Three preachers were on a non-productive fishing trip when they began to discuss various topics to pass the time. One preacher said he thought it would be nice if they confessed their biggest sins to each other and then prayed for each other. They all agreed, and the first preacher said that his biggest sin was that he liked to sit at the beach now and then and watch pretty women stroll by.
The second preacher confessed that his biggest sin was that he went to the horse racing track every so often and put a small bet on a horse.
Turning to the third preacher, they asked, “Brother, what is your biggest sin?”
With a grin, he said, “My biggest sin is gossiping, and I can’t wait to get out of here!” (Van Morris, Mount Washington, Kentucky)
Some secrets are never meant to be told.
Did you know God has a secret? It’s a secret He kept hidden for centuries, but now He wants everybody to know it. If you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to Ephesians 3, Ephesians 3, where God reveals His secret.
Ephesians 3:1-2 “For this reason” [i.e., because we are all one nation, one body, and one building (Eph. 2:11-22)] “I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles – assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you… (ESV)
It’s like Paul interrupts his thought and says, “Surely, you know what I’m all about. Surely, you know that I’m responsible to manage what God has so freely given to me for your benefit. Surely, you know the secret God revealed to me.
Ephesians 3:3-5 …how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. (ESV)
For centuries, God had a secret, which He has only now revealed to his apostles and prophets. Do you know what that secret (or mystery) is?
Ephesians 3:6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (ESV)
We Gentile believers in Jesus, along with ALL the Jewish believers in Jesus, share together in ALL of the promises of God. We ALL have the same wonderful benefits in Christ. We are “FELLOW heirs”, “members of the SAME body”, and “PARTAKERS of the promise”. Or more literally, we are heirs TOGETHER, members TOGETHER, and partakers TOGETHER.
No one class of believers is more privileged than the other. We ALL share ownership in Christ’s Kingdom. It’s not just that the Gentiles are “welcome” in the Kingdom. That was no secret. It’s that we are co-owners of that Kingdom. Now, that was a revolutionary concept.
There is a church in Raleigh, North Carolina, that has tried to apply this concept to the way they do church. The name of the church is Vintage21, and they have replaced the concept of “membership” for what they believe is a more appropriate description for the body of Christ: ownership.
Gyms and clubs have members. Vintage21 contends that these memberships are “painless to obtain and even easier to discard.” Ownership, on the other hand, communicates the idea that as “co-heirs” of the kingdom we all possess a piece of the church. Vintage21 wants God’s people to feel responsibility for the church, rather than just coming to services and taking off.
They hope to get rid of a consumer mindset and move into an investor's outlook. “An owner makes the organization happen,” Vintage21 explains. “Jesus wants his followers to make the church happen—to go out and love people, to nurture each other, and to serve with your whole life. Ownership is a higher call than membership.” (Leadership journal, Fall, 2007, p. 14)
And that’s especially true in times of trouble. That’s especially true during times of discouragement, because if we see ourselves simply as recipients of services, then when times get tough, we cut and run. But if we see ourselves as responsible co-owners of God’s business, then we do what’s necessary to fix the problems.
So if we want to make it through the tough times together, then we must…
LEARN THE SECRET.
We must understand the mystery that we are co-owners together of Christ’s kingdom. We must know in our hearts that we are in this thing called “the church” together, all of us equally responsible and privileged to make it work.
When Paul wrote these words, the early church was in a time of persecution. Paul, their leader, was in prison, and the believers were discouraged. I’m sure many of them thought about quitting.
So Paul writes them and says, “Let me tell you a secret. You are in a privileged position, along with all the other believers in Christ. You are a co-owner of Christ’s Kingdom. So don’t quit. Don’t give up. Don’t be discouraged. Work together to make it happen, and nothing will ever be able to stop you. That’s where Paul is headed in verse 13. Look at it.
Ephesians 3:13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. (ESV)
If we want to keep from being discouraged, then we must learn the secret of our co-ownership in Christ.
Max Lucado, in his book, Facing Your Giants, talked about the time he participated in a half-Ironman triathlon. After the 1.2 mile swim and the 56 mile bike ride, he says, “I didn't have much energy left for the 13.1 mile run. Neither did the fellow jogging next to him. Max Lucado asked him how he was doing and soon regretted asking.
