back to indexEphesians Bible Study Lesson 10
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We're gonna be starting our Bible study week, 00:00:22.440 |
and then the following week starts our Easter services. 00:00:27.200 |
there is going to be Monday through Thursday, 00:00:36.120 |
there's going to be our Good Friday evening service at 7.30. 00:00:39.520 |
And then we'll have one Easter service at 10 a.m. on Sunday. 00:00:44.080 |
onto the Ephesians Bible study the week after. 00:01:05.040 |
such great privileges and blessings in your salvation. 00:01:14.800 |
the depth of our blessing to greater degrees. 00:01:17.520 |
We thank you Lord, it's in Christ's name we pray, amen. 00:01:31.760 |
So please take your Bibles and follow along with me. 00:01:34.360 |
What I'll do is set up my PowerPoint really fast. 00:01:46.360 |
for this reason, I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus, 00:01:50.780 |
if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace, 00:01:57.200 |
that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery 00:02:04.360 |
you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 00:02:08.140 |
which in other generations was not made known 00:02:12.060 |
as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles 00:02:16.060 |
To be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs 00:02:21.400 |
and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus 00:02:23.800 |
through the gospel of which I was made a minister 00:02:29.640 |
which was given to me according to the working of his power. 00:02:41.280 |
apostle Paul said that Christ has made us into one. 00:02:46.280 |
And as he was talking about the ramification of the gospel, 00:02:53.920 |
it's a household, and importantly, it is a temple of God. 00:03:08.160 |
And so that has incredible significance for us. 00:03:11.560 |
And what's more, in this passage that I just read 00:03:14.320 |
in verse one through seven, he's emphasizing this truth. 00:03:19.240 |
this is an incredible mystery about the church. 00:03:23.040 |
That what constitutes this temple and household of God, 00:03:26.600 |
surprisingly, is not just the chosen people of the old, 00:03:32.620 |
who have previously considered without God so far, 00:03:40.400 |
apostle Paul essentially challenges the audience 00:03:52.760 |
to pause and ask the question, do you really understand? 00:03:56.800 |
Do you understand that in receiving this powerful gospel, 00:04:01.160 |
we receive the power of God to break every dividing wall, 00:04:05.880 |
the incredible wall that exists between us and God, 00:04:08.800 |
and also the walls that exist between ourselves. 00:04:18.600 |
is absolutely incredible, but also we recognize 00:04:22.360 |
that the church therefore is precious in God's sight. 00:04:29.160 |
our Lord Jesus Christ talks about in the gospels 00:04:31.960 |
how he is building the church, right, Matthew 16, 00:04:35.220 |
how even the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 00:04:38.200 |
The church is founded upon, established upon God's power. 00:04:53.760 |
And what we see is that in Paul's attitude and perspective, 00:04:57.880 |
it's therefore precious in Paul's sight as well. 00:05:08.080 |
in his ministry and servanthood towards the church, 00:05:20.160 |
I'm gonna read again verse seven and work our way down. 00:05:24.840 |
of which I have, sorry, of which I was made a minister 00:05:32.200 |
which was given to me according to the working of his power. 00:05:35.500 |
To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given 00:05:44.460 |
and to bring to light what is the administration 00:05:46.740 |
of the mystery, which for ages has been hidden in God, 00:05:57.020 |
to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 00:06:00.460 |
This was in accordance with the eternal purpose, 00:06:03.300 |
which he carried out in Christ Jesus, our Lord, 00:06:06.060 |
in whom we have boldness and confident access 00:06:18.640 |
I wanna begin by just giving you a brief kind of outline. 00:06:23.900 |
I've broken this section down into three parts, 00:06:28.240 |
where it speaks of the apostle Paul's responsibility. 00:06:31.420 |
Verse 10 through 12, the grand purpose of God, 00:06:35.100 |
