Ep 910 | Jase Preaches a Sermon to the Cop Who Pulled Him Over & Still Gets a Ticket!
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I am unashamed. What about you? Welcome back to Unashamed. We don't have Zach with us today. He called me this morning, said he'd had a scheduling malfunction. He's doing a wedding someplace. And he said, but I probably wouldn't have been able to make it anyway because all night long I had explosive diarrhea. Oh, boy. So I was like, well. Oh, it's a bad thing.

So I thought that was bad because, you know, we didn't have Zach and trying to adapt. And then I get a text from Chase that says, I'm going to be late. I got pulled over. And so I thought, oh boy, we don't need Zach. I sent you that text as I was being, I was, I'd come to a complete stop with the flashing blue lights behind me, bewildered by the

What I could possibly have been... Because you've said on this podcast before, you don't speed. It's not in your nature. I have. And I've been behind you before coming out here. You're correct. You do not speed. I have in the past...

And so I picked up my phone, but he, as I picked up my phone, because I was, I stayed up late. So I was thinking maybe that had something. I literally was so excited about what we were going to talk about. Because I found a vein in Ephesians last night that I had never discovered. And I thought.

Well, I didn't get much sleep. I mean, I went to bed at 3 o'clock in the morning. So I thought, and I got up late. It was the work of the Lord. I got up late because I stayed up all night. Yep. So I'm sitting here thinking, I was in a little bit of a fog this morning. You know how you are in that. I've been there. I was thinking, well, I know I wasn't speeding because I was going slower than...

I mean, the speed limit there is like 45. I was on Main Arkansas Road. Okay, so you're out by where we live. They turned it into four lanes with the roundabout, went by the roundabouts. And then I was going through in my head as I was trying to text you. And all of a sudden, this very young state policeman is like hollering at me. He's like, step out of the vehicle, come back to my car. I was like, well, I'm trying to tell some people that I'm going to be late. You know, I'm fixing to do a podcast.

He said, this will only take a second. I was like, oh, well, that's good. Because I was thinking, what's wrong with my truck? Yeah, maybe a broken taillight. So I pushed send on the text and then stepped back there. Because in my mind, I knowingly did not break any law. I was racking my brain. And he said, well, I pulled you over because...

your seatbelt. And I said, oh, I had my seatbelt on. And he said, no, you didn't. I was like, oh yeah, I had it on. I said, I'll give you an illustration. You know, he said, well, show it to me. So we walked back to the truck because in that moment I was thinking,

Scotty Scheffler here, we have a failure to communicate. I had my seatbelt. I said, I wear my seatbelt at all times. I do not drive my vehicle without my seatbelt on. But he was looking at me like he didn't believe me. So as we're walking back to my truck to show the illustration,

I was like, look, I'm fixing to go do a podcast and I'm encouraging men to be men of integrity. So I just, cause I had this other thing that happened about a week ago. Did I share that about asking the guy about if he was a man of integrity? Hmm. No. Well, I'll share that later, I guess.

So I said, I looked him right in the eyes. I said, I'm a man of integrity. If I told you I had my seatbelt on, I had my seatbelt on. I said, I have my Bible in my passenger seat. If you want me to put my hand on the Bible, the seatbelt was on. I was just, I made it very clear adamantly in close proximity. So he said, well, show me. So when I got my truck,

I click my seatbelt on. Well, I don't like having that shoulder strap over my shoulder. And I put it under my arm. That's why I said I knowingly did not break the law because I thought as long as you got it buckled, I just thought this is another option to keep you safe. I thought the law was you must have your seatbelt on. I think that's what it is.

Oh, no. He said, well, okay. He said, you're improperly wearing the seatbelt. And I said, well, it was clicked in the holster. And he said, you have to have, and he went through a five-minute dissertation on the three points of proper seatbelt wearing. I said, where is that written? He said, it's in the law. And what I should have said, because, you know, once you have this thing,

Because when I called Missy after this was over, I was like, I just got a ticket. So I'll go ahead and give you the, you know, I don't want to bury the lead. I get a ticket for this. Because he said, well, this will just be a minute. So he goes back to his car. And of course, I was thinking I wasn't going to get a ticket. Yeah. Because I just thought, okay, I improperly wore the seatbelt. But why can't I go?

