GOD'S POSSESION

 

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

 

1.      You were included in Christ.  Jesus Christ death, burial, resurrection, broken body and shed blood gave us salvation, eternal and abundant life.  Secured all the blessings and promises given by the Father to the on.  Which are two numerous for us to follow in this message.  Paul will allude to some of them here.

2.      When you heard the message of truth.  Jesus said, “I am the way truth and life.”  The truth would set you free.  You believed in your heart and confessed with your mouth.  Your will intellect and emotions you gave to Him.  You gave up your past, chose the present of Christ and now rely on Him for your future.  You have the certainty, fact, principle, law and belief that Jesus is the only name under heaven by which mankind can be saved.  You have put your dependence on this truth.

3.      It was good news of salvation.  You heard because of the word of God and the testimony of others.  It came to you in some form and you believed it.  Salvation means deliverance.  Being delivered from the penalty of sin, which is eternal death (Romans 6:23).  Being delivered from mortality and given the gift of eternal life (John 3:15).  Salvation means being rescued by God from the consequences of our wrongdoing.  Salvation is all about how a Christian can live a better life today and, ultimately, live forever in the future! 

4.      When you believed and trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior the result of that is that you were marked.  Cain was marked so no one would kill him.  You are marked so the devil cannot touch you unless God or you allow it.   You have the armor and hedge of protection around you.  Your words and your life have marked you in the natural realm and God marks you in the Spiritual realm.

5.      You have been sealed in the Holy Spirit.  When you cane to Christ you were regenerated by the Holy Spirit.  You became God’s temple.  He came to live our take up residence.  As you allow Him to take control He then transforms you, gives you gifts and produces in your life fruit.  You carry the seal and authority of God here.  You have authority of the blood, word and name.  In the ancient world a seal was either carried on a rope or ring.  It was usually a metal symbol of the person and it was their introduction to the world of government or business.  We are God’s ambassadors in the world systems and business.

6.      The Holy Spirit is also the deposit for our inheritance.  He insures that we have all the rights and privileges now and also in the future.  He is our lawyer.  It is like having a deposit in the bank which you can draw from when needed and also have in the future.  The beautiful thing is that this inheritance never loses its value.  In previous messages.  I gave you the crowns, the rewards of the overcomers.  Lois taught you last week what was in it for us.

7.      We have redemption.  We were bought back by Jesus dying on the cross.  We are valuable.  You have divine favor.  Wherever you go and whoever you are.  Talk when I became AM 930 the light broadcaster.  Did I deserve it, am I better, is it because of my connections?  No redemption and favor

8.      You are God's own possession.  You belong to Him.  You were bought with a price.  God says this person is mine.  No one can touch you without God’s permission.  If they do in a wrong manner they will have to face God and the consequences He deems for those who hurt His kids.  You are His chosen, daughter and son, royal priesthood, holy nation, chosen generation and unique one of a kind person.  I did just one search on the internet and found 45 names for the person who belongs to God.  Paul says out of all the people in the world you chose to be God’s own possession.  You are somebody.   

9.      For his praise and glory.  We are His ambassadors in our world.  What are the duties of an ambassador?  Charged with the responsibility of maintaining diplomatic relations between our country, government and those in our world.   Represents the king in matters of foreign policy. As ambassadors we help promote, and the exchange of information between the Kingdom of God and this world.

 

a.      We do this by what we say and how we live.  How we conduct ourselves in the affairs of others.

b.      How we love, accept and forgive others.  By People rarely remember what you say but they will always remember how you made them feel. 

c.      The glory of God in simple terms is showing the character, nature and essence of God in day to day life. 

QUOTES FOR MARCH 11, 2026

 

GOD IS FAITHFUL

 

17 Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine of Your sanctuary, which is desolate.

 

     Daniel is now in the final moments of his prayer.  He asks the Lord five things in this verse.  First, he addresses the Lord as our God.  True intercessors that make a different can.  Next, he asks the Lord to hear the prayer of his servant.  Daniel viewed himself first as a servant of God.  Thirdly, answer my supplication which is a form of prayer but considered as kneeling down and bending down in which someone makes a humble petition or an entreaty God.   So we now see in what position Daniel is praying.  With tears in his eyes, kneeling before the Lord, he cries out to God.  Fourthly, Lord for your sake.  Remember Daniel told the Lord that his people had become a curse, byword and an object of scorn.  Lastly, cause your face to shine on your sanctuary which is desolate.  Daniel says, “Lord let your glory, power and presence once again be lifted up and shine forth in the place which once held your sanctuary.  Lord, look, with favor, love and grace at your city which held your temple.  True intercession wants the Lord’s glory, presence and essence to fill the place where they are.  This is true revival. 

