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The mystery / ministry / and command for Gentiles… (3 things)
- 1st – The mystery of God for the Gentiles… vs. 1-6
- Paul had been given the responsibility to share the Grace of God to the Gentiles… vs. 2
- Romans 11:13 – “God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles.”
- It would seem strange to call Paul the Jews of Jews – Philippians 3 – to the Gentiles…
- Paul who knew the Law inside and out – who spent years studying the Jewish faith…
- It would have made more sense to send Paul to the reach his own people…
- But instead God called and uneducated fisherman – Peter – to the Jews – Galatians 2:8
- God does not always call us to our strengths – instead to our weaknesses…
- The reason is so that we do not trust in our abilities – instead we trust in God!
- As part of that call – God had revealed to Paul THE mystery… vs. 3-6
- A mystery – that could only be revealed by God…
- Paul got his understanding of this mystery from Jesus – and not from men!
- Life can often seem like a mystery – how things work / how to have a blessed life…
- And there are a lot of ideas out there about how to solve the mystery…
- If you want to be rich – ‘plant’ some pesos in the cement by your front door…
- When I was in Russia – I was told not to whistle – or I would loose all my money!
- The decision we all have to make is do we follow these ideas from men….
- Or do we go to the Word of God and follow the ideas that come from Jesus!
- A mystery – that was hidden from previous generations…
- Not in the sense it could not be known – but something God had yet to reveal…
- A mystery – that could only be revealed by God…
- Paul had been given the responsibility to share the Grace of God to the Gentiles… vs. 2
- Colossian 1:26 – “The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.”
- The mystery of God – that from the beginning God planned to die for the sins of men!
- Hidden throughout the Old Testament – revealed in the work of Jesus at Calvary…
- Because if satan/the world – had known – they never would have crucified Christ…
- I Corinthians 2:8 – “The rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would never have crucified our glorious Lord.”
- When Jesus was put on the cross – satan and evil rejoiced – they had won…
- But what they thought was Jesus end – was really the beginning of salvation…
- A mystery – now revealed by the Spirit – to the Apostles and Prophets…
- There is no way we could understand the mystery of cross on our own…
- There is no way we could envision the incredible riches God has planned for us…
- But the Holy Spirit can – and He then opens up our understanding – so we can too!
- He is our teacher – He is the one who reveals the ‘deep things’ of God to us!
- John 14:26 – “The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
- A mystery – that included the plan of God for the Gentiles…
- 1st – God made us heirs of His Kingdom…
- We have become heirs to all that God has – joint heirs with Jesus Christ!
- That means God desires to give us EVERYTHING – His KINGDOM – Luke 12:32
- To the extent we will even sit on Jesus throne with Him – Revelation 3:21
- Often times we are left to wonder if God can/will take care of our needs…
- God does not just want to provide for our needs – we are heirs to His Kingdom!
- 2nd – God made us part of His body…
- There is only One Body – and all who believe in Jesus become a part of it!
- The church of God is not a building – it is not a particular denomination…
- There is only one church of God – the Body of Christ…
- 3rd – God included us in His promises…
- When God gives a promise – there is no question – He will keep His Word!
- II Corinthians 1:20 – “All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen…”
- When God says something – you can count on it without question…
- Amen is a Hebrew term that mean – so be it – meaning it will take place…
- Numbers 23:19 – “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”
- God cannot lie – and He never changes His mind – God says it / that settles it!
- If God promises to take care of all your needs (as you seek Him first) – He will!
- If God promises you salvation through faith in Jesus – heaven in your destination!
- 1st – God made us heirs of His Kingdom…
- 2nd – The ministry of Paul to the Gentiles… vs. 7-11
- Called to be the Apostle to the Gentiles by God’s Grace / and power… vs. 7-8
- God used Paul as an example of the power of Grace…
- I Timothy 1:16 – “That is why God had mercy on me, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners.”
- God could use Paul – even though he persecuted the church / murdered believers…
- One of the greatest barriers for us sharing Jesus – we don’t think we are worthy…
- Who are we to tell someone about God – we see all our flaws and shortcomings…
- Yet we are not preaching ourselves as the answer – we are preaching Jesus!
- And God can use anyone to accomplish His work – cause His Great Grace and power!
