Sunday Service 5-5-19 - Ephesians 3:1-13 - Paul's Incredible Encouragement of the Mystery of the Church Part 2

 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, … He breaks his thought to explain something … to be continued in 3:14) For this reason… Remember Eph 2 – the Gospel – personal and corporate reconciliation to God and to each other, strangers/aliens  citizens/members, being built together into the House of God “he painted a vivid contrast between the double alienation the Gentiles endured before Christ (from God and from Israel) and their double reconciliation through Christ. For by his death Christ demolished the Jew-Gentile and God-man barriers, and is now creating in relation to himself a single, new multi-cultural human society, which is both the family God loves and the temple he lives in.” What breaks his thought? His situation. Maybe it was a guard yelling, maybe it was one of his fellow prisoners crying out in agony, maybe it was his own chains rubbing his scars. a prisoner… … of Christ Jesus Paul’s outlook – faith - He sees what others can’t see. (Paul’s outlook: not a prisoner of Rome/Jews, but of Christ, for a great purpose – Gentiles) on behalf of you Gentiles— for a great purpose – the Gentiles, the Church, Us. This was also a matter of fact. The reason he was brought up on charges and imprisoned is that he preached the Gospel to the Gentiles. It was the message and the audience that got Paul in trouble with the authorities. 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, He doesn’t assume all of them know him, even here, he’s sensitive to them. Paul was given a stewardship – strategy – administration of God’s grace -TROUBLE! What did the Jews hate so much??? It wasn’t that Gentiles COULD be saved or COULD become part of God’s people. It was that they were made EQUAL! They didn’t have to proselytize and become Jews, they could remain Gentiles in the flesh and be saved in the Spirit – it wasn’t about physical law, it was a Spiritual thing, and there was now equality as one Spiritual man in Christ … and this was completely of God’s grace! Not of works, so that no man may boast (the Jews!, the Romans!) … God’s Workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works (not by good works)!!!!! Scandalous! Paul has a special task. It’s not about him – it’s about them. 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. Had you heard about this? You need to know this. MYSTERY?! What once was hidden, now revealed. by revelation – the certainty of this truth, direct from God. What is the mystery??? “To sum up, we may say that ‘the mystery of Christ’ is the complete union of Jews and Gentiles with each other through the union of both with Christ.” The uniting of all things in Him, in heaven and on earth. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, The power of the Word in the heart of the believer The source and substance of the mystery is Christ. He is why we now know something different. Who is worthy to open the scroll? Jesus is the wise man, the teacher, how we can catch up to those who have been in this thing for decades, centuries. Luke 8:17Verse Concepts "For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. Deuteronomy 29:29Verse Concepts "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law. Jeremiah 33:3Verse Concepts 'Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' Proverbs 25:2Verse Concepts It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. Revelation 5:3Verse Concepts And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. Amos 3:7Verse Concepts Surely the Lord GOD does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets. John 15:15Verse Concepts "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. Romans 16:26Verse Concepts but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; 1 Corinthians 2:9Verse Concepts but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." 1 Corinthians 2:10Verse Concepts For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. Ephesians 1:9Verse Concepts He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him Ephesians 1:10Verse Concepts with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 5 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. We are special … for some reason. Do we get that? (Job) Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. They looked forward to a promise, to a revelation. We have it. Set apart ... By the Spirit … What does the Spirit know? What can the Spirit do? The apostles and prophets were set apart, given an anointing, a mission … by the Spirit. We are a chosen race, a holy nation, a royal priesthood. The Spirit knows it all and can do it all. This is revealed to us – no secret knowledge in Christianity. It’s all revealed. It’s the Scripture – ready for you to search it out. 6 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. The mystery is … !!! Can you imagine? Imagine all of us willingly begin to serve the King who once was our sworn enemy – Remember Psalm 2. Why do the nations rage     and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves,     and the rulers take counsel together,     against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart     and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;     the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,     and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King     on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;     today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,     and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron     and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.” 