Living Between Already and Not Yet

Good evening to you again Baptist Church. Thank you for tuning in your plan to benefit from the preaching of the word worship the Lord in this way. On Sunday evening when I came in to the auditorium. Offering plates are upfront and that's been our custom since COBIT affronted in the back for their offerings and ties was Faith promise cards in the offering plate upfront and it reminded me as I've been thinking on the sermon preached here this morning and how helpful and challenging it was, was reminded of the story concerning Benjamin Franklin. He heard that the great London preacher George Whitfield was going to be in Philadelphia and he wanted to go here and preach a new the reputation of Whitfield that he had a real burden for orphans and orphanages and often received an offering at the end of the service to help those causes. Benjamin Franklin had invited a friend to go with them. Benjamin Franklin said to the man I'm gonna leave my wallet at home, lest I be tempted put something in the offering plate at the end of the service story goes Benjamin Franklin was so moved by the preaching of George Whitfield that he nudged his friend that he had asked to go with them and asked him to borrow some money that he could put it in the offering plate that he would pay him back later.

I thought that's that's the power of the word of God's effect on people's lives and God is provided for the needs of this ministry through your faith, giving it's an indication of your love for Christ and your commitment to the truth and thank you for that. Just one announcement that I want to make you aware of ladies coffee encourage will meet on Tuesday this week and it is the last coffee encourage meeting for the year so plan to be here for the coffee encourage meeting on Tuesday. One other announcement that just came to my mind as I was thinking Tuesday we are planning to have a Thanksgiving praise service a week from this coming Tuesday, so plan to come to be people present common follow. Our custom singing.

Some hymns interspersed with testimonies and we thought it would not be prudent to have Thanksgiving season without including this opportunity for people to gather and participate in this traditional service of praise and worship to God for those two announcements let me lead us in prayer. At this time. Father, we bow to thank you for the Lord's day for the reminder that you have ordained this day that it is a Sabbath rest and we rejoice. Those who of put their faith and trust in confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ that our rest is in him we have ceased from work and labor.

Believing that there is nothing we could do to earn merit in favor with you all the merit we need is in our Savior and our trust is in him we plead his perfect righteousness and we plead his redeeming shed blood as our only access before you.

So thank you, our father, the word tells us that your eyes are indeed upon the righteous in your ear is open on our cry were grateful that we have audience with the God of heaven will we pray that you would buy your spirit minister to our hearts needs this evening minister to our souls. According to our needs.

As you know them to be father. That is our first concern are most urgent need of their other needs are temporal needs or physical needs are financial needs. There are emotional needs, all kinds of needs relational needs, but Lord for our souls need. So, father, minister to us in the inner man. Strengthen us according to your word and by your word Lord fortify us. We are living in dark and difficult days and we need your help to live circumspect and God honoring lives so helpless, Lord. In that regard. Reminds her upon some of our folks who are in need, pray for Stuart Waugh were concerned about this report of the fear of cancer being present in the chemotherapy that he is already begun to head this off as the doctors seek to find its exact location minister to our brother, Laverne, is there yet.

South Africa father you know so many needs in our church. Those who had surgery in recent days and or recovering. We pray for healing of bones. Pray for the restoration father of relationships that are fractured. Lord you know of marriages that are in the render strain. Lord we thank you that there is grace and there is healing for all of these things help us father to be forgiving people, help us to forgive even as we have been forgiven. Father, we ask that you would come now to us through the preached word in because the word of God to have its effect might instruct us in righteousness. We might be thoroughly equipped for every good work here us. We pray for Jesus sake. Amen. Last couple of Sunday nights here in November.

We've shown video updates from the some of the missionaries that we are engaged in and partnering with the gospel and tonight we want to do that with ministry of Mike and Melanie Webster ministered for many many years and Québec and have relocated and taken up ministry in the country of France. So we have about a nine minute video update from them.

So this time listen to Mike Webster and Melanie will hello so wait time for us we should review some kind of a not so we decided we send you a quick video update and the Christian religion. Crazy times and I know they're crazy.

We know that is crazy for you as they are for Russ but we want you to know that we are doing well and that the Lord is blessing work here in spite of everything we want to thank you for continuing to pray for us and thank you also for your continued financial support. This sample have sent some special gifts of the last of a couple of months and really that show something about that.

We put thinking in, we discovered that there is not a reliable space.

I like a lot of things we click nine postcards in the mailbox at the same time to get six weeks later, only six of them made any risk that holistic sleep.

They trickled in so still have that meeting. I don't know if they will still not received actual thank you notes written. Thank you guys for the mailing coming to thank you.

We we've been able to meet again gathered church at our church building. Since the beginning of June 2 end of course with all the social distancing and masks and the solution for your hands and in and know all of that so all that stuff and now we actually even we have to wear masks even outside and in our area, so it is guys, still me know. That takes a certain only way but at least a preacher were to preside to seeing you. We don't have to wear one, at least to do that were so thankful to be able to get together again and we will continue pray about that.

There are a lot of other things always been doing the least of which is just recently, the husband of one of our ladies accepted Christ he's dying of cancer. It's really just a matter of time. He could go anytime we just talking actually just a few minutes ago on the telephone is doing very well today is just not that it is a miracle of conversion that we have seen in this man's life, one that has been witnessed to by people in our congregation year is so God is not limited by COBIT or anything else is probably really allow our business meeting on before finally and so are discussing that payment for that and were ready to church is ready to accept this new only speak English or right of this new well translator to translate the new well yes to all put into place a biblical church leadership is this church since the missionary evaluation left a little over 10 years ago has not has recognized or has not recognized biblically qualified leadership/doing the best they can with some very qualified to do the teaching and so this Lord was going allow the church to 202 transition towards recognizing the qualified leadership/authority is here and is missionaries at this time in our life in this church is to see this happen. By the grace of God through patient teaching to continue. Pray for this, then over the next six months. Then, Lord willing, the church will go forward, having accepted by law will then be able to go forward and that in that direction. We need real grace and wisdom with our health would ask you to pray for all one the first of all with Melanie this mass wearing is very different when it's been hot and we've had some hot weather lately. We ask you just pray for her. It means you can go out as much as she normally would and it's it's it's come talk to them. We need your wisdom will not limit you want to mention I'm supposed to meet with my general practitioner real soon to see if I can get a medical exemption because you start your analysis. I can't.

I can't really blacken everything very fast.

So where is here that we sell anyways I'm going to see if I can get a medical exemption which point I do is transparent to users because they don't take the place here.

