God Makes No Mistakes

9 March 2014 PM – Ephesians 3:1-13 – Eph 14 – Scott Childs

Introduction: Let us briefly review what we have learned in the book of Ephesians so far.

First, we learned six reasons to bless God (Eph 1:3-14, God blessed us, He chose us, He predestinated us, Christ graciously saved us, Christ shared His inheritance with us, the Holy Spirit secured us).

Second, we looked at Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians (Eph 1:15-23). He thanked God for them and prayed for their needs.

Third, Paul challenged the Ephesians and us to get alive (Eph 2:1-10). We are no longer dead but have new life and new work.

Last week we learned how God changes a foreigner [Gentile sinner] into family (Eph 2:11-22).

As we learned in the introduction to our study, Paul was writing this letter from his Roman prison. In Ephesians 3:1, he brings the subject up to let them know that he accepted his imprisonment as God’s will.

Transition: In Ephesians 3:1-13, Paul speaks of three opportunities that God gave him to show of how God made no mistakes in his life. This ought to be an encouragement to each of us who are seeking to have a flourishing relationship with God.

I.        God Allowed Paul to be a Prisoner (1)

A.     Paul was a prisoner of the Roman Empire

1.      Paul had been falsely accused by those who hated the Gospel he preached.

2.      Trials lagged on for about two years before he was sent to Rome to stand before Nero (Act 24:27).

3.      He then spent two more years in prison at Rome (Act 28:30). It was during this imprisonment that he wrote to the church at Ephesus and other churches.

B.     Paul said he was a prisoner of Jesus Christ

1.      Rather than seeing himself as a prisoner of Rome, he saw himself as the Lord’s prisoner.

2.      I like how Ralph Earle describes Paul’s attitude.

“This reflects an amazing faith. Actually Paul was a prisoner of the Roman Empire. But instead of bemoaning his fate – the lack of opportunity for preaching and traveling about in missionary work – he saw himself as the personal prisoner of Jesus Christ. He was bound in body but free in spirit. … Preaching, traveling, writing, organizing new churches – he had little time for meditation. Now he was ‘the prisoner of Jesus Christ,’ bound physically that he might be freed mentally and spiritually to meditate and pray.” – Ralph Earle

3.      Being in prison was no mistake. God was fulfilling his perfect plan for Paul’s life. Notice that he said he was a prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles. His time in prison would help the Gentiles spiritually.

We too ought to look for the positive side of our negative situations. God wants to use our trials to further His cause if we will allow Him to work through us.

II.      God Appointed Paul as a Steward (2-6)

A.     God gave Paul a dispensation

1.      This word speaks of the work of an administrator or steward. The steward worked as a servant over a household or property belonging to another.

2.      Paul viewed this duty as another act of God’s grace – divine enabling. He counted it as a privilege to serve as God’s steward.

B.     Paul was a steward of God’s grace

1.      He was to oversee the spread the Gospel of God’s grace to the Gentiles.

2.      God also made known to Paul one of His mysteries.

a)      A mystery was information kept secret in the past (5).

b)      Because the Bible was not yet complete, God revealed hidden truths through the Holy Spirit to the apostles and prophets. They in turn wrote them down under the inspiration of God for us to read today in the Bible.

2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

3.      This mystery was that God opened salvation to the Gentiles (6). It revealed that Gentile believers are:

a)      Joint-heirs with Jewish believers

b)      A joint-body with Jewish believers

c)      Joint-partakers with Jewish believers

In a local church there is now no difference between a Jewish believe and a Gentile believer. Every member is treated equally.

We too are to be stewards of the Gospel of God’s grace. We are to learn it diligently, live it carefully, defend it faithfully, and broadcast it universally.

III.     God Made Paul a Minister (7-13)

A.     He was a humble minister.

1.      Paul viewed his ministry to be a gift of God’s grace – divine enabling. It was a privilege to minister for God.

2.      Paul received this appointment by the effectual working of God’s power – the superhuman power of God (7).

3.      How would you rank Paul among the all the Christians since the time of Christ? A great preacher? Near the top of the list? The greatest missionary to every live? Paul considered himself to be less than the least of all saints (8).

Paul’s character was an example for every Christian to follow. He had done so much for Christ, yet he was very humble and always sought to glorify God. The Bible talks a lot about humility because we struggle so much with it.

Proverbs 29:23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

B.     Paul was a preaching minister.

1.      He preached among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ (8). We cannot begin to comprehend the riches we have in Christ. They are more than our minds can fathom. In Christ we have more riches than all the money of the world could buy. Why then do we focus so much on material wealth?

a)      Six times in this book he speaks of these riches:

(1)    Riches of God’s grace (Eph 1:7, 2:7)

(2)    The riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints (Eph 1:18)

(3)    God, rich in mercy (Eph 2:4)

(4)    Unsearchable riches of Christ (Eph 3:8)

(5)    Riches of his glory (Eph 3:16)

b)      Paul considered preaching this message a privilege not a drudgery.

2.      Paul made known the fellowship of the mystery – that God now welcomed Gentile believers into His fellowship (9).

a)      He tells us that this mystery was in the heart of God before the beginning of the world.

b)      God revealed it in order that principalities and powers (holy angels) may learn about God’s manifold (marked by great variety) wisdom by watching believers in a local church (10). Angels are watching our church your our lives.

“The Church thus becomes the university for angels, and each saint a professor. Only in the Church can the angels come to an adequate comprehension of the grace of God. They look at the Church to investigate the mysteries of redemption.” – Wuest

c)      All of this was according to God’s eternal purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord (11).

d)      Because God planned all this for those who trust Christ, it is in Christ that we can have boldness and access to God with confidence by faith (12).

3.      Paul ends his testimony by urging the Ephesian believers not to faint (to lose spirit or become coward) because of his trials. God makes no mistake. All that Paul endured was for their glory and ours.

Conclusion: God makes no mistakes. He allowed Paul to be a prisoner. Even in prison he was God’s steward of the Gospel of grace and His minister of the Gospel. The safest place on earth for a Christian is in the centre of God’s will. If you will maintain a flourishing relationship with God, God will keep you in the centre of His will. Let’s not let pride derail us. Praise God for the riches of His grace. Keep living for His glory and telling others of His Gospel.

Song: Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord – 337