Ephesians 2

Good morning, I'm glad you're here this morning. What you do, wish you were someplace else. You still have chance to get there. Nobody's holding here. Hey, if you have your bible store with me, do if you will do the book of Ephesians chapter 2, we going to pick up where we left off a few weeks ago and I I feel like one of those horses at Saratoga in the gate ready to go. It's been a couple of weeks if I preach so buckle your seatbelts and hold on. Right. It's been, it's one of those things I enjoy being here on Sunday mornings. I enjoy being a part of the body of Christ. I enjoy seeing each and every face that comes in fellowshipping with you worshiping God together. That's why we're here. That's what Paul is talking about here in the book of Ephesians to the Church of Ephesus. We are a body of Christ, we work together, we can work together, sometimes, we don't always work together. Well, Christian's Christian's are tough. Have you noticed? Sometimes we get along better with the world than we can with some Christians. Shouldn't be that way, but it's true. So here's what I share with you to do, take the light that God has given you and share it with the world. Cuz I need to hear what God has to say. The Christians have already heard it. And if they've already heard it and not going to live for the Lord, then there's not much you can do but pray for them because the holy spirit's got to do the rest of that a man. We try to straighten one another up but we can't we can't even control ourselves many times. Much less those around us, but Paul is talking to. The Church of Ephesus is here and he saying, listen, there's some things that we need to do know there's some ways of life that you have been taught, but you're getting away from. Why? Because the ways of the world are creeping into the church and to the doctor, in the belief system, we are here today because we are Lost Sinner's We're loss centers, who will hopefully have come to Faith in Jesus Christ and became to become saved. Sinners, amen. If you hear this morning, you're either a loss in or you're safe since my hope is that you're saying not a loss center because we are all sinners. A man. Frank's the biggest one of all of us, not just kidding. We're all Sinners. We all fail before. God daily, and you may say will not me. I'm a Child of God. But you know what? We still make mistakes because of failure is an attitude, a failure as a father. Failure is doing things contrary to what God wants, or maybe not doing something God wants us to do. And this morning, as we look at this past, Ephesians 2:1 says in you, he made alive who were dead and trespasses and sins aren't you? Glad that you have life. Aren't you glad this morning that God has given you another day to worship him and to serve him? How has that gone so far? What have you done so far? This day? For others around you not just Believers by unbelievers to know that you're a child of God and you have life. And you want to share that life with them, that ought to be our daily process and daily wants to do cuz we're lost Center. Should come to faith in Christ. We become safe centers. 6 people needing help A man. There is a lot of sickness in this world, and in this world, the Bible says that there will be trials and tribulations, heartaches, and hardships, and thankful, thank goodness for Adam and Eve who kept us from all that. I didn't work that way, right? We got in that discussion, a little bit this morning in my office, with the guys early and, you know, all these things going on around us, we can think Adam, and Eve, for all the pain, all the sorrow, all the soccer, because they had a choice to make. They had a choice to live in the garden with the presence of God, 100% or go partake of a tree and they've decided to go partake of that tree and because of that sin entered into the whole world. So we're loss centers in Lawson or simply just sick. People needing help there in dead people. They are dead. People needing life. And that's what he tells it right here in verse one and you he made alive, you feel alive this morning. I mean, some glad morning when this life is our, I'll Fly Away, right? And I got a group of people behind me that, like, the clap And I got a group of people be on in this world.

Am I right? Come on. We're having Church the time to be honest. Not saying you shouldn't be clapping, maybe the others not to be clapping. Why? Because we have life. A man. God says, I give you life and I give it to you.

Abundantly. This is Abundant Life. Oh Lord. Right. And you. He made a life. You, he made alive. Are you alive today? What you going to do with it? Now, now that you have life, what are you going to do with it? You're going to take it and you don't enjoy it but you're going to share it with those around because he made alive. We were dead and our trash that is we were dead and our sins and he gave us life and he gave us life abundantly to enjoy will pass. So you don't know my life, you don't know what's going on. Hey, guess what? Whatever's going on in your life, it could be worse.