They wear that and then with my medical exemption I would be fine so you could pray for just this. Pray for patience and wisdom to know what where where to draw the line all at all that stuff and we know many of you are facing kind. The same kinds of challenges also be undergoing a couple of the health-related tests of the next couple weeks we would really appreciate your prayers for any enclosing lecture lecture one passage that was really this and many like it is really using our our lives through the last couple months is found in Psalm 119 and verse 71 where the psalmist says is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes many years ago. No preacher say something like this you been sick since you got back in order for me to look up and yes person you know we've been sick with this frustration that so many of us are faced with COBIT restrictions.

It is this that has put on us has a good job of reminding us that we are in control and that's not easy.

That is just not mean we have our ideas about how church on me know about the you know a lot of things, but God I think is just in our lives just reminded us to guess what, you were never in control anyway, I always have been.

You need to allow me to be me and you need to do all this allow me to teach you look at it as being on your back up and letting him guys teach us and remind really working when it comes to missions what's really important when it comes to local church building was really important will really help out and pulls down to letting people in teaching and got and really the method and the be the means that we might use to do that.

Those are, desert, secondary. The main thing is is is is getting back to what's important and that is loving no matter what method we used to do that when you love people. We need to teach them God's word switch.

Just pray for us as were trying to do here as we seek see people come to Christ and see people discipled in the word of God so that this local church generally autonomous and can go forward TO CARRY ON THE GREAT COMMISSION HERE IN THIS WONDERFUL NATION.

FRANCE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOLKS FOR PRAYING FOR US AND FOR GIVING US ALLOWING US THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING THE LORD HERE IN EUROPE AND IN FRANCE GOOD. YOU WILL BE NICE. HOPE YOU PERSUADED THAT. LET ME JUST HAVE A WORK PRAYER FOR THEM FOR BRING THE MESSAGE. FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR MIKE AND MELANIE WEBSTER FOR THEIR THEIR CALLING THEIR GIFTS. THERE APTITUDE WITH LANGUAGE. WE WE WOULD PRAY FOR MELANIE THAT SHE WOULD INDEED FIND FAVOR WITH THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND GET THIS EXEMPTION TO USE THE CHALLENGES THAT SHE'S FACING WITH THE RESTRICTIONS WEARING A MASK. WE PRAY FOR MIKE AS HE HAS THESE TESTS, WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD SUSTAIN HIS HEALTH.

GIVE WISDOM TO THE DOCTORS. WE THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSION OF THIS MAN THAT HAD BEEN PRAYED FOR. FOR YEARS WE REJOICE IN HEARING OF ONE WHO HAS BOWED THE KNEE TO KING JESUS WE PRAY FOR THE PROGRESS OF THE CHURCH PLANT. THERE FOR THE MISSIONARY THAT WORK PRIOR TO THE WEBSTER'S GOING FOR THE PLAN OF ORGANIZATION AND BYLAWS CONSTITUTION. WE PRAY THAT THAT WOULD BE RECEIVED WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND THAT THE CHURCH WOULD CONTINUE TO GROW AND DEVELOP.

PRAY FOR THE DAY THAT IT WOULD BECOME AN INDIGENOUS CHURCH PASTOR BY A NATIVE MAN THERE SUSTAIN MIKE AND MELANIE IN THESE DAYS OF COVEN.

THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY'RE FACING, AND GRANT THEM FRUIT FOR THEIR LABOR. WE PRAY IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. TONIGHT I WANT TO BRING A BIT OF A DIFFERENT TYPE OF A MESSAGE TO YOU ONE OF A A BIG PICTURE TYPE OF A MESSAGE RECENTLY. WE WERE TALKING AS A FAMILY ABOUT ANOTHER FAMILY THAT WE'RE AWARE OF THAT THEY LIKE TO WORK PUZZLES AND WE'VE DONE THAT IN THE PAST.

SOME IT'S BEEN QUITE A WHILE SINCE WE SIT DOWN WORK TO THOUSAND 500,000 WORD PUZZLE BUT THE POINT OF THIS ILLUSTRATION IS THE FATHER OF THIS FAMILY HAS THIS TRADITION THAT HE WOULD OPEN THE BOX BUT THE PUZZLE CAME IN. DUMP THE PIECES ON THE TABLE AND THEN HIDE THE BOX. NOBODY COULD SEE THE PICTURE ON THE BOX TO SEE WHAT PUZZLE WOULD LOOK LIKE WHEN ALL THE PIECES ARE PUT TOGETHER AND IT STRUCK ME IS THAT'S JUST NOT FAIR. YOU PICK UP A PIECE OF JIGSAW PUZZLE. IT MAKES NO SENSE AND OF ITSELF UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND HOW IT FITS WITH OTHER PIECES AND HOW EACH OF THOSE PIECES RELATE TO THE BIG PICTURE AND IS CHALLENGING IS WORKING. A PUZZLE CAN BE. I CAN IMAGINE WHAT IT'S LIKE HAVING A BUNCH OF PIECES ON IT ON THE TABLE NOT HAVE ANY CLUE WHATSOEVER WHAT WHAT WERE PUTTING TOGETHER HERE AFTER YOU FIND ALL THE STRAIGHT LINE PIECES AND PUT THE BORDER TOGETHER, THEN WHAT MY POINT IS THAT SOMETIMES WERE LIKE THAT WERE TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF THE BIG PICTURE AND MAKE MAKE SENSE OF PIECES OF A PUZZLE AND NOT REALLY KNOW WHAT THE BIG PICTURE IS, AND AT TIMES I THINK WE NEED TO STEP BACK AND BE REMINDED OF BIG PICTURE THEOLOGY SO THAT WHEN WERE ENCOUNTERING TRUTH IN READING SCRIPTURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO FIT IT INTO THE BIG PICTURE.

WE NEED TO BE IN MY OPINION, MORE FUTURE ORIENTED.

WE NEED TO BE NOT SO MUCH CONFINED TO THE PRESENT AS MUCH IS THAT DOES CONFINED IN DEFINE OUR LIVES CARTING. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING OUR SON AND DAUGHTER IN THEIR THREE CHILDREN IN HER HOME FOR A WHILE AND I WAS REMINDED OF HOW IMPATIENT CHILDREN CAN BE.