Because he went back. So then once again, he hollers back, come back to the car. So he has a little, you know, a little thing, a computer looking thing. And he's like handed it to me to sign. I was like, oh, you're going to give me a ticket for this? And he was like, well, you broke the law. I was like, well, I didn't know that was a law. And he said, well, that doesn't matter.

I said, so do you think I'm telling the truth? Because I got caught up on. Yeah, he thought you weren't wearing it. I thought I wasn't wearing it. Yeah. And what I wish I would have done. Did he ever say, do you think he ever believed you were wearing it and just were wearing it in practice? Well, I put that question to the test. I said, look, it matters to me. I said, that what you think, the intent of the law. I said, I think when you're.

making law enforcement, you're enforcing the law. I said, I think intent should matter. Do you? And he said, I'm just doing my job. I thought, well, he didn't really answer the question there. And I said, look, here's, can I just tell you what my thought process is? He said, sure. And then I did say this. I said, look, I'm late to a podcast. And I said, millions of people listen to it. And I said, I'm fixed to tell this story.

I said, are you comfortable with that? Are you giving me a ticket for this? And he said, sure, shout it to the world. I said, well, then I looked at his name tag, you know, and I thought maybe I should mention his name. I said, so here's what I think we have. Here's the miscommunication I'm having. I said, in the book of Hebrews, I said, they had a system of law and the priest. So you're telling them all this. Oh, yeah, I went into it.

I don't know why. I just assumed he was probably familiar with the Bible. And I said, look, they had a priest, because I was studying this last night, where they would- So you're giving him the five-guess list. I said, they gave sacrifices. Look, based on, I just read this in Leviticus, unintentional sins. And I said, they had the same problem we have here. I said, this was an unintentional sin. I thought that was-

As long as I have my seatbelt on, I thought you wear your seatbelt so you don't get thrown out of the vehicle. I didn't know you had to have both straps over you. I did not know that was a law.

Now, when I told Missy that, she was like, well, you learned that in driver's ed. I was like, well, I didn't take driver's ed. But what I should have said, because I remember, look, I got pulled over. And by the way, you got your driver's license about 35 years ago. Yeah. But I got pulled over for this same thing years ago, which I didn't share this with him because in the moment, I just didn't think of it. And because they didn't think I had my seatbelt on.

But it's the same thing. And they were like, oh, okay, yeah, you're free to go. He didn't say, well, that's the law. Look, the first two vehicles I had did not have a shoulder strap, which I should have asked that. Before they made them.

Well, I'm like, there's vehicles around. I had two of them. Yeah, would you get a ticket every time you were in a vehicle that didn't have a show? I just couldn't. So that's why I did. I mean, because Missy thought it was ridiculous. I didn't know that was a law. She's like, well, you should have told him that. I was like, babe, I got into Hebrews, and I couldn't get off of it. So I said, so you have a- You went the biblical route. So I said, so you have a choice here. I committed an unintentional sin. I thought me having been buckled in-

Well, I thought I was following the law. And he said, well, it doesn't matter. And I said, well, I just want to know, though, do you think I have my seatbelt on? He said, it doesn't matter. You were wearing it unintentionally. That's good enough for me for you to get this ticket. So he wouldn't answer the question. He wouldn't answer the question. And I said, look. What does your gut tell you? Does your gut tell you that he thought you weren't wearing your seatbelt?

Although you went to that much trouble. I think he was convinced I had my seatbelt on. But by now, he was committed to giving you the ticket. He was giving me the ticket no matter what happened. But I said, look, here's my problem with this. I said, my problem is when you think about what the Lord offers us, if he were to function like you, I was like, we're all doomed. There is absolutely no hope. Now we're preaching or serving.

I said that. You can't do what he says. This young man had a little church breakout on the side of the road is what happened here. I just couldn't believe, even when he was handing me the thing, I said. He showed how hard it is if you're depending upon your own evidence. It's a great lesson on law, law keeping. I said, and so when it came time to sign it, I couldn't sign it.

I said, I'm not sure I can do this. I said, you're really wanting me to sign this and give me a ticket for this. I said, did you ask him what happened? He said, I don't understand what the problem is. Even after my speech, I was like, I tried to explain it in the book of Hebrew. I said, this was an unintentional sin where technically I was strapped in my vehicle. I said, I would think as many warnings as I've had in my life. I said, look, I've been pulled over many times. And most of the time,

I should have got a ticket. Yeah. I wouldn't have argued. And they, they gave me a warning. I said, in this case, a warning would suffice. This seems like an opportune time to give me a warning because I didn't know I've made the case. I said, I get it. I was my security guy. I had a security guy at an event I did, and he was a cop. And we were talking about the cell phone problem, you know, and, uh,

And so he made a statement, that officer, that said, I said, do people lie to you? And he's like, well, if their lips are moving, you know, they're lying. Oh, boy. So then I thought, so I just heard that from another cop. Yeah.

