The Mystery Revealed, The Mission Given
Rooted in Christ, Reaching in Love • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 3 viewsPaul experienced salvation and He wanted others to as well, even those he used to despise. We also, should be so compelled by the Gospel’s power in us that we want to see others saved too.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
The Mystery Reveled, the Mission Given
Opening Theme.
Soul watching at the mall.
Need. Paul answers the question what is the mystery and what do we do with it. THe mystery is that we are a church and the mission is to help others see their place within our community.
Question.
Can you imagine if God brought a soul to eternal life through your commitment to his mission. What would that look like.
Main Principal.
The Church is made up of individuals who go from being a mess, to hearing the message, to being a messenger when the Mystery is revealed and the Mission accepted.
Outline.
The Mystery Reveled
The Mission Given
The Mystery Revealed 3:1-6
For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—
assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.
When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,
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.
This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Explanation.
Paul uses the word “Stewardship” a term used in a household context. It is doing good with what is not yours. A picture is seen in the parable of the talents
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.
To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
Paul understood the Mystery revealed was entrusted to him for others.
He also says that the mystery is revealed, not uncovered. Generations past have sought to understand God and his mystery by using human wisdom and looking at his creation,
but Paul says it is only found by the Spirit’s illumination of the truth.
Not by experience,
not by worshipping creation,
not by Human understanding,
but by the The Spirit of God Himself to prophets and apostles teaching.
Meaning the mystery is revealed through Work of the Holy Spirit illuminating of the Word.
The same is true today.
The Spirit of God reveals Himself and His plan to you through the Word and prayer.
Not just the word.
Not just prayer.
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
“Mystery” used here in the text by Paul expands from just “revelation” (3) to “a revelation of Christ” (4) in verse 6 he says the revelation is the church; the joining of all people into one body partaking in the gift of grace in Jesus Christ.
Illustration.
This profound truth can be likened to the unveiling of a great artwork; as the cloth is pulled away, we see the beauty intricately woven within. In understanding the Church’s role, we are filled with awe and excitement, leading us to actively participate in sharing this revelation with the world around us.
Argumentation.
I hope you see the irony of Paul.
Paul is setting in prison and he is calling out to the Gentiles to be free.
Paul calls Himself a prisoner of Christ. But the nah-sayers of those days would say,
“Paul, you are a prisoner of Rome!”
Paul’s attitude towards the mystery was that it was a gift from His sovereign God.
His mission was to give it away to share it with all who would listen.
He knew that both the ministry and suffering was a part of the gift and that it would lead to others having a relationship with Jesus and to Paul it was worth it.
Paul’s attitude was not
‘Why am I here?’
‘Why did God call me, only to end up here?’
‘ Where was God when the people I was supposed to reach had me thrown in jail?’
‘I need to be back out on the street leading individuals to Christ’
‘Why was saved only to suffer’
Instead, He appreciated the gift and the giver and
he ministered to those in jail,
He wrote books that have lead countless people to Christ over the last 2k years,
And He prayed constantly for the churches he planted.
This gift of God’s saving grace was given to Paul. He knew the eternal prison sentence he was rescued from, and he was eternally grateful.
He believed the gospel message was to be stewarded. What was entrusted to Him was meant for others.
Full of the Spirit and truth (the word of God) he invested the Masters gift into others so that at His return he would hear “Well done good and faithful”
Principle.
Jesus is our example who proclaimed the gospel and through his suffering brought salvation to the world.
Paul is our example of one who proclaimed the gospel and his suffering brought salvation to the others.
The Church is our example which has been a beacon of light to the gospel and her suffering has brought salvation to others.
Do you view proclaiming the Gospel and suffering as an instrument of God or an inconvenience to your life?
Like the Parable of the Talents, You were given a gift to invest into others and your attitude towards sharing the mystery with others and suffering shows your level of appreciation of both the gift of salvation and the giver.
Application.
Is the Gospel of Jesus Christ a manifestation of great freedom to your soul, or a mystery that you cannot grasp in your mind?
2. The measure to which you believe in its life transforming power and share those truths is the measure to which He will will bless your efforts.
