July 4, 2024 • 28 mins
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Discover the profound mystery of the gospel as revealed in Ephesians 3:1-13 on today's episode of the Takeaway. What if God's plan for salvation through Jesus extends beyond individual redemption to the formation of a unified church that reflects His glory to the world? We'll explore this transformative idea and learn how God's presence within us calls for a higher standard of conduct and liberation from sin. Join us as we delve into Paul's unique perspective on his imprisonment, viewing it as a divinely appointed opportunity to advance the gospel, and discuss how we can adopt this mindset in our own lives. The unity of Jews and Gentiles in Christ reveals the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, and we all share the responsibility to guide others toward this truth.
In the next segment, we tackle the qualifications and roles of church leaders—pastors, evangelists, elders, deacons, and missionaries. Their calling, manifested through the gifting of the Holy Spirit, requires humility, submission to God's will, and the bearing of spiritual fruits as evidence of one's divine mission. We'll highlight the ultimate purpose of glorifying God and making His wisdom known, supported by biblical references and the necessity of living in the freedom offered by Christ. Finally, we'll share Paul's example of experiencing joy through faith and extend this invitation to all believers to partake in the fullness of the Lord's joy.
Please visit www.chosenbydesign.net for more information on Pastor Harry’s new book, "Chosen By Design - God’s Purpose for Your Life."
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hello, welcome again to the Takeaway.
I'm your host, pastor HarryBehrens, and in today's episode
we're going to be looking atEphesians 3, verses 1-13, the
mystery of the gospel revealed.
In our last episode, wediscussed the method of God's
plan that we have been savedfrom sin and brought into life,
found in Jesus, manifested inour relationships within the
church body.
(00:21):
We are to embrace this methodas God's plan and way of
glorifying himself, no longer tochase after the things of this
world.
Instead, we should put on thenew man in Christ Jesus and
recognize that we are now theholy temple of God in which his
spirit dwells.
Ephesians 4, 21-24, assumingthat you have heard about him
(00:43):
and were taught in him.
In chapter 3, paul delves intothe concept of a profound
mystery, the idea that Godchooses to dwell within us.
(01:08):
This notion may seem unfamiliarto us as humans, as we are
accustomed to perceiving God asdistant and separate from our
daily lives.
However, if God resides withinyou, it means that you are held
to a much higher standard ofconduct.
As we will come to understand,this revelation is not an
unattainable or lofty conceptakin to the stringent laws of
the Old Testament.
On the contrary, it liberatesus from sin and provides us with
(01:32):
the strength to lead a lifethat is deeply satisfied in God
and dedicated to glorifying Him.
Verses 1-13 unveils the mysterythat the church is now
entrusted with the task ofmaking known the diverse and
profound wisdom of God to theworld.
It prompts us to ponder whetherwe are effectively fulfilling
this responsibility in our ownlives, as Paul did, as he
(01:54):
emphasized the importance ofbelievers understanding that
they are now part of God'srevelation to the world.
Just as Israel was chosen toreveal God's greatness, the
church has now become that light.
In this chapter, paulemphasizes that the church is
the revealed mystery spoken offrom the beginning.
As we will see, we are nowresponsible for giving
(02:17):
directions to this lost world,just as Paul did for us, that we
would enter into the promisesGod has prepared Ephesians 3, 1.
For this reason, I Paul, aprisoner of Christ Jesus, on
behalf of you, gentiles, we arereminded that Paul was speaking
from a place where he wasliterally in chains.
(02:39):
When he wrote this letter,however, paul did not consider
himself a prisoner of man, butof Christ.
He saw that his chains wereprecisely where Jesus wanted him
to be, and he understood thatthe problem with most Christians
is that they seek to be freed.
So they live a life full ofgrumbling and complaints about
their situation because itdoesn't seem to suit them.
(03:02):
Have you ever stopped toconsider if your situation suits
Jesus?
Maybe you are right where hewants you to be surrounded by
people you don't like at work orin your family.
He has given you a captiveaudience, just like he did Paul,
except that Paul recognizedthat and used it for the
furtherance of the gospel.
While we tend to squander awaythe gift that God gave us, he
(03:24):
put us where we are toeffectively share the good news
with those we are chained to.
Philippians 1, 12-13.
I want you to know, brothers,that what has happened to me has
really served to advance thegospel, so that it has become
known throughout the wholeimperial guard and to all the
rest that my.
(03:44):
Now are we seeking freedom fromour chains or embracing them as
opportunities to serve agreater purpose in God's plan?
It might be a good time toreconsider our current
circumstances and alignourselves with God's will.
As we discussed in our lastepisode, we often fail to
appreciate the gifts that Godhas given us, one of which is
(04:07):
the opportunity to point otherstowards Jesus in our current
situation, this means sharingthe gospel with our family,
friends, co-workers and anyoneelse we encounter.
Ephesians 3.2,.
Assuming that you have heard ofthe stewardship, paul was given
(04:28):
the important task of sharingthe message that both Jews and
Gentiles are brought together inJesus and that the church now
embodies Christ in the world.
Instead of establishing aformal religious structure, god
selected specific people tofulfill this mission.
Each of us has been given aresponsibility by God to oversee
, whether it involves our family, employees, caring for the
(04:51):
homeless or teaching the Word ofGod.
Everything we possess is a giftfrom God and it is our
responsibility to manage it welland guide others to that same
truth.
Ephesians 3, 3-5.
To that same truth.
Ephesians 3, 3-5.
How the mystery was made knownto me by revelation, as I have
written briefly.
When you read this, you canperceive my insight into the
(05:12):
mystery of Christ, which was notmade known to the sons of men
in other generations and has nowbeen revealed to his holy
apostles and prophets by theSpirit.
Through the guidance of theHoly Spirit, paul gained insight
into the mystery that God hadconcealed in the scriptures.
