1 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:07,680 You're very welcome to today's Triumph Church podcast. 2 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:10,440 We pray that you enjoy the message we're. 3 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:19,800 Going to be continuing our our series here in. 4 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:23,720 The book of Ephesians. We're in chapter 2 right now. 5 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:26,720 We're going to be closing out this chapter this morning. 6 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:29,440 We're going to be beginning in verse 12. 7 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:32,560 So you can keep your keep your finger in your Bible or go to 8 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:35,960 Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 12 and we'll get there in just a 9 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:40,640 just a moment here. Religion has really done. 10 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:46,040 I'd say a a major disservice to every single person. 11 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:51,120 In the world religion is Is mankind trying? 12 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:54,960 To achieve. Their own salvation, trying to 13 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:57,600 achieve their own righteousness based upon. 14 00:00:57,960 --> 00:00:59,840 What they can do? Right. 15 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:03,120 But what Jesus came to do was something. 16 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:07,320 Completely different. Something completely, completely 17 00:01:07,320 --> 00:01:09,760 radical. He didn't come to start. 18 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:17,000 A religion, Jesus came to establish a relationship. 19 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:21,440 It's not religion, Christianity. Is not a religion. 20 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:23,800 There's lots of religions in the world, right? 21 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:25,360 Christianity. Although. 22 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:29,800 It's a lot of times lumped in. With all these other things in 23 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:32,520 the world, but. Christianity is not a religion. 24 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:36,600 Christianity. Is all about relationship 25 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:38,640 because. There's nothing that we can. 26 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,240 Do to achieve what? Jesus. 27 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:45,520 Accomplished. We can't we we. 28 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:49,800 Never ever had it within our. Capacity to save ourselves? 29 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:53,480 No one can. Everything is only through 30 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:58,280 Jesus, only through a relationship with Jesus Christ. 31 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,120 Jesus said I am the way, the truth. 32 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:02,440 And the life? No one. 33 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:05,640 Goes to the Father, except through me. 34 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:07,720 Now the. World may call that narrow 35 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,840 minded. Right where Jesus is saying that 36 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:13,920 he is the only way to the Father. 37 00:02:13,920 --> 00:02:17,240 Right, that may seem. Narrow minded, you know, and. 38 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:19,880 Jesus actually said wide is the gate to. 39 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:23,280 Destruction, but narrow. Is the gate to life right? 40 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:27,160 Well, why is that narrow? It's because Jesus is the only 41 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:29,960 way. But why is he the only way? 42 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:31,680 These are the questions a lot of people. 43 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:34,600 Don't ask well why. Would Jesus say that he is the 44 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:36,760 only way? Why aren't all these other 45 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:39,400 religions in the world? You know, don't we just all 46 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:41,560 serve? The same God and aren't. 47 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:45,360 We if we, if we serve. That religion or that God you 48 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:49,480 know wholeheartedly and follow the all the things and doctrine 49 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:52,560 of that religion. Can't we then go to heaven too 50 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:55,120 through that? No, because it's not about 51 00:02:55,160 --> 00:03:02,560 anything that you can do. It's only about what Christ has 52 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:05,160 done. And the really cool thing about 53 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:10,160 the series on on Ephesians is it's the apostle Paul really 54 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:14,000 reveals throughout this book. What it? 55 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:19,320 Is that Christ has done for. Us and what he has given. 56 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:21,040 US. Through that. 57 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:23,120 And so I hope you've been enjoying that. 58 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:25,320 We only have a couple. More weeks that. 59 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,680 We're going to be doing the book of Ephesians, and there are some 60 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:31,840 things that I want to move on after we have Easter coming up 61 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:34,200 here as well. One thing I'm going. 62 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:36,360 To be doing going into this year. 63 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:39,280 Is I want to. Do a A series. 64 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,440 Kind of on what's called apologetics, right? 65 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:45,040 You ever heard of? Apologetics, it's where you're 66 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:49,720 sharing your your faith, how you can share your faith, you know? 67 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:54,680 And it's really important, I think the, the church overall, 68 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:58,400 you know, hasn't. Done the best job equipping 69 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:02,720 people within their congregations to effectively 70 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:04,800 share. Their faith. 71 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:07,600 And so I don't want us. To be one of those. 72 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:09,880 Churches. I want everyone in our church. 73 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:13,840 Where you're able to share your faith whether you're talking 74 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,560 with a. Doctor, whether you're talking. 75 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:18,279 To a. Scientist, whether you're 76 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:21,000 talking. To a solicitor, whether you're. 77 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:22,880 Talking. To, you know, just a. 78 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:26,760 Normal person, right? No matter if someone's well 79 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:29,160 educated or undereducated, it doesn't matter. 80 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:33,760 You know how to share your faith, faith in Jesus Christ 81 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:35,000 with them. So we're going to be doing. 