And I said, it matters to me that you realize you're giving me a ticket even though you know I have my seatbelt on. I just didn't have on the shoulder portion. And I had it. It was just under your armpit. It was under my arm. It was actually covered my torso. It was just not over my shoulder. That's what I got a ticket for. Wow. And he said, yeah, I'm...

I'm not giving you a warning. This is happening. Yeah, this is happening. I said, well, I'm signing it, but I do not think. Did you ask him what would happen if you didn't sign it? No. I didn't want to. If we hadn't had this podcast, I think I wouldn't have. But at that point. That might have then triggered another law you might have been breaking. I don't know. I don't know a lot about traffic law. It just seems like to me there's a lot going on in the world out there that this would be ticket worthy.

I can't even believe he would notice it. Oh. You know. Well. That's when you run out of something to do. Well, I think he thought I wasn't wearing my seatbelt, so he pulled me over, which I'm perfectly fine with that. Once I gave the explanation, I get it. Most people are probably lying. Yep.

I was not lying, and I think I convinced him, but that is a pure hunch. I mean, he never changed facial expression, so it's hard to say. It sounds like to me this young man is fresh out of the academy, so he was going to make his point. Sometimes I just fall asleep on the couch. Yep. And other nights I make it to my Helix bed, and I've noticed that where I sleep matters on how I feel. Yeah.

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So then I just, you know, it kind of made me angry. What does a fine like that cost you? Well, I asked him. I said, so what's this going to cost? I said, it's not about the money. You realize that. I have plenty of money. And he said, yeah, it's $25, $30. And I said, now, I've heard that before. People say that. And then when they get the bill, you can add a zero. Yeah, it's $225. And so, but he didn't answer that.

And it will be because you have to pay the court cost for it to process through the system. The fine itself is only that. But this is the way they get you. But whoever, the state of Louisiana is going to get $200 out of the deal just because they process your tickets. Sounds like you got caught up in a racket. Did you know that was a law, Phil? I never thought that was a law. I did not know. You didn't know? I mean, because Macy's thought it was ridiculous. I don't know where the information is where...

if it's below your arms. In fact, before, when I've had an issue, when I hurt my shoulder, I didn't even put it on my...

I just had it behind me, and I had the bottom piece on, which I thought I was legal for doing that. They are making me feel better. I had no idea. What's nerve-wracking about this is Missy's going to be here for our next podcast. No, I can't wait to hear it. She had a totally different... I mean, she did think that he should have given me a warning if he believed what I was telling is true, but...

She said that is – she knew that that was a law. Yeah. And I just – I was baffled by that. I didn't know. I mean, you know, you get little things like – I thought you were going to say that you maybe changed lanes and didn't turn your blinker on because I got pulled over that one time. But I didn't get a ticket. Yeah. You just said – and I, you know, I see people, you know, you just – I was trying to get away from a car. He said, no, that's improper lane. One guy pulled me over.

Up there where he's talking about. Jace was in the car with us. He walked up. And I said, whatever we did wrong, make it quick because I've got to catch a plane here in about 25 minutes. Yeah. He said, oh, I ain't going to give you a ticket. But, Phil, the difference in this was I was in the car. We were very late.

We were about to miss a flight, and you were grossly speedy. Trying to get to the airport. You should have gotten a ticket, and he let you off. I said, whatever it is, make it quick because I got to go. Yeah, which was quite the line, and it worked. I mean, look, I'm not trying to, you know, I'm like, if I break the law, they're there for a reason. But I just thought it was an interesting, you know, I'm a little bit. I didn't know we had a law on a shoulder strap.

I thought we, I don't have a whole, that strap in my truck. It's an old model truck. Well, when that first became a law, because we're old enough to, I remember when seatbelts, I remember when you could drive without a seatbelt.

When I was driving early. Yeah. And I remember, Dad, you in particular, the old vehicles that we drove, they had a seatbelt, but I don't know where they were. They were stuffed down in there somewhere. We never knew where they were. It wasn't a strap across your shoulder. No, it's just a lower one. But I remember you specifically, even when it became law, not wearing it because you were like on a thing. You were like...

