Ephesians 2:1-10 Moving to Jesus
1. Today’s reading Paul talks to the folks in Ephesians about where they moved from.
They had moved from transgressions “you were dead in your transgressions and sins” you were lifeless you were dead but God made you alive in Christ”
• Transgressions included cravings for sinful nature which led us into the desires and thoughts of evil things
• Let’s move our craving to things above and not on things of this earth Paul writes . 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God”
2. Paul tells the folk in Ephesus that they are moved from wrath
• “we were by nature objects of wrath” Paul explains we once were destined to destruction, ruin, devastation. But they have moved from that disaster
• They have moved from lost to found, from death to life, hell to heaven
• Why have we moved from wrath? 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
• God has moved us from death 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.
3. God out of His great Love has saved us it is that great Love that Moves us
• Moves us to be raised up we are now alive through the same power that brought Jesus back from death. Jesus was dead but he is alive forevermore
• Moves us to a place seated with Him in Heavenly Places or realms the place of spiritual activity the presences of God Presence of angels presence of the Divine
• We are moved by His Grace Paul calls it incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus
4. Paul encourages us to move from and earthbound perspective to a Heaven inspired one
• We now look to the heavenly Perspective and not the Worldly perspective
• WE move from eyes on the world to eyes on the kingdom
• We move from siting in woe to set with Christ in heavenly realms
5. Finally we have certainly Moved from transgressions, moved from wrath, moved from earthly thinking, and we continue to Move
• Move us God to be your work of art
• Move us to become that precious gem a diamond in the rough that’s us
• Move us to compassion, Move us to serve
• Move us to be the clay shaped by the potter
• Move us to be your handiwork rebirthed reborn in Christ Jesus
• Move us who were dead in sin and transgression to be alive in the Spirit of the Living God
• Move us from desires of flesh to desires of the Heavenly
• God you have moved us from wrath, disobedience, and have raised us up by grace, great love, because you are rich in great mercy, you have made us alive, 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works
6. Benediction Close with this prayer : Ignatius of Loyola, Spain, 16th cent
• Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest;
• to labor and not to ask for any reward, except that of knowing that we do your will;
• through Jesus Christ our Lord. Continue to move us Oh God. Amen.
