Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / He is Building His Household

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He is Building His Household · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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in Ephesians chapter 2 and our focus this evening is on verse 11 down to the end of the chapter
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Ephesians chapter 2 verse 11 down to verse 22 and what we see here is Paul reminding all the
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people of God we see here that there is a division as it were in Ephesus where there's
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they're speaking of the circumcised and the uncircumcised the Jews and the Gentiles and
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there's this sense of hostility between them but he is reminding them that in Christ Jesus
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they are all one and that together they are being built into this dwelling place for God by the
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spirit as verse 22 says so we're thinking of this passage under that heading the house of the Lord
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being built and this is in light of coming away from a time of communion in our congregation
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last Wednesday we were looking at chapter one of this letter of Paul to the church at Ephesus
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as we were approaching the communion weekend we were looking at it and the sense of praise as we
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were approaching the communion season a sense of expectation as we were approaching it in a sense
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of joy in the Lord and seeking that we would know him better over the course of the weekend and we
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were reminded of all that we have in Christ Jesus over the weekend so now as we are as we're coming away
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from the weekend how do we feel coming away from it do we come away still with that sense of praise to God
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that sense of expectation of what God is and can do in our midst and a sense of joy that the Lord is with us
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and that the Lord is on our side well this passage reminds us that that is how we should come away
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we never come away from the Lord he is always with us and he is always building his house bringing his people in
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Paul was writing here to the church at Ephesus and in many ways when you think of what Ephesus was like
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in that time during the days of Paul we think of our own place today our own world today our own setting
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where we live today very different they would be different in so many ways and yet with many similarities
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to different in the ways of life different in the ways of employment different in the ways of language and culture
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but similar too in that there were many barriers and boundaries many needs in their midst that we see with ourselves today
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as well when you think of barriers and boundaries in our world today we see just how similar it is to the setting of Paul's day
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whether it was in Ephesus or Corinth or Galatia wherever he was going with the gospel
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there were all kinds of differences among people all kinds of hostilities among people
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you think of the way Paul was writing here to masters and slaves as they're called
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you see that in our day and age we think of the employers and the employee
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and you look at the way many were unfairly treated by their masters in Paul's day
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and you think of the day we live in today how people are exploited in the workplace
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and you think of barriers financially Paul was very aware of people in his day as almost in every day where
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there are the rich and the poor there are boundaries and barriers and families and different needs
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in families you see it in families you see it in Paul's day you see it in our day broken down families families
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with different needs and especially as you think of families where there are those who are saved and those
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who are unsaved as yet
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but what we see as we look at Paul's day and his writing this letter to the church at Ephesus and what we see
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for our own day as well is that something came into Ephesus here something unexpectedly in many ways in the world's eyes
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that brought people together then and something that in our own day and age
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we long to see breaking down barriers
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breaking down hostility and bringing people together in our day and it is the gospel
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it was the gospel that came to Ephesus that was breaking down hostilities and barriers and bringing people together
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and bringing people as it is being built together into a dwelling place for God by the spirit
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as verse 22 says
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that is what we need today as well
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I was speaking to a man this morning
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from America
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and he stays not far from one of the big cities in America
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a city
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maybe not the biggest but a population of over 3 million people
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in this city
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and he was saying
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as he was speaking about this city
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he spoke of it in this way
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the city
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is in darkness
