Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3:1-6  (ESV)

3 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, 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[a] that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

A prisoner of Christ

Ephesians 3:1 (ESV)

3 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—

Paul is about to pray.. but waits to unlock the mystery a little more…vs 14

He wanted them to get it so they can use it.

Have you ever read scripture and it seems like God just keeps saying the same thing to you.. you haventt got it yet..

For this reason.. the reason that you are the church.. the reason that God Lives in you.. the reason you gave your life.. because you know you cannot do it without Jesus.. the reason you are going to be at peace with God and each other.

One building.. one household of God one Spirit

A prisoner of Christ—paul 5 years in prison..

Acts 20:22-24  (ESV)

22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Bound = deo. Ephesians 3:1 desmios base is deo

What are you bound to?

Rope.. weights..

We have addictioins.. CR hurts habits hangups

We are all prisoners.. either to the world our flesh or Jesus.

Paul from persecutor to prisoner—apologetics. Famous for persecuting Christians ..world loved him and then all of sudden he started preaching Jesus..jews and gentiles could go to heaven.. you don’t have to follow the cermoies its not about laws.. and he did all of this mostly in prison and he prided himself that he did all this by being a tentmaker..

2 Corinthians 5:14  (ESV)

14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;

He did this all for a group of people the Jews didn’t care about

Prisoners of Jesus have more grace

Ephesians 3:2

assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you,

Being a prisoner Puts suffering in perspective

Romans 8:28  (ESV)

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Paul is suffering in jail with not complaints b ut with thoughts of how he can serve the church..

2 Corinthians 1:3-5  (MSG)

3-5 All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too.

Have Heard

Recognizable sounds mp3 I will do these when I get there sunday

Mystery revealed through God’s word

Gods word.. worship.. life groups..

steward

managing of property by a servant on behalf of its owner

God owns the grace and he is calling us to manage it God’s grace

Showing grace in the difficult situations…

Romans 15:15-16 (ESV)

15 But on some points, I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

suffering if paul is not in prison he might of not wrote this letter..

This grace is a blessing because paul is able to give it to others through the teaching of the word.. he spends his time in prison thinking of others.. the least of these.. you and me… even to share Gods grace with us

1 Peter 4:10  (ESV)

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

Prisoners of Christ have new eyes

Ephesians 3:3-5

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.

Revelation and insight

Rick and Joe… IT ..baud rate or twain blobs gui

Colossians 1:25-26  (ESV)

25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.

Paul literally was blind.. we are blinded by the world ..only Jesus and his word reveals the truth to us

Transformation

Car1

Car 2aCar 2b

Car 3 car 3b

1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)

10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

The word of God is revealed to us and we are all called to share it to each other

Now I am bound to the word which reveals true life to me

1 John 3:5-6  (ESV)

5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

Prisoner of Christ shares the Gospel

Ephesians 3:6 (ESV)

6 This mystery i that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

The gospel is for us all.. we are all bound to one another

We are called to bring the truth in this world

Galatians 3:13-14  (ESV)

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit[a] through faith.

When we are bound to the word to Jesus to God..

All of sudden we are no longer carrying any burdens or sins b/c Jesus carries us!!!

Isaiah 63:9 (ESV)

9 In all their affliction he was afflicted,[a]     and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;     he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Lord we are ready for whatever you want

Your presence is an open door

We want you like never before

Lord your grace is enough

Lord the best is yet to come

Lord let us put our hope in things above.