THEY WANT WHAT THEY WANT AND THEY WANTED NOW AND I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW THAT SOMETIMES CHARACTERIZES OUR LIVES AS CHRISTIANS WE WANT WHAT WE WANT GOD AND WE WANT IT NOW, AND WE NEED TO BE REMINDED OF GOD'S WAYS IN GOD'S DEALINGS, THAT GOD DOES THINGS IN PROGRESSION.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE WORD OF GOD HAS COME TO US IN A PROGRESSIVE FASHION.

WE SPEAK OF PROGRESSIVE REVELATION ALL THE REVELATION OF GOD'S SPECIAL REVELATION OF GOD DIDN'T COME TO US ALL AT ONE TIME CAME OVER LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND WE CANNOT BE IMPATIENT.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE REVELATION OF GOD IS PRESENT PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS PROGRESSIVE IN NATURE. GOD SAVES US WERE BABES IN CHRIST, WE GROW IN GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE WE BECOME MATURE.

THAT'S THE WAYS OF GOD CHURCH IS THE SAME WAY YOU WANT TO SEE THINGS PROGRESS QUICKER AND FASTER AND SEE PEOPLE MATURE QUICKER AND FASTER AND YET GOD HAS HIS WAYS. WE SPEAK OF PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION SO THIS EVENING I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT FOUR THINGS SPEAK TO NUMBER ONE, ABOUT A TENSION THE BELIEVERS TENSION AND I WILL DESCRIBE WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IN A MOMENT I'M GOING TO LOOK AT SOME BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF THIS TENSION THEN NUMBER THREE I WANT TO EXAMINE A COUPLE OF FALLACIES RELATED TO THIS TENSION. THEN NUMBER FOUR I WANT US TO LOOK AT THE PROVISIONS OF GOD FOR THOSE LIVING IN THIS TENSION. WHAT IS THE TENSION THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TRUTHS.

I AM CONVINCED THAT IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS, YOU WILL MANY TIMES FIND YOURSELF CONFUSED AND BEWILDERED AND YOU WILL BE INCLINED TO MISUNDERSTAND THE WORD OF GOD AND THE PURPOSES OF GOD. IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT YOU UNDERSTAND IN THIS NOT THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE HEARD THIS, BUT FOR SOME THIS IS GOING TO BE A NEW CONCEPT. WHAT IS THIS TENSION. WHAT IS THE BELIEVERS TENSION AND THE TENSION THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT IS THE TENSION BETWEEN THE ALREADY IN THE NOT YET THE TENSION BETWEEN THE ALREADY IN THE NOT YET NOW EPHESIANS, CHAPTER 1 AND VERSE AND BY THE WAY IS WE MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH SCRIPTURE TONIGHT GOING TO BE TAKING A BIG PICTURE LOOK IN THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS. SO WERE NOT CAMPING ON A PARTICULAR PASSAGE IN EXPOUNDING THAT TRYING TO GIVE A BIG PICTURE OVERVIEW THAT THAT SPEAKS TO THIS ISSUE OF THIS TENSION AND HOW WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND HOW WE SHOULD RELATE TO IT AND UNDERSTAND THE PROVISIONS GOD IS MADE FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE LIVING INSIDE THIS TENSION. LET ME READ EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1 BEGINNING IN VERSE 15, PAUL WRITING TO THE CHURCH THERE AT EPHESUS.

HE SAYS THEREFORE I ALSO AFTER I HEARD OF YOUR FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS AND YOUR LOVE FOR ALL THE SAINTS DO NOT CEASE TO GIVE THANKS FOR YOU, MAKING MENTION OF YOU IN MY PRAYERS THAT THE GOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE FATHER OF GLORY, MAY GIVE TO YOU THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM, THE EYES OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING BEING ENLIGHTENED YOU MAY KNOW WHAT IS THE HOPE OF HIS CALLING, WHAT ARE THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS, AND WHAT IS THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TOWARD US WHO BELIEVE, ACCORDING TO THE WORKING OF HIS MIGHTY POWER, WHICH HE WORKED IN CHRIST WHEN HE RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD AND SEATED HIM AT HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES, FAR ABOVE ALL PRINCIPALITY AND POWER AND MIGHT AND DOMINION, AND EVERY NAME THAT IS NAMED, NOT ONLY IN THIS AGE BUT ALSO IN THAT WHICH IS TO COME. AND HE PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET AND GAVE HIM TO BE HEAD OVER ALL THINGS TO THE CHURCH WHICH IS HIS BODY, THE FULLNESS OF HIM WHO FILLS ALL AND ALL THE TENSION BETWEEN THE ALREADY IN THE NOT YET MANY TIMES ARE GOING TO ENCOUNTER LANGUAGE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THAT WE ARE IN THE LAST DAYS THE LAST DAYS ARE THAT. BETWEEN THE FIRST COMING OF CHRIST AND THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. THAT IS THE LAST DAYS WE ARE IN THE LAST DAYS WE ARE IN THAT PERIOD OF THE ALREADY OF WHAT HAS ARRIVED AND THE NOT YET OF WHAT IS STILL TO COME.

SO THAT'S THE TENSION LIVING IN THE TENSION BETWEEN THE ALREADY OF WHAT HAS ARRIVED AND THE NOT YET OF WHAT IS STILL TO COME.

YOU NOTICE THERE IN VERSE 21 IS SPEAKING OF CHRIST AND HIS REIGN.