and verse 13, the encouragement that Paul gives. 00:06:49.360 |
Let's take a look at this passage one more time. 00:07:06.320 |
"this grace was given to preach to the Gentiles 00:07:11.360 |
"and to bring to light what is the administration 00:07:14.080 |
"of the mystery which for ages has been hidden 00:07:17.920 |
Okay, one of the observations that we make is, 00:07:21.520 |
throughout this passage, verses one all the way down, 00:07:35.720 |
And what it really describes is apostle Paul's perspective 00:07:40.160 |
on who he is in relationship to the gospel he's received. 00:07:49.160 |
And what I'd like to do is have you look at your Bibles 00:07:53.160 |
and scan again with me, starting from actually verse one. 00:07:57.040 |
Remember this section, verses two through 13, 00:08:04.320 |
And within it, he has a lot to say about, again, 00:08:11.080 |
Verse one, he says, "I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus, 00:08:26.400 |
No, he's literally in prison, and it's not for two weeks. 00:08:29.400 |
It's not confinement or quarantine for just several weeks. 00:08:35.520 |
Some commentators think it's up to four years 00:08:39.760 |
Verse two, he says, "If indeed you heard of the stewardship 00:08:43.760 |
"of God's grace which was given to me for you." 00:08:47.440 |
And so what you have then is Apostle Paul being a steward. 00:08:59.120 |
Verse three, "That by revelation there was made known 00:09:01.620 |
"to me this mystery as I wrote before in brief." 00:09:04.840 |
And so then he becomes essentially a writer and a scribe, 00:09:12.760 |
"Of which I was made a minister according to the gift 00:09:18.280 |
So Apostle Paul is a minister by the grace and power of God. 00:09:22.360 |
And then in verse eight through nine, he says, 00:09:24.860 |
"To me the very least of all saints, this grace was given 00:09:27.840 |
"to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches 00:09:31.420 |
"of Christ and to bring to light what is the administration." 00:09:36.420 |
So Apostle Paul clearly recognizes what is his calling, 00:09:50.100 |
Essentially a man who is to speak, open his mouth, 00:10:02.340 |
when we see Apostle Paul's perspective on his role, 00:10:13.740 |
the ministry of the gospel, the administration 00:10:17.620 |
he recognizes then that he's a prisoner to all that. 00:10:21.660 |
He recognizes then that he's a minister to all of that. 00:10:24.900 |
And I want us to take a moment to dwell on that 00:10:28.440 |
Because what that shows us is in his sight, the cause, 00:10:46.400 |
because he says that he has been made a minister. 00:11:00.400 |
outside of the church context, it meant servant. 00:11:08.800 |
It was somebody who was like a waiter, so to speak. 00:11:11.120 |
It was somebody who would clean up after the mess. 00:11:26.400 |
to the great cause of the administration of God. 00:11:29.960 |
And that's exactly how he actually tells the church 00:11:49.400 |
"In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards 00:11:57.600 |
even to another step, where he describes himself 00:12:01.120 |
as hupertest, which just simply means you're an underling. 00:12:04.380 |
He sees himself as a servant of the stewardship 00:12:10.560 |
And the way that I want to think about this is, 00:12:19.640 |
And it makes them feel like, wow, that was so rewarding. 00:12:23.280 |
Even if, let's say, they weren't paid for it. 00:12:27.360 |
People in this day, they talk about being a part 00:12:30.560 |
of a great movement that really inspires them. 00:12:34.160 |
And yes, those are inspiring, especially, let's say, 00:12:36.440 |
if we're talking about disaster relief movements, 00:12:41.820 |
and we're willing, because the cause is so great, 00:12:45.280 |
then to take a moment's pause from our daily activities. 00:12:52.600 |
and they go join a cause, is that a bad thing? 00:12:58.080 |
especially if that cause is something worthwhile and noble. 00:13:01.520 |
What's really interesting to me is that people do that 00:13:05.720 |
If they get a chance to, let's say, travel on tour 00:13:08.600 |
with the band that they love, with the team that they love. 00:13:16.320 |
And people are straight up willing to risk their job 00:13:24.000 |