82 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:39,160 That some point here coming up, and I'm really excited about 83 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:40,520 that. That's going to be really good. 84 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:45,360 But in Ephesians chapter 2 at the end here, the apostle Paul 85 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:49,280 is making a really important point to us, that we're not 86 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:54,360 outsiders, that we're family. All right, so let's read through 87 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,560 Ephesians chapter 2 starting in verse 12. 88 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:59,800 And we're going to read through verse 22. 89 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:02,800 OK, So stay with me here, starting in verse 12. 90 00:05:03,280 --> 00:05:06,600 And it says in those days you were living apart from Christ. 91 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,640 You were excluded from citizenship among the. 92 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,320 People of Israel. And you did not know the 93 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:14,800 covenant promises God had made to them. 94 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:19,840 You lived in this world without God and without hope, but now 95 00:05:19,840 --> 00:05:22,440 you have been united with Christ Jesus. 96 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:26,240 Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought 97 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:28,800 near to Him through the blood of Christ. 98 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:32,600 Verse 14 for he himself. Is our peace he has. 99 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:36,840 Made both 1 and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 100 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:40,960 having abolished in His flesh the enmity that is the law of 101 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:44,600 commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in 102 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:49,680 himself one new man from the 2 and thus making peace in verse 103 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:54,000 16, and that he might reconcile. Them both to God. 104 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:58,360 In one body, through the cross, therefore putting to death the 105 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,280 enmity, verse 17, He brought the good news. 106 00:06:01,280 --> 00:06:04,640 Of peace to you. Gentiles who were far away from 107 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:07,560 him and. Peace to the Jews who were near. 108 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,960 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same holy. 109 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:16,040 Spirit because of what? Christ has done for us, so now 110 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:20,160 you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners, you 111 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:23,640 are citizens along with. All of God's holy people, you 112 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:25,600 are members. Of God's family. 113 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:30,280 Together we are his house. Built on the foundation of the 114 00:06:30,280 --> 00:06:34,440 apostles and the prophets and the cornerstone is Christ Jesus 115 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:37,840 himself. We are carefully joined together 116 00:06:37,840 --> 00:06:40,920 in Him becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 117 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:46,280 Verse 22 Through him you are being made into a dwelling place 118 00:06:46,280 --> 00:06:50,320 for God. Who lives in you by his spirit? 119 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:55,240 Now this is a a massive passage. Not just because we read. 120 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:56,720 A lot of scriptures. Right. 121 00:06:56,720 --> 00:07:00,520 But what the Apostle Paul is revealing here, what did he, 122 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:03,320 what he's? Saying and showing us there's 123 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:06,240 three things from this that I'm going to pull out from these 124 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:08,680 scriptures today. The first thing is that Jesus. 125 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:12,600 Came to bring us peace. That's good news, isn't it? 126 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:15,720 We all love peace, right? You go to any any like I. 127 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:19,760 Don't know some kind of? Award ceremony or whatever. 128 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:23,200 What does everyone always say? You know we want World Peace, 129 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:25,040 right? Peace is important. 130 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:29,480 To us, the second thing is the access that. 131 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:32,640 Jesus gives us changes everything. 132 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:35,560 And then the last thing, the Third Point is going to be. 133 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,320 We were born to live. In God. 134 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:41,480 So let's look at the first thing Jesus brings. 135 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,400 Peace. Let's read again, Ephesians. 136 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:47,680 Chapter 2, we're going to read verse 14 and verse 17. 137 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:53,160 Verse 14 it says again. For he himself is our peace who 138 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:56,000 has. Made both 1 and has broken down 139 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,760 the middle wall of separation and then in verse 17. 140 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,520 It says He brought this good news of peace to you. 141 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:07,000 Gentiles who were far away from him and. 142 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:11,120 Peace to the Jews who were near. So Paul is saying here that. 143 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:16,720 Jesus himself is our peace. He didn't just come to bring a 144 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:23,880 message of peace, right? Jesus Christ is our peace and 145 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:26,480 that Jesus brought. The good news of this? 146 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:30,520 Peace to us, those who were far. From God, those are the 147 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:33,840 Gentiles, right? And those who were near. 148 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:36,960 I want you to understand the context. 149 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:39,480 Of who the. Apostle Paul is writing this. 150 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:41,559 To right, He's writing to. To. 151 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:43,559 Gentiles, you know what a Gentile is. 152 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,840 It's those people who. Are non Jewish right? 153 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:49,440 That's most of. Us here, I'm sure, right? 154 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:53,440 Non Jewish, we're gentiles. Those were people. 155 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:58,400 That under the Old covenant were shut out from the covenant, that 156 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:00,360 God. Made with Israel, they. 157 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:04,040 Couldn't be part of that. The covenant didn't pertain to 158 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:06,440 the Gentiles. But to the Jewish people? 159 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:10,640 Only, and what's interesting is there was actually a literal 160 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:15,280 wall in the temple in Jerusalem. Right, it was called the. 161 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:19,080 The Court of Gentiles and the Gentiles weren't. 162 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:23,000 Allowed to go beyond that wall at all. 163 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:27,040 They had to stop there if they went beyond that. 164 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:29,440 Wall. They could actually be executed. 