03-17-2019 - UPGRADED

9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. 11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Leave Verse 14 on-screen

[Paul] Our Response -

We have not stopped praying… - How often are YOU praying for your fellow believers at Charity, missionaries, those who get saved… ???

[Paul] Our Request -

God to Give you complete knowledge of His will along with spiritual wisdom and understanding (seeing things from God’s perspective rather than your own);

then v. 11 - strengthened with His power for endurance and patience (ever been in a traffic jam or on a long flight?)

FILLED WITH JOY

Your Responsibility -

The way you live pleases the Lord (v. 10) ,

lives producing good fruit (v.10) (varied); growing;

THANKFUL (v. 12)

Re-Read Verse 14 from Screen

When you read that verse You cannot help but think that God’s Deliverance is a Huge Family, Service, Experiential and Spiritual UPGRADE!!!

While traveling on a commercial flight, Bob Gilbert overheard a teenager arguing with her mom. The mother calmly rebutted, "Well, honey, maybe you can talk to the airline and they'll upgrade you to a better family." Reader's Digest, July 2013, p.180

God Has DELIVERED/RESCUED US From the Kingdom of Darkness

The Fact that the Creator of the Universe uses the word DELIVERED / RESCUED means that He wants us to understand our own INABILITY to deliver ourselves from our Previous Family...

John 8:44 NLT

44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

God has TRANSFERRED US into the Kingdom of His Beloved Son

The word “transferred” methistemi means to change the state - My life-long love of trains, I think of the Track change - where you are transferred to the train and track of your FINAL DESTINATION

The Ruler of this Kingdom is very different -

The Father says (Matthew 3:17) “This is my Son whom I love, with Him I am well pleased”

in Matthew 12: 18 - “behold my servant whom I have chosen; my beloved in whom my soul is well-pleased; I will put my spirit upon him and He shall proclaim justice to the gentiles”

in Ephesians 1:5-7- “In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he blessed us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace...”

The Benefits of This New Destination - The Kingdom of the Beloved Son:

Redemption [Purchased Freedom]

Forgiveness of Sins

Hebrews 8:12 tells us: For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more...

Many years ago on a flight from Reagan to Boston to help some missionary friends on a project, I was bumped at Newark due to problems with a plane. This was the 90’s - before many of the 9/11 changes. The airport personnel asked us who would be willing to take a later flight. I raised my hand. This was before cell phones were affordable, before the internet and email as we know it today. You had to go to a real pay phone to make a call to change any plans.

What awaited me was amazing. I left a bit over 1 hour later than originally anticipated. When I got on the plan, I was ceremoniously seated in FIRST CLASS, and for a 40 minute flight treated like a KING… Now THAT was an upgrade.

But, at a different time in my life, I spiritually raised my hand for a very different offer… The offer to place my trust in Jesus Christ. Wow, 40 minutes in first class was great, but 46 years of walking in the Kingdom of Light, The Kingdom of the Beloved Son - Thinking of our earlier story about the mom who told her daughter to request a family upgrade… I have experienced a Family Upgrade that has been more awesome than words are able to convey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9XyAMnSh6g

TobyMac’s City on our Knees helps us to realize, every single one of us is one decision away from the “city with one king”

Tonight's the night For the sinners and the saints Two worlds collide in a beautiful display It's all love tonight When we step across the line We can sail across the sea To a city with one king A city on our knees A city on our knees Oh-oh-oh

Tonight could last forever We are one choice from together As family We're family Oh tonight could last forever We are one choice from together