Ephesians 3
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Ephesians
Ephesians
Good morning church! I want to welcome you all here this morning, we are very glad you are here. Before we go too far into our service, I want to invite you back on Wednesday evening for our midweek study. At 6pm we are having an Agape Supper, lovingly bring something to share with your brothers and sisters. If you’re not able, show up anyways and let us love you by sharing our meal with you.
At 6:30 we begin our time of worship and the Word, and I know you guys are all excited about Isaiah 14 as am I, but this Wednesday evening, I was able to arrange for a special guest speaker to be with us to share what I truly believe to be a timely message for this church and the work the Lord is doing in and through us, so again I want to encourage you not to miss it. Do you guys want to know who it is? Cool! I’ll expect to see you see Wednesday night.
Open your bible’s with me to Ephesians chapter 3 and pray with me…Our Father in Heaven....
I want you to see something in our text this morning. Verse 14 begins…Eph 3:14
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
For this reason....when you read those words....what do you want to know?....What reason, right. What happened? Verse One of our chapter starts the same way, Eph 3:1
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—
So it begs the same question, what reason, what thing, what happened before this…Now if everyone of you attended every single Sunday, I might not review the ground we’ve covered and just keep plowing ahead. Yet again, I still might because repetition is often our friend. Paul has spent much of the first two chapters talking about the blessings we have in Christ. Not future bank or payoff, or Heavenly reward, but the incredible riches that we have right now today.
Paul tells us that we were chosen, we have full adoption status, Acceptance in the Beloved Jesus, we have redemption, we have forgiveness from sin!, He has given us the revelation of the mystery of His will, We are sealed, and the Holy Spirit in my life and in your life, is the down-payment that guarantees that we will be in Heaven!
HE made us alive, we who were once dead in our trespasses and sins. He saved us by grace through faith. Christ because our peace, He took down the wall of separation between us and God. We used to be far from God, separated from God, but now we can call Him Abba, Father, because of Jesus. Not only was the wall of separation removed between us and God, but also between Jew and Gentile because through Jesus we both have access by one Spirit to the Father." No longer Jew and no longer Gentile, but now Christians through the Cross of Christ...
SO Paul begins....for this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles....Eph 3:2-4
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,
3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,
4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
5 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:
Tell us Paul, what is this mystery that you already wrote about briefly?
6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,
7 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.
Just to clarify something Paul says in Verse 1…because in my introduction to this book I told you that Paul wrote this letter as a prisoner in Rome…and He says here that he is Eph 3:1
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—
a prisoner of Christ Jesus…Paul is probably on house arrest. If that was indeed the case he would have had some freedom to move about the house during the day, but still would have been guarded by Roman soldiers, 4 different shifts a day, and then often times they would have been chained at night. Paul’s perspective was that his life no longer belonged to Him, his life belonged to Jesus. So if he was a prisoner, then who is he to question? He’s not the boss, he’s not in charge. If he was in jail then God wanted him in jail, so he was a prisoner of Christ Jesus.
If he is set free, then God wanted him to be free to use him somewhere else, so he would be an Apostle - or one sent on a mission by Jesus Christ, slave or free, prisoner or missionary Paul belonged to Jesus. He goes on Eph 3:2
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,
Dispensation is not a word we use commonly today. Well it’s used often in theological circles, perhaps you’ve heard the term dispensationalism, or maybe someone has asked you if you are a dispensationalist, and probably you didn’t really know, or you punched them because you thought they were insulting you. Theologically, it is basically the belief that we interpret the Bible literally...
That God deals with humanity in a series of dispensations or administrations of time. That He has a unique dispensation for Israel, and another for the church age, that the church has not replaced Isreal. That God deals with people uniquely in the different dispensations of time. It all works out in the theology books, but for us, today.
Do we all know what a snack machine is, or a soda machine? Those things dispense stuff. When you put the money in and push a button, you receive a particular dispensation. A bottle of Pepsi as opposed to a bottle of Coke, because you have good taste.
Paul is describing his ministry as a dispensation, or a particular revelation of a mystery that he received, was dispensed to him for us....Eph 3:3-5
3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,
4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
5 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:
When Paul talks about a mystery, it is a bit different than what we think of a mystery today. We might think of Sherlock Holmes, or depending upon how old you are…Scooby Doo and the Mystery Machine…In the Greek language here what Paul was talking about when he uses the word mystery is not the idea of being something for us to try to figure out or a puzzle for us to solve.
A mystery is something that isn’t know, and can’t be known, unless it is revealed by God. So even when God reveals something it is still defined as a mystery as it can’t be know without that revelation from God. But then Paul reveals what that mystery was, the mystery that was concealed in the Old Testament. Eph 3:6-7
6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,
7 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 calls himself a minister here, that is not a title of status of prestige, it simply means servant. We get our word deacon from it. And that is the roll of a deacon, they are to see the needs of the congregation. The world literally is like a table waiter. Minister, just means you should be serving even more people. Back in 1 Corinthians, we read that Paul considered himself the least of the Apostle, look what he writes of himself here....Eph 3:8-9
8 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,
9 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;
Paul calls himself less than me, less than you…I don’t think this was false pride at all. Consider again who he had been. Born a Jew, a teacher of the Law, a Pharisee. No doubt, felt and believed just as the other Jews did that the Gentiles were dogs, suitable only to flame the fires of Hell. And now he was given this grace, to be able to share the Gospel with them that they might be saved. That there would be fellowship between Jew and Gentile that they would become the church. This mystery of the fellowship that God has now revealed, but why has this been hidden and why is it now revealed? Verse 10 Eph 3:10-11
10 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,
11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
Understand what Paul is saying here, because it’s mind blowing. To the intent, God always intended this, you being a part of the plan was not a mistake, not a surprise, and you didn’t get picked because someone else bombed out. And it was so that the manifold wisdom of God, not just regular wisdom the manifold wisdom that of incredible intricacy, might be made know by who?
