 Good afternoon Pastor David. Hey John. Welcome everyone to a random moment unfiltered with Pastor David Pastor as everybody knows on Tuesdays we talk about current events that are going on That are making headlines and on Thursdays I like to ask you questions that pertain to either the study you just taught on Wednesday evening or things pertaining to the truth God's word and so today I wanted to ask you about a Situation that happened a gentleman came and saw me yesterday at the church and he was really discouraged about His life not pleasing the guy and he was going on to tell me that even some of his family members have saying what you're a Christian, but You're so down. Where's the joy? Last night in your study as we went through Ephesians chapter 2 verses 1 through 10 It the study was amazing and you shared about God's exceeding grace and how does one reconcile the idea of I've got to do these things for God in order for him to be happy for me and Then live it in his grace. That's exceeding. We're even at the tenth verse. He says we are his workmanship you know the the entire Christian life is is built on the fact that God has shown his mercy his compassion his grace his forgiveness He has shown us this in the giving of his son Jesus Christ I mean to believe in the gospel message the message that speaks concerning what God has done how God has done this and Who he did this through to see that God has sent his son that Jesus has died on a cross and Jesus has carried upon himself my sin and then has as a result of that granted to me by his grace and and through faith in the gospel message and trust in him he's given to me a complete forgiveness of my sins and and has ushered me into his presence and has and has settled My debt and has made it very clear that that it is already Considered by God to be a reality that I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever all of these things are intended to awaken us to the reality of The great mercy and depth of love and infinite grace that he has towards us and so when we grasp hold of that by faith when we Come to realize that nothing shall separate me from the love of God when we Realize these things and they're not based on any efforts that I have put into it but by my my Reception of of a promise that he's given and and to take to heart the gift that has been granted to me through Christ well that ought to be the the catalyst of Removing the burdens that I carry the Self-blame that I have in terms of I'm so bad nothing ever good will ever happen to me and it's because I'm so bad Those things are to be washed away by the reality of the love of God the mercy of God the compassion of God the forgiveness of God The tremendous grace of God all of those things when understood Set us free, you know because The one who has been set free from by Jesus is he said is free indeed And so we have freedom in Christ to be one free from the shackles of the chains of the sins that bound us and To freedom to live for Christ and enjoy the world as he has given to us The pleasures and blessings that he has given to us us through Jesus with the hope of eternity in heaven and so the the thing that I think that causes chains of bondage to Fall off is when we understand that there's not a single thing I've ever done But that it's all because of what he did and then to to begin to Actually receive and believe the incredible love that God has for such a warm as I That causes us to say Bless God. I'm forgiven and in Christ. I'm a new creation and that's what I was trying to To convey as I went through the study last night in in Ephesians 2 Is that it's my grace that we've been saved through faith and like you said that not of yourselves It's a gift of God not by works unless any man should boast less We should brag about how we saved ourselves whatever efforts we might have put into our own salvation No, it's it's when we have rested in and trusted in the Lord and the humility that comes as a result of being aware of what he's done and and and who we are and when we come to realize that the only thing I added to my own salvation is the sins that he has forgiven me of When I trust him and and believe what he has said is true Then that burden rolls off and and I have the ability to have joy the joy of the Lord Which is my strength and the joy of the Lord which comes through the power of the Holy Spirit the fruit of the Spirit and And I I know that my name is written in the Lamb's book of life No, no matter what I go through. I'm never alone and he's always with me He never never leaves me never forsakes me. So that gives to me a confidence As well as the courage to live and you know as you're talking about his grace You know the chapter opened up last night with we were once in darkness And now we're considered his workmanship Yeah, and that's what poem that's a poem the poema. It's his creative work of art And he has created us in he's he says in order that we might perform the works that he has before ordained that we Should walk in the the evidence of our salvation is found in a variety of things You know, obviously the mark of the Christian is love But he's also known or she is also known by their works and the things that they do Demonstrate what they believe, you know, even a child is stoned by his works, whether he is good or evil, you know Your works demonstrate your character. They demonstrate who you truly are and so God has a has ordained that we should walk in good works things that demonstrate that That we have been saved, you know, it's not the works that save us It's the works that demonstrate that we've been saved, you know So there are numbers of people who say oh, I know Jesus But they don't they don't live in good works because in fact, they really don't know Jesus when you when you come to know the Lord There's a transformation that becomes evident people begin to see your good works and like Jesus said and they'll glorify your father Who's in heaven so your good works Demonstrate the reality of your salvation and God has ordained that we who follow him who was a good God Should also be walking in good works Amen. Amen. Well, thank you for that pastor in because last night I mean you guys if you're not coming on Wednesday evening, you guys gotta come this last night study was just so because the contrast of we were Dead in trespasses and we walked according to the course of this world and according to the Prince of the power of the air and The sense of disobedience, but God, you know, and then now we're considered his Poem his workmanship. Yes through God's amazing grace. So it's just it's mind-boggling So thank you pastor for sharing that and because I know there's a kid this struggle like I gotta do these things for Christ I gotta do this. I gotta do that. But when Jesus says it's a gift of God It's different when you say I get to rather than I've got to yes, you know, I get to serve the Lord I get to care for other people. I get to do things that are actually rewarded I get to not I got to right and that's a big difference. It's I mean, it's a whole world of difference I'm doing that right there. Well pastor. Thank you so much. And you know, just as a stop with Ephesians We have a great study come you have a great study prepared for us for mark on this Sunday Yeah, it's a good. It's a good book. It's gonna be you're sharing with me this morning a little bit And so church family you have to come out for this. It's it's gonna be a good study It's gonna be on mark chapter. It's chapter 8 chapter 8 I'm not going to give any teasers, but just come and Here is an important question that will be asked the most important question problem in all mankind The most important question. So yes, come on out you guys 8 30 10 45 and men off this Saturday morning It's still we still have time to get your conference or teaching tickets only for a min-superbowl breakfast We have a nice crowd coming out. Yeah, it's gonna be good with several hundred guys And I'm excited. So we're gonna have two or more being this in worship We're gonna have breakfast or he's pen time in God's word men still have a chance to come on out and purchase a Teaching ticket only on Saturday morning. We look forward to having you guys and pastor. Thank you so much for your time Of course. Thank you guys for tuning in and God bless you