- God used Paul – ‘the least of all the saints’…
- Paul also called himself the ‘least’ of the Apostles – I Corinthians 15:9
- And towards the end of his life call himself the chief of sinners – I Timothy 1:15
- The closer Paul got to Jesus – the more he realized how much he needed grace…
- When you first get up in the morning – you might think you look pretty good…
- But when you turn on the light – get closer to a mirror – lots of imperfections!
- The closer we get to Jesus – the more we realize just how much of a sinner we are…
- Diving us to hold all that much tighter to Jesus – not trusting in ourselves
- God used Paul as an example of the power of Grace…
- The work God called Paul to do… vs. 9-11
- 1st – Teach the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Jesus… vs. 8
- Following Jesus will costs us everything – but in comparison – nothing…
- If someone asked you to give them all your money…
- And in return they would give you 100 million pesos – you would say yes!
- Jesus asks that we give Him all our lives – but in return He gives us His!
- How sad a story to refuse the overwhelming riches of a life in Christ…
- Only to hold onto the pauper life we have now…
- 2nd – Help all men understand the mystery of God… vs. 9
- We are not the only ones who are confused by the ‘mystery’ of life…
- All need to hear about the marvelous plan of God – the unsearchable riches of Christ!
- How can people know – if someone does not go out there and tell them…
- We know LOTS of people who do not understand the ‘mystery of life’…
- The question is what are we doing about it – are we content to keep quiet…
- 1st – Teach the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Jesus… vs. 8
- Called to be the Apostle to the Gentiles by God’s Grace / and power… vs. 7-8
Cause there is no reward compares to what God has waiting for those who love Him!
We know the mystery of life – we know there is only one way to heaven…
Knowing the truth – how can we hold back from sharing – how can we keep silent!
Jeremiah 20:9 – “Then I said, ‘I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.’ But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.”
3rd – Reveal the eternal plan of God in Jesus Christ… 10-11
God always intended to use the church to teach angels…
God uses us to display the rich variety of His wisdom to the heavenly places!
Angels that stand in the very presence of the Almighty…
Angels that witnessed the very creation of all things…
Yet they learn by watching how God interacts with you and I!
I Peter 1:12 – “This Good News has been announced to you… It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.”
The angels are watching – I Corinthians 11:10…
When God judged Satan He revealed that He was a righteous and just God….
When He did not condemn Adam and Eve He revealed He was a merciful…
His patience with the Children of Israel revealed his longsuffering….
But the complete revelation of God did not come until Jesus Christ…
He died in our place for our sins and revealed the Grace and Love of God!
If angels are learning about the rich variety of the wisdom of God…
How much more should we desire to learn and grow!
If we are unsure ourselves about the Word of God – the hope of Jesus…
We are not going to be very effective in sharing that hope with others…
But as we grow in our faith – are strengthened by reading God’s Word…
We will have the answer when others question us – when they see Jesus in us!
I Peter 3:15 – “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.”
3rd – The command for the Gentiles… vs. 12-13
By Grace we can come boldly / confidently into God’s presence… vs. 12
There are only who ways men can approach God – as criminals or as children…
Before Jesus died on the cross for our sins – we were condemned sinners…
Like an ashamed convict coming before a judge to receive his sentence…
Coming before God was a terrifying notion – one we dreaded!
But now we have been adopted into the family of God…
A child has no fear of the Father – they burst into the room and run into his arms!
Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
The throne room of God – is now our family room – where we can boldly enter…
Coming to our Father for mercy and Grace whenever we need it!
Do not loose heart because of my problems… vs. 13
Paul was writing the letter from prison…
Paul was arrested in Jerusalem – and spent 2 years in prison in Caesarea…
At the end Acts Paul ‘appealed’ to Caesar – was sent to prison in Rome…
There Paul wrote four letters – Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon…
Paul was in prison because of the Gospel…
Seeing what happened to Paul – seeing his chains for the sake of Jesus…
He was concerned the church might be afraid to stand up for Jesus…
Even today the Gospel can get you arrested and beaten – China / Saudi Arabia…
Are we willing to suffer for the sake of the Gospel – maybe not end up prison…
But it might mean we loose friendships – it might mean people do not like us…
Jim Eliot – was a missionary in Ecuador – died sharing Jesus with local tribes…
‘A man is not fool to give up what he cannot keep to gain what he will never loose’
There is no price too high to pay when it comes to standing up for Jesus…
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