Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP230028S
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00:01 As we seek to do every Quarter
00:02 here on the 3ABN Sabbath School Panel, 00:04 for sure, this Quarter is 00:05 we're making our way through the book of Ephesians, 00:07 we are indeed exalting Jesus Christ. 00:10 In fact, that's what Lesson Number 3 this week 00:13 is entitled: The Power of the Exalted Jesus. 00:16 So, you probably don't have a Lesson, 00:17 if you don't have a copy of the Lesson, 00:19 you can get a copy, 00:20 there are a couple of ways we encourage you to do so, 00:22 go find your local Seventh-day Adventist Church. 00:25 We always want you to study together with friends and family, 00:28 they'll get a copy to you for free 00:29 or you can go to 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 00:33 again that's: 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 00:37 and you can access a copy for free online. 00:40 So, don't go anywhere, 00:41 you're not going to want to miss this exciting study. 00:43 We'll see you in just a moment. 00:45 Music... 01:16 Ryan: Hello Friends... 01:17 you are watching 3ABN Sabbath School Panel 01:19 and we are so excited each and every week 01:21 that our Viewers all around the world 01:24 continue to stay with us. 01:25 We do this for you 01:26 and... and not just for you, 01:28 we do it for us too 01:29 because we love to study God's Word 01:30 but this week, we are making our way obviously through 01:33 our study of the book of Ephesians 01:35 and we're on week number 3... Lesson Number 3: 01:37 entitled: The Power of the Exalted Jesus 01:40 and just two lessons into this, 01:43 I'm being tremendously blessed so far, 01:45 it's just saturated with the message of the gospel 01:48 and the love of Jesus Christ 01:49 and we're going to continue on that theme. 01:50 Before we go any further though, 01:52 I would like to introduce our Panel Members, 01:54 to my direct left is Ms. Shelley Quinn. 01:56 Shelley: And it's a blessing to be here, 01:58 my Lesson is: Experiencing Insight from the Holy Spirit. 02:03 Ryan: Amen, of course, to your left is 02:05 Pastor John Lomacang. 02:06 Lomacang: Mine is... 02:08 Participating in Resurrection Power. 02:10 What a beautiful topic! 02:11 Ryan: Amen... absolutely. Lomacang: Looking forward to it. 02:12 Ryan: Sure, and, of course, to your left 02:14 is Doctor... 02:16 I call you Doctor because you are like a surgeon 02:18 when it comes to the Word of God... 02:20 very precise... and always enjoy 02:22 the encouraging word that you bring to us, Daniel Perrin. 02:25 Perrin: Thank you Ryan, I have... Christ Above All Powers. 02:28 Ryan: Amen, praise the Lord 02:30 and last but not least, Pastor James Rafferty, 02:34 always a blessing to have you join us. 02:35 Rafferty: Always good to be here 02:37 I have: Power of the Exalted Jesus... 02:38 which is Thursday's Lesson. 02:39 No, no, excuse me, 02:41 Jesus, All Things, and His Church 02:42 which is Thursday's Lesson. 02:43 Ryan: Got you, okay, praise the Lord for that. 02:45 As well always, we thank you so much 02:46 for joining us here on the 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 02:48 We've got lots to cover 02:49 but before we get into 02:51 this most important subject of exalting Jesus, 02:54 I'm going to ask Ms. Shelley Quinn 02:55 if you don't mind to have an opening prayer for us. 02:57 Shelley: I would love to. 02:59 "Our loving heavenly Father, 03:01 we come in the name of Jesus 03:02 to praise You... to thank You... 03:04 to say we love You, 03:06 how we thank You for the gift of Jesus Christ 03:09 the gift of Your Holy Spirit and the gift of Your Word. 03:13 Lord, there is rich... 03:15 there's a richness in Ephesians 03:19 that we ask You would help us to translate now. 03:22 Send Your Holy Spirit to be our Teacher. 03:25 We give You all the glory, 03:27 in Jesus' name, amen. " 03:28 Panel: Amen... amen. 03:30 Ryan: Praise God. 03:31 Our Memory Text comes from Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 19, 03:35 verses 19 and 20, 03:36 and I'll actually read those right now, 03:39 it says here, "Through the Holy Spirit 03:41 believers may know 03:43 what is the exceeding greatness of His power 03:45 toward us who believe, 03:47 according to the working of His mighty power 03:50 which worked in Christ 03:52 which He worked in Christ, 03:54 when He raised Him from the dead 03:56 and seated Him at the right hand in heavenly places. " 04:00 Just a beautiful message indeed and the Lesson brings out 04:04 an interesting story 04:05 some interesting statistics that I did not know about 04:07 and it says here, "Human beings, it seems, 04:10 are always reaching for more power. " 04:12 Isn't that the truth? 04:14 Panel: Hmmm... 04:15 Ryan: Auto manufacturer... 04:16 Auto manufacturer Devel Motors, for example, 04:19 showed off the prototype of his Devel Sixteen, 04:23 a vehicle with a 16-cylinder, 12.3-liter engine 04:28 producing more than 5,000 horsepower. " 04:31 Have mercy! Panel: Hmmm... 04:32 Ryan: Or... it says "if that is not enough, 04:35 consider the Peterbilt semi-truck 04:37 that sports three Pratt and Whitney J34-48 jet engines. 04:43 Boasting 36,000 horsepower, 04:46 the truck does a quarter-mile in 6.5 seconds 04:51 and regularly hits 376 mph 04:55 before deploying its two parachutes. " 04:57 That's a lot of power. 04:59 Panel: Hmmm... Wow! 05:00 Ryan: "In contrast though, 05:02 Paul prays that believers in Ephesus, 05:03 under temptation to admire the various powers 05:07 and deities of their culture, 05:09 will experience through the Holy Spirit 05:12 the immensity of the power of God 05:14 makes available to them in Christ. 05:17 This divine might is not measured in horsepower, 05:20 or magic, 05:21 but is seen in four cosmos-shifting, 05:24 salvation-history events... " 05:25 and it lists those four events. 05:27 The first one: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 05:30 Number 2: His exaltation at the throne of God. 05:34 Number 3: All things being placed in subservience to Christ 05:38 and Number 4: Christ being given to the church as its Head 05:42 and of course, we read about this in Ephesians chapter 1 05:45 verses 19 to verse 23, 05:48 and, of course, it says, 05:49 "In considering these four events, 05:51 believers may begin to grasp and experience 05:52 the vast scope of the power God exercises on their behalf. " 05:57 And, of course, that sets us up for Sunday's Lesson 05:59 which is entitled: Praying and Thanksgiving. 06:02 Now, this is powerful because when you study 06:05 through the book of Ephesians 06:06 and of course, this is in... you could see this 06:08 in... in much of Paul's writings in other books 06:11 but especially in Ephesians you can see that 06:13 Paul is very much often motivated to pray 06:16 for the church 06:17 as we should be motivated to pray for each other often 06:19 but not just any kind of prayer, 06:21 always just seeking to ask for things, 06:23 but praying in thanksgiving... 06:25 praying and thanking God for His power 06:27 and what He is doing through His church. 06:29 In fact, it gives us a couple of examples right here 06:32 in the book of Ephesians chapter 1 verses 15 to 23, 06:35 which we're going to read, by the way, 06:36 and then also, Ephesians chapter 3 verses 14 to 21, 06:40 probably won't read both of these 06:42 but I do want to go to Ephesians chapter 1 06:44 and read... actually let's go to Ephesians chapter 3, 06:47 let's go to Ephesians chapter 3 06:49 and let's read verses 14 to 21, 06:51 Ephesians 3 verses 14 to 21 06:54 and notice what the Bible says here, 06:56 it says, "For this reason... " this is Paul praying, 06:58 he says, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father 07:01 of our Lord Jesus Christ... 07:03 of our Lord Jesus Christ, 07:04 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 07:07 that He would grant you, 07:09 according to the riches of His glory, 07:11 to be strengthened with might through His Spirit 07:14 in the inner man, 07:15 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; 07:19 that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 07:22 may be able to comprehend with all the saints 07:25 what is the width and length and depth and height... 