Ephesians 2: 19b – 22 You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, and the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for The Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by His Spirit.

We are no longer strangers but joined together. May not know each other the way we need to but we are a body and working on ministering to each other.

Cornerstone is one who holds it all together and that is Jesus.

Holy Temple which is not a museum where we hear of the things God once did in the lives of others. Living and active in the beauty of where God dwells in beauty, glory and power. We come together to sing songs of worship and encounter that God.

Now Ephesians 4 it talks about how we live with each other.

  1. Deal with anger toward each other
  2. Don’t lie to each other 4: 25
  3. Quit stealing and use your hands to work hard so you can give to others in need. 4: 28
  4. Don’t use foul or abusive language 4: 29
  5. Let everything you say be an encouragement to those who hear them.
  6. Get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, slander. 4: 31
  7. DON”T GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.

There is a spiritual battle that is happening here. God wants a beautiful body where he dwells, and satan is trying to bring disorder and offense.

THE BEGINNING

Story in the Old Testament that we can learn from. 1 Corinthians 10 learn from their mistakes

2 Chronicles 14 Asa becomes king

  1. smashed idols in the land
  2. This land is still ours because we sought The Lord 14: 7
  3. Enemy of one million Ethiopians come agains them and He defeats them.
  4. People from Israel come to Judah to worship God. 15: 9
  5. removed his grandmother from her place of authority because she worshiped Asherah. (family hardest thing to do something with) 15: 16

Prophet came “Be strong and courageous for your work will be rewarded 15: 7

Nothing was hard when we become the temple of god and God is dwelling with us.

II. THE QUIET YEARS

2 Chronicles 15: 19 35 years of nothing of significance happening.

YET: in that 35 years Asa is made into the man he will become for the rest of his life

time of just living

  1. Time of waiting for a promise to come forth
  2. Time of winter believing for the spring to come and bring a harvest.

It is during this time that a change comes upon people.

III. NEW BATTLE

16: 1 NEW BATTLE LOST PASSION FOR GOD.

VS 3 He hired someone else to fight the battle for him

PROPHET COMES TO SPEAK TO ASA.

He lashes out at the prophet and throws him in jail and oppress the people16: 10

Don’t throw in jail like last week, but I am going to fix it. Go after the other person that may talk about our state.

  1. Deal with anger toward each other
  2. Don’t lie to each other 4: 25
  3. Quit stealing and use your hands to work hard so you can give to others in need. 4: 28
  4. Don’t use foul or abusive language 4: 29
  5. Let everything you say be an encouragement to those who hear them.
  6. Get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, slander. 4: 31
  7. DON”T GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Vs 9 The eyes of The Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

Why do we think it is such a small thin to grieve the Holy Spirit

The Ephesians were warned not to lose their first love or they would lose their presence in Front of God.

We haven’t changed a whole lot since Asa have we?


IV. ANOTHER CHANCE

ONCE AGAIN TO COME BEFORE GOD AND ADMIT THAT WE HAVE LOST SOMETHING.

God gave Asa another chance

16: 12 Asa got sick and refused to seek God but only turned to his physicians.

Point not being that God made him sick because he was not faithful, but through it he gave him a chance to seek him again and become the person he once was.

Whether you were that person of great victories, or you just remember hearing about them and never experienced them in your own life.