The Mystery of the Life-Changing Power
Life in Christ / See Him • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Handout
What is the Theme for this summer? Anyone Remember?
Seek to Know Him! It is awesome how God works. Our church theme for this year is “Know Him” and as a result, we are challenging you to seek to know Him this summer. But the them for camp that Bro. Tom is challenging us with is “That I may know Him.” There are no accidents. I hope you are listening. He is trying to show us something. If you will listen God will work in your life this summer.
As we began to look at our text I wanted to start with the reminder about the theme because if we want to know Him more this summer it starts by understanding our position in Christ. Which Paul says in the Mystery. But that mystery has the power to change your life it you let it.
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Introduction
Introduction
Everyone Loves a Mystery
Sales for mystery novels tops 725 million dollars annually in the United States. That's a lot of money to find out "who done it"!
ASK: What is your favorite mystery series? Why is it your favorite?
ASK: How do you respond when you have solved a mystery?
The Bible holds one of the greatest mysteries of all time. Paul addressed the mystery's revelation, content, and purposes. His address should encourage us to spread the gospel anywhere God leads us.
Ask: When you were growing up, over which parent did you have more persuasion power?
Ask: How did you use your power to get what you wanted?
Paul recorded in the second half of this chapter a prayer for the Ephesians. He prayed that God’s power would be not only readily available to us but is also in us! We don’t need to persuade God to answer our prayers for spiritual growth. He’s already onboard - Literally.
This chapter reveals the mystery that had not been known before. And Paul says because of this truth we have all confidence and the power of Christ that changes lives available to us.
Some truth revealed in the New Testament was hidden to those in the Old Testament. They had a different perspective on God's grand plan for His Chosen People and for us today. Paul addresses the hidden truth, called a mystery, and challenges us to respond to the revealed mystery.
Bible Time
Bible Time
The Mystery Revealed
The Mystery Revealed
To understand fully to what Paul is revealing in the text I want to take a step back just so we are all in the same page.
Paul was a what? Jew
And if you are not Jewish what are you?
I want help us understand how and why Paul could be an expert in this area. Paul was born in Taurus as a Roman Citizen. He says that He was a Hebrew of the Hebrews meaning that although he was born and raised in the Roman or Greek world his family had not lost his Jewish ways.
Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
He also points out that he was a Pharisee and most of us are familiar enough I think to under that Paul was Saul who persecuted the early Christians. But even Paul’s dad was a Pharisee. This was more than just a strong belief for Paul this was his identity. It was who his family was and who he was.
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
Paul was both Jewish and Greek. He was both Gentile in his understanding and Hebrew by birth and practice. Paul’s background and up bringing was right where God had placed him at this moment in our text was no accident. God knew the perfect person to help deliverer this message what Paul.
What is this Mystery?
Paul explains the mystery in verse 6.
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
The Gentile believers are now united to the Jewish believers in one Body, the Church. No longer does there need to be a court of the Gentiles in the temple, no longer is there a higher “standing” for the Jews than the gentiles. There are all equal because of the Cross.
Paul, points out in verse 1 that he was a prisoner because he believed in God’s new program of uniting believing Jews and Gentiles in one body, the church. The orthodox Jews in Paul’s day considered the Gentiles to be “dogs,” But even some Jewish Christians did not have a much better attitude towards the Gentiles.
Even Peter himself struggled with this thought. Galatians 2 reveals a conflict Paul had with Peter over this very issue.
When we think of a mystery, we usually think of spies, unsolved riddles, and someone who searches for clues. A Biblical mystery, however, is not a who-done-it story.
Paul helps us understand Biblical mysteries by naming their three components (3:5).
First, a Biblical mystery was truth not revealed during the period of the Old Testament. Paul called the Old Testament times "other ages" (3:5). You won't find detailed descriptions of God's plans for the church in the Old Testament. The Jews in the Old Testament assumed the Messiah would come once and set up His Kingdom. Even Jesus' disciples near the end of His ministry still anticipated Jesus establishing His reign on earth.
Two Mountains
Two Mountains
One View
One View
The New Look
The New Look
DISPLAY: Visual 15—Limited Old Testament Perspective. Explain that in the Old Testament prophets saw the Messiah's coming as a singular event. It was like they were looking at two mountain tops that seemed to be one. What they couldn't see was the valley in between. The church, represented by the valley, was a mystery to the Old Testament prophets.
Second, a Biblical mystery can be known only by revelation. Paul wrote, "It is now revealed" (3:5). He had learned the meaning of this mystery by direct divine revelation. God took Paul to the "valley" between the two "peaks" of Christ's returns and showed him around.
Third, a Biblical mystery is revealed in the New Testament. Paul wrote that the mystery was revealed in his time—"now"—to the apostles and prophets. God revealed this mystery of Christ by the Spirit not only to Paul but also to other apostles and New Testament prophets (3:5).
ASK: What part of the Bible tells us how to organize and conduct church ministry? The Epistles.
ASK: What benefits does the Old Testament provide for the church? The Old Testament reveals God's character, provides examples of living by faith, details Gods plan for Israel, records history, and supplies details concerning the end times.