This revelation emphasized thefulfillment of God's promise to
(05:33):
Abraham that the gospel would beshared with all nations.
Paul saw the church as thevehicle through which God was
achieving this, and his ministryfocused on illuminating this
truth by using the scriptures tosupport his argument.
That was a mystery to the Jewsthat the apostles were now
making known through therevelation of Jesus Christ, that
the Gentiles were now graftedinto the same promises of
(05:55):
salvation that were made toIsrael back in Genesis Genesis
22, 18.
And in your offspring shall allthe nations of the earth be
blessed, because you have obeyedmy voice.
The promise was given by God,but at that time the method by
which it would be fulfilled wasunknown.
(06:15):
It was a mystery how God wouldbring it to pass.
However, we now understand thatthrough Jesus, this promise has
been revealed.
Galatians 3.28.
There is neither Jew nor Greek,there is neither slave nor free
, there is no male and female,for you are all one in Christ
(06:36):
Jesus, and if you are Christ's,then you are Abraham's offspring
heirs, according to the promise.
The Jewish people found itchallenging to come to terms
with the idea that the promisesmade to them would also extend
to all other nations.
They had always viewedthemselves as the chosen people
(06:58):
of God, while seeing everyoneelse as inferior.
The concept that non-Jewishpeople could also be saved was
completely unfamiliar to them,and the notion that they would
be instrumental in spreading themessage of salvation through
Israel's Messiah was beyondtheir comprehension.
As a result of their refusal,the responsibility was
transferred to the church, andthis transition was facilitated
(07:21):
by the apostles.
Matthew 13, 11,.
Jesus told his disciples thatthe mystery of the kingdom has
been given to them In 1Corinthians 2, 7,.
But we impart a secret andhidden wisdom of God, which God
decreed before the ages for ourglory.
The mystery of Christ has beenrevealed, bringing salvation to
(07:41):
the entire world.
Jesus is the key tounderstanding all scripture, and
without him we are limited to areligious system that binds
people to their sins.
It is through the church thatJesus is continually being
revealed, fulfilling the promiseinitially given to Israel
Isaiah 49.6,.
He says it is too light a thingthat you should be my servant
(08:04):
to raise up the tribes of Jacoband to bring back the preserved
of Israel.
I will make you as a light forthe nations that my salvation
may reach to the end of theearth.
The promise of Israel being aguiding light for all nations to
find salvation was fulfilledthrough Jesus, who came from the
nation of Israel.
(08:24):
Through him, we are allincluded in the promise given to
Abraham, and by our faith weare unified in Christ, as stated
in Galatians 3.28.
Initially, the gospel wasentrusted to Israel as their
inheritance, but, due to theirrejection, it was passed on to
those of us who have beenadopted into the family of God.
(08:45):
We are now called to be thelight that Israel was intended
to be until the time when thefullness of the Gentiles comes.
In Acts 13, 46.
And Paul and Barnabas spoke outboldly, saying it was necessary
that the word of God be spokenfirst to you.
This is Israel, since youthrust it aside and judge
(09:06):
yourselves unworthy of eternallife.
Behold, we are turning to theGentiles, for so the Lord has
commanded us, saying I have madeyou a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation tothe ends of the earth.
The Jews faced a significantchallenge in understanding this
concept, as their strongadherence to traditions and the
(09:27):
law made it difficult for themto see beyond these cultural
norms.
Today, many people alsostruggle with this issue, as our
society is deeply rooted intraditions that often distract
us from spiritual connection.
For example, while we mayintend to celebrate the birth of
Jesus at Christmas andcommemorate his death at Easter.
We often find ourselvesprioritizing materialism through
(09:49):
the exchange of gifts Insteadof truly embracing the teachings
of God.
We tend to use them to serveour own desires.
Traditions have a tendency tointertwine worldly values with
spiritual truths, leading to adistortion of our perception of
what is truly authentic.
Jesus came to unravel thisconfusion and reveal the genuine
(10:09):
truth.
To truly embrace theserevelations, we must be willing
to let go of our traditions andfully embrace the truth, lest we
fall into the same trap asIsrael and forfeit the
inheritance that has beenbestowed upon us through our
adoption into God's family.
Ephesians 3.6.
This mystery is that theGentiles are fellow heirs,
(10:32):
members of the same body andpartakers of the promise in
Christ Jesus through the gospel.
As fellow believers, we sharein the inheritance with our
believing Jewish brothers andsisters.
As we have just observed, weare now all united as part of
the same spiritual body, createdby the same God and redeemed by
the same Messiah.
Romans 10, 11-13.
(10:55):
For the scripture says Ephesians3.7 which was given me by the
(11:19):
working of his power, paul'sordination as a minister was not
a result of human intervention,but rather an act of divine
ordination by God.
According to the scriptures, noindividual can appoint
themselves as a minister, norcan any educational institution
or academic degree confer thatstatus.
The qualification for ministryis based on the gifting of the
(11:40):
Holy Spirit and the evidence ofresults, rather than on formal
education or degrees.
In today's world, there is aprevalent belief that pastors
require formal education from aschool to be qualified to teach
the Word, but this perspectiveis not explicitly supported in
the Scriptures.
Do we call the qualified orqualify the call?
(12:01):
2 Corinthians, 3, 4-6.
Such is the confidence that wehave, through Christ, toward God
.
Not that we are sufficient inourselves to claim anything as
coming from us, but oursufficiency is from God, who has
made us sufficient to beministers of a new covenant, not
(12:22):
of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills but the
Spirit gives life.
Do you know what qualifies apastor, evangelist, elder,
deacon or missionary to be whatthey are?
It's the gifting of the HolySpirit that is manifested
through their works.
A few examples would be one Godsends them so they go,
(12:43):
regardless of what people thinkor say.
Two the spiritually blind willsee and hear the truth.
