In the second week of June, the Southern Baptist Convention meets every Tuesday and Wednesday in Dallas. Between 14,000 and 20,000 members and pastors will attend a large business meeting. I encourage you to be praying for the lofty decisions that need to be made.
Ephesians1 is Paul’s letter. He wrote a large portion of the New Testament. He was writing from prison, later in his life, most likely in Rome, somewhere between 60 and 65 AD. Ephesians 1:7 “In Whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace”.
In January 1983 I was 9 ½ years old. Superbowl 17 was the Dolphins versus the Redskins (the Redskins won) but the important event for me, in DC a pilot television show would air that would shape my childhood. Four military fugitives who chose to do good while being pursued for the things they had done – The A Team. These four men who somehow defeated the bad guys. Hannibal Smith “I love it when a plan comes together”. Just as we were let in on the A Team’s plan- in Ephesians 1 we get to be let in on God’s plan. Paul is revealing God’s will. We sometimes struggle with that phrase because we make God’s will about us – it does affect us but it is ultimately about his Glory, his purpose. God can exalt himself and love us at the same time. God’s purpose is carried out by his son. God’s plan is not temporary, this is a plan for the fullness of time.
Picture a vase full of rocks. Is it full? You can fill in the gaps with smaller pebbles. Then fill in remaining gaps with sand. Is it full now? You can also add water. This is the type of fullness of God’s plan. Everything flows together with God. We will be reunited in him. All things will be subject to Christ. Some willingly – some unwillingly.
Martin Lloyd Jones was a Welch pastor and a doctor said “The perfect harmony that will be restored will be harmony in man and between man. Harmony on earth and in creation! Harmony in heaven, all under the blessed Lord Jesus Christ who will be the head of all! Everything will again be united in him. And wonder of wonders, marvelous beyond compare, when all this happens it will never be undone again. All will be re-united in him to all eternity. This is the message that is God’s plan. That is the mystery which has been revealed to us”. You will never hear anything greater – his plan will come to fruition. Do you wish you knew that plan?
In verse 7-8, Jesus redeemed us. Paul is not praying, hoping, wishing for redemption, his Is stating a fact. The moment you believe, you have redemption.
Three concepts in the Greek language:
1. The market place – means to buy, to release from slavery, the price he paid for our sin
2. To buy out of the slave market – a slave would never be purchased again, redemption is permanent.
3. To loose, to set free by the payment of a price, not only bought, not only never to be returned but to never be bought in the slavery of sin again- redemption, to be liberated by payment of a ransom, to be free after the purchase.
Who have we been redeemed to? How was he able to redeem us? Blood must be spilt in order for forgiveness to happen.
A musical, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. Since it was written, it has been popular. One particular scene really captures Ephesians. A man (John) stole food and was caught and imprisoned. He tried to escape but was in prison 20 years. Upon his release, he was traveling home, looking for a place to stay. A priest feeds him, treats him well, even gives him his bed. He steals the priest’s silverware and flees. The police capture him and bring him back to the priest. John claimed he had the priest’s permission to take the silverware. The priest agrees this is so and dismisses the police. John is dumbfounded and asks the priest why he would do such a thing. The priest replies “Today, I have bought you from evil and you are now good”. John tries to live the rest of his life as a redeemed man.
If we are believers, do we accept readily and do we live out that plan every day?
June 1 2025 – Do you know what I have done for you? 0- John 13:12- Brother Steve Jackson
Hebrew is learned by asking questions. Jesus asked between 200 and 500 questions. We will have a summer session on about 10 of those.
Because we are observing the Lord’s Supper, we start with the question that Jesus asked at the first Lord’s Supper. Jesus washed the disciple’s feet and dried them. Peter asked “are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied “you will understand later. One who has bathed does not need to wash anything but your feet”. Jesus knew they were not all clean because he knew that he would be betrayed. It is interesting that John handles the telling of the last supper differently than Matthew does. After washing their feet, Jesus reclined again.
Ben Franklin said “Tell me and I may forget; Show me and I will remember”. A picture is worth a thousand words. Jesus turned this into a teaching moment, an explanation, an application and a second application. Do you know there is more to this than meets the eye? This was not an act to be taught but rather an attitude to be taught. You are going to serve. You will meet the needs of others. John 13:15 says “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you”. A servant is not less than his master but service was non-negotiable.
Every disciple at the Last Supper except two (Judas and John)- Judas would hang himself and John would die of old age – all the others died a martyr. It was worth it all. What does this mean to us? When have we had a foot washing? I can bring water, soap and a towel. Southern Baptists observe two rituals, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Both have to do with the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.
I lift this question to you – Do you know what I have done for you? Past, present and future. He became poor so that we may be rich. He was raised so that we might be saved.