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the city
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is godless
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the city is morally corrupt
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and immediately as he started speaking in this way
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I thought
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you are coming at this from a perspective of the Christian
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and surely enough
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he says
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I am a follower of Jesus
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and he says
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in our church
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it is not a big church
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by American standards
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he says
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it is just a small church
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of a hundred people
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he says
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well that is not bad
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when we think of that in Scotland
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we would love to see
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many small churches of a hundred throughout Scotland
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but he was saying
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we are praying
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for that city
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that was a powerful reminder to me
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and to ourselves
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I hope this evening
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that God has his people all over the world
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we can often feel a burden to pray for others
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as if we were the only ones able to pray for them
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whether it's our own islands
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our nation
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or many many parts of the world
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but it was a powerful reminder that God has his people
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so that even when we are unable
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or we don't know what to pray for cities in America
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that there are those who do
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that there are those who have a burden
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for all different parts of the world
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it's a reminder to us
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that God is at work
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that even though there is darkness
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all over the world
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in many different ways
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and in many different places
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that God has his praying people
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this passage
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looking at it from the beginning
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it reminds us of God's power to transform
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the opening verses
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in this chapter
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speak of the very fact
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that the people were dead
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in trespasses and sin
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and this is what we see
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all around us in so many places
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but then you have these great words
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of verse 4
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but God
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but God
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being rich in mercy
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because of his great love
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with which he loved us
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even when we were dead
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in our trespasses
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made us alive
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together with Christ
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by grace
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you have been saved
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and that's what this man said
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about the city
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it needs the grace
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of God
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and that is what
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our world needs
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that is what we need
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for hostility
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and barriers
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to be broken down
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but it's the grace
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that is available
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it is a grace
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that God
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still offers
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to people
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this day
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as well
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in a day
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and age
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where the gospel
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seems
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to so many
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as a barrier
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to inclusiveness
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and equality
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these words
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that we hear
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so often