Three they turn people fromdarkness to the light.
Four people will be saved.
Five they bring people into thefold.
Six, they will work harder inministry than anyone else.
1 Corinthians 15.
10.
But by the grace of God I amwhat I am, and his grace toward
(13:05):
me was not in vain.
On the contrary, I workedharder than any of them, though
it was not I, but the grace ofGod that is with me.
7.
They work to present the churchholy and blameless to God.
Colossians 121-22.
And you who once were alienatedand hostile in mind, doing evil
(13:25):
deeds, he has now reconciled inhis body of flesh by his death
in order to present you holy andblameless and above reproach
before him.
8.
They make the word of God fullyknown.
Colossians 1.25.
Of which I became a minister,according to the stewardship
from God that was given to me,for you to present the church as
mature through proclaiming,warning, teaching and all wisdom
(13:48):
.
Colossians 1.28.
Everyone and teaching everyonewith all wisdom that we may
present everyone mature inChrist.
Consider whether your pastor andleaders truly embody these
(14:09):
qualities or if they fall short.
Your life serves as evidence oftheir calling.
If it is genuine and, just likethem, you have been gifted for
a specific purpose.
The evidence of that giftingwill be seen in your actions if
you have truly been filled withthe Spirit of God.
Ultimately, whether you are apastor, evangelist or a believer
(14:32):
without a title, we all sharethe common desire to proclaim
the gospel, and the evidence ofthat desire is reflected in our
actions.
Ephesians 3, 8-9.
(15:00):
Paul emphasizes the importanceof humility, stating that he
considers himself the least ofall the saints.
According to him, recognizingour unworthiness is crucial if
we want to be used by God.
Paul's mission was to preachabout the immeasurable wealth of
God to the church, with thehope that the church would then
(15:20):
reveal Jesus to the world.
He highlights the necessity ofbeing humble and submissive to
God's will for this to occur.
Only when we are humble andwilling to submit to God's plan
will he send us and utilize us,as he did with Paul.
Paul also emphasizes that Godhas equipped us with everything
(15:40):
we need to be effectiveministers of the gospel, and all
these resources are found inour relationship with him.
2 Peter 1-3,.
His divine power has granted tous all things that pertain to
life and godliness through theknowledge of him, who called us
to his own glory and excellence,by which he has granted, he
(16:02):
says, and glory with the world.
(16:24):
When we embrace this, our liveswill reflect the exaltation of
Jesus, just like Paul's did.
We will find ourselves ready tomake sacrifices and enduring
hardships in order to share thegospel with everyone, as this is
our role in God's planEphesians 3.10, so that, through
the church, the manifold wisdomof God might now be made known
(16:47):
to the rulers and authorities inheavenly places.
God's plan and desires for hiswisdom to be manifested through
the church to the rulers of thisworld and even angelic beings.
Now, these beings are demonicbeings, and our position in the
church is to submit to theSpirit of God and allow him,
through his wisdom and power, toovercome the evil authorities
(17:08):
that manipulate this world.
1 Corinthians 6.3.
Do you not know that you are tojudge angels?
How much more, then, matterspertaining to this life?
We must always remember thatour battle is not against flesh
and blood, but against evilspirits that have enslaved
people to their sins.
The wisdom bestowed upon us byGod shines a light on the
(17:29):
enemy's plans and allows thelost to find their way to
salvation.
We are free in Christ, and itis our job to show the lost that
the freedom is offered throughChrist Jesus If we continue to
live as the world does, what dowe have to offer?
We must live in this freedom hehas given to us, showing that
we are indeed separated fromthis world and that Jesus has
(17:52):
conquered the sin that oncebound us.
Ephesians 3.11.
This was according to theeternal purpose that he has
realized in Christ Jesus, ourLord.
The ultimate purpose of ourexistence is to honor and bring
joy to God.
We honor Him by surrendering tohis spirit within us, allowing
him to work through us for thenoble purpose for which he has
(18:13):
created us.
As we have learned in Ephesians2, we are like a beautiful poem
that God is crafting to revealhis great love towards us.
When we stop resisting God andwholeheartedly submit to him, he
is most glorified in us.
The amazing part is that wewill experience our deepest
fulfillment in Him when we do so.
When we chase after worldlythings, we are essentially
(18:35):
rejecting the greatestsatisfaction available to us.
It's like a child who is sofocused on themselves that they
need to be told to settle downand listen, missing out on the
good things their parent wantsto give to them.
Only by obeying can theyreceive.
Similarly, we must have faithto receive the gifts that God
has in store for us by humblingourselves at the foot of the
(18:57):
cross.
It is only there that he willrelieve us of our burdens and
grant us true life Ephesians3.12.
In whom we have boldness andaccess with confidence.
Through our faith in him, wecan have unwavering confidence
in Jesus and enjoy unrestrictedaccess to the Father.
(19:19):
When we seek to bring glory toJesus, we can be certain that he
will answer our prayers.
He equips us with everythingnecessary to conquer the
darkness in this world.
Jesus promised that we couldask for anything in his name and
that he would do it.
Our assurance stems from theknowledge that he is our high
priest, interceding for usbefore the father.
(19:40):
Therefore, we could beabsolutely certain that our
prayers are heard and approachthe father with boldness Hebrews
4, 15 to 16.
For we do not have a highpriest who is unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses,but one who is, in every aspect,
has been tempted as we are yetwithout sin.
(20:01):
Let us, then, with confidence,draw near to the throne of grace
that we may receive mercy andfind grace to help in.
So I ask you not to lose heartover what I am suffering for you
, which is your glory.
Paul understood that hischallenges were meant to bring
(20:25):
glory to God and to benefitothers, that his challenges were
meant to bring glory to God andto benefit others.
It's essential to recognize thatliving a Christian life doesn't
involve winning throughviolence against our enemies, as
the world does.
