We must fight him in God’s power, wearing God’s armor. Unfortunately, many believers do not see the need for the armor of God.

Ephesians 6:10-18

King James Version

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his...

Ephesians 6:1-4

SPIRIT-FILLED HOMES

Intro: The Holy Spirit wants to control every area of your life. That is the clear teaching of Ephesians 5:18. When are “filled with the Spirit”, He will be in total control of our lives. When He is in control of our lives, we will live lives that please the Lord; we will worship in a manner that glorifies the Lord; and every relationship in our lives will honor Him as well.

Ephesians 6:1-4

King James Version

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is r...

Ephesians 5:22-33

King James Version

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the...

Ephesians 4:25-5:2

King James Version

25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27 Neither give place to the devil.

28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which...

John 20:1-18 JESUS: THE RESURRECTED REDEEMER

Intro: Today, we celebrate the greatest day in the history of the world. Today we celebrate the great truth that Jesus Christ, who was crucified on a Roman cross and died, arose from the dead just three days later! This one truth is what sets Christianity apart from every other system of belief in the world! All other religious leaders have died. Buddha died! Mohammed died! Confucius died! Every founder of every religion that has ever existed has died. However, only One has risen again from the dead! If we were...

Ephesians 4:17-24

A NEW WALK FOR A NEW LIFE

Ephesians 4:17-24

King James Version

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

20 But ye have not...

Ephesians 4:1

PAUL’S CHALLENGE TO THE CHURCH

Ephesians 4:1

King James Version

4 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Intro: The fourth chapter of Ephesians introduces a change of direction for the book. The word “therefore” in verse 1, signals this change. Paul is saying, “because of what I have said, this is what I want you to do.”

To me, the first there chapters of this book are among the most thrilling and most profo...

Ephesians 3:7-13

PAUL THE PREACHER

Ephesians 3:7-13

King James Version

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God...

Ephesians 3:7-13

PAUL THE PREACHER

Ephesians 3:7-13

King James Version

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God...

PAUL THE PIONEER PREACHER

3 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles...

Ephesians 3:1

3 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

PAUL THE PRISONER

Intro: Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church is a blessing. For it is in this le...

THE MAGNIFICENT TEMPLE OF GOD

Intro: Paul’s emphasis in chapter 2 has been on the grace of God in salvation. He describes our lost condition in verses 1-3. He talks about God’s amazing salvation in verses 4-10. Then, Paul reminds us that we were Gentiles. As such, we were separated from the provisions and promises of God, v. 12. Not only that, but we were separated from the Jews, who were God’s chosen people. They had the Law of God and they held the keys to pleasing God. The Gentiles had nothing but condemnation and ho...

Intro: Our world is a world differences. There are political differences that result in war, division, and strive, both in America and around the world. There are social differences in areas like homosexuality, abortion, and different ways of living. These differences cause division. There are differences in the home. Sometimes there is fighting between spouses, between children, between parents and children, and between extended members of the family. These differences translate into divisions.

Sadly, there are also differences in the church. Differences in styles of worship, doctrinal beliefs, types of music, dress codes, and countless...

Ephesians 2:10

THE WORKMANSHIP OF GRACE

Ephesians 2:10

King James Version

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Intro: I think you would agree with me when I say that grace is a mystery. As we have studied these first two chapters of Ephesians, the mystery of grace has only deepened for me. As I reflect about what we have learned about grace from this book thus far, I stand amazed...

A look at Salvation as God meants it to be!

Ephesians 2:4-7

BUT GOD!

Ephesians 2:4-7

King James Version

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:1-3

I SEE DEAD PEOPLE

Part 2

Lets read from Gods Word!

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by...

Ephesians 2:1-3

I SEE DEAD PEOPLE

The Sixth Sense is a 1999 American psychological thriller film[2] written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It stars Bruce Willis as a child psychologist whose patient (Haley Joel Osment) claims he can see and talk to the dead.

Released by Buena Vista Pictures through its Hollywood Pictures label on August 6, 1999, The Sixth Sense was well received by critics and was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay f

Intro: Some years ago...

Ephesians 1:15-23

THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW

Ephesians 1:15-23

King James Version

15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the...

Ephesians 1:11-14

GOD IS TO BE PRAISED

FOR HIS SHARING WORK

Intro: For several Sunday mornings we have been moving through Paul’s astounding song of praise to God. Let me take just a moment to recap the truths Paul has been sharing with us.

Ephesians 1:11-14

King James Version

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

12 That we should be to the praise of hi...

Let's examine who we leave out of the Nativity Scene. It may surprise you!

We are still standing at the front door of the book of Ephesians. We have been listening as Paul magnifies the glory of God. Beginning in verse 3 all the way through verse 14, Paul is engaged in worship. He begins to praise God for everything He has done to save us and bless us in Jesus.

In this long anthem of praise that ascends the heights of God’s grace and glory, Paul praises all three members of the Trinity for Their part in salvation. In verses 3-6, Paul praise God the Father for His sovereign. In verses 7-1...