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that people
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are seeking after
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an inclusive world
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a world of equality
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we actually see
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it in the gospel
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and people
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don't want
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to look there
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but the gospel
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is seen by so many
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as a barrier
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and almost
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as a means
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of division
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but we are reminded
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again and again
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that it is the gospel
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that transforms
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it's the gospel
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that brings
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equality
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that the gospel
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brings
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inclusiveness
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to the world
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in which we live
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as people
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are brought
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to be
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in Christ
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as Paul speaks
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of here
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the outworking
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of that
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is not
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an exclusive
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group
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and we should
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never see
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ourselves
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in that way
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that we are
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an elite group
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an exclusive
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group
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but an
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inclusive
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group
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for anyone
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who believes
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in Christ
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who is
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saved
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they are
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speaking here
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of being
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built
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together
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as one
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body
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and it was
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something
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marvellous
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about sitting
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at the Lord's
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table together
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to just
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look around
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and see
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the variety
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of people
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there
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and we long
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to see
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where even
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more variety
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of people
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people from
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every walk
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of life
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people from
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different parts
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of the world
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coming together
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delighting
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and rejoicing
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in the salvation
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that there is
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through Christ
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at the cross
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there are three
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things I want us
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just to think
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of this evening
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from this passage
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as we come away
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from the weekend
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and as we go ahead
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in the days
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before us
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as well
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as we look
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to God's
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blessing
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three things
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we see
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Paul outlined
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here for the
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church
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at Ephesus
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reminders
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of God's
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power