Instead, our victory comes whenwe choose to sacrifice
ourselves for our enemies, justas Jesus did on the cross.
He laid down his life for uswhile we were still sinners
Romans 5.8.
(20:45):
This sacrificial model wasfollowed by the apostles and
countless missionariesthroughout history.
Surprisingly, the church hasoften flourished in times of
persecution more than in timesof peace.
When we lay down our lives, godproves faithful to bring about
victory, and we can put ourtrust in that more than anything
we can offer.
(21:06):
Romans 8.18-25.
For I consider that thesufferings of this present time
are not worth comparing with theglory that is to be revealed to
us, for the creation waits witheager longing for the revealing
of the sons of God.
For the creation was subjectedto futility, not willingly, but
because of him who subjected it,in hope that the creation
(21:27):
itself will be set free from itsbondage to corruption and
obtain the freedom of the gloryof the children of God, for we
know that the whole creation hasbeen groaning together in the
pains of childbirth until now.
And not only the creation butwe ourselves, who have the
firstfruits of the Spirit, groaninwardly as we wait eagerly for
adoption as sons, theredemption of our bodies, for in
(21:48):
this hope we were saved.
Now, hope that is seen is nothope for who hopes for what he
sees, but if we hope for what wedo not see, we wait for it with
patience.
The world is home to countlessbelievers who face persecution
and even death for theirunwavering faith in Jesus.
Despite the immense challengesthey endure, they cling to their
(22:11):
joy and contentment in him assources of strength.
For them, jesus is invaluable,as they have tasted the
life-giving water he offers.
It's disheartening that many ofus who live in freedom often
fail to appreciate the verythings these persecuted
believers hold dear.
The root of this discrepancylies in the tendency for free
individuals to prioritize theirown desires and worldly passions
(22:34):
, as discussed in chapter 2.
Embracing Christ is often morechallenging for those who live
in freedom compared to those whoacknowledge their bondage.
This was evident in thePharisees during Jesus' time.
They believed they hadeverything figured out, yet they
lacked the promise of eternallife and the accompanying joy as
free individuals in our society.
(22:55):
Following Jesus necessitatesrelinquishing our worldly
attachments, akin to the richyoung ruler, and wholeheartedly
committing to him.
Fortunately, nothing is beyondGod's reach.
Reach and he can extendsalvation to anyone, regardless
of their circumstances.
In chapter 2, paul pointed outthat we were all once slaves to
sin.
(23:15):
The idea of being a free personis merely an illusion created
by Satan to keep us in bondage.
If you are still living foryour own desires, then you have
completely bought into thisdeception.
Jesus is calling you to let goof everything and follow him.
This requires you to be willingto sacrifice everything and lay
down your own life.
Just as Paul mentioned, heconsidered everything he lost as
(23:36):
insignificant compared to whathe had gained.
Once you realize that Jesus haspromised you a far better life
than the one you currently have,you will willingly give up
everything for the rewards hehas for you.
The Christian life is not aboutloss.
It's about receiving greatrewards.
The real question is where areyou on this journey?
(23:59):
Are you still holding on to thethings of this world, or have
you started the journey ofabandoning everything for the
incredible rewards that Jesushas promised, which will last
for eternity Matthew 19, 16 to26.
And behold, a man came to himsaying teacher, what good deed
must I do to have eternal life?
(24:19):
And he said to him why do youask me about what is good?
There is only one who is good.
If you would enter life, keepthe commandments.
He said to him.
Which ones?
And Jesus said you shall notmurder, you should not commit
adultery, you should not steal,you should not bear false
witness, honor your father andyour mother, and you shall love
(24:41):
your neighbor as yourself.
The young man said to him allthese I have kept.
The young man said to him Allthese I have kept.
What do I still lack?
Jesus said to him, if you wouldbe perfect, go sell what you
possess and give to the poor,and you will have treasure in
heaven and come and follow me.
When the young man heard this,he went away, sorrowful, for he
(25:02):
had great possessions.
And Jesus said to his disciplesTruly, I say to you, only with
difficulty will a rich personenter the kingdom of heaven.
Again, I tell you, it is easierfor a camel to go through the
eye of a needle than for a richperson to enter the kingdom of
God.
When the disciples heard this,they were greatly astonished,
saying who then can be saved?
(25:23):
But Jesus looked at them andsaid with man this is impossible
, but with God all things arepossible.
Let's pray, father, thank youfor your love and mercy you have
so graciously shown us.
It's our desire to enter intothe full joy of the Lord and I
ask, father, that you would helpus to overcome this world and
(25:44):
the temptations that we faceevery day, that you would
instill into our hearts the hopeof the promises and rewards you
have for us, that we would beable to lay down our lives for
your glory, that some may besaved.
Help us to realize that if weseek our lives, we will lose
them, but when we lose them wewill truly find life, a life
(26:06):
that can only be found in Jesus.
Father, we love you and wethank you In Jesus' name, amen.
Now I want to thank you forjoining us today.
I hope this message helped youtake a step closer in your
relationship with Jesus and youhave a better understanding of
just how much God loves you andwants you to know him.
In our upcoming episode, we'regoing to delve into Paul's
(26:27):
heartfelt prayer for the church,seeking to understand what it
truly means to have the fullnessof God dwelling within us.
He patiently longed forbelievers to grasp this concept
and lead lives that glorify God,so they could experience the
same joy he did.
The world may struggle tocomprehend this joy, as it often
pursues fleeting pleasures, butbelievers are called to find
(26:47):
their joy in the.
We often seek the benefits ofjoy before fully committing to
serving, but that's not faith.
Faith is about believing firstand putting our knowledge into
action, trusting that we willreceive the promised reward.
(27:07):
Paul exemplified this faiththrough action and reaped the
reward of joy.
His greatest desire was for allwho put their trust in Jesus to
share in the same joy.
