Ephesians 3:8-21

Ephesians 3:8–21 ESV

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, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, 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. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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Intro:

Paul continues to show us.. that he is a man.. who knows:

a great humility, in the midst of great privilege.

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He is the least of the least..

The lowest dog on the sled…

But.. he has been given grace..

A very specific grace.. ++

A grace defined in knowledge and calling..

A knowledge of things.. the revelation of a mystery… that has been hidden by God, for ages… ..

And A calling.. to bring this new revelation..

To a world full of gentiles.. who have never heard any of this.. ++

Paul’s great privilege extends even further..

For his purpose.. isn’t temporary..

His purpose.. is eternal..

And it’s accomplished.. not by Paul’s efforts.. ++

No way..

Paul has a partner in this deal..

His efforts.. are accomplished.. in Christ Jesus..

Paul is a man that knows his place..

For he’s about to tell us..

That yes.. he comes boldly to the presence of God through Christ..

But in that presence.. he does not demand.. with pride and arrogance.. to receive anything for himself.. ++

No.. not Paul

In the presence of God.. he bows his knee.. in submission.. in worship.. in adoration.. ++

In the presence of God.. his heart goes out to the believers he has ministered to..

That they would be strengthened.. by God..

That they would be established.. in the Love of Christ..

That they would know and understand..

That this love.. is continually bigger.. than the estimate our minds might make concerning it.. ++

and.. in the presence of God..

Paul’s heart.. is given to worship.. recognizing the God whose abilities far exceed our expectations..

And the God.. who desires His children to glorify Him.. for all eternity.. ++

In a nutshell.. that’s the content of vss 8-20..

It’s content.. that is very personal to Paul..

Yet, by the inspiration of the H.S.

It’s also.. very personal to you and to me.. ++

His words.. his examples.. his mental and emotional position..

Can, in many ways.. be our words..

And should.. in many ways.. be our examples..

IN fact.. without the conclusions that are drawn from chapters 1-3..

We are going to have a hard time.. moving on.. into 4-6.. ++

We’re going to be talking about.. our conduct.. as the church..

We are called to unity..

We are called to holiness

We are called to love..

We are called.. to walk in the light.. to walk in wisdom ++

We are called.. to be empowered by the Spirit..

We a called.. to have good, orderly relationships..

Between husband and wife.. children and parent.. and servant and boss.. ++

And.. we are called to be prepared… for warfare.. ++

We have learned.. in chapters 1-3..

That we are privileged.

We have it good.. in Christ..

We are unbelievably blessed to have what we have..

We have gained, in X.. something that is beyond the reach of humanity..

Beyond any ability we have to earn.. ++

Yes.. we have eternal life..

But in that.. we have so so so so so much more..

-Christianity 101… the kindergarten version of Christianity… is focused on eternal life. It’s focused on “going to Heaven”…

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But, eternal life… heaven… things like that… those are just scratches on the surface of this faith of our is all about. ++

Christians go to Heaven… or more specifically… we will eventually dwell in heaven… for heaven is where God dwells, and there is a future plan for all things to be made new, here on earth… where in that newness, we will dwell, with God, ruling and reigning with Him…

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Christians go to Heaven… but Christianity isn’t about some future destination.

Christianity is about a transformed life, RIGHT NOW… a life where we know God, and walk with God, as long as we can call it, “RIGHT NOW”.

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He has made us His children… and that’s not just a future things… that’s a RIGHT NOW THING..

As Children of the King..

When we realize how good we have it..

It puts us in the right frame of mind..

For what we are called to do.. ++

Selfishness and pride.. carnal entitlement.. fear..

These things hinder us.. and cripple us.. from the calling..

But.. these things are also disqualified..

When we read chapters 1-3… and say.. “Wow! God is so good to me!” ++

Whatever God has called me to do..

I’ll do it.. because I have a glimpse..

A taste.. a sensation..

Of what.. He has done for me..

Let’s go back.. to vs. 8.. ++

Ephesians 3:8–10 ESV

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, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, 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.

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Back in:

1 Corinthians 15:9–10 ESV

9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

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Paul said.. that he was the least

Not worthy to be called an apostle

Yet.. in spite of his own history..

God still poured out His favor.. ++

Paul never forgot.. the great depravity that God pulled him out of..