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in their midst
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the first thing
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is the
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remembrance
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that they
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have
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and the second
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thing is
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the reconciliation
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that they see
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and the third
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thing is
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the rebuilding
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that is going
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on
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remembrance
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reconciliation
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and rebuilding
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so we begin
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with
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remembrance
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as Paul
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has written
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in the
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beginning
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of this
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chapter
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the fact
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that we
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were dead
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in our
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trespasses
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and sins
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but made
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alive
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by the
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grace
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of God
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and we
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are made
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in this
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way
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as he
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says
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in verse
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10
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for
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God's
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workmanship
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created
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in Christ
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Jesus
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for good
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works
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which God
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prepared
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beforehand
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that we
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should walk
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in them
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that we
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have a
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purpose
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in life
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then he
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goes on
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in verse
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11
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he says
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therefore
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remember
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that at
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one time
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you Gentiles
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in the
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flesh
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called
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the
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uncircumcision
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remember
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that you
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were at
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that time
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separated
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from
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Christ
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remembering
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isn't
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always
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easy
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for us
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in the
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sense of
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looking
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back
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in life
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and
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the
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mixed
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emotions
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that we
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can
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have
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in our
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memories
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and our
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remembrances
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of times
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in the
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past
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remembering
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is a good
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thing at
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times when we
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recollect
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happy things
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that from
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the past
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we remember