07:28 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; 07:32 that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 07:35 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly 07:39 above all that we can ask or think, 07:41 according to the power that works in us, 07:44 to Him be glory in the church 07:47 by Christ Jesus to all generations, 07:49 forever and ever. Amen. " 07:52 This is... this is a perfect example of... 07:54 of course, you can read another one of these in Ephesians 1 07:56 as I referenced earlier, verses 15 to 23, 07:58 Paul praying earnestly for the people 08:01 but not just prayers of, 08:02 "Lord, do this for them and this for them 08:04 and this for them and this for them... " 08:05 as those are important as God does... 08:07 hears... the Bible says, 08:08 our petitions that are brought before Him 08:10 on behalf of each other 08:11 if we ask that which is of the will of God, 08:14 the Bible says in 1st John chapter 5 that He hears us 08:16 and He... He will answer 08:18 but in... in most cases, you know, 08:20 we need to be taught and we need to learn how to pray 08:23 and give thanks to God in prayer 08:25 and offer prayers of thanksgiving 08:27 for what He is doing in our lives... 08:29 what He's doing in the church 08:31 and that's what Paul is exemplifying here 08:33 on more than one occasion here in the book of Ephesians 08:36 as He's recognizing that "God, You're doing a mighty work 08:38 in... in Your people's lives... " 08:40 and he's encouraging the church, 08:41 He's saying, "Look what God is doing in you, 08:43 look how God is transforming the church 08:45 and He's uplifting you 08:47 and He's brought you into the knowledge of His love 08:49 and... and... and in faith 08:51 and in His mercy. 08:52 In fact, it's interesting that when you go on to... 08:54 I want to read three verses here 08:56 that you see that Paul does this in multiple other books as well. 09:00 In Ephesians... excuse me, Philippians chapter 1... 09:02 Philippians chapter 1 verses 3 and 4, 09:05 He says, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 09:08 always in every prayer of mine 09:10 making request for you all with joy. " 09:13 Did you catch that? 09:15 When you uplift a prayer for your brothers and sisters, 09:17 when you say a prayer for your pastors, 09:18 when you say a prayer for the church, 09:20 for your family members... whoever it is, 09:22 do you... in all of your prayers 09:24 pray in making requests for them with joy to the Lord 09:28 because you're thankful, you're excited, 09:30 you're happy at what God is doing in your life. 09:32 I've heard people say oftentimes, 09:33 "Well, nothing good has happened in my life. " 09:35 You know, sometimes, yes, we go through trials, 09:39 we go through tribulations 09:40 and we know that there's those tough things that bring us down, 09:42 but, you know, God is there 09:44 and God is with you 09:45 and I know, if you just focus in and think about it, 09:46 you can see many blessings that God has blessed you with 09:49 and there's always an opportunity 09:51 to lift up a prayer of thanksgiving to God. 09:54 1st Thessalonians chapter 1 and verse 2, 09:56 Paul again says, "We give thanks to God always for you all, 10:00 making mention of you in our prayers. " 10:03 So, praising God and giving thanks to Him 10:05 for the church and what He's doing in the church. 10:08 Also, 1st Thessalonians chapter 5 verses 16 to 18, 10:11 I love this text, we've read it many times, 10:13 the beautiful counsel that comes from Paul here, 10:16 he says, "Rejoice always... " 10:17 do we do enough rejoicing? 10:18 Panel: Hmmm... 10:20 Ryan: Do we do enough rejoicing in our prayers, my Friends? 10:22 Do we stop, you know, I... I... I... have made it a... 10:24 I've made it a... again, uplifting myself here 10:27 because I certainly can learn how to pray more 10:29 and pray better, 10:30 but I have made it a habit that when I... 10:32 when I... when I address the Lord 10:33 and I go to the Lord in prayer, 10:35 I'm not quick to say, you know, "Lord, 10:37 you know, I have this problem 10:38 and this problem, 10:40 I need You here and I need this fixed 10:41 and I need this... " 10:43 I always go to the Lord and... and try to humble myself 10:44 and say, "God, You're so good, 10:45 You... You are so wonderful... " 10:47 and I praise Him and spend a few moments 10:49 just uplifting Him in a joyful exalting way 10:52 because He is worthy and He hears us 10:54 and He is our God of salvation 10:56 and He is worthy to receive that 10:57 so, I love how Paul says in verse 16, 10:59 one of the shortest verses in the Bible, 11:01 1st Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 16, two words, 11:04 "Rejoice always... " 11:06 Panel: Hmmm... 11:07 Ryan: I love that... rejoice always. 11:09 and then, of course, verse 17 and onward, 11:10 "Pray without ceasing, 11:11 in everything give thanks; 11:13 for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. " 11:16 And, of course, the lesson brings out 11:18 that this isn't talking about, you know, 11:20 when it says, "Pray without ceasing... " 11:21 many people take that so literally, 11:23 they think that, you know, you have to remain on your knees 11:25 constantly... all the time in prayer, 11:27 but rather, this is... this is talking about 11:29 that, you know, "we move through life 11:31 with hearts open to the presence and the power of God, 11:33 seeking cues for thanksgiving to Him. 11:35 It means a readiness to process the issues of life 11:38 in the presence of God, 11:40 to seek divine counsel 11:41 as we experience the twists and turns that life brings. " 11:44 Being... being always in constant connection with the Lord 11:47 and always in constant communion with Him, 11:49 whether it's in small prayers throughout the day 11:51 or simply being in a worshipful attitude towards Him, 11:55 you are praying... you are exalting... 11:57 you are living for Christ without ceasing 11:59 and that's the purpose of that message there. 12:02 You know, I did an anointing recently 12:03 it was my very first-ever anointing, 12:05 I was visiting a church that didn't have a pastor, 12:07 they didn't even have a Head Elder 12:09 and... and they called me and they said, 12:10 "Could you... we have a lady that has cancer, 12:12 could you... could you carry out an anointing?" 12:14 Well, I didn't feel comfortable at first, 12:15 I thought, "I'm not a Pastor, 12:17 I'm... I'm not a Head Elder... 12:18 I am an Elder but I... I just... 12:20 if there's a Head Elder there or someone that could do that, 12:21 I'd feel much better. " 12:23 They said, "We don't have any of that 12:24 and we're hoping that you could step up and lead out 12:25 because we've never done this. " 12:27 Well, I've been a part of these anointing's 12:28 but I remember this lady who had cancer, 12:30 we were praying for her, 12:31 we went through the whole outline... 12:32 we went through this beautiful moment 12:34 but as we were praying, you know, I was just... 12:35 again was encouraged to perform... 12:37 I went right into this prayer 12:38 and.. you know, "Lord, this lady is struggling with this and... " 12:40 God already knows... He already knows this 12:42 but yet, we started with a prayer of thanksgiving, 12:45 "Lord, thank You for this Sister's life, 12:47 thank You for what You have done in her life. 12:49 Thank you, Lord for what You are going to do in her life. " 12:52 And we just took a moment in the beginning to exalt Him 12:55 because He is worthy. 12:56 We're talking about prayer... of praise and thanksgiving. 12:59 The title of this lesson again: 13:01 Praying... and this Sunday's Lesson, 13:02 Praying and Thanksgiving. 13:04 Those two things go together well... and they should 13:06 and as I was, of course, studying for this lesson, 13:09 and... and looking into all of its multiple aspects 13:11 that we don't have time enough to go through, 13:13 of course, the great song popped in my head, 13:15 I always think of: Great is Thy Faithfulness. 