Right. It could be worse. We're here today to worship god. So let's just let go of all the things that's keeping us from being what God wants us to be. Say yes, Lord help me to do what you called me to do and John 5:24, is it most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears my word, he who believes in me and him was sent me has ever lasting life and you're not coming to judgment, but is passed from death into life. Listen to that. Again, most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in him, who sent me, are you hearing his word? It's hearing hearings important. Amen. We all had that volume control on our television that we got to get to a certain level for us to hear. Hey man. And depending on what's going on, around us a background noise, maybe we had a raise, at level a little higher. And when everybody is gone in the background noise ceases we said there's no wall. That's loud, but slower but we have a level that we got to have it at,

My wife. Says, I have hearing problems.

I think I hear just fine. I think people have speaking problems.

They should know my level of hearing and speak a little louder. Or Lucifer depending on the situation. We all have those levels in which we are comfortable with. God has put us, you're not one of us, are the same. Amen. Look at the person next to you. Say, thank God.

Thank God. We're all different. Why? Because that's the way he created us. But the thing the same part about us is, we were all made alive. Who were dead. And trespasses and says, when we put our faith in Christ in Jesus Christ, we have eternal life. you know how long you turn on life is Eternal forever. It's the never cease. Never stop. So when I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior, when I was seven years of age, why? Because I was raised in church, I was taught the things of the Bible. I didn't always adhere to them the way that I should, but I was raised in church top of things in the Bible, and at 7 years of age, I said yes to geez. I became a child of God. Now being a child of God brings with it, some responsibilities I had to do nothing in order to receive that. I wasn't baptized first, nothing else that I had. I just had to say yes to Jesus and he entered into my life. Now the responsibility as a seven-year-old begins. What change in my life as a seven-year-old? How did my outward lighting really didn't outwardly? My dad was still a minister. I still have to act a certain way whether I wanted to or not, why? Because people were watching, right? You got to do certain things. And eventually that that aspect of living, my life is hurting way becomes a part of who I am, is what you do in a fact. There's things even than my life today that take place out of the wall. I shouldn't be, there's nothing wrong with that. That's just the way I was raised. Then here we are today, but there are also things in this world that creep into our lives. That we allow that are contrary to the word of God. And this is what Paul is saying, to the Church of Ephesus. Hey I I started with you. I I taught you guys, I got you all set up. You were doing great and now you're going in the wrong direction, you're going the other way. You going from bondage, we've gone from bondage to freedom. And now, we're going back from this Freedom into bondage of the things of the world. Loss centers are in bondage to the World, the Flesh and the devil. That's what he says. In verse 1 through this again, a patient 2:1 and you, he made alive, who were dead in trash back in which you once walked, according to the course of this world, according to the prince and power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of Disobedience among whom also, we all once conducted ourselves in the last of our flesh, for filling the desires of The Flash and of the mind. And we're by Nature children forever ass. Just as other. What are we fulfilling the lust of the flesh? Our desires of the flesh, those things that the flash wants. That's what we're going to do. You know why? Because it feels good for the moment. Why do people get caught up in, in and drugs? Why? Because it feels good for the moment. What, how do people become out? Alcohol is white because it feels good for the moment. How does sexual abuse have in water? Because it feels feels good for the moment. But eventually that moment turns into the pain and sorrow and destruction of Lives. Why? Because the desire of the flesh, the desire of the minor and what's this is what I desire and we get that moment of happiness and it affects us the rest of our lives. You've heard over the years, talk about a friend. I went to Bible College with This rain would come I first met him, come into my, my dorm room and we'd be in the middle of a conversation. I was 18 years of age. When I went to Bible College, he was probably two years older than me is first year Bible College, he went often and lived all his life out of high school do things first before he came to Bible college. But he being a conversation all of a sudden his eyes are just go blank and forget what he was saying. In the first couple of times at that half and I'm like, I didn't say it out loud. I'm saying it all up here. What's up with this guy? And I'm waiting for him to finish that conversation. His eyes are blank and looked at me like what we talkin about. And I tell him what we were talking about. Oh yeah. They pick up on the conversation. Second time we're having a conversation happens. Again, they just want to. The third time, we're having a conversation that happens again and he said Clyde, I just got to tell you in high school one time. One time in high school, I did a hit of acid. And it still affects me today. One time that hit of acid wife was at that moment of ecstasy or whatever that brings on. I don't I don't know I haven't been there whatever that brings on that one hit. Three years later. Four years later, still affecting him. It just would have blanks out and can't remember what he was talking about until somebody remind him. Sin is fine for the moment, it's in wasn't fun. We went really, wouldn't want to do it. But it has consequences that last for eternity. Some of us have done things in our lives at that, we're holding onto and we're saying there is no way, there's no way that God could ever forgive me or somebody else could ever forgive me for this or for whatever. There's no way that I can get me on it and the devil's one that wants us to keep hold of it. The principalities are, the are the one who is filling the sons of disobedience? And all we need to do is give it to Jesus. All we need to do is turn it over to him. It's yours. Will it come up again? Oh, I'm sure it will something going to trigger that thought of that memory, whatever going to bring it back to her mind and we said, Hey, listen stop. I've given that to God. It's under the blood of Jesus. It's his What the devil's going to continue to attack? Have you noticed that he's going to continue to hit you on all sides? Why? Because he doesn't want you walking. The path that God has laid out. That's a problem with Adam and Eve in the garden of all the things that God said, you can partake of leave the tree alone in the Devil. Comes lines. That says, hey, that's not really what God said it is. When you parked your eyes will be open, you'll think you're a God who doesn't think they're Gods or goddesses. Somewhere deep down inside. We all swear to think we are, don't we just look at me.

