Today's Passage - Ephesians 2:1-3

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Ephesians 2:1-3   "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."   Paul described non-believers as those are "dead in your transgressions and sins."  A "dead" person doesn't have any power; they have no freedom because they live in the bondage of transgressions and sins.  Paul has mentioned several bondages here:   First, nonbelievers follow the ways of the world.  To the Chinese people, the most obvious ways are feng-shui and fortune-telling.  These two things have deep impact to the life of Chinese people and make it difficult for them to depend on God.  Is feng-shui really effective?  There's no real evidence, but the Chinese people take on the attitude that they rather believe that it works than not.  I've met many people whose places were adjusted by feng-shui masters and I asked them whether everything's smooth sailing from then.  They said that things haven't gone that smoothly, but if they haven't done it maybe they'd be in even worse shape.  This is simply a bondage brought forth by fear.  May the Spirit of God help us, let us understand that we were dead in these customs and have no power, but now that we are in Christ we are alive and don't need to be bound anymore.   Second, nonbelievers submit to the ruler of the kingdom of the air.  Devil Satan is the ruler of the air, and there are regional evil spirits in all the nations and cities.  To the Chinese, authority of darkness is the culture of Buddhism and Taoism, and that's why many people worship all kinds of gods and evil spirits.  Most of them don't even know what they a worshipping, but because they are dead under such culture they don't think it's so bad to worship those false gods.  Thanks to God, although we were also dead under such culture, in Christ we have come back to life and can no longer be bound.   Third, nonbelievers are in the bondage of following their sinful nature and desires.  Following their own desires doesn't necessarily mean doing bad things, but it's the self-centered attitude of doing whatever we like.  This often leads us to take on the way of the world but depart from the way of God.   Are you still living under these bondages?  Jesus can bring you out these authorities of darkness!  Let us once again receive all the grace that the Lord has given to us.                                                                                    Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you because in Christ we have received freedom.  If we were dead in transgressions and sins before, please bring us back to life now.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!