13:17 It's just one of my favorite hymns... 13:19 message of it so just so powerful. 13:20 "Great is Thy faithfulness 13:23 Great is Thy faithfulness... " 13:25 if you don't know how to pray, sing it, 13:28 "Morning by morning new mercies I see... 13:33 All I have needed Thy hand hath provided... 13:37 Great is Thy faithfulness dear Lord unto me... " 13:42 Sing it... pray it... live it 13:45 because He is worthy. 13:46 Jesus will be exalted if not by you... by the rocks. 13:50 So, you are a living being 13:52 and He is worthy to be praised and exalted 13:54 so, next time you offer up a prayer, 13:56 start it with, "Lord, You are worthy... 13:57 thank You, Lord... " 13:59 with joy and exaltation, lift up your King today. 14:02 Go ahead, Shelley. Panel: Amen. 14:03 Shelley: Amen, thank you Ryan for that rousing beginning, 14:07 my name is Shelley Quinn, I have Monday's Lesson: 14:11 Experiencing Insight From the Holy Spirit. 14:16 We're going to focus 14:18 on Ephesians 1:16-19 14:20 I want to back up first though because 14:23 in Ephesians 1:13, 14:25 Paul has already said that the Holy Spirit 14:29 is given at the time of conversion. 14:32 Let's read that, "In Him you also trusted... " 14:35 Ephesians 1:13, 14:36 "after you heard the word of truth, 14:38 the gospel of your salvation; 14:41 in whom also having believed, 14:44 you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. " 14:47 So, now what Paul is saying, 14:50 "You have the Holy Spirit... " 14:52 He wants the Holy Spirit 14:55 to give us divine insight 14:59 and to give us a deeper understanding 15:03 of who the person of Jesus Christ is, 15:06 His inheritance in the saints, 15:09 and understanding the power that's available to all of us, 15:13 along with the wisdom 15:16 to apply God's instructions 15:19 in our lives, 15:21 so that we can enjoy what He's given to us. 15:23 Panel: That's right. 15:25 Shelley: So, we're going to take this apart, 15:26 hopefully, we'll have time to go back and put it all together, 15:29 but I'm just going to take it apart verse by verse. 15:32 Ephesians 1:16, 15:35 this is Paul praying. 15:36 And by the way, 15:37 if you don't know how to pray for your family 15:40 that may not be saved, 15:41 pray Ephesians 1:16 through 19. 15:45 Paul begins in Ephesians 1:16, 15:48 "I do not cease to give thanks for you, 15:52 making mention of you in my prayers... " 15:55 Ryan: Hmmm... 15:56 You know it's interesting 15:57 Paul suffered so many problems, trials and tribulations. 16:02 We don't always think of him as a joyous Christian 16:06 but he was a very joyous Christian 16:09 and his constant habit was to pray for the saints... 16:14 to pray for their spiritual development. 16:17 So, when you were talking about 16:20 praying without ceasing, 16:21 I consider that... practicing the presence of God. 16:25 I pray and say, 16:27 "Lord, give me a divine awareness of Your presence. " 16:30 And then, throughout the day, 16:31 what you find yourself doing... 16:33 it doesn't have to be on your knees, 16:35 I'm sure Paul just said, 16:36 "Lord, what am I supposed to do here?" 16:38 He was talking with the Lord all the time 16:40 because he was very aware of His presence. 16:43 So, verse 17, 16:45 "For I always pray to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, 16:49 the Father of glory... " 16:51 I have to say this that God is the Father 16:56 of His covenant Son... of Jesus Christ 17:00 does not indicate 17:03 that Jesus is subordinate in power or position. 17:09 Panel: Right. 17:10 Shelley: It is a covenant term... God the Father. 17:14 Jesus was equal to the Father, 17:17 He said in John 10:30, "I and the Father are one. " 17:21 And He prayed before His crucifixion. 17:26 He prayed, "Now, Lord, glorify Me. " John 17:5. 17:30 So, continuing in Ephesians 1:17, 17:33 He's praying that God would grant you 17:36 a spirit of wisdom and revelation... " 17:39 insight into the mysteries of the gospel, 17:43 "in the deep and intimate knowledge of Him. " 17:46 A spirit of wisdom here could mean 17:49 an illuminated human mind or it could be the Holy Spirit. 17:53 But wisdom is a heart that applies knowledge 17:58 because that's important. 18:01 When spiritual truths are revealed to us, 18:04 we have instructions from the Word... 18:06 that's knowledge. 18:08 Wisdom is in applying them. 18:11 The spirit of Revelation is the ability to understand 18:15 God's will to us through a revelation of Himself. 18:20 You know what? 18:21 the Bible says... we love Him because He first loved us. 18:24 When we really see the Lord revealed, 18:27 we are inspired and motivated to walk in obedience by love. 18:33 But God's words are spiritual words, 18:36 they are spiritually discerned. 18:38 We cannot understand the Word of God 18:42 without the Holy Spirit. 18:44 John 14:26... Jesus said that the Holy Spirit is our teacher. 18:49 He brings us into remembrance of all things... 18:52 so, what I want to encourage you at home, 18:55 I try to remember this every time I open the Bible, 18:58 is... I pray for the Holy Spirit to lead me 19:03 because you can start studying and think, "Ah ha... 19:06 I've got something here... " 19:08 and when... you may be misinterpreting it 19:10 unless the Holy Spirit is leading. 19:13 So, what He does is... He floods our heart 19:16 with a live God 19:18 and that is the... the representative of the truth. 19:22 So, you know, Peter tells us in 2nd Peter 3:8, 19:27 we are to have an experience 19:31 of progressive revelation. 19:34 We are to grow in grace 19:38 and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 19:41 and Jesus said in John 17:3, 19:44 He's praying... 19:46 He said, "And this is eternal life, Father, 19:48 that they would know You, and the One whom You sent. " 19:52 This isn't mental ascension... 19:55 this isn't knowledge merely, 19:58 because even the demons believe and tremble, right? 20:02 So, what he is saying 20:04 is an experiential knowledge. 20:07 Knowledge that is... is developed 20:10 as we live in relationship with Him. 20:13 He continues in verse 18, 20:16 Ephesians 1:18, 20:17 so illuminate your mind... 20:20 increase your revelation... 20:22 by having the eyes of your heart 20:24 flooded with light. 20:27 The heart is the inner man. 20:29 God wants to speak to us through the study of His Word 20:35 and by the power of the Holy Spirit, 20:38 He illuminates these truths 20:41 so that He can call us out of darkness 20:46 and into His light. 20:47 When He says, "The eyes of your understanding... " 20:52 pause... 20:54 we... we get insight 20:57 into God's plan of love. 21:00 I guarantee you 21:02 if you ever really understand God's everlasting covenant, 21:06 if you understand all that God has done to save us, 21:11 He paid the penalty for our sin 21:13 but He's also saving us from the power of sin 21:17 through the sanctification process 21:20 and He's got this wonderful future glory for us 21:24 that's so amazing. 21:26 It will change 21:29 how you react to Him... 21:31 how you respond to Him... 21:33 how you live your lives. 21:35 So, it goes on and he's saying that your eyes would be... 21:40 of your heart would be flooded with light... 21:43 he continues in Ephesians 1:18, 21:45 "so that you can know and understand 21:49 the hope to which He has called you 21:52 and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints. " 21:58 Understand the hope of His calling. 22:02 Did you know when man sinned, 22:06 when humanity sinned... 22:08 pause... 22:09 righteousness... we lost our spiritual innocence. 22:13 Once you've lost that spiritual innocence, 22:16 there's nothing that you can do... 22:18 nothing that you can do to restore it on your own. 22:22 God's plan of salvation has always been 22:26 righteousness by faith 22:27 and what He does 22:30 is... the Holy Spirit helps us to understand our life in Christ, 22:36 our life through Christ, 22:39 our life for Christ 22:41 and our life with Christ. 