Don't Forget!

Ephesians  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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Don’t Forget!

Do you ever have trouble remembering things? Test answers. What you dreamed last night. What your parent’s told you to do before they left for work in the morning. Things you’ve memorized. Names.
-All kinds of things influence how hard it is to remember things: seasons of life that are busy or stressful (mom brain); lack of sleep; distracted by information overload/social media/attention deficit way of life; lack of interaction/passing of time. There’s something here in that we are not supposed to forget.
Think of people who are really far from God—deep moral and spiritual poverty—what people come to mind?
-That neighborhood; Satanists; Those who celebrate killing babies; Violent, drug-peddling, gang members; Isis terrorists.
-What if God started saving those people in record numbers and they started filling the chairs in church? (rough looks, language, broken families, etc.) Would it make people uncomfortable (some churches more than others)? Would it make you uncomfortable?
-That’s exactly what’s happening here in Ephesians. Jews (religious, clean-cut way of life; law of God) see Gentiles (former pagans) filling the church. There’s potential for Jews to feel superior, and Gentiles to feel inferior.
-What would we expect Paul to say to prevent Gentile believers from feeling inferior?
-He doesn’t go about it quite how we would expect.
-What are Gentiles supposed to remember?

Don’t Forget!

-Your Shameful Past
-Isn’t that something people often want to forget? That embarrassing hairstyle, or incident? Words we wish we never would have said. Sins and failures and anything uncomfortable?
We’re quick to run from anything uncomfortable and avoid it at all costs, trying to minimize it, or medicate it with music or substances, gaming or social distractions. We don’t see any value in pain or suffering.
-What’s wrong with wanting to completely forget uncomfortable/painful things in our past?
-We learn from the past/mistakes. “Those who forget history are destined to repeat it.”
-We learn that we are not independent and self-sufficient (humility)(God resists the proud…).
Psalm 103:13–14 ESV
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103
John 15:5 ESV
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
-We learn who God is for us in and through pain and suffering.
2 Corinthians 12:8–10 ESV
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
-We learn who God is for us in and through our suffering.
James 1:2–4 ESV
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
-So that you could know and praise God’s glory. (The darker the sky, the brighter the stars).
The purpose of your life is to “praise his glory” (1:14). To praise his glory, you have to know his glory (READ 1:18-19). How do you know how glorious God and his salvation are? You were wicked, foolish, ignorant people who only deserved Hell, But God loved you with a great love so he could “show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (2:7)
God doesn’t want his people to forget to remember who they were before he turned their world upside down with grace.
God doesn’t want his people to forget to remember who they were before he turned their world upside down with grace.
-REMEMBER: 2:1-3; 11-12.
-REMEMBER: 2:1-3; 11; 12.
READ v. 11: Is this simply a description of two people groups. Jews, who practiced this outward, physical sign and seal of participation in the Old Covenant relationship with God; and Gentiles, who had no revelation, sign, or covenant relationship with God? (FLESH: physical sign means nothing now, but inward holiness/separation from the world.)
-What’s the worst thing that could happen to you?
-THIS: READ v. 12:
-Separated
-Alienated (illegal aliens—national term—no rights or claims because you’re not rightfully part of that nation)
-Strangers
-No hope and without God in the World
Ever have a dream that someone you love and who loves you turns their back on you? Betrays you? (My dream last night). You’ve been replaced. You’ve been shut out.
Ever have a dream that someone you love and who loves you turns their back on you? Betrays you? (My dream last night). You’ve been replaced. You’ve been shut out.
-Inception
-What is this world like?
-Liars and fools, sons and failures Thieves will always say Lost and found, ailing wanderers Healers always say Whores and angels, men with problems Leavers always say Broken hearted, separated Orphans always say
War creators, racial haters Preachers always say Distant fathers, fallen warriors Givers always say Pilgrim saints, lonely widows Users always say Fearful mothers, watchful doubters Saviors always say Sometimes I can not forgive These days mercy cuts so deep If the world was how it should be Maybe I could get some sleep While I lay, I'd dream we're better Scales were gone and faces lighter When we wake, we hate our brother We still move to hurt each other Sometimes I can close my eyes And all the fear that keeps me silent Falls below my heavy breathing What makes me so badly bent? We all have a chance to murder We all have the need for wonder We still want to be reminded That the pain is worth the plunder Sometimes when I lose my grip I wonder what to make of Heaven All the times I thought to reach up All the times I had to give up Babies underneath their beds Hospitals that cannot treat them All the wounds that money causes All the comforts of cathedrals All the cries of thirsty children This is our inheritance All the rage of watching mothers This is our greatest offense Oh, my God Oh, my God Oh, my God
brokenness, death, sickness, war, hatred, futility: now navigate that without hope and without God.
-brokenness, death, sickness, war, hatred, futility: now navigate that without hope and without God.
REMEMBER THAT WAS YOU! Don’t forget the worst thing that could happen to you was all you had and deserved. Now, don’t forget the best thing that could happen to you is yours.

Don’t Forget!

-Your Glorious Present and Future
READ v. 13: Have been brought near (only in Christ; only by the blood of Christ).
Once separated, now adopted and loved/cherished as children.
To the Far Away:
“At one time…you were separated...” Is that one time now? Is this not your past, but your present? Turn from your sin and run to Christ. How long will you wait?
Hebrews 12:15–17 ESV
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
Hebrews 12:16–17 ESV
that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
Hebrews
To The Near:
Do you see the glory of God in your salvation? Do you know and feel how much you don’t deserve it? Are you amazed by your Savior?
Luke 7:36–47 ESV
One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
Luke 7:36–50 ESV
One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:3
Do you love much because you know what your forgiveness cost? Or do you love God very little because you feel that there wasn’t much of an offense to forgive?
Luke 7
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