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and celebrate
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different occasions
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in our
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life
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but remembering
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is sometimes
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a painful
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thing
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for us
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too
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but here
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Paul is
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calling the
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people
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to remember
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in the
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sense of
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rejoicing
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it's
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remembering
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here
13:11
the sense
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of
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thankfulness
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and above
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all that the
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Lord
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has remembered
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us
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and how
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do we
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see that
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well we
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see it
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in this
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way here
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where he's
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saying remember
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that at
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one time
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remember
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in the
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past that
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you were
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at that
13:30
time
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separated
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from Christ
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alienated
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from the
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commonwealth
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of Israel
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strangers
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to the
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covenant
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of promise
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having no
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hope
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and without
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God
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in the
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world
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it's a
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grim
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picture in
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so many
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ways
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remember
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that there
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was a
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time
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when this
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was you
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because in
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so remembering
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we remember
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too that
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in our
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day
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that when
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this is
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the case
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we think
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well what
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can change
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what can
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make a
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difference
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just like
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that man
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from America
14:11
was saying
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you know
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he's saying
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how godless
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that city
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was or is
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at this
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time
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but it's
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nothing new
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to god
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it's
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nothing
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that god
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hasn't
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seen
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already
14:26
in this
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world
14:27
it's
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nothing
14:28
that god
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hasn't
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made a
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difference
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in this
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world
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with before
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Ephesus
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Corinth
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you go
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back
14:36
to the
