Least of All the Saints

Please open your Bible to Ephesians 3.

Baptisms.

Read Ephesians 3:8–9- “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, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things…”

Pray.

A few observations about our text followed by a brief time of guided prayer together..

1. Paul sees the great value of the gospel.

Unsearchable riches of Christ.

Many other translations- Unfathomable.

A number which cannot be comprehended.

Beyond the reality of that which can be imagined.

This is the difference between a million dollars and a trillion dollars.

To put it more biblically, the difference between the most beautiful places in existence today, and Eden.

These riches of Christ are unsearchable in multiple ways.

Unsearchable in God’s possession.

Not surprising, as we know God to be the Creator of all things. As everything has been created by God, we rightly recognize that God possesses all things.

Unsearchable in God’s provision.

Ephesians 1:3- “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,”

It is one thing to believe that God possesses all. It is another thing entirely to believe that God has shared all that is necessary for His purposes with you.

Changes the way that we see God’s grace in the gospel.

The life of a follower of Jesus is meant to be seen as wealthy.

How we view the value of the gospel changes what we are willing to do with the gospel.

How do we speak to others about the happenings of our lives?

We won’t typically share about the normalcy of life unless someone asks specifically for it.

However, we do have times in which we say to others, without invitation, “You will not believe what happened to me today!”

Driving home from Chicago. Likely not going to tell you about sitting in traffic or what music we listened to on the drive. But I will tell you about a large box that fell off a truck right in front of us that caused my heart to stop.

We are willing to share about that which excites us.

Paul looked at the gospel and saw great wealth.

Consider the fortunes toward which we are pushing ourselves and our children.

Everyone wants their children to be “set up” financially.

Is it possible that we ought to desire for our children to be “set up” in an entirely different way?

Help them to see the riches of Christ, and to see themselves as wealthy with those riches.

2. Paul considers himself to be the very least of all the saints.

Ephesians 3:8- “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,”

The very least of all the saints- In other translations- Less than the least of all the saints.

Is this false humility?

Is this exaggeration?

John Calvin- “Most men are ready enough to make professions of feigned humility, while their minds are swelled with pride, and in words to acknowledge themselves inferior to everyone else, while they wish to be regarded with the highest esteem, and think themselves entitled to the highest honor.”

We must then ask, is this a one time, off the cuff remark? Or is it a theme that we have found throughout Paul’s writings?

1 Corinthians 15:9- “For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”

1 Timothy 1:15- “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

Romans 7:24- “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”

It seems that Paul truly considers himself to be less than the least of all of the saints.

In an era where we are constantly told that we are great, that we are enough, that we are perfect, it would do us well to consider Paul’s mind toward his own sinfulness.

This is what grace does to a person who rightly understands it.

Grace causes a man or woman to see the depths of their sin.

We come to grips with our own emptiness and inability.

In fact, we see that emptiness in everything surrounding us as well. We don’t look to answers IN other people.

Grace then causes a man or woman to hate that in them which is sinful.

Finally, grace drives us to the only One who can help.

This sight of sin and hatred of sin within ourselves doesn’t drive us to despair.

Romans 7:25- “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Without eyes like Paul’s toward our sin, how will we ever see our need for the riches of Christ?

Paul sees his spiritual poverty, but doesn’t stay there. Instead he is drawn into the only One who can truly give him new life.

And this grace pushes him toward those without it. He cannot keep it to himself, but can only share what he has.

3. Paul sees the spreading of the gospel as an illumination.

Ephesians 3:9- “and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,”

For Paul, conversion, or following Jesus, is a light bulb that comes on. Such a light bulb is created, turned on, and stays on by the power of God.

God as the Creator of all things.

Let there be light.

As God spoke light into darkness, He speaks light into the darkness of our lives.

God created man to carry on His creative work. As God created, so we create.

So God hasn’t merely created spiritual light in your life so that you can keep it, but in order that you can spread it.

What does the gospel do to a person?

We tend to see the spreading of the gospel in terms of segmented opportunities.

“On Tuesday I had the chance to share in a conversation that I go to church.”

Like a lighter that sparks.

Paul widens our scope.

For Paul, he looks around and sees people in darkness.

He gives light where there is darkness. His life and message is this light, and it is always present with Paul.

What he possesses in the gospel is light and treasure. He brought so many to Jesus and planted so many churches because he knew what he had.

We are called to live knowing what it is that we have.

People will see light not only in your sharing of the gospel (though the sharing is crucial), they will see light in everything that you do. How you love your children, how you talk about others, how you work hard, how you

4. A new direction in prayer.

Think of two people that you know who have no hope in Jesus. Paul might describe them as living in darkness.

Could be a co-worker, a family member, a dear friend, a neighbor, or maybe even someone that you don’t know very well.

Hold that person in your heart and mind. Reflect on the sort of interactions that you have with this person.

Pray together. I’ll give some prompts and ask that you pray silently for both yourself and the person you’re holding in your heart.

Open the prayer time with a brief word of prayer.

Prayer prompts:

Paul’s humility drove him to a place of service and ministry. Ask God to work on your heart so that your evangelism would not come from a place of pride or power but instead from a humble and serving heart.

Paul valued the gospel and saw its great necessity. Ask God to cause your eyes to be opened to what you possess in the gospel of grace- the greatest of immeasurable treasure and a needed light for those living in darkness.

Those who dwell in darkness have little knowledge of or desire for true light. For many, they don’t see their need. Ask God to begin using you to show them the beauty and goodness of a life lived in God’s light and presence.

Finally, pray that God would open your mouth and open your life to the sharing of the good news of Jesus Christ. How will any know of Jesus unless we are willing to make Him known?