December 10, 2024
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Theme: “Unleashed to Have Access With Confidence”
Key Text: Ephesians 3:12
Beloved, I mentioned yesterday that although I couldn’t join the session, I believed that the Lord visited us mightily. Tonight as well, we trust God to give us something fresh, something deeper, something transformative. Our anchor Scripture for this conference is Ephesians 3:12, but to understand the weight of Paul’s message, we must begin earlier — from verse 7 to verse 12.
Let’s read Ephesians 3:7–12.
Paul explains that he became a servant of the gospel by God’s grace so he could reveal the mystery that had been hidden for ages — the mystery of God’s plan to bless all nations through Christ.
God had an eternal purpose, and His project began with one man: Abraham. He told Abraham:
“Through your seed, all nations will be blessed.”
At the time, people assumed the “seed” was talking about Isaac. But the true seed God referred to was Christ.
So God began a sequence:
One man — Abraham
A family — Isaac, then Jacob
A nation — the 12 tribes of Israel
And from that nation, another Man — Jesus Christ
The moment Jesus was born, the primary assignment of Israel — to bring forth the Messiah — was completed. And now, through Christ, a new people, the Church, has been birthed.
One man produced a family.
The family became a nation.
The nation produced Christ.
Christ produced the Church.
And through the Church, God now reveals His manifold wisdom to the rulers and authorities in heavenly places.
This is God’s project.
To appreciate the access we now have in Christ, we must first understand where we used to stand.
When God chose Abraham, He wasn’t showing hatred toward the other nations. Rather, He was beginning His redemptive plan. But Israel became His chosen people — the carriers of His name, His glory, His presence.
Other nations literally feared them because God’s presence among them was visible:
A pillar of cloud by day
A pillar of fire by night
This was not spiritual symbolism — it was physical manifestation.
Yet even among God’s own people, there was no direct access to Him.
God’s presence was so overwhelming that at Mount Sinai the people begged Moses:
“We cannot endure His voice. Moses, you go and hear from God for us.”
From that point, Moses became the mediator — the one who had access.
God commanded Moses to build a tabernacle — a portable sanctuary where He would meet with His people. It had three main sections:
Outer Court – where sacrifices were made
Inner Court
Holy of Holies – God’s dwelling place on earth
Inside the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant, containing:
The tablets of the Law
Aaron’s rod
A jar of manna
On top of the Ark was the Mercy Seat, overshadowed by two cherubim.
Only one man — the High Priest — could enter the Holy of Holies.
Only once a year.
Only with blood.
On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would:
Cleanse himself
Offer a sacrifice for his own sins
Receive the sins of the people symbolically transferred onto the sacrificial animal
Carry that blood into the Holy of Holies
Sprinkle it on the Mercy Seat
If accepted, the sins of the nation were covered for that year.
Atonement did not cleanse sin.
Atonement only covered sin.
This was the condition of humanity:
Sinful, distant, separated, unable to access God.
But beloved, all of this was a shadow pointing toward Christ.
Jesus, the true High Priest, offered not the blood of goats and lambs, but His own blood. He entered not an earthly tabernacle, but the true Holy of Holies in heaven.
Because of His sacrifice, Apostle Paul declares:
“In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”
— Ephesians 3:12
The access denied to generations
The access reserved for one man once a year
The access that was fearful and restricted
…has now been opened permanently through Christ.
(a) Grace
Hebrews 4:16 says:
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Grace strengthens us.
Grace upholds us.
Grace empowers us.
Paul prayed three times for God to remove the thorn in his flesh, but God answered:
“My grace is sufficient for you.”
When you have access, you receive divine strength even when God does not remove the trial.
(b) Mercy
Mercy prevents judgment.
Mercy interrupts the voice of the accuser.
Mercy silences condemnation.
Inside the Ark were the tablets of the Law — the same Law that condemns us. But when the High Priest sprinkled blood on the Mercy Seat, God looked at the blood instead of the Law.
Likewise, when we come through Christ, God sees the blood of His Son and grants mercy.
Christ is not a distant High Priest. He understands every human weakness — not because He sinned, but because He carried the weight of human suffering on the cross.
Whether it is sickness, addiction, anxiety, depression, fear, or lack — Christ has borne the burden. Therefore, He can intercede for us with perfect understanding.
Our Mediator is alive.
He is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He speaks on our behalf.
He pleads our case.
This is why we can come boldly.
Rev. Gideon pleaded:
Beloved, don’t stand outside in guilt.
Don’t stand far in shame.
Don’t wait for a prophet or a pastor to go to God for you.
You have been granted access.
Why stand at a distance when Christ Himself has opened the way?
He has given you access to:
the throne
the mercy seat
grace
forgiveness
restoration
strength
the Father Himself
Come boldly.
Come confidently.
Come freely.
Rev. Gideon finished by reading Ephesians 3:12 one more time:
“In Christ and through faith in Christ we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”
Because Christ has gone ahead of us, access has been granted. Now let us use that access — obtaining grace and mercy in every situation of life.
May the Lord bless you, strengthen you, and welcome you boldly into His presence.
Amen.