Calvary Chapel Wenatchee
Sunday Service - Ephesians 3 Pt1
  • He has made me glad
  • I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord
  • Let All The Earth
  • I Will Exalt Your Name
  • Indescribable
  • Oh Lord You're Beautiful
  • All to Jesus I Surrender
  • Unchanging
  • Last week:
    We see that Jesus is our peace between the Jew and the Gentile
    The Gentiles, who were completely excluded, without Christ, without hope.
    But in Christ, we have been brought near by the blood of Christ
    And now, we are being built together, Jews and Gentiles, into a holy temple for the Spirit to dwell.
    Introduction:
    Today, before we begin, I want to start by remembering one of the Old Testament prophets. A prophet who had a successful career as a prophet, who had seen borders restored through his prophecies, and was probably well liked by the nation during his time.
    But many of us will remember this prophet, not for his success, but the fact that he ran from God. Remember the prophet Jonah, who was called to prophecy to the enemy of Israel, the city of Nineveh. Instead of obediently going, he ran the other way, only to be thrown into the sea and swallowed by a big fish and would be there for 3 days and 3 nights. Even though he would humble himself before the Lord and be spat out onto dry land, he went through Nineveh less than half heartedly, yet would still see the city repent.
    But when they repented, what was Jonah’s response?
    We see that in Jonah 4:2-3
    Jonah 4:2–3 NASB95
    2 …“Please Lord, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity. 3 “Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.”
    Jonah’s ministry was extremely successful, but rather than it being a blessing to him, it became a burden and he despised what came of it.
    What we will see today is a completely different story as Paul talks about his ministry to the Gentiles. As I look t it, it becomes the difference of one who is operating under the Law, and the other who operates according to the Spirit.
    Stewardship to the Gentiles (V.1-7)
    V.1
    O: For this reason I, Paul the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-
    I: Paul is imprisoned because of his ministry to the Gentiles
    A: Paul isn’t a prisoner of the Jews, nor a prisoner of Rome, but a prisoner of Jesus
    Why?? So he can continue to carry the gospel to the Gentiles.
    Acts 23:11 NASB95
    11 But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”
    His circumstances aren’t what defined Paul’s ministry, it was the Lord who directed it all
    Your circumstances aren’t an accident. They are ordained by God to use you for the sake of the gospel
    V.2
    O: if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;
    I: Paul wants them to know God’s call in his life, which is to the Gentiles
    A: Paul calls his ministry to the Gentiles “grace”
    Not his burden to bear, not his unfortunate circumstances, but grace.
    Paul was a Jew, one who would have despised the Gentiles and loathed this ministry.
    But this is viewed as grace, in view of how even his own country men would view this.
    Remember Paul’s testimony as he is sharing with the Jews in Acts 22:21-22
    Acts 22:21–22 NASB95
    21 “And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ” 22 They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!”
    Paul was disowned and counted dead by the Jews, but Paul still calls this ministry, this stewardship, grace.
    Can we say that about our ministry?
    V.3-4
    O: that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. (4) By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
    I: Paul knew the mystery of Christ because it was revealed to him, and he wants the Ephesians to understand what he knows.
    A: This always is a red flag… I know a mystery by way of a revelation.
    Someone comes to you with a “special” revelation, or a “special” knowledge, be mindful. Even Paul says in Galatians 1:8
    Galatians 1:8 NASB95
    8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!
    Paul knows the weight of what he is doing with the Ephesians, he understands the weight of sharing with them.
    But notice this, he also wants them to UNDERSTAND his insight, not just take it for face value.
    That is where people get in trouble, is you would have to have a special connection or a special understanding, a special book or scroll. Paul just wants them to understand what he understands.
    V.5
    O: which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
    I: What other generations didn’t know, now it has been made known to His people.
    A: How has it been made known?? In the Spirit.
    Paul explains this better in 1 Corinthians 2:7-11
    1 Corinthians 2:7–11 NASB95
    7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
    Not only has this been revealed to Paul, but the apostles and prophets.
    Not only is this given by the Spirit, but given to multiple people across multiple generations.
    V.6
    O: to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
    I: This mystery is the Gentiles inclusion of the body, that the gospel is just as much for them to become children of God.
    A: What is for the Gentiles?
    To be heirs- or have an inheritance
    Members of the body- to have purpose and direction
    partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus- That Christ died for them, that they too would receive salvation, and also, receive the Holy Spirit of promise.
    V.7
    O: of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.
    I: Paul again crediting grace for this ministry he was called to.
    A: According to the working of His power
    What an encouragement, because only God’s power can change a heart from where Paul was as a Jew of Jews, to minister to those he absolutely hated at one time.
    That is the power of God
    Think of Saint Patrick, who was born in Britain, and at the age of 16 was kidnapped and was forced into slavery in Ireland. After 6 years he was able to escape, but when he returned home, he felt the call to missions work. So a couple years later, he left his home to go back to Ireland, to the very place he was enslaved, to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the devout pagan society that kidnapped him. Only the power of God working in someones life can bring such love and passion towards those who in the flesh, you want to hate.
    This is the power of God working in Paul, and He recognizes it as grace.
    Grace Preached (V.8-13)
    V.8-9
    O: To me, the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, (9) and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;
    I: Paul gets to share the richness of Christ to the Gentiles, things other generations never knew about.
    A: Very least of all the saints: Why not send Peter? Why not send James? Or John? Because God called Paul
    unfathomable riches of Christ:
    I think of how we tink of riches… Elon Musk’s net worth on Forbes is $839 billion, that is so hard to comprehend.
    Paul is sharing with the Ephesians the unfathomable, the unsearchable, the inscrutable, the incomprehensible riches in Christ. The eternal blessings, the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places that Paul has already talked about.
    Administration of the mystery:
    That God wanted this to be preached to the Gentiles, because He loves them too
    V.10
    O: so that the manifold wisdom of God might be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places
    I: The church would be a spectacle to the world and the angels
    A: What is this wisdom of God?
    We find it in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
    1 Corinthians 1:26–31 NASB95
    26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
    V.11-12
    O: This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, (12) in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.
    I: This was God’s plan through Jesus, to make God approachable for all mankind by faith
    A: By faith, we can now come with boldness, being confident in our access to the Father because of Jesus.
    Not because we are so good, not because we are deserving, not even because of who we were, but through faith in Him.
    Consider John 14:13
    John 14:13 NASB95
    13 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
    and then in John 15:16
    John 15:16 NASB95
    16 “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.
    Because of Him, we can be bold and have confidence
    V.13
    O: Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.
    I: Paul doesn not want them to worry about his circumstances
    A: Why is Paul saying it is their glory? Because this ministry that Paul has, this imprisonment on their behalf is God’s love for them displayed through Paul.
    Conclusion:
    Paul is going to use this ministry and his heart for the Gentiles as a catalyst for the second prayer he records for the Ephesians. His heart continues for them to see more clearly what they have in Christ, or as we remember, IN HIM.

      • Jonah 4:2–3NASB95

      • Acts 23:11NASB95

      • Acts 22:21–22NASB95

      • Galatians 1:8NASB95

      • 1 Corinthians 2:7–11NASB95

      • 1 Corinthians 1:26–31NASB95

      • John 14:13NASB95

      • John 15:16NASB95

Calvary Chapel Wenatchee
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