OPEN YOUR BIBLES TO ACTS 2 and EPHESIANS 3
1. The Church of Jesus Christ is amazing…
a. The ‘Church’ at large, across the face of the earth.
b. Millions of people are worshipping Jesus Christ today.
c. Enjoying His Presence, Proclaiming His Name…
d. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is powerful…
e. No matter where you live, what language you speak, what nation is home…
2. Someone once said correctly “the church is NOT an organization, but an organism.”
a. It’s alive, vibrant, and expanding.
b. Let’s look at Acts 2 beginning at v42…
3. The EC experienced some wonderful & glorious worship!
· As they continued steadfastly… in the Word, Prayer, Fellowship, Communion, Evangelism…
· There was a little bit of addition, a little subtraction…
· But God was multiplying those that would be saved!
4. That’s not to say that man hasn’t corrupted the church.
· He has. Church history is full of horrible atrocities done in the precious name of Jesus Christ.
· Things that Jesus would have never endorsed!
· Even in the EC, there were early attempts to corrupt the church from the inside… diluting its effectiveness.
· But God protects His own and the church continues strong.
Matthew 16.18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
5. What really excites & amazes me about the CHURCH how we are one but yet we possess so many differences.
a. We are made up of all sorts of Nationalities & Backgrounds.
b. Young & Old, Male & Female, Employed & Unemployed.
c. Married & Single. Strong & Weak… All of us…
d. God has brought us together in Jesus to be One Body!
6. Not only that, but He brought us together even though we weren’t and aren’t perfect.
a. Come to me… Learn of Me… Accept Me… THEN:
b. Welcome to the Family of God!
c. It’s the Magnificent Grace of God! -- Look back at 2:19ff…
I. (2:1-13) God’s Mystery Revealed
1. (1) Paul is a prisoner of the Lord!
a. What reason is Paul referring to? Why is he a prisoner?
NOTE: As Paul is writing this letter, he is prisoner of he Roman Empire. He is in a deep, dark, and horrid prison… Why?
· He’s in prison because of the church. Because of God’s great work of bringing both Jew and Gentile together in Jesus.
· To the Jew, the Gentiles were trash, fuel for the fires of hell.
· But Paul was called to the Gentiles with God’s message of hope.
· The Jews hated Paul and wanted him dead…
· The Gentiles saved?! NO WAY! Get rid of this man.
· So Paul is a prisoner because of the church…
APP: Too many Christians are prisoners to the wrong things for the wrong reasons…
· Prisoners of debts, prisoners of habits, prisoners of addictions.
· You see we’ve been given great freedom in Jesus…
· No longer a need to be a prisoner of anything or anyone but Jesus.
b. SO Paul says he’s a prisoner of Jesus Christ! Wow!
c. Yes my ministry got me in trouble… Yes, I’m chained…
d. But it’s all being used by Jesus.
e. I’m not a prisoner of Nero or Rome! I’m a prisoner of Jesus.
f. It’s all being used for the glory of God!
g. Paul writes to the Philippians from the same jail…
Phil. 1.12-13 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;
APP: Now Paul here is a special encouragement to us.
· When things aren’t going so good, when we feel imprisoned by this situation or that, when we’re wondering what’s going on…
· We can have the same ASSURANCE that God is at work.
This is important to know because Satan is constantly trying to undermine your faith and trust in God.
· He wants you to think God hates you, He’s mad at you, He’s punishing you and holding out… There’s NO HOPE!
· But see, whatever situation you’re in is not because of the upbringing you had with mean parents.
· It’s not because of a hard-hearted boss
· It’s not because you’re married to a lousy husband…
· Wherever you are has been ordained of God if you eyes of faith to see and the patience to wait on Him.
· Whenever I find myself complaining about this situation or that thing , I’m really complaining about my Heavenly Father.
· He’s allowed the things that have come into my life, your lives.
