"A Tight Grip"

"In a world full of uncertainties, we feel that nothing is stable enough for us to hold on to. When the world and the devil seem to upset our grasp on life, have no fear Christian, for God has given us a firm lifeline to tightly grip: HIMSELF!"

1. GOD LOVES

(Eph. 2:4-5) "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we

were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved.)"

"Every step God takes, every breath God takes; He does it in love. Love for His own Glory and love for those He desires to save." "We can hold tightly to God, by faith, because He is a loving Father to His children."

2. GOD CHOOSES (Foreknowledge)

(Eph. 1:4) " He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love."

(1Pet. 1:2) "[to the] elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied."

"God’s choices are His own and they are not up for debate. His plans, that He prepared from the beginning of time, WILL be accomplished and no one is able to prevent them."

(Isa. 14:24) "The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, "Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, And as I have purposed, so it shall stand."

(Isa. 46:11) "I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it..."

"Although we do not know what it is, I know that God has a definite plan and that every choice He makes is an exerted effort to accomplish those plans." "Those plans are for the good of those He loves." (Rom. 8:28)

3. GOD CALLS (Regeneration)

(Jude 1) "Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are [the] called, [the] sanctified by God the Father, and [the] preserved in Jesus Christ"

(2Tim. 1:9) "[God] who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began."

(1Cor. 1:9) "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

(John 6:44) "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day."

4. GOD SAVES (Justification)

(Matt. 24:13) "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."

(Eph. 2:8-9) "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

"I don’t know how He did it, but I do know that He saved me from myself (My own worst enemy)."

5. GOD SANCTIFIES (Sanctification)

God’s purpose for our life is always:

Grounded in Prayer. (Rom. 8:26) "We know not what to pray..."

Guided by Providence. (Jonah)

Guaranteed by Predestination.

"Ultimately we are sanctified (set aside) for the sole purpose of praising and Glorifying God!"

(Eph. 1:12 ) "that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

(Matt. 5:16) "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

6. GOD GLORIFIES (Glorification)

(Rom. 8:30) "Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."

"Some day after a while, I will forget this pain I now endure and I will forever worship the Holy One"

" I will fall down with the twenty-four elders and sing unto the lamb, ’You are worthy, you are worthy!"

TO GOD BE THE GLORY! AMEN