Less than the Least Giving More than the Most

Ephesians 3:8–13 NKJV

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; 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. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Review

Ephesians 3:1–7 NKJV

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 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: 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 had this great calling on his life yet he says in vs 8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints.

We see that confidence is of paramount importance in life if we are to achieve anything worth while. A person how lacks confidence will struggle in all areas of life.

Example of being confident as a security technician.

But Christ said we should be like him, meek and lowly in heart. Paul tell us in Philippians 2:5-8

Philippians 2:5–8 NKJV

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

And then we find Paul here saying that he is less than the least of all the saints, and yet Paul did not lack confidence. If he had then he would have never been able to accomplish all that he did in his life.

So where do we find the balance?

For the world confidence is found in self. I must believe in myself, have a strong self image or ego. However, for the Christian we have a unique situation which enables us to genuinely have humility and yet still have the greatest confidence to do the task before us. If we have truely found Christ then we have had to see ourselves as the Bible reveals us. Wretched sinners without hope. Humility should come naturally for the Christian. If it doesn’t then we need to go back to what Paul told us chapter 2 and remember that we were once Gentiles in the flesh, without Christ, having no hope, and without God, dead in trespasses and sins. Or we go back to what Christ taught in John chapter 15 that without Him we can do nothing.

So where does confidence come from? Our confidence is found in the one who calls us. God has called you and adopted you into His own family. Christ has died for all your sins - By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And what ever He ask us to do He empowers us to do. Because he give us both to will and to do His good pleasure. So as Christians we also have a great potential for confidence. But our confidence is not in self, it is in Christ.

This is how Paul can honestly say the he is less than the least of all the saints and yet have great confidence to fulfil his calling.

So if God is calling you to something that you don’t have the confidence to do, don’t worry just do what God tell you to do because He will give you everything you need to do it. Don’t do as Moses did

Exodus 4:10–11 NKJV

10 Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?

Paul was given this grace that he should preach among the Gentiles.

If God calls you to be a pastor of missionary or Sunday school teacher or youth pastor, it is a great grace which He has pour out to you. Receive it with thanksgiving and rely entirely on Him for your confidence.

Paul’s grace was to preach among the gentiles the -

The Unsearchable Riches of Christ and the Fellowship of the Mystery

The unsearchable riches of Christ that Paul is speaking of referencing the previous 2 chapters.

He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places

chosen us

adopted us

accepted us

redeemed us

forgiven our sins

sealed us with the Holy Spirit

made us alive

made us to sit in the heavenly places with Christ

saved us by grace through faith

brought us near to Himself

given us peace

Reconciled both Jews and Gentiles in one body

given us access by one Spirit to the Father

The list goes on and on which is why Paul says these riches in Christ are unsearchable. As Job said

Job 9:10 NKJV

10 He does great things past finding out, Yes, wonders without number.

Many Christians discover the riches Christ in the forgiveness of their sins and go no further in their search. But God wants us to search out the riches on Christ even though we will never find the end of them.

Paul also says his calling is

Ephesians 3:9 NKJV

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;

The mystery that Paul is referring to specifically was stated in verse 6

Ephesians 3:6 NKJV

6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

So the fellowship or the Koinonia of the mystery Would be the Church.

This Mystery was made known to Paul by revelation

Ephesians 3:3 NKJV

3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,

In this 3rd Chapter Paul has given us two of the greatest incentives for evangelism. His calling and commission by God and the revelation of the mystery of the Gospel.

We all have the general commission by Christ to go and make disciples. Some, like Paul have a specific calling.

And then the revelation. Truth is revealed to us in order that we share it with others. If God reveals truth to you, then you can be sure He expects you to share it with someone else. We are stewards of truth. If we truely come to the conclusion that Paul did that this Gospel is God’s truth and that it is the riches of Christ for all mankind, then no one will be able to shut us up.

Romans 1:16–17 NKJV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

God is no interested in our skills and abilities, in what we have to offer, He doesn’t call people who have their lives together or people who don’t sin. In my experience God usually calls broken people, who have messy lives and don’t seem to possess any of the necessary talents. He calls the least of us to share a gospel which is the riches of Christ. The only thing we have to offer God is this body that He has given us.