HE SEATED IN HEAVENLY PLACES WITH GOD THE FATHER IS FAR ABOVE ALL PRINCIPALITY AND POWER AND MIGHT AND DOMINION, AND EVERY NAME THAT IS NAMED, NOT ONLY IN THIS AGE BUT ALSO IN THAT WHICH IS TO COME, SO THERE IS A PRESENT REALITY THAT CHRIST IS RULING RIGHT NOW IN THIS PRESENT AGE AND HE WILL REIGN AT A FUTURE TIME AT A TIME WHICH IS TO COME. SO THAT'S THE TENSION THAT I WANT TO START UNDERSTAND THE TENSION BETWEEN THE ALREADY IN THE NOT YET THAT I WILL BECOME CLEAR IS I GIVE YOU THESE BIBLICAL EXAMPLES BIBLICAL EXAMPLE NUMBER ONE. THE TENSION BETWEEN THE ALREADY IN THE NOT YET AS IT RELATES TO THE RAIN OF CHRIST ALREADY. CHRIST IS SEATED IN GLORY RULING AS SOVEREIGN KING, BUT NOT YET ARE ALL IS ENEMIES SUBDUED AND IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE CONFUSED CHRIST SHALL HAVE DOMINION WE BEEN SINGING WHAT IS THAT FUTURE HE SHALL HAVE DOMINION OR DOES HE HAVE DOMINION RIGHT NOW AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT WERE WHAT I'M DISCUSSING WITH YOU TONIGHT AND TRYING TO TEACH YOU IS YES HE IS ALREADY RAINING, BUT NOT YET IN THE FULLEST SENSE THAT HE WILL REIGN SOMEDAY. THAT'S WHAT EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1 ESSAY HE'S RAINING, FAR ABOVE ALL PRINCIPALITY AND POWER AND MIGHT AND DOMINION. VERSE 21, AND EVERY NAME THAT HIS NAME NOT ONLY IN THIS AGE BUT ALSO IN THAT IN THAT WHICH IS TO COME, AND THEN LISTEN TO WHAT VERSE 22 SAYS, AND HE PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET AND GAVE HIM TO BE SEEN. HEAD OVER ALL THINGS TO THE CHURCH WHICH IS HIS BODY, THE FULLNESS OF HIM WHO FILLS ALL IN ALL MY TRANSLATION DOESN'T GIVE THE NUANCE OF A FUTURE SENSE THERE BUT IT IS THERE IS A DAY IN WHICH ALL OF CHRIST'S ENEMIES WILL BE PUT UNDER HIS FEET. THAT HAS NOT YET COME. THAT IS THE NOT YET SPEAKING ABOUT THE REIGN OF CHRIST ALREADY.

SATAN IS A DEFEATED FOE. COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 2 IN VERSE 15 SAYS HAVING DISARMED PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS HE THAT IS, CHRIST MADE A PUBLIC SPECTACLE OF THEM TRIUMPHING OVER THEM, AND YET AND WHAT IN THE CROSS BUT HE THAT IS SATAN IS NOT YET BOUND OR CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE IS REVELATION CHAPTER 20 VERSE 10 SAYS HE WILL BE SO THE ALREADY IN THE NOT YET AS IT RELATES TO THE REIGN OF CHRIST EXAMPLE NUMBER TWO, THE SAME TENSION IS PRESENT IN REGARDS TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD REPEATEDLY IN THE GOSPELS, JESUS SAID THAT THE KINGDOM WAS AT HAND.

THEY DID THAT IT HAD COME THAT IT IS WITHIN YOU QUESTION IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

A PRESENT REALITY OR IS IT SOMETHING YET FUTURE. MATTHEW FOUR VERSE 17 SAYS JESUS SAYS FROM THAT, IT SAYS FROM THAT TIME JESUS BEGAN TO PREACH AND SAY, REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND. JESUS SAID THAT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND YOU SAY WELL MAYBE THERE'S A DIFFERENCE THERE BETWEEN KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, AND KINGDOM OF GOD WILL KNOW NOT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE AUDIENCE.

MATTHEW IS WRITING TO JEWISH PEOPLE AND HE AVOIDS KINGDOM OF GOD IN STEAD USES KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

BUT WHEN YOU SEE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN KINGDOM OF GOD WERE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME REALITY. LUKE CHAPTER 17 VERSES 20, 21, AS THIS RECORD NOW HAVING BEEN QUESTIONED BY THE PHARISEES AS TO WHEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. NOW LET'S LOOK WRITING, NOT MATTHEW AS TO WHEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD WAS COMING. HE ANSWERED THEM AND SAID THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT COMING WITH SIGNS TO BE OBSERVED NOR WILL THEY SAY, LOOK, HERE IT IS OR THERE IT IS.

FOR BEHOLD, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS IN YOUR MIDST, THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS TO BE UNDERSTOOD AS A PRESENT REALITY RIGHT THEN WHY IN THE MODEL PRAYER DID JESUS INSTRUCT TO PRAY, THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. THAT SOUNDS LIKE THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS A FUTURE REALITY. WOULD YOU SEE THE TENSION, THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS ALREADY COME.

BUT IT IS NOT YET FULLY BEEN CONSUMMATED SO THERE IS A PRESENT REALITY AND THERE IS A YET FUTURE MANIFESTATION OF IT IS BOTH A PRESENT REALITY IN A FUTURE DIMENSION. HEBREWS SAYS HEBREWS 12 VERSE 28 SINCE WE ARE RECEIVING A KINGDOM.

SINCE WE ARE RECEIVING THE KINGDOM. SOUNDS LIKE THE LANGUAGE OF SOMETHING THAT IS PRESENT YET ONGOING SINCE WE ARE RECEIVING THE KINGDOM WHICH CANNOT BE SHAKEN, LET US HAVE GRACE BY WHICH WE MAY SERVE GOD ACCEPTABLY WITH WITH REVERENCE AND GODLY FEAR. ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THIS TENSION BETWEEN THE ALREADY IN THE NOT YET AS IT RELATES TO THE BELIEVERS INHERITANCE.

EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1 IN VERSE 11 SAYS IN HIM THAT IS IN CHRIST. ALSO WE HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE, BEING PREDESTINED ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE OF HIM WHO WORKS ALL THINGS ACCORDING TO THE COUNCIL OF HIS WILL NOW ACCORDING TO THAT VERSE. THE BELIEVER IS IN POSSESSION OF HIS INHERITANCE. WE, HAVING OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE, BUT IN KEEPING WITH THE LANGUAGE THAT HIGHLIGHTS THIS TENSION. WE ARE CONSIDERING ALREADY. THE BELIEVER IS IN POSSESSION OF HIS INHERITANCE, BUT NOT YET.

DOES HE OR SHE HAVE ALL THAT HAS BEEN PROMISED TO HIM OR HER BECAUSE LATER ON EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1 AND VERSE 14 THREE VERSES LATER PAUL SPEAKING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYS HOLY SPIRIT, WHO IS THE GUARANTEE OR THE DOWN PAYMENT OF OUR INHERITANCE UNTIL THE REDEMPTION OF THE PURCHASED POSSESSION TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY. SO YES, WE HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED AN INHERITANCE, BUT ONLY A DOWN PAYMENT. ONLY THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF ONLY TASTED OF THE GOOD THINGS TO COME. THERE IS A FUTURE FULLER INHERITANCE THAT AWAITS US AGAIN. THE TENSION BETWEEN THE ALREADY IN THE NOT YET BIBLICAL EXAMPLE NUMBER FOUR IN AND WEEK WE COULD GO I COULD GO ON WITH EXAMPLES.

