Carte Blanche Access
By
Rev. Todd W. Allen

Villa Rica 1/16/05
Ephesians 3:8-13

      Today I want to talk about the practical application and benefit of the doctrine Paul has been giving to the Ephesians. The doctrinal always ties in to the practical. Doctrine leads to the practical. Doctrine is never in isolation in scripture. Without the practical doctrine is deficient, incomplete. There is always practical application that flows out of doctrine; If it does not, doctrine can become a curse rather than a blessing. There may be people who have doctrine but unless faith utilizes it in the practical it will be sterile and lifeless. There is nothing so dead and useless as cold, dead orthodoxy.

The Pharisees are a case in point. They had the scriptures and knew all about the law but they never let the law do what it should have done, namely bring them to repentance and faith in their Messiah. He lived, walked and taught among them, revealing Himself to them in marvelous words and works that no man had ever spoken or done He fulfilled the scriptures they professed to believe. But they hated him and plotted to kill him.         These men knew the law, but Just knowing the law of God will save no one. Even trying to keep the law will save no one. For all men have broken the law and cannot keep the law perfectly. (Rom 3:19-26) 

¹⁹Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; ²⁰because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Paul was ever the loving, caring under shepherd. We tend to think of him as a theologian par excellence, which he was, but I would point out to you that he was also a devoted and loving pastor to those to whom he was sent. His heart is revealed in this chapter as being most desirous of keeping them from fainting at the trials and tribulations, which he himself was undergoing. He says in  Ephesians 3:13 ¹³Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.Eph. 3:13    

       When trials come as come they must, we always ask, Why is this? Why did this have to happen? And of course the thought behind that is this, if I am a Christian and belong to you, why did this happen? The Devil is sure to move in and tempt us to doubt the love of God. This can be an even more deadly temptation when it is someone else who we believe ought to be immune from such trials. After all, the apostle Paul was an eminent apostle and a godly man. He had brought them to know the Savior and now here he is in a Roman prison. Why? Why must this be happening to him? Perhaps they could have said that had it happened to me I could understand, but not this man.

Paul knew that they would have such thoughts. He knew they would be tempted to faint at his tribulations. Their faith was put at risk by his sufferings. So, faithful pastor that he was, he is concerned for them, for their susceptibility to the insinuations of the Devil concerning the goodness of God and the validity of the gospel.

This temptation can come when trouble comes to a person. When there is a financial crisis, when a job is lost, when illness strikes, when accidents break up bones and maim loved ones, when divorce comes, when death snatches away a loved one, a parent, father or mother, a child. We are taught to believe in the sovereignty of God and that God is love. Why did this happen?

          Well, Paul includes in this chapter the practical and very much needed teaching about prayer. He says in   Ephesians 3:12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him

The doctrine of the mystery of Christ he has been teaching them carries with it the wonderful assurance that we have access by one Spirit to the Father with all the other saints, whether Jew or Gentile. All have the same privilege of access to God in prayer.

      I want you to take away with you today from this sermon one term if you don't take away anything else. The term is the title of this sermon, Carte Blanche Access. That is exactly what you and I have in Christ. The term Carte Blanche comes from the French language. It means an authorization signed in blank to be filled in at one's discretion. It is a blank card that you may use whenever you want. It is like a check signed by a bank that has no limit, an unlimited authorization.

When you want to see or talk with someone in some official position in the government it usually requires that you make an appointment. You can't even see your doctor or dentist without an appointment. And most businesses have a receptionist that you will have to go through to see or talk to one of the executives. You don't just walk right in and begin talking to the boss or CEO. We all go through these procedures from time to time. I found out when I called on pastors as southeastern representative for the Bible League from 1981 to 1983 that pastors could be very hard to see. If you got past the secretary you might be able to make an appointment with the pastor himself. But many times it would take a number of calls and even cancellations before actually getting in to talk for a few minutes with a pastor.        

Pastors, like many others, stay busy and unless you are known to him you probably will have to go through the appointment procedure to get to see him.

I am sure no one here would expect to go to the governor's mansion in Buckhead and walk right in on the governor. And you will certainly have to go thorough some hurdles to get to see the president of the United States in the oval office in Washington, D. C. And probably you won't get in to see him at all.

Well, when you consider prayer as talking to the supreme Being, the Creator who made you and me, and you think of prayer as a conversation with this awesome and majestic Being it ought not to surprise us that there is a protocol for having a conversation with Him.

The reason many people do not pray is because they are conscious that He is so high and lifted up, so high above and beyond us in wisdom and power and majesty that many give up even before they try. Or they only pray on special occasions because who am I, little ole me to be trying to talk to God? Or perhaps they feel that they are out of fellowship with the Lord.

The following story appeared in The Prairie Overcomer: A fisherman who was out of fellowship with the Lord was at sea with his godless companions when a storm came up and threatened to sink their ship.  His friends begged him to pray; but he demurred, saying, "It's been a long time since I've done that or even entered a church."  At their insistence, however, he finally cried out, "O Lord, I haven't asked anything of you in 15 years, and if you help us now and bring us safely to land, I promise I won't bother you again for another 15!"

Well, Paul tells us that we may approach God with   boldness and confident access through faith in Him   and this is not just for emergencies. This is for every day, whenever and wherever.

