A Cause Worthy of Your Life

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.

Paul began chapter 3 with the announcement that he is currently in prison. He also says that he is suffering this imprisonment for the sake of the Ephesians as well as other Gentiles. Everything he says in verses 2-12 is to demonstrate to the Ephesians the reasons why they should not lose heart at his current circumstances.

His says that God has made him a steward of His grace by revelling this great mystery to him which had been hidden since the beginning of time. That mystery being the wonderful purpose of God to redeem all nations both Jews and Gentiles alike making one people of God for all time, one body united in Christ.

Paul sees this ministry as being a grace granted to him by God, because he is less than the least of all the saints. This ministry that has led to his current state in prison not to mention the beatings, stoning, persecutions, and afflictions that he suffered prior to his current imprisonment. But his perspective is not that he has given God this ministry as an offering to God, no it is that God has given this ministry to him and that he did not in any way deserve such a gracious gift.

Paul finally concludes “therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you”

Not only is Paul encouraging the Ephesian church not to worry about him, he is also teaching them and us how and why we also should not lose heart when we find ourselves in afflictions, persecutions, burdens, and tribulations.

The way that Paul does this is by lifting our ideas about the church, the gospel, and the ministry.

He has already told us that it is:

The grace of God for us

The mystery which has been hidden from all other ages now revealed, specifically that the Gentiles should be of the same body as Israel equal heirs and partakers of the promise

And that this is the unsearchable riches of Christ

But now that we are getting to the climax of this argument Paul is really lifting our ideas about the church and its purpose.

He says in verse 10 “to the intent” that is the intention of his preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ and making all to see the fellowship of this mystery is..

That The Manifold Wisdom of God Might be Made Known

The word translated “manifold” here means “many-coloured” the root word is the word used in the LXX to describe Joseph’s coat in the Old Testament. So Paul is describing the wisdom of God as multicoloured like a beautiful tapestry. Or we might imagine a hand woven rug with multiple colours of wool woven together to create a detailed pattern.

Paul says that this wisdom is made known by the church. So we get this image of the wisdom of God being revealed in this beautiful tapestry as it is being woven throughout the history of God’s people. Every generation revealing more of God’s Wisdom and purpose of redemption until is is finally completed and presented perfect and complete to Christ.

Another way to look at it would be that all of history is a play written by God and that it is the story of Christ and His Church. We are all actors fulfilling our roles. As the story plays out God wisdom and purpose is being revealed.

But if we are the actors then who is the audience? This is where is gets interesting. Paul says that the audience is the cosmic principalities and powers. Who is that?

Well Paul mentioned them before in

Ephesians 1:20–21 NKJV

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.

And he also referred to Satan as the prince of the power of the air.

And later in Eph 6:12

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

So it appears that principalities and powers in heavenly places refers to angels. They may be either fallen or not but they are clearly spiritual beings of great power and dominion. They are not human authorities as they are distinguished from flesh and blood.

So Paul is say that through the church God is revealing His manifold wisdom to these angelic beings. This follows with what Peter tells us in 1 Pet 1:10-12

1 Peter 1:10–12 NKJV

10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

Although we don’t have a lot of information about these principalities and powers, and therefore we should be careful not to speculate too much, Paul does see this a one of God purposes for the church and mentions it in order to lift our ideas about the church.

He has already told us that the church is the body of Christ and the fullness of Christ

We see the church throughout history with all its mistakes and failures and we find the modern church with all it hypocrisies, and internal fights, scandals, and weaknesses and yet God’s true church is the body of Christ the revelation of the wisdom of God in which the angels are spectators learning of God’s wisdom. Christ died for the church, the church is His bride, so despite all her shortcomings be careful not to despise the church, make sure you do not forsake the church.

Paul says that this display of God’s wisdom in the church is

According to the Eternal Purpose of God

Which was accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. God’s purpose for the gospel, for His church, for the uniting of all nations to bring together one people of God is eternal. That means that before Christ was born, before the prophet wrote, before David ruled, before Moses brought God’s law to the people, before Abraham was chosen, before Noah built the ark, even before Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, before God created the heavens and the earth He had a purpose. A purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus. A purpose which is being revealed to the angelic beings through his people throughout history.

Paul is lifting our thoughts about the importance of the church. He has suffered and is suffering for the purpose of the church but because of his high view of the church he can say to the Ephesian don’t lose heart at my tribulations. Look at this high calling and purpose. This is what Paul draws courage from and why he is able to suffer for the sake of the church.

We may have to suffer persecution one day for the church. If we don’t lift our ideas about the purpose of church then we will not be able to endure the persecution. When the going gets tough it just won’t be worth it to suffer.

Paul also encourages the Ephesians by reminding them that in Christ we have bold and free access to the Father. This alludes back to Eph 2:18

Ephesians 2:18 NKJV

18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

In Whom We Have Bold and Free Access

When we ourselves or our loved one are in difficulties or afflictions we have free and instant access to our heavenly Father.

Hebrews 4:16 NKJV

16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We may not alway receive what we ask as we may expect but we will always obtain mercy and find grace. If we are to endure afflictions we must frequently take advantage of the access that we have in Christ to this throne from which the mercy and grace of God flows.

finally Paul instructs the Ephesians

Therefore do Not Lose heart

Ephesians 3:13 NKJV

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

Paul has not lost heart because he understands his high calling to preach the riches of Christ and to make known the fellowship of the mystery. He views his ministry as a gift from God of which he was unworthy. He understands the deep importance of the church in revealing God’s manifold wisdom an in fulfilling God’s eternal purpose. And he trusts in the free access that he has to the throne of Grace.

Paul not only gives the Ephesians encouragement on why they should not lose heart at his tribulations he is also giving them an example to follow so that they don’t lose heart at their own tribulations.