TITLE: God Doesn’t Fail

1. TITLE: God Doesn’t Fail • TEXT: Ephesians 3:10-13 • THEME: The church wins because God never fails

3. QUESTIONS • Every person should ask, “Am I having a winning season in my life?

4. QUESTIONS • Every person should ask, “Am I having a winning season in my life? • Every minister should ask this question of itself.

5. QUESTIONS • Every person should ask, “Am I having a winning season in my life? • Every minister should ask this question of itself. • Every church should ask this question of itself.

7. Bill Gaither, "The Church Triumphant" "God has always had a people. Many a foolish conqueror has made the mistake of thinking that because he had driven the church of Jesus Christ out of sight, that he had killed its voice and snuffed out its light. God has always had a people. The powerful current of a rushing river is not diminished because it is forced to flow underground. The purest water is the stream that bursts crystal clear into the sunlight after it has fought its way through solid rock.

8. Bill Gaither, "The Church Triumphant" • "God has always had a people. There have been charlatans who, like the Simon the Magician in the books of Acts, sought to barter on the open market that power which cannot be bought or sold, but God has always had a people: Men who could not be bought, women who were beyond purchase. God has always had a people."

9. Bill Gaither, "The Church Triumphant" "There have been times of affluence and prosperity, when the church's message has been nearly diluted into oblivion by those who sought to make it socially attractive, neatly organized, and financially profitable. It has been gold-plated, draped in purple, and encrusted with jewels. It has been misrepresented, ridiculed, lauded, and scorned.

10. Bill Gaither, "The Church Triumphant" These followers of Jesus Christ have been, according to the whim of the times, elevated as sacred leaders and martyred as heretics. Yet, through it all, there marches on that powerful army of the meek, God's chosen people, who cannot be bought, flattered, murdered, or stilled. On through the ages they march, the church—God's Church Triumphant—is alive and well."

11. Ephesians 3:10-13 • 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

13. What do we need to strive for for the church to be the church God has called us to be?

14. I. We need to seek unity.

15. New Living Translation • (v. 10) God's purpose was to show his wisdom in all it's rich variety to all the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. They will see this when Jews and Gentiles are joined together in his church.

16. To whom is this wisdom revealed? • (v. 10) ...to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.

17. Angels and Demons • The demons watch from a distance as followers of Jesus Christ reach out to one another in love.

18. Angels and Demons • The demons watch from a distance as followers of Jesus Christ reach out to one another in love. • The demons could say, "Isn't it amazing? Those on our side serve us only when there is something in it for them—money, power, glory, fame—but God's people serve him simply because they love him

19. John 13:34-35 • “A new commandment I give to you, that you love another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

21. What do we need to strive for for the church to be the church God has called us to be?

22. II. We need to approach God with assurance

23. Ephesians 3:11-12 • According to his eternal purpose which he carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in him...

24. Two words • Boldness and confidence. • This describes how we are to approach God

25. Two extremes in the way that we approach God. • We cower in fear with an attitude that says, "I'm so unworthy, you probably don't want me here."

26. Two extremes in the way that we approach God. • We cower in fear with an attitude that says, "I'm so unworthy, you probably don't want me here." • Or, like we waltz into the presence of God with a shopping list and an attitude that says, "God, you are so lucky to have me on your team.“

27. Two extremes in the way that we approach God. • We cower in fear with an attitude that says, "I'm so unworthy, you probably don't want me here." • Or, like we waltz into the presence of God with a shopping list and an attitude that says, "God, you are so lucky to have me on your team.“ • Both are wrong and both stem from the same sin—the sin of attempting to approach God on the basis of our worthiness.

28. John 14:6 • "No one comes to the Father, but through me."

29. In Ephesians 2:8-9 • For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the fight of God; not as a result of works, so that no one should boast.

30. Ephesians 3:12 • “ ...we have boldness and confident access through faith in him”

31. This verse can be translated • "we have boldness and access in confidence through his faithfulness." • [See NIV Application Commentary, Ephesians, by Klyne Snodgrass.]

32. Galatians 2:20 • “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

33. It's not about "my great faith." It's about his great faithfulness. You can approach God with freedom and confidence—not because of what you have done, but because of what he has done.

34. Hebrews 4:16 • “Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.”

35. Prayer of Confidence and Boldness • "God, I know you welcome me into your presence today, and that you hear me when I pray, because of what Jesus Christ has done for me on the cross, and so I bring my needs and my hurts and my hopes and my dreams before you."

37. What do we need to strive for for the church to be the church God has called us to be?

38. III. We need to live with hope.

39. Ephesians 3:13 • “Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.”

40. Paul is not saying, "Don't get discouraged by your suffering.”

41. Paul is not saying, "Don't get discouraged by your suffering.”He's saying, "Don't get discouraged by my suffering

42. We must resolve to do three things. • Pray for them . Every day we must pray for the suffering church, that God will give them strength to overcome hardship.

43. We must resolve to do three things. • Pray for them . Every day we must pray for the suffering church, that God will give them strength to overcome hardship. • Support them. This is why we support ministries such as "Voice of the Martyrs."

44. We must resolve to do three things. • Pray for them . Every day we must pray for the suffering church, that God will give them strength to overcome hardship. • Support them. This is why we support ministries such as "Voice of the Martyrs." • Work for them.

45. I Corinthians 15:58 • “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

46. The Plan • The core of his plan—the turning point of history—is the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Christ God's eternal plan was carried out. Carried out. Past tense. As in done, completed, finished. Our job is to

47. APPLICATION: • 1. For the church of North America to regain its momentum we be united. It seems we have become masters at finding reasons to look with distain on other believers who do not think exactly like us.

48. APPLICATION: • 1. For the church of North America to regain its momentum we be united. It seems we have become masters at finding reasons to look with distain on other believers who do not think exactly like us. • 2. To be the church God want us to be we must be approach God with confidence. We cannot be effective in our witness if ourselves are not confident in what who we are in Christ.

49. APPLICATION: • 1. For the church of North America to regain its momentum we be united. It seems we have become masters at finding reasons to look with distain on other believers who do not think exactly like us. • 2. To be the church God want us to be we must be approach God with confidence. We cannot be effective in our witness if ourselves are not confident in what who we are in Christ. • 3. For the church to have an impact we must all be serving God with hope.