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Paul's Focus and MinistryThere is an old Hebrew story which presents a rabbi journeying on a donkey through a wild land. His only companion is a rooster, whose crowing at sunrise awoke him to his daily devotions. He came to a certain village at nightfall looking for shelter, but the inhabitants rudely turned him away. Outside the village, he found a cave, where he prepared to spend the night. After his evening meal, he lit his lamp to read a chapter from God's word, before retiring; but a gust of wind blew it out the lamp. Then during the night, a wolf killed his rooster and a lion devoured his donkey. He passed a sleepless night. Early in the morning, he returned to the village to see if he could obtain a horse or a donkey to continue his journey. To his surprise, he found no one alive in the entire village. It seems a band of robbers had come during the night and plundered the village and slain the people. "Ah!" said the rabbi, "now I understand all my annoyances. Had not the villagers closed their doors against me, I would have died with the others. If my lamp had not been extinguished, and my animals had not been killed, the light, or their noise might have revealed my hiding place to the robbers. Truly God has been good to me." As we enter chapter three of Ephesians we are quickly reminded that this book of Ephesians was not written merely as a theological document. This is not just a book of doctrines. Rather it was a letter. A letter where the Apostle Paul is pouring out his heart and teaching valuable truths to people he loves. Even though this is a letter, as we have seen in our ongoing studies, this book starts out with a lot of important doctrines – and many important theological truths are found throughout this book. We have seen so far who God is, and who Jesus is and how believers are chosen before the foundations of the world. And that without Christ, we are, “dead in our transgressions and sins.” Then suddenly here in chapter three we see that Paul was a man, a man focused on God, a man focused on what God is doing in his own life as well as what he was doing globally. A man who cared deeply for others and wanted to nurture them in their faith. So with that introduction I would like us to consider some important personal questions this morning. · How do you react when circumstances are not what we think you deserve? · What is your attitude toward problems that you face? · How do you view hard situations come your way? From Paul's life and his view of God – we find he was a man that looked at his circumstances --whatever they were --as lessons from God. He always viewed his life in terms of what God wanted him to learn from his situations and what his situations were going to accomplish in others. Can you and I do the same? READ THE TEXT EPHESIANS 3:1 PAUL'S FOCUS AND MINISTRY Here in chapter three there's like this sudden turn in the approach that Paul takes in this letter. It becomes personal, and yet within his personal situation we will see how God works and what God was doing. And we see how Paul views his own sufferings, as opportunities and lessons from God. What a great view of the sovereignty of God, what a wonderful outlook that Paul has in his own situations. Knowing that God is providential in all things. Providence — literally means foresight. Like the story of our Rabbi, who recognized (after the fact) that God was working even in his suffering. The providence of God is generally used to speak of God's preserving and governing all things by means of second causes. He uses natural events, and the daily affairs of men and women to accomplish his means. Great Bible examples are Daniel, who is taken captive to Babylon as a young man, raised up to be a leader in a pagan land and is used powerfully in his captivity to speak God's word and reveal God's plan. Or Joseph in the old testament. Who is sold into slavery by his own brothers. Who is falsely accused by his master who is serving faithfully. Is thrown into prison, forgotten by those he tries to help, then raised up to become the second in command of the land of Egypt. Yet when he has opportunity to get even with his brothers who did use him. Gen 50:19-20 (Joseph said to his brothers)... "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives . The providence of God, using second causes to accomplish his plan, sometimes those causes are not clear or may be painful when we go though them, sometimes those causes may be great blessings and joyful events. Examples of providence here in our church. Our own Peter Axelson, who's testimony is that God allowed his spinal cord injury to save him from possible death in the testing of the early B1 bombers. Or in my own life I can many see twists and turns that God used to get me to the pastor-ship of this congregation. First Paul calls himself a “prisoner of Christ Jesus.” He does not say “I Paul a prisoner of Caesar Nero, because I was wrongfully arrested and really didn't do anything wrong.” If you looked at the evidence you might conclude that is true. For what was Paul's crime? He spoke the gospel of grace, he spoke the truth to those who were blind. If you recall what we read in Acts chapters 21-25, Paul and his companions went to the temple in Jerusalem