Sunday 6 September
Reading: – Ephesians 3: 1-13
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.
Message: - How is God involving you in his plans?
Paul begins this part of his letter referring to how he became a Christian! This story is often called his Damascus Road experience. How he “Saul of Tarsus” who had been seeking out Christians to have them killed, was blinded when he was confronted by Jesus. Then how he was visited with a message and when he accepted that he had done wrong, was given his sight back again. After which he spent the rest of his life spreading the Good News that Jesus was “God with Us”.
Paul attributes his amazing story to God’s Grace being poured out on himself. And he reminds the church in Ephesus that he has written on this before. This time however, he points out that it has only been by the words and deeds of God’s chosen Apostles and Prophets that the mystery, as he calls it, is that the church, even though they are Gentiles, through the Gospel, have been given the right to become heirs together with Israel. Together they become one body, neither Jews not Gentile but rather Church and as such will share in the promise of Christ. From last week, I pray you can recall that you too are Gentiles, so Paul is talking about your inheritance here. Your share in Christ’s promise.
Now I realise I have spoken of these things before and I make no apology for doing so again. At the risk of embarrassing Joyce, I never grow tired of her telling me she loves me. The Bible is God’s love letter to each of you personally. It follows then if something from it is mentioned more than the once God is trying to tell you something that we should take heed of! So, I pray you never tire of hearing what God has for you. I know I never do!
Paul continues, as is his want, to tell once more that it is not by anything of himself but by God’s grace alone that he has been commissioned to spread the Good News, the Gospel of Christ Jesus. That the Kingdom of Heaven has come near in the form of Jesus. That was the case when Paul’s letter was written. That was way back then but what about today? Even today, that same message can have the same impact, God’s Kingdom still comes near, in the form of anyone who, in repentance, has invited Christ into their lives and has received the Holy Spirit. In doing so we become Christ in this place. Paul has seen by revelation that God has chosen “The Church” to reveal the truth of the Kingdom to the world. That means that you and I have the task of spreading the word!
Don’t stop listening to me now though. What God wants isn’t likely for this fellowship to become street preachers or wandering Disciples, healing the sick and casting out demons, well perhaps he still does but only when your heart grows to that point! Equally the people out on the streets of Dunbar need to be ready for that too. That should let you relax a bit for now, but not become complacent about the role of the church. For now, he wants us to “own our faith” and to be the best we can be, in the power of the Spirit of course and to be ready when God makes special appointments for us. Who knows how that may manifest itself?
Paul got his Damascus Road experience. I was given many of God’s messengers telling me I should be a minister, until I listened. For you, who knows but God! It might be something as difficult as being courteous to someone on the street. Forgive me if you think I belittle the impact that may have but I don’t. I have heard of the impact of a simple kind word, the impact that a simple “God bless” can have.
Remember the bracelet I had last week; it had the green section in it that stood for Christian Growth. Once we own our faith and live out our faith, then Christ’s light will shine all the brighter. Then, who knows, the people we say God bless to might also see it is the church that is doing the good works in our communities. Then, their stereotypical understandings of Church being full of hypocrites will be broken down and turned into the Church is a place where good things happen. I pray we can all hear God’s call on our lives to make that happen.
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.
Message: - How is God involving you in his plans?
Paul begins this part of his letter referring to how he became a Christian! This story is often called his Damascus Road experience. How he “Saul of Tarsus” who had been seeking out Christians to have them killed, was blinded when he was confronted by Jesus. Then how he was visited with a message and when he accepted that he had done wrong, was given his sight back again. After which he spent the rest of his life spreading the Good News that Jesus was “God with Us”.
Paul attributes his amazing story to God’s Grace being poured out on himself. And he reminds the church in Ephesus that he has written on this before. This time however, he points out that it has only been by the words and deeds of God’s chosen Apostles and Prophets that the mystery, as he calls it, is that the church, even though they are Gentiles, through the Gospel, have been given the right to become heirs together with Israel. Together they become one body, neither Jews not Gentile but rather Church and as such will share in the promise of Christ. From last week, I pray you can recall that you too are Gentiles, so Paul is talking about your inheritance here. Your share in Christ’s promise.
Now I realise I have spoken of these things before and I make no apology for doing so again. At the risk of embarrassing Joyce, I never grow tired of her telling me she loves me. The Bible is God’s love letter to each of you personally. It follows then if something from it is mentioned more than the once God is trying to tell you something that we should take heed of! So, I pray you never tire of hearing what God has for you. I know I never do!
Paul continues, as is his want, to tell once more that it is not by anything of himself but by God’s grace alone that he has been commissioned to spread the Good News, the Gospel of Christ Jesus. That the Kingdom of Heaven has come near in the form of Jesus. That was the case when Paul’s letter was written. That was way back then but what about today? Even today, that same message can have the same impact, God’s Kingdom still comes near, in the form of anyone who, in repentance, has invited Christ into their lives and has received the Holy Spirit. In doing so we become Christ in this place. Paul has seen by revelation that God has chosen “The Church” to reveal the truth of the Kingdom to the world. That means that you and I have the task of spreading the word!
Don’t stop listening to me now though. What God wants isn’t likely for this fellowship to become street preachers or wandering Disciples, healing the sick and casting out demons, well perhaps he still does but only when your heart grows to that point! Equally the people out on the streets of Dunbar need to be ready for that too. That should let you relax a bit for now, but not become complacent about the role of the church. For now, he wants us to “own our faith” and to be the best we can be, in the power of the Spirit of course and to be ready when God makes special appointments for us. Who knows how that may manifest itself?
Paul got his Damascus Road experience. I was given many of God’s messengers telling me I should be a minister, until I listened. For you, who knows but God! It might be something as difficult as being courteous to someone on the street. Forgive me if you think I belittle the impact that may have but I don’t. I have heard of the impact of a simple kind word, the impact that a simple “God bless” can have.
Remember the bracelet I had last week; it had the green section in it that stood for Christian Growth. Once we own our faith and live out our faith, then Christ’s light will shine all the brighter. Then, who knows, the people we say God bless to might also see it is the church that is doing the good works in our communities. Then, their stereotypical understandings of Church being full of hypocrites will be broken down and turned into the Church is a place where good things happen. I pray we can all hear God’s call on our lives to make that happen.