The Calling - Ephesians 3 Series

The Calling – Ephesians 3

On the lighter side of life:

Bulletin Bloopers from beliefnet.com

The pastor will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing, "Break Forth Into Joy."

A songfest was hell at the Methodist church Wednesday.

Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community.

The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The Congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

Thursday night Potluck Supper. Prayer and medication to follow.

Thesis: What’s the calling? God calling you to surrender yourself to Him!

You responding to God’s call and saying “Yes, Lord! Not my will but your will be done!”

Scripture Text:

1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

2Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

7I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.

Show video illustration from Acts 9:1-31 - The Visual Bible – This clip reveals the power of Jesus Spirit and His dispensing of grace to Paul. (10 minute clip)

8Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Introduction:

The calling of Paul and of us is a divine act rooted in grace and in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. We have all been called to reveal the mystery of Jesus to this lost world.

There are two parts to the mystery: 1. We are all called by God – Jew or Gentile to become part of His family. 2. We are also required to call the Lord back with our answer to His call:

He says, “Hello Mike – I have a gift for you and I would desire that you become part of my family. All you have to do is to believe in me and then I will give you the gift of eternal life. Then your responsibility to keep the gift is to remain faithful to me. So Mike, if you want this spiritual blessing call me back ASAP and it will be yours and I will answer your call!” Blessing God!

The calling of God has to do with understanding the mystery of Jesus Christ and His message of grace to the faithful. God’s spirit reveals this message to the current people of God. The mystery is that we are saved by grace not works and this applies to both Jew and Gentile alike. They are joint members with the Jews and both are the chosen people of God. They share in the promises and in the spiritual blessings from Jesus Christ. These are: