What a great Mystery!
The Book of Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction:
Introduction:
-Read Article about the current state of race relations in America.
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7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
matthew 24
-Sunni Muslim vs Shiite Muslim both of them Arab
-Nigerian Muslim vs Christian Muslim both Africans
-Irish Catholics vs Irish Protestants both Irish
-Haitians vs Dominican Republican
-North Koreans vs South Koreans
-and the list goes on:
-Some of these problems are prophetic, but the primary issue is that we are sinners, so sinners sin. Until we address the sin the swims around in our hearts this issue will continue. People by nature are communal and seek what’s most comfortable for them, so we link up with people who look like us, talk like us, and have similar life experiences as us and then we create biases for those people who are part of our inner circle. We overlook our groups sins while we see clearly the sins of other ethnic groups. This creates a superiority complex. Then if one of those groups obtain power they are able to exalt their races while subjecting another race.
Review:
In Chapter 1 of Ephesians God takes us to the “heavenly places” and tells us all of our blessing recieved as present believers, which we presently enjoy.
In Chapter 2 Paul takes us down memory lane and talks about our former lives in sin and how God redeem us out of our life of sin.
while the thrones, dominions and authorities tried to keep us trapped in sin to eventually die in our sins without hope.
Also in Chapter 2 Paul introduces us to the Middle Wall of Partition, which separated us for each other.
-At the crucifixion two curtains were ripped apart. 1. The Curtain that separated the Holy of Holy’s from the Holy place where only the High Priest could go in once a year to make atonement for our sins. That tore in two when Jesus was crucified signifying that there is no longer any blockage to us having direct access to the father. Also there was a “middle wall of partition between the Jew and Gentile” which Jesus Obliterated at the Cross. No longer Jews nor Gentiles just the church.
transition statement-God sent a prophet just to deal with ethnic superiority and to be bridge between two warring tribes for the sake of the Gospel Jew and Gentile eating at the same table.
I. Paul’s Conviction & Call
I. Paul’s Conviction & Call
I. Paul’s Conviction & Call
I. Paul’s Conviction & Call
1 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;
(v.1) “For this reason” Paul starts off chapter 3 with a prepositional phrase that tells us all the subsequent information is based on previous information. Remember there are no chapter division in the greek NT. Those were put in later for organization so that you could find things easier. We need to dig into the previous chapter to see what he was talking about.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
eph 2:
Summarize: These passages of scripture tell us that the Gentiles are no longer strangers and aliens but that they are fellow citizens of the kingdoms and are of the household of God. (v.20-21) These verses basically tell us that Jewish History became our history at the cross. All the OT with it’s lesson and promises became a part of our family history. Particularly the finished work of the Messiah.
(v.1) Paul says “for this reason” This tells me Paul is about to give us the motivation for his life. Folks knew about Pauls’ Passion, Commitment and his Trials. Paul is about to introduce himself to the believers at Ephesus and open the curtain of life.
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
(v.1) “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles” Paul says “for this reason” I willingly turn myself in to Jesus and became his prisoner.
Take a look at :
-Paul
1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
(v.1) In several of the prologue in his letters Paul says “I, Paul a bondservant of Christ” But in these two texts in & he uses a stronger term “prisoner” which is a different greek word than “bondservant” that term prisoner means: One who is confined or held captive.
(v.1) Remember I told you Paul is giving you a small taste of why he so passionately fulfilled his ministry. This is clue right here. He fulfilled his ministry because when he viewed his relationship to Jesus He viewed himself as a Son when it came to salvation, and a bond-servant/prisoner when it came to fulfilling God’s will for his life.
-When you are in Jail held captive by a warden you get up when they say, you eat when they say, you use the bathroom when they say, when they open the door you come out your room, when they close the door you are in your bed lying down. Your life is totally controlled by the captor. He is using that word metaphorically to describe his relationship to Jesus.
-In the Western World we don’t use words like Servant, Slave, Bond-servant, or prisoner because of the Negative connotation and Western Capitalism. But if a person really wants to please God they must learn to treat Jesus statements as commands rather than suggestion.
-Paul says I don’t treat Jesus statements as Suggestions, or his good ideas as advice. Paul says when the Warden speaks I wake up, When the Warden speaks I eat, When the warden opens my doors of ministry I walked through them, When the warden closes doors of ministry I go the other way.