THESE ARE THE FOUR THAT CAME TO MY MIND NUMBER FOR THE TENSION BETWEEN THE ALREADY EXPERIENCE OF THE BELIEVER BEING SEATED IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES TOGETHER IN CHRIST. ACCORDING TO EPHESIANS CHAPTER 2 AND VERSE SIX AND HAVING BEEN SANCTIFIED THROUGH THE OFFERING OF THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST ONCE FOR ALL. HEBREWS CHAPTER 10 IN VERSE 10, HAVING BEEN SANCTIFIED THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS ALREADY TRANSPIRED. GOD HAS SANCTIFIED US THROUGH THE OFFERING OF THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST ONCE FOR ALL. AGAIN, THE TENSION BETWEEN THE ALREADY EXPERIENCE OF THE BELIEVER AND IS PURSUIT OF HOLINESS IN HIS WALK WITH GOD IS ALREADY SEATED IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES. HE'S ALREADY BEEN SANCTIFIED THROUGH THE OFFERING OF THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST. BUT NOT YET IN HIS EXPERIENCE, AND WE BEEN DELIVERED FULLY AND FINALLY FROM THE POWER AND THE PRESENCE OF SIN. AND AGAIN IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS.

THIS TENSION BETWEEN THE ALREADY IN THE NOT YET. YOU WILL BE CONFUSED AND CONFOUNDED, BECAUSE YOU'LL COME THE PASSAGES LIKE COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 3 AND YOU WILL READ PAUL WRITING TO THE CHURCH TO BELIEVERS YOU DIED, AND YOUR LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD. YOU DIED PAST TENSE TO VERSES LATER, HE SAYS. THEREFORE PUT TO DEATH. WHAT WAIT, WAIT A MINUTE YOU JUST TOLD US THAT WE DIE. NOW YOU'RE TELLING US TO PUT TO DEATH. HERE'S THE TENSION BETWEEN THE ALREADY AND THE NOT YET WE'VE DIED. THAT IS WHEN CHRIST DIED, WE DIE IT. SPEAKING OF OUR UNION WITH CHRIST. SPEAKING OF OUR IDENTIFICATION IN HIS CROSS WORK AND THEN PAUL THEN SAYS IN VERSE FIVE, ON THE BASIS OF WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY SAID YOU ARE IN CHRIST PUT TO DEATH. IT'S MORTIFICATION IT'S PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION.

WE NEED UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS.

THE TENSION BETWEEN THE ALREADY IN THE NOT YET. SO IF CONSIDER TWO THINGS WITH. CONSIDER NUMBER ONE THIS TENSION BETWEEN THE ALREADY IN THE NOT YET AND LOOKED AT FOR DIFFERENT BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF THIS TENSION. NUMBER THREE I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE FALLACIES EFFECT TO FALLACIES RELATED TO THIS TENSION AGAIN. AS I SAID, IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS, WE DON'T KEEP BALANCE AND UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS.

WE WILL BE CONFUSED. WE WILL BE CONFOUNDED. WE WILL MISINTERPRET MISINTERPRET SCRIPTURE WILL BE INCLINED TO ERROR HERE, THE TWO FALLACIES. AGAIN, THESE ARE WORDS.

PERHAPS YOU'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE. I'LL MENTION THEM AND THEN I'LL EXPLAIN WHAT THEOLOGIANS MEAN BY THESE THIS TERMINOLOGY FALLACY NUMBER ONE IS OVER REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY OVER REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY AND ESCHATOLOGY IS THE STUDY OF LAST THINGS OVER REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY AND NUMBER TWO UNDER REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY, WOULD THEY MEAN BY OVER REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY THAT IS THE POSITION THAT A PERSON THINKS THEY HAVE MORE OF THE BLESSINGS FROM THE FUTURE NOW THAN THEY ACTUALLY DO SEE A PERSON WHO IS GUILTY OF AN OVER REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY HAS REACHED FORWARD AND BROUGHT BACK THOSE THINGS THAT GOD HAS DETERMINED ARE YET FOR THE FUTURE. THE NOT YET IN INSISTING THAT THEY MUST BE KNOWN AND EXPERIENCED RIGHT NOW THAT'S OVER REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE WERE PAUL DEALT WITH THIS VERY VERY THING. PAUL'S WRITING. I BELIEVE SARCASTICALLY HERE IN FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 4. LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS TO CORINTHIANS. YOU ARE ALREADY FULL.

YOU ARE ALREADY RICH. YOU HAVE RAIN AS KINGS WITHOUT US, AND INDEED I COULD WISH YOU DID RAIN THAT WE ALSO MIGHT RAIN WITH YOU. PAUL THEN BRINGS A DOSE OF REALITY. FOR I THINK THAT GOD IS DISPLAYED US THE APOSTLES. LAST, HIS MEN CONDEMNED TO DEATH FOR WE HAVE MADE, FOR WE HAVE BEEN MADE A SPECTACLE TO THE WORLD, BOTH TO ANGELS AND TO MEN.

WE ARE FOOLS FOR CHRIST SAKE, BUT YOU ARE WISE IN CHRIST WE ARE WEAK, BUT YOU ARE STRONG YOU ARE DISTINGUISHED, BUT WE ARE DISHONORED TO THE PRESENT HOUR.

WE BOTH HUNGER AND THIRST, AND WE ARE POORLY CLOTHED AND BEATEN IN HOMELESS AND WE LABOR WORKING WITH OUR OWN HANDS BEING REVILED, WE BLESS, BEING PERSECUTED, WE ENDURE, BEING DEFAMED WE ENTREAT. WE HAVE BEEN MADE AS THE FILTH OF THE WORLD THE OFFICE SCOURING OF ALL THINGS UNTIL NOW THE CORINTHIANS, THEIR SOUND A LITTLE BIT LIKE SOME OF THE CONTEMPORARY HEALTH, WEALTH AND PROSPERITY GOSPEL PREACHERS DON'T THINK. AND ISN'T THAT THE REASONING FOR SOME TODAY WHILE AFTER ALL, AREN'T YOU A CHILD OF THE KING ISN'T GOD, YOUR FATHER DOESN'T HE WANT TO GIVE YOU EVERYTHING. AND HOW DO WE RESPOND TO THAT WILL YES WE COULD SAY THAT, BUT HE ALSO WANTS US TO LEARN TO BE DISCIPLINE.

HE ALSO WANTS US TO LEARN SOMETHING OF SUFFERING, LIKE HIS SON DID THIS MANY OTHER THINGS.

