all right well<\/p>\n
hope your weeks have been well we're in<\/p>\n
our second week of our mini series in<\/p>\n
Ephesians<\/p>\n
we began this Series last year went<\/p>\n
through two chapters<\/p>\n
we're doing two more chapters this year<\/p>\n
so<\/p>\n
Visions here we go Ephesians is a book<\/p>\n
that tells us not what we must do to be<\/p>\n
saved but it tells us what God has done<\/p>\n
in order to save us<\/p>\n
Ephesians as we've said over the past<\/p>\n
well last week Ephesians gives us God's<\/p>\n
big picture<\/p>\n
teaches us to look at life from God's<\/p>\n
perspective<\/p>\n
there was a woman some years ago who<\/p>\n
found out later in life that she had<\/p>\n
inherited a large amount of money<\/p>\n
she believed it<\/p>\n
but she continued to live as she had<\/p>\n
been living before<\/p>\n
she eventually died a few years later<\/p>\n
having done absolutely nothing with the<\/p>\n
money<\/p>\n
she didn't give it to anyone<\/p>\n
she didn't use it for herself<\/p>\n
she was rich<\/p>\n
but she lived like it made no difference<\/p>\n
in her life<\/p>\n
what she really had<\/p>\n
made no difference in her life<\/p>\n
Ephesians shows us that as Christians we<\/p>\n
are rich<\/p>\n
in chapter one we learned that God has<\/p>\n
given us every spiritual blessing in<\/p>\n
Christ<\/p>\n
we saw that Paul says our main problem<\/p>\n
as Christians is that we don't know what<\/p>\n
we have<\/p>\n
we have the power of God<\/p>\n
the same power that Rose Christ from the<\/p>\n
dead<\/p>\n
we have that but we don't know it<\/p>\n
so Paul prays in chapter one he says the<\/p>\n
eyes of your heart will be enlightened<\/p>\n
so that we may know the hope to which he<\/p>\n
has called us<\/p>\n
and then in Chapter 2 Paul tells us that<\/p>\n
God has given us the incomparable Riches<\/p>\n
of his grace<\/p>\n
in our section for today at chapter<\/p>\n
three<\/p>\n
Paul says his duty is to preach the<\/p>\n
boundless Riches of Christ<\/p>\n
we are rich<\/p>\n
do you know what you have in Christ<\/p>\n
Theologian NT Wright says<\/p>\n
being a Christian is meant to consist of<\/p>\n
going from room to room in the king's<\/p>\n
Palace<\/p>\n
relishing the beauty and Splendor of it<\/p>\n
all<\/p>\n
this is what we have<\/p>\n
do we know this<\/p>\n
we're in chapter three today<\/p>\n
verses 1 to 13 and I'll read to us the<\/p>\n
text<\/p>\n
for this reason I Paul<\/p>\n
the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the<\/p>\n
sake of you Gentiles surely you have<\/p>\n
heard about the administration of God's<\/p>\n
grace that was given to me for you that<\/p>\n
is the mystery made known to me by<\/p>\n
Revelation as I have already written<\/p>\n
briefly<\/p>\n
in reading this then you will be able to<\/p>\n
understand my insight into the mystery<\/p>\n
of Christ<\/p>\n
which was not made known to people in<\/p>\n
other Generations as it has now been<\/p>\n
revealed by the spirit to God's Holy<\/p>\n
Apostles and Prophets<\/p>\n
this mystery is that through the gospel<\/p>\n
the Gentiles are heirs together with<\/p>\n
Israel members together of one body<\/p>\n
share us together in the promise in<\/p>\n
Christ Jesus<\/p>\n
I became a servant of this gospel by the<\/p>\n
gift of God's grace given me through the<\/p>\n
working of his power although I am less<\/p>\n
than the least of all the Lord's people<\/p>\n
this Grace was given to me to preach to<\/p>\n
the Gentiles the boundless Riches of<\/p>\n
and to make plain to everyone the<\/p>\n
administration of this mystery which for<\/p>\n
ages past was kept hidden in God who<\/p>\n
created all things<\/p>\n
his intent was that now through the<\/p>\n
church the manifold wisdom of God should<\/p>\n
be made known to the rulers and<\/p>\n
authorities in the Heavenly Realms<\/p>\n
according to his eternal purpose that he<\/p>\n
accomplished in Christ Jesus our lord<\/p>\n
in him and through faith in him we may<\/p>\n
approach god with freedom and confidence<\/p>\n
I ask you therefore<\/p>\n
not to be discouraged because of my<\/p>\n
sufferings for you<\/p>\n
which are your glory<\/p>\n
this is the word of God<\/p>\n
this section of Ephesians is incredibly<\/p>\n
interesting<\/p>\n
do you notice the dash right in the<\/p>\n
first verse<\/p>\n
Paul says for this reason I Paul the<\/p>\n
prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of<\/p>\n
you gentiles<\/p>\n
and then he launches into a new idea<\/p>\n
altogether<\/p>\n
he doesn't finish the thought<\/p>\n
he gets back to his main thought in<\/p>\n