Peter said you will never wash my feet and Jesus said “If I do no wash your feet, ye are not with me.” Peter said “Wash all of me”. There is a big difference between washing the feet and bathing the soul.
1st John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light , as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”. He talks about sins (with an s) but he cleanses us from all sin (the total sin problem).
During this Lord’s Supper, thank God for Salvation.
5/25/25: Preaching Through Amazing Grace Stanza 4: The Glory of THERE
Revelation 21:1-4: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things have passed away.”
When we plan a trip, we want to know something about where we’re going: where to stay, sites/attractions, weather, good places to eat: sports teams/flower gardens, etc. We try to find all of that for a place we might stay 10 days. What about 10k years? Heaven is the place all believers are going to end up: and we’ll be there.... FOREVER! So, there is a need to know and learn about Heaven, our future home!
While our information about Heaven is limited (the Bible does not give us an exhaustive description about Heaven), we may not know all we WANT to know, but rest assured, The Scripture tells us all we NEED to know about Heaven.... and what it tells is AMAZING.
So, for the next few moments, let’s hear SEVEN BIBLICAL FACTS ABOUT OUR FUTURE HOME: 7 BIBLICAL FACTS ABOUT HEAVEN
REAL: Heaven is a REAL place, not a hallucination or wish-only of the mind: it is a real point on God’s map.
2 Corinthians 12:2-4 tells us of three heavens: right above earth where birds fly; the stars (the night sky beyond earth’s atmosphere), and PARADISE (the word means beautiful garden): the abode of God, the place where Jesus said to the thief on the cross: I am going to prepare a place; again a real point on Gods map. Two levels you see by daylight or in the night sky. The third you see by faith, each just as real.
REACHABLE: Christians go to Heaven immediately upon death. Your spirit goes immediately. Stephen said receive my spirit: Jesus said, into thy hands, I commit my spirit. Your last breath here is your first breath there: Philippians 1:21-23 “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.” When He returns, he brings us with Him and our bodies are remade, and rise and unite with our Spirits in the air, and so shall we ever be together with the Lord (THESSALONIANS): REACHABLE for every true believer!
RELATIONAL: we will know our loved ones in Heaven. 1 Corinthians 13:12: “For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” We will really see and really know each other: most important thing being: you did what you needed to do to be here. When David feared for losing his baby, he fasted, prayed and wept, but when the baby died, he stopped: he put on regular clothes and returned to life: WHY? He said because I hoped he would be given back to me: he was not: he cannot return to me, BUT I CAN GO TO HIM. On the Mount of Transfiguration Peter saw Moses and Elijah: they were real, as real to Peter as Jesus was. RELATIONAL: TOGETHER....WITH HIM
REACTIVE: there is joyful activity in Heaven. One of myths of Heaven is that It’s boring: sitting on a cloud all day, half asleep, strumming a harp, Heaven is joyful, with blessed activity: Revelation 7:15-17. Time will be spent by SERVING HIM: teachers will teach, preachers will preach, singers will lead songs, cooks will cook, encouragers will encourage, helpers will help: There will be so many ways to serve Him there.
REFINEMENT: Heaven is an absolute perfect place: refinement to the nth degree
Heaven is all the loving heart of God could desire
Heaven is all the incredible mind of God could conceive
Heaven is all the awesome power of God could create
HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE A PLACE GOD BUILT? IT MUS BE DESCRIBED BY WHAT IS NOT THERE: How do you describe an Amazon rain forest to an Eskimo who has never left the Artic circle?
REGENT: King Jesus is the crowning glory of Heaven. When I return from a long trip and come home: do I hug the front door?, embrace the big chair? No: I hug my wife, Because Peggy is my definition of HOME: home is where she is. HEAVEN is where Jesus is: It is the fulfillment of a request Jesus made to His father in His high priestly prayer in John 17: John 17:24: be with me *IT WILL BE HOME: WITH HIM
RESERVED: Only the redeemed go to Heaven. To be born again means born from above, and to be heaven born is to be heaven bound. Revelation 7:14 talks about not just white robes but white washed robes, because God accepted the death of Christ for our sins.
Revelation 21:27 tells us about the Lamb’s book of life. My name is in that book since April of 1962 because I did what He said I need to do.
HEAVEN: REAL, REACHABLE, RELATIONAL, REACTIVE, REFINED, REGENT, RESERVED
Heaven is a wonderful place, it’s filled with glory and grace, and place.... I want to go... THERE. I want to see my Savior’s face, because Heaven is a wonderful place.