165 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:32,480 Right. The Gentiles were being 166 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:34,200 excluded. Right. 167 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:37,920 They could only go so far in things with with God. 168 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:43,680 But Paul says that we're no longer strangers and foreigners. 169 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:46,400 He's making a major. Point and there's so many things 170 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:47,800 in Scripture. That we can just read. 171 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:50,280 Past it and it may not make a lot of sense to us. 172 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:54,320 And we may not really realize what is being being said. 173 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:57,840 But what the Apostle Paul is? Saying here the statement. 174 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:00,800 That he's making in that. Day would blow the roof off of a 175 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:02,600 building like this is a big deal. 176 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:07,440 We are no longer strangers. Or foreigners to God because 177 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:11,120 Jesus. Tore down that wall of 178 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:13,960 separation. That's good news to all of us, 179 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:18,000 but people have all sort. Of really. 180 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:22,800 Wrong ideas about God because they don't really know him and 181 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:26,120 and they haven't read the Bible. You know, and they're. 182 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:29,320 Outside of God's family. So it's kind of like someone 183 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:32,080 who's looking in the the window of someone's home and they don't 184 00:10:32,080 --> 00:10:34,400 really know what's going on. In there they can. 185 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:36,680 See some things but it doesn't. Really make a lot of. 186 00:10:36,680 --> 00:10:38,560 Sense. To them, so people have. 187 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:41,880 A lot of wrong ideas. About God. 188 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:43,640 People think that God is judging. 189 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:49,360 The world right that Jesus came to judge us to judge. 190 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:51,840 Sin in our lives. But. 191 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:55,600 That's not scripture. That's not what Jesus. 192 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:59,840 Came to do Jesus, actually. Said this in John 317. 193 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:03,440 I love the scripture. We all know John 316, right? 194 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:05,800 The scripture. Immediately following. 195 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,200 Jesus said that God sent his Son into. 196 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:12,360 The world. Not to judge the world and that 197 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:15,800 good news. Jesus didn't come to judge you. 198 00:11:16,680 --> 00:11:18,200 That's. Great news, isn't it? 199 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:23,520 Jesus went on to say. But to save the world through 200 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,920 him the gospel is good news, sin. 201 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:30,480 Was already. Judged Jesus took the penalty of 202 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:35,200 our sin through His. Death on the cross, that's. 203 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:40,920 When sin was judged, Jesus took that judgement upon himself so 204 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:44,240 that you and I wouldn't have to take that. 205 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:47,720 Punishment that judgement upon ourself. 206 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:50,920 Jesus did that for you. This is a big. 207 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:55,240 Deal and what Paul is emphasizing in verse 14. 208 00:11:55,240 --> 00:12:01,960 Is that Jesus is our peace. He didn't come for judgement, 209 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:06,480 but he came for peace. Listen to what else Jesus said 210 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:12,120 and why he came in Luke 1910. Jesus says that he came to seek 211 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:17,080 and to save the lost. In Mark 1040. 5 Jesus says that 212 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:21,440 he came to give. Life as a ransom for many in 213 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:24,520 John 1010. Jesus says that he came to give 214 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:27,840 life and all of these things are a result. 215 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:30,560 Things that happen in our lives as a result. 216 00:12:30,560 --> 00:12:35,080 Of the peace that. Jesus brings, but it's really 217 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:39,600 more than that. Jesus is our peace. 218 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:41,840 Everything that we have, we live. 219 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:45,600 And move and have. Our being in Him right this. 220 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:49,240 Is a a a theme? All through Ephesians, here in 221 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:54,120 Christ, through Christ, by Christ, everything that we have 222 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:56,640 is through him where we're supposed to. 223 00:12:56,640 --> 00:13:00,960 Live in our lives where we're supposed to abide is not outside 224 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:04,320 the temple, right? No longer in that temple of 225 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:07,240 Gentiles removed from the. Holy of Holies. 226 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:10,160 But we're going to look at some things, but we now have 227 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:11,440 complete. Access. 228 00:13:11,560 --> 00:13:15,760 We can go directly into the Holy of Holies, God's. 229 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:20,680 Presence way back when. If if a priest. 230 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,320 You know, well, I'm going to get ahead of myself. 231 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,400 I don't want to do that. Let's let's look at Philippians 232 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:30,440 chapter 4 and verse 6:00 and 7:00 because this is a great 233 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:33,720 portion of scripture about the the the. 234 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:38,120 Peace that that we have through. Christ Ephesians chapter 4 and 235 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:40,840 verse 6 it says be anxious for nothing. 236 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:42,600 How many of? You are anxious at. 237 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:44,680 Different times you can just leave your hands down, it's OK. 238 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:47,800 I'll raise, I'll raise. I'll. 239 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:50,720 Raise the hand for us, right There's times that we're all 240 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:54,040 anxious about things in our. Lives right there's. 241 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:56,200 Situations. There's circumstances. 242 00:13:56,320 --> 00:14:01,840 That we have anxiety about. Right, but scripture says. 243 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:05,920 Be anxious. For nothing that means no matter 244 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:07,640 what. You're dealing with no matter. 245 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:09,760 The circumstance or situation that you're. 246 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:12,040 Facing the position that you should. 247 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:16,600 Stand in is that of. Not anxiety, right? 248 00:14:17,560 --> 00:14:21,840 And it says, but in everything by prayer and supplication with. 249 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:24,680 Thanksgiving let your requests requests. 