I'm not wearing this. I mean, it's up to me. I can decide whether, you know, you took it almost as a constitutional freedom issue. And for a while, you didn't wear them. Of course, now with these crazy vehicles, you'd go insane if you didn't at least click it in there because there's yellow on the hotel. It was a bewildering. You know, when you get pulled over by law enforcement, I kept thinking about that Scotty Scheffler thing. I was like, you know, I see how this could happen. Yeah.

And, of course, you know. Think of the tiny little bitty missteps that the law required, and you kind of get a look on where you were sitting there with some guy arguing about how deep a sin is this. He's got a strap around his waist. Well, that's why I brought up. There's another one that should have been around his shoulder. But I also know how you're feeling because one time I was in one of Mom's cars,

which I think belonged to Melissa, and I got pulled over. And I did. I made an improper turn, although I didn't realize I did. But then once he got the papers out, well, her insurance had lapsed.

So it wasn't my car. I was driving mom's car, but I'm in it, so I'm responsible. All these were not, he did the right thing. But what got me was, I mean, it's hot. It's summertime. I'm on my way to the hospital with a box of videos for one of our sisters who was down having a baby, Darla Lindsay. She had to be, she had triplets.

And so I'm on a mission of mercy. That's kind of like you felt like coming to a podcast. And the guy just makes me get out and impounds the car. I mean, and doesn't offer me a rider. I'm just sitting on a curb on the side of the road with a box of videos. Yeah.

Yeah. About a half a mile. And I was just sitting there thinking, I was looking at the police station because it happened right in front of the police station. And I was looking at that police station and I felt like Jonah with that vine behind him. I just thought, man, Lord, if you brought down the fire right now, you know, I wouldn't be disappointed. Just fall out of the sky, you know. Well, that's why I told you about that other story. So a couple days ago, uh,

an electrician came they work on air conditioners and all for maintenance normal maintenance and and we schedule that i mean i got like two or three air conditioners they're old at my house well this guy i was just dozing off i was taking a nap it was after pot the last time we did podcast yeah and of course knock on the door you know dogs go crazy it's like missy was out of town well it's electrician well

I said, well, I'm going to take a nap here. Knock yourself out. So I take a long nap, a couple of hours. I wake up. Well, he's still there. And I thought, well, how long does it take to do some service just to make sure everything's working right? That did cross my mind. So he comes back in maybe 30 minutes after that. And he said, well, you had two parts that I deemed that needed to be replaced.

And he starts going into all these details about what they are. And he said, I'll go get them and show them to you. And I thought, okay. And so when he came in, he's holding two parts to like the bowels of an air conditioned system. I've never seen these two parts in my life. And you wouldn't have any idea what they did. So in that moment,

And look, this is going to seem like a harsh thing what I did to this young man. I didn't mean anything by it. But in that moment, looking at him walking toward me in a dimly lit house where he's been there for three hours working, holding two components I've never seen before, I said, look, hold it right there. But I meant hold the conversation, what's happening. Well, he stopped. He was coming toward me.

And I said, I just got a question for you. I said, are you a man of integrity? But when I asked him that, he literally changed colors. It's like he went pale. And I'm not saying that he had a guilty conscience. I'm not judging him. It just kind of shocked him, that question. And then when I noticed his response, which was nothing, he just kind of looked like a deer in the headlights. And I said, well, I'm asking you because...

It's not going to do any good to waste any more time. You showing me why you're replacing those two parts. I don't know anything about this. And he's like, yeah, but I can. And then he went into it. I can show you that. And he started using words I didn't know. And where these things. And I said, look, you're not following what I'm saying. You're either a man of integrity. You came in here to serve as American citizens.

I have to trust that you're going to replace things that needed replaced. Or if you're just trying to make some extra money, you're going to make some extra money. That's why I'm asking you the question, which he never answered.

And maybe that was the answer. Well, I don't know. I don't want to judge the young man's motives. But, you know, when he left, I got to thinking, should I have done that? And I thought, I think it was a reasonable question. You know, I was like, quit wasting time trying to show me about parts. I don't know. Either you are a man of integrity or not. I am forced to trust you because I called you to work on my stuff. Yeah.

