Ephesians 2:11–13
11Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Focused Thinking: (Eph 2:11–13)
What does Paul want us to remember?
Remember that we (the Gentiles) were separate from Christ.
Remember that we (the Gentiles) were excluded from the commonwealth of Israel.
Remember that we (the Gentiles) were strangers to the covenants of promise.
Remember that we (the Gentiles) had no hope and were without God in the world.
How could Paul be more clear about our condition without Christ?
12…having no hope and without God in the world.
The list is even more hopeless when You go back to Ephesians 2:1–3.
1You were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3Among them we too formerly lived in the lust of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
What is our hope in the midst of hopelessness?
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Personal Application:
How GOOD is our God?
How CLEAR is our God?
What must I do?
- I can’t live in the reality that people “have no hope and are without God in the world” and do nothing.
- I can’t know this and live like everyone else.
- I can’t know this and not live differently.
- I must do everything possible to bring people to Christ.
- I can’t afford to live passively.
- I can’t afford to live without passion.
- I must make this message real and relevant to people.
- I must find more and more ways to use video testimonies.
- I must find more and more ways to tell God’s story in video format.
- I need creative people to capture the stories and present them in today’s language and culture.
Interactive Prayer:
Father, help me wake up the church. People have no hope and are without God in the world. Help me to expose the lies of the devil. Help me expose the lies that cause us to be passive, afraid and silent. 2 Timothy 1:7 says,
“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”
Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
Father, forgive us for being timid and ashamed of the gospel. I repent of times I’ve been timid and ashamed of the gospel. Father, give me a spirit of power, love and discipline. Father, help me equip Highpoint to bring people near to Christ.
Father, burn this message deep into my heart and soul. Do not let me minimize that people “have no hope and are without God in the world”. Do something radical in me. I don’t even know what it looks like because I know I’ll fail if I promise to discipline myself more. I know I will fail if I promise to try harder. Do a work in me that changes my desires. Do a work in me that kills my flesh. Do a work in me that causes me to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Do a work me that causes me to love You more and me less.
Father, do a work through me that is impossible according to human ability. Do a work in me that changes me and takes me to the next level. I don’t know what the next level is, but I know there is still plenty of flesh in me that needs to die. Father, fill me up to all the fullness of You. Free me from my selfish desires. Free me from my selfish ambition. Father, show me Thy glory. Father, take me to a place in Your Word and prayer that I know I can’t go to according to my own discipline and strength. Do the same work in me that You have done in the great men and women of God throughout history. Do it for Your glory! Do it so You can be the God of this city.
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