verse 14. because there again he says<\/p>\n
for this reason<\/p>\n
so what he was about to say in verse 1<\/p>\n
he actually says in verse 14.<\/p>\n
so that brings up the question<\/p>\n
what is Paul doing in verses 2 to 13.<\/p>\n
it seems like Paul gets sidetracked he<\/p>\n
goes on a detour<\/p>\n
and so we ask why does Paul get<\/p>\n
sidetracked<\/p>\n
well Paul we know that Paul is a pastor<\/p>\n
and you said and we know that Paul<\/p>\n
doesn't just say things to waste space<\/p>\n
everything he writes has intention and<\/p>\n
purpose<\/p>\n
so even when he gets sidetracked he gets<\/p>\n
sidetracked for a reason<\/p>\n
he begins with for this reason I Paul<\/p>\n
the prisoner of Jesus Christ for the<\/p>\n
sake of you gentiles<\/p>\n
for what reason for this reason for what<\/p>\n
reason well<\/p>\n
chapter two is what he refers to when he<\/p>\n
says for this reason<\/p>\n
he refers to the fact that as we talked<\/p>\n
about last week Jesus Christ in the<\/p>\n
gospel unite diverse kinds of people who<\/p>\n
would otherwise never get along<\/p>\n
and that the gospel destroys divisions<\/p>\n
that cannot be destroyed any other way<\/p>\n
that is in Christ God is creating a new<\/p>\n
Society a new Humanity<\/p>\n
that's the reason that's why he says for<\/p>\n
this reason<\/p>\n
so he starts off by saying for this<\/p>\n
reason and then all of a sudden he<\/p>\n
thinks hold on a second<\/p>\n
I need to say something else here<\/p>\n
and then we see that the reason he gets<\/p>\n
sidetracked in verse 13.<\/p>\n
we see the reason<\/p>\n
verse 13 he says I ask you therefore not<\/p>\n
to be discouraged because of my<\/p>\n
sufferings for you which are your glory<\/p>\n
everything in verses 2 to 12 has to be<\/p>\n
understood in light of this<\/p>\n
the end purpose for why Paul says what<\/p>\n
he says<\/p>\n
is to encourage his friends I ask you<\/p>\n
therefore not to be discouraged<\/p>\n
because of my sufferings for you which<\/p>\n
are your glory<\/p>\n
he didn't want them to be discouraged<\/p>\n
over the fact that he was in prison<\/p>\n
so he says to himself hold on<\/p>\n
I need to make sure these people aren't<\/p>\n
discouraged over my situation<\/p>\n
I better make sure they're not<\/p>\n
discouraged<\/p>\n
and so we have verses 2 to 12. he wants<\/p>\n
to encourage his friends he wants to<\/p>\n
encourage his readers<\/p>\n
so what Paul shows us here<\/p>\n
is how to deal with discouragement<\/p>\n
he knows that they're discouraged<\/p>\n
because Paul they're a great teacher<\/p>\n
who taught and modeled for them the life<\/p>\n
of Faith Paul who's in prison<\/p>\n
and so he says let me tell you a few<\/p>\n
things but it's all for the sake of<\/p>\n
encouragement<\/p>\n
he has a purpose in mind he wants to<\/p>\n
encourage<\/p>\n
so if we read carefully<\/p>\n
we'll see how Paul deals<\/p>\n
with his own discouragement<\/p>\n
and it'll show us<\/p>\n
how to deal with ours<\/p>\n
so one of the things that we learn from<\/p>\n
here is that one life is hard<\/p>\n
and it's not just hard for bad people<\/p>\n
but good people too we all suffer huge<\/p>\n
disappointments and tragedies and<\/p>\n
suffering can shake our faith<\/p>\n
so in Matthew 11 John the Baptist he's<\/p>\n
in prison he's the one who declared<\/p>\n
Jesus to be the Messiah now he's in<\/p>\n
prison<\/p>\n
and in prison he's about to be executed<\/p>\n
he sends his disciples to Jesus to ask<\/p>\n
him are you really the Messiah<\/p>\n
should we look for another<\/p>\n
John the Baptist is filled with doubt<\/p>\n
the reason is the reason he's filled<\/p>\n
with doubt is because what he's in<\/p>\n
he's saying if you're really the Messiah<\/p>\n
why would your servant people who follow<\/p>\n
you<\/p>\n
why would your servant be in prison why<\/p>\n
is my life falling apart if you're<\/p>\n
really the son of God<\/p>\n
Paul calls himself<\/p>\n
prisoner of Christ Jesus<\/p>\n
and if we think long and hard enough<\/p>\n
about what that means<\/p>\n
it may very well perplex us it may Annoy<\/p>\n
Us<\/p>\n
it might even scare us<\/p>\n
Paul<\/p>\n
a prisoner of Christ<\/p>\n
but you know what Paul is dealing with<\/p>\n
is something that to different degrees<\/p>\n
something that will confront all of us<\/p>\n
in other words what Paul is dealing with<\/p>\n
is something that we all will deal with<\/p>\n
that is<\/p>\n
when you seek to obey Jesus Christ<\/p>\n
it's not<\/p>\n
it's not only that bad things will<\/p>\n
