mystery revealed
ephesians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Ephesians 3
Tonight we will study the
A Mystery Revealed.
The purpose of this Mystery
How being rooted and grounded creates faith and love for God.
What is a mystery?
Not a secret
Mystery. Counsel, or secret plan, which God shares only with his people. In most biblical passages it relates to the wise counsel of God in his guidance of history to its destiny.
This mystery is to form believer Gentiles and Jews together through Jesus dying on the cross.
For this cause.
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
a cornerstone is the first stone laid on a foundation for a structure with all other stone laid in reference. this historically was the most important stone with all the weight of the building resting on the cornerstone.Jesus being our cornerstone and us being built on him . ( note we can rest on him)
this is present tense meaning the work is not done. not until the last person being saved is the church us believers complete.
We are being fitted together.
Have you ever built a puzzle?
every piece is made for a certain spot to be placed.
that puzzle isn’t done until the last puzzle is placed in its right spot.
The church
a Church is sometimes called a building. here the church is a spiritual place where the Holy Spirit dwells which is in our heart. We are citizens of of God’s kingdom and members of his household.
Paul is explaining that the church, that there is a place for the church . Each individual has a certain place God has for us. .
This is the church.
We are one being fitted together as one. In the Spirit.
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
If you have done this.. then you are part of the church. being united as one
Mystery Revealed
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
Then he goes on to say I Paul a prisoner of Christ.
Where was Paul in prison?
Why is he not mentioning this? He wasn’t able to Rome around. in fact be had a guard chained up to him.
Paul was in prison as a result of being faithful to God’s call. and God’s will
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
He is saying a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
a Prisoner definition is linked or bound, a captive to someone else.
Paul relinquished his personal rights of life and gave it to God.
Revised Standard Bible says"I Paul a prisoner for christ”
Paul was bound to Jesus
Paul knew God was in control. Not Rome. Paul knew that he needed to continue to spread the gospel. We as believers must deny ourselves. We need to become bound to Jesus. knowing that his will comes first in our lives. Not the circumstances in our lives.
For the Gentiles
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
And he said unto all, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Remember his will comes first and not our circumstances.
take the focus off of ourselves.
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—
Gentiles- is a group of people other than God’s chosen people called the Jews. not a Jew.
Gentiles were considered to be unclean. During Jesus times they were even called dogs.
Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.
From the Jews Why?
In Genesis God promised Abraham a blessing
Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
From Abraham came the chosen people who are called the Jews.
Abraham had Isaac and Isaac had Jacob who had 12 sons. Jacob’s named was changed to Isreal. This is where we get the 12 tribes of Isreal. This is the line from where Jesus came from.
any other group not Jew was considered a Gentile.
This is the mission gift that was given to Paul.
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles,— if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward;
dispensation of God- Paul had been given the responsibility of Preaching to the Gentiles.
very important that Paul point s this out. Many describe this as a time. like the church age.
Dispensation of grace is a time for the church age which is for us Gentiles.
Grace a free gift a unmerited gift of divine favour in the salvation of sinners. who are sinners? the bible says we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God.
Remember they focused on the law of God earning it rather than a free gift to them.
how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:
Paul is talking about this mystery revealed to him. He spoke about this in Ephesians 1:9
having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
What this is saying is that God didn’t intend to keep this a secret but his plan couldn’t be fully understood until Jesus rose from the grave. This was to unite the Jews and the Gentiles.
This is the Mystery Revealed
how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:
Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
God’s timing is perfect. Now it was Paul and the Apostles who this was revealed too to get the word out . Paul accepted this. He was humbled never felt like God revealed this to me. (wow)When God gives us a gift or a revelation. All the glory should always be given to God. We as prideful people can get puffy and take credit ourselves.
Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Lonie Frisbie in the Jesus revolution. God was using him in a mighty way. Greg Laurie said Lonie was “ totally authentic and on fire for the Lord.” and then his pride got ahold of him. When people say good job or your so talented. Remember Give God the glory. not by my might but by the power of his Holy Spirit.
The mystery is revealed
that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
We are fellow heirs. equal
Grafting is a technique that joins two plants into one. In general, a wound is created on one of the plants, and the other is inserted into that wound so each plant's tissues can grow together
. Romans 11:11-2
Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring! I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
Paul became a minister according to the grace of God.
Ministry means service, servant used as a deacon .
Paul became a minister not because he decided. God did. it was a gift of God given to him by the Holy Spirit. God has given everyone that has accepted him in their hearts a gift. Are we using that gift? We use it or lose it. T
The the Mystery id Gentiles becoming one with the body of Christ.
The Purpose of the Mystery
To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Paul is humbled at given this gift. So important to stay humble
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
What did moses say when God sent him to talk to pharoah.?
What did he do.
The unsearchable riches of Christ.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
The unsearchable there is no way we can find all of God riches. His riches are untraceable.We could spend the rest of our lives discovering fresh aspects of his riches .one thing for sure they can never be diminished. no man can ever fully comprehend them. we shall spend eternity in discovering the facets of these riches. Paul wants us to know God and not just Know about him. The more you know him the more you are amazed .
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
His Righteousness, His wisdom, His love, His redemption, forgiveness all unsearchable riches
Manifold wisdom of God.
multi angles , hues dimensions of God. Paul is continually trying to get us to understand. This is telling us that God has a special place to show Himself to not only the world but to the angels. God and his wonderful love for us. Its to much for us to grasp.
Unsearchable riches
manifold wisdom.
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
We have Christ in us, the hope of glory that God has chosen to package this treasure in Him.
to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
look unto is getting a peak.
according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him. Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory.
Because Jesus died for us . We now now have boldness and access in confidence.
We have confidence and a open door to enter before his presence.
Remember how the priest in the Old testament approached God?
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
He invites us to come to him in grace and to rest on him. We can’t create this we just just need to trust in Him. We don’t need to make an appointment. This is such a privilege to be able to approach him at any time any hour about about anything.
Not to faint at my tribulations.
Paul was relying on God’s will not his circumstance to direct his life. not to worry about his situations. God get’s the glory. because of this Im writing to you.
This is the purpose of our Mystery
To see Gods manifold wisdom and unsearchable riches. we have access to this. The more we seek him the more we want to know him.
Paul Prays
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
He bows his knees. Paul is in chains remember. Is this the proper way to pray? Is there a certain way God hears our prayer.?
Hannah moved her lips, Daniel kneed, David layed down. Peter yelled when he was in the water.
What is important is your position of your heart
God looks at are heart.
Paul has spent this chapter explaining God power and wisdom. Grant you according to his riches through the Spirit.
that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;
. In acts 2 when the holy Spirit came in.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
This power of the Spirit lives in us. We have access to it. We should be rooted and grounded in love one of his many riches he has given us. His root cannot be moved or broken. This love of God through the Holy Spirit cannot not be explained just like his manifold wisdom can’t be explained. I can tell you it is real. Any one that has experienced the power of the Holy Spirit will tell you it is real
That power lives in you
raised jesus from the grave
parted the red sea
Paul goes on to describe the width, length, depth and height. God has no boundaries. no limit. God’s love is complete
But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
according to the power Dunamus greek which means force a miraculous power in abundance God is able to do do more than we ask or think. Bring everything to him.
how ? grounded and rooted in love.
we need a well balanced life of being in the word , studying and having fellowship with other believers. Root yourself to Jesus.
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That bringeth forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also doth not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
a tree get fed by water. Jesus is the fountain of life
but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
So be rooted and grounded creates faith and love for God . We will not be able to get enough of his riches. We should be spending all of our time looking for all his riches
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