1. Berlin Wall
Under the cover of darkness on Aug. 13, 1961, a wire barricade was stretched the middle of Berlin. It ended up 28 miles long and became one of the most controversial boundary lines of the 20th century. It eventually became known as the “Berlin Wall.” It was the symbol of the border between Communism and Capitalism; oppression and freedom; control vs. creativity.
After the wall was built, a mine field was place on the east side, not to keep people from entering the east side but to keep people from leaving
People by the 1000’s left the east and headed west because it was sensed that the east was oppressive and freedom lay to the west. Many were beaten, jailed even shot.
The wall itself was a symbol of something much bigger; different ideologies that separated those who were free from those that were in bondage.
On June 12, 1987 (70 years after the Socialist takeover of Russia) President Ronald Reagan gave a speech at the Berlin Wall. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev...Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
2. Walls Divide Us:
a. Jew and Gentiles – Ephesians 2:11-14 (especially verses 13-14 “Soreg”)
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
b. The Mundane – Sports – OU vs. OSU; Thunder vs. GS
c. Serious – Politics and philosophies – capitalism and socialism
d. Racial – Gandhi heard about our Jesus and he liked what he heard. So he went to church one Sunday. But he didn’t look like they did. And he didn’t act like they did. And he didn’t talk like they did. So they told him to go on down the street to a church that was “like him.” He reportedly said: “If this how Christians treat others I might as well remain a Hindu.”
e. Denominational – For many years a large silver star adorned the top of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Back in the 1800’s, the Roman Catholic Church, which shares a part of the building with a Greek Orthodox Church, decided to take down the Silver Star & replace it with their own star. But the Greek Orthodox Church refused to let them.
The Greek Orthodox Church was supported by Russia, & the Roman Catholic Church was supported by France. But it was Turkey who actually ruled over Palestine at that time. When Turkey sided with the Roman Catholic Church, Russia declared war on Turkey. France & England allied themselves with Turkey, & fought the Crimean War (1853 – 1856). At the end of that war the star came down.
f. Status – rich/poor; white-blue collars; tattoos & piercings vs. non; suits/casual
3. Walls Exist Everywhere – Internal Ones and External Ones – to keep others (including God) OUT!
4. For the sake of peace and the One who brings peace, tear down our walls!
I. Tearing Down the Walls Begins Internally
Lucy from Peanuts, “I hate everything, I hate everybody, I hate the whole wide world!” Charlie Brown says, “But I thought you had inner peace?” “I do, but I also have outer obnoxiousness.”
Colossians 3:15, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
A. It Brings Peace with God – Ephesians 2:13 (NCV) But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away from God are brought near through the blood of Christ’s death.
B. It Brings Peace with Others – Ephesians 2:17-19 Christ came and preached peace to you who were far away from God, and to those who were near to God. 18 Yes, it is through Christ we all have the right to come to the Father in one Spirit. 19 Now you who are not Jewish are not foreigners or strangers any longer, but are citizens together with God’s holy people. You belong to God’s family.
C. It Brings Peace Beyond Comprehension – Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
II. Tearing Down the Walls Is Intentional – Matthew 5:9 (NLT)
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
A. We Don’t Tend to Stumble into Peace – Effort is Involved
B. This Challenges Our Comfort Zones
["We do not err because truth is difficult to see. It is visible at a glance. We err because this is more comfortable." — Alexander Solzhenitsyn
1. Safe Behind the Walls We Build – Keep people/God out or at arm’s length
2. A Matter of Trust – God’s Peace Guards our hearts (Philippians 4:7)
3. Pays Off – “Children of God”
III. Tearing Down the Walls Continues as a Matter of Influence – Ephesians 2:16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
A. The Self-Sacrifice of Jesus Influences ALL of Us
B. His Sacrifice Influences Others to Sacrifice
“Telemachus was a monk who lived in the 4th century. He felt God was telling him to go to Rome, so he went. He arrived on a day of Gladiator contests, where they would fight to the death before thousands of cheering Romans.
He could not stand the thought of it and ran to the coliseum where he heard the gladiators saying, "Hail, Emperor, those who are about to die salute you" He jumped over the railing and went out into the middle of the field, got between two gladiators, held up his hands and said, "In the name of Christ, stop."
The crowd shouted, "Run him through, Run him through." A gladiator came over and hit him in the stomach with the back of his sword. It sent him sprawling in the sand. He got up, ran back and again said, "In the name of Christ, stop." The crowd continued to chant, "Run him through."
One gladiator came over and plunged his sword through his stomach and he fell into the sand, which turned crimson with his blood. Once more he gasped, "In the name of Christ, stop." A hush came over the crowd. Soon, a man stood and left. Then another and more, and within minutes all 80,000 people emptied out of the arena. It was the last known gladiatorial contest in the history of Rome.”
1. Jesus broke down walls among his disciples
a. Tax Collector who gathered taxes
b. Fishermen who unhappily paid taxes
c. Zealots who opposed taxes
d. Even an apostle who had once opposed him and his people
2. In spite of differences, they became an empowered, effective force for God
3. Are you willing to break down walls around you?
a. Some of those walls keep God out of your life
b. Some of those walls keep people out of your life
c. Some of those walls keep God out of other peoples’ lives
4. This is a matter of the: Internal – Intentional – Influential