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old
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testament
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you think
14:40
of
14:40
Jonah
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going
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to
14:41
Nineveh
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it was
14:42
a
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godless
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city
14:44
and yet
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so quickly
14:47
the grace
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of god
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transformed
14:49
it
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so how
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often do
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we remember
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what god
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has done
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for us
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we are
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told as
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we were
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told as
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we took
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communion
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at the
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weekend
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do this
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in remembrance
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of me
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how we
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gone on
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in this
15:11
week
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continuing
15:13
to remember
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and to give
15:14
thanks
15:15
to god
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for what
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he has
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done
15:17
for us
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in christ
15:18
continuing
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to remember
15:21
the body
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and blood
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of our
15:25
lord jesus
15:25
christ
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so much
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of what
15:29
we read
15:30
here in
15:30
ephesians
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continues
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to remember
15:33
what has
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taken place
15:34
by christ
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at the
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cross
15:36
you see
15:38
it
15:38
here as
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he speaks
15:41
of the
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blood
15:42
of christ
15:44
in verse
15:46
it's verse
15:47
13 but
15:48
but now
15:49
in christ
15:50
jesus you
15:50
who were
15:51
once far
15:52
off have
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been brought
15:52
near by
15:54
the blood
15:55
of christ
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it is
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something that
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has made
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such a
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difference
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for us
16:02
that is
16:04
what we
16:05
remembered
16:05
at the
16:07
weekend
16:07
what we
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have in
16:11
christ
16:11
it's so
16:11
important for
16:12
us to
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take that
16:14
time to
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stop and
16:16
look back
16:16
and we
16:17
can look
16:17
in our
16:18
own lives
16:18
and see
16:19
how alienated
16:21
we were
16:21
as well
16:22
how we
16:23
were strangers
16:25
to the
16:25
covenant
16:26
promise
16:27
having no
16:28
hope and
16:29
without god
16:30
it's important
16:32
for us
16:33
to remember
16:35
these things
16:36
and as we
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do it
16:39
still reminds
16:40
us of the
16:41
faithfulness
16:42
of god
16:43
we were
16:43
reminded of
16:44
that on
16:45
friday night
16:46
in the
16:46
service
16:46
god's
16:47
faithfulness
16:48
even the
16:49
midst of
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our own
16:50
unfaithfulness
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there's a
16:54
man called
16:55
frederick marsh
16:56
he was a
16:57
christian writer
16:58
in the
16:59
19th and
16:59
to the
17:00
20th century
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and he
17:02
spoke of
17:03
this way
17:04
of how the
17:04
christian
17:05
should always
17:06
look back
17:07
in a sense
17:08
in life
17:08
at times
17:09
because as
17:10
you look
17:10
back he
17:11
said you
17:12
see the
17:12
deliverance
17:13
that the
17:13
lord has
17:14
done for
17:15
us
17:15
you see
17:17
the way
17:18
that he
17:18
has led
17:19
us
17:19
you see
17:21
the blessings
17:21
he has
17:22
bestowed on
17:23
us
17:23
you see
17:24
the victories
17:25
he has
17:25
won for
17:26
us
17:27
you see
17:28
the
17:28
encouragements
17:29
he has
17:29
given
17:30
us
17:30
it's a
17:33
good thing
17:34
to look
17:34
back and
17:35
even remember
17:35
many of the
17:36
hard times
17:37
and yet
17:38
still see
17:38
god's
17:39
faithfulness
17:41
he said
17:42
he went on
17:43
to say
17:43
we sometimes
17:43
forget god's
17:45
past faithfulness
17:46
we only
17:47
see the
17:48
detours
17:49
and the
17:49
dangerous
17:50
paths
17:50
but look
17:52
back and
17:52
you will
17:52
see also
17:53
the joy
17:54
of victory
17:55
you will
17:56
see the
17:56
challenge
17:56
of the
17:57
climb
17:57
you will
17:58
see the
17:58
presence
17:59
of your
17:59
traveling
18:00
companion
18:01
who has
18:02
promised
18:02
never to
18:03
leave you
18:04
or forsake
18:05
you
18:06
would you
18:09
be here
18:10
tonight
18:11
if it
18:13
were not
18:13
for the
18:14
grace of
18:14
god
18:15
would your
18:17
hearts
18:17
desire to
18:18
be here
18:19
tonight
18:19
be still
18:20
there without
18:21
the grace
18:22
of god
18:23
it's the
18:24
grace of
18:25
god that
18:26
brings us
18:26
from death
18:28
to life
18:29
it's the
18:31
grace of
18:32
god that
18:32
gives us
18:33
hope
18:33
in this
18:34
world
18:35
it is
18:36
the grace
18:37
of god
18:38
that makes
18:38
all the
18:39
difference
18:40
for us
18:41
and we
18:42
thank god
18:43
for that
18:44
in verse
18:48
four of
18:49
this chapter
18:50
it says
18:51
but god
18:52
there was the
18:54
difference
18:55
the grace
18:55
of god
18:56
you notice
18:56
the same
18:58
word used