He never forgot.. that he was a different kind of apostle..

A last minute add on.. ++

HE Didn’t have the experience of walking and talking w/Jesus… like others..

Didn’t hang out with Jesus.. and experience the miracles.. that Jesus continually performed.. ++

His story was different.. ++

– considered himself.. the least.. the lowest of the low..

Essentially… Paul knew who he was.. in Christ.. and remembered intimately.. who he was.. outside of Christ..

This comparison.. maintained a heart of humility in Paul.. ++

This humility.. enabled Paul to do.. what he was called to do..

Without throwing a fit.. about his accommodations.. his compensation.. his specific duties.. and his public recognition.. or lack there of… ++

There are some groups within the church, who could take a lesson from this. Some people, in the church, seek out titles… they seek out positions… they proclaim themselves as important leaders. They expect to be served… they demand special treatment…

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Sometimes on a mission trip, the nationals folks will treat us like royalty… - And we always encourage them not to. Many years ago, when I didn’t know why they acted like this, I asked the man we were working with in Nepal. He told me, that there are missionaries who come from a certain Asian country… who demand to be treated in that manner.

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They demand certain food… they demand certain accommodations… they demand to be fawned over like they are royalty…

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And this was baffling to the people I travel with…

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Now.. in your life.. and in my life.. it’s the proper attitude of humility.. that keeps some of the more damaging attitudes at bay..

there’s no room for: arrogance.. pride.. greed.. or entitlement..

when humility is in place..

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in:

Psalm 25:9 ESV

9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

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I like how The NASB puts it… “He leads the humble in justice”… or as the KJV… The meek will He guide in judgment.

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The arrogant, self exalted and self deserving heart has a hard time being led in justice..

They have a hard time being taught.. ++

Years ago I read a booklet called:

“Things I Wish I Learned Before Becoming A Pastor”

And in that book.. the author highlighted a mentality of leadership that is common in the church..

He compared Jesus-leaders to Zeus-leaders..

And defined the Zeus leaders as being..

Very intelligent individuals who know it..

Self driven.. workaholics..

overly optimistic..

They sometimes feel like.. they are above the law.. ++

And..

They rule w/an authoritarian strictness.. ++

When I think about folks with this mentality..

I can see why.. it’s difficult for the prideful.. to be easily guided.. in justice.. and in God’s ways..

Especially.. when they think that justice is something that bends to their whims and their wishes.. ++

Maybe.. we only feel content in the things we do.. if.. we are being recognized..

Maybe.. this is the only way we will ever do anything..

There’s a willingness to serve on the stage..

But not.. in the bathroom…

Why?

You see.. it’s not an issue of what God hasus do.. in His Kingdom..

It’s more of an issue of..

What we’re willing to do.. ++

I think Paul would have been willing to clean out the donkey stall..

If that’s what God asked him to do..

And if Paul wasn’t willing to clean out the donkey stall..

It’s quite possible..

That Paul would not have been the man.. for the mystery revealing apostleship job. ++

Paul was given great privilege in what he did..

and was able to continue serving.. in the role he served..

because of his maintained humility.. ++

Paul’s heart was humble.. and willing..

Because Paul realized.. both: his great depravity.. and his great salvation.. ++

If we realize this..

I believe… we’ll be willing.. to do whatever the Lord might call us to do..

And sometimes.. that’s all he’s looking for..

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Many years ago.... like… 17 years ago… I thought God was calling me to leave C’ville

For a pastorate position.. on the Aleutian Islands.. in King Cove, AK

I don’t even know how I connected with the guy..

But the pastor was leaving, and he was trying to line up a replacement.. - and we began to talk.

The church was in a small fishing village.. on an island w/o trees.. and no road to the mainland..

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In addition to that.. the church had about 40 members..

And was experiencing some strife and division amongst its members..

Logical question: Why in the world would I want to trade off.. my home.. this church and this community for King Cove, Ak.

No reason..

How could I take my wife there? She hates fish… and that’s pretty much their staple.. ++

But.. I felt like the Lord was pressing..

So.. I said “Yes, I’m willing.” ++

I really thought God was going to make it happen..

And.. in a flash.. it all went away. ++

It consumed my thoughts for weeks… and then… poof… it was gone.

