I haven't got a page number if you're using a red covered Bible, Ephesians chapter 2 and verses 1 to 10.
And that's on page 1174.
Ephesians 2 verses 1 to 10.
So I'm going to read and then pray and then ask Paul to come and speak.
Page 1174, Ephesians 2, 1 to 10.
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world
and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at one time,
gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.
Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
But because of his great love for us,
God, who is rich in mercy,
made us alive with Christ,
even when we were dead in transgressions.
It is by grace you have been saved.
And God raised us up with Christ
and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace
expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith,
and this not from yourselves.
It is the gift of God,
not by works,
so that no one can boast.
For we are God's workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Let's pray.
Our Father God,
we thank you for the grace
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And we thank you for the grace that comes to us
through your word,
which helps us to understand
who Jesus is.
And we pray that your spirit,
your presence,
would be at work amongst us,
as we hear your word.
We pray that it would cause us
to love you more.
It would cause us to change the things in our lives
so that we are aligned to your ways and your will.
And we pray that it would motivate us
to live lives of worship,
serving you where we go.
We thank you for Paul.
We thank you for his ministry and work in Mayo.
We pray your blessing upon the churches there,
even today as they meet.
We pray that you would cause that good news
to take effect in people's lives
and to bring people to faith.
And we pray that now through him
you may encourage us.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Porch, thanks very much.
Thank you.
Well, thanks very much, Johnny,
and thanks very much for having us.
Listen, this morning what I want to do
is first of all start with a story
from the Old Testament.
Some of you will be very familiar with it
and you might even know where I'm going with it.
But the background of the story
is that the city of Samaria
was surrounded, besieged,
by the Syrians.
No one was in,
nobody went out.
And as a result,
there was eventually a severe famine
in that city.
So severe was the famine
that some people had even resorted
to cannibalism.
And two women actually contracted
that they would boil their children
and eat them.
That's how severe the famine had become.
In chapter 7 opens with Elisha,
the prophet,
saying that everything was going to
dramatically change the following day.
And that there would be
an abundant provision of food
and of drink
and, you know,
there would be freedom.
In other words,
that the Syrians would be gone.
Well, verse 4 introduces us
to the characters
that we're going to concentrate
our thinking on this morning.
Four leprous men
were sitting outside the city walls
as it were in a kind of a
no man's land.
And they were sitting against the wall
in the hope
that food would be thrown
over the wall to them.
But of course,
now because of the famine,
that hope was gone
and there was going to be no scraps
thrown across the wall
to them.
So they were in dire straits.
And then
a desperate logic
entered into their thinking.
If you like a logic of
desperation,
I'll just read for you
the end of verse 3
and then verse 4.
Why are we sitting here
until we die?
One of them said.
If we say that we will
enter the city,
the famine is in the city
and we shall die.
If we sit here,
we will die also.
Now therefore,
come,
let us surrender
to the army of the Syrians.
If they keep us alive,
we shall live.
If they kill us,
we shall only die.
So you can see the kind of
desperation.
I don't know whether you
know much about famine.
We all
here
probably have never really
experienced hunger
at that level.
Now these men were probably
at this stage
coming out in sores
other than the leprosy
that they were
suffering from.
Their mouths
would have been dry.
Their tongues
would have been swelling.
They would have been in a
pretty,
pretty bad state.
So they headed off
to the besiegers
camp.
The camp of the Syrians.
But they weren't prepared
for what they were going
to see.
And they were
absolutely astonished
with the surprise
that came their way.
See,
the Lord,
to fulfil
Elisha's prophecy,
the Lord had
caused the Syrians
to hear
the noise
of a great army.
And they kind of
supposed
that the
Israelites
had hired
the Hittites
and the Egyptians
to come against them
and release
the city.
So the Syrians
fled
even though
there was no actual
army there at all.
The Syrians
panicked
and they fled
and in such haste
did they run
from the place
that they left
behind everything.
Food,
drink,
gold,
silver,
all their military
equipment,
they left the lot
and ran.
These leprous,
four leprous men,
you can imagine
what it was like.