HE WANTS US TO LEARN. HE DOESN'T JUST WANT US TO BE HEALTHY AND WEALTHY AND RICH, NO, THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF OVER REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY LEADS PEOPLE TO THINK THAT EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET IN THE FUTURE. THEY'RE GOING TO GET IT RIGHT NOW FEELING NOW FULL TRANSFORMATION NOW WRESTLING WAS SIN OVER NOW. PERFECT LOVE, PERFECT MARRIAGE IS PERFECT WELL PERFECT CONTENTMENT.

IT'S ALL YOURS NOW NAME AND CLAIMANT. AFTER ALL, CHRIST IS SECURED. THAT IS OVER REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY THAT'S FAILING TO RECOGNIZE THIS TENSION BETWEEN THE ALREADY IN THE NOT YET WHAT WE SAY IN RESPONSE TO THAT WILL YES ALL THE BLESSINGS WE PRESENTLY KNOW ALL THE BLESSINGS THAT ARE YET FUTURE. CHRIST HAS SECURED FOR US, BUT IF YOU HAVE AN OVER REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY, YOU WILL IMAGINE THAT YOU HAVE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE ACTUALLY RESERVED FOR THE FINAL HEALING IN THE FINAL TRANSFORMATION AND IN THE FINAL GLORIFICATION OF GOD'S PEOPLE, AND IN THE CONSUMMATION OF ALL OF CHRIST'S REDEMPTIVE PURPOSES. PEOPLE SAY WE DON'T YOU BELIEVE THAT THERE IS HEALING AND THE ATONEMENT. YES, I DO. AS A MATTER OF WHEN WILL THAT BE REALIZED NOW GOD AT TIMES HEALS PEOPLE. WE REJOICE IN THAT WHEN IT PLEASES HIM TO DO THAT.

BUT TO DEMAND THAT INSIST UPON THAT BELIEVE THAT GOD WILLS THAT ALL THE TIME AGAIN IS FAILING TO LIVE IN THE TENSION BETWEEN THE ALREADY IN THE NOT YET. I BELIEVE IN THEIRS HEALING IN THE ATONEMENT AND IT WILL BE FULLY REALIZED IN THAT DAY. THAT'S OVER REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY. WHAT ABOUT UNDER REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY THAT'S FAILING TO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE IN CHRIST JESUS. RIGHT NOW, WHAT DO WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, WE HAVE THE JOY OF BEING ONCE AND FOR ALL DECLARED JUST BEFORE GOD BECAUSE OF WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE. WE HAVE ONGOING CLEANSING OF SINS WITH THE JOY OF ONCE BEING DECLARED JUST BEFORE GOD BECAUSE OF WHAT CHRIST IS DONE IS POURED HIS SPIRIT OUT UPON US WOULD BEGIN THE LOVE. WHAT WE DIDN'T LOVE AND WE BEAT WE GET BEGIN TO HATE WHAT WE DIDN'T HATE ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST. HE'S A NEW CREATION THAT BEGINS THE MANIFEST ITSELF IN EVERY SPHERE OF LIFE. OUR GOALS ARE CHANGE OUR VALUES OR CHANGE OUR DIRECTION IS CHANGED AND ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THE GOSPEL IS WHAT THE POWER OF GOD FOR SALVATION TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT'S HOW WE EXPLAIN THIS TRANSFORMATION OF LIFE. IT'S THE POWER OF GOD. SO MANY BLESSINGS COME TO US FROM GOD AND WE MUST APPRECIATE THEM LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF THEM AND GROW IN OUR APPRECIATION OF THEM WITH AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS YET A FINAL CONSUMMATION. SO THERE'S THOSE TWO FALLACIES. THE FALLACY OF OVER REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY ON THE ONE HAND, AND UNDER REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY ON THE SECONDHAND NOW. DON'T FEEL BAD IF YOU NEVER HEARD THOSE TERMINOLOGY. IF YOU DO A LOT OF READING. YOU COME ACROSS THAT LANGUAGE IN NEVER BEEN EXPOSED TO THAT WHATEVER EXPLAINED LOT OF THESE WRITERS WILL THROW THOSE TERMS OUT WITH AN ASSUMPTION THAT PEOPLE JUST KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. I'VE COME ACROSS THAT I SEE SOMETHING I'M SAY OKAY WHAT HE WHAT HE TALKING ABOUT. YOU DON'T EXPLAIN IT. YOU JUST ASSUME SO. YOU GOT TO DO SOME RESEARCH SO NOW IF YOU COME ACROSS THOSE TERMS, OVER AND UNDER REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY, YOU'LL KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT IT IT'S RELATING TO THIS TENSION.

THIS BIBLICAL TENSION, WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE HIM LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF THE TENSION BETWEEN THE ALREADY IN THE NOT YET SO CONSIDERED THE TENSION WITH GIVEN BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF THE TENSION WITH CONSIDER TWO FALLACIES RELATED TO DETENTION. FINALLY, LET ME SHOW YOU THE PROVISION OF GOD FOR THOSE LIVING IN THIS TENSION FOR THAT WERE GOING TO MAKE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS PROVISIONS. SIX OF THEM THAT I WANT TO ENUMERATE THE GOD IS MADE FOR THOSE LIVING IN THIS TENSION NUMBER ONE GOD IS PROVIDED IN OUR UTTER TRANSFORMATION IN ANTICIPATION OF THE END GOD IS BROUGHT UTTER TRANSFORMATION OF OUR LIVES.

EPHESIANS CHAPTER 2 VERSES ONE THROUGH 10 TALKS ABOUT WHAT WE WERE WHAT WERE WE WE WERE DEAD IN OUR TRESPASSES AND SINS. WE WERE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE WE WERE DECEIVED.

WE WERE IN BONDAGE AND WE WERE DAMNED THE WRATH OF GOD WAS HANGING OVER US WERE REMINDED THAT WE WERE ALL OF THESE THINGS. WE WERE UNDER THE JUDICIAL JUDGMENT OF GOD. GOD'S WRATH WAS OVER US AND GOD'S SENTENCE OF DEATH WAS WAITING ITS EXECUTION OF US. PAUL SAYS, BUT GOD BUT GOD IN HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US. GOD WAS RICH IN MERCY, MADE US ALIVE WITH CHRIST.

SO GOD PROVIDES FOR OUR UTTER TRANSFORMATION OUT OF SHEER GRACE RECEIVED THROUGH FAITH ALONE IN THIS WHOLE SALVATION FROM A-TO-Z IS ALL OF GOD JESUS THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE END TO LIMIT MENTION.