Which I probably would have just said, no, I'd have done just what you did. But I'd have been, oh, I don't know anything about that. So if you say it needs to do it, I mean, that would have been the end of it. But what you did was... But I don't think it's a bad question. It's not a bad question. Because really, that's what we should do in life and he should reflect. So that's why I made the comment.

to the police. I didn't have your seatbelt on. I was like, wait a minute here. I had my seatbelt on and the only thing, that's why I answered it the way. I was like, I am a man of integrity. If I say that, that's what happened. But it didn't work.

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So, I mean, it was interesting that last night happened to be a night where I ran across a phrase that I probably hadn't read in 10 years in the Bible, you know, about unintentional sins. That's why it was at the forefront of my mind. Yeah, we don't camp out a lot in Leviticus, Chase, but it's a good thing you were there because you saw it. Well, I mean, I know we were supposed to do something else, but...

What I was studying last night is what I really wanted to talk about. And that's why I got into Hebrews. And I had never noticed this. And I guess since I've hijacked the podcast, since I was pulled over. That's all right. We'll have Missy in to clean it up on the next one.

So I was reading last night, Al, you know, because we've been doing these themes, threads, overviews of the book of Ephesians. Right. Because it is a difficult book.

If you go verse by verse. Yeah. It is. You get bogged down and there's a lot of the religious world that have an opinion on. And my opinion is, the reason it's that way is because it's such a condensed version of, say, the book of Romans. You know, Paul wrote a lot more to the Roman church, but it's the same themes he wrote to the Romans. He just squeezed this down to basically three chapters. Yeah.

all that like dense theology. So I think that's one of the reasons why it's so hard. So I noticed something last night and I wanted to run it by y'all and see what you thought. And if you read in Ephesians 1, 3, there's a theme in the book of Ephesians, and this will make more sense as we go along. So when it says, praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us

in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Well, what I did, and I've shared how to do this before, I looked this up in the Greek language, and it's pretty easy to do. You can put Ephesians 1.3 Greek lexicon on the internet, and it'll have this verse in the Greek, and then it'll have...

the words it's translated into, and then it'll pick a translation of the Bible and put it in its form. Yeah, there's a website, Bible Hub, that you can put any verse. But then they have a concordance for each Greek word. And you can click on it. Because that way you can see where that exact Greek word was used

In the New Testament. Now, if you do the Old Testament, you got to do the Hebrew lexicon. Right. Okay. So, because I wanted to see what this phrase, heavenly realms, the word realm is what got my attention. You know, I'm like, heavenly realms. I was doing it just to try to wrap my head on how the Greek language was trying to depict

Because when you think about it, none of us on earth have been. Right. So it's very difficult to wrap your head on trying to find words to explain it. A place that nobody's ever been to. People say God's space and, but God is not bound by time or space. So, you know, when Jesus went to the right hand of God,

Now, I use the word went. Did he really have to go? Like we think go. Yeah, as we think go. So now I realize I'm opening up a can of worms here, but I don't think I'm doing anything that we haven't all done. I'm trying to figure out how to describe the place or the realm or the mode at which God is blessing us in Jesus Christ at the right hand of God. So the reason...

it becomes a little bit tough to grasp. That's why Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, every, I don't know of any, but that might be one they missed, but every one of them, Jesus covered in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Well, this is interesting, Phil, that you say that, because listen to this. So what I found out is,

When I clicked on the Greek word, and I'm going to try to pronounce it, which is scary. E-poran-ios. So, E-poranos. E-poranos. E-poranos. Okay. So, there's three different versions of that word used to describe heaven. There's three different ones in the New Testament. They're similar, but yet a little different.

And then there's two others. One is only used once, which, interesting enough, was in Acts 19. Talking about falling from heaven when they said...

people in Ephesus believe the temple of Artemis and that Zeus is in control and that he fell from heaven. So they were, it was like he was from the sky, but that's the only time that word's used in the entire Bible. But it was just trying to illustrate that they believe Zeus was the God of heaven in quotation. So anyway, there's five different uses. Well, this one,

I went on a rabbit hole of every time it was used in the New Testament. And somewhere in there, the more excited I got. And the more excited I got. This phrase, this word, eporinos, used in the heavenly realms. But that's why Peter. But I was going to answer your question. So you know how many times it's used in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? Once. Once.