Right. Not even close. But there are certain times in our lives where we think we're pretty important. We might be more important than person next to us. And Jesus never had that attitude of himself. He always thought the other person was more important. The woman caught in adultery. What do you say to her? Neither, do I condemn thee, go and sin? No more. Do we think she never send again? I don't think she never send again. I think she still send, but she might not have done that sin. She might not have been caught up in that or she might have, but we don't know. We know Jesus attitude towards her. Hey, listen, your accusers, they're gone. They've left neither, do I condemn? You send no more but understand this, that the love of Jesus goes with you.

John 12:31 through verse 32 says this now is the Judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out and if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself. You see what he says? We got a picture from the Old Testament when the serpent was raised up and everybody who looked upon that, serpent would be taking care of, would be healed. Tina said something greater than a serpent is being lifted up. The son of man, the Son of God is being lifted up, Jesus Christ, Lift It Up on that cross and if you look to me as more than you see, it's having a relationship with him. If you look to me if I be lifted up I will draw just a few people to me certain people to me know, it's not what he says. If I be lifted up, I will draw All Peoples to myself. When's the last time. You can look at your life that you know what? I I lifted up the Lord Jesus Christ in this situation, I lifted up the Lord, Jesus Christ. When I was in this position when I all else was going wrong and I gave glory and honor to God and in Jesus Christ,

I'll do that. I have some doctors appointments coming up just to make sure I'm all okay. I am, I think. But there is one rule some things out. So so, you know what I got to do? I get to bring out my phone on the Wednesday night when I passed out on Facebook live. And got over 300 views.

I still got on my phone, anybody want to see? It's five bucks of you. Not just something about you. Wanted up here, for everybody is going to be a five bucks for Everett. I got the show that to the doctor the other day. Of me, sharing the word. The song, a little early right before they got to wash it for 20 minutes before. You get to the point of me, passing it. So, it's coming up.

Oh that's it. So I noticed on the doctors reported said he was teaching a Bible study when he had an episode.

Was trying to teach a Bible study and you can share that with other people. Why? It's not my words, it's when the word of God is shared. It goes out, and it doesn't come back void. So, Jesus is listen. If I be lifted up, it might just be simple. God bless you, will be praying for you.

But if we're going to tell somebody, we're going to pray for them. Pray for them. Had somebody asked me to get last Sunday. Why would you pray? When you pray for me, pray for my wife and in this situation and I said, yes, I'll pray for you and I was going to leave it right there. I said no, listen, let's play right now. Let's take a moment right now. I'm praying for this situation and I did. I pray with tears started streaming down. This guy's face. He said, thank you for that. Thank you for taking in the moment right now.

