Breathing Exercises

1
Breathing Exercises

• Ephesians 21-10
• Sunday, November 22
• St. Croix Vineyard

2
Live!
3
Ephesians 21-10

• 1 And you were dead in your trespasses and
  sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to
  the course of this world, according to the prince
  of the power of the air, of the spirit that is
  now working in the sons of disobedience. 
• 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the
  lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the
  flesh and of the mind, and were by nature
  children of wrath, even as the rest.

4
Ephesians 21-10

• 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His
  great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we
  were dead in our transgressions, made us alive
  together with Christ (by grace you have been
  saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated
  us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ
  Jesus,

5
Ephesians 21-10

• 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the
  surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward
  us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been
  saved through faith and that not of yourselves,
  it is the gift of God 9 not as a result of
  works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are
  His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good
  works, which God prepared beforehand so that we
  would walk in them.

6
Different Lens

• The Treasure House (Eph. 11-14)
• A Rich and Powerful Hope (Eph. 115-23)
• Corporate rather than individualistic lens

7
Human Condition (v. 1-3)

• Dead
• Walking according to the course of this world
• According to the prince of the power of the air
• Of the spirit that is now working in the sons of
  disobedience
• Living in the lusts of the flesh, indulging in
  the desires of the flesh and the mind
• By nature children of wrath, even as the rest

8
Pretty Grim

• Is it like this for everyone?
• What about the imago dei?
• For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that
  is, in my flesh for the willing is present in
  me, but the doing of the good is not. For the
  good that I want I do not do, but I practice the
  very evil that I do not want (Romans 718-19)

9
Does it have to be this way?

• St. Augustine said yeswe are not free not to
  sin
• Pelagius said nooffended at moral condition of
  Christians in Rome who were influenced by
  Augustine (sin merrily until you have an
  experience of grace like his)
• Today most people think theyre both partly right
  and partly wrong

10
What if?

• Humans are made in the image of God
• Made Good
• Propensity toward selfishness and
  self-centeredness
• If followed, gets worsedark
• God is in the business of 2nd chances
• Gives new opportunity to start again, clean
• Focus on obedience allows the Spirit of God room
  in the heart

11
Biggest Question

• What are you breathing?
• Sin, hatred, bitterness, refusing to forgive,
  anger, lusts, self-medicating, being around dark
  influences makes you breathe the foul and
  polluted air offered by the prince of the power
  of the air
• Obedience, praise, mercy, love, worship, kindness
  lets you breathe in and be filled with the Spirit
  of God

12
Look again at v. 4-10

• Pretty rich picture, but another theological
  quandaryis there really nothing we can do to
  obtain this? Is it all God from beginning to end?
• Yes, and no. Yes without Him there is no hope
  for this.
• However, I believe we play a role, too. It starts
  with wanting help. We long for freedom He shows
  us where it is

13
Change Lens

• Not just about me its about my church, my town,
  my nation, the world
• God designed you to make a difference
• You cant do it without His help
• The world needs your gift
• Dont opt out with alcohol or drugs or video
  games
• Get ready to be used big-time
• Start or prepare

14
One person

• Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)
• Life lesson Start and others will follow

15
Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)
16
13th century biographies
17
Modern Example
18
San Damiano
19
Awakenings

• So many times since . . .
• Characterized by
• new understanding of spirituality
• new and revitalized experience of God that
  affects ordinary people
• brings social change to many aspects of life