and began to share about Jesus and how he is the Messiah. Paul then shared his own story, how the Lord blinded him and spoke to him. He told how he went from being “Saul a Pharisee” and one who opposed the church of Jesus Christ. To Paul an Apostle Jesus Christ. As you read that account you know Paul is beaten, and the crowd wants to kill him but he is rescued by a Roman Centurion who is curious about Paul's citizenship. Then he is takes Paul to the Sanhedrin and allowed him explain himself more fully. But the religious leaders are against Paul and want him killed. When Paul appeals to Caesar as a citizen of Rome, he is put in chains and sent off to Roman. That begins a journey that would take several years. During those years Paul is transported in chains, ship wrecked, in house arrest, and eventually imprisoned -- all for the cause of Christ. But during those years Paul's journeys are written in the book of Acts. His letters are distributed and become much of the bible. While under arrest, many people come to faith because God in his Providence allowed Paul to be wrongly arrested. Look again at his attitude toward all that has happened. Eph 3:1...Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles There's no wining about his situation, rather Paul's view of his lot in life is that God has a plan. “I am here for the Lord and for a purpose.” The purpose of the gospel – the plan to go to the world and bring the good news to the gentiles. READ EPHESIANS 3:2-3 In V2, Paul reminds the Ephesians about the responsibility that God had entrusted to him in administering the grace of God. Now your KJV says the word “Dispensation”, a lot of people get hung up on this word dispensation and some theologians have developed a system of bible study called dispensationalism. I am not a dispensationalist, but there is some undeniable truth within dispensational teaching. And just so we understand it -- dispensationalism is the idea that God has dealt with men in may different ways at different times of history. There are different “dispensations” of God reaching out to men, and there are future dispensations of what God will do in the future. Heb 1:1-2 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. Now that is a little bit of what dispensational teaching teaches, although there is more, we will not consider it today because really as the KJV uses that word dispensation, it has caused some confusion because as your NIV more accurately translates this administration or the NAS rightly says stewardship. See what Paul is saying here is: “God has given to me, the dispensation/ or the administration, or the stewardship of grace -- to bring the gospel to the gentiles.” So don't get hung up on that KJV word, there are better text to speak of the dispensations of God, and when we are in those scriptures we will teach about them. READ EPHESIANS 3:4-6 Paul says, “let me show you a mystery.” Let me explain something that has been hidden from ages past. That is always what a mystery in the bible is, something that is now revealed in Jesus Christ. Eph 3:6 NLT And this is the secret plan: The Gentiles have an equal share with the Jews in all the riches inherited by God's children. Both groups have believed the Good News, and both are part of the same body and enjoy together the promise of blessings through Christ Jesus. Here is the mystery: “there is one church!” Its not First Baptist and High Sierra, its not CVC or Hilltop, not the Jewish Christians and the Gentile Christians. It the church of Jesus Christ -- period. Remember how we began these studies of Ephesians? During the first century there was a wall of separation between the races. Yes the Jews had been given the law, the commands, and the promises. But as Paul had already explained. Eph 2:14-15 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. The barrier was destroyed when the veil in the temple was ripped in two as Jesus died on the cross. When Paul address this letter in the first verse he addressed it to the “Saints in Christ.” And so I repeat, a saint does not mean someone is perfect or that some organization has “canonized” them. A saint is a believer in Jesus Christ. And today you are ether a Saint or you are an Ain't. Which are you? One church/ one body of Christ / one bride of Christ. READ EPHESIANS 3:7-9 Paul continues: Eph 3:7 I became a servant of this gospel... Paul is a prisoner, and a servant. The word servant is the same word translated “deacon”, or literally a “waiter of tables.” Someone who waits on others to make sure they are served. That is the attitude that Jesus exampled, that is the heart of anyone who is truly committed to Christ. Be a servant like Jesus told his men over and over again. Matt 23:11-12 The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. How are you living a humble life? What is it that you are doing to serve the Lord? Many people think they are serving the Lord because they belong to a good church. Many people believe they are doers of the word of God because they agree with the word. They hear the word and they agree with the word and believe they are doing what it says. Yet I find that it is our actions that bring faith to life. And servanthood is the acid test of a great disciple of Jesus Christ. Do you live a humble life? Are you a