His prayer extends to allChristians throughout all time,
wishing that we all may come tothe fullness of the Lord's joy.
It's also my fervent wish, andthe very reason for this
(27:28):
podcast's existence is so thatyou too may experience this joy.
Now, before we go, I want toencourage you to visit us at
thetakeawayfaith and on ourwebsite you can sign up to
receive email notifications orsend us a text message from the
link provided in the descriptionof this episode.
We hope that you would use thispodcast as a resource to help
others and that you would sendus a message, a word of
(27:51):
encouragement or any questionsor comments, as we would love to
hear from you.
God bless, and we'll see younext time on the Takeaway.
Hello, welcome again to the Takeaway.
I'm your host, pastor HarryBehrens, and in today's episode
we're going to be looking atEphesians 3, verses 1-13, the
mystery of the gospel revealed.
In our last episode, wediscussed the method of God's
plan that we have been savedfrom sin and brought into life,
found in Jesus, manifested inour relationships within the
church body.
(00:21):
We are to embrace this methodas God's plan and way of
glorifying himself, no longer tochase after the things of this
world.
Instead, we should put on thenew man in Christ Jesus and
recognize that we are now theholy temple of God in which his
spirit dwells.
Ephesians 4, 21-24, assumingthat you have heard about him
(00:43):
and were taught in him.
In chapter 3, paul delves intothe concept of a profound
mystery, the idea that Godchooses to dwell within us.
(01:08):
This notion may seem unfamiliarto us as humans, as we are
accustomed to perceiving God asdistant and separate from our
daily lives.
However, if God resides withinyou, it means that you are held
to a much higher standard ofconduct.
As we will come to understand,this revelation is not an
unattainable or lofty conceptakin to the stringent laws of
the Old Testament.
On the contrary, it liberatesus from sin and provides us with
(01:32):
the strength to lead a lifethat is deeply satisfied in God
and dedicated to glorifying Him.
Verses 1-13 unveils the mysterythat the church is now
entrusted with the task ofmaking known the diverse and
profound wisdom of God to theworld.
It prompts us to ponder whetherwe are effectively fulfilling
this responsibility in our ownlives, as Paul did, as he
(01:54):
emphasized the importance ofbelievers understanding that
they are now part of God'srevelation to the world.
Just as Israel was chosen toreveal God's greatness, the
church has now become that light.
In this chapter, paulemphasizes that the church is
the revealed mystery spoken offrom the beginning.
As we will see, we are nowresponsible for giving
(02:17):
directions to this lost world,just as Paul did for us, that we
would enter into the promisesGod has prepared Ephesians 3, 1.
For this reason, I Paul, aprisoner of Christ Jesus, on
behalf of you, gentiles, we arereminded that Paul was speaking
from a place where he wasliterally in chains.
(02:39):
When he wrote this letter,however, paul did not consider
himself a prisoner of man, butof Christ.
He saw that his chains wereprecisely where Jesus wanted him
to be, and he understood thatthe problem with most Christians
is that they seek to be freed.
So they live a life full ofgrumbling and complaints about
their situation because itdoesn't seem to suit them.
(03:02):
Have you ever stopped toconsider if your situation suits
Jesus?
Maybe you are right where hewants you to be surrounded by
people you don't like at work orin your family.
He has given you a captiveaudience, just like he did Paul,
except that Paul recognizedthat and used it for the
furtherance of the gospel.
While we tend to squander awaythe gift that God gave us, he
(03:24):
put us where we are toeffectively share the good news
with those we are chained to.
Philippians 1, 12-13.
I want you to know, brothers,that what has happened to me has
really served to advance thegospel, so that it has become
known throughout the wholeimperial guard and to all the
rest that my.
(03:44):
Now are we seeking freedom fromour chains or embracing them as
opportunities to serve agreater purpose in God's plan?
It might be a good time toreconsider our current
circumstances and alignourselves with God's will.
As we discussed in our lastepisode, we often fail to
appreciate the gifts that Godhas given us, one of which is
(04:07):
the opportunity to point otherstowards Jesus in our current
situation, this means sharingthe gospel with our family,
friends, co-workers and anyoneelse we encounter.
Ephesians 3.2,.
Assuming that you have heard ofthe stewardship, paul was given
(04:28):
the important task of sharingthe message that both Jews and
Gentiles are brought together inJesus and that the church now
embodies Christ in the world.
Instead of establishing aformal religious structure, god
selected specific people tofulfill this mission.
Each of us has been given aresponsibility by God to oversee
, whether it involves our family, employees, caring for the
(04:51):
homeless or teaching the Word ofGod.
Everything we possess is a giftfrom God and it is our
responsibility to manage it welland guide others to that same
truth.
Ephesians 3, 3-5.
To that same truth.
Ephesians 3, 3-5.
How the mystery was made knownto me by revelation, as I have
written briefly.
When you read this, you canperceive my insight into the
(05:12):
mystery of Christ, which was notmade known to the sons of men
in other generations and has nowbeen revealed to his holy
apostles and prophets by theSpirit.
Through the guidance of theHoly Spirit, paul gained insight
into the mystery that God hadconcealed in the scriptures.
This revelation emphasized thefulfillment of God's promise to
(05:33):
Abraham that the gospel would beshared with all nations.
Paul saw the church as thevehicle through which God was
achieving this, and his ministryfocused on illuminating this
truth by using the scriptures tosupport his argument.
That was a mystery to the Jewsthat the apostles were now
making known through therevelation of Jesus Christ, that
the Gentiles were now graftedinto the same promises of
(05:55):
salvation that were made toIsrael back in Genesis Genesis
22, 18.
And in your offspring shall allthe nations of the earth be
blessed, because you have obeyedmy voice.
The promise was given by God,but at that time the method by
which it would be fulfilled wasunknown.