18:59
in verse
18:59
13
19:00
but again
19:01
but now
19:03
in christ
19:04
jesus
19:05
you who
19:06
were once
19:06
far off
19:07
have been
19:07
brought near
19:08
by the
19:09
blood of
19:09
christ
19:10
isn't it a
19:11
wonderful thing
19:12
to be able to
19:14
remember
19:14
what god has
19:16
done
19:16
for us
19:17
far off
19:19
but brought
19:20
near
19:21
through
19:21
his blood
19:23
it's
19:25
important
19:26
for us
19:26
to remember
19:28
but then
19:30
we see
19:31
secondly
19:31
the
19:32
reconciliation
19:33
here
19:34
paul's day
19:36
as we said
19:36
was a day
19:37
of much
19:37
hostility
19:38
and that
19:39
hostility
19:40
ran deep
19:41
especially
19:41
between jew
19:42
and gentile
19:43
speaks here
19:44
of the
19:44
circumcision
19:46
and the
19:46
uncircumcision
19:47
there was a
19:48
tension
19:48
among these
19:50
people
19:50
the jews
19:52
in many
19:52
ways
19:52
saw
19:53
themselves
19:54
better
19:54
than the
19:55
gentiles
19:56
and the
19:56
gentiles
19:56
they really
19:57
hated
19:58
the jews
19:59
they didn't
19:59
want to
20:00
mix
20:00
but in
20:03
verse 16
20:04
of this
20:04
passage
20:05
we are
20:06
told there
20:07
and might
20:08
reconcile us
20:09
both to
20:10
god in
20:11
one body
20:12
through
20:13
the cross
20:14
thereby
20:15
killing
20:16
the hostility
20:17
it is the
20:20
cross that
20:20
is central
20:21
to breaking
20:22
down this
20:24
hostility
20:25
to restoring
20:26
relationships
20:28
among people
20:29
being reconciled
20:31
to god
20:32
as one
20:33
looking to
20:35
jesus
20:36
as one
20:37
people
20:38
wherever you
20:39
are from
20:39
whatever
20:40
whatever
20:41
background you
20:42
have we
20:42
can come
20:43
to the
20:44
cross and
20:44
see that
20:45
christ died
20:46
for sinners
20:47
of all
20:48
kinds
20:49
paul in
20:51
writing to
20:51
the
20:52
corinthians
20:52
he speaks
20:53
of it
20:53
in this
20:54
way as
20:54
they were
20:55
ambassadors
20:56
for christ
20:57
he says
20:59
we are
20:59
therefore
20:59
christ's
21:00
ambassadors
21:01
as though
21:02
god were
21:02
making his
21:03
appeal
21:03
through us
21:04
we implore
21:05
you on
21:06
christ's
21:07
behalf
21:07
be
21:08
reconciled
21:10
to god
21:11
it is
21:14
this great
21:14
need of
21:15
the world
21:16
to be
21:16
reconciled
21:18
to god
21:19
because it's
21:20
the only
21:20
way
21:21
and out
21:22
of this
21:22
hostility
21:23
and this
21:25
wickedness
21:25
that is in
21:26
the world
21:27
speaks here
21:28
of thereby
21:29
killing
21:30
the hostility
21:31
this tension
21:33
that existed
21:33
between the
21:34
gentiles and
21:35
the jew
21:35
it is put
21:36
to death
21:36
through the
21:37
cross
21:38
because it
21:39
brings people
21:40
together
21:41
he says
21:43
then in
21:44
verse 17
21:45
that he
21:45
came and
21:46
preached
21:46
peace
21:47
to you
21:48
who were
21:48
far off
21:49
talking to
21:50
the gentiles
21:50
they seem
21:51
to be
21:51
far away
21:52
from god
21:53
but he
21:54
also says
21:55
that he
21:55
was
21:56
preaching
21:57
peace
21:59
to those
22:00
who were
22:01
near
22:01
those who
22:03
were near
22:03
to god
22:04
the jews
22:05
they still
22:05
needed this
22:06
gospel
22:06
because they
22:08
weren't there
22:09
yet
22:10
and the
22:11
cross
22:12
is the
22:12
common
22:13
thing
22:13
for them
22:14
both
22:15
the cross
22:16
where christ
22:18
died
22:18
for our
22:19
sins
22:20
and that
22:23
is what he
22:23
is offering
22:24
to the
22:25
people of
22:25
ephesus
22:26
that's what
22:26
the world
22:27
needs to
22:28
hear today
22:29
the gospel
22:31
of christ
22:32
who came
22:32
to break
22:34
down these
22:34
barriers
22:35
to bring
22:36
people
22:37
together
22:38
as one
22:39
body
22:40
what one
22:42
thing
22:43
could you
22:43
offer today
22:44
that would
22:45
bring peace
22:46
to this
22:47
world
22:47
we don't
22:50
have the
22:50
answers
22:51
in so
22:51
many ways
22:52
and yet
22:53
we do
22:54
we have
22:56
the gospel
22:56
but people
22:58
will not
22:59
listen
23:00
there was
23:02
a welsh
23:02
missionary
23:03
he was
23:03
called
23:04
robert
23:04
jermaine
23:05
thomas
23:06
he was
23:07
the son
23:08
of a
23:08
minister
23:08
and from
23:09
a very
23:09
young age
23:10
he had a
23:10
real burden
23:11
for mission
23:12
he went
23:14
to china
23:15
and then
23:16
from china
23:16
he went
23:17
to korea
23:18
he was
23:19
only in
23:20
his mid
23:20
twenties
23:21
and as
23:23
he went
23:24
to korea
23:25
he went
23:25
there to
23:26
distribute
23:26
bibles
23:27
to the
23:28
people
23:29
there
23:29
and he
23:31
was on
23:31
this ship
23:32
going up
23:32
a river
23:33
in korea
23:33
and they
23:34
were stopping
23:35
in different
23:36
places
23:36
seeking to
23:37
to bring
23:37
the bible
23:38
to different
23:39
people
23:39
there
23:40
but there
23:41
was a fear
23:42
as they were
23:43
on the ship
23:43
going up the
23:44
river that the
23:44
river was
23:45
getting shallower
23:46
and that the
23:47
ship would
23:48
ground but they
23:49
kept going
23:49
and they were
23:51
meeting more
23:52
and more
23:52
hostility
23:53
and eventually
23:55
the ship
23:55
did ground
23:56
and on the
23:58
shoreline they
23:58
could see a
23:59
number of
24:00
people a
24:00
large number
24:01
of people
24:02
but what
24:04
happened was
24:05
through the
24:07
orders of
24:07
the government
24:08
people were
24:10
ordered to
24:11
kill everyone
24:13
on that
24:14
ship
24:14
there was a
24:16
fear of
24:18
what they were
24:18
bringing to
24:19
the korean shores
24:20
to the people
24:21
there they
24:22
were afraid
24:23
of what they
24:24
were hearing
24:24
about this
24:25
gospel
24:25
but it's
24:27
said that
24:28
robert
24:28
thomas he
24:30
managed
24:31
to swim
24:32
to shore
24:32
and he
24:34
managed to
24:35
take with
24:35
him a
24:36
number of
24:37
bibles
24:37
and as he
24:39
reached the
24:40
shore he
24:41
was met
24:41
with hostility
24:43
and he
24:44
was on his
24:45
knees before
24:46
the man who
24:47
was just
24:47
about to
24:48
shoot him
24:48
and instead
24:50
of pleading
24:51
for his
24:52
life
24:53
what he
24:54
did was
24:55
he held
24:56
out a
24:56
copy of
24:57
the bible
24:58
and he
24:59
pleaded
25:00
with him
25:00
to receive
25:02
it
25:02
now it's
25:05
said that
25:06
that is
25:06
how the
25:07
word of
25:08
god came
25:08
into that
25:09
area of
25:10
korea
25:11
it wasn't
25:13
wanted by
25:14
everyone
25:15
but one
25:16
copy at
25:17
least made
25:18
it to
25:19
people
25:19
and people
25:20
started to
25:21
see this
25:22
word and
25:23
take an
25:23
interest in
25:24
the word
25:25
of god
25:26
and now
25:26
many people
25:27
who come
25:27
from korea
25:29
today they'll
25:30
want to
25:31
visit wales
25:32
and the
25:32
village where
25:33
robert was
25:34
born because
25:35
they recognized
25:36
the sacrifice
25:38
that he made
25:39
in bringing
25:40
the gospel
25:41
to them
25:42
is that
25:45
what we
25:46
would do
25:47
is that
25:48
what we
25:49
are willing
25:50
to do
25:50
when we
25:51
live in a
25:52
hostile
25:52
world
25:53
when we
25:54
see all
25:55
that's
25:55
going on
25:56
around us
25:57
it doesn't
25:57
have to
25:57
be a
25:58
big city
25:59
of millions
26:00
in america
26:01
that's godless
26:02
and needs
26:02
the grace
26:03
of god
26:04