250 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:28,600 Be made known to God and then in verse 7 it says in the peace of 251 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:32,960 God, which surpasses all understanding. 252 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:36,200 Sounds a lot like that, that Scripture. 253 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:40,040 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own 254 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:45,240 understanding, right? When you're abiding in Christ. 255 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,840 In that place, in that position, when you're abiding in the 256 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:51,880 shadow of of his wing, like everything in your life, you're 257 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:54,320 just staying right there, right wherever. 258 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:56,040 Christ goes wherever Christ. Moves. 259 00:14:56,040 --> 00:15:00,200 I'm moving with them, right? Like, I don't care how awkward 260 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:02,520 it is, whatever it feels, wherever Christ is. 261 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:05,520 Going I want to. Be right there with them, 262 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:08,240 because in that place there is peace. 263 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:10,880 That surpasses all understanding. 264 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:14,400 There's a lot of things going on in this world right now that. 265 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:18,080 People are freaking out. About right, but not us. 266 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:22,240 We don't need to freak out. About anything going on in this 267 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:26,800 world, we can have that peace that surpasses all 268 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:29,360 understanding. But God, this could affect. 269 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:33,120 This in my life or or it could cause this to happen in my life. 270 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:37,480 Don't be anxious for anything right? 271 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:41,760 You don't abide in anxiety where you abide. 272 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:45,080 Is in Christ in that? Position there's peace. 273 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:47,280 Thank God for the peace of Jesus. 274 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:53,960 Peace really should be the hallmark of a believer right? 275 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:57,480 Because if we're a Christian, Christian just means Christ. 276 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:01,160 Like right people should. Look at us as a. 277 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:04,080 Christian and they should see us. 278 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:06,720 Christ like in our life. Well, what's the? 279 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:13,600 Hallmark of being Christ like walking in perfect peace when 280 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:17,200 people are experiencing anxiety and you're walking. 281 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:18,840 In. Perfect peace, peace that 282 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:20,520 surpasses. All understanding. 283 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:23,680 People want to be around you. They want to be. 284 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:25,280 Around that why? Because. 285 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:28,760 There's peace in your presence. Because you're Christ, like 286 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:32,240 you're, you're just breathing that you know it's just 287 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:34,040 emanating from you. Peace. 288 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:35,880 Peace there's. Calm. 289 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:39,000 There, there's a lot of storms that people deal. 290 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:42,680 With right, but when they have a friend, when they have a work 291 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:46,560 colleague, you know when they. Have a relative that they always 292 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:48,800 walk in peace like in in everything. 293 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:54,280 Who are they going to phone? Who are they going to to ask for 294 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:56,880 for prayer? For them, that person that. 295 00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:59,400 Carries that peace of Christ right? 296 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:02,120 That should be the. Hallmark in our life, the second 297 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:06,480 thing we want to look at is access changes everything in 298 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:09,440 Ephesians. Chapter 2 and verse 18. 299 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:14,079 The Apostle Paul says now all of us can come to the Father 300 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:16,599 through the same holy. Spirit because of what? 301 00:17:16,599 --> 00:17:19,400 Christ. Has done Paul's describing 302 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:23,680 access here right. Access to God, he says. 303 00:17:23,839 --> 00:17:27,839 Now all of us. Can come to the Father. 304 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:32,040 And it's something that that. Takes the entire Trinity, you 305 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:33,840 know? The Father, the Son and the and 306 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:37,400 the Holy Spirit. Now here's the biblical 307 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:41,640 principle I want you to understand is under the Old 308 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:43,560 Covenant, and this is what I was going to mention earlier, is 309 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:48,080 that only the high? Priest could enter into the Holy 310 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:51,320 of Holies, right? There was a, a, a, a. 311 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:52,880 Curtain. And it's not like the. 312 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:54,960 Blinds in your, you know your your. 313 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:57,960 Your light blocking blinds. That you have on your window, 314 00:17:58,200 --> 00:17:58,840 right? This was a. 315 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:06,680 Massive, thick curtain and it. Separated the Holy of Holies. 316 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:10,880 From everything else, right. And you'd have a priest that 317 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:13,080 would that would go. In there and make atonement. 318 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:16,800 For for the nation once a. Year on a specific day and they 319 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,640 would have these bells. That would be on their robe. 320 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:22,400 And they would. Have a rope tied. 321 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:26,200 To them because if they. Weren't if they went. 322 00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:28,640 Into the Holy of Holies and they went weren't. 323 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:31,040 Right if their heart wasn't right. 324 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:36,000 And they went into the the holy. Presence of God, they die. 325 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:39,000 They'd hear those bells stop. Ringing. 326 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:41,720 They'd hear a thud. The bells would stop. 327 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:44,800 Ringing, you know. And, well, they'd have to. 328 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:48,040 Pull out the straws. And see who who drew the short 329 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:49,200 straw. Or whatever. 