(06:15):
It was a mystery how God wouldbring it to pass.
However, we now understand thatthrough Jesus, this promise has
been revealed.
Galatians 3.28.
There is neither Jew nor Greek,there is neither slave nor free
, there is no male and female,for you are all one in Christ
(06:36):
Jesus, and if you are Christ's,then you are Abraham's offspring
heirs, according to the promise.
The Jewish people found itchallenging to come to terms
with the idea that the promisesmade to them would also extend
to all other nations.
They had always viewedthemselves as the chosen people
(06:58):
of God, while seeing everyoneelse as inferior.
The concept that non-Jewishpeople could also be saved was
completely unfamiliar to them,and the notion that they would
be instrumental in spreading themessage of salvation through
Israel's Messiah was beyondtheir comprehension.
As a result of their refusal,the responsibility was
transferred to the church, andthis transition was facilitated
(07:21):
by the apostles.
Matthew 13, 11,.
Jesus told his disciples thatthe mystery of the kingdom has
been given to them In 1Corinthians 2, 7,.
But we impart a secret andhidden wisdom of God, which God
decreed before the ages for ourglory.
The mystery of Christ has beenrevealed, bringing salvation to
(07:41):
the entire world.
Jesus is the key tounderstanding all scripture, and
without him we are limited to areligious system that binds
people to their sins.
It is through the church thatJesus is continually being
revealed, fulfilling the promiseinitially given to Israel
Isaiah 49.6,.
He says it is too light a thingthat you should be my servant
(08:04):
to raise up the tribes of Jacoband to bring back the preserved
of Israel.
I will make you as a light forthe nations that my salvation
may reach to the end of theearth.
The promise of Israel being aguiding light for all nations to
find salvation was fulfilledthrough Jesus, who came from the
nation of Israel.
(08:24):
Through him, we are allincluded in the promise given to
Abraham, and by our faith weare unified in Christ, as stated
in Galatians 3.28.
Initially, the gospel wasentrusted to Israel as their
inheritance, but, due to theirrejection, it was passed on to
those of us who have beenadopted into the family of God.
(08:45):
We are now called to be thelight that Israel was intended
to be until the time when thefullness of the Gentiles comes.
In Acts 13, 46.
And Paul and Barnabas spoke outboldly, saying it was necessary
that the word of God be spokenfirst to you.
This is Israel, since youthrust it aside and judge
(09:06):
yourselves unworthy of eternallife.
Behold, we are turning to theGentiles, for so the Lord has
commanded us, saying I have madeyou a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation tothe ends of the earth.
The Jews faced a significantchallenge in understanding this
concept, as their strongadherence to traditions and the
(09:27):
law made it difficult for themto see beyond these cultural
norms.
Today, many people alsostruggle with this issue, as our
society is deeply rooted intraditions that often distract
us from spiritual connection.
For example, while we mayintend to celebrate the birth of
Jesus at Christmas andcommemorate his death at Easter.
We often find ourselvesprioritizing materialism through
(09:49):
the exchange of gifts Insteadof truly embracing the teachings
of God.
We tend to use them to serveour own desires.
Traditions have a tendency tointertwine worldly values with
spiritual truths, leading to adistortion of our perception of
what is truly authentic.
Jesus came to unravel thisconfusion and reveal the genuine
(10:09):
truth.
To truly embrace theserevelations, we must be willing
to let go of our traditions andfully embrace the truth, lest we
fall into the same trap asIsrael and forfeit the
inheritance that has beenbestowed upon us through our
adoption into God's family.
Ephesians 3.6.
This mystery is that theGentiles are fellow heirs,
(10:32):
members of the same body andpartakers of the promise in
Christ Jesus through the gospel.
As fellow believers, we sharein the inheritance with our
believing Jewish brothers andsisters.
As we have just observed, weare now all united as part of
the same spiritual body, createdby the same God and redeemed by
the same Messiah.
Romans 10, 11-13.
(10:55):
For the scripture says Ephesians3.7 which was given me by the
(11:19):
working of his power, paul'sordination as a minister was not
a result of human intervention,but rather an act of divine
ordination by God.
According to the scriptures, noindividual can appoint
themselves as a minister, norcan any educational institution
or academic degree confer thatstatus.
The qualification for ministryis based on the gifting of the
(11:40):
Holy Spirit and the evidence ofresults, rather than on formal
education or degrees.
In today's world, there is aprevalent belief that pastors
require formal education from aschool to be qualified to teach
the Word, but this perspectiveis not explicitly supported in
the Scriptures.
Do we call the qualified orqualify the call?
(12:01):
2 Corinthians, 3, 4-6.
Such is the confidence that wehave, through Christ, toward God
.
Not that we are sufficient inourselves to claim anything as
coming from us, but oursufficiency is from God, who has
made us sufficient to beministers of a new covenant, not
(12:22):
of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills but the
Spirit gives life.
Do you know what qualifies apastor, evangelist, elder,
deacon or missionary to be whatthey are?
It's the gifting of the HolySpirit that is manifested
through their works.
A few examples would be one Godsends them so they go,
(12:43):
regardless of what people thinkor say.
Two the spiritually blind willsee and hear the truth.
Three they turn people fromdarkness to the light.
Four people will be saved.
Five they bring people into thefold.
Six, they will work harder inministry than anyone else.
1 Corinthians 15.
10.
But by the grace of God I amwhat I am, and his grace toward
(13:05):
me was not in vain.
On the contrary, I workedharder than any of them, though
it was not I, but the grace ofGod that is with me.
7.
They work to present the churchholy and blameless to God.
Colossians 121-22.
And you who once were alienatedand hostile in mind, doing evil
(13:25):
deeds, he has now reconciled inhis body of flesh by his death
in order to present you holy andblameless and above reproach
before him.
8.
They make the word of God fullyknown.
