“The Mystery of Christ and the
Power of God at Work in Us”
Main Text: Ephesians 3:1–21
Introduction
Ephesians 3 reveals the heart of
the gospel: God’s eternal plan in Christ is to bring people from every nation
into one body, the Church, and to reveal His wisdom and glory through them.
Paul speaks about the mystery of
Christ, his calling to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, the purpose of the
Church, and finally the power of God working in believers.
The chapter can be understood
through three major truths:
1. The Mystery Revealed — Christ
is for all nations
2. The Ministry Entrusted — We are
called to share Christ
3. The Power Received — God can do
exceedingly abundantly through u
1. THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST HAS BEEN
REVEALED
Ephesians 3:1–6
Paul says:
“By revelation he made known unto
me the mystery…” — Ephesians 3:3
The word “mystery” does not mean
something that can never be understood. It refers to something that was
previously hidden but has now been revealed by God.
Paul explains this mystery in
verse 6:
“That the Gentiles should be
fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by
the gospel.”
This was a revolutionary truth in
the first-century world.
God's salvation in Christ was not
restricted to one ethnic group. Through Christ, Jews and Gentiles become one
people of God.
Spiritual lesson
The Church is not built around:
race, nationality,
social position, education, wealth, or human status.
It is built around Jesus Christ.
Galatians 3:28 “There is
neither Jew nor Greek… for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Therefore, the Church should
demonstrate the unity that Christ has already accomplished.
2. WE ARE STEWARDS OF GOD'S GRACE
Ephesians 3:7–9 Paul says:
“Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given
unto me by the effectual working of his power.”
Notice the connection:
Grace → Ministry → Power
Paul did not say, “I became a
minister because I was naturally qualified.”
He recognized that his ministry
was a gift of God's grace.
Every believer has a
responsibility
God gives us opportunities, gifts,
experiences, relationships, and spiritual gifts so that Christ may be made
known.
We should ask: “Lord, how can You
use my life to make Christ known?”
Ministry is not simply standing
behind a pulpit.
Ministry can happen: in the home,
in the workplace, in the neighborhood, through prayer, through
teaching, through evangelism, through helping others, through encouraging
someone who is discouraged.
3. THE CHURCH REVEALS GOD'S WISDOM
Ephesians 3:10–11, Paul makes a
remarkable statement: “To the intent that now unto the principalities and
powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of
God.”
The Church is not merely a
gathering of people.
God intends His wisdom to be
displayed through the Church.
Think about that. When believers
from different backgrounds become one in Christ, the spiritual world sees
something of God's wisdom.
When believers forgive one
another, serve one another, love one another, and remain united in Christ, they
demonstrate the transforming power of the gospel.
John 13:35 “By this shall
all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
The Church must therefore become a
visible demonstration of what Christ has done.
4. WE HAVE BOLDNESS AND ACCESS TO
GOD
Ephesians 3:12 Paul says: “In whom
we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”
Because of Christ, we don't
approach God as strangers.
We have access.
We can pray.
We can worship.
We can come before God.
We can bring our needs before Him.
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us
therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and
find grace to help in time of need.”
Our confidence is not in our own
goodness.
Our confidence is in Jesus Christ.
5. DON'T LOSE HEART IN TRIBULATION
Ephesians 3:13
Paul was suffering because of his
ministry.
Yet he tells the believers:
“I desire that ye faint not at my
tribulations for you, which is your glory.”
Paul's circumstances did not
determine his faith.
He understood that suffering for
Christ did not mean that God had abandoned him.
Important lesson
Sometimes we think:
“If God is with me, why am I going
through this?”
Ephesians 3 teaches us that God's
presence does not mean the absence of difficulties.
Paul was serving God and still
suffered.
But his suffering did not cancel
God's purpose.
Your difficulty is not necessarily
evidence that God has left you.
Remain faithful.
6. PAUL PRAYS FOR INNER STRENGTH
Ephesians 3:14–16
Paul begins one of the most
powerful prayers in the New Testament: “For this cause I bow my knees
unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
And then: “That he would grant
you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his
Spirit in the inner man.”
Notice where Paul asks God to
strengthen them:
The inner man.
Our greatest need is not always an
external change.
Sometimes we need inner
strengthening.
We need strength:
to continue when we are
discouraged,
to forgive when we have been hurt,
to remain faithful when nobody
recognizes us,
to resist temptation,
to pray when we don't feel like
praying,
to continue serving Christ when
circumstances are difficult.
The Holy Spirit strengthens the
believer from within.
7. CHRIST MUST DWELL IN OUR HEARTS
BY FAITH
Ephesians 3:17
Paul continues:
“That Christ may dwell in
your hearts by faith.”
Christ is not meant to be merely
part of our Sunday life.
He desires to occupy our whole
heart and life.
There is a difference between:
Knowing about Christ
and
allowing Christ to rule our lives.
A person may know many Bible
verses and yet not surrender every area of life to Christ.Paul's prayer is that
Christ would deeply establish His presence in believers.
8. BE ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE
Ephesians 3:17–19 Paul uses two
powerful pictures:
Rooted — like a tree.
Grounded — like a building with a
strong foundation.
He says: “That ye, being
rooted and grounded in love…”
A Christian life without love
becomes empty religion.
We need to be rooted in God's love
so that we can love:
God,
fellow believers,
our families,
our neighbors,
and even those who oppose us.
1 Corinthians 13:2 “Though I
have all faith… and have not charity, I am nothing.”
Spiritual gifts without love are
not enough.
Knowledge without love is not
enough.
Ministry without love is not
enough.
Christ must transform our hearts.
9. KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST
Ephesians 3:18–19
Paul prays that believers may: “be
able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth,
and height.”
And then: “And to know the love of
Christ, which passeth knowledge.”
This is extraordinary.
Paul wants believers to know
something that surpasses knowledge.
We can study God's love
intellectually, but God's desire is that we experience and live in that love.
The love of Christ is:
Wide enough to reach sinners.
Long enough to endure.
Deep enough to reach us in our
lowest condition.
High enough to bring us into
fellowship with God.
10. BE FILLED WITH ALL THE
FULLNESS OF GOD
Ephesians 3:19 Paul concludes his
prayer: “That ye might be filled with all the fulness of God
This does not mean that human
beings become God.
It means that believers should
increasingly experience God's presence, character, love, holiness, and power
transforming their lives.
Christianity is not merely:
“I am forgiven.”
It is also: “God is transforming
me.”
Romans 12:2 says: “Be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
God wants transformation from the
inside out.
11. GOD CAN DO EXCEEDING
ABUNDANTLY
Ephesians 3:20–21 Now Paul reaches
the climax:
“Now unto him that is able to do
exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power
that worketh in us.”
This is one of the great promises
of Scripture.
Notice:
God is able.
Not merely able to do what we ask.
Not merely able to do what we
think.
But: “Exceeding abundantly above
all that we ask or think.”
And notice another important
phrase:
“According to
the power that worketh in us.”
God's power is at work in His people.
The Holy Spirit
strengthens our inner person.
