Gospel Dynamite with J. Allen Mashburn

Paul's Letter to the Ephesians | Ephesians 3:20-21 | J. Allen Mashburn

Up to this point, the book of Ephesians has been one long theological exhalation. Paul has emptied the contents of his soul as he has revealed mysteries that were hidden from the foundation of the world. The first three chapters of Ephesians are a theological goldmine. The verses we have studied to get to this point in the book are so embedded with heavenly nuggets of spiritual truth that it is impossible for mortals to fully grasp all they teach. 
After this great outpouring of truth, Paul concludes this chapter by giving voice to the praise that dwells in his heart. As Paul writes the words of this great book, he is overwhelmed by the truths he has been privileged to learn. So, after he prays for the Ephesian saints, he lifts his voice in praise to the One Who made all this possible.

Paul's Letter to the Ephesians | Ephesians 3:16-19 | J. Allen Mashburn

The verses before us today reveal a man in prayer. Beginning in verse 14, Paul turned his heart toward the Lord to pray for the believers in Ephesus. In our last study, we looked at verses 14-15 and talked about Paul’s Pattern In Prayer. Today, we way to consider verses 16-19 and think abut Paul’s Petitions In Prayer.
 
As Paul prayed for the Ephesians believers, he made some very specific requests on their behalf. It is interesting to note what he did not ask for when he prayed. He did not pray for anything physical, material or financial. He did not pray for the healing of their sick. He did not pray that they would be delivered from persecution. He did not pray about the economy in Asia Minor. Paul did not occupy his prayer with so many of the things that seem to mark our own prayer lives.
 

Paul's Letter to the Ephesians | Ephesians 3:14-15 | J. Allen Mashburn

If you are a praying person, you know the difficulties associated with prayer. The flesh hates to pray! Not only that, but the mind is easily distracted during prayer. Have you ever stopped to pray and started off well enough, only to have your mind get sidetracked? Have you ever found yourself thinking about matters that are not even remotely connected with your prayers? If you have, welcome to the human race. We are a short-minded people who are easily distracted.
 
It seems Paul had this issue as well. He started to pray back in verse 1, and then he became sidetracked and spent the next twelve verses describing the “mystery” of the church. Just for the record, Paul was not distracted by any fleshly motives. His mind did not lead him down some primrose path. The Holy Spirit distracted Paul. He was so overwhelmed by the truth that he had been given that he spent some time both exalting and exulting in the revelation of the “mystery” of the church.
 

The Shepherd and His Sheep | Psalms 23 | J. Allen Mashburn

The Lord could have compared His people to anything in the world. He could have said, "My people are like bears, they are strong!" He could have said, "My people are like lions, they are courage, fearless and brave!"He could have said, "My people are like foxes because they are so shrewd and wise." He could have even said, "My people are like doves because they are so peaceful and meek."
Instead, when the Lord described His people. He called them sheep. As you may or may not know, sheep are not the brightest animals to ever appear on the earth. In fact, they have a reputation for being quite stupid! They are dumb and they are defenseless! They require a shepherd to care for them. They require a shepherd to protect them. They require someone who will look after their smallest needs and who will lead them to where they need to be. When the Lord called us sheep, it may be less than flattering, but it is right on target!
Since sheep are so needy, they form a special bond with their shepherd. He is required to get to know them intimately. He knows the ones who are prone to wander. He knows the weaker ones. He knows the loyal ones too. He even knows them all by name. The sheep, despite their stupidity, becomes familiar with the voice of the shepherd. They know his sound and his smell. There is a bond between sheep and shepherd that just isn't found anywhere else in the world of agriculture.
If you ever come to understand that, then being called a sheep isn't such a bad thing after all! This much beloved Psalm allows us a glimpse into the unique relationship between the Heavenly Shepherd and his human sheep. We are reminded in these verses that we enjoy a special bind with our Shepherd. Notice the blessings we can glean from this Psalm today as we think about The Shepherd And His Sheep.
 

