Pursuit Of His Presence

Ephesians 2:11-18 

11 Therefore, remember that at one time you were Gentiles (heathens) in the flesh, called Uncircumcision by those who called themselves Circumcision, [itself a mere mark] in the flesh made by human hands.

12 [Remember] that you were at that time separated (living apart) from Christ [excluded from all part in Him], utterly estranged and outlawed from the rights of Israel as a nation, and strangers with no share in the sacred compacts of the [Messianic] promise [with no knowledge of or right in God's agreements, His covenants]. And you had no hope (no promise); you were in the world without God.

13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were [so] far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have been brought near.

14 For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us,

15 By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances [which He annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man [one new quality of humanity out of the two], so making peace.

16 And [He designed] to reconcile to God both [Jew and Gentile, united] in a single body by means of His cross, thereby killing the mutual enmity and bringing the feud to an end.

17 And He came and preached the glad tidings of peace to you who were afar off and [peace] to those who were near. [Isa. 57:19.]

18 For it is through Him that we both [whether far off or near] now have an introduction (access) by one [Holy] Spirit to the Father [so that we are able to approach Him].

 

Devotional

The Root of Hopelessness

by Kenneth Copeland

“All things are possible to him that believeth.” Mark 9:23
Have you ever felt hopeless...ready to give up? Maybe you’ve already given up, feel there are no answers, and you’re simply trapped right where you sit. Well, according to the Word of God, you don’t have to stay there.
According to the Word, hopelessness isn’t caused by lack of money. It isn’t caused by lack of education or negative circumstances. Hopelessness comes from being without God in the world. It comes from being a stranger to His covenant (Ephesians 2:12).
Anyone, anywhere can have hope if they know Jesus and the covenant promises of God. Your background, race or financial status doesn’t matter. You can live in the worst slum in the world and still have hope in God because He isn’t limited by man’s resources. He isn’t limited by man’s prejudices. God is an equal opportunity employer!
Some people have said to me, “You ought not to preach that prosperity message in poverty-stricken areas. You’ll get those peoples’ hopes up, and they don’t have the same opportunity to prosper that you do.”
Yes they do!
I’ve seen God prosper people in places where there was absolutely nothing. No food. No jobs. No welfare program. Nothing! There is a country in Africa where the government wanted a tribe to die out, so they just stopped the flow of food and began to starve them to death. But that plan failed because some Holy Ghost-filled, African Christians refused to give up hope. They knew their covenant, so they prayed, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Do you know what happened? The people were fed and the government went under!
The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 1:20, “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed....” If you’ll look up the two Greek words translated “earnest expectation” and “hope,” you’ll find that both mean the same thing. So hope is earnest expectation.
“But how can you so intensely expect to prosper when the unemployment rate is up and the economy is down?” you ask.
Because what I’m earnestly expecting isn’t dependent on the world’s economy. It’s based on what God has promised in His covenant. Because He said it, I earnestly expect it! I have a covenant with Almighty God and I can be filled with hope. If you need hope today, ask God into your heart. If you are already a believer, take authority over the devil and cast hopelessness away from you. Stand on God’s Word, His personal promises to you, and let hope rise up within you. With God all things are possible to him who believes!

Speak the Word
“I am a believer. All things are possible to me!” —Mark 9:23
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