The Manifold Witness

Introduction

Last week we closed with the last couple of verses of Ephesians chapter 2. There Paul declares that Gentiles who come to Christ Jesus are no longer foreigners or aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people.

This is great news, and because of our newly found citizenship, Paul has become a prisoner of Jesus Christ. That is exactly what Paul says in verse 1 of chapter 3.

“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—”

A Brief History of Paul

Ephesians 3:2–6 NIV84

Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:2-

—God extended His grace to Paul.

—Allowed him to know the mystery of God

—The Mystery—Israel and Gentiles together

Paul a Servant of the Gospel

Ephesians 3:7-

Ephesians 3:7–13 NIV84

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

—Paul describes himself as the “least of all God’s people.”

—Preacher to the Gentiles

—Preaches the unsearchable riches of Christ

—These riches have been hidden for ages.

—God now wants His manifold wisdom to be known by “rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. . .”

This is a verse that we often skip over. What does it mean for the church to make known the manifold wisdom of God.

Manifold, means many sided, multidimensional, diverse. God’s wisdom is multidimensional and diverse. In classical Greek, the word translated “manifold” refers to the beautiful patterns in a piece of embroidery, or the vivid colors of flowers.

God’s grace is to be shown or proven to the rulers, and authorities in the heavenly realms. The church is going to show the heavenly realms God’s grace filled plan for both Israel and the Gentiles.

—In Christ we have both the freedom and confidence to approach God!

Paul’s Prayer

Ephesians 3:14–21 NIV84

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-

—Paul Prays for:

—Believers to have strength and power

—Believers to be rooted and established in love

—Our love is what connects us to God’s power.

—Believers in Jesus can grasp

—How wide Christ’s love is.

—Wi

Wide enough enough to embrace both Jews and Gentiles

—How long Christ’s love is.

Long enough to stretch from eternity to eternity

—How high Christ’s love is.

High enough to reach to the heavenly realms

—How deep is Christ’s love

Deep enough to rescue every kind of person from the power of sin.

—Christ’s love can be revealed to us, but still cannot be fully understood because it surpasses knowlede

God is able

—To do immeasurable more than we can ask

—To do immeasurable more than we can imagine

—God does this through His power working in us!

So What?

—Do you need God’s power in your life?

—Do you need God to do more than ask?

—Do you need God to do more than you can imagine?

—Have you experienced Christ’s Love?

—Love that surpasses knowledge

—Do you need to be rooted and established in Christ’s Love?

—Do you need to experience Christ’s power and strength?

—Do you need to experience the beauty of the tapestry of God’s wisdom?

Each of us need to understand how incredibly big God is?