It is great to be off and running in our new series in Ephesians.  This week we will look at Ephesians 1:9-14, and talk about “Signs Of Present And Future Glory.”  

As you read over this massively encouraging text, look for the images Paul gives us.  A plan…an inheritance…a seal…a down payment.  What do these images communicate about the present and the future?  

It was wonderful to have Martin and Carrie Chappell with us on Sunday.  Pray that they will be able to return to Bangkok soon.  And it is always such a blessing to take the Lord’s Supper together, as we did yesterday.  

Let me also encourage you to pray for those who have been baptized recently:  Eli Heath, Isaiah Speece and Maylani Quintero. The ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper are blessings Jesus has given us, and we should desire to celebrate them often! 

Due to the many things taking place in our services yesterday, I was unable to give a report from the Southern Baptist Convention, which met in Nashville last week.  But I asked you to pray for it, and I want you to know that God answered.  On June 13^th, I asked you to pray for two things: 

1) Bold action on the issue of sexual abuse.  The messengers acted wisely and decisively in Nashville!  A full and independent investigation will be conducted, with the findings reported openly.  Some had attempted to block such action.  But sexual abuse is not something that can be tolerated or covered up.  This past week, the messengers made that abundantly clear. 

2) Unity in the gospel.  Again, the messengers acted with wisdom and clarity in Nashville.  In the months leading up to the Convention, a splinter group had hurled many false charges at SBC leaders.  They claimed “liberal drift” in our seminaries and mission boards.  They even claimed that CRT (Critical Race Theory) was being advocated in our seminaries and mission boards.  These charges are completely false, and I will not mince words here:  Those who made such charges were lying, bearing false witness, and engaging in slander.  God takes such things very seriously.  As Proverbs 6:16-19 says, “The Lord hates six things; in fact, seven are detestable to him:  arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.”  

I praise God that this splinter group was turned back at every turn in Nashville.  Of course, the real enemy is not this divisive faction – the real enemy is the devil, who tries to sow confusion and disunity among God’s people.  He suffered a great defeat this past week, as SBC messengers said “yes” to a Great Commission focus, and “no” to division. 

Until Jesus comes, the enemy will always try to distract God’s people from the work Jesus has called us to do.  It happens with churches, and it happens with denominations, like the SBC.  Pray that those who sought to sow discord in the SBC will repent. Pray for Ed Litton, the godly Alabama pastor who we elected as President of the Convention. Pray for our mission boards, and the presidents and professors of our seminaries, who have endured so many vicious attacks in recent days. Pray that in the SBC we will be fishing for lost people instead of fighting one another.  Souls are at stake.  Let us be about the King’s business!  

By His Grace, For His Glory, To The Nations, 

Dr. Thurman Hayes, Jr.