THE BLESSINGS OF BEING A CHILD OF GOD!

THE BLESSINGS OF BEING A CHILD OF GOD!

Introduction: A. "Child Of God" -- WHAT A PRIVILEGE! 1. Children are born pure and holy -- they are "safe in the arms of Jesus!"

2. Sinners who see their need for Jesus, who come to true faith in Him, who repent of their sins, who confess Him, who understand committing their lives to Him, and who are baptized for salvation become "children of God." a. Jn. 1:11-13 "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." b. I Jn. 3:1 "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."

B. And The Privilege To Be A Child Of God Is Not Race Specific Or Gender Specific! It Is For Penitent Sinners Who Become Believers! 1. Rom 9:8 "That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed."

2. Gal. 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

3. Gal 3:27 "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

C. The Old Song "There Shall Be Showers Of Blessing, Sent From The Father Above!"

D. Today We Examine The Blessings Of Being A Child Of God!

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I. (Slide #2) Salvation! A. Forgiveness Is SO Precious! 1. At the Lord's Supper, Jesus declared, "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Mt. 26:28 2. Paul affirmed, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Eph. 1:7

B. Salvation Is SO Precious! 1. Mk. 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." 2. Condemnation is terrifying, depressing, and devastating; salvation is precious, encouraging, and provides hope!

C. Rom. 5:1,2 "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

D. Sinners Can Have A Completely New Focus And Lifestyle! II Cor. 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

E. (Slide #3) And Christians Realize That Salvation Is Not Just A Past Event; It Is A Continuing Reality Because The Blood Of Jesus Continues To Cleanse Faithful Obedient Children Of God! 1. I Jn. 1:7 "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." 2. His Blood is our possession; continuing forgiveness is our privilege if we are faithful, obedient, and penitent!

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II. (Slide #4) Abundant Life! A. Jn. 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

B. Rom. 8:6 "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." 1. The world screams "OUR WAY GIVES YOU PEACE!" a. Be self-absorbed! b. Satisfy yourself! c. Don't worry about others!

2. God informs us "to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

C. What Does That Mean? 1. Life with the greatest meaning and purpose!

2. The BEST life one can live here on Earth!

III. (Slide #5) Peace! A. Peace Is SO Precious!

B. True Peace Is Only Found In Christ! 1. Wisdom provides security and peace! a. Pr. 3:2 "For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you." b. Eph. 6:2,3 "`Honor your father and mother,' which is the first commandment with promise: 3`that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.'"

2. Jn. 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

3. Phil. 4:6,7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." a. Anxiety, anxiousness, and worry are peace destroyers! b. The peace of God is beyond the comprehension of the world! c. It will protect us; it will provide "peace, perfect peace!"

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C. Mt. 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

D. You Can Sleep Without Worry; You Can Think About Death Without Panic!

IV. (Slide #6) Prayer! A. God Hears The Prayers Of His Children! 1. I Jn. 5:14 "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us."

2. I Pet. 3:12 "For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."

3. The healed blind man was right! Jn. 9:31 "Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him."

B. Lk. 18:1-8 "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2saying: `There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' 4And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, `Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'' 6Then the Lord said, `Hear what the unjust judge said. 7And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?'"

C. Js. 5:16 "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

V. (Slide #7) Providential Promises! A. Mt. 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

B. He Promises To Provide Our Needs!

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C. The Question On This Slide Is From Joshua And Caleb In Numbers 11:16-17; 21-23 "Has the LORD'S arm been shortened?"

D. Think Of Providential Blessings That Are Yours Because Of Your Focus Upon God! 1. Your life is enriched as you gain a spiritual family of brothers and sisters who care about you; you can serve them!

2. You have a focused mission -- it may lead to a change of careers; it may make your career less significant because you now have a spiritual focus!

3. Many have met your mate because of influence of the Church during your childhood, teen, or college years.

VI. (Slide #8) Heirs Of God! A. Who Is An "Heir?" 1. An inheritor.

2. One who inherits an undeserved gift from one who has an inheritance to leave.

B. Rom. 8:17 "and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."

C. (Slide #9) Our Inheritance -- HEAVEN!!

D. You Become A LOT LESS Concerned About STUFF In This Life (An Inheritance); You Become A Lot More Concerned About An Eternal Inheritance!

VII.(Slide #10) In The Meantime, The Intercession Of The Holy Spirit And Of Jesus Concerning Our Struggles! A. Romans 8:18-34 "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs

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