Yes, when we’ve been THERE 10 thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun
Adrian Rogers tells of a time when a pastor search committee came to him seeking help finding their next minister. They hoped Pastor Rogers might give them a name/recommendation, and he did not disappoint. He said “I know just the man you need: he is a marvelous preacher (he had their attention); he is also an accomplished theologian, prolific writer, and possesses a fervent evangelical spirit. He has gone on several highly successful mission trips (they all had their pens/papers out, waiting for the contact information). BUT THEN Bro. Adrian said: now I must tell you he is getting on in age and has some health problems (a couple of the pens/papers went back in their pockets); and... he’s been in jail several times (nothing moral, but he did participate in and even incite some demonstrations/riots); they shook their heads: I don’t think we could consider him for Pastor of our church. NO, YOU COULDN’T: said Bro. Adrian, he is already in Heaven: his name is the Apostle Paul. Now, it’s true that several pulpit committees would not want to take a chance on Paul (not the safe candidate) but God saw the potential there when no one else did. The same was true with John Newton: God’s grace turned the old cursing blasphemer into a minister of the Gospel: turned the captain of a slave ship into a proponent for the abolition of slavery in his native England (he lived to see it abolished months before died).
We come to Stanza 3 of this great hymn:
THROUGH MANY DANGERS TOILS AND STRIFE, I HAVE ALREADY COME
THIS GRACE HATH BROUGHT ME SAFE THUS FAR, AND GRACE WILL
LEAD ME HOME
I see in this stanza the listing of the TIMES OF OUR LIVES: the past, present, and future: look at the 3rd stanza again...... the ALL THE TIMES OF OUR LIVES ARE FILLED WITH GRACE (that is the constant).
So, for next few moments, I want us to look at the TIMES of Paul and before we leave, we will consider our times as well...... and see that “to have the time of our life, we must let His Grace fill the TIMES of our lives”
PAST: the Grace of the Providence of God, the protective care of God (through many dangers...)
John Newton was protected from the physical storm, from the hatred of captain/crew
Paul: God had protected physically: 2 Cor. 11:23-27
God had protected him mentally: 2 Cor. 11:28
His testimony: Galatians 1:13-16a: I see His grace in my past.
Do you see the PROVIDENCE OF GOD?
Rembrandt worked on “Return of the Prodigal” for years, many sketches and drawings: he finally finished 2 years before his death: he painted himself as prodigal falling at the feet of a loving Father.
THANK YOU GOD FOR YOUR PAST PROVIDENCE
PRESENT: the Grace of the Presence of God (tis grace hath brought...)
Acts 23: Paul before the mighty Sanhedrin :he used to be one of them, now considered a traitor; the same group that caused Jesus to be crucified and Stephen to be stoned: an angry mob: Paul pulled away
from them and was taken away for the evening: what would tomorrow bring?
THAT NIGHT: ACTS 23:11: In the presence of the Lord: you do not have to be afraid:
he puts arm around him and says “you have been faithful to me: I WILL BE FAITHFUL TO YOU: I’m standing by you now and in the future: I still have plans for you: this will not be the end: you will testify for me in Rome.
HE ENCOURAGES: ENCOURAGING PRESENCE
HE KNOWS MY NAME: PERSONAL PRESENCE
HE HAS A PLAN FOR MY LIFE: PURPOSEFUL PRESENCE
Do you feel the PRESENCE OF GOD?
Even on his deathbed, John Newton’s final words were “And best of all, God is with us
Christ be beside me, Christ be before me, Christ be behind me,
King of my heart, Christ be within me, Christ be below me, Christ be above me,
Never to part. (NEVER ALONE)
THANK YOU GOD FOR YOUR PRESENT PRESENCE
FUTURE: the Grace of the Promises of God (& grace will lead me home)
2 Timothy 4:16-18 (18)
The future is as bright as the promises of God: William Carey worked 7 yearsbefore seeing his first convert: who suffered through fire that destroyed 14 different language printing blocks for New Testament translation, who suffered the loss of his wife and the sabotage of fellow church folk who didn’t think you need missionaries: he clung to promises “clinging to the promises”
Psalm 56:3, 55:22, 23:4A, 46:1, 84:11 promises sun/shield; grace/glory; no good thing
will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Corrie Ten Boom said “never fear to trust a future you do not know to a God you
do know!”
Do you claim the promises of God? Then endorse the check! by faith: His account
is never overdrawn.
THANK YOU GOD FOR
YOUR FUTURE PROMISES
The times of our lives: Past, Present and Future - to have the time of your life, give to
Him the TIMES of your life
LOOK AT YOUR PAST AND SEE HIS PROVIDENCE: HE’S BEEN THERE
LOOK AT YOUR PRESENT AND SENSE HIS PRESENCE: HE IS THERE
LOOK AT YOUR FUTURE AND CLAIM HIS PROMISES: HE WILL BE THERE
All the way..... home