22:44 To understand that by His power working in us 22:49 to will and to do His good pleasure, 22:52 God intends... this is Philippians 1:6 says, 22:56 "to complete the good work that He has begun in us. " 23:00 I think you touched on this last week, 23:02 when it talks about how rich is His glorious inheritance 23:07 in the saints, 23:09 we have an inheritance that we have obtained through Christ, 23:13 but we are also God's inheritance. 23:17 It makes me think of the ringing proclamation 23:20 of the everlasting gospel 23:21 throughout the Old and the New Testament. 23:24 God is saying, "I will be your God and you will be my people. " 23:29 I pray and I say, "Oh Father, I thank you that you are mine 23:34 and I am Yours. " 23:36 I pray that almost everyday because it helps me realize 23:40 not only do I have an inheritance in Him, 23:43 but I am His inheritance. 23:46 Deuteronomy 9:29 says, 23:48 "They are Your people and Your inheritance, 23:52 whom You brought out by Your mighty power 23:56 and by Your outstretched arm. " 23:58 And I'm out of time now. 23:59 Panel: Laughter. 24:01 Ryan: Amen... praise the Lord. 24:02 Well, my Friends, we are going to take a short break, 24:04 don't go anywhere, we'll be right back. 24:06 Music... 24:12 Ever wish you could watch a 3 ABN Sabbath School Panel again 24:15 or share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? 24:19 Well, you can by visiting 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 24:23 A clean design makes it easy 24:26 to find the Program you are looking for. 24:28 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide 24:32 so you can follow along. 24:33 Sharing is easy. 24:34 Just click "Share" and choose your favorite Social Media. 24:38 Share a Link... 24:39 Save a Life... for Eternity. 24:41 Ryan: Hello Friends, 24:42 welcome back to the 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 24:45 We're going to pass it over to Pastor John Lomacang 24:47 for Tuesday's Lesson. 24:48 Lomacang: And mine is entitled: Participating in Resurrection Power 24:53 and this is an amazing topic as all of Ephesians is 24:57 so I'm going to begin with a verse... verses 20 to 23 25:00 in Ephesians chapter 1 25:02 and if I'm following carefully, some of us overlap 25:04 so, we'll just continue to squeeze this orange 25:07 till there's no more spiritual content left. 25:09 Well, let's go to Ephesians chapter 1 verse 20, 25:12 and we're talking about resurrection power. 25:15 You know, many people celebrate the resurrection 25:17 but how many people celebrate resurrection power? 25:20 So many people focus on, "Wow! resurrection weekend... 25:25 resurrection week... 25:26 resurrection day... " 25:28 there's something more powerful than the event itself 25:30 is the life that it identifies with. 25:32 It's the power that has been provided 25:35 because of the resurrection of Christ. 25:37 It doesn't get us excited about an event coming and passing, 25:40 but a life that continues to get better and better by the day. 25:44 That's what the focus is... not just the event. 25:46 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 25:48 Lomacang: Everybody gets excited about the event. 25:49 It's a selling point in stores and on television 25:52 and all over the world, 25:53 Easter... Easter... the resurrection of Christ... 25:55 but how many Christians 25:57 get excited about the resurrected life? 25:59 That's what Paul the Apostle talks about. 26:01 Look at verses 20 to 23, 26:04 he says, "which He worked in Christ 26:07 when He raised Him from the dead 26:10 which God worked in Christ 26:12 when God raised Jesus from the dead 26:15 and seated Him at His right hand 26:18 in the heavenly places, 26:20 far above all principality 26:22 and power and might and dominion, 26:25 and every name that is named, 26:27 not only in this age 26:29 but also in that which is come. 26:32 And He put all things under His feet, 26:35 and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 26:39 which is His body, 26:41 the fullness of Him 26:43 who fills all in all. " 26:46 You know, the promise that was fulfilled 26:48 that Jesus participated and received 26:52 as a result of His resurrection, 26:54 is also going to passed on... 26:56 going to be passed on to us... 26:57 "to those who overcome, 26:59 I will grant with you to sit with Me on My throne. " 27:01 Isn't that wonderful! 27:03 So, we receive that 27:04 but, you know, I want to bring out some of the imagery 27:05 that's... that's pointed out in these verses, 27:07 now, we know that right now we're not sitting in heavenly places, 27:10 but when you read the Apostle Paul's writing, 27:13 "Faith is the bridge between the promise and the fulfillment. " 27:16 But he's saying that we don't have to wait till the fulfillment 27:19 to know that by faith we are already there. 27:22 Look at Philippians 3 and verse 20, 27:24 the imagery sits us there by faith, 27:27 "For our citizenship is in heaven, 27:30 from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, 27:34 the Lord Jesus Christ. " 27:35 Now, why is that important to me? 27:36 My wife and I have traveled to more than 60 countries 27:38 but no matter where we go, our citizenship is still here. 27:41 Panel: That's right. 27:43 Lomacang: Our bodies may be there, 27:44 but our citizenship has not been removed. 27:45 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm. 27:47 Lomacang: And the beautiful thing about my wife... 27:48 and I use this... she was a citizen of... of England... 27:51 of United Kingdom 27:53 but then she made a decision 27:55 to have her citizenship moved to America. 27:58 So, she still says, "I'm an English girl... " 28:01 but she chose for her citizenship to be someplace else. 28:04 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 28:05 Lomacang: Here we are... we are earthly human beings. 28:09 corruptible, mortal, 28:11 but our citizenship by faith is in heavenly places. 28:15 That's going to be followed by the actuality. 28:18 Let's go to Matthew chapter 25 verse 34, 28:20 Matthew 25 verse 34, 28:23 "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 28:27 'Come, you blessed of My Father, 28:30 inherit the kingdom prepared for you 28:31 from the foundation of the world. '" 28:34 Notice... the promise one day 28:36 being replaced by the fulfillment. 28:37 Panel: Hmmm... 28:39 Lomacang: We have the promise that we're going to be there 28:40 in one of our lessons, 28:42 we were told that the Holy Spirit has been given to us as guarantee 28:46 that we will be one day sitting in heavenly places 28:49 and I don't know... it could just be me but I doubt it, 28:52 I can't wait till that day comes... 28:53 Shelley: Amen. 28:55 Lomacang: that we're done sitting down here, 28:56 and we begin sitting up there. 28:57 Let's go to Ephesians chapter 2 verse 6, 29:00 Now, the other factor is we are... we are there by faith 29:03 but Paul continues in Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 6, 29:07 and it says, "And raised us up together, 29:11 and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ. 29:15 So, he's not talking about being alone, 29:18 but he's talking about the unity of the believer. 29:21 We could sit together with Christ 29:23 in heavenly places. 29:24 So, the kingdom is not just mine, 29:26 the kingdom is ours. 29:27 Those of us who, by faith, trust in Christ, 29:30 by faith... walk in Christ, 29:32 by faith... embrace... and I like... 29:33 I like Ephesians 2 verses 8 and 9, 29:35 and not too many verses from this 29:37 that's the whole gift of salvation, 29:38 "For by grace are you saved through faith... " 29:40 that faith enables us to know 29:42 that it brings with us not only the package of 29:45 changing our lives, 29:46 but one day changing our location... 29:50 sitting in heavenly places. 29:52 Then we find also, Revelation 3:21, 29:54 I quoted this but here's where it comes from. 29:56 "To him who overcomes 29:58 I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, 30:01 as I also overcame 30:04 and sat down with My Father on His throne. " 30:07 That is the overcoming promise. 30:09 One day, because of citizenship, our citizenship being in heaven, 30:14 we being sons and daughters of God 30:16 one day, we'll get a chance to sit down 30:18 and... you guys don't see it but we all have cushions. 30:21 Panel: Laughter. 