Paul's Letter to the Ephesians | Ephesians 3:7-13 | J. Allen Mashburn

So far, Ephesians 3 has given us some insight into the man we know as Paul. In verse 1, Paul tells us that he is “the prisoner of Jesus Christ.” Paul was imprisoned by the Roman beaded on charges made by the Jews. Yet, Paul did not see himself as the prisoner of either Rome or of Judaism; Paul understood that he was where he was by the will of God. Paul was the prisoner of Christ.  He was in prison by the will of God, for the glory of God, for the good of the church, the body of Christ.
In verses 2-6, Paul tells us that he is a pioneer. That is, he was given the revelation of truth that was hidden from all the great prophets, preachers, teachers and leaders of the past. Paul was allowed to understand some thing that Moses never understood. He was given truth that was never made clear to Abraham, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah or Daniel. He understood things that John the Baptist had no knowledge of. Paul was a pioneer preacher, blazing the trail for the church, the body of Christ.
In the first six verses of this chapter, Paul reveals the “mystery” he has been given. He writes about the amazing truth that the church of Jesus Christ, or His body, is made up of both saved Jews and saved Gentiles. The “mystery” is that in Jesus Christ; those who were on opposite sides of religion are made one in the Lord. The “mystery” is that, in Jesus Christ, all people, regardless of their race, their heritage, or any other considerations, are made one.
Having revealed the “mystery”, Paul now exults in that “mystery.” He wants us to know why He is preaching what he preaches. Let’s take a few minutes to walk through these verses together today. There are some wonderful truths in these verses that we need to notice. Let these verses encourage you as we look at another facet of the life of Paul.

Revelation 5:1-7 | Worthy is the Lamb | J. Allen Mashburn

In chapter 4, John is caught up into Heaven.  When he arrives there, he sees God Himself sitting on a glorious throne.  John sees Heaven arrayed as a courtroom.  God is preparing to unleash His wrath on the inhabitants of the earth.
In the midst of this awesome scene, we also see that Heaven is filled with the praises of Jehovah.  Heaven understands what the Lord is about to do and the inhabitants of that city praise the Lord for His glory, His power and for His creation.  They are also acknowledging His right to judge the earth.
It seems that John is taken to Heaven to give him a heavenly perspective concerning what is about to happen on the earth.  I mentioned this last week, but it is still true: when the events of this earth are viewed from a purely earthly perspective, they can cause fear, doubt and confusion.  But, when all the events of history are viewed through the eyes of Heaven, everything makes sense!
So, chapter four ends with God receiving the praise of His created ones and of His redeemed ones.  Heaven throbs with the voices of those caught up in their love for Almighty God.  Chapter fivefinds us in the same courtroom in Heaven.  Now, praise has ceased for a moment and heavenly business is about to be transacted, and we are going to have front row seats as it is acted out.
We are about to find out that, in Heaven, Jesus is the central Figure.  He is the center of attention.  I believe that Heaven will be a glorious, wonderful place.  I believe there will be streets of gold, walls of jasper, gates of pearl, and more glory than you and I can imagine.  I believe it will be great to see Abraham, Moses, Paul, and the rest.  But, the main attraction of Heaven will be Jesus Himself.  In this passage, we are going to see Jesus Himself, in His rightful place; glorified and exalted in Heaven.

Paul's Letter to the Ephesians | Ephesians 3:1-7 | J. Allen Mashburn

Welcome to another episode of Gospel Dynamite. In today's message, we delve into Ephesians 3:1-7, exploring the profound insights of Apostle Paul, the pioneer preacher. Paul unveils the mystery of the church, a divine secret hidden for ages but now revealed through his ministry.
Discover how Paul, under the sovereign control of Jesus Christ, conveys the unity of Jews and Gentiles in one body - the body of Christ. This episode emphasizes the importance of understanding that every believer, irrespective of their background, shares the same blessings and promises in Christ.
Join us as we learn about Paul's unique calling and the stewardship entrusted to him by God, and how we, too, are called to fulfill our divine purposes. Be inspired to embrace your spiritual gifts and serve for the glory of God, knowing that the same Spirit that empowered Paul empowers us today.
Don't miss this powerful teaching on the grace, unity, and mystery of the church. Tune in and be edified by the profound truths of God's Word.

Paul's Letter to the Ephesians | Ephesians 3:1 | J. Allen Mashburn

Today, Pastor focuses on Paul’s statement in Eph. 3:1. In this verse, Paul reveals his identity as “a prisoner of Jesus Christ.” In this small, but powerful verse, Paul gives us some insights into life that we do not want to miss. We share with you the insights into being a prisoner that not only helped transform Paul’s time in prison into a ministry, but that also served to transform his life for the glory of God. The insights given here have the potential to do the same for us.
Let’s take a few minutes to consider Paul the Prisoner.