2. (2-3) We are living in an age of Grace.
a. (2) Paul is writing to the Gentiles in and around Ephesus.
b. He mentions ‘dispensation’ which simply means time period.
c. He’s referring to the time period where specific attention in ministry is pointed toward the Gentiles.
d. They were experiencing the grace of God in a fresh way.
NOTE: We today are living in an age, in the dispensation of grace.
2 Peter 3.9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
e. (3) The mystery was made known to Paul and he went out in obedience to preach this message of grace!
f. When was it made known?
g. You will remember that after Paul’s conversion, he spent some time alone, with the Lord, being tutored in the desert.
h. Let’s turn back to Galatians 1.15-17
3. (4-6) The mystery was made known to Paul.
a. Paul speaks of a mystery – Not one like a mystery novel.
b. BUT In the Bible, a mystery refers to “something that God has kept hidden but has now revealed.”
c. (6) The great mystery of the Old Testament wasn’t that the Jews would be saved.
d. IT WAS that both Jew and Gentile would come together into the church and be one together in Jesus Christ!
e. Paul says there is no more difference. We’re all one Body.
4. (7) Insight on Paul’s ministry.
a. Paul was called into the ministry BY a gift of grace.
b. This is important to see this because if anyone was ever qualified, prepared, and equipped it was Saul of Tarsus.
c. Let’s turn to Philippians 3.3ff
NOTE: But all of those things, Paul counted loss. Why?
· Because the ministry was given through the grace of God.
APP: It’s still that way today. God entrusts His ministry through the gift of grace. That’s GOOD news! That’s GREAT news!
· Jesus desires to EQUIP, PREPARE, & USE you.
· It’s God’s longing that many of you become active in serving Jesus Christ this coming year.
Eph. 4.16 – “ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love…
NOW, you might be thinking that you’re not good enough, smart enough, equipped enough to be used in the church…
· It would be real easy to check out during this time…
· “I’m just here to listen to God and hear the Bible studies.”
· OR “I’m not a pastor, I’m just a regular old believer.”
· I’ve never been to seminary or college, how can God use me?
· Studies and preparation are great… but God uses ANYONE.
John 15.16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
THERE’S A TRUTH we find repeatedly MODELED in the Bible.
· God SO often chooses the UNEXPECTED & OVERLOOKED.
· Servants: Moses, Jeremiah, Gideon, Deborah, Rahab, apostles
QUESTION: NOW - Who would have you chosen to take the gospel to the world? Up to Acts 9, which one would have been your pick?
· Agree with Peter and chosen Matthias?
· Would it have been the humble giver Ananias?
· Would it have been table servers Philip, Stephen, or Procurus?
· How about Saul the Christian hater, murderer, destroyer?
· God chose the unexpected… YOU & I ARE blessed that He did!
1 Cor. 1.26-29 “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
SO WE FIND that: “God does not ALWAYS call the qualified into His service. But God ALWAYS qualifies those whom He calls!”
· TRULY Spiritual service is for anyone who lives for Jesus Christ!
· Paul received the ministry through God’s great Grace!
2. (7-8) Paul’s humility.
a. (7) Even after Paul’s explosive ministry…
b. He still views himself as the least.
c. Paul demonstrated some of the most needful qualities in a servant of God. – Obedience, Availability, & Humility.
OBEDIENCE: Do we do what God tells us when He tells to do it?
1 Samuel 15.22 Then Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.
AVAILABILITY: Am I open to the Lord’s leading to fill a need, any need for His Glory? Whether it’s in the church or in the world?
· This is key because many people hold back for the position they want instead of taking the place of a servant.
· Oh I want to serve… BUT NOT THERE. Not Available.
Isa. 6.8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."
FINALLY – HUMILITY: Ok so you obey… and you are open to serve anywhere at anytime. There’s still a danger to be puffed up.
· Well I’m here because I’m the man, I’m the woman!
· Look at what a deal God got, how lucky Calvary Aurora is!
· Well… that’s a disqualifier!