I was perplexed.

What happened to my call to go to King Cove? ++

And the Lord revealed something to my heart..

My willingness was tested..

And it re-enforced, and re-established a proper perspective about the the place where I am at right now. ++

That this isn’t my church.. my work.. my ownership.. my success..

No.. it’s all His.. and I’m just a gear in His machine..

If I’m pulled out of the machine..

He can stick another gear in there.. ++

I’m willing to go and do what God calls me to go and do..

Because I know.. that He’s in charge.

I get the privilege of continuing to serve here.. ++

What would have happened If I wasn’t willing to go to King Cove?

Where would I be today?

Who knows???

But God confirmed in my heart… that I’m privileged… and privilege produces humility… and a continued willingness… to be a servant. ++

What was Paul’s great privilege?

It was the message..

What was the message?

Looking back.. we are reminded.. the message was wrapped up in the gospel..

A message of unity, amongst Jews and Gentiles.. ++

Not as separate cultural religious entities..

But as one family.. one nation…

In Christ.. ++

This is the plan that God had laid out..

There were hints of it in the OT..

But even still.. the angels didn’t understand it..

They looked on.. interested in it.. ++

Concerning the gospel and God’s plan for men..

It says in:

1 Peter 1:12 ESV

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.

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angels desire to look into this kind of stuff..

God hadn’t revealed it to them..

He revealed it to us.. through Christ.. and the Apostles..

And the angels look on.. very interested.. ++

The angels are thinking: wow.. this salvation for mankind.. this message of grace.. this work of God amongst men.. is so cool! ++

Well.. God bypassed the angels.. went to Paul.. and said: Paul.. here’s what I’m giving you.. to say and do..

Here’s your great privilege..

you get to be my messenger… and by doing so… Paul was serving in the role of an angel.

That’s all an angel is… it’s not a specific type of being as much as it is a specific type of job description.

Angel simply means: messenger.

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So angels look on, at a guy who gets to do what they do… and they rejoice!!!

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In Lk 15:10… they rejoice when a sinner repents…

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They are interested… in the messenger… and they rejoice at the outcome of his work. ++

Folks.. the angels rejoice when someone gets saved..

But.. their role, is not to be the evangelist…

They have their role..

But they look on.. in amazement.. at our role.. ++

They see.. that we have privilege..

And are amazed by what we get to do.. for the sake of the gospel.. ++

Ephesians 3:11–13 ESV

11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

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Paul’s privilege.. his message.. this thing that amazes the angels..

.. it.. is according to.. in line with.. and one with..

The eternal purpose.. ++

A purpose.. that has already been accomplished! ++

We always think.. that we need accomplishing things? We need a list to fulfill.

Some of the denominational churches have to send reports in to their main office..

And in those reports.. they have to list.. accomplishments..

Salvations..

Baptisms..

Church memberships..

Etc. ++

And then they get together once a year.. and hand out awards..

According to the accomplishments that were recorded on the reports..

And they go home w/their plaque.. feeling good that they have accomplished so much.. ++

I don’t know about you.. but there is great liberty in knowing..

that the work we do for Christ..

is merely a participation.. in something.. that is already done.. ++

We don’t have to create a new message of salvation..

We use the one we’ve been given.. It’s been working well for 2000 years.. ++

We don’t have to convince people to receive Jesus..

We merely have to offer the message.. ++

We don’t have to perform works and rituals to earn God’s favor..

We merely have to accept the fact.. that in Christ.. we have it.. freely..

Whether we think we deserve it or not..

Because really.. we don’t deserve it.

It says in:

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The work is done.. the name.. the method.. the price..

Salvation’s work.. is done.. complete.. and fully sufficient..

In Eph 2:5 it says:

That we were made alive together, in Christ..

..then, in vs. 8.. it says

..by grace, you are saved through faith, this is not your own doing.. it is the gift of God.. not a result of works.. so that no one may boast.. ++

We are made alive by Christ..

Not by someone else’s coercion..

We receive it as a gift..

Meaning.. the thing we receive.. has already been purchased.. it’s complete and ready to go.. not needing any payment on my part..

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In John 16:8 it says, concerning the HS…

John 16:8 ESV

8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

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Our job.. is to participate.. in what’s already done..