“This stinks,” the man said. “This race is the dumbest decision I've ever made.” He had more complaints than a taxpayer at the IRS. Lucado’s response to him? “Goodbye.” Lucado knew if he listened too long, he’d start agreeing with the man.
Soon, he caught up with a 66-year-old grandmother. Her tone was just the opposite. “You'll finish this,” she encouraged. “It's hot, but at least it's not raining. One step at a time… don't forget to hydrate… stay in there.” Lucado ran next to her until his heart was lifted even though his legs were aching. He finally had to slow down, but she said, “No problem." Then she waved and kept going. (Max Lucado, Facing Your Giants, 2006, p. 65)
Who are you running around with? The naysayers of this world? Or your fellow co-owners of the Kingdom? Stay close to those with the right attitude and you will go far. Stay close to your “fellow-heirs.” Stay close to those who know who they are in Christ¸ and your heart will be lifted even when your legs ache.
If we want to beat discouragement, then we must learn the secret of our co-ownership in Christ. 2nd, if we want to beat discouragement, we must also…
SHARE THE SECRET.
We can’t keep it to ourselves, but we must tell as many people as we can. The secret of who people can be in Christ was not meant to be kept. It was meant to be shared, and real blessing comes in the sharing! That’s what the apostle Paul did.
Ephesians 3:7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. (ESV)
Paul considers the opportunity to share God’s secret a gift of God’s grace. He’s sees himself as a table-waiter here. The word for “minister” (diakanos) literally means one who serves tables. Only, instead of serving food, he is serving the message of the gospel; he is serving the good news of our co-ownership in Christ.
And on top of all that, God supplies the energy to serve. In verse 7, Paul says, “I was made a minister… by the working (in the Greek, through the energia) of his power.” When we share God’s secret, God energizes us in the process.
There is an old story about a woodsman who came out of the woods into town for supplies. He was in need of several items, including a new ax. But in the store, he saw an advertisement for a chain saw, which was guaranteed to cut down twice as many trees in one day as any previous one. He eagerly purchased the saw.
A week later, he was back at the store and, in very descriptive terms, demanded his money back. When asked why, the woodsman replied, “With my ax, I could chop down 10 trees in a day, but with this blankety, blank thing I’m lucky if I can fell one or two trees.”
The store owner looked the machine over very carefully. He checked the chain and the spark plug, and found nothing wrong. So he flipped the switch and pulled the cord to get it started. As the chainsaw roared to life, the woodsman jumped back and cried, “What’s that noise!?”
Some people are discouraged and worn out, because they try to serve God like that old woodsman. They don’t utilize the power that God has provided, and they get frustrated and angry.
But that’s no way to serve God. NO! Serve God with His energy, not your own. Serve the Lord in dependence upon Him with a lot of prayer. Then sharing the gospel can actually be fun!
Verse 12 says, “We have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him”. Whatever the need in our ministries, we can come to the Lord with confidence, knowing that He will graciously and generously give us everything we need.
The ministry itself is a gift of God’s grace, not a chore. It’s an opportunity, not an obligation. Look at verse 8 and see Paul’s attitude about serving.
Ephesians 3:8-9 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given [in other words, God gave me this awesome free gift] to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things… (ESV)
Paul considers it a wonderful gift of God’s grace to be able to share God’s secret, and so should we. There is no greater joy and no greater privilege than to introduce people to a new relationship with Christ, and watch that relationship begin to totally transform them from the inside out.
Over the years, I’ve seen the gospel change a hardened sailor into a compassionate husband and father. I’ve seen the gospel change an abused and hardened woman into a lady full of love for others. I’ve seen the gospel change a drug addict on welfare into a productive member of a community. I’ve seen the gospel change a hopeless and depressed teenager into one full of joy and hope. I’ve seen the gospel change a man on the streets of the inner city into a church planter on those same streets. I’ve seen the gospel change dozens of people and their families, and I consider it a privilege, a gift of God’s grace, to have been a part of all that.
Lottie Moon, former missionary to China, put it this way: “Surely there can be no deeper joy than that of saving souls.” (“Hudson Taylor and Missions to China,” Christian History, no. 52)
If you’re discouraged this morning, I encourage you to give it a try. Tell somebody about the new life they can have in Christ. Tell somebody how they can join the family of God as a co-owner in Christ’s kingdom. Then watch that good news change their lives as they grasp it by faith.