Micah 6.8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
NOTE: Paul didn’t look at himself as better than anyone & everyone.
· Instead, he knew that God’s grace in Him made him effective.
1 Timothy 1.12-14 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
3. (8) Paul’s ministry was to preach UNSEARCHABLE riches.
a. Make sure you underline that phrase…
b. Jesus has so much available to you and for you that you can’t search it out…
c. There is so much more awaiting you in Jesus Christ than the best you’ve ever been in your relationship with Him!
There was a man in California that staked a claim on an old gold mine. He was there to make it rich. He dug and he dug. He worked that mine day after day, week after week, month after month. He found a nugget here and there but never really hit the vein. It frustrated him and he often went into town to drink his worries away. One day, he was so mad and so drunk, that he sold that claim to a guy for $50. All those years of work just weren’t worth it to him.
The guy went into the caves and began to dig, and dig, and dig. In just a few weeks, he hit the motherlode. IT was just 2 feet beyond where the other guy ended. Just 2 feet!
APP: Some of you are picking up little spiritual nuggets here and there. You’re seeing slivers of riches from Jesus… but there is still so much more… -- YET His riches are unsearchable! There’s More!
1 Cor. 2.9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
NOTE: What our eyes have seen so far… what our ears have heard… what we know by experience… is but a taste of what awaits us!
Romans 11.33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
And so here’s the church… all of you here this morning.
· People come in and go out… It’s a spiritual refuge on Sundays…
· It’s an oasis of love… joy… strength… hope…
· Where we come to worship Jesus, to enjoy His Presence…
· Where we come to encourage and exhort one another!
NOW: It’s my job, my role, as pastor and God’s shepherd to stay in the Spirit… to grow in the Spirit… to walk in the Spirit.
· SO THAT I might bring people into the Spirit to see the awesome things in Jesus Christ… to pull back the veil a little more…
· The church is to be that place where you can discover these…
THEN you the church… go out into the darkened world & shine brightly those very same nuggets drawing others to Jesus.
· Because as much as we know… we really don’t know YET!
· What a wonderful plan God has for us…
4. (9-11) That the wisdom of God might be made known.
a. (10) Notice that the angelic realm is broken down into ranks.
b. Peter in his epistle tells us that the angels look at us and desire to look into the things God is doing with His church.
c. I’m sure the angels are surprised at us… with our ups/downs
d. (11) The gospel is according to the eternal purpose.
e. For God so loved the world… that He gave His Son!
5. (12-13) We have boldness before God.
a. (12) That word boldness literally means ‘freedom of speech’.
b. Think about that for a moment.
c. When you come to God, you can be bluntly honest.
d. You can open yourself to Him, bearing your heart.
e. He knows you and what’s going on.
Matthew 6.8 "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
6. (13) He encourages them to not lose heart at his tribulations
a. Tribulations are God’s tools in refining and maturing us.
b. We learn that in the life of God’s saints… in the life of Jesus.
c. Trials, tribulations, difficulties… are necessary…
d. SOME OF YOU THINK… give me a break!
There is an old legend that comes from a small town in Germany that for a number of years experienced very poor harvests. Finally those townspeople went to God at the beginning of the year and said, "God, our harvests have been so poor and so scarce, for one year will you let us plan everything?"
God said, "All right; for one year." And so, whenever they asked for rain, God sent rain. And whenever they asked for sun, God sent sun. The corn never grew higher, and the wheat never grew thicker. But when harvest came, they discovered that the tall corn had no ear, and the thick wheat had no head of grain. They cried out, "God, you have failed us. We asked for sun, and you sent sun. We asked for rain, and you sent rain. But there is no crop."
God said, "No. You never asked for the harsh north winds. Without the harsh north winds, there is no pollination, and with no pollination, there is no crop."
I suggest to you today, in God’s very loving hand, this is the harsh north wind that God is going to use to bring a crop. And faith says, "Okay, God, I trust you. Go ahead."