They walked into
the camp of the Syrians
and everything
that they ever
dreamed of
was just lying
there waiting
for them.
Food,
all they would
ever want,
clothing,
drink,
gold and silver,
so they had a party.
You can imagine
what it would have
been like.
It probably wasn't
very good for them
because it's not good
to tuck into a pint
of food after a long
hunger of that nature
but they tucked in
nonetheless
and then they took
some of the gold
and the silver
and they hid it
away for themselves.
But then a realization
dawned on them.
Listen to verse 9.
And then they said
one to another,
we're not doing
right here.
This day is a day
of good news
and we remain silent.
If we wait
till morning light
some punishment
will come upon us.
Now therefore come
let us go
and tell the king's
household.
I want to use
this story
this morning
as a kind of
a parable
to help us
as we unpack
Ephesians chapter 2
which Johnny read
for us earlier.
Ephesians 2
verses 1 to 3
says this,
you he made alive
while speaking
about us
this morning
who were dead
in trespasses
and sins
in which you
once walked
according to
the course
of this world
according to
the prince
of the power
of the air
the spirit
that now works
in the sons
of disobedience
among whom
you also
once conducted
ourselves
in the lusts
of our flesh
fulfilling the
desires of the
flesh and of the
mind
and were by
nature
children of wrath
just as the others.
these verses
describe our
state
yours and mine
before conversion
like the people
in the besieged
city
we were without
Christ
held
trapped
hopeless
in bondage
divide
of any
true
spirituality
for some
ways that
Paul describes
our condition
that is very
very graphic
he says we
were dead
in trespasses
and sins
as a result
of the fall
each one of us
were dead
spiritually
lost
and under
the dominion
of sin
sin was in
control
if you like
sin
took us
and controlled
us
the state
of alienation
and separation
was there
between us
and God
and we were
under
his just
and holy
wrath
listen to the way
Ephesians 2
and 12
puts it
it says at that
time you were
without Christ
being aliens
from the
commonwealth
of Israel
strangers
from the
covenant
of promise
having no
hope
and without
God in the
world
you see
God made
us
for the
purpose
of delighting
in his
glory
that's
where we
should have
been
we delight
in his
glory
when we
rejoice
in his
character
believing
his promises
or as the
Westminster
catechism
put it
what is
man's
purpose
what's
man's
chief
end
it's
to glorify
God
and to
enjoy him
forever
but man
and sin
is not
there
we're not
in that
place
where we
glorify
God
instead
we were
seeking
to replace
that joy
that can
only come
from knowing
God
to replace
that joy
by seeking
joy in
every other
conceivable
place
some
pursued
some of
us
pursued
outright
sin
others
searched
for
meaning
and
fulfillment
in
self
righteousness
so whatever
end of the
spectrum
we were on
whether you
were on that
pathway which
was just
you know
laced with
outright sin
or whether you
were on the
so called
clean side
of the road
where you
were involved
in self
righteousness
whichever way
we were going
we were away
from God
and we were
in darkness
and it was
actually
idolatry
and in this
foreign state
there were
three influences
three things
that were
if you like
playing on
our lives
three influences
that were at
work in our
lives bringing
us further
and further
into the
bondage of
sin
and Paul
tells us
that this
bondage is
made up of
three
hostile
forces
if you like
at work
in our
lives
the world
the devil
and the
flesh
in 1 John
he juggles
the order
and he puts
down the
world
the flesh
and the
devil
it's the
same thing
in its
effect
first of all
we have the
world system
he talks
he says
in which you
once walked
according to
the course
of this
world
to walk
there
is
the
world
and the
world
and the
world
the
world
the whole
thing
was being
dictated
to us
by the
world
system
we were
being
moulded
by what
the world
required
off of us
the course
of this
world