 

O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.

 

     Daniel talks about six things in this verse.  First, he again addresses the Lord as my God.  Lord you are the one I serve and pray too.  You are the object of my love and prayer.  Secondly, incline your ear and hear.  Lord I know that your ear is not so deaf you cannot hear.  Please you must hear, this is urgent, and we cannot go through this again.  Thirdly, open your eyes.  Daniel reminds the all seeing one that they are desolate.  Fourthly, this city is called by your name.  Jerusalem has been identified as the capital of the Jewish homeland.  Jerusalem is Zion.  Daniel fifthly, makes it clear that these prayers and supplications are not being made because of their righteous acts.  Lastly, he states he is looking for the great mercy of God. 

 

19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

 

     This is the most powerful section of the prayer.  Daniel asks, pleads and beseeches the Lord.  O Lord hear.  Open your ears.  You must hear what I am saying.  I am desperate.  Secondly, Lord forgive.  Lord we deserve all we get.  Remember your promise Lord.  We confess our sins, faults and failures Lord.  Thirdly Lord listen.  Please hear my cry, hearken unto my prayer.  We are hurting, in pain, broken, despised, destroyed.  Listen Lord.  Fourthly, God act.  Words are hollow.  Action is what we need.  No more promises, predictions or prophecies.  We need action.    Daniel fifthly, God do not delay for your own sake.  God everything depends on you.  You name, glory fame and reputation.  My God, for your city, your people who are called by your name.  So powerful, deep, touching and emotional.  Each phrase deepened with a burden.  Each word, powerfully impacted by Daniels heart cry.  God we need you.  Please God.  Hear this cry.  See what is happening.  Things cannot stay the same.  We have learned our lesson.  Now restore, forgive, reconcile, heal and bring mercy. 

GOD IS FAITHFUL

 

Good morning we are continuing on our summer with the Psalms.  Today our theme is the Lord is faithful and just.  To summarize this psalm is written by Ezra.  It is an acrostic psalm declaring 22 themes using the Hebrew alphabet.  Ezra is using this form to help the new settlers in Judah to become familiar with Hebrew in its oral and written form.  He is also using this form to help re-establish their language, culture and religion which had been lost because of their 70 year captivity. 

 

 

1.      Today Ezra brings to light four things about the Lord.  The first is found in verse 7, The works of his hands are faithful and just.  This is both in the external world and in the world of the believer.  In the external world or creation we see order and consistency.  The sun shines, water is provided, the seasons change on time, gravity, the right amount of air, the tides rise and fall every day, the earth is right distance from the sun, and the cycles of the moon are consistent.  Ezra points this out.  This is important because his people are following the one true God but for the last 70 years they have been living in a polytheistic society.  God made this consistent creation it was the intelligent designer, God.  We today are God’s ambassador to the evolutionist or animist, atheist, or polytheist today. 

a.      To the believer God will be faithful in His love, provision, grace mercy, healing, compassion and  

guidance.  Faithful means to remain loyal and steadfast.  You can count upon Him.  He is constant, true and devoted.  Faithfulness is part of God’s character.  When he makes and agreement or covenant He will always honor it

b.      His works are just or done with justice.  Just means to behave according to what is morally right and fair.  The consistency of God’s character is something we can depend on.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  God will always do what is right because He is all knowing.  God is fair, equitable, even-handed, impartial and unbiased.  Remember Paul says in Rom 2:11, that God is no respecter of persons.  All will be dealt with justice. 

 

2.      Ezra then states, “all his precepts are trustworthy.  This means you can absolutely depend on

His word.  Precept means, “a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought.”  This is God’s word.  The Bible is the last word on faith and practice.  When God puts down a rule, principle, tenet, code, doctrine and guideline it will be honored.  The Bible is our compass, rule book, manual for how to live and navigate in this storm filled world. 