Now, if that was your dream, I'm not trying to crush it, 00:13:30.400 |
Apostle Paul, here and now, is showing to us, 00:13:33.320 |
in his perspective, his sight, his appreciation 00:13:41.400 |
for the absolute, just sheer magnitude of a cause so big, 00:13:51.400 |
See, Apostle Paul, he's not elated, he's not grateful, 00:13:55.120 |
because he was a leader before, clearly, right? 00:13:58.880 |
When he was a Pharisee, when he was a Sadducee, 00:14:04.680 |
and thank goodness, now he gets to become another leader. 00:14:11.360 |
What he's thinking is the cause of God is so great, 00:14:17.640 |
It causes him to be a servant of the cause of Christ. 00:14:22.280 |
And so he recognizes the ministry of God is so massive. 00:14:27.040 |
You see, one of the things I want to challenge us 00:14:44.080 |
to take us from dead to life, to take us from far to near. 00:14:48.360 |
And that shift, we have to regularly stop and ask, 00:14:55.480 |
Otherwise, all of these roles that I just highlighted 00:14:59.280 |
for you, being a prisoner, a steward, a writer, 00:15:03.520 |
none of these things will be privileges for you. 00:15:13.440 |
And as a matter of fact, if I come to you then, 00:15:23.960 |
then if I come and say, hey, can I ask you to do something? 00:15:26.960 |
Then your first response wouldn't be, yes, what can I do? 00:15:31.760 |
Your first response would be like, oh, what is it, right? 00:15:38.360 |
You would have to start asking, like, is it worth it? 00:15:41.040 |
But what if these questions were asked of you 00:15:44.720 |
to be a small part, perhaps, to be in God's wisdom? 00:15:51.000 |
and within the body you had presentable parts 00:15:54.880 |
The parts that you want to show off, you know? 00:15:57.520 |
And the parts that you just kind of want to hide? 00:16:03.200 |
They're very fat, they're like, it almost looks, 00:16:11.720 |
it's not swollen, that's just the way it looks. 00:16:28.680 |
should God ask you, be the hands, the calloused hands, 00:16:36.280 |
Is that to us a privilege because we understand 00:16:45.760 |
I want to be a steward, but I don't want to be a steward 00:16:47.880 |
of the janitorial supplies, I want to be a steward 00:16:52.720 |
Like, what are we actually willing and wanting, 00:16:55.740 |
because we understand the magnitude of the cause. 00:17:07.040 |
He's going to call every single one of us later on 00:17:09.080 |
in chapters three, four, and five, chapter four and five, 00:17:12.680 |
what we should be in imitation of Apostle Paul, 00:17:29.640 |
he has a response and an attitude that shows forth. 00:17:40.960 |
You see, when we think about our possible responses, 00:17:45.900 |
Apostle Paul was not necessarily, like, given choices. 00:17:52.680 |
or would you like to be the background player? 00:17:56.800 |
Apostle Paul says, "God gave me this privilege." 00:18:05.160 |
For example, someone could have this impervious attitude 00:18:16.580 |
"You know, I don't really have a choice here, right? 00:18:18.080 |
"I just have to be like, well, thanks, big guy, 00:18:44.360 |
Right, like, we could have different kind of responses. 00:18:47.240 |
Or Apostle Paul, he essentially almost, like, 00:18:50.760 |
repeats multiple times, starting from verse two. 00:18:56.440 |
I highlight for you here in verse seven, he says, 00:19:09.040 |
When you say this is a gift, an intentional gift of God 00:19:11.700 |
and the working of his power, that precludes, 00:19:15.580 |
"did you, like, accidentally, you know, tag me? 00:19:23.640 |
This is God's intentional giving of grace to us. 00:19:27.760 |
And you have to understand that this intentional gift of God 00:19:31.960 |
includes Apostle Paul being a prisoner, right? 00:19:35.720 |
And what's crazy is if you look at Philippians 1:29, 00:19:42.040 |
He says, "Not only have we been given the privilege 00:19:46.900 |
"but the privilege to suffer for the gospel." 00:20:04.660 |
I mean, think about the contrast of attitude. 00:20:06.760 |
On one side, it's like, "Did you get this right? 00:20:18.680 |
This is an entirely different kind of attitude. 00:20:27.480 |
Now, again, Apostle Paul here at this moment, 00:20:31.880 |
He's already been, like, traveling, preaching. 00:20:36.840 |