I'm going home. I just did it. So I wouldn't forget later cuz I said I would Am I am I the only one? I'll pray for you. Then never why not right there right now. What is it take when we don't have 10/22 to spend with somebody else? We're too busy. Or were too involved in other things. If I be lifted up, Jesus says, I will draw All Peoples. It's not about me. It's not about you. It's about his word being lifted up and allow him to draw people. We got to be listening. We got to be looking. We got to be waiting for God to guide us and direct us. And yet sometimes he's directing Us in guiding us and we don't want to go We're doing everything we can to fight. Galatians 1:4 says, who gave himself for our sins that he might Deliver Us from this present, evil age, you want to be delivered from this present, evil age, put your faith, your trust in Jesus and yesterday's trials and tribulations are going to still happen. but he's in charge and there's nothing that's going to happen to you and to me that God does not first allow Understand that nothing takes God. By surprise this world, we live in today and all of its trials, and tribulations. Whatever is going on is not sitting back at God. What are you thinking? Cuz hey, this is what you're looking for. Is this what you got? 1st, Chronicles 7:14. If my people spoken to the Jews, but we can apply it. If my people who are called by my name,

Would pray. Seek my face, ask forgiveness of their sins.

Right, turn from their Wicked Ways cuz I'm going to hear from Heaven. That I'm going to forgive their sins and heal their land. The problem is, we don't want to turn, we want God's guidance, we want God's direction. We want God's help, but we want to keep doing what we're doing.

so therefore when we pray and we don't obey God completely He's not obligated to answer those prayers. You ever thought of that? Our nation gets in those areas where I know I talked about this quite a lot, but our nation get to, you know, the 9/11 moments the 911 times when the towers are falling out.

But why just that moment of that time and why not continually there after because when things get right back to normal for the rest of us, it's never normal for those who lose loved ones, right. That's a part of their life will deal with the rest of their lives is never normal for them but the weather wrestlers when things are getting back to normal, who? Thank you, God. Okay, let me go back to my old ways and do my own thing about, it's all about me. no, it's about lifting up the Lord, Jesus Christ, if I be lifted up, I'll draw All Peoples to myself. Listen, I'll pass out this morning if we can get 1000 views. And people can hear this. You need Jesus, without Jesus, there's no hope with Jesus. We have eternal life. Amen. I learned that 7 years of age and always lived properly, the way that I should But I've learned it at a young age. And even Hitler knew this you give me a child to the age of seven. He's mine for life. You don't think our school teachers public school, education to understand that they do. Christians, understand that train up a child in the way that they should go. And when they're when they're all they will not depart from, it does that mean our kids are going to be perfect? No, it does not me. But listen, we planted the seed. The seed is planted in their life and it's there in that scene of the Lord Jesus Christ. As it continues to grow, its always on their mind, whether they follow it or not. There's no, excuse then.

God is working in you. God is working through you to accomplish his purpose. Look what he says in verse 10 of Ephesians. Chapter 2. For we are his workmanship. Created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Walking walk walk in those good works we are his creation God created each and every one of us individually and that amazing He created Legion of Honor and yes. Or maybe look-alikes in family situation. Do you look at they hate? I see your father. I see your mother and I see Uncle Joe or whoever might be But yet there's differences in each and every one of these lives, God put them all together, he piece it all together. While we were, in our mother's womb, he brought all the bones and all the tissue together and made us who we are. And then that's a child of God, when we accept him as our Lord and our savior. We are his workmanship created to do. Good works. Listen good works. Do not save us. If that was true, Jesus would need to die in the cross. Baptism, does not save us and I understand there's a lot of people I deal with this all the time. Lot of people who were baptized as an infant. That's great. I understand, you know that the desire of parents but there comes a point in time where each and every one of us, either accept or reject. The things of God. I can't necessarily do that when I'm an in French. But as we get older, we learn some things. We realize good and evil, right? And wrong. We say yes. Or we say no, And what God wants us to do is understand that we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus. For good works which God prepared. Beforehand. That we should walk in them. There's two paths in this world. Right. There's a narrow path and there's a wide path. Bible says, why does the gate that takes us to our the path that takes us to destruction? Narrow is the path. That leads a life Everlasting. And if we're going to walk on a path, you want to align path. Are you want to narrow path? Usually, we want room to roam a man. We want a wide path. But here's my philosophy in the world that starts out as a wide path to destruction easy to walk on but it funnels down to a narrow path of destruction. with God, it starts out as a narrow path, but as we walk into gets wider to life Everlasting