the
attitudes
and the
value
systems
of this
age
that were
opposed
to God
and his
kingdom
the various
world views
that work
against God
and his
rule
in our
hearts
these things
controlled us
these things
dominated our
lives
these things
dictated the
pace
so our
actions were
dictated by
this present
age
which is
characterised
by rejection
of God's
kingship
I was at a
family wedding
recently
trying to
understand
trying to
see whether
I could get
an opportunity
to talk to
some of my
brothers
I had
forgotten
something
when the
music came
on
you couldn't
hear yourself
thinking
never mind
trying to
have a
conversation
with somebody
and I just
sat there
thinking
this is what
the world
system is
like
everybody
is just
deafened
by the
sound
of the
world
system
and they
cannot
hear
another
voice
they
can't
hear
another
voice
that's
why
people
are
the way
they are
dominated
by what
the world
system
is pumping
at them
on a
constant
basis
then the
second
influence
that
Paul
outlines
here
is the
devil's
influence
the second
hostile
influence
that works
promoting
sin and
rebellion
in our
lives
he calls
it this
way
he says
the prince
of the
power of
the air
the spirit
who now
works in
the sons
of disobedience
now this
is not
talking about
demon
possession
because we
cannot blame
the devil
for our
sin
regretfully
we're all
too willing
participants
the devil
encourages and
promotes
but regretfully
he finds us
too receptive
the devil
loves sin
and rebellion
and he uses
all of his
persuasive powers
which are
considerable
to encourage
and to
arouse
sin
in our
lives
the third
hostile
force is
regretfully
within us
it says
among whom
also we
all conducted
ourselves
in the
lusts of
our flesh
fulfilling
the desires
of the flesh
and of the
mind
he says
we all
conducted
ourselves
and Paul
is including
himself here
and all the
Christians to
whom he is
writing
you see
human
sinfulness
is
universal
it's not
the things
sorry
it's one of
the things
that we
share
in common
all have
sinned
and for
and short
the
universality
of sin
is one of
the proofs
of the
doctrine
of the
fall
you see
nobody
ever had
to take
you and
bring you
to a
seminar
to teach
you how
to tell
a lie
that's right
none of
your children
were ever
taken
and taught
how to
be nasty
regretfully
it comes
naturally
the evil
will influence
us of the
world and
of the
devil and
regretfully
they find
a welcome
in our
hearts
when the
world and
the devil
comes knocking
they find
already a
mat at
our doorway
saying
welcome
the world
and the
devil broadcasts
and we
regretfully
receive the
signals
too readily
we are
by nature
fallen
self-centered
rebels
or as
Paul puts
it by
nature
children
of wrath
Paul in
Galatians 5
lists the
activities of
our sinful
nature
our
inclinations
that are
extensive
and they're
wide ranging
cover every
conceivable
sin that you
could think
of
they're far
more deeper
than just
sex and
murder and
drunkenness
they go
down into
the depths
of our
being
let's just
listen to
the list
for a
moment
he says
the works
of the
flesh are
evident
which are
these
adultery
fornication
uncleanness
lewdness
idolatry
sorcery
yeah we'd
say that
that's sin
but then he
goes on and
he talks about
hatred and
contentions and
jealousies and
outbursts of
wrath and
selfish ambition
dissensions and
heresies
envy
and then he
goes on
murder and
drunkenness and
revelry and
the like of
which I tell
you before and
I tell you
often in past
times that
those who
practice such
things shall
not inherit the
kingdom of
God
we're sinners
in thought
in word
and in deed
we sin by
omission and
commission
what that means
is we do
things we
ought not to
do
and there's
things that we
ought to do
that we don't
do
and all of
this
made us
children of
wrath
just as the
others
we were under
the just
and holy
righteous wrath
of almighty
God
now the wrath
of God is
not some
out of
control
outburst
where God
just loses
the rag
now that's
not what the
Bible is
talking about
here
it's talking
about his