We have been in these four glorious verses for the past month or so. As we discovered when we began this study, Paul is praising the Lord in these verses. In fact his anthem of praise runs all the way through verse 14.

In these first four verses Paul praises God the Father for His sovereign work in salvation. Paul tells us in verse 3 that God Is To Be Praised For His Charity. God is so good to His people! Since He is a good God, He has good thoughts toward those He loves. His good thoughts toward...

We are working our way through the Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians. This precious book reveals to us the riches of God’s grace in Jesus Christ. This book speaks of the great spiritual wealth we possess in Him. In Ephesians, Paul tells us how spiritually wealthy we are in Jesus, Then he tells us how to spend our spiritual wealth for the glory of God.

: To understand the book of Ephesians, you must understand the concept of the church as the body of Christ. The revelation that the redeemed are the Lord’s body in this world is the essential key for understanding this great book.

Ephesians 1:3-6

King James Version

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy an...

Ephesians 1:1-2

King James Version

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 1 addresses this book to “the saints which are at Ephesus”. This letter was written to this church, but not to them alone. Many scholars believe that this was a circular letter. That is, it was copied many times and sent to all the...

A TRUSTING MOMENT

5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

9 Then saith the woman of Samaria...

John 21:1-19

21 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

4 But when the morning was now...

Luke 23:32-43

King James Version

32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let...

John 3:1-15

King James Version

3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man...

Mark 5:22-34

A TOUCHING MOMENT

Intro: Mark chapter 5 is brimming with impossible cases. It has been called the Bible home for incurables. There are three cases given in this chapter which are absolutely, humanly speaking, hopeless and impossible. There was the Demonic Man, there was this Diseased Woman, and then there was the Dead Girl. All three of these cases were considered impossible in the Lord's day and they still are in our own day as well.

Mark 5:22-34

King James Version

22 And, behold, there cometh one...

8 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

6 This they said, tempting...

Intro: We are continuing to look at the personal encounters the Lord Jesus had while He walked here on the earth. Most of the personal encounters Jesus had while He was on this earth ended gloriously. Most often, the people who met Jesus were healed, saved and eternally changed. However, not every meeting ended so gloriously! In our text today, we are presented with a man who had a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ that ended tragically.

I would like for us to look into this encounter today, because I fear that there are many...

Series Introduction: A one reads the Gospels, it quickly becomes apparent that the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ was a people centered ministry. There are two verses that declare, in detail, our Lord’s mission statement. 1.) Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” 2.) Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Obviously, Jesus came into this world with the cross of Calvary in His heart and on His mind. He w...

Romans 16:24-27

THE VOCABULARY OF PRAISE

Today we conclude our series from the Book of Romans. It has been a long and enjoyable study and it is no wonder one of my seminary professors Dr. Hayes said that Romans is on of the most important books of the Bible. There is certainly a lot there as you peel back the onion.

The most common Greek words for "praise" in the New Testament are αἶνος (ainos), meaning praise or hymn; ἔπαινος (epainos), a good word for praise or commendation; αἴνεσις (ainesis), the act of praising or a thank...

Romans 16:3-5

A HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH

Intro: A person cannot read through the Bible without encountering several wonderful families mentioned in its pages. There is that little family in Bethany made up of Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha. They were a great blessing to the Lord Jesus. There is Timothy's mother and grandmother, Eunice and Lois and the great impact they made on young Timothy. There is the family of Mary and Joseph where the Lord Jesus grew up and lived out His early years. What a family that must have been!

Romans 16:1-2

A GODLY CHRISTIAN WOMAN

Intro: The pages of the Bible are filled with the names of many great women. For instance, there is Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus. There is Eunice and Lois who taught young Timothy the way of God 's salvation. There is Lydia, the merchant from Thyatira, who was converted under Paul's ministry and was greatly used of the Lord. The book of Acts speaks of a woman called Dorcas. She was a talented woman who ministered to the needs of the church and was raised from the...

Romans 15:30-33

WILL YOU PRAY FOR ME?

Intro: Paul was without a doubt one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Christian who has ever lived. He was a man of power who was used of God in some very magnificent ways. He saw the Lord work more miracles and save more souls that you and I would probably see in several lifetimes. You would think a man of his stature would have needed no one or nothing. However, such is not the case. Several times in the writing of Paul, 1 Thes. 5:25; 2 Thes. 3:1; Heb. 13:18, he...

Romans 15:18-21

HOW TO RECOGNIZE A MISSIONARY

Intro: We have already seen from this Romans Chapter 15 that Paul was a soul winner. He had a heart for the lost and did all he could to reach them for Jesus. In this passage, Paul portrays himself as a missionary. There is a sense in which these words are interchangeable. However, there is another sense in which they are not. In this second sense, a soul winner is someone who reaches out to the lost where he lives, in his community, in his family, at his place...