Comunidad y discipulado

The Greatest Mystery Revealed (Eph 3:1-13)

2010.09.19Rev. Mike Lee

God reveals the mystery that Gentiles are fellow heirs with Israel in Christ, and that revelation is entrusted to each believer as a calling to go, share the gospel with humility, and show the manifold wisdom of God through a multicultural church.

Each believer has received a personal revelation to be lived out (vv. 1-6)

Paul calls himself a prisoner of Christ Jesus, not of Nero, because he trusted God's sovereignty over all things, even his imprisonment. The mystery he describes, that Gentiles are fellow heirs and members of the same body, was made known to him personally on the road to Damascus. That revelation is open to all who receive it from Christ, and every believer has a personal revelation from God. We are responsible to care for it, study it, share it, and live it out, like the talent entrusted to the servants in Matthew 25.

Grace makes us humble and sends us to share the gospel (vv. 7-9)

Paul called himself the very least of the saints, a former persecutor who was overwhelmed by God's grace rather than haunted by his past. Grace is not passive; it is a privilege and a responsibility that sends us to share the gospel. The goal of sharing is to win souls, not arguments, so we must preach with humility, as James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5 teach that God gives grace to the humble. The word gospel begins with GO, a reminder that we are commissioned to go. Preach the gospel always, and if necessary, use words.

The church displays God's manifold wisdom to the heavenly powers (vv. 10-13)

Paul describes the church as the manifold wisdom of God, a word meaning many-colored, which shows a multicultural and multiracial community from every background. The church is a communal body, meant to be together rather than merely individual. Paul's message also reaches the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places, the spiritual forces of evil we wrestle against in Ephesians 6:12. Jesus said the gates of Hades will not overcome his church, so the church is a witness to these powers. Paul's willingness to suffer shows that he values Christ above all.

Our commission must include prayer and support for missionaries

Few men have gone on short-term mission trips, and that must change, so I challenge the men of our congregation to stand up and go. Missionaries sacrifice their lives, future, and comfort to obey their calling, and they often return lonely, frustrated, or disappointed. The least we can do is pray for them, support them, and love them when they come back. We should also look at our neighbors and pray for future missionaries who will be called to other countries and areas of the world.

Apply to Life

  • Let us ask God what He has revealed to us personally and live in obedience to it.
  • Let us care for, study, and share the revelation we have received instead of framing it on the wall.
  • Let us go and share the gospel with humility, seeking to win souls rather than arguments.
  • Let us pray for our missionaries and lavish them with love and support when they return.
  • Let us see every part of our lives as ministry so that the love of Christ is seen in us.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

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