And with that, I will draw your attention to the book of Ephesians where we are on Sunday mornings as we're going through this epistle chapter by chapter and verse by verse.

And our text today will be chapter 2, verses 14 through 18. I'll have you turn there if you're not there already and once you do if you're able,

I'll ask you to stand. You can follow along as I read. If not, that's all right where you're seated.

I'll begin in verse 14 where the Apostle Paul is writing by the Holy Spirit to the church there in Ephesus and says,

for he himself is our peace.

By the way, that song we just ended with is based on our text today.

For he, speaking of Jesus, himself is our peace, who has made the two groups, speaking of the Jews and the Gentiles,

one, and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations.

His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace. And in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross

by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and

peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one spirit.

Would you join with me and let's pray and ask God's blessing on our understanding.

Loving Heavenly Father, we need for you at this time as only you can and as you're always so faithful to do speak into our lives

in and through your word by your spirit.

Lord, and when you do,

we want for our hearts to be open to receive what it is that you would desire to speak to us.

And, Lord, we don't want any distraction in any way to draw our attention away from you

and what you have for us in your word today.

So, Lord, would you get our attention and keep our attention, hold our attention,

because we don't want to miss anything. That's why we're here. We want to hear you speak

in that still small voice of the Holy Spirit.

So Lord, will you speak?

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