But where it is, is very fascinating and very encouraging. And I'm going to read in a minute. So now make your point. My point is, right before Peter preaches his sermon to the ones on the promised, how an oath the descendants of the throne, seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of Christ, was not abandoned to the grave. He's preaching that.

and it convicts them to their heart. But he had already told them, men of Israel, here's what he said. Listen to this. Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, signs. There's Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John when he did these things, which God did among you through him. As you yourself know, this man was handed over to you

By God's set purpose and foreknowledge. You, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him, I saw the Lord always before me because he is at my right hand and I will not be shaken forever.

Therefore, my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. He gives that little caveat before he preaches, let all Israel be assured of this. God has made this Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.

When the people heard it, they were cut to the heart. And Peter and the other apostles' brothers, what shall we do? They just said, we kill Jesus. He was telling us he was going to do it, but we still went ahead and killed him. And he said from start to finish, they're going to kill me. It begins halfway.

Halfway, he says, by the way, he just said Jesus, and he says why he's here. He's going to die, and I ain't going to be raised from the dead. But that's my point, Phil. He's been raised from the dead. He ascends to the right hand of God. Because look, when I read all the definitions of this word, you know how these, Al, you've done it many times, I have. We go to try to find out what was meant by that word. And so I read it all. Because there's two other definitions.

words that are almost identical to this used as heaven. And most of them is talking about, you know, in, in heaven, the where the father is or my father in heaven, or, but even some of them, it's like the birds of the air, you know, it's the same word of the heavens. But in this case, when this word is used and I'd like to go through all of them at some point, we may not have time to do it today. It's not as many as you think, but,

What the definitions and what all these scholars were trying to describe this word, I wrote this sentence down, seems to be referring to the impact of heaven's influence on a situation or person on earth. Yep. And I thought, oh, wow. Because when you read 110, where he says...

The purpose of God, the mystery of God's will, according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, was to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. Yeah, we were talking about that in the last podcast. We were talking about that. So I was like, oh. So that's why I started reading these verses everywhere it's mentioned. Well, I was blown away.

So we've been on a roll when it comes to faith films, including our own, The Blind. But Jason and I both just watched a brand new movie from Angel Studios called Sound of Hope. The story of Possum Trot...

And you think it sounds like a comedy or something, but it's a fantastic movie. Very moving, very powerful. I cried. Did you cry? I did cry. And if we're recommending a movie, I don't take that lightly. I mean, there's so many terrible movies in our world. Right. You will want to be a part of this and not just watch it, but lead others to do the same. It is a fantastic, true story that happened. And it's...

has Jesus at the center of it and helping kids who have no home. It's set like in 1998, 2000, that era. And it's over in Possum Tribe, which is the woods of East Texas, which look a lot like the woods here in North Louisiana that Jason and I grew up in. The bishop and the first lady, Donna Martin is her name. They have this little church called Bennett Chapel. And basically 22 families from this church live

took it straight from the Almighty that they needed to do something about these bunch of kids that didn't have homes or come out of terrible situations, little guys all the way up to teenagers. Well, they adopted 76 kids. And look, these people didn't have much money. That's right. It's an incredible story. Yeah, they weren't doing it out of abundance. They were doing it out of need of the children. So

It's a fantastic film. It's going to raise a lot of awareness. I hope churches will rally to this cause. And even if you don't have folks that you're directly doing adoption, but you'll support and you'll walk alongside and provide financial help. So a lot of different ways to do it. Go see this film. Order your tickets for Sound of Hope, the story of Possum Trot today at angel.com slash unashamed.

That's angel.com slash unashamed. It's going to begin on July the 4th is when the film comes out, but get your tickets now. Support this film. Sound of Hope, the story of Possum Trot. So, because I spent a lot of time in the last two or three months talking about and focused, and it all started with our study in Hebrews that y'all are doing a, you know, weekly sermon on, which I'm... I can't think of a thing.

That Jesus didn't cover in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I can't think of nothing that he didn't cover. Yeah. Well, this, and what's exciting about this is where he covered what I'm fixing to show you. Yep.

