TITLE: Who Sits on the Throne of Your Life?

• TEXT: Ephesians 3:112• THEME: God accomplishes His purposes

when you serve Him.

One of the greatest gifts God has given us is the opportunity to

start again. He gives us a fresh start when we need one-and

without exception we all need a fresh start from time to time.

The Apostle Paul’s Attitude

• "I am not an important person, but I have an important job to do."

The Apostle Paul’s Attitude

• "I am not an important person, but I have an important job to do."

• If any phrase could sum up Paul's life, this is it.

How should we live in light of our new start in life?

I. Live with a sense of purpose. (1-7)

Ephesians 3:1-7

• 1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles. 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

Ephesians 3:1-7

• 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.

Bruce Springsteen?

"I'm just a prisoner of rock and roll!"

Paul

• (v. 7) I became a servant of this gospel. ..

(v, 6)

• ... “Through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise of Jesus Christ.”

How should we live in light of our new start in life?

II. Live with a sense of humility.

Paul

• I Timothy he called himself "the chief of all sinners."

Paul

• I Timothy he called himself "the chief of all sinners."

• Romans 7 he referred to himself as a "wretched, sinful man."

Paul

• I Timothy he called himself "the chief of all sinners."

• Romans 7 he referred to himself as a "wretched, sinful man."

• Ephesians 3:8 “I am less than the least of all God's people.”

The Winner Within Pat Riley former coach of the Los Angeles Lakers

The danger of the "disease of me." He tells how the Laker's out-of-control egos brought about one of the quickest falls in the history of the NBA. They had won the Championship in 1980. The following season they were predicted to do it again.

The Winner Within Pat Riley former coach of the Los Angeles Lakers

Then, resentment set in among the players. Some thought Earvin Johnson got too much attention from the media. Kareem Abdul Jabbar believed that he was being snubbed by other players. Some players believed they weren't getting the recognition they deserved. As a result, the Lakers shifted their focus from winning to whining. And they got beat in the first playoff round.

The Winner Within Pat Riley former coach of the Los Angeles Lakers

This is the ultimate humiliation for a reigning champ; it has happened only twice before in NBA history. Riley summed it up by saying, "The Disease of Me leads to the Defeat of Us."

How should we live in light of our new start in life?

Ephesians 3:9-12

“and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,

Ephesians 3:9-12

11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”

Ephesians 3:9-12

11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”

He asked himself, "Why has this happened to me, and what can 1 learn from it?"

Paul

• (v. 2) Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you ...

Paul

• (v. 2) Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you ...

• (v. 7) I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.

The word Paul repeatedly used to describe God's work in his life

was "grace."

Two Attitudes to Avoid

• An attitude of smugness-thinking that we're really something and that God is lucky to have us on his team.

Two Attitudes to Avoid

• An attitude of smugness-thinking that we're really something and that God is lucky to have us on his team.

• The second is an attitude of "Why Me?" where we complain about our lot in life.

Dean Smith, the legendary basketball coach

"If you make every game a life and death situation-you'll be dead a lot."

Sometimes in life we need a fresh start. We get stuck in ruts, we

get heading in the wrong direction and we need a fresh encounter with God where he

calls us on our sins and gives us a new reason for existence.

APPLICATION

Application

• If you are willing, God can use that purpose for his glory and for your good. But it requires that we take ourselves off the throne, and give him his rightful place there.

• It requires that we focus our attention on doing the work that he has called us to do