30:22 Lomacang: You know, we won't need a cushion... 30:24 we won't need a cushion in heaven, 30:25 God... the Lord Jesus is going to know exactly 30:29 how we like our seat 30:32 and I tell you, I don't care if I'm in the first row 30:35 or the fifteenth row, 30:36 I could be on the ceiling or on the floor, 30:38 I'm going to be glad that I'm in that kingdom. 30:40 Panel: Amen. 30:41 Lomacang: It's going to be a beautiful experience. 30:42 Also, the promise... I'm going to read this in the NIV version, 30:45 also... and you've heard this, 30:47 I can quote it in the King James... 30:48 and the New King James 30:49 but I want you to hear it a little differently, 30:51 John 14 verses 1 to 3, 30:52 the promise... because the message of Ephesians 30:55 talks about the fulfillment of that promise, 30:58 that promise is citizenship and then I have four takeaways, 31:01 "Do not let your heart be troubled. 31:03 Trust in God, 31:05 trust also in Me. 31:06 In my Father's house are many rooms... " 31:09 now, the reason I like that "rooms" is 31:10 because it's going back to the time 31:12 of the preparation of the bride. 31:13 There was also a room where the bride was being prepared 31:17 to wait there for her... for her husbandman. 31:20 It wasn't necessarily a mansion, 31:22 but it was more beautiful than anything she embraced before 31:25 and the Bible uses the word "dwelling place... " 31:27 this is really what the word is in the Greek. 31:30 A dwelling place... 31:31 that dwelling place will be with me and my Father 31:34 in His kingdom. 31:35 He says, "If it were not so, I would have told you, 31:38 I'm going to prepare a place for you, 31:39 and if I go and prepare a place for you, 31:41 I will come back and take you to be with me 31:44 that you may also be where I am. " 31:47 So, that's the promise. 31:48 As citizens of the kingdom, we are there in citizenship, 31:52 we are there by faith 31:54 but one day, we will be there in actuality. 31:57 Now, what is this all based on? 31:59 It's all based on the resurrected power, 32:01 it's all based on the fact that Christ rose 32:03 and because He rose, 32:05 we know that He now sits there, 32:07 when we rise, we will sit in the very same place. 32:12 But there was always a dispute about the resurrection, 32:15 whether or not, it was a reality. 32:17 And 1st Corinthians 15 verses 14 and 17, 32:20 focusses on the fact that it's not a fairy tale, 32:23 it's not a folk lore, it's a reality 32:25 and I love this, 32:26 he says in 1st Corinthians 15 verse 14, 32:28 "If Christ is not risen, 32:30 then your preaching is empty 32:32 and your faith is also empty. " 32:33 Some other translation says, 32:35 "futile or in vain... " 32:37 But verse 17 says, 32:38 "And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; 32:41 you are still in your sins!" 32:43 If your preaching does not include 32:45 the resurrecting power of Christ, 32:48 it's futile. 32:49 It's in vain. 32:51 That's why when Paul was... 32:53 failed so much with the Greeks and the combative philosophy, 32:56 he said, "Look, I don't want to know anything else, 32:59 but Christ and Him crucified. " 33:00 That's where the power is. 33:02 I've said to people, 33:03 and it... it's been... 33:05 I've been changing as I've gotten older, you know, 33:06 being in the ministry and pastoring for more than three decades, 33:10 it gets to the point where you say, "Okay, 33:11 what have I not preached about? 33:13 I've done the prophecy... 33:14 I've done Revelation... I've done Daniel... 33:16 I've done issues, you know, 33:17 we all going to... I've done the health... 33:19 and I've done the... you know, the clean diets 33:21 and the... all the different things... " 33:22 and as I get older, I realize, 33:24 "I could have all that but not have Christ 33:27 and I'll just be a lost Christian. " 33:29 Panel: Hmmm... that's right. 33:30 Lomacang: Highly informed lost person. 33:32 But when you get Christ first, 33:33 Christ and Him crucified. 33:35 It's a guarantee that will not disappoint. 33:38 The resurrection of Jesus is a guarantee 33:41 that the believer will be raised. 33:43 The resurrection of Jesus is an affirmation 33:46 that our faith is valid. 33:48 The resurrection of Jesus is a verification 33:50 that we are forgiven of our sins. 33:52 So, four points about the resurrected power very quickly: 33:55 The resurrected power brings a new life. 33:58 Romans 6 verse 4, 33:59 "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, 34:02 that just as Christ was raised from the dead 34:05 by the glory of the Father, 34:06 even so, we also walk in the newness of life. " 34:09 That's the resurrected life. 34:10 It's also a confirmation that we can be victorious over 34:13 the power of sin. 34:15 Romans 6 verse 13, 34:17 "Do not present your members as 34:18 instruments of unrighteousness to sin, 34:21 but present yourself to God as being alive from the dead, 34:24 and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. " 34:28 And then we have the third affirmation 34:30 which is a part of the resurrected life. 34:32 Fellowship with Christ. 34:33 Philippians 3 verses 10 and 11, 34:35 "That I may know Him 34:37 and the power of His resurrection, 34:40 and the fellowship of His sufferings, 34:42 being conformed to His death, 34:44 if, by any means, I may attain 34:46 to the resurrection from the dead. " 34:48 And finally, that eternal victory over death 34:51 is a gift of His resurrected life. 34:53 "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. 34:56 Over such the second death has no power, 34:59 but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, 35:02 and shall reign with Him a thousand years. " 35:04 That's the promise of the resurrection. 35:06 Panel: Amen... amen. 35:08 Perrin: All right, let's keep on going with the resurrection here. 35:09 I'm Daniel Perrin, I have Wednesday's Lesson: 35:12 Christ Above All Powers. 35:14 Now, in my family, we were reading the book of Ephesians 35:18 for family worship about a month ago 35:20 and my children noticed Paul has long sentences. 35:24 Panel: Laughter. 35:25 Perrin: I'm taking verses 20 and 21 35:28 which is right in the middle of one of those long sentences 35:30 and if you have a hard time with long sentences, 35:32 think about it this way, 35:33 Paul just enjoyed it so much 35:35 he couldn't get himself to stop talking about it. 35:38 Panel: Laughter. 35:39 Perrin: So, before we get to verse 20, 35:40 let's go to the last three words of verse 19, 35:43 "His mighty power which He worked in Christ 35:46 when He raised Him from the dead 35:48 and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 35:52 far above all principality and power 35:55 and might and dominion, 35:57 and every name that is named, 36:00 not only in this age 36:01 but also in the age which is to come. " 36:04 All right, you can see where I'm going... 36:05 all the "ands" there. 36:07 Lucifer, the enemy, exalted himself. 36:10 Jesus humbled Himself even to the point of death 36:14 appearing to be conquered 36:16 so that He could be exalted being raised from the dead 36:20 to receive all authority 36:21 and Paul simply repeats 36:23 what is clearly demonstrated in the gospels 36:25 Jesus has all authority. 36:28 Panel: Amen. 36:29 Perrin: He said so, He says, "I am He who lives... " 36:30 this is what Jesus says in Revelation 1 36:32 "and was dead and behold I am alive forevermore. 36:36 Amen. And I have the keys of death and Hades. " 36:40 So, Jesus was seated then 36:43 at the right hand of the Father where He belongs 36:47 and He's in the heavenly places 36:49 and I love how that phrase appears here throughout Ephesians 36:52 chapter 1 verse 3, 36:54 Blessings are received from heavenly places 36:57 by Jesus' authority. 36:58 We are seated, in chapter 2 verse 6, 37:01 in heavenly places by Jesus' authority. 37:04 Chapter 3 verse 10, 37:05 the wisdom of God is made known by the church 37:08 to principalities and powers in heavenly places. 37:11 We're participating with what Jesus gives authority to do 37:14 and chapter 6 and verse 12, 37:16 a conflict is still raging 37:18 and we are fighting against principalities and powers 37:21 and forces of darkness in heavenly places... 