THE FIRST THING AGAIN.

THIS IS THE FIRST PROVISION THAT WERE CONSIDERING AS RELATES THOSE LIVING IN THIS TENSION.

GOD IS PROVIDED FOR OUR UTTER TRANSFORMATION IN ANTICIPATION OF THE END WHILE I ADD THAT IN ANTICIPATION OF THE END TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS TENSION. YES WE WE HAVE BEEN CHANGED, TRANSFORMED BY THE GRACE OF GOD, BUT IT IS AN ONGOING THING. HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN US WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST. SO WERE ENCOURAGED BY WHAT GOD IS DOING HAS DONE AND YET WE HAVE AN EYE TOWARD THE FUTURE, KNOWING THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE ON UNTIL WE HAVE BEEN GLORIFIED.

PROVISION NUMBER TWO GOD IS CREATED A NEW HUMANITY IN ANTICIPATION OF THE END GOD HAS CREATED A NEW HUMANITY IN ANTICIPATION OF THE END. IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 211 THROUGH 22. I WILL TAKE TIME TO READ THAT BUT THE PARTICULAR FOCUS THERE IS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JEWS AND GENTILES IN ALL KINDS OF CULTURAL BARRIERS BETWEEN THE TWO HAVE EXISTED BUT NOW THERE IS ONE NEW HUMANITY. GOD HAS BROUGHT THAT INTO EXISTENCE WHEN WE GET TO THE BOOK OF REVELATION WE ARE GIVEN A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE ULTIMATE NEW HUMANITY WITH MEN AND WOMEN DRAWN FROM EVERY TONGAN TRIBE AND PEOPLE AND NATION ALL GATHERED AROUND THE THRONE ON THE LAST DAY. SO AGAIN THE SECOND PROVISION GOD IS MADE FOR THOSE LIVING IN THIS TENSION GOD HAS CREATED A NEW HUMANITY IN ANTICIPATION OF THE END ARE CHURCHES SHOULD REFLECT THIS NEW HUMANITY.

WE SHOULD ALL BE GATHERED AROUND SOCIAL ECONOMIC NORMS. OUR INTEREST IS IN CHRIST GOD BRINGS PEOPLE FROM ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS. SOME OF YOU KNOW WHO ED MORRISSEY PASTORS CHURCH IN QUEENS NEW YORK AND ED TOLD ME THERE WAS A PARTICULAR SUNDAY THAT HE ASKED PEOPLE TO STAND ACCORDING TO THEIR ETHNICITY. WHAT COUNTRY THEY'RE FROM, AND PEOPLE WERE STANDING UP AND I THINK HE TOLD ME THERE WERE 30 SOME DIFFERENT NATIONS REPRESENTED IN HIS CONGREGATION. NOW HE 80S PASTORING IN NEW YORK CITY, QUEENS, NEW YORK. SO BUT THAT THAT'S THE CHURCH OF JESUS, AND WE WILL SEE IT ON FULL DISPLAY IN THAT DAY WHEN GOD CONSUMMATES HIS REDEMPTIVE PURPOSES AT THE END OF THE AGE.

THE THIRD PROVISION GOD PROVIDES IS THAT HE DISCLOSES HIS CONCEALED PURPOSES IN ANTICIPATION OF THE END THAT'S FROM EPHESIANS CHAPTER 3 PULSE TALKING ABOUT MR. THE MYSTERY THAT HAS BEEN HIDDEN AND HAS NOW BEEN REVEALED.

HE SAYS THERE IN VERSE 14.

FOR THIS REASON I BOW MY KNEES TO THE FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IS TALKING ABOUT THIS MYSTERY. MY BIBLE IS A HEADING UNDER VERSE EIGHT. THE PURPOSE OF THE MYSTERY. THE MYSTERY REVEALED WORD MYSTERIES USED 28 TIMES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.

IT NEVER MEANS MYSTERY IN THE SENSE OF THRILLER OR WHODUNIT THAT'S NOT THE WAY MYSTERIES TO BE UNDERSTOOD. MYSTERY REFERS TO WHAT GOD HAS KEPT SECRET IN THE PAST BUT HAS NOW REVEALED. PAUL IS TELLING THE EPHESIAN BELIEVERS THAT, AS THEY READ THIS LETTER.

THEY WILL BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND INSIGHT INTO THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST, WHICH WAS NOT MADE KNOWN TO PEOPLE IN OTHER GENERATIONS AS IT HAS NOW BEEN REVEALED BY THE SPIRIT TO GOD'S APOSTLES AND HIS PROPHETS NO IT'S NOT THAT GOD HAD REVEALED IT, BUT HE HAD REVEALED IT THROUGH PROGRESSIVE REVELATION. THERE WAS THE TYPES IN THE SHADOWS IN THE CEREMONIES AND ALL THE LAWS ALL THOSE THINGS SPOKE OF THIS MYSTERY, BUT IT IS REVEALED IN CHRIST.

NOW GOD PROVIDES AGAIN FOR THE DISCLOSURE OF HIS CONCEALED PURPOSES IN ANTICIPATION OF THE END CHRIST WILL BE GLORIFIED CHRIST WILL CAPTURE OUR ATTENTION THROUGHOUT ALL THE AGES WHEN WE GATHERING GLORY. AND HE WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S BEEN GOD'S PURPOSE ALL ALONG. SO THERE'S AGAIN THIS TENSION BETWEEN THE ALREADY AND THE NOT YET NUMBER FOUR GOD DOES MORE THAN WE COULD ASK OR IMAGINE, ACCORDING TO EPHESIANS CHAPTER 3 VERSES 14 THROUGH 21 IS A PRAYER THAT PAUL PRAISES RECORDED FOR US AND IT'S A PRAYER THAT GOD WOULD WORK IN US TO MAKE US GROW IN HOLINESS AND IN DEPTH OF APPRECIATION FOR HIS LOVE FOR US, THAT OUR UNDERSTANDING WOULD BE ENLIGHTENED IN SO MANY OTHER MORE THINGS GOD DOES MORE THAN WE CAN ASK OR IMAGINE AN BY TELLING US THAT HE IS PROVOKING US TO PRAY NOT TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKS IN US, SO THE FOURTH PROVISION FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THIS TENSION IS THAT GOD DOES MORE THAN WE COULD ASK OR IMAGINE AN BY TELLING US THAT HE IS PROVOKING US TO PRAY PROVISION NUMBER FIVE GOD BUILDS TRUTH AND UNITY INTO HIS BODY ALL THE WAY THROUGH EPHESIANS CHAPTER 4 VERSE ONE TO THE END OF THE LETTER GOD IS TELLING US IN PRACTICAL WAYS THROUGH THE APOSTLE PAUL POWER TO LIVE, HOW TO SPEAK OUR LOVE, OUR TO DENY OURSELVES IN ALL OF THIS AGAIN IN ANTICIPATION OF WHAT WILL BE ON THE LAST DAY. THINK WE LIKE THOSE PORTIONS OF THE WORD OF GOD THAT GIVES US THE HOW TO WELL HERE IT IS.