settled
determined
opposition
against sin
and rebellion
in fact the
psalmist says
that he's angry
with the wicked
every day
again Paul
includes himself
in this category
before conversion
he was heading
for judgment
day with no
hope
of escaping
God's just
and holy
penalty against
his sin
eternal
conscious
punishment
in hell
now thankfully
our passage
doesn't end
there
thankfully
see it
goes on to
talk about
the position
that we've
come into
because of
grace
because of
mercy
because of
God's
goodness
verse 5
starts out
it says
but God
God intervened
he stepped
in
he
as it were
interfered with
the flow
and he
changed
things
but God
who is
rich in
mercy
because of
his great
love
with which
he loved
us
even when
we were
dead
in
trespasses
and sins
made us
alive
together
with
Christ
by grace
you have
been
saved
what Paul
is doing
here
is
he's
setting
up
an
awesome
contrast
he's
contrasting
two
things
the
contrast
if you
like
of
all
contrasts
the
blackness
and the
darkness
of our
previous
position
contrasted
against
this
spectacularly
glorious
wonderful
position
that God
has brought
us into
if you
ever went
into a
jewelers
just to
buy
diamonds
not maybe
the ring
but just
the diamonds
and the
jeweler wanted
to show
them to
you at
their best
he'd lay
them out
on a
black
cloth
so that
you'd see
them in
all of
their glory
and that's
what Paul
is doing
here
he's
taking the
black
cloth
of our
previous
position
and he's
putting on
that cloth
the glory
some of
the gems
some of
the wonders
of what
God
has done
for us
in Christ
we were
lost and
undone
and without
hope
but God
God took
the initiative
he stepped
in where
he didn't
have to
there was
no need
either in
God himself
or
there was
nothing in
us that
would cause
him to do
it
but solely
and only
because of
his awesome
love
and his
mercy
that he
stepped in
and he
rescued us
he could
rightly
and justly
have left
us to the
consequences
of our
sin
but his
spectacular
compassion
his love
that is
beyond
compare
moved him
to reach
down
and meet
our need
God
so loved
the world
that he
gave
let's
consider
some of
the jewels
spread out
on that
black cloth
some of
the jewels
of this
great salvation
first of all
of course
it's the
forgiveness
of sin
but God
who is rich
in mercy
because of
his great
love
with which
he has
loved us
even when
we were
dead in
sin
met us
alive
together
in Christ
by grace
you have
been saved
this is the
most awesome
blessing of
all
every other
blessing that
comes our
way is
it's wonderful
but it's
very much
secondary to
this greatest
blessing of
all
to know
your sin
forgiven
the word
forgiven there
means sin
is taken
out of the
way
the psalmist
puts it
this way
he says
your sin
has been
removed
as far as
the east
is from
the west
out
sin is
taken out
of the
equation
of our
relationship
with God
it's no
longer in
the equation
if you like
our sin
is removed
price paid
in full
the Lord
Jesus Christ
became the
propitiation
for our
sin
in other
words
he bore
on his
own body
the wrath
of God
against all
of our
sin
he absorbed
all the
penalty
for your
sin
and for
mine
he absorbed
that penalty
into himself
during those
six hours
on the
cross
paid in
full
he cried
out
and because
of all
that
when we
do sin
we have
an advocate
with the
father
somebody
that
represents
us
someone
that stands
in our
place
and pleads
our case
for us
he is
our
representative
because of
his
propitiation
on our
behalf
then the
second
jewel
that I
want to
just
look at
this
morning
is
sin's
dominion
is
broken
so we
talk about
the penalty
of sin
now we
talk about
the power
of sin
and he
says here
even when
we were
dead
in
trespasses
he made
us alive
met us
alive
together
with
Christ
by grace
you have
been
saved
see
Jesus
describes
sin as
slavery
he that
sins
says Jesus
is a
slave of
sin
now because
we have
been made
alive
together
with Christ
because
we are
united
with
Christ
because
we have
been
born
from
above
we
no longer
need
to
serve
sin
we can
walk
with
God
not
wonderful