happen to you when you follow Jesus<\/p>\n
but oftentimes<\/p>\n
lots and lots of bad things happen<\/p>\n
because you are following Christ<\/p>\n
Paul's not in prison because he broke<\/p>\n
the law he didn't do anything wrong<\/p>\n
he's in prison because he's preaching<\/p>\n
it's one thing to say<\/p>\n
I'm a Christian I did something wrong so<\/p>\n
now I'm in jail<\/p>\n
so another thing to say<\/p>\n
I'm a Christian and I am in jail because<\/p>\n
I'm obeying God<\/p>\n
the Bible teaches us and we see from<\/p>\n
experience that<\/p>\n
the more consistent of a Christian Life<\/p>\n
we live<\/p>\n
the more we will suffer for Christ<\/p>\n
see if you if you refuse to sleep with<\/p>\n
this person if you choose to give<\/p>\n
a lot of your money away<\/p>\n
if you choose to speak up<\/p>\n
during a business meeting where you<\/p>\n
where you know what's going on it's not<\/p>\n
ethical<\/p>\n
if you choose to refuse to lie in a<\/p>\n
situation where it would actually be<\/p>\n
beneficial to you<\/p>\n
and to the people around you<\/p>\n
if you are consistently obedient to what<\/p>\n
the Bible teaches us to do<\/p>\n
eventually bad things will happen<\/p>\n
to you to me to all of us<\/p>\n
and if we have never wrestled with this<\/p>\n
it might just be because we aren't<\/p>\n
actually living a consistent enough Life<\/p>\n
as a Christian<\/p>\n
maybe our faith makes a big difference<\/p>\n
to us on Sunday<\/p>\n
but not on Monday to Saturday<\/p>\n
we've never really wrestled with this<\/p>\n
maybe we aren't really living how we<\/p>\n
ought to be<\/p>\n
there will be times when<\/p>\n
you and I will have to choose between<\/p>\n
two options<\/p>\n
one option is the right thing to do<\/p>\n
and it will hurt us<\/p>\n
the second is what we know we shouldn't<\/p>\n
do but it's the more convenient option<\/p>\n
and if you are a Christian<\/p>\n
there will definitely be times when the<\/p>\n
right thing to do<\/p>\n
is the one that will cause us to suffer<\/p>\n
there's a lot of people if we look<\/p>\n
throughout history who have been<\/p>\n
rejected by the people around them for<\/p>\n
Jesus's sake<\/p>\n
there's a lot of people who have lost<\/p>\n
jobs for Christ's sake<\/p>\n
a lot of people have been put in prison<\/p>\n
for Jesus<\/p>\n
they have lost friends<\/p>\n
they have lost promotions<\/p>\n
they've even lost their lives<\/p>\n
question is can suffering happen to a<\/p>\n
Christian<\/p>\n
can suffering happen because we are<\/p>\n
trying to be obedient to Jesus<\/p>\n
absolutely<\/p>\n
yes it can and it does look at Paul a<\/p>\n
the Bible shows us life is hard<\/p>\n
so how does Paul encourage his friends<\/p>\n
who are discouraged because they see<\/p>\n
Paul in prison on account of Jesus<\/p>\n
so one of the words that comes up most<\/p>\n
often in this section is the word<\/p>\n
mystery comes up four times at least<\/p>\n
so in verses two to three<\/p>\n
Paul says his calling is<\/p>\n
proclaim the mystery that has now been<\/p>\n
revealed<\/p>\n
now the way the Bible uses the word<\/p>\n
mystery is not how we tend to understand<\/p>\n
it<\/p>\n
because when we think of Mystery we may<\/p>\n
think of Clues detectives something we<\/p>\n
need to solve in order to understand<\/p>\n
but when the Bible uses the word mystery<\/p>\n
it's precisely the opposite<\/p>\n
it actually means<\/p>\n
it's not something that we need to<\/p>\n
discover<\/p>\n
but it's something that's been revealed<\/p>\n
to us by God<\/p>\n
because we would never Discover it on<\/p>\n
our own<\/p>\n
we would never figure it out<\/p>\n
there is absolutely no way we could come<\/p>\n
to the conclusion it doesn't make any<\/p>\n
sense to us<\/p>\n
that's why God has to reveal it to us<\/p>\n
that's what mystery means here<\/p>\n
see in verse 3 Paul says the mystery<\/p>\n
made known to me by revelation<\/p>\n
this isn't something that Paul himself<\/p>\n
thought up<\/p>\n
it was revealed to him by God<\/p>\n
and it's something nobody nobody in the<\/p>\n
whole world could have thought of<\/p>\n
because it goes against everything and<\/p>\n
anything<\/p>\n
that we would think makes sense<\/p>\n
so the natural question is what what is<\/p>\n
this mystery<\/p>\n
in verse 6 he tells us this mystery<\/p>\n
is that through the gospel the Gentiles<\/p>\n
are heirs together with Israel members<\/p>\n
together of one body share us together<\/p>\n
in the promise of Jesus<\/p>\n
so that's a pretty complex sentence<\/p>\n
let's unpack it first he says through<\/p>\n
the gospel<\/p>\n
