Ephesians 2:14-22

[Shield]

Shield> we praise your Holy name Lord God
Shield> Lord Jesus we worship your Holy name
Shield> You alone are worthy of praise and honor and glory
Hats> Amen
Shield> thank you Lord God that you demonstrated your love for us by virtue of Jesus death on the cross
just-aussie>Lord u alone are worthy i ask u bless shield as he gives up his time to bring your word to us
Shield> fall fresh on us Lord God
Shield> may Your Spirit come and fill each one here
Hats> Amen, just-aussie
<Shield> Lord embrace those who are lonely
Shield> comfort them
Shield> Jesus
Shield> we cry out to you
Shield> may our hearts be tender to your still small voice
Shield> so that we may hear what you are saying
Shield> be glorified oh God
Shield> lets worship him saints
Shield> lift up his name
Shield> lift up your hearts
Shield> Lord God only you are God
Hats> Lord, be with each of us tonight. Let us open our hearts and receive Your Word.
Hats> We glorify Your Holy Name
Shield> may our praise be a sweet smelling sacrifice to you oh Lord
Shield> help us overcome our inhibitions
Shield> may we worship you with abandon!
Hats> We praise you for giving Your only Son to die for our sins.
Shield> for you alone are worthy!
Shield> you are the Holy One of Israel!
Hats> We thank you Lord for all your blessings
Shield> the Sovereign God who formed the universe with your command!
Shield> thank you Lord God that you love us
Shield> Let us come into that room within the veil that was torn.
Shield> Freely He welcomes us to enter in from the storm.
Shield> Let us bow our knees to the Lord and glorify His holy name!
Shield> As we SUBMIT to His holy will, we FORSAKE our former shame!
Shield> _/-o_
Hats> \o/
Shield> Oh Lamb of God I Adore You!
Shield> Lord God You are the Holy 0ne and our Redeemer!
just-aussie>yes Lord let us bring the troubles of our hearts to u and submit to your will not our own
Hats> Lord, you are my Savior, my Redeemer and my Comfort
Shield> thank you Jesus
Shield> Holy Spirit thank you that you are here
Hats> Amen
Shield> Father thank you for touching our hearts
Shield> Jesus thank you for interceding before the Father on our behalf
Shield> thank you Jesus
Shield> Thanks for coming everyone:)Let's open in prayer
Shield> Our Father we are grateful for Your presence in this place
Shield> and we are so thankful that You are mindful of all our needs.
Shield> May this brief time we have together be a session that brings honor to Your holy name.
Shield> Guide us by Your Holy Spirit as we continue to explore Paul's letter to the Ephesians.
Shield> May we gain a deeper sense of the contrast between having once been separated from citizenship as foreigners to the covenants of promise
Shield> while now we who who are now in Christ and were once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Shield> We anti****te great things to happen in our lives Lord God as we submit ourselves to the working of Your Holy Spirit.
Shield> In the mighty and wonderful name of Jesus we pray, amen.
Shield> Tonight we resume our examination of the letter to the Ephesians.
Shield> Last week we explored Ephesians 2:1-7
Shield> We observed the obvious contrast between having once been dead in our sins and trespasses,
Shield> whereas those who believe on the name of Jesus and trust him for their salvation by his grace are now made alive together in Christ.
Shield> Tonight we pick up the teaching of Paul in verse 14 which reads as follows....
Shield> actually we studied verses 8-13:)
Shield> yet let us pick up where we left off and look at verse 14
Shield> Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.
Shield> at this point i will remove the moderation from the room
Shield> so that you all may parti****te and interact....
Shield> as most of you are aware...I reserve the right to moderate again in the event the need arises:)
Shield> so here we have verse 14
Shield> who is our peace?
Shield> any thoughts?
Hats> Jesus is our peace
Shield> yes it is Jesus
Shield> and we shall see why
Shield> the text says the following....
Shield> in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.
Shield> what groups are being referenced here?
Shield> I can give ya a hint if you like:)
Hats> The Jews and the Gentiles?
Shield> yes
Shield> exactly
Shield> the dividing wall is a reference to an actual wall that was in the temple area
Shield> it divided the area where devout Jews may worship...