When we first learn how to walk and probably none of us. Remember those days when we first learn how to walk, we know how it is, which we've seen it. In other children, we see as they they began to stand and they began to let loose of the table and they wobble. And they take a stabbing fall down on their bottom. And a great job. Get up and do it again and then eventually they're walking all over the place and we go. What in the world was I thinking trying to teach him to walk,

am I right? Start raising things up for the toddler so they can't get them.

The other day, what were remodeling the kitchen in our house and we had those child locks safety things on her, kitchen cabinets down below. So, the grandkids can't get into stuff and we taking them off as we painted some cabinets and drawers and doors in. They were all sitting on the counter and I asked my wife. Are we putting these back on? No, the only one we got to worry about now is Harrison know. He's young enough that he'll enjoy it out there the other day and very wise open the drawer taking things out. Okay, good thing. There's not a lot of stuff back in the drawers yet, but there's some stuff in there. But here's what I noticed. When you open the drawer, the one door of the cabinet, he wasn't expecting it to come. Open so easily. Yanked on it and fell on his bottom cuz it came open very easily. And he's looking up surprised. Like who said, how was that? You weren't expecting that? Where you Harrison? He just looked at me like I showed up you human.

I just looked I got on three. Didn't say that. Mom. And Dad have taught him respect. I'm sure.

But now he knows now he knows that door is open. Now, is checking out the door. Last text another door. Let's go hear this, do this. Let's continue on. But what is he doing? He's just being a child. We don't have to teach him those those things they learn them on their own. We don't have to teach somebody to, to go down the wrong path. We sort of learned that on our, but the problem is, once we go down that wrong path and things happened, there's a memory that sort of stuck with us for the rest of our life and we have to deal with that memory for eternity. Why? Because the devil's going to bring it back and teach us what is all about, but God has given us. Hope he's giving us joy, he's giving us peace in Galatians, 5:24, he says this and those who are Christ's have crucify the flesh with its passions and its desires. Those who are Christ's have crucified, the flesh with its passions and his desires, those things of the world, I need not. Do I put away I put the def the things of God I want to live in my life. Why? Because the things we got it going to bless me. The things of God are going to take care of me. The things of God are going to provide for me. Now, you don't have to raise your hand or answer this question, but hey, did you buy the lottery ticket the other night? Anybody here at? When are you going to raise your hand on that one? Because I'm looking for a tire this morning. No winners.

me either, you know, Me either. But the thought of all that money, imagine how I can change my life. And what if he changed for the better? I want to be changed for the worst. Does many people many people who have won the lottery over the years? Our lives have been ruined after years, of trying to figure out what to do with all that money. They end up further in debt and I don't know how you can have six hundred million dollars and end up in debt. I just, I don't know how a lot of our sports players athletes, do those kind of things, make all the millions, they, they end up with at the end of life. They're broke have no money. That stuff. There's nothing wrong with it, but that stuff is not going to give us peace. That stuff is not going to give us hope. That stuff is not going to give us to it, maybe for a moment.

But then it's all gone. And where's the piece in the joy without the Christ? We have. No hope. This is what Paul is talking about. He said they were his workmanship celebrities that their for remember that you want Gentiles in the flash or call them circumcision of my one is called the surface is made in the flash, my hands that at that time bus 12 days, you were without Christ, being aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel strangers. From the covenants in of Promise having no hope. And without God in the world. You can have all the money in the world and have no hope. Then many people have done this committed suicide. Why? Because they have no hope all. They got all the money in the world.