37:23 but we're not fighting alone 37:25 because Jesus is already seated there in heavenly places 37:28 and being seated is not inactivity 37:31 it is full authority 37:34 and certain victory. 37:36 There is nothing... not a single thing 37:38 over which Jesus does not have dominion. 37:40 Not a single power... not a force... 37:43 not any so-called god or a goddess, 37:46 or a spirit or a demon or conspiracy of powers 37:49 or multinational conglomeration of leaders, 37:52 no secret societies... supernatural force... 37:55 the list could go on. 37:57 No temptation is not under Jesus' dominion. 38:00 Not that He leads or is in charge of these things, 38:04 but His dominion means they are already conquered 38:08 and so, we are not fighting a losing battle. 38:11 Daniel chapter 12... sorry chapter 7 verse 12, 38:14 he sees this when he writes, 38:16 "As for the rest of the beasts, 38:17 they had their dominion taken away, 38:19 yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. " 38:24 In other words, there is still a period 38:26 where fighting goes on... spiritual conflict, 38:29 but we already know the battle is won. 38:31 Victory is complete. 38:33 Yesterday, I was cutting up some logs for our fireplace 38:37 and my youngest daughter was there with me 38:39 and I set up a... a big round one 38:40 "Go ahead, pick that up and put it in the trailer. " 38:42 And she said, "If you help me. " 38:44 "All right... " I said, "can you do it?" 38:46 She's like, "Yes. " 38:47 And I helped her... 38:49 I picked it up and I said, "Let's do this together. " 38:51 And once we got it in the trailer I said, "Did you do it?" 38:54 "Because you helped me. " 38:55 All right, and that's what this is all about. 38:57 You and I can be victorious 39:00 because Jesus already has been. 39:02 This is why Jesus can say so confidently to... to Peter, 39:06 and the disciples there in Matthew 16:18, 39:08 "I will build My church, 39:10 and the gates of Hades shall not prevail. " 39:13 Panel: Hmmm... Perrin: "against it. " 39:14 And the believers in Ephesus who received this letter, 39:17 they'd seen that, 39:18 all right, Acts 19, tells us about Paul's ministry there. 39:21 Verse 11 of Acts 19 says, 39:24 they'd seen unusual miracles in Paul 39:27 with... with the power of God and cast out demons 39:29 and others who tried to do that 39:31 could not do it on their own. 39:32 Acts 19:19... I love this... 39:34 "Also, many who had practiced magic 39:36 brought their books together and burned them 39:38 in the sight of all. 39:39 And they counted up the value of them, 39:41 and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. " 39:44 If it was the Greek drachma 39:46 it was equal to about a day's wage for a common laborer. 39:49 Considering 260 working days a year, 39:52 50,000 pieces of silver would be 192 years of labor... 39:57 four life's wages. 39:59 So, suffice it to say, they were of considerable value. 40:03 And these people said, 40:05 The Lord has conquered all these things, 40:07 we're going to participate in their destruction, 40:10 we... we're going to be a part of the removal 40:12 of these things that are already conquered 40:14 and here's the problem of so many of us, 40:16 that we hold on to things that are already conquered... 40:20 that we should be letting go of. 40:21 "God, You've taken care of this, 40:23 this has no power. 40:25 All right, sometimes it's things we read... things we watch... 40:27 habits that we have 40:28 that... that Jesus says, 40:30 "I have been victorious over temptation, 40:32 so I can help you, 40:33 I can help you be victorious as well. " 40:36 So, what has Jesus conquered? 40:38 Paul could have said, 40:39 "He's conquered all... all wickedness... " 40:41 But he gives us a list of five things. 40:44 I'm going to try to race through them. 40:46 All right, no angle is not covered. 40:48 All principalities... "arché" is the Greek word, 40:51 meaning: first... active... cause... 40:53 the beginning or the origin... 40:55 things that claim superiority 40:56 and this is the enemy who says, "I own this city... 40:59 I built this place... I'm in charge of your life... 41:02 your long-time habits... all right, 41:05 I've had you since birth. " 41:06 Panel: Hmmm... 41:07 Perrin: And God says... 41:09 "Jesus has already accomplished that... 41:10 He has already been victorious. " 41:12 Panel: Amen. 41:13 Perrin: Power is "exousia... " 41:14 authority or influence, 41:16 privilege or superiority. 41:17 Something that tries to control the way you think... 41:20 "I'm better than you... 41:21 I know more than you... 41:23 I can influence you. " 41:24 And our enemy certainly is trying to influence in the world today. 41:27 Might is the word "dunamis" 41:30 strength and ability, 41:31 power of armies and forces, 41:34 and "I'm going to force you and bully you... 41:36 if you follow Christ, you will pay, 41:38 I'm going to take things from you. " 41:40 Fortunately, Romans 1:16 says, 41:42 "I am not ashamed of the gospel... " 41:44 it is the "dunamis" of salvation. 41:46 All right, literally, that's where we get the word "dynamite. " 41:49 It will change the landscape of your life. 41:51 Panel: Amen. Perrin: All right. 41:52 Satan tries to do that. 41:54 He says, "I can... I can force you to submit to my temptation. " 41:57 No, you can't make me 41:58 because Jesus has already been victorious. 42:00 Panel: That's right. 42:02 Perrin: And dominion... "Kurieuótis... " 42:03 Lordship or dominion... I own you... 42:05 all right, you have to serve me... 42:08 all right, the servant simply gives allegiance to the master 42:12 because they're the one in charge. 42:13 The enemy doesn't have any power over the Lord of Lords 42:16 who has already conquered. 42:17 Think of that resurrection over and over again. 42:19 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 42:21 Perrin: And then every name that is named. 42:22 For the Ephesians, 42:24 naming names was a big deal in their magic books 42:26 involving spiritualism 42:28 and invoking the names of gods and powers. 42:31 And we may not think we're doing the same thing today 42:33 but a lot of our immediate culture 42:35 is giving homage to some of the same gods 42:37 we're worshipping them today. 42:39 And you might say, 42:40 "I don't have demonic magic books, 42:42 I'm not casting spells... spiritualism... 42:44 no magical names in my home. 42:46 But these principalities and powers 42:48 and might and dominion 42:50 is not just what we might think of as demonism. 42:53 All right, this is not just theological concepts 42:57 that are overthrown. 42:58 This is not just a web of... 42:59 of linguistic connections we're making, 43:02 not clever ideas... 43:03 not just game pieces that are moved around 43:05 that get put back into the box, 43:06 it really literally does mean something for you and me 43:10 because all of this... this dominion... 43:12 might... power... principalities 43:14 are aimed to do something in your life 43:16 and that is temptation. 43:18 Panel: Hmmm... 43:19 Perrin: Jesus says, "I have conquered temptation 43:21 so, you can too. " 43:23 Panel: That's right. 43:24 Perrin: All the powers of darkness 43:26 are... I'm using this word right here... 43:28 hell-bent on your destruction and mine. 43:31 Panel: That's right. 43:32 Perrin: And so, the enemy suits his temptations to each person. 43:35 Temptations of appetite, 43:37 what is it that they're weak for? 43:39 What is it that they like? 43:40 And when those things are presented to us, 43:42 as often as we spend time 43:44 thinking of the resurrection power of Jesus, 43:46 we can say, "Already conquered. " 43:48 That temptation... because temptation itself is not sin. 43:52 A thought comes to your mind 43:54 and you say, "Ah, I'm such an awful... 43:56 you know... because that thought came to my mind... " 43:58 that thought is the temptation 44:00 and it gives you the opportunity to say, 44:03 "Lord, You have overcome that, I'm not going to dwell upon it, 44:06 You're the One with the power 44:07 You're the One with the victory, 44:09 but I'm going to put forth the action 44:11 that You empower within me. " 44:13 Panel: That's right. Perrin: All right. 