SUFFERING AND THE GREAT PLAN OF GOD

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Ephesians 3:1-13 ESV

1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—

2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace

that was given to me for you,

3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.

4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,

5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations

as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

6 This mystery is[a] that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body,

and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace,

which was given me by the working of his power.

8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given,

to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery

hidden for ages in[by] God, who created all things,

10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God

might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

11 This was according to the eternal purpose

that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Ephesians 3:1 ESV

1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—

For this reason.

He is a prisoner of Christ Jesus

Why does he say that he is a prisoner of Christ Jesus?

Paul was not concerned with physical circumstances.

He was focused on spiritual reality

2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self[d] is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:18 ESV

18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Paul was fixing his eyes on the spiritual

He spiritual status is that of a prisoner of Jesus

He is humble

Just like Jesus

Being in prison was not a defeat for Paul

This imprisonment was not a result of Paul’s sin or disobedience

Prison was a consequence of Paul’s obedience to Jesus

Even if it meant that Paul would suffer.

Why is there suffering?

Why does God allow suffering?

God can use suffering →

In Romans 5, Paul tells us that…

Romans 5:3-4 ESV

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

Why God has allowed us to experience certain types of suffering?

Some of us have suffered

We know that God is good

We know that God uses suffering

We know that all Christians are called to suffer

We know that all Christians are called to share in Christ’s sufferings

2 Timothy 3:2 ESV

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

When we share in Christ’s sufferings…

We put God’s glory and His grace on display for all the world to see

Just look at Jesus

Ephesians 3:1 ESV

1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—

Paul is gladly suffering because of his love for the Ephesians

Paul tells the Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ESV

14 For the love of Christ controls us [imprisons us], because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Paul is glad to share in Christ’s sufferings

Because of His devotion to Jesus…& out of love for the Gentiles

Ephesians 3:1 ESV

1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—

Ephesians 3:2 ESV

2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace

that was given to me for you,

Do you remember the story of Paul’s conversion?

In Acts 9, Jesus says →

Acts 9:15-16 ESV

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he [Paul] is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

Paul was called to preach the gospel to the Gentiles

And then he will tell them why

Ephesians 3:2 ESV

2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace

that was given to me for you,

Ephesians 3:3 ESV

3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.

The mystery of God’s grace for the Gentiles was revealed to Paul by God

Paul says this is nothing new

He has just written about it briefly (Eph 2:11-22)

More specifically vs 19-22

Ephesians 3:4-5 ESV

4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,

5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations

as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

Paul says this mystery of Christ was not previously made known in other generations

What is this mystery of Christ?

Ephesians 3:6 ESV

6 This mystery is[a] that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body,

and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

The Gentiles are fellow heirs → along with Israel (God’s covenant people)

The Gentiles are members of the same body → along with the Jews

The Gentiles are partakers of the promise

Ephesians 3:7 ESV

7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace,

which was given me by the working of his power.

God’s grace was especially evident in the life & ministry of Paul

1 Timothy 1:12-16 ESV

12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

God gave Paul the responsibility of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles

Even though he was the least likely person to do so

Ephesians 3:8-9 ESV

8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given,

to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery

hidden for ages in[b] God, who created all things,

Paul now reveals WHY God saved him

God had a secret plan…

And God chose this man Paul to articulate the story (the gospel)

Ephesians 3:10 ESV

10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God

might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

As the church, we have been given the purpose & the privilege of putting God’s manifold wisdom on display

God wants to make His wisdom known through us!

Ephesians 3:11-12 ESV

11 This was according to the eternal purpose

that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

God’s eternal purpose was that the gospel would be displayed thru His church

Church this is why we exist

We are here to put God’s beautiful gospel on display

This is the GOSPEL →

Wisdom of God

Love of God

Wrath of God

Justice of God

Glory of God

Son of God

Ephesians 3:13 ESV

13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Paul does not say “Do not be sad.”

He says, “Do not lose heart.”

God is in complete control

God is completely good

Paul is encouraging them

Because as he is suffering…he is fulfilling his part in the grand plan of God

And if his suffering means their glorification…then their suffering means more glory as well

We must realize that even our suffering is meant to display the glory of God as we trust him.

I want us to understand righteous suffering.

Job suffered because he was righteous.

Job was pointing forward to Jesus

Jesus was the only truly righteous man who would also suffer.

“The cross does not solve the problem of suffering, but it gives us the right perspective from which to view it.” – John Stott

Jesus suffered not only because He was righteous but also for the unrighteous

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Friends everything that God does, He does for His glory.

God’s story is about God’s glory.

God wants to put us on display for all to see.

Let us join with Paul & make his prayer our prayer…

1 Timothy 1:12-17 ESV

12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.[d] Amen.