The Administration of God’s Grace
Ephesians 3:1-13
Intro
Slide
Have you ever been in the midst of a conversation and then a new thought that you have to get out comes into your head?
Maybe you have been talking to someone, and then a word or some other trigger brings to mind something that you think you need to tell the person you are talking to, so you leave the topic you are on and share with them this piece of important information before turning back to what you were originally talking about.
Well, this happens to Paul in Ephesians 3:1-13, today’s Scripture that we will be studying
Slide
Recap
We have been studying Ephesians over these past several weeks and Paul has been telling the Ephesians about all of the blessings we have in Christ and the unity we can experience. Christianity is not just for some nation, like Judaism was, but salvation and relationship with God was available to people from every tribe, tongue and nation because of what Christ had done and God was bringing them to unity in the church.
Now, as we begin Chapter 3, he is about to pray for the Ephesians but gets sidetracked by something that he feels it is important to realize so he pauses to tell them before he prays for them.
Let’s read about the Grace of God that Paul received and the effects of this grace on the lives of others and on Paul.
Ephesians 3:1-13
3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which 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. 6 This 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.
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although 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, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His 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, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Pray
Ok, So Paul starts out this passage, and as I said earlier, I believe he is about to pray for the Ephesians. I believe that because in verse 14, he starts that verse out with the same words, indicating he is going back to his original thought
Eph 3:14 - For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
But in verse 1, he halts after he describes himself as “the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles.”
I believe this has sparked something in him, by the Lord of course, that he feels it is important to communicate to the Ephesians and that is
The Administration of God’s grace through Paul
Slide
Ephesians 3:1-11 (esp. vv. 2, 7)
When we think of God’s grace, what do we normally think of?
I believe we think of the salvation that we receive through God’s grace. He has given us something we don’t deserve.
But I am not sure we always think of God’s grace in the gift he gives us to serve others.
That is what Paul has turned his attention to and what he wants the Ephesians to be aware of, that it is God’s grace that has enabled and directed and called Paul to preach the good news of Jesus Christ to Gentile’s so they can come to unity in the church.
And he relates to them that this good news of God’s grace to all men, not just the Jews, was a mystery in that it was something that was not seen in the times beforehand or anywhere in the Old Testament. It has only been revealed at this time and it has made things from the Old Testament even more apparent now about God’s mercy and grace.
And God kept it hidden in the past for
Slide
“His 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, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Ephesians 3:10-11)
Have you ever wondered why God kept the church a mystery until the time of Christ?
Part of the reason that God’s plan for the church and his bringing together of Jews and Gentiles in unity into the church was so that “the authorities in the heavenly realms” would only see His manifold wisdom after the fact.
Authorities in the heavenly realms
Who are these authorities in the heavenly realms?
They are angels both good and bad angels.
Angels are created beings. They were not made in the image of God and they have not existed for eternity.
Now Angels do not know all things, only what they have been given. After the fall of Satan, we learn from the Bible that a third of the angels went with him. Their destiny has now been sealed. And while these fallen angels, demons if you will, are working with Satan to destroy and pervert God’s work, they did not and do not know all things.
They did not know that it was God’s plan to unite Jews and Gentiles into the church through the sacrifice of the Son of God, because it has been kept hidden from them.
Satan, I believe, thought he had won a great victory in seeking to orchestrate Judas and some of the Jewish leaders and teachers of the law, to kill the One whom Satan thought was coming to bring in His kingdom at that time.
But God, in His manifold wisdom, had been planning from the very beginning, salvation to come through faith in Jesus Christ who was paying for the sins of the world, sins that Satan was tempting and encouraging people to commit even from the garden of Eden, so as to separate them from God.
When we look back now, we can truly see God’s wisdom and power in orchestrating these things for His glory and our ultimate good, and for the ultimate defeat of Satan and his demonic forces!
Is God amazing or what!
So this was part of God’s purpose in keeping this a mystery so that at this time, after the fact, he might reveal His manifold wisdom to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm!
And Paul has been given the privilege of administering this grace to the Gentiles so they could be part of the church.
And we learn in verse 12 that
The Grace of God through Paul brought freedom to others
Slide
This gospel message, this good news is freeing to us.
12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
There was a difference from Judaism where the presence of God was behind a curtain that only the High priest could go into once per year.
Now we could approach God freely and with confidence. Confidence because there was no longer any sacrifice for sin that had to be made. It had been made and God, Himself, made it through Jesus.
Paul was entrusted with this message to share this good news of the gospel that brings freedom to others.
That is awesome isn’t it?
Transition
Well, it isn’t just Paul that God has graced with gifts that bring freedom
The Grace of God through You can bring freedom to others
Slide
While Paul was given grace to preach the gospel, we have been given God’s grace to serve in other ways.
It is not just the gift of evangelism that is used to share the gospel, but it is every gift used together as the body that is used to share the gospel and bring freedom to others.
Listen to what Paul writes to the church at Rome.
Romans 12:4-8
Slide
4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
No matter what gift you have been given by God’s grace, it can be used to help others come to Christ.
What is the gift you have been given?
Is it serving? Then step out and serve in the church or just serve a neighbor.
Do you have the gift of teaching by God’s grace? Then teach. There are places to teach kids, to teach other adults through small groups. Talk to myself or one of our elders and we can begin taking steps to help you use your gift.
Do you have the gift of encouragement? Encourage others in using their gifts. Encourage others who are getting beat down.