I only found it once, but it was in John. It's in John chapter 3. But before I go there, I want to set it up a little bit in Ephesians in case we run out of time. So look, the first one's in Ephesians 1.3. We'll go to John in a second. The second one, same word, this e-por-an-ios, is in Ephesians 1 and verse 20. But I feel like we should read...

to kind of help with the definition of what he's describing. And we're going to get to this in our next podcast when we're studying Ephesians. So he gets down to verse 18. He says, I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you. He gives three little points here, Al, for a sermon. The hope to which he's called you,

the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints and his incomparably great power for us who believe. So it's kind of the three things he's praying for based on him being exalted and us having the spirit. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand and

There's our word in the heavenly realms. So we have it twice. One, it says he has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing. And now he goes through saying, I'm praying that you understand the hope, the glorious inheritance and the power, which he exerted by being there at the right hand of God, far above all rule authority and every title.

that can be given. But look, I want you to notice this phrase, because I think this last phrase of verse 21 is my point. Not only in the present age, because I've spent a lot of time in the last couple of months talking about what is Jesus doing now? And that's what really made these verses and the use of this word really jump out to me.

So when you say he has blessed us in the heavenly realms, well, look, guess what? He is continuing to bless us in the heavenly realms. Because the further you go down this rabbit hole, he's going to explain exactly how that's happening. And that's how he brought Ephesians, the book after that, every one of them. You go from Ephesians, Philippians.

Well, that's what we're fixed to do. So look, but then it says not only in the present age, which is now, but also in the one to come, which then we're talking about our new bodies. I mean, think Romans eight, you know, where there's a, there's a two-step process here of Jesus functioning at the right hand of God. And there were, there are more things going in there than I realized until I read all these verses, but,

One, he's representing us. He's also taking on all the powers in the heavenly world. I'm fixed to read that. But he's also making his presence on earth known because we have his spirit inside of us. That's why it says the mystery of godliness is that Christ is in you. So...

That was my point, Al, when I had to rant on what it says in the book we're looking at, Ephesus. Right. I was making that point, what he's saying about that. Yeah. Right. That's it. So listen to this, Al. Then the next verse in 22, because look, then he actually explains. Word of truth. He actually explains what he's doing.

Now, because it says not only in the present age, but the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet because he's exalted in the heavenly realms. Yep. And appointed him to do what? To be head over everything for the church. Well, the church is here in the present age. Correct. Yep.

And then it gives a definition of the church, which I never looked at this as that. But if somebody says, what is the church? And they'll say, well, it's called out. What do people say? Ekklesia, which is the actual Greek word for it. Called out. Called out, the set apart. This is actually the definition of the church. It says, which is. Here's the definition of the church. His body is.

The fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Yep. Now you just think about the responsibility. When you think, do I have a purpose on earth? Through Jesus being exalted and me having his spirit, because he mentioned us having that spirit in Ephesians 1.13. He did this for three full years with the same idea going on right there.

The time is there. That's why every time you look, see what Jesus said about this and about that and about the other. He literally almost at least or right at it covered every problem that could be. Yeah. Every act that could be out of line. It's covered. All right. So I want to get the next one, which is Ephesians 2, 6, where this word is used. So.

Now, this is an interesting verse. And when we get to Ephesians 2, we'll get off into the details. But it says, and God raised us up. And he had just gone over 1 through 5 being outside of Jesus and being in Jesus and what that is. But God raised us up and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.

Now, what a statement that is. That's that same eporianios, that we're actually seated. So now that puts us there with him.

Now we're there with him in some fashion. And I believe the best way to explain it, it's like a representation that is linked to a body on earth. So he's representing us there, which the next time it's mentioned, it explains that, which is Ephesians 3.10. 3.10, I knew you had to get there. This is the same word. But what's fascinating now is heaven is used many, many, many times. But this specific word is,

It's very few. So 310, his intent was that now through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. There's that same word. Yep. According to his eternal purpose, which he accomplished in Christ Jesus, in him and through faith in him, we may approach with freedom and

and confidence so he's he's basically given us access to be represented because of that i mean he has like a map yeah i want to make sure i'm not missing any of the the points uh

Oh, oh, yeah, I did miss a point here. Look, when you read seven through nine of Ephesians three, because remember when I read that about not only in the present age, but also in the age to come? Well, something's really interesting here that I had never seen. And it's found in seven through nine of chapter three, leading up to that usage of the word. So let me read that.