If we want to beat discouragement, 1st, we must learn the secret of co-ownership in Christ. Then 2nd, we must share the secret; and finally, we must…
LIVE THE SECRET.
We must demonstrate the mystery of our unity in Christ. We must show the angels in heaven how smart God was in bringing such disparate people together in one body.
Ephesians 3:10-11 So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)
God wants the church to demonstrate to the angels His wisdom in bringing the likes of us together in this one body we call “the church.” God wants us to show heavenly forces His wisdom in making us co-owners together of His Kingdom. Did you know the angels are watching us right now? The angels are observing how we behave as a church, and God is using us, the church, to teach them some valuable lessons.
1 Corinthians 4:9 says, “We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.” 1 Corinthians 11:10 instructs us to behave properly when we come together to worship. Why? “Because of the angels.” The angels are watching.
I wonder, what are they learning as they observe us today? Do they see the wisdom of God in bringing us together? Or do they think perhaps, “That was a dumb idea”? You see, the way we relate to one another is a testimony, not only to a watching world, but to a heavenly host of angels, as well.
Way back in the spring of 1940, Hitler's panzer divisions were mopping up French troops and preparing for a siege against Great Britain. The Dutch had already surrendered, as well as the Belgians. The British army was stranded on the coast of France in the channel port of Dunkirk. Nearly a quarter million British soldiers and over 100,000 allied troops faced capture or death.
Hitler’s troops, only a few miles away in the hills of France, closed in for an easy kill. The Royal Navy had enough ships to save barely 17,000 men, and the House of Commons was told to brace itself for “hard and heavy tidings.”
Then while a despairing world watched with fading hope, a bizarre fleet of ships appeared on the horizon of the English Channel. Trawlers, tugs, fishing sloops, lifeboats, sailboats, pleasure craft, an island ferry named Gracie Fields, and even the America's Cup challenger Endeavor, all manned by civilian sailors, sped to the rescue. The ragtag armada eventually rescued 338,682 men and returned them home to the shores of England, as pilots of the Royal Air Force jockeyed with the German Luftwaffe in the skies above the channel. It was one of the most remarkable naval operations in history. (Doug Banister, The Word and Power Church, Zondervan, 1999, pp. 33-34)
The church, likewise, is God's “ragtag armada”. The church is a mix of flawed individuals on a rescue operation commissioned by God, and the whole world is watching, along with the angels in heaven.
They don’t have to see perfection to marvel at God’s wisdom in putting us together. In fact, there is greater glory when God uses “the foolish things of the world to shame the wise,” “the weak things of the world to shame the strong,” and “the lowly things of the world” to nullify the high and mighty.
God chooses to use the likes of you and me! And we don’t have to be perfect to be used of God. We just have to work together. We just have to live out the secret of our co-ownership in Christ. Then the whole world, along with the angels in heaven, will marvel at God’s wisdom in bringing us together to rescue people from the clutches of Satan himself.
Do we want to beat discouragement and defeat? Then let’s learn the secret of our co-ownership in Christ; let’s share the secret; and most of all, let’s live the secret in our relationships with each other. When we work together, so much more can be accomplished than when we work alone.
Tracy is one of the worship leaders at her church, and one Sunday, as she sat at the piano, she talked about the difficult week she'd just been through. It was chaotic, she said—a mess of petty crises on top of a rash of minor accidents, all mixed up in a soup can of crazy busyness. It had left her weary and cranky.
She got up that Sunday to lead worship and felt spent, with nothing more to give. Then when she walked into the living room, she saw the big picture window covered with scrawl. Using a crayon, Tracy’s 8-year-old daughter, Brenna, had scribbled something across the picture window, top to bottom and side to side.
At first, it seemed like one more mess for Tracy to clean up. Then she saw what Brenna had written: love, joy, peace, patience, kindnece, goodnece, faithfulnece, gentlnece and selfcantrol (in Brenna's delightful spelling).
Tracy stopped, drank it in. It was exactly what she needed to be reminded about: the gift of the fruit of the Spirit that arises, not by our circumstances, but by Christ within us.
And then Tracy noticed one more thing Brenna had written at the edge of the window: Love one another. Only Brenna, in her creative spelling, had written: Love won another. (Mark Buchanan, Hidden in Plain Sight: The Secret of More, 2007)
God’s love won us, didn’t it? Now go and do likewise: Love won another. Let God’s love flow through you to win one another and to win the lost for Christ.