Colossians 1.25.
Of which I became a minister,according to the stewardship
from God that was given to me,for you to present the church as
mature through proclaiming,warning, teaching and all wisdom
(13:48):
.
Colossians 1.28.
Everyone and teaching everyonewith all wisdom that we may
present everyone mature inChrist.
Consider whether your pastor andleaders truly embody these
(14:09):
qualities or if they fall short.
Your life serves as evidence oftheir calling.
If it is genuine and, just likethem, you have been gifted for
a specific purpose.
The evidence of that giftingwill be seen in your actions if
you have truly been filled withthe Spirit of God.
Ultimately, whether you are apastor, evangelist or a believer
(14:32):
without a title, we all sharethe common desire to proclaim
the gospel, and the evidence ofthat desire is reflected in our
actions.
Ephesians 3, 8-9.
(15:00):
Paul emphasizes the importanceof humility, stating that he
considers himself the least ofall the saints.
According to him, recognizingour unworthiness is crucial if
we want to be used by God.
Paul's mission was to preachabout the immeasurable wealth of
God to the church, with thehope that the church would then
(15:20):
reveal Jesus to the world.
He highlights the necessity ofbeing humble and submissive to
God's will for this to occur.
Only when we are humble andwilling to submit to God's plan
will he send us and utilize us,as he did with Paul.
Paul also emphasizes that Godhas equipped us with everything
(15:40):
we need to be effectiveministers of the gospel, and all
these resources are found inour relationship with him.
2 Peter 1-3,.
His divine power has granted tous all things that pertain to
life and godliness through theknowledge of him, who called us
to his own glory and excellence,by which he has granted, he
(16:02):
says, and glory with the world.
(16:24):
When we embrace this, our liveswill reflect the exaltation of
Jesus, just like Paul's did.
We will find ourselves ready tomake sacrifices and enduring
hardships in order to share thegospel with everyone, as this is
our role in God's planEphesians 3.10, so that, through
the church, the manifold wisdomof God might now be made known
(16:47):
to the rulers and authorities inheavenly places.
God's plan and desires for hiswisdom to be manifested through
the church to the rulers of thisworld and even angelic beings.
Now, these beings are demonicbeings, and our position in the
church is to submit to theSpirit of God and allow him,
through his wisdom and power, toovercome the evil authorities
(17:08):
that manipulate this world.
1 Corinthians 6.3.
Do you not know that you are tojudge angels?
How much more, then, matterspertaining to this life?
We must always remember thatour battle is not against flesh
and blood, but against evilspirits that have enslaved
people to their sins.
The wisdom bestowed upon us byGod shines a light on the
(17:29):
enemy's plans and allows thelost to find their way to
salvation.
We are free in Christ, and itis our job to show the lost that
the freedom is offered throughChrist Jesus If we continue to
live as the world does, what dowe have to offer?
We must live in this freedom hehas given to us, showing that
we are indeed separated fromthis world and that Jesus has
(17:52):
conquered the sin that oncebound us.
Ephesians 3.11.
This was according to theeternal purpose that he has
realized in Christ Jesus, ourLord.
The ultimate purpose of ourexistence is to honor and bring
joy to God.
We honor Him by surrendering tohis spirit within us, allowing
him to work through us for thenoble purpose for which he has
(18:13):
created us.
As we have learned in Ephesians2, we are like a beautiful poem
that God is crafting to revealhis great love towards us.
When we stop resisting God andwholeheartedly submit to him, he
is most glorified in us.
The amazing part is that wewill experience our deepest
fulfillment in Him when we do so.
When we chase after worldlythings, we are essentially
(18:35):
rejecting the greatestsatisfaction available to us.
It's like a child who is sofocused on themselves that they
need to be told to settle downand listen, missing out on the
good things their parent wantsto give to them.
Only by obeying can theyreceive.
Similarly, we must have faithto receive the gifts that God
has in store for us by humblingourselves at the foot of the
(18:57):
cross.
It is only there that he willrelieve us of our burdens and
grant us true life Ephesians3.12.
In whom we have boldness andaccess with confidence.
Through our faith in him, wecan have unwavering confidence
in Jesus and enjoy unrestrictedaccess to the Father.
(19:19):
When we seek to bring glory toJesus, we can be certain that he
will answer our prayers.
He equips us with everythingnecessary to conquer the
darkness in this world.
Jesus promised that we couldask for anything in his name and
that he would do it.
Our assurance stems from theknowledge that he is our high
priest, interceding for usbefore the father.
(19:40):
Therefore, we could beabsolutely certain that our
prayers are heard and approachthe father with boldness Hebrews
4, 15 to 16.
For we do not have a highpriest who is unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses,but one who is, in every aspect,
has been tempted as we are yetwithout sin.
(20:01):
Let us, then, with confidence,draw near to the throne of grace
that we may receive mercy andfind grace to help in.
So I ask you not to lose heartover what I am suffering for you
, which is your glory.
Paul understood that hischallenges were meant to bring
(20:25):
glory to God and to benefitothers, that his challenges were
meant to bring glory to God andto benefit others.
It's essential to recognize thatliving a Christian life doesn't
involve winning throughviolence against our enemies, as
the world does.
Instead, our victory comes whenwe choose to sacrifice
ourselves for our enemies, justas Jesus did on the cross.
He laid down his life for uswhile we were still sinners
Romans 5.8.
(20:45):
This sacrificial model wasfollowed by the apostles and
countless missionariesthroughout history.
Surprisingly, the church hasoften flourished in times of
persecution more than in timesof peace.
When we lay down our lives, godproves faithful to bring about
victory, and we can put ourtrust in that more than anything
we can offer.
(21:06):
Romans 8.18-25.
For I consider that thesufferings of this present time
are not worth comparing with theglory that is to be revealed to
us, for the creation waits witheager longing for the revealing
of the sons of God.