Do you have the gift of giving? Then give generously. And I would encourage you to give generously through the church. This doesn’t mean you can’t give to other places as well, but the church should be a primary place of your giving because it is through all the gifts of all the people of the church, that the freedom that comes through Christ is preached and God uses all of us together for the good of others.
Whatever gift you have been given by the grace of God, should be used as part of the body of Christ, the church, to help bring freedom to others.
On your connection cards in your bulletin, if you are not serving, then use that to say, I want to start serving and we will help you get connected.
Transition
So God used Paul and he can use us to help bring the freedom to approach Christ and to live in the freedom that a relationship with Him brings.
But there are costs to this for Paul as well.
We see in Paul’s situation, that while the grace of God through Paul brings freedom to others,
The Grace of God through Paul brought suffering to Paul
Slide
Look how Paul starts out in verse 1.
He calls himself “the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles”
He calls himself that because Paul is being held captive in Rome awaiting trial.
He is in jail BECAUSE of what God has called him to do.
And he ends this section with these words in Ephesians 3:13 - I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
As he shares the gospel that is bringing freedom to others, he has suffered in losing physical freedom;
And the gospel that allows those who receive Jesus as Savior to avoid eternal suffering that is experienced outside of the presence of God, has brought physical suffering to the man who has been gifted with the grace of God to tell others.
And it is not just that Paul suffered by being in prison. No. He has suffered even more during those times he was not in prison.
In fact, the Lord’s plan at the very beginning for Paul to suffer. When the Lord told Ananias about Paul, he told Ananias in
Acts 9:16 - I will show him (Paul) how much he must suffer for my name.
Slide
Why would he want Paul to suffer? Why would he want anyone to suffer? Is God some sadomasochistic God who wants to abuse his creation?
Absolutely not!
God is a good and great God, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
But He is far more concerned with many suffering for eternity than for some of us suffering now.
That is because our suffering now can be used to help someone avoid eternal suffering.
That is because even as we suffer with physical situations, God can give us strength to endure and to even experience His Joy and His power in the midst of it!
Consider the apostles
Early on in their ministry after the Lord was taken up to heaven and the Holy Spirit had come, the apostles were administrating God’s grace that was given to them in proclaiming the gospel and Jesus death and resurrection.
But the Jewish leaders were not happy about this. So, it tells us in
Acts 5:40-41
Slide
They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
These guys had just been brutally beaten and the left rejoicing having been counted worthy of suffering for Jesus!
The strength and power of the Lord can not only help us endure and even rejoice, but to trust that the Lord can use our suffering for the eternal benefit of others.
How does that happen?
I will tell you.
People go through life looking for real living.
They try to find it in all the things this world tells us is real life. But even when they achieve those things (fame, money, power) it doesn’t provide what they hoped.
But imagine seeing people actually suffering and yet not just enduring, but able to rejoice in the Lord, in the midst of their suffering.
If you were to see that, wouldn’t you want to know what they have that you don’t?
This is why it is not only Paul and the apostles who experienced sacrifice and suffering, but
The Grace of God through you will require sacrifice and bring suffering
Slide
You will hear me say this over and over because we need to be reminded over and over of this.
The Christian life is not the easy life. But it is the better life.
Those who tell you to come to Christ and experience health and wealth are liars, and I am not using that term loosely. They are false teachers who have no business preaching God’s word. They are selling you a false gospel, usually for their own benefit, and I will tell you that it is really no gospel at all.
A life that lives for comfort and peace now is missing out on the life that is available both now and for eternity, but that life is not the life of ease now.
Paul endured great suffering and hardships. In 2 Corinthians 11, he relates some of what he suffered.
Not only being flogged and in prison for administrating the grace God had given him, but he tells us that
Slide
24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. (2 Corinthians 11:24-27)
He endured all of this because of what God called him to do.
But Paul also tells us that he has
Slide
“learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:12-13)
Paul had peace and contentment and joy in the midst of his suffering and sacrifice and you can too, when you are following the Lord closely.
He gives us strength and endurance and peace and contentment.
Are you looking for your own peace and contentment through life?
You won’t find it apart from in Christ. He tells us in
Slide
Matthew 10:38-39
anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Conclusion
Living with the grace God has given us in providing salvation for us, also means living life using the gifts he has given us by His grace and even in the struggles we face, the suffering and the sacrifice, we can find His grace empowering us and strengthening us.
When Paul was given a thorn in his flesh and asked the Lord to take it away, to change the circumstance and the suffering that Paul experienced, the Lord replied to Paul in
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Slide - "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
It is by God’s grace we are saved
It is by God’s grace that we are gifted
It is by God’s grace that we learn to not rely on ourselves, but on Him and to do that, we often have to face sacrifice and suffering.
That is why Paul responds to God’s reply with
Slide
2 Corinthians 12:9b-10
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
When we are weak in ourselves, we need to rely on the Lord’s grace and mercy and He strengthens us for His glory and so others can see that we can have a joyful and full life even in the midst of sacrifice and suffering because we have the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, filling us, overwhelming us with His goodness.
When I am weak in myself, then I can be strong in the Lord!
He is the one that will never leave you nor forsake you.
He is your refuge in times of trouble.
He is our mighty God who is able to truly give you life!
If you are here today and are not experiencing this life, whether in good circumstances or difficult circumstances, you can in Christ.
Trust in Him. If you have never turned and confessed Him as your Savior, then do that and receive Him
If you have, but aren’t experiencing that joy, then stop trying to live by your own strength and power in your own wisdom and start relying on the Lord and administrating the grace that God has bestowed upon you in your gifts and abilities and you too will be able to say with Paul,
“learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:12-13)
Let’s pray.