Who’s that? You! Us. That the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by you to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. Those spiritual forces around us Heavenly angels and fallen angels. That is part of the your work of the ministry. Don’t believe me, turn the page to chapter 4 where he starts talking about spiritual gifts. Chapter 4 verse 11
"11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ," - Ephesians 4:11-12 NKJV
So my job is to equip YOU to do the work of the ministry, and part of that work is to glorify God by making known His manifold wisdom to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished (past tense, already did it) in Christ jesus our Lord! Sound intimidating? No way, verse 12 Eph 3:12
12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
Paul now encourages them not to get too bummed out that he is in prison…Eph 3:13
13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
He gang, it’s for your own good that I’m here. I get to slow down and write to you, I get to encourage and build up the church…Paul wrote Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon all from jail. Now do you guys remember Paul’s prayer for them in chapter one? I hope so, I prayed it for you guys. He prayed…Eph 1:17-20
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Now Paul prays for them again…before I read it, I want to talk to you for a few minutes about prayer. God tells us to pray without ceasing. To be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication make your requests known to God, so that we can have peace that surpasses all of our understanding. But why do we have to make our requests known, if God already knows everything?
He wants to talk to us and us to Him! He uses it to make our will like His will. It is a tool he gives us in warfare against the Devil…R.A. Torrey
When the devil sees a man or woman who really believes in prayer, who knows how to pray, and who really does pray, and, above all, when he sees a whole church on its face before God in prayer, he trembles as much as he ever did, for he knows that his day in that church or community is at an end.
Prayer changes things and it changes us! Think about the human that you love the most and how much you treasure your relationship with them. How close of a relationship would you have if you never ever or rarely ever talk with them? God, desires our fellowship with Him through prayer. If you’ve been doing the daily Bible readings with us on our Face Book page, This Tuesday morning I encourage you to ask God for the impossible. One more Torrey quote on prayer.
All that God is, and all that God has, are at the disposal of player. Prayer can do anything that God can do, and as God can do anything, prayer is omnipotent.
I believe it’s the most important ministry we have as a church. And God is always there for us. Don’t you hate having to try to communicate with a company today. First of all it seems like they hide their actual phone numbers. They want you to check their frequently asked questions. Try to chat on line, if you can finally find a phone number to talk to an actual person…you’re on hold…number 23 in line with an estimated wait time of way more minutes than you have available…God is always there wanting to listen.
So Paul’s first prayer he asked for enlightenment right? Wisdom, revelation, knowledge of Him, let’s see what He asks for this time for these churches.
Paul prays… Eph 3:14-16
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
Strengthened with Might, the title of our message today, is his first request for them. He prays for strength. That they would be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man. So before he prayed for enlightenment, now it for ability…strength,
Notice that his prayer is addressed to the Father, again, based upon the relationship that Paul tells us that we have with God, He is our Father and we can boldly approach His throne through Jesus. But are there things that can hinder our prayers? The Bible says there is.
In the book of Isaiah that we are studying on Wednesday nights we read this…Isa 58:1-2
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
Unconfessed sin can hinder our prayers, it says God will not hear.
Gentlemen listen to this one…1 Peter 3:7
7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
I looked for loop holes in the Greek, there are none, it says what it says, and it means what it means. So you’e fellowship with your wife, effects your fellowship with God.
Oh, but wait, there’s more…unforgiveness. Wait, what? Well what about…let me read it....Mark 11:25-26
25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
When we do pray, we are to pray in faith, we are to be persistent, and to seek God’s will.
let’s see what else Paul asks for.....again first that they would be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man that Eph 3:17-18
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—
Rooted and grounded in love, that they would be able to comprehend, to have depth… of what? What does he want them to comprehend to Know...
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
And he ends with what church folks might call a doxology…it just means an expression of praise toward God. It can be a song or something that is said. Paul closes the section with…Eph 3:20-21
20 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,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
In closing church, I want to encourage you. Paul’s first prayer for them again was for enlightenment, and then for ability He wanted them to know the love of Christ, that they would be able to comprehend it. He asked that they be rooted and grounded in love, and that they would be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man. Don’t you want all of that church?
The last two mornings I challenged some of our men. At least I hope I did. I reminded them that the Bible encourages us to ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel of Luke it says...
9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?
12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
My encouragement to you is to do just that. To begin every day asking your Heavenly Father to fill you fresh each day with the Holy Spirit. Father, I know I have plans for the day, I have an agenda, but would you please fill me with your Holy Spirit, lead me, direct my by your Spirit, help me both to hear and to obey that I would be strengthened with might through Your Spirit in my inner being. That I would somehow, someway, comprehend the love of Christ for me which passes human understanding.
Church this is not a gimmic, nor is it a pep rally, it is an encouragement from your pastor, and a personal challenge for myself. Because I promise you this. If we as a church, spend the next 30 days beginning each day asking our Father in Heaven to fill us with His Spirit, making sure our prayers aren’t being hindered. In a month, we’ll have a different church, one that looks more like Jesus.
Let’s pray...
Grace and Peace