servant or someone who wants to be served? Paul was truly humble, he did not want to be served he recognized that whatever his life had become, it was the will of God for him to serve others, and the things that happened in his life were for the building of his own faith with God. So where and how do you serve others? True servanthood starts at home, severing your spouse, your kids, or even your parents. True servanthood reaches out, blessing others who have practical needs, with helps, and in the spiritual with prayers and love. How is it you serve the Lord? Are you an agreer of the word, or a doer of the word? Look at Paul's humility. Eph 3:8 Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me:.. Less then the least? What is he talking about, he wrote most of the New Testament. But Paul once viewed himself as a up and coming Pharisee, but after being broken by God he views himself as less then the least. That's a man God can use. Sure Paul recognizes that God has a call on his life and yes he knows his call is to administer the grace of God to the non-Jewish believers. Yes he knows his own talents but he knows that all he has is by the hand of God. And anything he does is so that there may be one church with one purpose. What is the purpose of the church? READ EPHESIANS 3:10-13 Eph 3:10 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. The angels and the demons, the rulers and authorities in heavenly realms scratch their heads wondering why God has this thing called -- the church. Here Paul tells the church exists to show God's wisdom to the spirit world. To reveal God's power to the spiritual beings who have seen him in his glory. 1 Peter 1:12( Speaking of the Prophets of old) It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. Even the angels long to consider the things of the Gospel, and how the Holy Spirit works in people. How does the church reveal God's power to the spiritual beings in the heavenly's? God's wisdom is revealed when one person takes the Savior Jesus Christ – one man/ one woman who repents and receives Jesus as Lord and Savior. God's plan may seem silly to some, but it works perfectly. It seems silly to some that to satisfy the righteous requirements of the Law-- God gave his perfect son to die in the place of imperfect people-- so by faith they are made right with God through that sacrifice. The angels stand in wonder and awe when one person confesses Jesus. Yet those same angels in heaven rejoice when God takes a sinner such as me, a sinner like you and justifies them by his grace. Eph 3:12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Only someone in right standing before God can approach him with freedom and confidence. Only a man / only a woman who is born again can come before a holy God and have their petitions heard. Finally look at what Paul tells the Ephesians concerning his current trials. Eph 3:13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. Don't be bummed out over what I am going through. Don't be discouraged by my sufferings because God is using them in your life and in my life, and for new life in others. Friends that is what I want us to walk away with today. That God is working. He is working all his children. If you have confessed Jesus Christ as Lord. God knows what you are facing. He is there in your prison of pain. He is with you in your jail of despair. He is right there in your times of troubles. God is working in your times of blessings, he is there while things are good. God is working to work in your life. He is working so others might see Christ in you. He is working in such a way that the spirit world is wondering about this power of God in your life. So -- be patient. God is working and you don't know where this will all end. Maybe like Paul, it will end in death. Maybe like Job the end of your life will be better then the beginning. You do not know, I do not know. But what we do know we can glean from this text today. There is a providence in all that God does. His hand is working in the lives of all his children and no matter what I face in this life, I can face it with joy. Joy -- because I know whom my redeemer is and that he has a plan for my life. William Cowper, like many others, was subject to moments of depression. One night darkness came on Cowper, so he called a taxi and directed him to drive to the banks of the Thames River. That night the city of London was covered in a thick fog, which seemed no thicker than the despair in the Cowper's soul. For more than an hour the cab driver slowly drove along the streets and yet could not find the river. His passenger grew more and more impatient until at last he leaped from the cab, determined to find his watery grave unassisted. Groping through the fog, he was astonished when he found himself at his own doorstep. Going to his room he penned the words of a wonderful old hymn: "God moves in a mysterious way."
His wonders to perform -- He plants His footsteps in
the sea So today we close with the questions we began with. · How do you react when circumstances are not what we think you deserve? · What is your attitude toward problems that you face? · How do you view hard situations come your way? PRAY, INVITE, BENEDICTION, SING Series: Ephesians -Through the Bible |
(C) High Sierra Fellowship 2008 |