I mean, throughout so many different instances, 00:20:41.800 |
Some people hailing him, some people hating him. 00:20:44.200 |
He's not, essentially, he's not a noob, right? 00:20:59.340 |
And for him to say, "I'm the least of saints," 00:21:02.120 |
what he's doing there, he's not just being, like, 00:21:23.480 |
of the gospel ministry is just that, it's grace. 00:21:34.120 |
What kind of, like, realistic, God-honoring humility? 00:21:41.520 |
what I think modern kind of leadership training 00:21:57.560 |
He's thinking about how he is a servant of the church. 00:22:41.900 |
I get to preach the unfathomable riches of Christ. 00:22:47.720 |
of being all apologetic, when you encourage people, 00:22:56.600 |
And when you preach the gospel to unbelievers, 00:23:18.460 |
of the master of the universe, the king of the world, 00:23:22.340 |
I'm not sure you have to be apologetic, right? 00:23:37.680 |
You know, we have a lot of teachers within our church, 00:23:47.240 |
especially in this time when things are crazy. 00:23:49.760 |
And the thing about it is I love it when teachers say, 00:23:51.680 |
like, man, you know, there are these students 00:23:59.740 |
and, you know, even beyond all the endless nights 00:24:02.820 |
of grading papers, you know, I relate to teachers 00:24:06.620 |
because lesson prep, you know, lesson prep is so hard. 00:24:11.540 |
I mean, like, you could always think of a better example. 00:24:17.260 |
if that came across right, and it's hard, right? 00:24:21.660 |
Isn't there, like, this intrinsic rewarding privilege 00:24:41.500 |
And so, therefore, again, we see Apostle Paul's mentality. 00:24:46.180 |
He's not saying, sorry, sorry I get to teach you 00:24:51.460 |
No, Apostle Paul, to him, this is a privilege. 00:25:16.120 |
And so, to that, I want to move to the next section. 00:25:27.680 |
this grand intentional purpose for the church. 00:25:34.300 |
whenever you see the so that, you should pause and say, 00:25:39.100 |
I should understand what God is intending to do. 00:25:49.260 |
sorry, might now be made known through the church 00:25:52.180 |
to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 00:25:55.400 |
This was in accordance with the eternal purpose 00:25:58.300 |
which he carried out in Christ Jesus, our Lord, 00:26:01.020 |
in whom we have boldness and confident access 00:26:07.200 |
I asked this question as a Bible study question. 00:26:15.260 |
We don't have to necessarily go look up word study 00:26:18.500 |
What is very clear is that there is an overarching, 00:26:29.100 |
to everything, to the heavenly places, to the world, 00:26:34.100 |
that the revelation of God, the character trait, 00:26:36.800 |
not just one trait, but the manifold, multiplying 00:26:40.220 |
wisdom of God be made known through the church. 00:26:44.740 |
And so the way I labeled it in your handout is 00:26:49.740 |
Two, and what's interesting here, are the heavenly beings. 00:27:16.960 |
because the world as we know it is just so tiny. 00:27:33.660 |
There are angels, there are mighty ones of God, 00:27:41.020 |
And then there are those who are rulers and authorities, 00:27:47.380 |
Ephesians chapter six describes there are these like circles 00:28:00.540 |
but again, perhaps we won't know too exhaustively. 00:28:16.940 |
He is going to showcase his wisdom through the church. 00:28:26.460 |
that they were not serving themselves but you 00:28:28.980 |
in these things which now have been announced to you 00:28:52.100 |
is there this heavenly purpose for the church, 00:29:04.200 |
with the eternal purpose carried out in Christ Jesus, 00:29:08.060 |
The redemptive plan, the history that we see, 00:29:14.660 |
with sin, waywardness, destruction, and hardship, 00:29:21.500 |
God was still sovereignly working his redemption. 00:29:24.260 |
I want to highlight some interesting passages for you. 00:29:26.900 |
In Ephesians chapter one, Apostle Paul says this, 00:29:29.820 |
and he put all things in subjection under his feet 00:29:32.940 |
and gave him as head over all things to the church, 00:29:44.580 |
have been waiting so long for somebody to come over them, 00:29:53.900 |
who would be their provision, their protection, 00:29:59.220 |
We essentially have that in Christ in the church. 00:30:04.060 |