Shield> from where Gentile worshippers may gather under the Old Covenant system
Shield> Jesus abolished that division
Hats> and death would be unto the Gentile if he passed, correct Shield?
Shield> yes Hats i believe that is true
Shield> so here we are....
Shield> let me post the verse again
Shield> Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.
Shield> Jesus broke down the old way of doing business
Shield> and the hostility that was inherent in it
Shield> Ephesians 2:15 He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace,
Shield> now....
Shield> whenever we see a key word like "that"....
Shield> it implies purpose....
Shield> and such is the case here
Shield> what was Jesus' purpose?
Shield> for abolishing the law?
Hats> Yes
Shield> any thoughts?
Hats> All men were able to come to God now
Shield> yes....
Shield> go on...
Hats> Was the law abolished at this point?
Shield> yes
Shield> by virtue of his work on the cross
Hats> The Jews and Gentiles became as one to God
Shield> one humanity yes
Hats> Jesus having died for all our sins and we are now one in Christ
Hats> Correct?
Shield> and by making them one...
Hats> Yes
Shield> yes
Shield> thus making peace
Hats> as we are but one in Adam..
Shield> yes...
Shield> Ephesians 2:16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it.
Shield> Ephesians 2:17 So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near;
Shield> i find this compelling....
Hats> Amen
Shield> this is talking about reconcilation between two people groups
Hats> Yes indeed
Hats> Jews and Gentiles
Shield> indeed
Shield> Ephesians 2:18 for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Shield> this is the punchline here
Hats> It speaks of the Spirit here
Shield> and what does it say?
Hats> And, the distinct oneness of the Jews and Gentiles
Shield> uh huh
Shield> we have access
Hats> Our access to the Father through Jesus
Shield> yes
Shield> this is monumental
Shield> this unheard of in terms of the Old Covenant
Shield> this is astounding
Hats> Amen...it is, Shield
Shield> the first century Jews would have been amazed
Hats> Yes, Shield
Shield> Ephesians 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God,
Shield> we have access....
Hats> Praise the Lord
Shield> we are no longer strangers....
Hats> Never again
Shield> we are citizens!
Shield> and thats not all....
Shield> we are family
Hats> Amen
Shield> of Gods household....
Hats> Yes!!!
Shield> at one time estranged....
Hats> Yes..separated.
Shield> yet now we are family
Shield> Ephesians 2:20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
Shield> Ephesians 2:21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord;
Shield> Ephesians 2:22 in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
Hats> Yes...Amen
Shield> the foundation of the church
Hats> A dwelling place for God...Church
Shield> was built on Gods Word....
Shield> as revealed to his prophets
Hats> Amen..
Shield> and apostles
Shield> the structure is joined together....
Shield> and we are built into it spiritually
Shield> saints....
Shield> we are built together as a dwelling place for God...as members of the church
Hats> Yes..Amen
Shield> and God inhabits our praise
Shield> so lets worship him now shall we:)
Shield> lets lift up his name
Shield> and glorify him
Shield> Oh Lamb of God I Adore You!
J4Him> we praise you, Lord, with all our hearts
Shield> yes Jesus
Hats> We Praise Your Most Holy Name, Jesus
Hats> We would be nothing without You.
Shield> praise you Lord God
Hats> We Glorify You and thank you most humbly for all you've done for us.
Shield> \o/
Hats> We do bow our knees before You and give all praise to our One and Only Heavenly Father
Shield> thank you Jesus:)
Shield> lets close in prayer:)
Shield> Father again we come before you
Shield> and we adore you
Shield> be glorified I pray
Shield> thank you for the work of your Son Jesus on the cross
Shield> and thank you for the love that was demonstrated toward us
Shield> go with each one now as they go about their business
Shield> in Jesus name amen
Hats> Our Father, we most humbly thank You for the sacrifice of Your most Beloved Son, Jesus
J4Him> we bow before your throne, Father, in humble praise of our Creator, our Redeemer, our Sustainer, our Hope of eternal joy
Hats> I think it's so wonderful to actually bow on our knees before the Lord.
Hats> Oh, what a powerful study tonight. Thank you, Dear Lord for being with us and guiding Shield to teach us more of Your Word.
Hats> In Jesus' Name, I pray..Amen
<Shield> :)