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
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(v.1) “for the sake of you Gentiles” Paul says I am willing to be captive to Christ to go to people that the Jews considered to be dogs and unclean, and to people who are in authority over us and considers us as trash. You see the greeks look at the Jews the same way the Jews look at them only The Jews did not have any power to enact their superiority.
2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;
(v.2) Notice how Paul describes his call “indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you” Paul calls his calling “a stewardship of grace” the best way to understand that word “stewardship” is that of a property management company. When a person buys a property maybe in another state they will normally hire a property management company who will collect the rent, fix problems, evict tenets on behalf of the owner. Paul says I have been given “a stewardship based on God’s grace” meaning that God has given me something to care for, develop and use that I don’t deserve.
-Rather than lament, complain, and get an attitude that he had to go and preach to people that felt he was beneath them he counted as a privilege to be able to preach God’s wonderful truths to Gentiles. I can hear some of us… “I aint’ going to preach salvation to those people do you know what they have done to my people”
(v.2) “it was given to me for you” Paul understood that his gift was not for his own success and popularity but it was for the Gentiles. Spiritual Gifts are stewardships meant to be shared not Hoarded.
Application
Our minds must change as it relates to how we see ourselves in relationship to Christ. We are sons & daughters, but also prisoners and bond-servants
Christ divine conversations with us are meant to be obeyed not weighed.
Spiritual Gifts are meant to be Shared not Hoarded.
Paul begins to lift the veil and talk about some private moments he had with the Lord. He moves from his call to his conversion.
II. Paul’s Conversion
II. Paul’s Conversion
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;
eph 3:
(v.3) “that by revelation” we need to define Revelation: apokolupsis. We get the word apocalypse from this word. The word means disclosure or unveiling. This tells us the means by which God dealt with him. Before Paul went out working for Jesus he had to sit down and get some teaching. Let me take you to an obscure place in scripture that we would usually just read over.
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11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; 14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. 15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus. 18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days.
Summarize: Paul says this Gospel I am teaching you did not come from man, nor was I taught by a man, but I was taught this gospel “through a revelation of Jesus Christ” Notice that word again. Paul says yall remember when I was in the world I was serious about Judaism I had a 4.0 gpa in knowledge and practice. I knew the Torah and I practice the Torah by persecuting anyone who preached about this false messiah. But something happened the one who set me apart from my Mother’s womb dialed my cell phone and when I picked up he said “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me” I submitted my life to him and and his call but before I want up for confirmation from the Apostle the Spirit of God lead me to a place called “Nabetaen Arabia” the word “Arabia” mean: dry, arid and desolate. I stayed there three years for a three year course in NT Theology. I earned my MDIV and my PHD in three years under the direct tutelage of Jesus the Christ.
-Now notice the text in (v.18) after his Seminary education he went up to Jerusalem to get to know Peter. After that they let him loose like a Lion.
3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.
(v.3) “that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery” Paul says that during my seminary education with Jesus he taught me a major underlying theme that runs from Genesis to Revelation.
(v.3) Notice the text “the mystery” in the greek text there is a definite article in front of mystery. The definite article is “the” Paul did not say “a mystery” was revealed to me which would imply that this is one of many mysteries. But he says “the mystery was revealed to me” This tells us that Paul is about to reveal a major Theme that was veiled in the OT, but Manifested in the NT. God did drops some breadcrumbs in the OT but never fully revealed his plan in the OT.
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4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations.
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35 Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; 36 and the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. 37 Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children. 38 A mixed multitude also went up with them, along with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock.
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For the choir director; with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. 1 God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us— Selah. 2 That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; For You will judge the peoples with uprightness And guide the nations on the earth. Selah. 5 Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. 6 The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us. 7 God blesses us, That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.
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16 In that day the Egyptians will become like women, and they will tremble and be in dread because of the waving of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which He is going to wave over them. 17 The land of Judah will become a terror to Egypt; everyone to whom it is mentioned will be in dread of it, because of the purpose of the Lord of hosts which He is purposing against them. 18 In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will be speaking the language of Canaan and swearing allegiance to the Lord of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction. 19 In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord near its border. 20 It will become a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them. 21 Thus the Lord will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day. They will even worship with sacrifice and offering, and will make a vow to the Lord and perform it. 22 The Lord will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the Lord, and He will respond to them and will heal them. 23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. 24 In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, 25 whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”
21 ‘They have made Me jealous with what is not God; They have provoked Me to anger with their idols. So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation,
18 In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will be speaking the language of Canaan and swearing allegiance to the Lord of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction. 19 In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord near its border. 20 It will become a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them. 21 Thus the Lord will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day. They will even worship with sacrifice and offering, and will make a vow to the Lord and perform it. 22 The Lord will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the Lord, and He will respond to them and will heal them. 23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. 24 In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, 25 whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”
IS 19:16
is
(v.21) in this text God tells the children of Israel that because of your constant adultery with Idols I am going to provoke you to Jealousy by pouring my divine grace and favor on a foolish nations ie. Gentiles.