330 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:50,680 Well, you're the next one in line. 331 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:53,480 Right, you're you're going to be going in to make. 332 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:56,920 Atonement for the for the nation next year didn't go so well this 333 00:18:56,920 --> 00:19:01,760 year, right? But what's amazing is now we 334 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:07,760 have access to that place like the Holy. 335 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:12,400 Presence of God. Like, do you realize, like what 336 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:15,360 the Apostle Paul? Is saying here. 337 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:24,560 Like we can get all religious about things, but each and every 338 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:25,320 one. Of us. 339 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:29,600 Can go directly into what previously? 340 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:31,640 Was only one person. Was. 341 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:37,640 Allowed to go into each and every one of us now can go to 342 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,120 that place. Like it's so holy. 343 00:19:41,360 --> 00:19:43,840 And you know. We can be so reverent. 344 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:47,200 We should be reverent about that place. 345 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:50,640 And This is why it's amazing when the Apostle Paul is talking 346 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:54,040 about, you know, us. Being the temple of the Holy 347 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:58,720 Spirit, like we've become in our. 348 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:01,960 Lives. We've become that holy of 349 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:07,280 holies, that place. Where God lives, where God 350 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:11,520 abides, and the. Apostle Paul talks about be. 351 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:18,000 Careful what you do with this body, because you're. 352 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:21,800 Now the Temple of the. Holy Spirit, there's things that 353 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:23,720 you shouldn't do. There's things that you 354 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:27,400 shouldn't allow yourself to be positioned in because it's like 355 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:30,120 that priest. Going in and his heart's not not 356 00:20:30,120 --> 00:20:31,320 right. And I'm not saying you're going 357 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:33,520 to drop dead. Right, but there should be. 358 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:37,280 A A reverence in a respect, and an honor with our life, with 359 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:40,000 our. Bodies like where are we taking 360 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:42,320 this thing? Where are we? 361 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:46,040 Placing this. What are we allowing this body 362 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:48,080 to be? Around the apostle Paul talks 363 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:51,000 about a lot about that, and we'll talk about that in another 364 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:56,680 in another message sometime. But we should have a. 365 00:20:56,720 --> 00:21:01,280 Reverence and a. Respect for God, but we can go 366 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:05,560 directly to the throne of God anytime we want. 367 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:14,000 But that curtain in Matthew chapter 27 and verse 51, the 368 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:18,040 moment that Jesus died on the cross, it says that at that 369 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:22,440 moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the temple was. 370 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:28,080 Torn in two from. Top to bottom and it's not 371 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:34,240 anything that a person could. Tear right, you get the. 372 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:37,400 Strongest person in the world. There is no way they're tearing 373 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:41,400 this curtain it. Was like thick, really thick. 374 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:48,240 Massive like it was a miracle split from the from the top down 375 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:51,880 and the reason why it's. Split like if we. 376 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:53,880 Were to split something, we'd probably split it. 377 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:56,640 You know the point that's easiest for us to get to because 378 00:21:56,640 --> 00:21:58,640 it. Was a massive curtain, right? 379 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:02,520 We'd grab it from the bottom. And try to try to RIP it but. 380 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:06,600 God's making a point. Here it's God that split. 381 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:11,720 That curtain signifying that you now have access. 382 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:16,400 That what Jesus did he. Tore down that middle wall of 383 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:20,560 separation. You have access to God the 384 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:23,360 Creator. Of everything that changes 385 00:22:23,360 --> 00:22:24,880 everything. In your life. 386 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:28,840 There is now you don't have, I know in some religions, you 387 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:30,880 know. You go and you confess your sins 388 00:22:31,120 --> 00:22:33,200 to to. Someone right And they can. 389 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:36,040 Absolve you of your sins and things you don't. 390 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:37,480 Have. That mediator. 391 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:40,160 That's. Gone. 392 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:42,960 Jesus is the mediator. He's. 393 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:46,400 The one that God sent scripture. Says that he's the mediator. 394 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:49,960 Between God and mankind, there's no person that can be that 395 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:54,000 mediator, right? We're all in the exact same 396 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:57,440 shoes. We're all sinful and have 397 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:00,400 fallen. Right, but because of Christ, 398 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:04,440 right we. Now have direct access. 399 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:08,080 To the King of Kings. The Lord of Lords, the creator 400 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:12,320 of everything. You can go directly to God and 401 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:16,680 ask him yourself for what it is that you have need of. 402 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:20,000 You can pray to God directly. You don't need. 403 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:24,560 Someone else to pray? For you, right, we can. 404 00:23:26,120 --> 00:23:28,240 I can pray. For you, right? 405 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:33,680 But I'm not the mediator. Jesus is the mediator you. 406 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:37,320 Now have direct access. To God. 407 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:46,240 That's amazing, isn't it? In Hebrews chapter. 14 and verse 408 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:51,280 16 it says so let us. Come boldly to the. 409 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:58,280 Throne of our gracious God. Like my kids don't come to me, 410 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:00,640 you know, if they didn't. Want something you know he's not 411 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:06,840 on his hands and knees? You know father, Father, right? 412 00:24:08,120 --> 00:24:11,640 He has direct access to me, doesn't he? 413 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:14,200 He can come directly to me and ask me. 414 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:18,480 Whatever he wants, you know? And if I'm able to? 415 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:21,520 Then now give him. Whatever. 