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The Mystery, the Ministry, and Me

EPHESIANS 3:1-13

Paul’s Stewardship•The Word is inspired, but chapter breaks are not– thus, this awkward one between 2 & 3•Both cover similar stuff• In 2, Paul explains his excitement over the opportunity of reconciliation for the Gentile, but he’s wise enough to know we wouldn’t completely understand it•So in 3, he comes at it from a different angle so we can firmly grasp it

Mystery…•Word pops up 6x in this book, 3x this chapter•When we hear it, we think of movies or the Twilight Zone, but Webster’s dictionary says:•“a religious truth that one can know only by revelation and cannot fully understand”•But in the N.T., a mystery is a “sacred secret ” that is unknown to unbelievers, but understood and treasured by Christians

Paul explains the Mystery…•Gentile believers are now united to the Jewish believers in one body, the church•He also elaborates how the tremendous impact of this “sacred secret” had so possessed his own life, his ministry and us•Thus today’s title: “The Mystery, the Ministry and Me”

“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now

been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. 8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches

of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.

13 Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.”

Ephesians 2:17-22,NASB

A. Paul, the Prisoner of Christ•V 1, If my resume’ looked like his, I’d be tempted to spew it– nothing like that here• Instead he notes his prisoner status and draws our attention the most important thing: God’s Grace•Most stay silent for popularity or acceptance; O to be like Paul

B. The Revelation of the Mystery•Vv 2-6, Greek word for ‘dispensation’ is ‘oikonomia’, from 2 words ‘oikos’ or house, and ‘nomos’; law•Our English word “economy” is derived directly from the Greek “oikonomia” – “the law of the house,”or “a stewardship, a management, oversight, administration, of other ’s property.”

B. The Revelation of the Mystery•Paul is saying is that God entrusted him with the message of His grace, which he was to make known to the Gentiles•So how does Paul know God’s Plan?•Jesus revealed the mystery of God’s Grace thru His death & resurrection by illumination of the Holy Spirit to Paul

B. The Revelation of the Mystery•n English a “mystery” is something dark, obscure, secret, or puzzling•The Greek word “mysterion”; different•Although still a “secret,” no longerclosely guarded but open•The Christian “mysteries” are truths which, although beyond human dis-covery, have been revealed by God and so now belong openly to the whole church

What was the mystery about? It was the “mystery of Jesus the Messiah, of which Paul and the other apostles and prophets were given insight from God”. Previous generations had been told of a coming Messiah, but they had assumed He would be a Messiah for the Jews only. Another mindboggling surprise, much to Jewish dismay, this mystery of God’s grace unfolds as a Jew-Gentile union. Human birth may bring racial distinctions, but supernatural birth erases them. What a wondrous grace of God!

C. Declaration of the Mystery•Vv 7-8, “The mystery” not only gives believing Gentiles a new relationship with God, it alsoreveals a new power available to them, illustrated in Paul’s life•God saved him by grace, gave him a stewardship– the special ministry to Gentiles, but also the power to accomplish it

C. Declaration of the Mystery•The Greek word is ‘energeia’, from which we get the word energy•Like the drinks I use to stay awake on the road•The power behind his ministry wasn’t his O.T. knowlege, but the Same ‘energeia’ that raised Jesus from the dead!•Yet Paul still remembers his sin…

For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy 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; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

1 Corinthians 15:9-10, NASB

D. The Fellowship of the Mystery•Vv 9-10, just as God sent Paul to administer His Grace, the Church is charged with accepting and continuing our unity in Christ•Paul’s purpose, that the church should become the tool by which God’s wisdom is shown to the lost world and to the Angels

D. The Fellowship of the Mystery•In the NT, when “the principalities and powers in the heavenly places” appears, Scripture is usually describing the demonic angels•Not this time•These ‘principalities and powers’ are both good and bad angels according to the context

E. Encouragement for the Minister to Me•Vv 11-13, Though in shackles, Paul understood he was freer than any can imagine– because he has the understanding of freedom in Christ!•When God saved Paul, He deposited with him the pre- cious treasures of Gospel truth•Paul in turn committed these truths to others, exhorting them to commit the truths to faithful men who would guard them and share them

Take Home…•Conclusion:•By grace, Paul made known God’s grace to the Gentiles; by grace, Christ made Jew and Gentile one in His church; and by grace, we, Christ’s church, proclaim the riches of God’s grace to each new generation