Ephesians 3 - The Church as the Unveiled Mystery.
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Today we are in Ephesians chapter 3
My hope today is to finish chapter 3
Take a month long break
Pick it back up 2nd Sunday of January.
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PAUL HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR IN THIS SHORT LETTER.
PAUL HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR IN THIS SHORT LETTER.
God has always planned to unite all things in Jesus.
That plan is the unification of all people groups in Christ. Jews and Gentiles.
While the fallen spiritual powers and spirits seek to bring interethnic division, God seeks to bring shalom to His creation.
Jew / Gentile /Black / Asian / Hispanic/ Eastern / Western/ African / Arab /White/ Male / Female/ Old / Young / Rich / Poor / Slave / Free / Every tribe / Every Tongue
IN CHRIST!
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IF GOD’S PLAN IS UNIFICATION AND SHALOM IN JESUS THEN, -
Every act of division is based on the demonic plans.
Fermented in a culture that has been organized and built by these evil powers.
And appealing to our sinful animalistic appetites.
YET WE MUST REMEMBER
JESUS HAS BEEN RAISED AND SEATED IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.
High and far above all powers, principalities, and names.
And His Church, His body, has been seated with Him, above these same powers.
WE THEN NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF OUR OWN THOUGHTS AND HEARTS TOWARDS OTHERS?
Are we being used as pawns of the evil ones in their desire to divide?
Or are we being used by Jesus to link arms across the nation in Jesus?
HERE IS THE QUESTION I WANT YOU TO ASK YOURSELF TODAY?
HERE IS THE QUESTION I WANT YOU TO ASK YOURSELF TODAY?
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN CHRIST’S VICTORY OVER SATAN AND THE FALLEN POWERS?
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN CHRIST’S VICTORY OVER SATAN AND THE FALLEN POWERS?
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OK, NOW LET’S JUMP INTO CHAPTER THREE? AND SEE HOW GOD USES HIS CHURCH TO PROCLAIM HIS VICTORY!
OK, NOW LET’S JUMP INTO CHAPTER THREE? AND SEE HOW GOD USES HIS CHURCH TO PROCLAIM HIS VICTORY!
WHAT IS THE MYSTERY?
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that by revelation the divine secret was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly.When reading this, you will be able to understand my insight into this secret of Christ. Now this secret was not disclosed to people in former generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, namely, that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. I became a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the exercise of his power.To me—less than the least of all the saints—this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ and to enlighten everyone about God’s secret plan—a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things.
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WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF DISCLOSING THE MYSTERY NOW?
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF DISCLOSING THE MYSTERY NOW?
The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms.
THROUGH THE CHURCH------!!!!
Look at your neighbor as say that is us!
The World wide church of Jesus - reveals the multifaceted wisdom of God to the evil powers!
Our unity says to the evil powers, “YOU LOST and JESUS WON!
GOD IS UNITING ALL PEOPLES TOGETHER IN JESUS.
As we the world wide church love Jesus and one another - we declare the victory of Jesus to the powers!
I WANT TO SHOW YOU A VIDEO TODAY - A VIDEO THAT SHOWS JEWS AND ARABS IN JESUS - WORSHIPPING TOGETHER.
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GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE CARRIED OUT THROUGH JESUS!
This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access to God because of Christ’s faithfulness.For this reason I ask you not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
For this reason I kneel before the Father,from whom every family in heaven and on the earth is named.
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HE NAMES US HE OWNS US!
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A PRAYER OF WORSHIP AND HOPE!
I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
To know and experience the wealth of God’s love to us in Jesus is the key to unity.
As we love Him, we will love His plan, then we will love all those in Jesus.
We cannot mis this! His love to us in Jesus is the key to Shalom / Peace in the world.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
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I would like for the worship team to come up.
I would like for the worship team to come up.
We will end today with the last two verses in chapter 3.
But I would like for us to read these 2 verses together - loudly and with a passion of praise!
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Ephesians 3:20–21 (NET)
Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.