416 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:22,000 He. He. 417 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:23,160 Wants right? Like that's my. 418 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:26,960 Heart we're able to go directly to God. 419 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:30,880 Our Heavenly Father. Come boldly to God's. 420 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:35,760 Throne right and and. Days a long time ago if you 421 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:41,040 were, if you were to go before a king, and you went. 422 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:44,280 Unannounced and you were uninvited. 423 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:49,560 Right, you'd be put to death. Right in the Bible. 424 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:52,480 When when you have the. Esther, right? 425 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:55,560 Do you know that? That story where the the. 426 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:56,720 Israel. There's someone who? 427 00:24:56,720 --> 00:25:00,240 Really hated the Jews and he was. 428 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:03,200 He was scheming to have all of the Jews killed. 429 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:06,000 It's interesting how the devil keeps trying that over and over 430 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:08,800 again, right? It's the same story over and 431 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:14,960 over again. And her, her uncle said, you 432 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:17,520 know, she had a lot of favor with the king. 433 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:23,760 And he said, you know, you need to go to the king and tell him 434 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:25,120 like what's? Happening. 435 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:28,800 And she's like, well. I could be killed for that, you 436 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:29,480 know? And he said. 437 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:30,680 Well, there's a. There's a. 438 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:32,200 Reason why, you know, he said. There's. 439 00:25:33,120 --> 00:25:37,440 There's such a time as this. That's why she was there. 440 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:39,320 That's why she was. Positioned. 441 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:44,160 That's why God gave her favor with this king because of this. 442 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:47,480 And so she approached the. King not trusting the Lord that 443 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:49,960 he wasn't going to kill her, but she wasn't invited. 444 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:56,280 That could have happened, right? But God is saying, come boldly 445 00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:59,160 to his throne. You don't even need to like 446 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:01,280 blink at it. You don't need to think about 447 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:04,600 it, right? Just go boldly to the throne, 448 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:06,520 whatever it is that you have need of. 449 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:09,560 And what's great is He. Goes on to say, here, let us 450 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:11,080 come boldly to the throne of our. 451 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:14,800 Gracious God, there we will receive His mercy. 452 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:19,800 Thank God for His mercy. I need the Lord's mercy every 453 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:23,080 single day. In my life, and I'm thankful for 454 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:25,080 His mercy. In my life, we don't. 455 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:31,520 Have to approach God perfect a lot of us think we we have to 456 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:33,640 while I need to fix. This in my life. 457 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:36,440 Before I can approach God, I need to do. 458 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:41,400 This or better myself, Listen. Approach God how you. 459 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:45,920 Are because there's mercy there right there's it says he's 460 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:48,200 gracious let us come. Boldly to the. 461 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:52,880 Throne of our gracious God. And there you will receive his 462 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:57,400 mercy, and we will find. Grace to help us when we need it 463 00:26:57,400 --> 00:27:00,280 most. Man that access. 464 00:27:00,280 --> 00:27:04,880 Changes everything in your life. Not everyone has. 465 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:10,120 That there's millions and millions of people. 466 00:27:10,120 --> 00:27:13,840 That are bound in. Dead and empty religion. 467 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:17,760 They do not believe that they have access to God at all. 468 00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:20,840 They believe that if I do this, if I better. 469 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:23,240 Myself, if I'm a good person. Right. 470 00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:25,640 Maybe God will look. On me kindly. 471 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:28,840 And maybe I'll have some. Favor with him and maybe. 472 00:27:29,120 --> 00:27:38,600 Possibly we have that guarantee all those who believe in Christ, 473 00:27:38,600 --> 00:27:41,840 who are in Him, who have made him their Lord, who have made 474 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:47,400 their him their Savior, we are guaranteed eternal life with 475 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:50,400 God. He sent the Holy Spirit, right? 476 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:52,320 As our. Guarantee we talked. 477 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:55,640 About that in the 1st. Chapter of Ephesians right he 478 00:27:55,640 --> 00:28:01,120 sent the Holy Spirit as. The guarantee for this massive, 479 00:28:01,120 --> 00:28:05,160 amazing inheritance that Jesus has given us. 480 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:09,880 You have access to God, right? Now, and the last thing I want 481 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:13,560 to talk about is a house you were born to live in. 482 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:17,680 This is where I want to focus a little bit on in verses 19 and 483 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:21,040 20 or 19. Through 22 because. 484 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:25,680 Paul just doesn't stop at peace and access, but he. 485 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:30,400 Tells us what we're actually born into in Ephesians chapter 486 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:33,480 2, that's what we're. Going to read 19 through 22 487 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:36,960 again, it says. So now you Gentiles are no 488 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:41,680 longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all 489 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:43,200 of God's holy. People you are. 490 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:47,040 Members of God's family. And together we are his house. 491 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:50,600 Built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets and 492 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:53,520 the cornerstone is Jesus Christ himself. 493 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:56,880 Verse 21 We are carefully. Joined. 494 00:28:56,880 --> 00:29:00,760 Together with him becoming a holy temple for the Lord 495 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:04,200 through. Him you are being made into a 496 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:09,280 dwelling place for God who lives in you by His Spirit. 497 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:13,480 So Paul uses 3 layers here. I don't want you. 498 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:15,680 To to miss what Paul? Is saying here, he says. 499 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:21,320 Firstly, that you are. Citizens, citizens of heaven, 500 00:29:21,560 --> 00:29:23,400 that means that. You have legal. 