"And he raised them up and seated us with him 00:30:11.020 |
"he might show the surpassing riches of his grace 00:30:21.420 |
is that God is not just going to use the church 00:30:28.460 |
maybe in 2020, right, he's gonna use our church. 00:30:33.540 |
Those who are redeemed, God has chosen to use us 00:30:36.140 |
to showcase his rich, rich love for all eternity. 00:30:46.220 |
the glories of God's grace, his love and his mercies. 00:30:52.940 |
And I think about this, the privilege within this passage, 00:30:57.420 |
Apostle Paul highlights this incredible privilege 00:31:01.020 |
that we are going to be able to approach God, 00:31:24.860 |
would be able to approach a holy God without dying. 00:31:32.180 |
Now, I want, just to highlight that one thing 00:31:34.460 |
for a little bit, I want you to think about this. 00:31:37.660 |
We're thinking about stuff that's like beyond us, right? 00:31:44.820 |
Think about the incredible scene of Isaiah 6, 00:31:48.460 |
where there are the host of angels around God. 00:31:57.900 |
And even the angels, they have their eyes covered. 00:32:00.420 |
Now, think from their perspective, looking at us. 00:32:19.260 |
that you boldly and confidently approach God Almighty? 00:32:25.220 |
The angels probably instinctually would be like, 00:32:31.900 |
But I imagine this is all just reading in between the lines. 00:32:35.540 |
To angels, this would be quite the incredible thing, 00:32:53.180 |
And so you think about this, God eternally desired. 00:33:00.740 |
God eternally desired to show forth His incredible mercies, 00:33:09.140 |
Because God in His nature, with His fatherly love, 00:33:15.380 |
desired to create and then be one with that creation 00:33:41.020 |
the manifold wisdom of God is going to be shown forth 00:33:58.140 |
And so I want to move forth into this kind of reflection. 00:34:13.260 |
For us right now, as we look at our own time, 00:34:22.060 |
perhaps maybe you don't necessarily see it that way. 00:34:24.380 |
Like how am I a showcase of God's love, right? 00:34:37.580 |
Because they're looking at tribulation, right? 00:34:39.500 |
Like they're looking at Apostle Paul's tribulation. 00:34:44.700 |
So I want you to take a moment to think about this. 00:34:47.220 |
Across history, there has been incredible suffering. 00:34:54.860 |
our history throughout time is just a simple record 00:34:59.260 |
of kings and kingdoms and the war in between. 00:35:09.740 |
"moving territories, moving the battle, so to speak." 00:35:18.060 |
I say poopy, but he used another word I'm not going to say. 00:35:24.580 |
In thinking about that, even in Ecclesiastes, 00:35:55.020 |
"'Cause who can say there's anything new under the sun?" 00:36:02.180 |
There is just so much pointlessness in this world. 00:36:09.740 |
If we use our human eyes to evaluate our own lives, 00:36:19.340 |
And if we're thinking about the church at Ephesus 00:36:31.020 |
"Look, chapter two, in the gospel you have life. 00:36:39.420 |
And he's trying to show them the incredible love of God. 00:36:44.220 |
But they're hearing this from a guy in prison. 00:37:12.540 |
all of history is just from one event to another. 00:37:15.260 |
All we can do is track kings and kingdoms and wars. 00:37:19.140 |
For us, we're seeing the intentional hand of God 00:37:28.980 |
What we see is a masterful, powerful, loving God 00:37:34.100 |
moving throughout history, but also moving in you. 00:37:44.180 |
and you have absolute life, indestructible in Christ. 00:37:48.460 |
And therefore, we have then glorious expectation. 00:37:59.540 |
But remember, glory would come through suffering for Christ 00:38:05.500 |
And so Apostle Paul says, these tribulations, 00:38:16.940 |
Lord, we thank you again for these encouraging words 00:38:25.820 |
We pray, Father God, that by faith, we would recognize, 00:38:30.740 |
Lord, that we have an indescribable privilege, 00:38:41.740 |
the cause of sharing in the ministry of the gospel, 00:38:51.260 |
where it would be appropriate to just jettison 00:38:56.540 |
And I pray, Father God, that we would then share 00:38:59.340 |
in the joys of the I get to's with Apostle Paul. 00:39:05.980 |
And I pray, God, that you would strengthen our faith.