-Despite these breadcrumbs the Apostles still did not fully understand what Jesus was doing.
Transition Statement-What was veiled in the OT became clear in the NT
-What was veiled in the OT became clear in the NT.
III. Paul’s Consummation
III. Paul’s Consummation
III. Paul’s Consummation
III. Paul’s Consummation
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.
Eph 3:
(v.6) “to be specific” look at Paul preposition he knows that he has been coy. He knows that he has been speaking in generalities. In the black church when a preacher is taking sometime to make a deep theological point you may hear someone in the congregation say “make in plain preacher” that’s what Paul is doing now.
(v.6) That the Gentiles are:
-Each of these are compound words start with the greek word “sun” this word means “together”
-Each of these are compound words that start with the
a. Fellow Heirs—In the Jewish system of inheritance the older brother got 1/2 of his father inheritance and the younger brother got 1/3 of his father inheritance. The text tells us that there not be a distinction between the Older brother(Israel) and the Younger Brother(Gentile)
b. Fellow members of the body—This text tells us also that there will not be two distinct kingdom in the eschaton; The church and the children of Israel. There will be one body called “The Ekklesia- The Assembly” the bride of Christ. The Gentiles will not be sitting in the balcony at First Baptist Church of the New Jerusalem.
c. Fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel---The best way to understand this word partakers is near eastern food fellowship. In the near east folks did no have separate plates there was one bowl of stew, hummus, or soup and bread for dipping. Everyone ate out of the same bowl. In America we call that double dipping. In a sense both the Jews and the Gentile are all dipping their bread in the bowl of Salvation and getting the same experience and benefit. Justification, Adoption, Regeneration, Forgiveness, Sanctification, and Glorification. All of these precious benefits are the possession of not just the Jews, but he Gentiles as well.
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.
(v.7) Paul says I know my ministry. Paul says my job is to spend the rest of life convincing the Gentiles that they may receive the greatest gift given to man and that is reconciliation with God, which ought logical lead to reconciliation with our fellow man.
-God used Paul to Humble the Jews & Exalt the Gentiles, which was Good news for both!!
(v.7) “according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of Power” critical point right here. Paul says that God has given me power(Dunamis—able power to complete a task) to complete the task spelled out in these verses. He has not given me power to work outside of his will, but only inside his will.
-Many Christian wonder why they never see the Dunamis explosive power of God working in their life, and it is primarily because they are not working within the context of their gifting and within his plan for their life.
-The core solution to the problem of Racism is found in this narrative of scripture. There are no favored races, there are no dominant races, there are no special races of people at the cross we are all one in Christ.
-God’s sees our differences ethnically but he sees us as one Spiritually. God knows that my wife is a woman with different needs and functions than a man but at the cross we are one. God’s sees that in America white’s and black’s have two different experiences but at the cross we are one.
-It is my contention that it grieves the heart of God that Sunday is the most segregated time during the week. There is multi-ethnicity at schools, sports, college, concerts and in neighborhoods, but on Sunday morning we all scatter like rats to our own places of worship. Now why do you think that is; Let me tell you why. Satan does not care about diversity in the world. He cares about diversity in the church, so he and his demons fight against that with all their power. This is spiritual and it requires a spiritual response.
-For this to be achieved as black people we need to forgive even if folks have not asked for forgiveness. All of us have our own stories of pain and discrimination some worse than others, but he need to look through the lens of the cross and forgive.
-Paul says I am a prisoner of Jesus use me as your example for Racial Reconciliation. I went to people from Rome, Philipi, Ephesus, pretty much all of Asia minor none of which had the same ethnic background as me. But I went and preached the Gospel to them and love them like my own children.
What is our message church:
-At the cross we are “Fellow-Heirs, Fellow members and Fellow partakers” Hallulejah to the Lamb of God!!!
-At the cross we are “Fellow-Heirs, Fellow members and Fellow partakers”
Open the Doors of the Church
Communion