whenever Paul uses the word mystery<\/p>\n
oftentimes he's speaking about the<\/p>\n
gospel<\/p>\n
question is what is what is the gospel<\/p>\n
the gospel is not<\/p>\n
that if you live a good life<\/p>\n
if you obey the law if you are a good<\/p>\n
person if you listen to other people<\/p>\n
help other people out if you do all<\/p>\n
these things then God will bless you and<\/p>\n
send you to heaven<\/p>\n
that is not the gospel<\/p>\n
because that makes too much sense<\/p>\n
that's not a mystery that's exactly how<\/p>\n
our minds operate<\/p>\n
I do this for you so you do this for me<\/p>\n
right<\/p>\n
I buy you a gift so now it's an unspoken<\/p>\n
rule that you have to get me a gift that<\/p>\n
is of equal value or a little bit more<\/p>\n
I listen to you I'm there for you so you<\/p>\n
have to be there for me<\/p>\n
I help you out financially so you have<\/p>\n
to help me out financially<\/p>\n
that's how our minds and our hearts<\/p>\n
operate we do this with God as well<\/p>\n
I listen to you God live the life that<\/p>\n
you want me to live so that you are<\/p>\n
pleased and you can send me to heaven<\/p>\n
that's not that's not the gospel<\/p>\n
the gospel is that God himself came to<\/p>\n
Earth in Jesus Christ triumphed over<\/p>\n
evil<\/p>\n
through weakness and suffering<\/p>\n
he gained the victory<\/p>\n
through losing<\/p>\n
he won everything by giving it all away<\/p>\n
the gospel goes against<\/p>\n
anything that we would think that's why<\/p>\n
it's a mystery<\/p>\n
it's not something that we would have<\/p>\n
ever thought of<\/p>\n
doesn't make any sense<\/p>\n
has the audacity of the Gospel hit you<\/p>\n
yet<\/p>\n
has The Wonder of the Gospel hit you<\/p>\n
here's a question<\/p>\n
have you ever felt gangtai to God<\/p>\n
have you ever felt going to die to God<\/p>\n
before<\/p>\n
that because of what he's done for you<\/p>\n
you need to do something to pay him back<\/p>\n
think about this if someone gets us a<\/p>\n
gift most of us in this room<\/p>\n
will feel<\/p>\n
all of us Thai people will feel<\/p>\n
will feel obligated to get the other<\/p>\n
person a gift back as well<\/p>\n
and I would submit that<\/p>\n
if we have never felt going to God<\/p>\n
then we've been taken God for granted<\/p>\n
the weight of what he's done<\/p>\n
has not hit us hasn't even hit us yet<\/p>\n
the natural state of our hearts<\/p>\n
if we grasp at what God has done<\/p>\n
if we actually grasp it the natural<\/p>\n
state is to be a great day<\/p>\n
and to try to repay back God somehow<\/p>\n
we need to do something<\/p>\n
so initially if we if we actually<\/p>\n
understand the magnitude of who God is<\/p>\n
and what God has done for us I think we<\/p>\n
will be okay<\/p>\n
we will feel the need to repay back<\/p>\n
repay God back somehow but<\/p>\n
if we truly grasp the gospel or drink<\/p>\n
tiredness will be completely shattered<\/p>\n
because we'll realize that there is<\/p>\n
absolutely nothing<\/p>\n
we can never do<\/p>\n
to repay God for what he's done<\/p>\n
we cannot do enough good works Good<\/p>\n
Deeds<\/p>\n
in order to feel like okay I feel good<\/p>\n
enough about myself to receive God's<\/p>\n
grace<\/p>\n
I've worked up to the point where I can<\/p>\n
come to God<\/p>\n
when we grasp the gospel all we can<\/p>\n
really do is to be overwhelmed by<\/p>\n
gratitude by what he's done<\/p>\n
and as a response because of what God<\/p>\n
has done that's where it starts because<\/p>\n
of what God has done<\/p>\n
to respond to that we live by faith<\/p>\n
you might be a Christian here today<\/p>\n
you might be thinking yes I believe the<\/p>\n
gospel Jesus died for my sins<\/p>\n
but it takes a whole lifetime to<\/p>\n
discover the depths of the Gospel it<\/p>\n
takes a whole lifetime to actually live<\/p>\n
to live by faith it goes against all of<\/p>\n
our instincts it's not what we would<\/p>\n
think and it takes a whole lifetime to<\/p>\n
unlearn the thought patterns that we've<\/p>\n
had in order to receive God's grace in<\/p>\n
all every aspect of Our Lives<\/p>\n
in spite of How It's not what we would<\/p>\n
think in spite of how bad we are<\/p>\n
we're saved by sheer Grace<\/p>\n
the idea that we are saved by grace<\/p>\n
makes absolutely no sense to our hearts<\/p>\n
so if we live by the first framework<\/p>\n
first framework that if I live a good<\/p>\n
life and obey God then God will accept<\/p>\n
me and bless me<\/p>\n
at first that makes sense but it will<\/p>\n
eventually crush us<\/p>\n
