May 22, 2011
Morning Service

Paul has opened up to us some of the mysteries of the faith including; that Christ is the head of the church and we are His body.  We are the avenue from which He will reveal Himself to the world.

 

He continued to work the central theme of unity.  He tells us that Christ is our peace, our common ground we can stand on together.  He has torn down all the walls that divided us and gave everyone the same access to through Jesus, by the one Spirit to God the Father. (2:13-18)

 

In chapter 2, Paul puts forth a very clear picture of the gospel message for the Ephesians and us to understand. We accept His offer of salvation by faith only and can in no way earn it (by works).  He will accept us just as we are.  Eph 2:8-9 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,  (9)  not of works, lest anyone should boast.

 

After we have received this wonderful gift of salvation, we naturally begin to do the works for which we were created.   We fulfill our purpose; to bring glory to our Creator.  VIDEO

 

Eph 3:1  For this cause, I, Paul, am the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you nations,

• Paul wrote this letter and several others while being imprisoned in Rome.
• Notice his attitude toward his situation.
• Story of St. Paul’s Cathedral
• What about us today?  When persecution comes (John 15:20) how do we react?
• My prayer for all of us is that when life is at its worst we are at our best.

 

Eph 3:2  if you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given to me toward you,

• Stewardship-one appointed to administer to the affairs of someone else.

• Paul was the chosen vessel by which God would speak to the Gentiles

• Act 9:15-16  But the Lord said to him, Go! For this one is a chosen vessel to Me, to bear My name before nations and kings and the sons of Israel.  (16)  For I will show him what great things he must suffer for My name's sake.

 

Eph 3:3-4  that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I wrote before in few words,  (4)  by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

• The mysteries Paul reveals to us when not taught to him by any man but from God. 
• Galatians 1:11-19
• Gal 1:8  But even if we or an angel from Heaven preach a gospel to you beside what we preached to you, let him be accursed.

 

Eph 3:5-6  which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit,  (6)  that the nations should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partaker of His promise in Christ through the gospel.

• Verse 6 summarizes the mystery of unity Paul is giving to us.  All nations are equal partakers of God’s grace (Jews and Gentiles).
• This is a totally new concept because before it was always nation vs. nation with little or no compassion for each other.
• Isa 45:14  So says Jehovah, The labor of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia, and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come to you, and they shall be yours. They shall come after you in chains; and they shall cross in chains and they shall fall down to you. They shall plead to you, saying, Surely God is in you; and none else, no other God.

 

 

 

Eph 3:7  Of this gospel I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effectual working of His power.

• Minister-not necessarily a pastor, but a servant.
• He considered his ministry a gift from God (a privilege), on that showed God’s power to transform lives and also through miracles done through Paul.

 

Eph 3:8  This grace is given to me (who am less than the least of all saints) to preach the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ among the nations,

• Paul was once a proud Pharisee who persecuted this church he now serves, and now show a intense humility & amazement of how God has worked.
• As we begin to realize the great Holiness of God, our own sinfulness & uselessness is magnified.
• Look at the gospel he gets to preach; one of unsearchable riches.  There is no limit to His riches offered to us:  compassion, love forgiveness, healing, and transforming power.

 

 

Eph 3:9-10  and to bring to light what is the fellowship of the mystery which from eternity has been hidden in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ;  (10)  so that now to the rulers and powers in the heavenlies might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

• His ministry was to enlighten them to how God’s plan was being worked out before their eyes.
• Joh 15:15  No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master does. But I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
• God will use the church to make known His manifold (multi-faceted) wisdom (applicable in every situation).

 

Eph 3:11-12  according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord;  (12)  in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through His faith.

• Before creation, God knew all that would occur.  He had planned from that point a purpose that only Jesus could fulfill.
• All the promises of God we are able to enjoy come through Him (Jesus).  Without Him we would all be as Paul said “foreigners and  strangers to God.”
• BUT because of His redeeming work on Calvary, we now enjoy a bold access into God’s very presence.
• Do not take the privilege of prayer lightly, it came at great cost.

 

Eph 3:13  For this reason I desire that you faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

• Paul did not want his suffering to discourage the saints, but to give reason to rejoice.
• He did not think he was being punished, but only being given opportunity to demonstrate his loyalty to Christ and bring Him glory.
• We should strive to see our journey in the same light.

 

 

We have seen today some of the attributes Paul displayed as a true follower of Christ:  servant hood, humility, and suffering.  

 

We see that God has a great investment in the church and has revealed His plan and knowledge of His unsearchable riches to us.