But they can't buy hope hope is what God gives when we put our faith in our trust in him. Hope is what he gives us when we don't know which way to go and return to him. God guide us and directors and we follow him, that's hope. What do we hope for what is in your life? The goes on a 13 Seer, but now in Christ Jesus. You who wants far off have been brought in here. How By the blood of Jesus Christ. He said, but he didn't have to do it. He wanted to. When, when he was told by his apartment about the disciples pay, just take off and leave and not know this has to happen. The time is now for the son of man to be crucified, go and do what you need to do. So this can happen any laying down his life willingly for you. and for me,

God is working in you. He's working through you to accomplish his tasks to accomplish the work that he wants and closing. I want us to go over the First Peter chapter 2 First, Peter chapter 2 and there's a few things I want to read the first 10 verse of the First Peter chapter 2, the whole whole message here in this chapter on growing on building on sacrificing on abstaining on on submitting. But we can look at the first three, they're growing the building in the sacrificing. Look what he says in verse 1, through verse 3 of 1st, Peter chapter 2, therefore lay aside all malice, all the seat as newborn babies desire, the pure milk of the word that you may grow. Thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Have you tasted that today? Have you tasted the graciousness of God? Have you tasted how good he is? If you really truly taste the goodness of God. Why would you want to throw that away?

Let me do a tour. Made me a banana cream pie this past week. She brought it to me Wednesday night, Wednesday night, bible study. She brings it and it's just passed. I made you a banana cream pie. First one I've ever met. I don't even know if it's good. I'll be the judge of that. I took it home. I took a bite of it that night. And it was good. It was good. I took a bite of it, the next night, and it's still good. there was no next night after that, because you Banana cream. Pies can't hang around for long. I even shared it with some family members. But she text me the next day so that I don't know if I gave you a banana cream pie or banana shake, how was it? Message Libby, it was awesome. But you need more practice. I'll make another one so I can test it.

Why not? I have lost some weight, I can put some back on, I guess, right? But once you've tasted goodness, right? Once you tasted goodness, don't you want more of it? Is it taste and see that? The Lord is good taste. More as sincere as babies desire the sincere milk of the word. We need more of that so there is growing that's going on first floor. 2 verse 8 there's building that's going on God is building a temple out of Livingstone that's you and me coming to him and verse for as Hue living Stone rejected indeed by men but chosen by God and precious, you also has Libby's phones are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up. Spiritual sacrifice is acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is also contained in the scripture behold eyelids. I Know Chief Cornerstone elect freshest and he who believes on him will by no means, be put to shame there for it to you who believe he is precious. But to those who are disobedient, the stone, which the builders rejected has become the Chief, Cornerstone in that stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. They stumble being disobedient to the word to, which they were also appointed but you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own special people that you may prefer playing the Praises of him who called you out of Darkness Into His Marvelous Light. Who wants were not of people but are now the people of God who had not obtain Mercy, but now have obtained Mercy. What is he saying to us? Are saying, listen, folks in Christ you are somebody, he has made you someone. So and if price is making us how much he's building us up, why would we not want him to continue the work? That he started.

If I be lifted up, Jesus says, I will draw all peoples. To myself and we might say. But what about these Wicked people? If I be lifted up, I will draw All Peoples to myself. It doesn't mean all people are coming to him. But he says, everybody has an opportunity to be drawn. If they look And they let us father. We thank you we, thank you for your goodness, your mercy and your love. We thank you for the way that you provide, the sacrifice that you have made for us all. Help us not to take it for granted father. Help us to serve you with all of our heart, all of our. So all of our being could be what you want us to be, Fathers or someone here today who does not know you as Lord. And Savior May today be the day that they say, yes sir, your lord, we were all Sinners. We confess that we're sinners. Father, if we've not asked you to come into our heart, and I license are living for you that help us to do that this morning since you just come into my heart, be my Lord, be my savior. And you will. You will become Our Father. That's what you desire to do in to be. But we have to say, yes, yes, to you, adopting us into the family and once were adopted into the family, no one, no one can take us out of the father's hands. We thank you for that. We pray for each and every one here, you know, the hearts, you know, the desires. We leave it into your hands to do the work that needs to be done. In Jesus name, we pray