 

a.      You are not left alone to try and figure this out.  If you follow the word you can avoid, the pitfalls, problems, tests, traps of the world, the flesh and the devil.  This book is our instruction manual.  Follow it and you will avoid so many heartaches, sorrows and regrets.

b.      God’s word is trustworthy.  This means, “Able to be relied on as honest or truthful, dependable and honest.  You can depend on God.  God is faithful, just and His word works.  The promises of God are yes and amen in Christ.  You can trust God’s promises, words and this Book.

 

3.      In vs 8, Ezra tells his readers that the word of God is established for ever and ever.  Heb 13:8 reminds us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.  God does not change.  Just because, culture, society and social systems change God does not.  If God’s word says it is wrong your opinion does not matter. 

 

a.      God’s word is based on the character, essence and nature of God.  You cannot change the sun just because you dislike the light.  We are so foolish.  The biggest fool is the one who says there is no God. 

b.      God’s word is constant, consistent and forever.  You may not like the truth but it is truth that sets you free.   Ezra wants to make sure covenant people know this. 

 

4.      Enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.  Again Ezra uses Parallelism which is the Jewish writers of summarizing restating that God’s word will be always done in the same manner as His character.  God holds His word above His name.  Enact means to establish by legal and authoritative means something.  God is making things happen in a faithful and trustworthy way,  This is again the consistency, stability and maturity of God in action.  This reemphasis is again pointing out the character, nature and essence of God to stand behind everything He say in this book.  You can trust God every moment of your day in every moment of your life and in every situation you face.  Sometimes we just need to hear it again.  We know it in our head but God’s word brings it to where it does the most good, the heart.

GOD HAS A PLAN

 

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

 

 

     This morning as we look at Pau’s exhortation it almost sounds like he is giving a list of rules and regulations for life.  A behavior list that if you do this you will be a good person.  Paul has made it clear in the previous part of this chapter and book that faith in Christ alone will save you.  Paul reminds us that the world is watching and that our influence and testimony are dampened and hindered when we are inconsistent in our character and public testimony.  In Rev 12:11, it states that we overcome by the blood of the lamb, the word of our testimony and being willing to die for the faith.

 

1.      So in Vs 29, Paul starts with the most obvious our speech.  He says do not let unwholesome talk come out of our mouth.  Gossip, slander, curses, questionable jokes, sarcasm, profanity, outbursts of anger, and questionable conversation.  Whatever is pure, lovely, wholeness, noble, praise worthy, right and holy is what we should be talking.  David asked the Lord to put a watchman at the door of his mouth so he would not sin against the Lord.  James says blessing and curses should not come out of the same mouth.  The mouth will eventually speak what is in the heart.  That is why we must guard our hearts.

 

a.      Paul says that we should only speak what is helpful for building others up according to their needs

b.      We are called to speak the truth in love.  Love should be the foundation of any conversation we have.  Encourage, affirm and build others up in your conversations. 

c.      Here are five ways to build others up in conversations.

 

1.      Active listening.

2.      Use their name.

3.      Let them talk about themselves.

4.      Make them feel important.

5.      Emphasize similarities.

 

d.      James says be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.  When you do this Paul says this will benefit those who listen. Solomon says a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

 

2.      In Vs 30, Paul says do not grieve the Holy Spirit with whom you were sealed for day of redemption.  First, this shows the Holy Spirit is a person.  You cannot hurt a thing, force or object.  Grieving means to burden. When the Holy Spirit is grieved, He is burdened. To grieve is to oppress.

 

a.      To grieve is to afflict with deep, acute sorrow—to afflict the Holy Spirit with deep sorrow because of saying and doing the wrong things.

b.      To grieve is to make sad, to distress. We make the Holy Spirit sad, distressed when we disobey the Lord. God’s own people can make the Holy Spirit sad by some of the things they do, cause Him to mourn. He cannot possibly mix with that which is foreign to His personality.

c.      To grieve the Holy Spirit is to make Him lament; many have done this to Him.  We do not want to do it because we are His temple, dwelling place and we are heading for eternity a place of peace, love and completeness. 

 

3.      In Vs 31, Paul says to get rid of bitterness which is caused by being hurt and wronged then letting it go unchecked until it poisons your whole perspective and life. 