we can
walk
with
God
listen
how
Paul
puts
it
in
Romans
8
and
verse
2
for
the
law
of
the
spirit
of
life
in
Christ
Jesus
has
set
us
free
from
the
law
of
sin
and
death
we
can
actually
look
our
favourite
sin
in
the
face
and
tell
it
to
go
away
no
not
happy
anymore
I'm
going
to
walk
with
God
not
perfectly
at
all
times
the
battle
is
very
real
but
nonetheless
the
Christian
can
and
does
make
progress
by
grace
we
advance
step
by
step
nearer
to
God's
ultimate
goal
for
our
lives
which
of
course
is
Christ
likeness
that
we
would
be
like
Jesus
God's
ultimate
goal
listen
to how
Paul
put it
in
Romans
6
and
verse
14
he
says
for
sin
shall
not
have
dominion
over
you
for
you
are
not
under
the
law
but
under
grace
listen
to how
Ezekiel
put it
in
Ezekiel
36
and
verse
27
I
will
put
my
spirit
within
you
and
cause
you
to
walk
in
my
statutes
and
do
my
judgments
then
the
third
jewel
on that
black
cloth
that I
want to
look at
this
morning
there
are
many
others
that we
could
look at
but
just
to
think
about
this
one
for
a
moment
the
alienation
that
barrier
between
us
and
God
completely
removed
he says
it says
here
he raised
us up
together
and he
made us
sit
together
in the
heavenly
places
in
Christ
Jesus
you see
so utterly
remarkable
is this
awesome
salvation
that we
have come
into
is that
we're
already
seated
with
Christ
in
heavenly
places
there's
a hymn
we sing
sometimes
back in
Westport
it
captures
it
just
lovely
it
says
so
near
so
very
near
to
God
I
cannot
nearer
be
for
in
the
person
of
his
son
I
am
as
near
as
he
the
hymn
writer
is
capturing
the
truth
that
is
it's
there
in
Ephesians
1
and
verse
6
and
it
talks
about
us
being
accepted
in
the
beloved
it's
a
technical
term
and
what
it
means
is
you
remember
when
Jesus
was
being
baptized
and he
came up
out of
the
water
and the
voice
from
heaven
said
this
is
my
beloved
son
in
whom
I
am
well
pleased
it's
speaking
of
God
the
father's
love
for
God
the
son
this
is
my
beloved
son
and
then
Paul
borrows
that
phrase
and he
says
of us
us
Christians
it
that
you
have
been
accepted
in
the
beloved
into
that
same
fellowship
that
the
father
has
with
the
son
and
John
in
17
and
verse
23
puts
it
this
way
he
says
that
we
are
loved
with
the
very
same
love
that
God
loves
his
own
son
it's
phenomenal
isn't
it
that
God
the
father
has
set
his
love
so
much
upon
you
that
it's
equal
to
the
love
that
he
has
for
think
about
it
he
gave
his
very
own
son
so
that
you
could
be
sitting
where
you
are
this
morning
and
man
it's
absolutely
phenomenal
so
we
have
this
alienation
that
was
there
completely
removed
listen
to
Ephesians
2
and
verse
18
for
through
him
we
both
have
access
by
one
spirit
to
the
father
listen
to
Ephesians
3
and
verse
12
in
whom
we
have
boldness
and
access
with
confidence
through
faith
in
him
so
I
can
come
to
God
I
can
walk
with
God
I
can
know
him
I
can
come
to
him
in
prayer
I
can
access
God
if you
like
that
which
the
high
priest
could
only
do
once
a
year
and
with
an
awful
lot
of
parlava
before
he
done
it
we
can
do
freely
with
confidence
and with
boldness
we can
come
into
the
presence
of
God
and
even
when
I
sin
I
can
come
to
God
in
fresh
repentance
and
faith
and that
sin is
put away
the
relationship
is
beautiful
again
so
why did
God
do
it
why
did
God
do
it
well
actually
our
passage
tells
us
first if
you look
at verse
seven
there it
says
that in
the
ages
to
come
he
might
show
the
exceeding
riches
of his
grace
in his
kindness
towards
us
in
Christ
Jesus
God
in the
ages
to come
is going
to make
a display
out of you
and out of me
he's going
to hold us
up as an
example of his
wisdom
and he's going
to show it
by the church
listen to
Ephesians
3
and verse
20
or verse
10
to the
intent
that now
the manifold
wisdom
of God
might be
made known
by the
church
to the
principalities
and powers
in the heavenly
places
so there's
going to
come a
time
when God
will put
on display
before the
principalities
and powers
the church
and he's
going to
say
that's what
my wisdom
achieved
that's what
grace has
done
that's what