44:14 There are temptations in the area of selfishness. 44:16 If you've got a family, 44:18 you've got selfishness and temptations. 44:22 All right, we know that. 44:23 All right, temptations in honesty. 44:26 The... the enemy would love for us 44:29 to see the truth as something that can be bent... 44:31 something that can be set aside in just a small way. 44:34 Not an enormous way... just a... a little way 44:37 and it's that little way that begins to twist our character 44:40 to become more like his and less like Jesus. 44:43 I know that the enemy tempts us in the area of media 44:47 and consumption of that... 44:49 things that go into our mind, 44:50 you sit down in front of that device 44:52 and already temptation is before you 44:54 and God is inviting you to say, "Put that aside... 44:57 put Me first. " 44:59 All right, have you ever been in a losing battle? 45:01 You're not in one when we deal with this 45:05 all right, not only in this age, 45:07 but in the age to come. 45:09 Jesus has... has conquered 45:10 it's so good to meditate on that. 45:12 Panel: Hmmm... amen. 45:13 Rafferty: Amen, I love that... 45:14 I love that... that emphasis there 45:16 you know, that Paul just couldn't stop talking about it 45:20 and as you said, Pastor John, you know, 45:22 that... that in all of our ministry, you know, 45:25 to put Christ first... Christ and Him crucified 45:28 and then that whole thing about Shelley... we love Him 45:31 because He first loved us. 45:32 And that's why, as you said, Ryan, 45:35 we can rejoice first and foremost 45:38 and it seems like that's what Paul is doing in Ephesians. 45:41 It seems like he just can't seem talking about Christ first 45:45 and the love of God 45:46 that causes us to just rejoice evermore. 45:49 I'm James Rafferty, I have Thursday's Lesson 45:52 which is entitled: Jesus, All Things, and His Church 45:56 and I have been given the verse in Ephesians chapter 1 45:59 two verses actually in this lesson for Thursday. 46:02 Thursday's lesson covers verses 22 and 23, 46:05 we've touched on them, let's just read them again. 46:07 Ephesians 1:22 and 23, 46:09 "And have put all things under His feet, 46:11 and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, 46:15 which is His body, 46:17 the fullness of Him that fills all in all. " 46:20 And as Pastor John was saying so clearly, 46:23 we are in Christ... 46:25 Christ is the Head... all things have been put under Christ 46:28 and we're His body. 46:29 So, all things have been put under us in that context. 46:33 That's what... 46:34 the message that Paul is trying to communicate here. 46:36 The Quarterly says: Note carefully 46:38 that having "put all things under His... Jesus' feet," 46:41 the Father "gave Him as the Head over all things to the church," 46:44 compare this... it goes on to say, 46:47 compare "gave Him to be Head over all things" 46:50 to the church, 46:51 that's the New King James Version, 46:52 while "all things" is a universal, inclusive term, 46:56 Paul still has in mind "the powers" 46:58 mentioned in Ephesians 1:21. 47:00 All things... the cosmic, supernatural, 47:04 the spiritual powers included... 47:06 are all under Christ... they're all subservient to Him 47:09 and we are the body of Christ. 47:11 Panel: Amen... yeah... 47:13 Rafferty: That's incredible when you think about that. 47:15 And so, we look at this in relationship, for example, 47:17 to Ephesians 6, which we haven't gotten to yet, 47:19 and the same point is being made there. 47:21 Paul is going to move through the book of Ephesians. 47:23 He's... he's making this introduction 47:25 and he's going to come to the same point of conclusion 47:28 but he's going to prove now in between, 47:31 the connection that the church has to Christ 47:33 so that we can put on the armor of God 47:36 and actually have all power subservient to Christ 47:39 whose body we are. 47:41 It's powerful... principalities... powers... 47:43 the same Greek words are used literally 47:46 in relationship in Ephesians 6:2, 47:48 the devil and his angels. 47:50 You know, this is not a battle that we are equipped for 47:53 without Jesus and that's Paul's point. 47:55 That's the reason why 47:56 each one of us has been emphasizing Christ and His love 48:00 because there's no way 48:01 we were going to get to the end of Ephesians 48:03 and be able to handle what we have to face 48:04 without being body of Christ... 48:07 the body of Christ. 48:08 It's a battle that Jesus has won 48:10 it's a battle that calls us to focus on Jesus Christ, 48:14 we are His body... Christ is the Head... 48:16 this is our destiny... 48:18 this is our pre-destiny or pre-destination in Christ. 48:23 So, the Quarterly asks, 48:24 "What benefits does the exaltation of Christ 48:26 to the throne of the cosmos, 48:28 and His rule over all things in heaven and on earth, 48:31 provide for His church?" 48:32 And then it quotes Ephesians chapter 1 verses 22 and 23 48:37 and basically... the... the... 48:39 the thought I got out of it 48:40 well, there were three points I got out of it, 48:42 first of all, the church is the body of Christ 48:43 and I just really want to emphasize that 48:45 again and again and again, 48:46 the church is the body of Christ. 48:48 Whatever Christ has accomplished... 48:49 whatever Christ has... 48:51 whatever He... He is pictured as being in charge of 48:54 or control... you know, be power over, 48:57 we are His body. 48:58 So, we're connected to Him in that way. 49:00 Christ is the Head over all things... we can't forget that. 49:03 Sometimes, we think about 49:05 everything Christ has accomplished, 49:06 we say, "Yes, that's ours because we are His body... " 49:09 and all of a sudden, we get... 49:10 start moving up the body 49:11 and we start moving into the head area, 49:13 we can never move into the head area. 49:15 Panel: That's right. 49:16 Rafferty: Christ is the Head... He'll always be the Head. 49:18 And then it says, "Christ is far above all things. " 49:22 Of course, we are His body. 49:24 Far above all things. 49:25 And as has been said already, 49:27 sometimes, we settle down in the earth too comfortably 49:31 and we don't realize that Christ is far above all things. 49:33 Panel: That's right. 49:35 Rafferty: And God wants us to be far above all things. 49:36 Panel: That's right. 49:38 Rafferty: So God... The quarterly goes on to say, 49:40 "has made Christ victorious over all evil powers. 49:43 The church, closely identified with Christ 49:47 and supplied by Him with all it needs, 49:50 is itself guaranteeing victory over the foes. 49:53 The power of God... " it goes on to say in the Quarterly, 49:56 "on display in the resurrection 49:58 and in the exaltation of Christ... 50:01 is... is being displayed over every cosmic power, 50:04 and has been activated for the church. 50:07 So, God has given the victorious Christ to the church, 50:10 which is so united with Him 50:13 that it is called His body. " 50:15 Then it goes on to ask this question, 50:17 "How can believers know the exalted Christ 50:21 and experience God's power in our lives?" 50:25 So far, we've been talking about Christ 50:28 the Head and we're the body 50:30 and we're connected with the body... 50:31 we're going to sit in heavenly places 50:33 and we going to rejoice in Christ and we're... 50:34 but how does that actually... 50:36 what is the practical application of this? 50:38 How does it actually happen in our lives? 50:41 And I love this because 50:43 when we compare Ephesians chapter 1 50:46 with Ephesians chapter 6, 50:47 we see that Paul specifically directly addresses us 50:52 to the mechanisms and the strategies 50:55 by which we can know and experience 50:57 God's power in our lives. 50:58 Now... know what? 51:00 We're not in Ephesians chapter 6 yet, 51:01 so, we can't jump ahead and do that 51:02 and get into all those mechanisms and strategies, 51:05 but at the same time, 51:06 I believe Paul is laying out a more comprehensive strategy 51:10 right here in Ephesians chapter 1 51:12 and I'm going to say, two and three. 