501 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:26,880 Standing right if you're a citizen of Ireland. 502 00:29:27,040 --> 00:29:32,840 You have rights, right, according to the laws of this 503 00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:34,160 government, don't you? You're a. 504 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:39,840 Citizen, you have rights. Well, you belong to God's 505 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:44,000 Kingdom, right? You have access, you have 506 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:47,520 rights, right? Are you getting what I'm saying 507 00:29:47,520 --> 00:29:49,920 here? You're in the registry, you're 508 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:53,120 on the list. You're citizens of heaven. 509 00:29:53,480 --> 00:30:00,120 We're not of this world, right? I was born in America, right? 510 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:03,760 In Aurora, IL. Just outside of Chicago, right? 511 00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:07,920 I'm a citizen, I have a passport, an American passport. 512 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:09,920 Working on getting my Irish. Passport. 513 00:30:11,160 --> 00:30:13,640 Pastor Amy. Already has hers, Sierra. 514 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:15,560 Already has hers. Aveline. 515 00:30:15,560 --> 00:30:19,440 Has her Irish passport but Aiden and I were were next right. 516 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:22,160 We're going to become Irish. Citizens working on that. 517 00:30:22,560 --> 00:30:25,920 OK, but I'm not a citizen. Of America. 518 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:32,480 On paper, I am right. I might be becoming naturally. 519 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:36,560 A citizen of Ireland. Right, but I'm a citizen. 520 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:43,600 Of heaven. I belong to Christ, no one on 521 00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:50,960 this earth. Owns me Jesus does my life I've 522 00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:56,560 given to him, dedicated to him. I've made him my Lord, capital 523 00:30:56,560 --> 00:31:01,680 L, my Lord, and my Savior if. Someone's the Lord of your life. 524 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:04,760 That means you're completely subject to them. 525 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:09,360 Right. I've made Jesus Christ my Lord. 526 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:11,680 Have you made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life? 527 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:17,120 You're a citizen of heaven. The second is you are family, 528 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:20,120 right? Apostle Paul says you're a 529 00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:23,280 citizen, but then he goes. On to say that you're a family, 530 00:31:23,480 --> 00:31:28,600 you're not a servant, you're not a visitor, but family you're 531 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:31,720 not. Tolerated, but you're loved and 532 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:36,080 cherished by God. But the amazing thing is, is 533 00:31:36,080 --> 00:31:41,240 that family has access that no one else has, right? 534 00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:43,760 If you're part of my family, there's things. 535 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:47,160 That you have access of. In my family that no one else 536 00:31:47,160 --> 00:31:50,080 has access of, you know it's the same thing with your. 537 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:54,320 Family, anyone who's. Part of your family, everyone in 538 00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:57,360 that family has access that everyone outside doesn't. 539 00:31:57,360 --> 00:32:01,520 Have access to, well, we're. A part of the family of God in 540 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:03,360 the 1st. Chapter of Ephesians here it 541 00:32:03,360 --> 00:32:08,040 says that we've been adopted into his family right we. 542 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:11,280 Are in the. Family of God meaning we have 543 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:15,600 access to the things of God. We can go directly to his throne 544 00:32:15,760 --> 00:32:18,960 of grace, right? Jesus has. 545 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:22,240 Given us access. The third thing is, and this is 546 00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:27,280 a wild one, Paul says that you have become a dwelling place for 547 00:32:27,280 --> 00:32:29,920 God. When you commit your life to to 548 00:32:29,920 --> 00:32:31,480 Jesus. Making him the Lord and. 549 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:34,160 Savior the Holy Spirit. Comes to dwell. 550 00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:37,160 Within you as the guarantee of all. 551 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:40,280 This inheritance, the things that Christ has purchased for us 552 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:41,480 to. Live in and. 553 00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:45,400 Abide in now in this. Life, but also those things that 554 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:47,760 we're going to experience. Throughout eternity. 555 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:50,880 We just tasted a little itty bit. 556 00:32:51,280 --> 00:32:55,760 Of that inheritance. It's going to be so amazing in 557 00:32:55,760 --> 00:33:00,360 verse. 22 It says through him you are being made into a 558 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:04,240 dwelling. Place for God who lives in you 559 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:05,960 by. His Spirit. 560 00:33:06,760 --> 00:33:09,280 Everywhere you go, God is with you. 561 00:33:10,360 --> 00:33:14,040 Whatever it is that you're dealing with, God is with you. 562 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:18,000 Whatever it is that you're walking through in your life, 563 00:33:18,280 --> 00:33:22,200 God is with you. You're now Co joined. 564 00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:28,640 You're the temple. Of the Holy Spirit God is living 565 00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:34,400 within you think about that like what does that mean when the 566 00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:35,840 devil. Tries to mess with. 567 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:38,800 Me. Who's he messing with? 568 00:33:41,440 --> 00:33:43,400 Who? Who has your back? 569 00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:48,040 Who's in your corner? And This is why when the when 570 00:33:48,040 --> 00:33:53,440 scripture says. Greater is he who is in you than 571 00:33:53,440 --> 00:33:55,480 he who is in the world. When the. 572 00:33:55,480 --> 00:33:57,840 Apostle Paul says that we're. Conquerors. 573 00:33:57,840 --> 00:34:00,520 Not only that, but we're more than conquerors. 574 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:04,040 Right. Like picture what the Apostle 575 00:34:04,040 --> 00:34:06,840 Paul is really meaning and referring to. 576 00:34:08,320 --> 00:34:11,199 When the devil is picking on you, he's picking on a. 577 00:34:11,199 --> 00:34:14,600 Child of God. Right. 578 00:34:15,920 --> 00:34:20,880 And when we put our faith in that, knowing that God has our 579 00:34:20,880 --> 00:34:25,000 back. Right. 580 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:31,320 So I'm going to close with this. You don't. 581 00:34:31,320 --> 00:34:37,560 Stumble into God's family. You're not an accident, right? 582 00:34:38,639 --> 00:34:41,760 Don't tell Eileen, you know. But she wasn't. 583 00:34:41,760 --> 00:34:47,520 A planned pregnancy. Right. 584 00:34:49,080 --> 00:34:51,800 But she's a miracle. She's why? 585 00:34:51,800 --> 00:34:56,560 We're still in this country. On our visa that we we were. 586 00:34:56,560 --> 00:34:58,160 On you know, we. Could stay a. 587 00:34:58,160 --> 00:35:00,920 Maximum of five years. We were, you know, it's 588 00:35:00,920 --> 00:35:02,360 supposed. To be a three-year visa, you're 589 00:35:02,360 --> 00:35:04,800 allowed two. Extensions and then after that 590 00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:06,240 you know bye. See you later. 