because no one can live up to it<\/p>\n
but if we live by the gospel if we live<\/p>\n
by faith<\/p>\n
that we're saved by sheer Grace no<\/p>\n
matter how bad we are no matter what<\/p>\n
we've done whether you are a murderer or<\/p>\n
a saint<\/p>\n
whether you have done something you<\/p>\n
think no one can forgive<\/p>\n
it does not matter what you've done if<\/p>\n
you come to God you will be completely<\/p>\n
accepted in him<\/p>\n
we are completely accepted in him it<\/p>\n
doesn't make sense it's actually<\/p>\n
scandalous the grace of God is<\/p>\n
scandalous<\/p>\n
God has more Mercy for us<\/p>\n
than even the most merciful and kindest<\/p>\n
person that we can think of<\/p>\n
if we live by the gospel<\/p>\n
even though it doesn't make sense to us<\/p>\n
we will be more and more free<\/p>\n
and it will become more and more<\/p>\n
wonderful to us<\/p>\n
it's a mystery The Mystery of the Gospel<\/p>\n
no one could have thought this up<\/p>\n
is the gospel a wondrous Miracle to you<\/p>\n
does it cause you all<\/p>\n
if it is then you never get tired of the<\/p>\n
Gospel<\/p>\n
you're always fascinated by<\/p>\n
we never graduate from the gospel<\/p>\n
Tim Keller says the gospel is not the<\/p>\n
ABCs of Christianity<\/p>\n
but it's the A to Z<\/p>\n
so Paul says the mystery is that through<\/p>\n
the Gentiles are heiressed together with<\/p>\n
share us together in the promise of<\/p>\n
Jesus<\/p>\n
so we talked about this last week<\/p>\n
the gospel tears down all Dividing Walls<\/p>\n
Jew and Gentile everything that we use<\/p>\n
to divide one another and look down on<\/p>\n
one another<\/p>\n
the gospel tears down those divisions<\/p>\n
and God's creating a new Society a new<\/p>\n
Humanity in the church<\/p>\n
and here<\/p>\n
Paul expands that a little bit further<\/p>\n
he continues in verse 10 and 11. and<\/p>\n
it's absolutely amazing<\/p>\n
so a question what is the ultimate<\/p>\n
Eternal purpose of God that he<\/p>\n
accomplishes<\/p>\n
through Christ what is that<\/p>\n
Ephesians chapter 1 verses 8 to 10 tells<\/p>\n
us it's actually the theme of the book<\/p>\n
God's purpose is to bring together<\/p>\n
everything in the world in Jesus Christ<\/p>\n
to bring Unity to all things in heaven<\/p>\n
and on Earth under Christ<\/p>\n
we see the world as it is today<\/p>\n
everything's falling apart<\/p>\n
our bodies Our relationships the world<\/p>\n
this isn't how God created the world<\/p>\n
it's the result of sin<\/p>\n
but Ephesians tells us that one day God<\/p>\n
is<\/p>\n
going to bring together everything that<\/p>\n
has caused division<\/p>\n
he's going to make it all right again<\/p>\n
forever<\/p>\n
is going to be no more no more suffering<\/p>\n
No More Tears no more Injustice No More<\/p>\n
Death no more disease this is God's<\/p>\n
ultimate purpose<\/p>\n
all right<\/p>\n
now look at verse 10. how will he<\/p>\n
accomplish this purpose how will the<\/p>\n
world really see<\/p>\n
that this is God's purpose<\/p>\n
what is the most clear way according to<\/p>\n
Paul here<\/p>\n
for people to see what God is doing<\/p>\n
his intent was now verse 10. through the<\/p>\n
church<\/p>\n
the manifold wisdom of God should be<\/p>\n
made known<\/p>\n
the manifold which means brilliant the<\/p>\n
brilliant wisdom of God<\/p>\n
should be made known through the church<\/p>\n
is that not incredible<\/p>\n
Paul is saying it is the community not<\/p>\n
just any one individual<\/p>\n
no matter how great they are<\/p>\n
it's the community<\/p>\n
is through healed relationships it is<\/p>\n
through the Christian Community<\/p>\n
that the world can most clearly see the<\/p>\n
incredible future God is preparing for<\/p>\n
everyone<\/p>\n
in other words<\/p>\n
the church is God's for ordained way<\/p>\n
to reveal his wisdom and Glory<\/p>\n
isn't this incredible<\/p>\n
one commentator says the church thus<\/p>\n
appears to be God's pilot scheme for the<\/p>\n
reconciled universe of the future<\/p>\n
what does that mean<\/p>\n
it's amazing it means that God will<\/p>\n
unite everything under Christ one day<\/p>\n
and the church the church gets to show<\/p>\n
the world a taste of what that will be<\/p>\n
like<\/p>\n
the church is to be a new Society not<\/p>\n
just a fellowship with our friends and<\/p>\n
people we like<\/p>\n
that but a new Society where this world<\/p>\n
can see what peace can look like<\/p>\n
under the healing kingship of Jesus<\/p>\n
the church is how God chooses to reveal<\/p>\n
His Brilliant wisdom to the world<\/p>\n
