Week 4
God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles
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 people 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 the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless 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 that 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.
A Prayer for the Ephesians
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now 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, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
*****
Ephesians
3: 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.
We are all servants of something. What are some common worldly
things that people serve? Why is being a servant of Christ far better?
*****
Ephesians 3:7
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given
me through the working of his power.
The word Grace is (charis),
God's unmerited favor and supernatural enablement and empowerment for salvation
and for daily sanctification. Grace is everything for nothing to those who
don't deserve anything. It is what every man needs, what none can earn and what
God Alone can and does freely give. Grace addresses man's sin while mercy
addresses man's misery. The gift of grace makes men fit for salvation, making
strangers into God's sons.
How does knowledge of God’s unmerited grace compel you to
daily action?
*****
Ephesians 3: 8 Although
I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given
me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,
Paul is playing off his Latin name
Paulus, which meant “little” or “small,” so he saying, “I am little by name,
little in stature, and morally and spiritually littler than the least of all
Christians.” I am Small Paul.
How can we better serve Christ as we keep
this humble stance ourselves?
*****
Ephesians 3:
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 that he accomplished
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John Piper says, “
the target for the church to aim at is to demonstrate to the evil powers
of the cosmos that God has been wise in sending his Son to die that we might
have hope and be unified in one body, the church. Therefore, when we fail to
live in hope and to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, our
actions report that God’s purpose is failing; he was not wise, he was
foolish. Paul wants us to understand the
importance of the church in God’s eternal purpose, so that we will give it the
proper priority in our lives. He wants us to understand what a great privilege
it is that God has chosen us to be the agents of carrying out His eternal
purpose through the church. The church is not just a nice place to drop by on
Sundays. The church is God’s vehicle for making known His manifold wisdom,
not only on earth, but also to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly
places.”
How can this information help us know that our lives count
for eternity?
*****
Ephesians 3”
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
Life’s aversity can teach us and grow our faith. When was a
time you faced a trail or struggle that God used to Grow your faith and draw
you closer to Christ?
*****
Ephesian 3: 14 For this reason I kneel before the
Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its
name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may
strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner
being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in
love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy
people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of
Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you
may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
When we are grounded in Christ’s love for us, our love for
other deepens and pushes us to actions. What are signs that we are increasing
in love for God and His diverse family ?
*****
Ephesians 3: 20 Now 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, 21 to him be
glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever
and ever! Amen.
So,
God’s able to do first what we ask. He
is able to do all that we ask. He is
able to do what we think. He is able to do all that we think. He is able to do
above all that we ask or think. He is able to do abundantly above all that we
ask or think. He is able to do exceeding, abundant above all that we could ask
or think. Since HE has unstrained power at “work within us,” how can we use it
to love someone who is challenging, forgive someone who has wronged you, or show compassion to
someone who is hurting?
*****
Ephesians 3:
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with
power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ
may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and
established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s
holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love
of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you
may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
What does it mean to be rooted and established in love? What does it look like to be filled to the
measure of the fullness of God?
*****
Ephesians 3:
20 Now 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….
How can you pray
“bigger” prayers in faith?
*****
Ephesians 3:
20 Now 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, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout
all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
In
the Old Testament glory, “doxa” was the radiance of God’s
presence. Glory speaks of a manifestation of God's true nature,
presence, or likeness. To give God glory is not to add something to him;
rather, it is an active acknowledgement or extolling of Who He is or what He
has already done (Ps. 29:2; 96:8). He is glorified when He is
allowed to be seen as He really is. To be where God is, there will be glory. To
be what God intended, there will be glory. To do what God purposed, there will
be glory. The glory of God is the manifestation of His Being, His character and
His acts.
So, how
do we bring Him glory in the church?
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