Most of us eat every day, some of us too much, because yesterday's
food is not enough to supply energy for today's needs. Why then, do
some of us expect yesterday's portion of heavenly manner the word of God to keep
us through today's challenges. On this program, we are going to change all
of that. Let's experience God's words today and receive the power we need to
live healthy, vibrant lives. Welcome to your Daily Portion with your host,
author speaker L. David Harris. Good morning, good morning, good morning.
It's Tuesday, July twenty five, two twenty three. Hello, my
name is L. David Harris. I am your host, and this is
your Daily Portion where we give you God's word every single day, and today
is no exception. We are continuing in our Lesson study series through the Book
of Ephesians. Our caption for today is breaking down the dividing Wall. Breaking
down the dividing Wall. We'll get into that in just a moment, but
first I'd like to say welcome to you. And it's a wonderful tuesday to
be alive, especially to be alive in Christ. One of my friends and
sisters used to say that from the podium regularly. It's a great day to
be alive, and it's a great day to be alive in Christ. I
hope that you find that to resonate with you. We will get into our
study in a moment, but I want you to go over first to your
Daily Portion dot com or at least take note of the site, join our
online community, and also pick up our your Daily Portion book. If you
have picked it up, please go ahead and indicate in the chat with a
one. If you have not picked it up and intend to do so,
please type two. All right, your Daily Portion dot Com. Let's go
ahead and pray, and then we will get underway. Father in Heaven,
thank you for giving us this new morning and getting us thus far into our
work week. I pray that you will give us understanding, that you will
teach us how to love you and to serve you. That we will follow
you with everything we are and everything that we have, and join in with
you to break down all walls, all barriers that may separate us. In
Jesus name, I pray, Amen and amen again. Breaking down the dividing
wall. We're going to begin with a question, what action does Paul say
Christ took toward the law of commandments expressed in ordinances. Now let me just
start right here while we are getting our thinking caps on. This is not
about the Ten Commandments. It says clearly the law of commandments expressed in ordinances.
This is shooting straight to the target. This is about the sacrificial system,
or some may call sacerdotal system. Okay, so this is the system
of sacrifices, the sanctuary that led us to understanding Christ and salvation better.
The epitome of all of what makes us holy and salvation is Christ. But
he's saying, well, what is it? What is it about breaking down
that? Like breaking down those that law of commandments expressed in ordinances. I'm
going to read it from the King James version first, and then from the
Bourian Standard version, and the Bible reads in verse fourteen of Ephesians chapter two.
For he is our Peace. I love that I have sat on that
point with you a couple of times. For he is our Peace, who
hath made us both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition
between us, so that that big barrier that could be visibly seen as people
were to enter into the temple in back in the day, and the gentiles
were put on notice basically, you're not welcome here. You're not welcome here.
And God is saying that he's breaking that down. He's breaking that down.
But look at verse fifteen, having abolished in his flesh the enemity.
Even the law of Commandments contained an ordinances for to make in himself of twain
one new man, so making peace. Let me read it now from the
Borean version of the Bible. And again, for he himself is our peace
verse fourteen. Who is made, who has made the two one and has
torn down the dividing wall of hostility. So if there is hostility between humanity
and God, he broke that down. But in the context he's also broken
down that which would have separated Jews from gentiles, gentiles from Jews. And
actually in Isaiah Isaiah chapter fifty six, verses one through just about seven,
we see where God is teaching us that any of these walls like you're called
a stranger, you, you're called a dry tree, you're a eunuch,
you are anyone who would be considered an outcast like you. If that is
you, then what we're saying is if you are adjoining a joining yourself to
God, you are keeping covenant with God. And of course, in Isaiah
fifty six it adds also, if you are making it a point to keep
the holy seventh day Sabbath holy, then I'm going to give you a name
and a place, a place within my walls right, and a name that
is greater, that is better than of sons and of daughters. It is
a name that will remain forever. I'm going to give you a place within
my wall. So he's breaking that down through the plan of salvation. But
it also says verse fifteen, by abolishing in his flesh, okay, the
law of commandments, and of course we're talking about the ones contained in ordinances.
He did this to create in himself one new man out of the two,
thus making peace verse sixty now and reconciling both of them to God in
one body through the cross. Oh, I thought, I think I'm getting
it clear clear now. Through the cross by which he extinguished their hostility,
So every barrier to salvation, Jesus decimates everything that would keep people from being
transformed. He decimates Jesus in his body, in his flesh, in the
ministry that he lived for thirty three and one half years on planet Earth when
it all culminated in the Cross, when Jesus voluntarily gave his life a ransom
for many. It was in that moment that he broke down ultimately that wall
of hostility. He fulfilled all of what was required in the law and ordinances.
The sacrificial system was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. And in Matthew chapter twenty
seven, in verse fifty one, we see that the veil, the veil
in the temple was rent in two. It was ripped in half from top
to bottom and revealed what would have been considered the most holy place. And
it's like whoa Nobody's supposed to see or experience that except the high priests,
and then even only once per year. And God was saying that what I'm
doing is fulfilling this law. And I am making manifest that Jesus Christ is
your great high priest. Yes, I am making manifest that Jesus Christ literally
paid it all, just like the hymn writer penned all to him. I
owe sin has left a crimson stain, and he washed it white as snow.
And I thank God that when Jesus died and then he rested in the
tomb over the hours of the Sabbath. According to the commandment, he did
not stay there. He is not still there resting no Jesus. On the
first day of the week, just like the prophecy would have foretold, he
came out of that tomb with all power in his hands and healing in his
wings. And so Jesus now ministers. He ministers in order to deliver you,
dear brothers and sisters, from any sinful tendencies toward evil, whether you
inherited them or cultivated them or both. God is able to give you the
right to become His children if you will receive Him by faith. And I'm
thankful that if He can break the wall of hostility between God and humanity down
by forgiving us and cleansing us from all righteousness, cleansing us from all unrighteousness,
then there is nothing on planet Earth that should separate us from the love
of God. Isn't that a wonderful thing? What tensions among believers do we
see now that we need to confront. That's something that you need to consider,
that we need to confront and overcome. Why should our common love for
Christ be enough to overcome these tensions and of course, when I say tensions,
I'm talking about artificial ones. When God teaches us his word, we
continue in his word and remain faithful to his truth. Have a wonderful day,
peace. Thanks for joining us listening. Friends. Always remember we cannot
live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of
God. This has been your daily portion with L. David Harris. Make
it a great day.