think about this<\/p>\n
if you are a God and you wanted to<\/p>\n
reveal your wisdom to the whole world<\/p>\n
how might you do it<\/p>\n
well you could do it through creation<\/p>\n
people can look at the high mountains<\/p>\n
and the deep seas of the world can be in<\/p>\n
awe<\/p>\n
you could also do it through the law and<\/p>\n
teachings people can look at the<\/p>\n
orderliness of the world their the<\/p>\n
orderliness of what life should be like<\/p>\n
and be in awe<\/p>\n
but here it says God doesn't choose the<\/p>\n
law God doesn't choose creation what<\/p>\n
does God choose the church God chooses<\/p>\n
the church to reveal His Brilliant<\/p>\n
wisdom to the world<\/p>\n
how does God view the church what does<\/p>\n
that show us about how God views the<\/p>\n
now how do we view the church<\/p>\n
many people think it's possible to be a<\/p>\n
and to not be part of a church<\/p>\n
and Paul has absolutely no idea what<\/p>\n
people are talking about when they say<\/p>\n
that<\/p>\n
Paul is saying that it is critical<\/p>\n
it is so important<\/p>\n
to the world to understand the<\/p>\n
Brilliance of the Gospel by having<\/p>\n
churches<\/p>\n
we may view the church as a hypocritical<\/p>\n
Gathering of people<\/p>\n
we may view it as a place to come on<\/p>\n
Sundays we may view it with a<\/p>\n
consumeristic mindset where if we're not<\/p>\n
getting anything out of church or our<\/p>\n
fellowship or our care groups or giving<\/p>\n
my time to this person if we're not<\/p>\n
getting anything out of it then we look<\/p>\n
for another place<\/p>\n
we may indirectly be viewing the church<\/p>\n
as a place to get our needs met<\/p>\n
a place where we can be served<\/p>\n
so after services on Sundays the first<\/p>\n
thing we might do is to go straight<\/p>\n
through our friends straight to our<\/p>\n
friends and talk to them and in the<\/p>\n
process walking by three new people who<\/p>\n
we would rather not talk to<\/p>\n
it's great that we can enjoy church it's<\/p>\n
great that we can enjoy Fellowship it's<\/p>\n
fantastic<\/p>\n
but God views the church as much more<\/p>\n
than just the Gathering on Sundays to<\/p>\n
spend time with our friends and be<\/p>\n
comfortable<\/p>\n
Paul says through the church God is<\/p>\n
showing the whole world his wisdom God<\/p>\n
is displaying the gospel through the<\/p>\n
reconciled people<\/p>\n
healed relationships<\/p>\n
things that once divided us are now<\/p>\n
brought down in the gospel and the whole<\/p>\n
world Marvels at this and sees God's<\/p>\n
wisdom<\/p>\n
don't we all want to be a part of this<\/p>\n
mission<\/p>\n
we may look at the church and be<\/p>\n
discouraged by all the things we don't<\/p>\n
we might not get along with certain<\/p>\n
personalities<\/p>\n
we might have been hurt by people in the<\/p>\n
past<\/p>\n
it might be altogether easier less<\/p>\n
painful to stop coming<\/p>\n
but look at how Paul views the church<\/p>\n
look at how God views the church a place<\/p>\n
for healing a place for reconciliation<\/p>\n
God's pilot plan for the reconciled<\/p>\n
future of the whole universe<\/p>\n
and the church is the starting point<\/p>\n
but one day all things will be brought<\/p>\n
into unity in Jesus Christ<\/p>\n
God chooses to reveal his wisdom through<\/p>\n
the church<\/p>\n
and to what extent<\/p>\n
did God have to go through in order to<\/p>\n
bring this about<\/p>\n
he gave his life<\/p>\n
so that he could bring this about<\/p>\n
now<\/p>\n
Paul is not unrealistic right he knows<\/p>\n
what a mess all churches can be to some<\/p>\n
degree<\/p>\n
look at his letters that he wrote<\/p>\n
look at his writing to the Corinthians<\/p>\n
to the Colossians to the Galatians all<\/p>\n
of these churches are full of trouble<\/p>\n
people creating conflict people with<\/p>\n
pride fractured relationships<\/p>\n
discouragement Paul knows what a mess<\/p>\n
the church can be he is not naive<\/p>\n
and yet he says the church is essential<\/p>\n
how how is it essential here's one<\/p>\n
example<\/p>\n
how did how did you how did we how did<\/p>\n
we all become the person we are today<\/p>\n
is it primarily because of our own<\/p>\n
decisions<\/p>\n
not mainly<\/p>\n
it's because of who our family is<\/p>\n
because of our culture<\/p>\n
our community our environment our<\/p>\n
relationships<\/p>\n
and most of the personal decisions we<\/p>\n
make are a response to these things<\/p>\n
so now that we're Christians and we want<\/p>\n
the gospel to change our lives<\/p>\n