 

a.      Rage and anger.  Paul puts them together.  Rage is feeling the need to express violent uncontrollable anger.  You lose it and there are always consequences.  Anger is a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility.  Anger is an emotion caused by a perception of being wronged.  It can be good or bad depending on what is angering us.  Selfish anger leads to wrong reactions.  Righteous anger moves us to defend others and right wrongs.  The cause is the key.  The key to dealing with anger to being quick to hear and slow to speak.

b.      Brawling which means getting into fights whether physical or talking.  People get into fights.  And when they feel threatened or wrong.  They do not respect a person, are self- involved, don’t get enough sleep, substance abused, you have personal problems or self- esteem problems and deflect or attack others. 

c.      Slander is making false and damaging statements about someone.  Christians should never do that.  Satan is accuser of the brethren.  You are doing satan’s work when you slander.

d.      Any form of malice which is the intention or desire to do evil or ill will.  Paul says put it away and don’t let it use you.  The key is to focus on the word of God and prayer. 

 

4.      In Vs 32, Paul says let these three qualities be the evidence of God’s control of your life.  Be kind.  It is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.  It flows from love, mercy and grace. 

 

a.      Be compassionate.  This is a feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others,  understanding, concern and empathy towards other.  Any outward sign of love. 

b.      Forgive one another.  This is a choice and must be done immediately.  Paul says you do it because you have been forgiven.  This is the reason we forgive.  We also know forgiveness is the key to get rid of all these negative expressions Paul talked about. 

 

 

QUOTES FOR MARCH 10, 2026

 

A NEW YEAR

 

     The Christmas season is almost upon us, and a recent survey found that 74% of the respondents said that they feel better when they are preparing for Christmas.  This means that Christmas is better for your mental health.  In another survey some 76% of those surveyed found said that it was better to give than receive.  In fact, they enjoyed looking for gifts for others.  I think Ebenezer Scrooge said it best in the story of the Christmas Carol, he said, “It is the one time of the year when people open up their shut up hearts.” 

     Christmas of course it not about the tinsel, trees, light and carols.  It is the beginning of the greatest story ever told.  Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ.  He is the reason for the season.  We all love the story of Mary and Joseph having the baby in a stable.  Jesus being wrapped in swaddling cloths and placed in a manger.  How the angel of the Lord came to the shepherds while they were in the field announcing Jesus’ birth.  Then the shepherds go and see the baby and tell Mary and Joseph about what they had seen and heard.  Later on, they are visited by the wise men who had followed the star where Jesus was.  They give the child Jesus, their presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

     We all have wonderful memories of growing up and enjoying the friendship, family, and hospitality which is Christmas.  We have four children, and our tradition was to watch the Grinch who stole Christmas on Christmas Eve and then see who could make the best Grinch face.  I never won but often my family told me that the face I made looked like I had constipation.  Sorry for that analogy to all our sensitive readers.  On Christmas morning we would read the story of Christ’s birth from the gospels of Matthew and Luke, then pray and open our gifts.  To me I wanted my family to know that Christmas was the beginning of the greatest story ever told.  It has always been my aim to keep Christ in Christmas.

     Which brings me to a couple of thoughts.  First, as you approach this holiday season remember it is about peace on earth and good will to all people.  Next, remember to share it with others.  There are many people who do not have the blessings we have.  I remember reading a caption on social media which stated, “Never complain about your life in Canada, there are billions around the world who would gladly take your place.”  So, at this time of year do something powerful and impactful to help others.  If you know someone who is alone at Christmas invite them to your house for dinner and friendship.  Volunteer for one of the many organizations that work to help others.  Salvation Army, Hope Mission, Mustard Seed, or the foodbank for example.  If your church has a hamper program or like my church, we every year provide meals through a special offering for Hope Mission.  Whatever it is, do it, for others.

     Christmas is a special time of year, and we can make it so much better when we remember that God gave us a gift.  His name was Jesus Christ and the reason he came was to mankind from our sins.  Jesus however did not stay a baby.  He grew up and became a man who gave His life so that we could have a relationship with God.  This is the essence, nature, and message of Christmas.  So do not get wrapped to much in the hub bub which is Christmas.  Take a moment and thank the Lord for the reason for the season and that is Jesus Christ because if you keep Him out of Christmas you have missed the whole point.  From my family to yours.  Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.