Eph 3:1-13 = It's Not About You
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Intro
Intro
Ephesians 3:1–13 (ESV)
1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,
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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. 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.
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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, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,
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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.
PRAYER
God our Father I ask that as we look at your word in Ephesians today that you would have your way with us. Thank you Father for the gift of your son. Thank you Jesus for the redemption of the saints and the gift of your Spirit. We praise you for this great mystery and the inclusion of the gentiles into your household.
Harry Corre an Army corporal stationed on Corregidor, was sent to Bataan 3 miles away in early 1942 to direct operations in the Philippine Constabulary. At first, Corre trained Filipino civilians in combat tactics. Later he fought along the front lines as the Japanese attacked the island.
Severely outnumbered, Corre and his fellow Soldiers battled for three weeks before a food and ammunition shortage forced them to surrender.
He was taken prisoner along with 12,000 U.S. Service members and 60,000 Filipino soldiers and forced to march in the now infamous Bataan Death March.
He marched for more than two days without food or water.
"I saw men shot, bayoneted, even had their heads chopped off, just for falling down," he said. "They were either exhausted, wounded or severely dehydrated. From what I saw, I knew I simply had to get out of there."
He remembered the third night of the march, a clear sky turned cloudy, then let loose with a torrential rainstorm.
That was the break he needed.
"I remember it rained so heavy you could hardly see, so I used that as cover to dive off the road and into the jungle," he said. And I just kept running. I was afraid to stop."
He spent three nights in the jungle, finally making his way to a beach on the other side of the island.
"I grabbed anything I could find that I thought might float and then started swimming," he said.
With his makeshift floating device, Corre swam 3 miles against the current, in shark-infested waters back to Corregidor, where he was picked up by U.S. Marines.
He eventually rejoined his unit on Corregidor, but his freedom was short-lived. A month later, U.S. forces surrendered to the Japanese at Corregidor and Corre was once again a prisoner.
He was shipped to the Philippines, where he contracted diphtheria.
"I could still walk, however," he said. "Men were beaten daily and dying from malnutrition, starvation, battle wounds and diseases like dysentery, dengue fever and beriberi."
He spent two years there working burial detail in a place where men died at a rate of 150 per day. His reprieve came when the Japanese soldiers decided to send some prisoners to work in coal mines on the Japanese mainland.
It was a small reprieve though. His suffering didn't end. While working 14-hour days in the mines, he survived two cave-ins and contracted jaundice.
Then came the day he heard a loud explosion and saw an enormous cloud rise from across the bay. He later learned the explosion and mushroom cloud was a result of an atomic bomb that dropped on the city of Nagasaki.
Within a few days his Japanese guards had left and U.S. fighter planes buzzed his camp. Bombers later dropped food and supplies. After more than two months he was shipped to an Army facility in San Francisco and he eventually made it home to Boston, where he was honorably discharged.
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Remember Who You Are
You’re Not Alone
Never Give Up Hope
Return with Honor
Successful Suffering
Message
Message
Understanding the mystery of the gospel gives us A Healthy View of Ourselves.
Understanding the mystery of the gospel gives us A Healthy View of Ourselves.
Eph 3 1 “1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—”
Eph 3.3 “3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.”
Eph 3.7-9 “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, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,”
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Servant / slave / prisoner of Christ!!
Son and Daughter… adopted Child… Beloved
Empowered / Equipped
Goldilocks View of Self… Large / Small / Right
Healthy View of Ourselves = Remember Who You Are !!
Understanding the mystery of the gospel gives us A Heart for Others.
Understanding the mystery of the gospel gives us A Heart for Others.
Eph 3.1-2 “1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,”
Eph 3.13 “13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.”
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus came to serve others
Paul sought to serve others
We are called to serve others
Are you grieved when others are grieved?
Do you purpose yourself to pray for those in your sphere?
Are you more concerned with self or other?
A Heart for Others = You’re Not Alone !!
Understanding the mystery of the gospel gives us Hope in His Powerful Grace.
Understanding the mystery of the gospel gives us Hope in His Powerful Grace.
Eph 3.4-7 “4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 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. 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. 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.”
Eph 3.12 “12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.”
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Big-ness of our God
Beyond our comprehension
The Power of this God
The Faithfulness of this God
Jesus NEVER leaves
Hope in His Powerful Grace = Never Lose Hope !!
Understanding the mystery of the gospel gives us A Heavenly Grasp of History.
Understanding the mystery of the gospel gives us A Heavenly Grasp of History.
Eph 3.10-11 “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,”
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
11 for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
Who is God… Who is Man… What is our purpose?
What has been… What Is… What will be?
A Heavenly Grasp of History = Return with Honor !!
Close
Close
Military COC = Code of Conduct
Military COC = Code of Conduct
Article I - I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.
Article II - I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.
Article III - If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and to aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.
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Article IV - If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way.
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Article V - When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.
Article VI - I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.
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Understanding the mystery of the gospel gives us
A Healthy View of Ourselves
Remember who you are
A Heart for Others
You are not alone
Hope in His Powerful Grace
Never give up hope
A Heavenly Grasp of History
Return with honor
Successful Suffering
PRAYER
Dearest Lord Jesus it is your spirit within us that cry's out after our Father and you have told us in Paul that it is by suffering that we are so proved to be heirs of the promise and so also obtain the glory of you who suffered for us.
Help us then to consider these present sufferings or those we may engage with in the future to be incomparable to the hope that we have obtained in you thought your Son.
Let us not be surprised by these fiery trials as they come upon us as if something strange were happening to us but rather prepare us now that we might rejoice in them knowing that in them we are being perfected and prepared to enter into your glorious presence.
Lord Jesus help us to suffer well as we remember who we are in you, a child and no longer a stranger. Therefore as we are not alone but you yourself are ever with us. Keep us then secured in this hope that we may enter into your gates and hear you proclaim well done good and faithful servant!
In your name and for your glory we do pray… Amen!
Rom 8:16-21; 1 Pet 4:12-19, 5:6-11.
Group Questions
Group Questions
What was the last military movie you watched? Were you or a member of your family ever in the military? Do you have anyone in your family who was a POW?
Anything in this weeks message that caused you questions, special insights, or convictions that you would like to share?
What ways can you think of that we as Christians here in America often suffer?
In what ways have you been or seen suffering?
Why do you think it is so important for us to understand that when we are suffering we are not alone?
When you are suffering what is a meaningful way people have encouraged you in the past?
How do you think Christians should or do suffer differently then people without Jesus?
What are some doctrines / character attributes of God that cause us to hold fast to our hope?
What is one particular doctrine / character trait of God that has brought you special comfort in the past?
What do you think: Sometimes suffering can be so bad that people do lose hope… does that mean they lose salvation also? What about in light of Heb 11.1?
For the American troops the COC pastor mentioned is key to help them in a POW situation. What elements of Eph 3.1-13 are key for us as Christians who will experience suffering ourselves?
What are some Bible verses you can think of that point to the idea of “Returning Home With Honor” from a christian perspective.
Are you ready to suffer for Christ? What scares you most about that idea? How can the members of your group help prepare you for the coming day of trouble?