do we think that this is going to happen<\/p>\n
by us going on our own making decisions<\/p>\n
by ourselves having a personal quiet<\/p>\n
time in the morning<\/p>\n
is that how it's going to work trying to<\/p>\n
live a good lives ourselves<\/p>\n
no we need a new family a new community<\/p>\n
that's how the gospel works<\/p>\n
that's how human beings work we need<\/p>\n
community<\/p>\n
this is what Paul tells his readers<\/p>\n
I remember the main purpose<\/p>\n
the main purpose like we said<\/p>\n
that Paul writes this is to encourage<\/p>\n
his friends<\/p>\n
who are discouraged because Paul is in<\/p>\n
so all this theology we just covered<\/p>\n
was just a way for him to be able to say<\/p>\n
I ask you therefore therefore in light<\/p>\n
of everything I've said don't be<\/p>\n
discouraged because of my sufferings for<\/p>\n
you which are your glory<\/p>\n
he wants to encourage his friends so<\/p>\n
question how does this work<\/p>\n
well Paul has shown us one of the things<\/p>\n
that he's shown us is that suffering<\/p>\n
cannot really hurt him<\/p>\n
and it really can't hurt us either if we<\/p>\n
are in Christ<\/p>\n
see when when Paul calls himself<\/p>\n
prisoner of Christ<\/p>\n
he's also saying I'm not a prisoner of<\/p>\n
Rome<\/p>\n
he's not a prisoner of the Empire or the<\/p>\n
government he is a prisoner of Christ<\/p>\n
what he's saying is these things don't<\/p>\n
bother me I'm not really your prisoner<\/p>\n
and you cannot hurt me<\/p>\n
why is it that Paul can say this he's in<\/p>\n
jail he's in prison and yet he can say<\/p>\n
he's a prisoner for Christ the question<\/p>\n
is why<\/p>\n
well everyone invests in something right<\/p>\n
that says<\/p>\n
this is really this is where I get my<\/p>\n
worth this is where I get my value this<\/p>\n
is my real hope this is my real identity<\/p>\n
everyone invests our hearts into<\/p>\n
something<\/p>\n
that's why Jesus says for where your<\/p>\n
treasure is there your heart will be<\/p>\n
also<\/p>\n
everyone has a treasure<\/p>\n
something that we value<\/p>\n
more than anything else<\/p>\n
now in order for us to find out<\/p>\n
what this treasure is something that<\/p>\n
might give us some Clues is we ask<\/p>\n
ourselves<\/p>\n
what is it if taken away from me will<\/p>\n
make me lose all meaning<\/p>\n
what is it if I don't have this thing<\/p>\n
will make my life meaningless<\/p>\n
what is it<\/p>\n
if taken away it takes away my will to<\/p>\n
live<\/p>\n
that makes me sad forever<\/p>\n
if we find the answers to those<\/p>\n
questions for ourselves that gives us<\/p>\n
some Clues as to what our treasure is<\/p>\n
now what's Paul's treasure<\/p>\n
he's in prison right<\/p>\n
and yet in verse 12 he says I'm not<\/p>\n
really in prison I'm free he says in him<\/p>\n
and through faith in him we may approach<\/p>\n
god with freedom and confidence<\/p>\n
that's pretty ironic isn't it Paul's in<\/p>\n
Chains and Yeti says he can approach god<\/p>\n
with freedom<\/p>\n
do we see Paul's treasure he's not<\/p>\n
really free but he is free<\/p>\n
Paul's treasure is that<\/p>\n
in Christ and because of the grace of<\/p>\n
Christ he can approach God<\/p>\n
that's this treasure that's why he can<\/p>\n
say I am free I'm confident before God<\/p>\n
to be known and loved by God that is<\/p>\n
Paul's treasure and see even though he's<\/p>\n
in prison<\/p>\n
even though he's suffering<\/p>\n
he's able to say that cannot really hurt<\/p>\n
me<\/p>\n
he's able to encourage his friends even<\/p>\n
who are discouraged because he's<\/p>\n
suffering<\/p>\n
now if we make that our treasure like<\/p>\n
Paul nothing can touch it there is<\/p>\n
nothing this world can do to take away<\/p>\n
that if that is our treasure<\/p>\n
if our treasure is our material<\/p>\n
possessions our job our status our kids<\/p>\n
our relationships our spouse our friends<\/p>\n
our family<\/p>\n
all of these things can be taken away<\/p>\n
look at job he lost everything<\/p>\n
in a very short amount of time<\/p>\n
all these things can be taken away<\/p>\n
and when they are<\/p>\n
we won't be able to function<\/p>\n
because these things are our treasure<\/p>\n
when these things are taken away<\/p>\n
we start having thoughts like it's<\/p>\n
better for me not to be alive<\/p>\n
we get into depression<\/p>\n
when our treasure is taken away but the<\/p>\n
only thing that cannot be taken away<\/p>\n
from us is if Jesus Christ is our<\/p>\n
treasure if you make Jesus Christ your<\/p>\n
treasure<\/p>\n