BUT AGAIN THE HOW TO'S ARE GROUNDED IN INDICATIVE STATEMENTS OF WHAT GOD IS DONE IN CHRIST AS THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS OF EPHESIANS AND ONLY WHEN WE GET TO CHAPTER 4 WE FIND THE WORDS.

I THEREFORE, THE PRISONER OF THE LORD BESEECH YOU TO WALK WORTHY OF THE CALLING WITH WHICH YOU WORK ALL THE NURSES VERY VERY PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS WAS PAUL ST. PAUL SAYING WE ARE LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS AND BECAUSE OF THIS IS GOING TO BE CONFLICT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULTY THERE'S GOING TO BE WARFARE GOD IS COMMITTED TRUTH TO US AND GOD WANTS TO BUILD, BUT BOTH TRUTH AND UNITY INTO HIS BODY.

THE SIX PROVISION IS THAT GOD EQUIPS IN ARMS. HIS PEOPLE IN ANTICIPATION OF THE END WERE TOLD THERE IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 6 VERSES 10 THROUGH 20. THAT THE DEVIL IS FILLED WITH RAGE BECAUSE HE KNOWS HIS TIME IS SHORT. REVELATION 12 TELLS US THAT AS LONG AS WERE IN THIS LIFE AS LONG AS WORK IN ATTENDING FOR THE FAITH AS LONG AS WE ARE WRESTLING WITH OUR FLESH, THE WORLD AND THE DEVIL WERE GOING TO KNOW STRUGGLE AND PAUL SAYS OUR STRUGGLE IS NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, NOR STRUGGLES AGAINST THE RULERS AND THE AUTHORITIES IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL AND THEREFORE PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD, WHICH GOD HAS RICHLY PROVIDED TO HIS CHURCH TO ALL OF HIS SAINTS TO EQUIP US AND ARMAS FOR THIS BATTLE, WHAT, WHAT KIND GOD TO NOT ONLY WARN US OF WARFARE, BUT TO EQUIP US FOR THAT WARFARE. GOD EQUIPS IN ARMS AS PEOPLE IN ANTICIPATION OF THE END. SO I TRUST THIS MESSAGE BEEN HELPFUL TO YOU TONIGHT.

AS WE'VE TAKEN A BIT OF A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS AND TRIED TO RELATE IT TO THIS TENSION THAT GOD IS REQUIRING US TO LIVE IN THE TENSION BETWEEN THE ALREADY IN THE NOT YET THOSE EXAMPLES AND PERHAPS YOU CAN THINK OF OTHERS AND TO PERHAPS UNDERSTAND WHY SOME PEOPLE GET AFIELD IN WHAT THEY ARE ANTICIPATING WHAT THEY'RE EXPECTING WHAT THEY'RE HOPING WHAT THEIR DEMANDING OF GOD BECAUSE OF FALLACY OVER REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY UNDER REALIZED ESCHATOLOGY MUST BE MEN AND WOMEN OF BALANCE.

LET'S COMMIT TO KNOWING THE WORD OF GOD ARE RIGHT, GOD WOULD HELP US TO LIVE IN A WAY THAT HONORS HIM. MY HOPE BLESSED JESUS IS ANCHORED IN THE THY RIGHTEOUSNESS ONLY NOW COVERED WITH ME BY BLOOD SHED ON CALVARY. NOW IS MY PLEA. MY HOPE MY HOPE IS IN THE REFRAIN.

WONDERFUL SAVIOR, ALL GLORY TO THE IN THE IS SALVATION SO FULL AND SO FREE. I'LL SHOUT FORTH THY PRAISES THROUGH ALL ETERNITY. MY SAVIOR, MY SAVIOR, MY HOPE IS IN THE MY HOPE IS IN THE EYE STAND ON THE ROCK THAT NO TEMPEST CAN SHAKE AND LIFE FROM THY HANDS EVERY MOMENT I TAKE THY LOVE WILL ENDURE WHEN ALL OTHERS FIRST SAY MY HOPE MY HOPE IS IN THE MY HOPE FOR ETERNITY RESTS IN THY HAND, MY HEART DEEPLY LONGS FOR THAT FAIR BETTER LAND WHERE ONE DAY COMPLETE IN THY SELF I SHALL STAND MY HOPE, MY HOPE IS IN THE, SHALL WE PRAY FATHER WE BOW TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, INDEED, OUR HOPE IS IN YOU, THERE IS NO OTHER HOPE AND WE HOPE NOT. THE WAY THE WORLD HOPES WE BELIEVE HOPE IS THE CERTAIN CONFIDENCE OF A CERTAIN FUTURE REALITY THAT THERE IS A DAY COMING THAT JESUS WILL REIGN THAT GLORY WILL COVER THIS EARTH AS THE WATERS COVER THE SEA. THEREFORE, WE PRAY ALL GOD BY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. TEACH US FATHER TO WALK CIRCUMSPECT TO UNDERSTAND YOUR WORD.

A RIGHT TO LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR REVEALED TRUTH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD THAT CLARIFIES AND CORRECTS OUR MISUNDERSTANDINGS. THANK YOU THAT WE ARE TRUSTING A GOD WHOSE RULING AND REIGNING IN THE HEAVENS ABOVE AND ON THE EARTH BENEATH, WE LONG FOR THAT DAY FOR THE FULL CONSUMMATION IN THE ENTERING INTO EVERYTHING THAT GOD YOU HAVE PURPOSE FOR YOUR PEOPLE AND YOUR SON THE LORD JESUS NOT TO HIM WHO IS THE BLESSED AND ONLY POTENTATE, THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, WHO ALONE HAS IMMORTALITY, DWELLING IN UNAPPROACHABLE LIGHT, WHOM NO MAN HAS SEEN OR CAN SEE TO HOME, BE HONOR AND EVERLASTING POWER. A MAN AND A MAN