So he says in verse 7, I became a servant of the gospel by the gift of God's grace, which is the same language he used in Ephesians 2 about grace is a gift of God. It's not from yourselves. That's Ephesians 2.8. We're his workmanship. Yeah, we're his workmanship. And it says, gift of God's grace, given me through the working of his power, which goes back to Ephesians 1, what we just read,

Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me to preach to the Gentiles, which we skipped that part in the end of Ephesians 2, the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery. Now, here's what the phrase I want to get to.

which for ages past was kept hidden in God who created all things. Now, if you just stop and think about it, he's now covered the present age, the age to come. That was Ephesians one. Well, now he brings up the age in the past. And that was the whole deal about bringing the Gentiles in and, and they not understanding that Jesus is the Christ. And, but I found that fascinating because,

That he basically, in three chapters, in God's plan, has covered the past age, the present age, and the age to come. Right, all three. I mean, that's fascinating. It is fascinating. And so when you think about, well, we focus on what God has done, we usually just talk about the cross.

And the resurrection. And when we talk about what he will do, we start speculating on what heaven, you know, we combine what he has done and what he will do. And that is, I would say, over 90% of the church's thrust. Yeah.

But I'm focusing on this present age using the church as his body to make him known through the Holy Spirit and what he's doing now, which is way more than you realize unless you continue to read where this phrase is used. Right. The phrase of heaven. Were you going to say something, Phil? No, that's good enough right there. So, and Jay, is that individually, so you're talking about the church, right?

which is this collective of the body of Christ. But you can make the same case for everything you just said for each individual, for us. We receive the Holy Spirit of God. Guess what? Our past...

is taken away, our present is dealt with in the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. And guess what? Our future. Yep. Because he's a deposit guarantee that's come. So even at the individual level is exactly what Jason's talking about at the collective level. Yeah. And what's crazy. That was my rant about. That's a good rant. Here's what's crazy about this. I was going to do this and we can do it the next time we're in Ephesians. That there's actually a parallel passage to everything I've just described that

Found in 1 Peter 1, 3, all the way through the end of the chapter. And we'll study that at another time. But it's amazing because it's Peter's perspective, but it's exactly Peter.

This thread of thinking about where Jesus is and what that means. That's why I was... Look, you know his three points? It was like a warning because I looked at what you're talking about and I said, no, this here is... It's there. It's all there. Just to give you a glimpse of it.

uh in in first peter one three you remember those three things he prayed for the hope that they would grasp the hope they would understand the inheritance and and get the power well in first peter one watch what he says in verse three and four he says praise be to the god and father lord jesus christ in his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope

through the resurrection of the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, fade, kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power. It's the same thing, the same three things that Paul just said. And look, then he goes down the same rabbit hole saying the people of the past didn't understand it. Even the angels long to look into these things.

So when you look at 310, I didn't make the point that one of the things Jesus is doing now, one of the definitions of this word is the interaction of what's happening, the influence that's being caused. It's not just to humans on the earth. Look at what actually 310 says. It's that through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.

So part of what Jesus is doing in us being seated in the heavenly realms is him making known to whatever these forces are that we cannot see, which leads us to our last usage of the word in Ephesians, which is Ephesians 6 in verse 12. Same word.

So verse 10 says, finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle, here it is, 612, is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil. Look, in the heavenly realms.

which is who's doing the battle for us there through the church? Jesus, Ephesians 3.10, which takes kind of the pressure off of us. But he also says, but put on the full armor of God because the consequences of this battle is coming your way, which is why you get into all the suffering,

Persecution, which we'll talk about at a later date. So you got to at least read the John 3.13 because you left us hanging on that one. So the one verse that's used in the Gospels, that word is used, which I find very exciting, is in the middle of being born again. You remember when he told Nicodemus, I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom unless he is born again. When he got to verse 12, trying to explain this,

to Nicodemus that he wasn't talking about getting back in your mom. He said, how can you be born again? Meaning out of the womb again, here's where the word is used. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe how them. Will you believe if I speak of heavenly things, there's your word. And then he says it again in 13, uh,

No one has ever gone into heaven. Now, this is a real interesting piece because everybody jumps to John 3, 16 and talks about the cross. But look what he did preceding the cross. He predicted what we're now discussing, Jesus being at the right hand of God because he says it twice. No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven, the Son of Man. Same word. Now, you say, well, he hadn't done it yet. Well, then he explains it.

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. He was talking about going to the right hand of God before he went to the right hand of God. Exactly. And then you see our blessing is there. All right, we're out of time. I'll posit a theory on the way out the door. Because Jay's had this epiphany that he's going to share today, the spiritual forces of evil from the heavenly realms were...

through a situation to try to derail you today, but we win because we got this out. So we'll talk about that next time we hit Ephesians on Unashamed. Thanks for listening to the Unashamed podcast. Help us out by rating us on iTunes.

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