      Let me say first of all, there is a condition for praying to the Father. It must be through faith in Him, that is, faith in the Son Jesus Christ. We come to the Father through Him. He is the only way to the Father. No one can come to the Father but by me, he said. So that is a precondition. But for the Ephesians Paul was writing to he knew that they were in Him and therefore could have this access with confidence to the Father. He taught the Ephesians in Ephesians 2:17-18  ¹⁷And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; ¹⁸for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. Eph. 2:17-18

   There was a time when I was afar off. I had no relationship with God. I was outside the Kingdom. I was not of the household of faith. But there came a day when that changed, when I heard the gospel and believed in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord and began to walk in faith in Him. It was only then that I began to have prayer. He made peace between the heavenly Father and me. So now I am one of those who have access with confidence into the holiest of all.

In Saudi Arabia, according to Arab custom, reinforced by a 1952 decree of King Abdul Aziz, every subject has the right of access to his ruler -- whether the ruler is a tribal sheik, a governor, or the monarch himself -- to present petitions of complaint or pleas for help. Even the poorest Saudi can approach his sovereign to plead a cause. Crown Prince Fahd, speaking about this custom said, “Anyone, anyone can come here. This gives them confidence in their government...They know they may look to us for help.”

Every Christian has the right to approach an even greater monarch, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

I read a news account about one of the richest men in the world who was declined credit when he wanted to buy some cases of chocolate. His credit card was declined approval, at least for a time. In our computer age I can understand how that might happen. But you would think a billionaire should have a carte blanche approval rating. Not necessarily so. But the great Apostle says that you and I do.

We read in Hebrews: (Heb 4:14-16  ¹⁴Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

    You cannot have confidence in prayer if you do not have knowledge of why confidence is appropriate. Doctrine gives us knowledge which when acted upon becomes the practical. We may come confidently to the throne of grace and find grace to help in time of need because of what Jesus Christ accomplished in the purpose and plan of God for the salvation of sinners. The Devil may accuse you and tempt you to question your salvation in Jesus Christ, telling you that you are wasting your time going to God in prayer.  We overcome the enemy of our souls by pleading the blood of the Lamb. We are told that because of what Jesus Christ did our sins are forgiven and we can now come confidently, even boldly to God in prayer.      

We should have no doubts about our right of access being acceptable, permissible and valid. We know God Himself approves it. The High Priest who sits at the right hand of the Father has guaranteed the right of free access to all His elect to the throne of grace. He has made propitiation for our sins and the Father has approved His blood as the atoning sacrifice for sin, otherwise He would not be in heaven. He would be in a grave somewhere, his bones turned to dust. But we know that he was raised on that third day, triumphing over sin, death and Satan. He is seated in the heavenlies. We have absolute confidence in Him and therefore we come confidently, boldly to the throne of grace to find help in time of need.

I recently learned that a person with bad credit can transform his credit report if he can piggy back on someone with excellent credit. We do not come to God with our own righteousness but with the righteousness of the beloved Son who has perfect and impeccable credentials.

How practical do you want to get? What is more practical that having a carte blanche access card signed in the blood of the Son of God to go into the very presence of the Most High God with your requests. His signature is on the card. It is signed in His own precious Blood. He bids us come and to come boldly, to come with confidence that you will be received and heard because of the doctrine you have been taught. It is true! 

Paul knew that faith needs encouragement and reviving, especially when we are in those periods where there is trial and trouble, illness, emotional upsets, painful events that happen to us in this life. Jesus said that in this world we would have tribulation but not to worry, for I have overcome the world. He is seated in the heavenlies. He is at the right hand of the Father with all power and authority. The writer of Hebrews reiterates this when he says: 16Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb. 4:16

   We all have those times. And the practical outflow of doctrine is to practice prayer.

 If you have apostolic doctrine and do not put into practice what should be the outflow of that doctrine, you remain no better than before. 

If you have not begun to make practical use of the doctrine until now, then begin to do so today. You may not feel like praying. You may feel cold. Your problems are bothering you. You don't have the heart to get on your knees and pray. But praying does not need to wait for a better time. This is not a matter of feeling. This is a practical application of the doctrine you know.

We know we have Carte blanche to come to God in prayer. We can come even when we feel down and discouraged, when we are hurting and in trouble. God will hear any soul in Christ who applies to Him. He will cleanse him from sin as he makes confession of them and pleads the blood of Jesus before him. We simply say to  God, Lord, I feel nothing. I am not in the mood to pray but I ask you to help me. I know that I am a sinner and I know that I can never in my own strength or ability make myself acceptable to you, but I do come in the name of Jesus Christ. I believe the record of Scripture. I believe what the Apostles teach and that He truly did die for my sins and was raised for my justification. Therefore I come and plead His sacrifice and blood for my sins. I don't come because of any goodness or righteousness of my own but because of His. Because of Christ’s atoning sacrifice I know I have as much right to come into your presence as the greatest saint. I come humbly but boldly because of Him.

We have Free Access with Confidence. We need to come into God's holy presence using the words that Count Ludwig Von Zinzendorf wrote, which John Wesley translated, as follows:

Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness

My Beauty are, my glorious dress;

'Midst flaming worlds in these arrayed

With joy shall I lift up my head.

Bold shall I stand in Thy great day;

For who aught to my charge shall lay?

Fully absolved through these I am,

From sin and fear, from guilt and shame.

Then thank the Lord for what He has done. Thank Him for saving you from your sins, for His love and mercy. Then pour out yourself to Him. Give Him thanksgiving and praise for His marvelous grace and make your needs known and the needs of others you are burdened about. Ask and you shall receive, knock and it shall be opened.

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The paper and sermon manuscripts from Pastor Todd W. Allen are made freely available for review and distribution. We only request that proper web page attribution be provided if distributed for any reason. Please be gracious to forgive typos and errors of expression. These notes are faithful approximations of what has been preached. May God be glorified in the preaching of His Word.

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