591 00:35:07,080 --> 00:35:09,240 You know, and we're like, OK, Lord, if you want us to stay in 592 00:35:09,240 --> 00:35:10,960 this country, we don't believe we're done. 593 00:35:10,960 --> 00:35:13,200 Here we believe. You sent us here for a plan and 594 00:35:13,200 --> 00:35:13,880 for. A purpose. 595 00:35:13,880 --> 00:35:15,680 But if you want us to stay here, you're going to have to. 596 00:35:15,680 --> 00:35:18,160 Perform a miracle. Again, it's the trust in the 597 00:35:18,160 --> 00:35:20,440 Lord with all your heart and don't lean on your own 598 00:35:20,440 --> 00:35:22,880 understanding. How are you going to do this 599 00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:24,040 miracle? Lord, I don't know. 600 00:35:24,560 --> 00:35:25,920 I don't know how you're going to do it. 601 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:27,880 I'm just putting my faith and trust and hope. 602 00:35:27,880 --> 00:35:30,040 In you. And bada Bing bada boom. 603 00:35:30,040 --> 00:35:35,160 Hey, there's Aveline, right? She was the answer to that 604 00:35:35,160 --> 00:35:37,080 prayer. She is the miracle. 605 00:35:37,240 --> 00:35:40,080 That allowed us to then. Be able to. 606 00:35:40,080 --> 00:35:44,920 Stay in this country and change. Our our visas to a a residence 607 00:35:44,920 --> 00:35:46,520 visa. And then now. 608 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:49,920 Of course, three of our. In our family are are citizens 609 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:53,520 and they deny our next on there right. 610 00:35:54,160 --> 00:35:56,320 You never know what the Lord's going to do. 611 00:35:57,320 --> 00:36:00,600 She might not have been intentional. 612 00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:06,000 For Pastor Amy and I, all right, but you going into becoming part 613 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:09,680 of God's family. He was intentional in that. 614 00:36:10,720 --> 00:36:14,760 He wanted you in his family. He prepared for you. 615 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:18,440 To be in his family. He made provision for you to be. 616 00:36:18,680 --> 00:36:22,080 In his family, I don't know if you remember Ephesians chapter 1 617 00:36:22,120 --> 00:36:25,680 and verse 4. It says even before he made the. 618 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:29,400 World, right? Before any of this existed. 619 00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:33,480 It says that God loved us and chose us in. 620 00:36:33,480 --> 00:36:37,680 Christ to be holy. And without fault in his eyes. 621 00:36:38,280 --> 00:36:44,440 He chose us, He chose you. And of course I don't know if 622 00:36:44,440 --> 00:36:46,680 you know Jeremiah chapter 1 and verse. 623 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:50,760 Five, it says before. Or says I knew. 624 00:36:50,760 --> 00:36:53,880 You before you were. Formed in your mother's womb. 625 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:57,600 Before you were born, I set you apart. 626 00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:03,280 You're special. You're special to God. 627 00:37:03,840 --> 00:37:07,000 He was very. Purposeful and very intentional 628 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:09,440 you're. In his family, right? 629 00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:12,280 Because he wants you in his family. 630 00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:16,800 Scripture says that he's not. Willing that any would not, he's 631 00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:18,200 not. Willing that any would perish, 632 00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:20,440 but that all would come to repentance. 633 00:37:20,440 --> 00:37:22,240 Right, he wants. Every person. 634 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:27,600 To be in his family, he's chosen each and every one of us, right? 635 00:37:27,760 --> 00:37:29,880 But we have. To make that decision. 636 00:37:30,040 --> 00:37:34,080 We have to make that choice. Yes, I'm going to be part of 637 00:37:34,080 --> 00:37:39,160 God's family, but when we do. Wow, it is. 638 00:37:39,160 --> 00:37:42,480 Amazing. It's really cool to. 639 00:37:42,480 --> 00:37:47,080 Have testimonies, you know, like Joshua this morning, you know, 640 00:37:47,080 --> 00:37:50,040 when, when we're part of God's family. 641 00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:56,120 There's perks that this world. Doesn't have access to because 642 00:37:56,120 --> 00:37:58,640 they're not part of God's family, but when you're in God's 643 00:37:58,640 --> 00:38:00,520 family. We can just walk. 644 00:38:00,520 --> 00:38:04,760 In in that complete. Trust that peace that surpasses. 645 00:38:04,760 --> 00:38:08,440 All understanding and though. The devil may come to to steal, 646 00:38:08,440 --> 00:38:10,800 to kill. And cause destruction in our 647 00:38:10,800 --> 00:38:13,200 lives. Jesus gives us that peace, but 648 00:38:13,200 --> 00:38:17,120 he also gives us life we have access to, healing we have 649 00:38:17,120 --> 00:38:21,720 access to. All sorts of things in in this 650 00:38:21,720 --> 00:38:25,720 inheritance, he tells us in the scripture like everything you 651 00:38:25,720 --> 00:38:29,960 know, I I gave out in this in this series, there was a card. 652 00:38:29,960 --> 00:38:31,880 If you didn't get. One, you know, let me know and 653 00:38:31,960 --> 00:38:33,880 I'll get you one. But it's all the in him 654 00:38:33,880 --> 00:38:36,400 scriptures. All the all the through Christ 655 00:38:36,400 --> 00:38:39,960 scriptures, all the by by Christ scriptures, all these things 656 00:38:39,960 --> 00:38:42,560 that Jesus did for us like that's. 657 00:38:42,560 --> 00:38:46,880 Our inheritance, that's as a citizen, as a family member of 658 00:38:46,880 --> 00:38:50,800 God like. Those are our rights, right? 659 00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:52,800 We can say, well, how can you say that? 660 00:38:52,800 --> 00:38:56,080 That's a right that I. Have a right? 661 00:38:56,280 --> 00:39:00,480 To healing in my life. How can you say that I have a 662 00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:02,040 right for? All of my. 663 00:39:02,040 --> 00:39:04,920 Need to be met? Well, because that's what 664 00:39:04,920 --> 00:39:08,160 Scripture says, right? It's not. 665 00:39:08,160 --> 00:39:09,720 Based on what? Pastor Brad. 666 00:39:09,720 --> 00:39:13,520 Hopes for your life, what I desire for your life, or even 667 00:39:13,520 --> 00:39:16,480 what you desire, right? We have God's word on it. 668 00:39:16,480 --> 00:39:19,520 He's already told us what. He wants for us. 669 00:39:21,080 --> 00:39:23,840 All's we need to do is trust in him with. 670 00:39:23,840 --> 00:39:28,360 All of our heart and lean not on our own understanding and just. 671 00:39:28,360 --> 00:39:30,640 Speak. That over our life and believe. 672 00:39:30,640 --> 00:39:34,760 Him that he's going to. 'Cause that natural to change. 673 00:39:34,960 --> 00:39:40,360 By his supernatural right, He's well able, isn't he? 674 00:39:41,120 --> 00:39:45,720 Do you believe that? Well, if you're a believer. 675 00:39:46,280 --> 00:39:48,920 You're not an outsider. Looking in, you're a family. 676 00:39:48,920 --> 00:39:54,280 Member Now I want us all to close our eyes and I want you to 677 00:39:54,280 --> 00:39:56,040 pray. Pray this after me, you know 678 00:39:56,040 --> 00:39:59,040 sometimes. Prayer Prayers can be a a. 679 00:39:59,040 --> 00:40:02,120 Declaration like we're declaring things. 680 00:40:02,120 --> 00:40:05,240 Over our lives speaking. God's word over our lives. 681 00:40:05,240 --> 00:40:09,320 That's a part of of our prayer. It's not just asking a a list of 682 00:40:09,320 --> 00:40:11,560 demands or wants or needs that we have. 683 00:40:11,560 --> 00:40:12,880 Sometimes it's. It's. 684 00:40:13,040 --> 00:40:15,960 Declaring what God's Word says over us. 685 00:40:16,600 --> 00:40:21,480 So let's all pray this together. Dear Heavenly Father, I thank 686 00:40:21,480 --> 00:40:27,640 you that I belong, that I'm not a stranger, that I'm not a 687 00:40:27,640 --> 00:40:33,840 foreigner, that I'm a member of your family and I. 688 00:40:33,840 --> 00:40:40,520 Receive the peace that Jesus. Preached And I come boldly to 689 00:40:40,520 --> 00:40:49,120 your throne today, and I declare that your Spirit lives in me and 690 00:40:49,120 --> 00:40:56,240 I take my place in your house in Jesus name, Amen. 691 00:40:58,200 --> 00:41:01,600 Thank you for listening to the Triumph Church podcast this 692 00:41:01,600 --> 00:41:04,160 week. If it was a blessing to you, 693 00:41:04,440 --> 00:41:09,080 share it with someone you know. For more information on Triumph 694 00:41:09,080 --> 00:41:14,960 Church, you can visit us at www.triumphchurch.ie.