our own
26:05
town our
26:06
villages
26:06
need the
26:07
grace of
26:08
god
26:08
they need
26:09
the gospel
26:10
they need
26:12
this hope
26:14
of reconciliation
26:15
and that is
26:18
what we have
26:19
to offer
26:19
the reconciliation
26:21
that is
26:23
found in
26:24
christ he
26:25
has come
26:26
to be
26:27
our peace
26:28
and destroy
26:30
the barrier
26:31
the dividing
26:32
wall of
26:33
hostility
26:34
we pray
26:36
for
26:37
reconciliation
26:38
in our
26:40
town in our
26:41
villages
26:41
that the
26:42
power of
26:43
god and
26:43
his word
26:44
would bear
26:45
fruit
26:45
third and
26:48
final thing
26:48
we see
26:49
here though
26:50
is the
26:51
sense of
26:52
rebuilding
26:53
that is
26:53
going on
26:54
in verse
26:58
19 and
26:59
say so
26:59
then you
27:00
are no
27:01
longer
27:01
strangers
27:02
and aliens
27:03
but you
27:04
are fellow
27:04
citizens
27:05
with the
27:05
saints
27:06
and members
27:07
of the
27:07
household
27:08
of god
27:09
built on
27:10
the foundation
27:11
of the
27:11
apostles and
27:12
prophets
27:12
christ jesus
27:14
himself
27:15
being the
27:17
cornerstone
27:18
we are no
27:20
longer
27:21
foreigners
27:21
and aliens
27:23
but fellow
27:24
citizens
27:25
this breaking
27:27
down of
27:28
hostility
27:28
it brings
27:30
people
27:30
together
27:31
the kingdom
27:33
of god
27:34
is coming
27:36
and the
27:37
rebuilding
27:38
work is
27:39
ongoing
27:39
and as
27:41
his kingdom
27:42
comes in
27:43
our midst
27:43
we see
27:44
it little
27:45
by little
27:46
bit by
27:48
bit the
27:49
house is
27:50
being built
27:51
god is
27:52
calling his
27:53
people to
27:54
himself
27:55
not just
27:56
here but
27:57
all over
27:58
the world
27:58
god is
27:59
the gospel
28:01
of god
28:01
is bearing
28:03
fruit
28:03
the lord's
28:05
people
28:06
there is a
28:08
blessing in
28:09
belonging as
28:10
we see
28:10
here and
28:12
it's such an
28:13
encouragement
28:13
and it's
28:14
wonderful to
28:15
see and to
28:16
hear as we've
28:17
rejoiced in a
28:18
new member
28:18
ourselves this
28:20
week we
28:20
rejoice as we
28:21
hear that there
28:22
are people who
28:23
are longing and
28:24
deciding after
28:25
christ
28:25
rejoice that god
28:28
is working
28:28
in our midst
28:30
and we pray
28:32
that the
28:33
rebuilding would
28:34
go on
28:35
that god
28:36
would continue
28:37
to come
28:38
in power
28:39
that we
28:40
would see
28:41
the gospel
28:42
bearing so
28:44
much fruit
28:44
in her
28:46
midst
28:46
we are
28:47
reminded here
28:48
of the power
28:49
of the gospel
28:50
in him
28:51
you are also
28:52
being built
28:53
together
28:54
we are all
28:56
part of
28:57
this
28:57
whenever a
28:59
major
29:00
building work
29:01
is going to
29:02
be done
29:02
it'll go out
29:04
to tender
29:05
so that
29:06
people
29:06
or companies
29:08
can bid
29:08
on it
29:09
but it's
29:11
interesting when
29:11
you look at
29:12
the tenders
29:13
and the
29:14
bids that
29:14
come in
29:15
which one
29:16
is accepted
29:17
do they
29:19
look at
29:19
the quality
29:20
do they
29:21
look at
29:22
how long
29:23
it may
29:23
last
29:24
or do
29:25
they look
29:26
at the
29:26
price
29:27
so often
29:29
it's a
29:29
sense of
29:30
the cheapest
29:31
offer
29:32
wins
29:32
no matter
29:35
the risks
29:35
that there
29:36
are
29:36
no matter
29:37
that it
29:37
may be
29:38
done
29:38
cheaply
29:39
that shortcuts
29:40
may be
29:40
had
29:41
it's just
29:42
the short
29:43
term view
29:44
that is
29:44
in mind
29:45
what is
29:46
the cheapest
29:47
way for
29:48
us to
29:49
get the
29:49
job done
29:50
but we've
29:51
heard the
29:52
saying so
29:53
often
29:53
buy cheap
29:54
pay dear
29:55
but when
29:58
you look at
29:58
the way the
29:58
household of
29:59
God is
30:00
being built
30:01
you recognise
30:03
no shortcuts
30:04
have been
30:05
taken
30:06
it's not
30:07
about the
30:08
cheapest
30:09
option
30:09
it's not
30:10
about a
30:11
short term
30:12
fix
30:13
the greatest
30:15
price of
30:16
all has
30:17
been paid
30:18
and the
30:20
Lord
30:21
himself
30:21
is at
30:22
the heart
30:23
of it
30:23
it is
30:24
he
30:25
that is
30:26
the
30:27
cornerstone
30:28
Christ
30:29
himself
30:29
being
30:30
the
30:31
cornerstone
30:32
and what
30:34
we remembered
30:35
at the
30:36
weekend
30:36
was
30:37
the price
30:38
that has
30:38
been paid
30:39
for your
30:41
salvation
30:42
and mine
30:42
the greatest
30:43
price of
30:45
all has
30:46
been paid
30:46
Christ
30:48
has given
30:49
his life
30:50
for sinners
30:51
the greatest
30:53
sacrifice
30:54
of love
30:55
ever given
30:57
no short
30:59
term
31:00
in mind
31:01
but eternity
31:02
in mind
31:03
for his
31:05
kingdom
31:05
is one
31:06
that will
31:07
last
31:08
forever
31:09
and that
31:11
is what
31:11
we have
31:12
in Christ
31:13
that is
31:15
our
31:15
security
31:16
that is
31:18
what our
31:18
salvation
31:19
is built
31:20
on
31:20
not us
31:22
not our
31:23
works
31:24
but what
31:25
Christ
31:26
has done
31:27
for us
31:28
we
31:29
were
31:30
far
31:30
off
31:31
we
31:32
were
31:33
strangers
31:34
to the
31:34
covenant
31:35
of promise
31:36
we were
31:36
ones
31:37
with no
31:38
hope
31:38
and without
31:39
God
31:39
in the
31:40
world
31:40
but now
31:42
in Christ
31:43
Jesus
31:44
you who
31:44
were once
31:45
far off
31:45
have been
31:46
brought near
31:47
by the
31:48
blood
31:48
of Christ
31:49
he has
31:51
paid
31:52
the price
31:53
for us
31:54
that is
31:56
what
31:56
we rejoice
31:58
in
31:59
and as
32:01
we rejoice
32:01
in that
32:02
as we
32:02
see our
32:03
security
32:04
in that
32:04
our
32:06
desire
32:06
should be
32:07
with Paul
32:08
as he
32:08
wrote to
32:09
the
32:09
Corinthians
32:10
to making
32:11
his
32:12
appeal
32:13
through us
32:14
we implore
32:15
you
32:16
in Christ
32:17
on Christ's
32:18
behalf
32:18
be
32:19
reconciled
32:21
to God
32:22
the day
32:25
in which
32:25
we live
32:26
is a day
32:27
that seems
32:28
so dark
32:29
and godless
32:29
in so
32:30
many places
32:31
and in
32:32
so many
32:32
ways
32:33
but we
32:35
have God
32:36
on our
32:36
side
32:37
and he
32:38
is building
32:39
his kingdom
32:40
we praise
32:42
him it's not
32:43
just one
32:44
here and
32:45
there
32:45
but he has
32:47
many people
32:48
many people
32:49
who are coming
32:50
to salvation
32:51
in him
32:52
and trusting
32:53
in him
32:54
and we
32:55
pray that
32:55
cities
32:56
huge cities
32:57
throughout the
32:58
world
32:58
will know
32:59
the grace
33:00
of God
33:00
we pray
33:01
that towns
33:02
and villages
33:03
will know
33:04
the grace
33:05
of God
33:05
we pray
33:06
that people
33:07
near and
33:08
far
33:08
will know
33:09
the saving
33:10
grace
33:10
of God
33:11
and rejoice
33:13
in him
33:14
we have
33:16
much
33:17
to be
33:17
thankful
33:18
for
33:18
we look
33:20
back
33:21
and we
33:21
give thanks
33:22
for his
33:22
goodness
33:23
to us
33:24
in so
33:24
many ways
33:25
but let
33:26
us keep
33:27
looking forward
33:28
with a
33:29
sense of
33:29
praise
33:30
and expectation
33:31
and joy
33:32
that he is
33:34
building
33:34
his house
33:36
that he is
33:37
bringing
33:37
people in
33:38
and that
33:39
Christ
33:40
is the
33:41
cornerstone
33:42
of it
33:43
all
33:43
may God
33:44
bless
33:45
his word
33:46
to us
33:46
we'll sing
33:49
to God's
33:50
praise