3. If you want to help others understand the gospel of Jesus,
or if you are wondering is God is real, Study His word. (dont just read)
God will reveal himself to you when you study His Word
Paul was a student of the word not a reader of it.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Transitions
A student of the Word of God, filled with the Spirit of God, determined to steward the message of God is one who understands the mission of the church.
The Mission Given 3:8-13
Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 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, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
Explanation.
Paul says in verse 7 that grace is given for a reason. It was given by God out of love to change Paul’s life for the better. But it was a community gift. Its the type of gift that can only be fully appreciated if others can share it with you.
Illustration.
Anyone know someone in a missional marriage?
Maybe you are in one, where you believe and know God, His spirit dwells in you, but your spouse can’t share in that understanding? That is a spiritually lonely and frustrating place for the believer.
Paul says the gift of grace was given as “a plan” by God who is the creator of all things.
The plan that was concealed for years is now the manifold wisdom of God.
Manifold in the Greek is a great multitude of color, specifically of cloth or patches.
Paul’s saying our individual story is a bright color that represents on piece of God’s masterpiece being sewn together like a quilt for all the world to see!
When we preach the gospel and live on mission, the world notices others are added to this beautiful artwork.
Not only does the world take notice but it says the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places are watching.
so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
Regarding the Angles
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully,
inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.
It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
Regarding the Devil
But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.
When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
Therefore be bold! be Bold! Who can stop us?
Argumentation.
God is wanting to
build a supernatural community through us, not just a Sunday Service.
God wants to bring unity in this community of believers in supernatural ways, not just have Bible studies.
God wants to see us overwhelmed with joy in our fellowship with Him, that we share those blessing with all who will listen, not just say God bless to the check out girl at the store.
Application.
1. Paul is encouraging the church to preach and bring the light.
Share the gospel and serve in a way that shows the gospel
We must be a church that shares and shows. (serve in a ministry Sundays….)
2. Be Bold, God has made a plan, the way, and the opportunity to be rooted in Him others need to know!
He longs for us to understand this mission and to embrace the call!
He will bless what we believe.
Appeal. [Worship team come up}
Church, imagine this with me for a moment.
What if we decided that we will never get over the wonder of our salvation?
Every time we sang, every time we pray, every time we gather —
you could feel it the Spirit working.
What if everyone here knew what it meant to be rescued by grace, and we all refused to keep that gift to themselves.
What if we made the choice: If salvation is the greatest treasure God has ever given, then sharing it must be our greatest mission.
We don’t need a massive plan.
we just start somewhere.
We open our homes to our neighbors.
A few of our men begin visiting inmates to tell them about Jesus.
The youth start serving meals to the hungry and praying with the broken.
Little by little, we’d stopped viewing church as a place to attend — and started seeing it as a mission to live.
Do you know what will happen?
God honored will bless it.
People who have given up on faith will find hope again.
Families will be restored.
Addicts will be set free.
Baptisms will need to be monthly, not occasionally.
The whole community will begin to change because
that “One Church” who decided we aren’t going to bury what God had entrusted to us.
Now church — Can that be us?
For that to happen we must
Refuse to bury the gospel under comfort, fear, or routine.
We must chose to invest our time, our talents, our energy, our compassion — in what matters most to God.
When a church cherishes salvation and they share it boldly, heaven moves.
Lives change.
Joy spreads.
And God multiplies what they give back to Him.
Let’s be that church — the church that doesn't buries the Gospel, but brings it to light.
Let’s treasure the gospel so deeply that we share it freely.
And when we do, I believe we’ll see that outcome I just mentioned:
a community transformed, a church revived, and God being glorified.
Response.
If you are a believer this moring and you are embracing the mystery and the mission of the church I’d like for you to encourage others to do the same. Share the belssing it is to live that way.
If you have been burring the treasure becasue of fear, comfort or misplaced priorities there is still time to hear well done good and faithful servant. But you need to confess those things to Him this moring and allow Him to restore the joy of salvation to your heart.
If you are here and you do not know the treasure of salvation from God. I would encourage you to come forward ask God to make his resence known to you. Confess that you need a savior and that you are ready to recive His life in exchange of your old life. Someone will be down here with you to pray.
Pray