For the creation was subjectedto futility, not willingly, but
because of him who subjected it,in hope that the creation
(21:27):
itself will be set free from itsbondage to corruption and
obtain the freedom of the gloryof the children of God, for we
know that the whole creation hasbeen groaning together in the
pains of childbirth until now.
And not only the creation butwe ourselves, who have the
firstfruits of the Spirit, groaninwardly as we wait eagerly for
adoption as sons, theredemption of our bodies, for in
(21:48):
this hope we were saved.
Now, hope that is seen is nothope for who hopes for what he
sees, but if we hope for what wedo not see, we wait for it with
patience.
The world is home to countlessbelievers who face persecution
and even death for theirunwavering faith in Jesus.
Despite the immense challengesthey endure, they cling to their
(22:11):
joy and contentment in him assources of strength.
For them, jesus is invaluable,as they have tasted the
life-giving water he offers.
It's disheartening that many ofus who live in freedom often
fail to appreciate the verythings these persecuted
believers hold dear.
The root of this discrepancylies in the tendency for free
individuals to prioritize theirown desires and worldly passions
(22:34):
, as discussed in chapter 2.
Embracing Christ is often morechallenging for those who live
in freedom compared to those whoacknowledge their bondage.
This was evident in thePharisees during Jesus' time.
They believed they hadeverything figured out, yet they
lacked the promise of eternallife and the accompanying joy as
free individuals in our society.
(22:55):
Following Jesus necessitatesrelinquishing our worldly
attachments, akin to the richyoung ruler, and wholeheartedly
committing to him.
Fortunately, nothing is beyondGod's reach.
Reach and he can extendsalvation to anyone, regardless
of their circumstances.
In chapter 2, paul pointed outthat we were all once slaves to
sin.
(23:15):
The idea of being a free personis merely an illusion created
by Satan to keep us in bondage.
If you are still living foryour own desires, then you have
completely bought into thisdeception.
Jesus is calling you to let goof everything and follow him.
This requires you to be willingto sacrifice everything and lay
down your own life.
Just as Paul mentioned, heconsidered everything he lost as
(23:36):
insignificant compared to whathe had gained.
Once you realize that Jesus haspromised you a far better life
than the one you currently have,you will willingly give up
everything for the rewards hehas for you.
The Christian life is not aboutloss.
It's about receiving greatrewards.
The real question is where areyou on this journey?
(23:59):
Are you still holding on to thethings of this world, or have
you started the journey ofabandoning everything for the
incredible rewards that Jesushas promised, which will last
for eternity Matthew 19, 16 to26.
And behold, a man came to himsaying teacher, what good deed
must I do to have eternal life?
(24:19):
And he said to him why do youask me about what is good?
There is only one who is good.
If you would enter life, keepthe commandments.
He said to him.
Which ones?
And Jesus said you shall notmurder, you should not commit
adultery, you should not steal,you should not bear false
witness, honor your father andyour mother, and you shall love
(24:41):
your neighbor as yourself.
The young man said to him allthese I have kept.
The young man said to him Allthese I have kept.
What do I still lack?
Jesus said to him, if you wouldbe perfect, go sell what you
possess and give to the poor,and you will have treasure in
heaven and come and follow me.
When the young man heard this,he went away, sorrowful, for he
(25:02):
had great possessions.
And Jesus said to his disciplesTruly, I say to you, only with
difficulty will a rich personenter the kingdom of heaven.
Again, I tell you, it is easierfor a camel to go through the
eye of a needle than for a richperson to enter the kingdom of
God.
When the disciples heard this,they were greatly astonished,
saying who then can be saved?
(25:23):
But Jesus looked at them andsaid with man this is impossible
, but with God all things arepossible.
Let's pray, father, thank youfor your love and mercy you have
so graciously shown us.
It's our desire to enter intothe full joy of the Lord and I
ask, father, that you would helpus to overcome this world and
(25:44):
the temptations that we faceevery day, that you would
instill into our hearts the hopeof the promises and rewards you
have for us, that we would beable to lay down our lives for
your glory, that some may besaved.
Help us to realize that if weseek our lives, we will lose
them, but when we lose them wewill truly find life, a life
(26:06):
that can only be found in Jesus.
Father, we love you and wethank you In Jesus' name, amen.
Now I want to thank you forjoining us today.
I hope this message helped youtake a step closer in your
relationship with Jesus and youhave a better understanding of
just how much God loves you andwants you to know him.
In our upcoming episode, we'regoing to delve into Paul's
(26:27):
heartfelt prayer for the church,seeking to understand what it
truly means to have the fullnessof God dwelling within us.
He patiently longed forbelievers to grasp this concept
and lead lives that glorify God,so they could experience the
same joy he did.
The world may struggle tocomprehend this joy, as it often
pursues fleeting pleasures, butbelievers are called to find
(26:47):
their joy in the.
We often seek the benefits ofjoy before fully committing to
serving, but that's not faith.
Faith is about believing firstand putting our knowledge into
action, trusting that we willreceive the promised reward.
(27:07):
Paul exemplified this faiththrough action and reaped the
reward of joy.
His greatest desire was for allwho put their trust in Jesus to
share in the same joy.
His prayer extends to allChristians throughout all time,
wishing that we all may come tothe fullness of the Lord's joy.
It's also my fervent wish, andthe very reason for this
(27:28):
podcast's existence is so thatyou too may experience this joy.
Now, before we go, I want toencourage you to visit us at
thetakeawayfaith and on ourwebsite you can sign up to
receive email notifications orsend us a text message from the
link provided in the descriptionof this episode.
We hope that you would use thispodcast as a resource to help
others and that you would sendus a message, a word of
(27:51):
encouragement or any questionsor comments, as we would love to
hear from you.
God bless, and we'll see younext time on the Takeaway.
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