Paul Knew that God had called him to take the gospel to Gentiles and he was not disobedient to that call. Where Paul went he founded local churches composed of believing Jews and Gentiles, all “one in Christ Jesus.”
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Because of this Paul was known as the apostle to the Gentiles. And for this Paul was met with heavy persecution. This very reason was why he says he was a prisoner in verse 1.
The Mystery’s Reward
The Mystery’s Reward
Verses 6-8
In chapter two Paul pointed out that Christ’ work on the cross did much more than the salvation of individual sinners. It reconciled Man back to a relationship with God. It also reconciled Jews and Gentiles to each other. It is this truth that Paul presents here, and you can imagine the excitement. The truth of the mystery reveals to believing Gentiles that they have a wonderful new relationship through Jesus Christ. To begin with, they are fellow-heirs with the Jews and share in the same spiritual riches God gave to Abraham.
And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Remember Ephesians is about life in Christ. Being in Christ being a Jew or Gentile, that together we share the same riches of Christ.
Our human birth determines out racial distinctions, but our spiritual birth unites us as members of the same body. With Christ as our head.
In our new relationship, we are partakers of God’s promises. Once as a gentile we would have been on the outside of those promises, but now thanks to Christ and being in Him we can share the riches of Christ.
Not only does it reveal our new relationships but this mystery also reveals that there is a new power available to the gentile.
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
This was displayed in Paul’s life as God saved him by His grace but then called him to a special ministry to the gentiles. But God also gave Paul the power to accomplish his purpose
“If God leads you to it, He will lead you through it.”-Paul Chappell
The word “working” in this verse is the word which we get our word “energy.” The word “power” is the word which we get the word ‘dynamic and dynamite.” In order words, we as gentiles have great power in Christ. The same mighty resurrection power of Christ is available to us for daily life and service.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Paul takes this a step forward at the end of verse 8. He says that the riches we have in Christ are “unsearchable.” This does not mean that we cannot find them, but unfathomable, or untraceable. Meaning that you cannot discover the end of all of Christ’s riches.
The Mystery’s Responsibility
The Mystery’s Responsibility
Verses 11-13
When God saved Paul, He deposited with him the treasures of the Gospel truth
According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
Paul in turn committed these truths to others, wishing for them to commit the truths to other faithful believers who would share them on.
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
Paul faithfully stood for the truth and preached and proclaimed boldly the Gospel knowing he could claim the riches of Christ and that Christ would provide for them. He then faithfully shared that with others.
Most of us have heard of Napoleon Bonaparte and know him as the would-be conqueror of Europe. But not many would know him as a patron of Arts and science. Yet, he was. In July 1798, Napoleon began to occupy Egypt, but by September, 1801, he was forced to get out. Those three years meant failure as far as his military and political plans were concerned, But they were a success in the area of archaeology. For in August, 1799, Frenchman named Boussand discovered the Rosetta Stone about 30 miles from Alexandria. This gave archaeologists the key to understanding Egyptian hieroglyphics. It opened the door to modern Egyptian studies. One of the greatest discoveries to the modern world.
This mystery that Paul reveals here is God’s Rosetta stone. It is the key to what He promised in the Old Testament, what Christ did in the Gospels, what the early church did in the book of Acts, what Paul and the other writers taught in their letters, and even what God revels about the end of time.
God’s plan today is not the headship of Israel but the headship of Christ.
This great truth concerning the Church is not a divine afterthought. It is a part of God’s eternal purpose in Christ.
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
We must not ignore that Christ died and gave himself for the sins of the world and He established the church for all believers and gave us the job of fulfilling His purpose. When you understand this truth, it give you great confidence and faith. (v.12).
When you know what God is doing in the world, and you work with Him, you can be sure that He will work in you and for you. All of His divine resources are available to those who sincerely want to do His will and help Him accomplish His purpose on this earth.
The early church thought that the gospel belonged to the Jews. Because Jesus was a Jew and He came to the Jews first. But Acts 10 was a turning point in Peters life. But then they thought that the gentiles had to become Jews to become a Christian.
God’s Spirit gradually revealed to the early believers that God was doing something new: He was calling out people for His name from both Jews and Gentiles. There are no national, racial, political, physical, or social distinctions in the Church.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Understanding this mystery in this present age not only gives us confidence, it also gives us courage in the difficult circumstance of life.
Time will not allow to expand fully on this whole Chapter but I want to make a quick connection between the first half of this chapter and this last part.
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Paul makes a turn in verse 14 to start praying for the Ephesians for the second time in his letter. This prayer is about enablement. because of this new mystery that is now revealed to you. Because you are now in Christian and have the same riches and life-changing power in you that the Jews have. You are enabled. It is not so much a matter of knowing, as being. Paul is saying here that, “now that you know this truth I want you to get your hands on your wealth, realize how vast it is, and start to use it!”
Conclusion
Conclusion
God’s Church is not to be shackled by culture, class, or any other physical distinction. It is a spiritual entity that must submit to the Headship of Christ in the power of the Spirit. If you understand your wonderful position in Christ, then live up to it!
The question I have to you tonight is this: Why are you holding back?? What is stopping you from being all in? I watch many of you and can see a wonderful future of what God can do through you yet, you are holding back. Let it go! and Let God have control and watch what He can do through you.