Man to Man

Attempts to connect:failed

Ephesians 2:11-22

One in Christ

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Example

Have you ever tried to make a relationship better but you made it worse?

No one gets married, hoping for divorce.

Some married 30 + years, some married less than 3 approaching divorce.

This week talked with a server shared with me about their marriage, headed to divorce after a year and a half. He still cares for her, it’s just not

The Garden

Gen 3:10-13 “10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.””

Genesis 4:8-9 “8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?””

Genesis 6:5 ESV

5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Exodus 2:11–12 ESV

11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.

Why is this important

All people are inherently good Without mitigating factors, their innate goodness would not erode with age. But goodness is not the sole virtue of the young. The vast majority of people, when faced with simple, clear ethical choices, choose good over bad and even good over neutral.

CNN.com 2018

They are inherently good - the bad reactions aren't basic. Every human being is a child of God and has more good in him than evil - but circumstances and associates can step up the bad and reduce the good. I've got great faith in the essential fairness and decency - you may say goodness - of the human being.

Norman Vincent Peale - minister,

author of Power of Positive Thinking

Scripture

Acts 7:23-28

English Standard Version (Chapter 7)

23 “When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. 25 He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. 26 And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’ 27 But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’

Application

Salvation - deliverance from our enemies.

Reconciliation - unity between two parties.

Moses tried to call on their brotherhood to reconcile the two men, but it didn’t work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1zkwkI9oAw

Iniquity : bent, broken, crooked.

Also the hurt consequences.

sit in your Avon, bear your iniquity, carrying the result of their bad decisions.

V.12

You were at that time..

separated from Christ

alienated from the commonwealth of Israel

strangers to the covenant of promise,

having no hope

without God

Jesus is our only hope, Not each other

1. Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang repeats 2008 Olympic crashIt was a horrible case of déjà vu for Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang, who crashed into his first obstacle during the 110-meter hurdles. At the 2008 Olympics, he'd failed to clear a single hurdle, even though just four years prior, at the 2004 Games, Liu became the first Chinese man to claim a gold medal in track and field (a persistent foot injury predestined his fall from grace). This time around, he hobbled to the finish on one leg and was met by Balazs Baji of Hungary, who raised Liu's hand in the air to declare him an honorary winner.

Jesus breaks down the walls and connects us

Ephesians 2:13–14 ESV

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

Ephesians 2:17–22 ESV

17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

We are together with Christ

v13

we have been brought near by the Blood of Jesus

v15-16

Making us one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body

Does this mean we needed to be one to be reconciled to God?

Ephesians 2:22 (ESV)

22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

“you” is plural

The Spirit if building us together as a dwelling place for God.

We Are connected to each other

We are together with Christ

We Are connected to each other

often as the Tech guy, I am asked, “what is the wifi password here” I have in the moment to give people the tools to connect them, or hold back and not give them the tool, the key they need.

Romans 5:6–11 (ESV)

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:16–21 ESV

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

We are Children of the covenant of Promise

We are together with Christ

We Are connected to each other

We are Children of the covenant of Promise

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Matthew 19:26 (ESV)

26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

WE have hope

God is With Us

We are together with Christ

We Are connected to each other

We are Children of the covenant of Promise

God is With Us

I’m just one person, we can’t change anything.

Romans 8:31 ESV

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Ashley-Cooper,_7th_Earl_of_Shaftesbury

anthony ashley cooper, lord of shaftbury

in england during the industrial revelution.

what modivated you to take on this

factory safety

better pay

child labor laws.

one of Englands most productive and persistant social reformers.

I haven’t gone a day with out thing of the return of Jesus Christ.

We don’t reconnect to people and connect people to God ,productively, (many poeple) persistantly (over a long period of time), perptually (they walk in the same foot steps, disciples who make disciples) unless it is fueled by our love and expectation for Jesus.

Promises we hold onto with other.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.