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;     be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear,     and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son,     lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,     for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Fellow heirs of the same blessing/inheritance Fellow members of the same body Fellow partakers of the same promise “in Christ Jesus”: equality in Christ, Union with Christ = union with each other “through the Gospel”: Eph 2 – by grace through faith V5 Not made known to past generations: Eve, Abraham, David, Solomon, etc… How? 7 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. 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, Paul’s understanding of himself, humility – Paul’s outlook – faith. “the gift of God’s grace, which was given me” (See V2) – Grace for them, Grace for Him. God’s grace for Paul – who was Paul – Paul’s name. Paul’s name in Latin means small/little. He was also short in stature according to tradition. Again, it’s not about him … it’s for them. Unsearchable riches – “not to be tracked out”. Power of Evangelism, Paul’s/our mission – A. From: Revelation. (V3) B. To: Riches. (V8) “Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few.” – Winston Churchill changed it to that from “Never before in history…” 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, The light Paul received, he now gives to everyone … the blinding glory of the risen Christ that overcame Saul on the road to Damascus influenced him his whole life. Lamp unto my feet, light unto my path The “plan” of the mystery. What’s the plan/point/purpose? “hidden for ages” - he makes all things … he makes all things beautiful in His time. … Who created all things … 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Seriously … through the church … the manifold (many-colored) wisdom of God Made known to the spiritual rulers and authorities. Made known to Gentiles (V8), to everyone (V9), to cosmic, spiritual powers (V10). The significance of the Church – not an afterthought, not a parentheses, not a plan B, not optional, not a sidenote, not peripheral to the Christian life and God’s plan, this is the center of the plan – How can we neglect it? - evangelical church went too far in making Christianity all about the “personal relationship with Christ”. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. We are the center of God’s redemptive purpose for all creation: 1 Pet 1:12 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. 1 Cor 6:3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? (Why not take other believers to court?) God is a Tri-Unity – Trinity – plural-singular – oneness of many. It is no wonder that His plan to reveal his multi-colored wisdom is the unity of many in the Church. Not individualism, but Love!!! No one is in a church accidentally and no one is unnecessary. We are all members of Christ’s body, key actors in the theatre of history, with the church as its stage and the audience as all of the cosmic powers who will all say ““Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Rev 5) Rev 11:15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” This is the climax of the play in which we are taking part: 1Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.8And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, This is an eternal purpose, not a plan B. (chosen in Him before the foundation of the world) Now become a manifest reality in Christ Jesus … our Lord – this is it – the Lordship of Christ in us and over the universe … and we rule with Him. 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. Not a Lord who makes us weak, but who makes us strong! Do we trust Him? Do we know Him as our boldness, access with confidence? As we read in Psalm 119, “You are my hiding place and my shield” 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. Look at Paul’s concern. His own situation? Their hearts! He is conformed to the image of Christ, filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. What is our concern? Paul says this is your glory! Do you see? How can we constantly blind ourselves to the glory of it all? Remember Joseph – this is the pattern in Scripture – Paul knows and understands in his heart and mind and body the power of God over all things, the manifold wisdom of God, the way that he dumbfounds the powers that be to use the lowliest and most humble people and places and moments to display his glory most. So, he asks the reader of this letter, the believer, to not lose heart. Where is your heart? Trust Christ! He has overcome the world. He is Lord! If we could just see what Paul sees, know what he knows, believe what he believes … “Those who have no master are slaves to themselves. Depend upon it, you will either serve Satan or Christ, either self or the Saviour. You will find sin, self, Satan, and the world to be hard masters; but if you wear the livery of Christ, you will find him so meek and lowly of heart that you will find rest unto your souls. He is the most magnanimous of captains. “There never was his like among the choicest of princes. He is always to be found in the thickest part of the battle. When the wind blows cold he always takes the bleak side of the hill. The heaviest end of the cross lies ever on his shoulders. If he bids us carry a burden, he carries it also. If there is anything that is gracious, generous, kind, and tender, yea lavish and superabundant in love, you always find it in him. These 40 years and more have I served him, blessed be his name! and I have had nothing but love from him. I would be glad to continue yet another 40 years in the same dear service here below if so it pleased him. His service is life, peace, joy. Oh, that you would enter on it at once! God help you to enlist under the banner of Jesus even this day! Amen.”