mercy has
done
and you
and I
we're going
to be as
it were
examples
of that
because of
God's
grace
the second
reason I
want to
concentrate on
just in
closing
and that
is
the one
that really
comes to
us from
that parable
it says
for we are
his workmanship
created in
Christ Jesus
for good
works
which God
prepared
beforehand
that we
should walk
in them
God wants
us to
live for
his glory
he wants
us to
glorify
his name
in the way
we live
and the
things we
do
we are
to be
a people
Paul tells
us in
another
place
zealous
for good
works
in closing
I want to
look at
the example
of our
four
leprous
friends
they were
after having
the party
they were
after stashing
away some
of the
gold and
silver
hope they
didn't put
it into
Anglo-Irish
Bank
and they
wanted to
do
themselves
good
they said
life is going
to be
different now
we're rich
life is going
to be different
now we've got
food and
clothing we've
got all we
need
but the
lepers
even in the
midst of
this awesome
provision
a realisation
gripped them
verse 9
of 2nd
Kings 7
says
then they
said one
to another
we do
not do
well
this day
is a day
of good
tidings
and we
hold our
peace
if we
tarry till
morning light
some mischief
will come
upon us
now therefore
come
let us
go and
tell the
king's
household
they
remembered
the people
that were
behind those
walls
starving
they
remembered
those people
that were
behind those
walls
in bondage
and in
darkness
they
remembered
these
people
even though
maybe
they might
have just
caused
not to
be very
kind
towards
them
but they
remembered
them
nonetheless
and they
said
we don't
do
well
this is a
day of
good
tidings
we need
to go
and tell
them
that they
can come
out from
behind
those
walls
they can
come out
from behind
their bondage
and they
can find
the provision
that they
need
and we've
got the
same message
much better
much much
much better
much more
glorious
and the
church
is God's
strategic plan
for evangelism
that's one
of the purposes
for which we're
left here
is that we
might tell
others
about this
awesome
provision
that is
available
in Christ
this
glorious
thing
that God
has done
this
wonderful
event
that took
place
on
Calvary
this
awesome
glorious
provision
that he
has made
so in
closing
two things
that we
need to
see
and one
thing
that we
need to
do
first of
all do we
see the
state
do we
really
see the
state
that our
neighbours
and our
friends
our family
our work
colleagues
do we
really see
the state
that they're
in
have we
got a real
grasp
have I
got a real
grasp
of where my
neighbours are
where my
friends are
do we
really see
the state
that they're
in locked
down
in their
sin
do I
see the
awesomeness
that God
has done
for me
has it
really
captured me
that I
am loved
by God
that I
am forgiven
that my
sin has
been removed
as far as
the east
is from
the west
has it
really
captured
my heart
I find
it no
wonder that
Paul
in Ephesians
chapter 3
and these
people that
he would
have been
praying for
were Christians
for quite a
period of
time at
this stage
and he
prays for
them that
they might
know the
love of
Christ
and pass
his
knowledge
Paul
wanted if
you like
that God's
Holy Spirit
would take
the great
truths of
salvation
and rub
them afresh
into the
people's
hearts
that they
would just
revel in
this great
goodness of
God
delight in
his great
mercy
be thrilled
with it
all
and then
to go
there were
many other
works that
people were
to be
engaged in
but I
think the
primary one
is to bring
this message
it's a day
of good
tidings
amen
and you
have an
opportunity
very very
soon you
have
Christianity
explored
taking
place
come
yourself
but bring
somebody
with you
amen
bring
somebody
with you
take your
courage in
your hands
take one of
the invitations
and bring it
to your friend
or bring it
to your family
member
bring it to
your work
colleague
bring it
to your enemy
and give
them a copy
and encourage
them to be
here
that they too
might hear
of this
awesome
provision
amen
thanks very
much for
listening
thank you
Johnny
thank you