Scripture tells us that there’ no temptation we’ll face that’s greater than the power we’re given to resist it. Our Heavenly Father created everything that is, including Satan and the fallen angels that serve him. So even under the full onslaught of our enemy, our Father is still stronger and has given us access to His power through the Holy Spirit. As Pastor Mike will reassure us in today’s message, this means that we never have to give in to temptation. You can stand up and resist it through Christ.

Prayer is so powerful. Yet, for many of us, it’s the last resort. You have the ear of God listening for the cries of your heart, and yet, how often do you try to solve the problem on your own? Do you not trust Him? Do you think your problem is too big? Or maybe too small? As Pastor Mike continues our study of the book of Ephesians in today’s message, we’ll be reminded that prayer is one of the main weapons we have at our disposal as we battle against an aggressive, cunning spiritual enemy.

If your parents promise you a big inheritance, don’t go buying new cars and houses in advance, counting on that money to come in. It may, but it’s not a sure thing till it’s in your bank account. The inheritance that God gives His children isn’t that way. It is sure, and you can have full confidence that He will bring it for those who accept His invitation into His family. As Pastor Mike will explain in today’s message, the only thing that can come between you and that inheritance is your own prideful resistance.

Slavery is not a good thing. The idea of a person owning another person is appalling. So why use this language when describing our relationship with God? Why would anyone want to be a slave? As we’ll be reminded by Pastor Mike in today’s message, our relationship with God is fully voluntary. It’s not something you’re forced into. And God’s approval of you isn’t based on your performance. He loves you regardless and submitting to Him is the ultimate expression of gratitude for the freedom He’s given you.

In ancient cultures, people could become a slave in many ways. Sometimes it was simply based on their place in society, due to race or heritage. Other times, people put themselves into slavery out of debt to someone that they were unable to pay by other means. Spiritually, we’re born in slavery to sin, and we continue to entrench ourselves into its oppression as we go through life. As Pastor Mike will remind us in today’s message, we need redemption, and Jesus offers us that through His sacrifice.

When Jesus calls you to follow Him, it’s not into a life of sitting around and resting in His presence. That’s a part of this spiritual journey, but it should only be a part, not the entire focus. Jesus calls us beyond just being students under His teaching. He equips and empowers us to go out and share His Gospel with the world around us. He’s sent us out to that, and as Pastor Mike will explain in today’s message, it’s our responsibility to represent that Gospel as accurately as possible.

Nothing you’ve done has given you a right to salvation or earned you a place in God’s Kingdom. It’s simply by the grace of God that you’ve been welcomed in. Because Christ died for the sins that you committed, God can look at you as being sinless and righteous. As Pastor Mike will remind us in today’s message, this certainly isn’t an excuse to live however you want and ignore the commandments of Scripture. In fact, it should have the opposite effect – it should inspire your obedience out of gratitude.

God works in ways that often defy human logic. It wouldn’t be beyond Him at all to take a drug addict off the street and transform them into the next Billy Graham. He seems to prefer to work that way in fact. As Pastor Mike will point out in today’s message, God will use anyone who’s willing, and He especially likes to use those who are humble enough to know that He alone deserves the glory. This is why He so often uses the people we tend to look down on in our society.

Ephesians is a beautiful book. If you’ve ever stood at the edge of the Grand Canyon or some other great wonder of Creation, you know that feeling of awe and wonder that it can inspire. As Pastor Mike will express in today’s message, that’s a worthy comparison to the feelings we can have towards the book of Ephesians. It’s as practical as it is beautiful, and there’s no question it took Divine inspiration and control for Paul to pen this letter to his brothers and sisters in the church of Ephesus.

When you receive Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, God increases the abilities He has given to you! In today's message from Pastor Mike, he explains to you that God has already given to each human being special traits and talents. However, by receiving Christ, Pastor Mike shares that those gifts become increased. God does this through the power of His Holy Spirit, so that He may be glorified. Think of the gifts God has given to you and how you could use those more to bless His name and Kingdom.