Reflections

Intro: There comes a time in every Christian’s life that we need to stop all our activity, clear our minds and reflect on God. This means we fix our thoughts on Him and carefully consider His place in our lives. There are four areas of reflection we need to make.

I. Look back and thank God. Ephesians 2:1-3 (NKJV) ¹ And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, ² in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, ³ among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

 a. Remember when you were spiritually dead. The first three verses of this chapter presents how  hopeless we were—trapped in sin, under Satan’s power, unable to save ourselves. We all were once spiritually dead and had no communication with God. We were physically alive, but our sins had rendered us spiritually dead, alienated from God, and headed for hell. Being a sinner we were subject to God’s wrath like all sinners.

 b. Then Remember when God who is rich in mercy and love.  Ephesians 2:4-10 (NKJV) ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. God gave you eternal life when He raised Jesus from the dead. He saved you by His grace and seated you with Christ in the Heavenly realms. He saved you when you believed in Christ as your personal Savior. It was not because of some great thing you had done.

II. Look within and find God.

 a. At the time of our salvation the Holy Spirit of God came into our lives. The Spirit actually lives in our bodies which are the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT) ¹⁹ Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, ²⁰ for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

  b. We have received the Holy Spirit of God so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given to us. 1 Corinthians 2:11-12 (NLT) ¹¹ No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. ¹² And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 1 John 2:27 (NLT) You have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

III. Look around and serve God. We are to build up and improve the church with our gifts. Romans 12:6-8 (NLT) ⁶ In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. ⁷ If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. ⁸ If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Colossians 3:23-24 ²³ Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ²⁴ Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

IV. Look forward and trust God. We are to live our lives as those who are eagerly looking for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:7-9 (NLT) ⁷ Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸ He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. ⁹ God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Jude 1:24-25 (NLT) ²⁴ Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. ²⁵ All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

Invitation: Romans 8:16 says ^“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” As you look within yourself, do you find the Spirit of God in you confirming that you belong to Him? If not right now is the time to confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you of those sins against God and save you for Heaven. The bible says in Romans 10:13 ^“For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."