Sunday Worship 23 July 2023 : “Dispensation of the grace of God”
Text: Ephesians 3 23 July 2023
INTRODUCTION
1. The Grace of God results in many blessings
a) Salvation
b) Sanctification
c) Service
2. Paul offers himself
a) As an example of how to serve
b) In particular, in the context of the Church
PERSONAL APPRECIATION-TESTIMONY OF THE GRACE OF GOD
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,
3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,
4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:
6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,
7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
Ephesians 3:1-7
1. Dispensation of the grace of God
a) This was Paul’s testimony in his ministry
b) His ministry
i) Knowledge of the mystery of the Lord Jesus Christ
ii) Revelation of the mystery of the Lord given to Paul
2. Personal appropriation of the grace of God
a) The Spirit of God reveals wonderful truths
b) Paul testifies of the grace of God involved
c) He speaks also of experiencing the power of God in his life and ministry
TESTIMONY OF THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD
8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Ephesians 3:8-13
1. To the least of all the saints
a) The privilege of preaching to the Gentiles
b) The eternal purpose of God revealed
2. The revelation of the manifold wisdom of God
a) The unsearchable riches of the Lord Jesus Christ
b) The access that we have to God
i) Through the Lord Jesus Christ
ii) Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18)
TESTIMONY OF CONTINUING IN PRAYER
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21
1. Praying to God the Father
2. Petitions to God
a) To be strengthened with might
b) Through His Spirit in the inner man
c) That the Lord may dwell in our hearts through faith
i) Rooted and grounded in love
ii) Ability to comprehend the love of God
d) To be filled with all the fulness of God
3. Assurance
a) God is able to do above all we ask or think
b) There is great power at work within us
4. Ascribing glory to God
a) The glory of God to be seen in the Church
b) That glory is to be ascribed to God
c) Forever and ever
OUR CHALLENGE
1. To be deeply instructed
2. To be greatly inspired
3. To be committed to fulfilling all that we have read in the Scriptures