Life Altering Event

Have you ever had a completely life altering event?

When you got your drivers license that was probably a pretty life changing event, because you had to walk everywhere and then all the sudden you could drive

If you are married I would assume that a lot of us would say I have had a life altering event.

If you were a guy and you got married you might have had to make your mancave smaller or limit it to one room

Wives you might have learned how to teach your husband how to get clothes in the dirty hamper and not just around it.

If you have had kids, I would say that is a life altering event because all of the sudden you have this little life you are in charge of.

But you know today we are continuing this series called “New Beginnings” and really in this series the author Paul is writing to a church and really the theme throughout this letter could be summarized as that Christ entering their lives is a completely life altering event.

And really this is true in our lives. Because when Christ comes into our lives things change.

And so today Paul is going to give us a reminder of what Christ did for us and then really give us the first few ways our lives should be drastically changed.

So we are going to be in Ephesians 3:1-17 and we will not get to every verse in this section, and so once again I want to challenge you to read through this book a few times during this series.

But we will be starting in just the first couple verses of the passage and look what it says:

Ephesians 3:1–2 ESV

1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,

So one of the first parts of this passage is Paul actually reminds the people in this church of what we talked about last week which is really the foundation of everything else in this book.

Which is really what Christ has done for us.

And I want you to notice how he sumerizes what He has done.

Because he says assuming you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace.

And a few years ago I preached on this passage and all the other points in this message are different, but whenever I read this this part always sticks out to me.

Because basically what he is saying is I really hope by now at this point in your life you realize how precious you you are to God and what your identity is in Him.

Because what Paul is trying to say is that you are precious to God. I mean did you know that?

And I absolutely love the language that Paul uses here, because he says “Assuming you know the stewardship of Gods grace”

You know the word stewardship in this passage is a financial word and today we usually think of stewardship as being responsible with how you spend your money.

But the thing that is crazy about God’s Grace is that God’s stewardship of Grace actually looks a little reckless.

Because the picture the Bible paints about how God stewards His grace is that there is no price He is not willing to pay to be in a relationship with you.

Thats why He comes down and dies on the cross for you,

Its like this if you have ever been to an auction everyone is trying to get the best deal and so when they start the bidding everyone starts bidding low so they can pay the least amount of money. Right?

and so if you are bidding on a rusty car that doesn’t run you would probably start bidding and go I’ll $100 for that?

But here is what I want you to get because God, doesn't do that.

But God is they guy who walks into the auction and looks at this rust bucket car worth 100 dollars and goes “100,000 for it!”

And everyone is looking at Him like He is crazy.

But really that is what God does for you, He did not just say I will do as little as I can to be in a relationship with you, but He bought you with His blood and He recklessly pours out His grace in our lives.

And that Grace covers us and changes every part of our life

and God does not just buy this rust bucket car and let it rot but He gets this car and fixes it up, He polishes it and brings it back to what it was created for!

And really when God has poured out His grace for us iHe begins to change us and form us into the people He has called and created us to be.

And I just want to look at this next part of the passage because it moves from this was done, to this is now how you are being shaped and formed.

Look at verses 3-6. It says this:

Ephesians 3:3–6 (ESV)

3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 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. 6 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.

So this part of the passage is a little weird because it talks about the mystery of faith.

Which sounds so mysterious right, and your probably thinking I am being formed in the mystery of faith? what is that?

But if you jump to verse 6 (that we read) it tells us that the mystery is actually that Gentiles are part of the body of Christ.

And this would have been a little shocking because a lot of Jews would not have even thought the gentiles could be in a relationship with Christ, but here they are told they are a part of the body of Christ.

And you are probably thinking why is this relevant, because a lot of this know this,

But heres the thing because the gentiles and Jews were very different, in fact there were times that they would have been considered enemies of the other.

But right here in this passage they are told because of Christ they are not enemies but they are one.

And we are going to unpack this more next week because next week Paul actually spend most of the time unpacking this,

But its kind of like motercycles (hold on, Ill get to the point), But has anyone here ever had a motorcycle?

I want one but Arika won’t let me.

But whenever a motorcycle drives past another person on a motorcycle what do they do?

They wave right?

Its like they are best friends.

And I imagine they have differences, but they that motercycle is this huge unifying thing.

But you know in the church there are people with a lot of differences,

Some people have music preferences that are different,

Others have hav e different prefrences on how things look

Some people raise kids different

Some people might have different political preferences,

But whats amazing is Paul is saying the mystery that the world is looking at confused is how in the world are these people that are so different, so unified,

And it is because of Christ.

We might have differences but those differences are so secondary compared to Who unifiys us. Amen?

Lets look at this next part of the passage: chapter 3 verses 7-13 because it says this:

Ephesians 3:7–13 ESV

7 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. 8 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, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

So in this next part Paul tells how He has been gifted, and He actually points out that He feels that God has called Him to preach specifically to the Gentiles,

I mean that is his God give passion and God has gifted Him to do that.

And hear is what I want us to get in this passage, because God has gifted each of us in different ways.

And it is really important to understand the ways God has gifted you specifically, because whats amazing is all of our gifts work together

I mean some of you have been gifted where God has given you this heart where you love helping and serving others,

then there are others where maybe God has given you the ability where you are just wise and are great people to go to for advice

Maybe some of you God has given you a generous person where you just pour yourself out for others

But here is the issue because if we do not understand how God has gifted us its easy to reflect Christ poorly to others.

I mean if we were looking for people to help with kids ideally we want someone who goes wow, I love kids and love telling them about how much Jesus loves them.

We would probably not want someone who goes I cannot stand those little brats.

If we were wanting someone to greet, we would want people who are able to make people feel welcomed and loved the way Christ welcomes and loves us.

But if we put someone who maybe just hates talking with people there and maybe looks grumpy all the time… it would not be the best fit.

If the church roof had a leak and you told me to fix it, it would be a terrible choice, because I am terrible with the stuff.

And God does call us out of our comfort zone, but so often He calls you to use these gift you have been given to glorify Him.

And I really believe we do this best when we understand and use our gifts for Him.

And let me just end on the last few verses because look what it says:

Ephesians 3:14–17 (ESV)

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

You know I love the way this passage ends because Paul ends this section saying because of what Christ has done he is bowing at the foot of the cross.

And not just that, but He tells us what His life is rooted and grounded in and really he says his entire faith is rooted and grounded in love.

And this is the greek word agape, which is the love that Christ has given us.

And let me just end on this because a lot of times its easy to root our lives and our faith in different things.

We root it in a job,

We might root it in politics

We might root in the fears we have

We might root it in ourselves

But Paul ends this section by saying the thing that the thing He roots and centers His life on in what Christ has done for Him.

And so as we close let me just ask do you understand that love and what would it look like to root and center yourself in that love.

because sometimes it can be scary to change what something is rooted in because there is an aspect of whats going to happen, but the beautiful thing is that for us its just saying yes to what God is doing.

Even if it feels like you are in a dark place where your life is rooted in the wrong things

We have a God who can fight those battles.

Will you pray with me?