Ephesians: For His Glory (4)

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

How would you Identify yourself as it relates to God?

I am a daughter or Son of God

I am saved by God

Paul here identifies Himself as a Prisoner of Christ

someone who was captured and under the custody of God

Prisoners have no more rights of their own

their desires are put aside for the will of the one whom they are under the custody of-

Paul understood what is was to be a prisoner for Christ, but here he is a prison of Christ

Paul wrote this letter while in Prison for bringing and Ephesian Christian into the temple-

Acts 21:29–31 ESV

For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.

There was an uproar over the very thing that Paul was now a Prisoner for and that was because Paul was called to be a ministry of the Gospel to those were far off-

The heart of Paul was so captured by the goodness of God’s grace for him, that even though his life was threatened and he was thrown in Prison God had custody of his life

“Stewardship of God grace”: Paul was entrusted with the gospel-

God’s Grace came as a gift

We have taking part in this Gift of God

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

But next comes how we handle this Gift of God’s grace

Do we just hold onto it for ourselves. Do we turn into Gollum from The Lord of the Rings, “It’s mine, My Precious”

Do we steward the gift Given to us and share it with those who are lost, who are hurting, who are broken and far away.

cause we ourselves were once that!

We have received reconciliation through Christ now we have the ministry of Reconiclitaion

WE have been given Grace by Christ now we minister this same Grace to others

We are stewards just as Paul was

we are minister’s to those around us

Verses3-6: Mystery:The Church - We are all united in God’s family

This mystery was made known through the gospel of Jesus Christ

those who once were lost without hope, no means of finding salvation, now through the blood of Jesus Christ have been made part of the same Body, family of God

And we were all once far and lost, but God being rich in mercy he has now saved us.

There is a Humbleness that comes form knowing that God has saved us

Paul says “though I am the very least of all the saints.”

There is an understand that without the Grace of God we would be lost.

There is an overwhelming gratitude for the work of Christ on the cross

Paul didn’t have false humility and he also didn’t have self-condemnation either

It is “Because God has so lavished His love on me I am no longer dead in my Sins, But I am an instrument for HIs Glory!

I was once lost now I am guiding other to Hope.

I was once dead now I am speaking life to others

I was once in darkness no I reflect the light of Christ to those in Darkness

I am the least but because of God Grace I can be used to bring Him glory!

we are ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ-

2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

How we live shows who we worship

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

St Francis of Assisi “Preach the Gospel at all times, when necessary use words.”

Worship is a lifestyle that goes beyond just singing a few songs- it is being a Prisoner of Jesus Christ allowing Him to rue in your life as King of Kings and Lord of lords

A Minister is some one who is bound by duty to proclaim the Gospel

“Gift of God’s Grace”- There is graduated in our service to God, because of the grace that we have recieved

We have that attitude of worship in our service because we are thankful for the Grace given to us Just as Paul was

“Through the church the manifold wisdom of God might be made known”-

What is made known through the Church?

There is forgiveness

There is salvation

There is a place where you belong

There is one body of believers

There is a family you belong to

There is a place of healing

there is a place where you are loved

This is what the Church reveals to the world

But God’s redemptive purposes are revealed to everything even the host of Heaven and they are amazed

In God’s wisdom He predestined His Son to go to the cross so that He might reconciled mad unto Himself, and through this work of grace on the cross he established a church to be a light unto this world.

This was His eternal Purpose

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 3

God’s redemption in Christ originated in the fathomless sea of eternity with God’s “manifold wisdom”

God’s plan of salvation to the ends of the earth had to be put into effect in human history, which God did through the earthly work Jesus Christ

and in continued through us- His Church, our lives for the Glory of His name

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 3104 “Preaching” on the Way

St. Francis of Assisi one day said to several of his followers, “Let us go to the village over the way and preach.” As they went, they met a humble pedestrian who was greatly burdened. Francis was in no hurry and listened carefully to his tale of woe.

When the village was reached, Francis talked with the shopkeepers, spent time with the farmers at their fruit and vegetable stalls, and played with the children in the streets. On the way back they met a farmer with a load of hay, and Francis spent time with him. The morning gone, the group reached the monastery from where they had set out in the early morning.

One of the followers, who was greatly disappointed, said to Francis, “Brother Francis, you said you were going to preach. The morning is spent and no sermon has been given.”

And the saintly Francis replied, “But we have been preaching all the way.”

—Prairie Overcomer

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