51:15 Right here, Paul is laying out a more comprehensive strategy 51:18 for knowing God's power in our lives. 51:21 When we look at the book of Ephesians as a whole, 51:24 it's a very interesting epistle. 51:26 It has something that no other epistle of Paul has. 51:29 In fact, I don't think any other book of the Bible has this 51:32 except for maybe the book of Revelation 51:35 and that is this, 51:37 when you get to Ephesians chapter 3, 51:40 Paul ends this chapter with a word 51:44 that isn't found in any other of his epistles 51:46 in the middle of a chapter 51:49 and that word is: Amen. 51:51 Paul goes through Ephesians 1 and Ephesians 2 51:55 and Ephesians 3, 51:56 he sums it up 51:58 by talking about how he wants us to be filled 52:00 with the fullness of God... 52:01 to know the length... the breath... the height... 52:02 the depth of God's love, 52:04 and then he says, "Amen... " 52:05 as if he's done with the whole message 52:07 because that's the end of it... 52:08 it's like he's dividing it in half in a sense. 52:11 And he is... because when you look at Ephesians 1, 52:13 and you look at Ephesians 2 and you look at Ephesians 3, 52:16 you're going to find as you look here, 52:17 this beautiful plan of salvation. 52:20 You're going to find this emphasis on the love of God. 52:22 You're going to find this beautiful call to focus on Christ 52:26 and sit by faith in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 52:30 What you're not going to find in these first three chapters is 52:33 any practical emphasis on something that we have to do 52:38 other than to connect with Christ 52:40 and behold what He's already accomplished for us. 52:42 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 52:44 However, when you move into Ephesians chapter 4 52:45 and Ephesians chapter 5 and Ephesians chapter 6, 52:48 it gets very practical. 52:49 In Ephesians chapter 5 for example, 52:52 four example, 52:53 you're told how the Christian is to operate 52:57 within the bounds of the church... 52:58 within the confines of... 53:02 of rubbing shoulders with other human beings 53:04 who are fallen and faulty. 53:06 In... also in Ephesians 4 you'll find practical counsel 53:10 on how Christians are to relate to the world 53:14 and navigate through the licentiousness 53:16 and the sin and iniquity of the world. 53:19 In Ephesians chapter 5 you begin to find 53:22 really intense strategies 53:26 of how we're to navigate relationships in the home. 53:29 How the husband has to love the wife 53:31 and the wife is to submit to the husband 53:32 and I don't know which one is the harder but 53:34 what I'm saying for fallen human beings is 53:36 this is where it gets nitty, gritty for us 53:39 and in Ephesians chapter 6 53:40 begins with children relating to their parents 53:42 in a very Godly way 53:44 and finally talks about servants, 53:45 in other words, the workplace 53:47 and those who are the boss 53:49 and those who are subservient to the boss 53:50 and how that in a relationship is supposed to take place. 53:54 So, Paul here is taking Ephesians 4, 5 and 6 53:59 which is very practical 54:01 and he's separating it by an "amen" 54:03 from Ephesians 1, 2 and 3 54:05 and the point he's making is powerful. 54:08 We use a simple illustration, 54:10 we say often as Christians... 54:12 as believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ 54:14 and those who believe that that gospel 54:16 is powerful enough to sanctify us and to transform us, 54:19 we say, "Now, don't get the cart before the horse. " 54:22 Paul in Ephesians is making sure 54:25 we don't get the cart before the horse. 54:26 The cart will be the fruits of the gospel... 54:29 what it looks like in the church... 54:31 in the world... 54:33 in the home... 54:34 in the workplace... 54:35 and then there's the gospel itself 54:37 and you will not find... 54:38 look... search... scrutinize... 54:40 you will not find practical, "This is what you need to do" 54:45 other than being connected with Jesus 54:46 in Ephesians 1, 2, and 3... it's all about Christ. 54:49 He's pre-destined us... He's blessed us... 54:51 He's... He has forgiven us... 54:53 He's lifted us up... 54:55 He's filled us with His Spirit in earnest... 54:58 on and on and on... 54:59 the focus is Christ... and he can't hardly stop Himself, 55:01 he just... "and... and... and... and... " 55:03 he just wants to talk about the love of Christ... 55:05 the love of Christ... the love of Christ, 55:06 the love of Christ, why? 55:07 Because he wants us to be so full of the love of Christ 55:09 that it bursts out in its practical application 55:12 in the church and in the world 55:15 and in the home 55:16 and in the workplace. 55:17 It bursts out 55:19 and then finally he's going to sum it all up and say, 55:20 "Now, remember, I want you to put on the armor of God, 55:23 I want you to be saturating yourselves with this love 55:25 that we talked about in the first three chapters. " 55:27 I mentioned the book of Revelation... 55:29 that's the same thing, 55:30 in fact, in Revelation chapter 12 verse 17, 55:32 that's the first place that you find 55:34 mention of a people who keep the commandments of God. 55:37 That's because before you can keep God's commandments, 55:40 you got to know His love. 55:41 Jesus says it this way, 55:43 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. " 55:45 And then John says, "We love Him... " 55:47 as Shelley said earlier, 55:49 "because He first loved us. " 55:50 That's the emphasis in the power in the book of Ephesians. 55:53 Panel: Amen... amen... amen. 55:55 Ryan: Beautifully put... 55:56 great messages... great lesson... 55:58 let's go ahead and get some final thoughts. 55:59 Shelley: I was just thinking in Ephesians 1:16 through 19, 56:03 Paul's talking about the Holy Spirit 56:05 illuminating our mind and us understanding. 56:09 It requires some study... 56:11 we've got to get into the Word, 56:13 we've got to pray every day for the Holy Spirit 56:15 but I didn't finish this verse, verse 19, 56:18 he says that you've got this divine understanding 56:22 "that you may know and understand 56:24 what is the immeasurable, unlimited, 56:27 surpassing greatness of His power 56:30 in us who believe in Him. " 56:33 Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring you spiritual insight. 56:38 Receive His power. 56:41 Panel: Amen... that's right. 56:42 Lomacang: You know, the resurrected life 56:44 is not just a new way of believing 56:46 but it's the power to live a new way. 56:49 Panel: Yes... amen. 56:50 Perrin: Our final thought... 56:51 I just want to press this promise in one more time 56:53 for our minds and our hearts. 56:54 "His mighty power which He worked in Christ 56:56 when He raised Him from the dead 56:58 and seated Him at His right hand 57:00 in the heavenly places, 57:02 far above all principality and power 57:04 and might and dominion, 57:05 and every name that is named, 57:07 not only in this age 57:08 but also in that which is to come. " 57:10 Rafferty: There is no other power 57:12 than the power of the exalted Christ. 57:14 Panel: Amen. 57:16 Ryan: Amen, praise the Lord, 57:17 thank you, Guys, so much, 57:18 for the powerful lesson today, my Friends, 57:20 and we want to thank you 57:21 for joining us each and every week. 57:23 You know, you don't want to hold all this goodness 57:25 in for yourself... share it with somebody 57:27 so, tell them to... encourage your friends and family 57:29 to download the 3ABN plus App. 57:31 Also, go to: 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 57:33 You can access the study, of course 57:35 and keep along with us 57:36 and stay along with us as we're going through. 57:38 You're not going to want to miss next week 57:40 because we're going to be diving in to Lesson Number 4 57:43 which is entitled: How God Rescues Us. 57:48 We all need rescuing 57:49 and we're going to be applying 57:51 all the emphasis on that Lesson next week. 57:53 So, my Friends, again, 57:54 thank you for watching the 3ABN Sabbath School Panel 57:57 and we will see you right back here next week. |
Revised 2023-10-12