not even the greatest suffering in the<\/p>\n
world can take it away<\/p>\n
now that doesn't mean that we want weep<\/p>\n
that does not mean we're not going to<\/p>\n
feel pain<\/p>\n
but if we put our hearts there where<\/p>\n
Jesus is it means that suffering will<\/p>\n
not devastate us because we are free<\/p>\n
and if we do that if we do that<\/p>\n
we will be able to face discouragement<\/p>\n
bravely<\/p>\n
and even the only thing that even death<\/p>\n
can do<\/p>\n
is to make us more free<\/p>\n
to bring us closer to Jesus Christ is<\/p>\n
Jesus Christ your treasure do you<\/p>\n
treasure him<\/p>\n
now the last thing Paul says is my<\/p>\n
suffering I don't want you to be<\/p>\n
my suffering is For Your Glory<\/p>\n
Jesus Christ is the only person who<\/p>\n
earned the freedom and confidence to<\/p>\n
approach God because he lived the<\/p>\n
perfect life<\/p>\n
but at the end of his life he was cast<\/p>\n
out so that we could approach God<\/p>\n
he was bound up by nails so that we<\/p>\n
could be free<\/p>\n
on the cross Jesus Christ took away the<\/p>\n
one bit of suffering<\/p>\n
that could actually destroy us forever<\/p>\n
on the cross Jesus Christ experienced<\/p>\n
separation from God so that we could be<\/p>\n
reconciled to God that's the only kind<\/p>\n
of suffering that could actually destroy<\/p>\n
us forever and Jesus Christ took that<\/p>\n
away<\/p>\n
so that now if Jesus is our treasure<\/p>\n
when we suffer it will not destroy us it<\/p>\n
will actually only make us more like<\/p>\n
how do we make Jesus our treasure live<\/p>\n
by faith in him let the Wonder and mercy<\/p>\n
of what he has done<\/p>\n
let that touch you<\/p>\n
would we be moved and would our hearts<\/p>\n
melt by Jesus look at Paul Paul is happy<\/p>\n
to be in prison because his sufferings<\/p>\n
are for the glory of his friends<\/p>\n
he's sacrificing himself<\/p>\n
he's like Jesus now because that's what<\/p>\n
Jesus did<\/p>\n
and if we know that glory is coming<\/p>\n
it will give us the strength to move<\/p>\n
forward even when we suffer<\/p>\n
it will give us the strength<\/p>\n
and the desire to sacrifice our time for<\/p>\n
other people<\/p>\n
it moves us towards being kind<\/p>\n
even the people who we would rather not<\/p>\n
talk to<\/p>\n
moves us towards reconciliation it moves<\/p>\n
us towards being patient it moves us<\/p>\n
towards an attitude of giving of<\/p>\n
ourselves of Our Lives<\/p>\n
that's what Paul does that's why he's in<\/p>\n
jail he's sacrificing himself he's like<\/p>\n
Jesus now because he has experienced The<\/p>\n
Depths and the wonders of the love of<\/p>\n
Christ that is that is something that is<\/p>\n
possible for all of us if we let the<\/p>\n
gospel melt our hearts<\/p>\n
Paul asks his friends and he asks us to<\/p>\n
not be discouraged by the suffering<\/p>\n
happening in our lives<\/p>\n
because one day Jesus Christ will make<\/p>\n
things far more beautiful<\/p>\n
than we can never dare imagine<\/p>\n
that's why we can live with hope<\/p>\n
let's pray<\/p>\n
Lord Jesus we thank you for to stay<\/p>\n
incredible<\/p>\n
gift of Grace that you've given us<\/p>\n
Lord we ask you to<\/p>\n
touch Us in the ways we need to be in<\/p>\n
our hearts Lord we ask you to meet us<\/p>\n
Lord some of us may have believed the<\/p>\n
truth of your gospel for a long time but<\/p>\n
we haven't experienced it but we pray<\/p>\n
that you would help us help our hearts<\/p>\n
be melted by what you've done Lord so<\/p>\n
that we may like Paul and like you Jesus<\/p>\n
be living<\/p>\n
in a way that's sacrificial to others<\/p>\n
knowing that<\/p>\n
Lord you have sacrificed yourself for us<\/p>\n
so that we could be with you<\/p>\n
when we thank you that you choose to<\/p>\n
reveal your wisdoms through the church<\/p>\n
and we ask that you would strengthen<\/p>\n
strengthen us as individuals and as a<\/p>\n
community as well or it's that we may<\/p>\n
be a church that chooses to participate<\/p>\n
in in what you're doing in this world<\/p>\n
pray this in Jesus name amen<\/p>","english_search_text":"","":"","original_publish_date":"20230823","video_url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=rxTFEYZM4b8","video_id":"rxTFEYZM4b8","video_duration":"38:33","channel_name":"Grace City Bangkok"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=580"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":581,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/580\/revisions\/581"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}