Tear Down This Wall!

Notes: Tear Down This Wall!

Pastor Greg Laurie

SERIES: Live, Love, Fight

Ephesians 2

Thursday, February 26, 2015 — 7:00 p.m.

Greg was just in Texas during what was called Snowmaggedon

The world around us is in chaos. It can almost make you feel as if there is no hope.

Nothing that we have made can fix this world in our hour of need.

Ephesians 2:12 NKJV

[12] that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Ephesians 2:11-22 NKJV

[11] Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh-who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands- [12] that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. [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 both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, [15] having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, [16] and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. [17] And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. [18] For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. [19] Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, [22] in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

In America we put up walls to keep people out. In communist countries they put up walls to keep people in.

The wall of sin kept us from God.

The devil doesn't want us to know

that we are not still living under the Old Testament law.

Do not be in a "works equals righteousness" place with God. It is not what we do it is what he has done.

His love is not dependent of our progress, but of God's perfection.

The devil wants us to think that we cannot approach God because we have sinned. But the perfect time to reach out to God is when you have sinned!

Ephesus was a city of idols where they worshipped a god named Diana.

Greg played us a video about the city of Ephesus.

The city of Ephesus was similar to our country today, living in moral relativism.

Ephesians 2:12-13 NKJV

[12] that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Because His blood was shed, you can come into a relationship with God.

Ephesians 2:16 NKJV

[16] and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

Homes need to be reconciled, that has been happening since the Garden of Eden.

God had judged the earth before with the great flood. Soon after, people were building the Tower of Babel. So he had to judge them there.

The Jews were always God's people but after Jesus Christ everyone became God's people.

Jews looked at Gentiles back then like Gentiles were dogs. God then said they need to look at all as equals.

Greg is telling us about the vision of Peter in Acts about how he was commanded to kill and eat what he would have called unclean. The vision demonstrated that all people are equal.

Galatians 3:28-29 NKJV

[28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Greg said he is not a fan of "boutique" churches...that we should not try to reach "certain" people, but ALL people.

Harvest church believes that we are about reconciliation. Reconciled first to God, then to one another.

We were far off, but were brought near through the blood of Christ.

1 John 3:20 NKJV

[20] For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

Hebrews 10:20-22 NKJV

[20] by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, [21] and having a High Priest over the house of God, [22] let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

If you want to overcome Satan then you need to understand the blood of the Lamb. Satan doesn't want you to know that. He wants to use your own sins to keep you away from God.

When Satan accuses you, he uses your owns sins in a hateful way to destroy you.

Judas hung himself after he betrayed Christ.

Jesus would have forgiven even Judas if he repented.

Satan will always drive you away from the Cross and the Holy Spirit will always drive you to the Cross.

Greg is telling us a funny story about James MacDonald, trying to convey how God has let us into His life.

Greg admitted the story was a stretch.

Ephesians 2:13 NKJV

[13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

If you have unconfessed sin in your life, then it has brought your prayer life to a halt.

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus Christ.

What can make me whole? Nothing but the blood of Jesus Christ.

How to draw nearer to God? You come through the blood of Jesus Christ.

We can approach God through our relationship with Him, not because we earned it.

This is the A to Z of the Gospel. You start with the Gospel and you go back to the Gospel and end with the Gospel.

You aren't good enough to earn His forgiveness, but you are bad enough for God to forgive you and invite you in.