And that’s… a great privilege. ++

The work on the cross.. is the most powerful and incredible thing ever to happen in humanity..

When Jesus said.. “It is finished”..

He meant it.. it was accomplished.. the price, that brings salvation to mankind, was paid..

And now.. we are invited.. to participate.. ++

We are invited to carry the message, proclaiming the finished work… ++

Let’s think for a moment.. about the work that’s been accomplished in us..

Folks.. your salvation.. is 100% effective.. it’s operating at maximum power..

It is received by faith, on the merit of Christ.. ++

And know this… what He has given to us..

He maintains.. ++

Salvation is not something so frail a thing.. that we can disqualify it by slipping into a sin here and there..

The work.. is finished.. ++

2 Timothy 1:9 ESV

9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

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What we have is complete..

But what we experience.. in this life..

Is.. to a strong degree.. up to us..

Phil 2:12 calls us to:

Work out our own salvation.. in fear and trembling..

Take note:

2 Peter 1:3.. we have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness ++

The great privilege goes way beyond the ministry we have to others..

it goes also.. into our own lives.. into our experiences of walking with Jesus… and growing in the wonder of what it actually means… to be saved.

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We need to work this stuff out… and experience it..

We need to gain more understanding in His word..

Find more application in life..

We need to experience the outs he gives us in temptation..

And the provisions He gives us in hardship..

We need to peel off the layers of understanding.... to reveal deeper truths

He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness..

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Now, we have a lifetime… a privileged lifetime… to work it all out.

Let’s read on.. ++

Ephesians 3:14–21 ESV

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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The humility that enabled Paul to both, deliver and experience a message of privilege..

is also.. the humility.. that puts him in a place of right posture before the Lord..

Because of what God has done.. ++

Paul.. is going to bow on his knees.. to the Father..

When Paul thinks about.. his depravity.. and the salvation he has received from it..

What does it mean to bow our knees?

Paul shows us… He is…

Recognizing.. his unworthiness. ++

Practicing, before the Lord:

Submission.. worship and adoration.. ++

when Paul is before the Lord..

he’s thinking about others..

vs. 16.. “that He would grant you”..

He’s telling the the believers in Ephesus.. ..

“I’m praying for you.. I’m wanting you to be strengthened.. through the H.S. in your inner man..

I want you to be rooted and grounded in love.. “ ++

He prays.. that they would operate in the immeasurable love of X.. and be filled w/the fullness of God..

why?

Because God is calling them to walk.. in great privilege..

Something.. that doesn’t always come easy.. ++

In fact.. the next 3 chapters.. will outline some of these things..

Here.. is what we need do.. to walk in, and experience.. the great privilege of our salvation.. ++

It’s not always an easy path to walk down… sometimes it’s downright impossible.. .

But.. if we know who we are in Christ..

And if we are reminded of the depravity.. which He has saved us from.. ++

Then we will be in the right frame of mind to say… with confidence…

“I can do it.. “ ++

I can do the things that the rest of this letter is calling me to…

I can strive for unity amongst my bretheren.. and walk in the ways of light..

And practice Biblical order in my family…

And serve my boss w/the right attitude..

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Conclusion..

Folks.. let’s draw this to a conclusion..

The word.. has been read..

We’ve talked about it..

We’ve seen and experienced.. some challenging things.. in the Word..

And maybe.. hopefully, our hearts have been stirred by it.. ++

I believe the presentation of the Word.. should always accompany a challenge..

When I read it.. it’s a default thing for me..

I’m automatically challenged.. ++

Maybe.. this has happened for you.. today..

You’re challenged.. by the H.S.

Because you need to find a better path, towards accomplishing the things this letter is going to call us to.

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You’re challenged… because you have lost an appreciation, for what it means, to be a privileged recipient of grace.

You’re challenged… because you have forgotten, the enormity, of the void that God crossed, to bring you into a place of salvation..

You’re challenged… because you have forgotten what you once were, compared to… what you are now.

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If the heart is not amazed by grace, driven to humility, and aware of it’s own miraculous rescue… then the heart will struggle to walk the path that God sets before it.

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If you’re challenged today, I can only tell you this one thing… you need to come humbly, and sincerely, into the presence of God… repent, and beg of Him to restore order in your soul..

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Let’s pray.