We all need a little humor as we deal with life, so here’s one for you... At the conclusion of the sermon, the worshipers would pause to greet the minister as they exited from the sanctuary. As one of them left, he shook the minister's hand, thanked him for the sermon and said, "Thanks for the message, Reverend. You know, you must be smarter than Einstein." Beaming with pride, the minister said, "Why, thank you, brother! As the week went by, the minister began to think about the man's compliment. The more he thought, the more he became baffled as to why anyone would think that he was smarter than Einstein. So he decided to ask the man the following Sunday. So, he asked if the man remembered the Einstein comment and he said that he did. The minister asked: "Exactly what did you mean that I must be smarter than Einstein?" Well, The man replied, "They say that Einstein was so smart that only ten people in the entire world could understand him. But, no one can understand you." Well, I trust that Understanding will be granted, and you will understand what I would like to share with you today!
My message is titled “A Mystery Unraveled”
I’m sure we could all say that the Bible holds many mysteries which we are still trying to unravel and understand, but we can be assured that....
Mark 4:11 tells us all “to you has been given the “Mysteries of the Kingdom”.... Romans 11:25 tells us to “not be ignorant of the mystery”... Romans 11:33says that “the wisdom and knowledge of God is unsearchable” indicatingthat it is a continual and unending journey.... Daniel 2:28 “The God of heaven reveals mysteries” 1 Corinthians 2:7 tells us to “speak the mysteries of God’s wisdom”.. So, God desires to reveal to the searching heart, His mysteries so that we can speak them out. I said last Sunday that the purpose of Holy Spirit’s coming was to “take the things of God and reveal them to the church” John 16:14and this is the way Paul describes the purpose of the letter He sends to the Ephesian church in Ephesians 3:8- He says “Unto 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 God, who created all things”
So, I want us to read that entire section of Paul’s letter, beginning with
Ephesians 3: 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 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] Unto 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 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”.
My mom was always telling me to take bite sized pieces when I ate, because when I was hungry, as a growing boy with unbounding energy, I wanted to devour my food and get back out to the adventure. So we’re going to take bite sized pieces of this mystery, which Paul presents to the Ephesians, before you return to your adventure.
As we focus on some bite sized pieces of this divine mystery andthe implications it presents of our union in Christ. We begin with....
(1) “The mystery of the Prisoner”
Ephesians 3:1 “For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for 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”
Paul is saying that the mystery of being a prisoner of Christ, had been opened up to him by revelation. He had been in prison many times for preaching the gospel but no matter what prison he was in, how much he was shackled and chained, He didn’t refer to himself as a prisoner of that place, but a prisoner of Christ. That’s important.... On one occasion, Paul was chained to a Roman guard on either side, and I’m sure Paul is thinking, “I’ve got them right where I want them, they can’t get away”.......Paul believed “He whom the Son sets free is free indeed”!! It’s like Daniel in the lion’s den.... It was the lion’s den till Daniel got there, then, he made it into Daniel’s den. Because he knew that God had put him there for a demonstration to the entire kingdom of Babylon...... Is the hard place, the difficult place transforming you, or do you understand that you are there to transform it! The mystery of being a prisoner of Christ, is that you can transform any place you are at, and cause it to serve the one you serve.
David was taking lunch to his brothers, that was his mission, but as he was being faithful to God, the mission became a much greater one. He became the liberator of Israel by slaying Goliath. Understand the mystery of being a prisoner of Christ! Every place you’re at, can hold potential beyond what you can understand at the moment. By being His prisoner, any place, any time, any circumstance can be transformed... Understand the mystery....
Corrie Ten Boom wrote that she considered that wherever she was, that was the perfect place in the world that God wanted her to take the power of the mystery of the gospel to. And she proved it even in the concentration camps of Germany. It became Corrie’s camp!
You are not a prisoner of a dead end job, a messed up marriage, overwhelming debt, the low expectations of those around you, or those in authority over you. As a Christian, bearing the name of Christ, whatever situation we are in, even the most difficultand challenging, has a godly purpose and a mystery to be revealed.
Dissatisfaction, envy, covetousness, and complaining, are red flags that we do not understand the mystery of being a prisoner of Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:8 “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; [9] persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; [10] always carrying in this body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested through us. [11] For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested through us”.
The earth’s crust is 25 miles thick. The deepest hole on earth isat the Kola Peninsula in Scandinavia, which is 7 1/2 miles deep and that’s shallow compared with the depths of God’s riches oflove and grace, held in store for each believer.
I refer you to (Col 2:3) as “the glorious riches of the mystery, which is Christ in you the hope of glory”
In His Ephesian letter, Paul mentions
“The mystery of the Purpose”
Ephesians 3:10 (ESV) “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 (the prothesis) that he has purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord”
The word purpose or “Prothesis” here, represents that which is far above, greater, and superior to what is seen at the moment.God’s greater purpose has our purpose included in it. We are part of His greater purpose. When my purpose was to marry Winnie Marston and make her Winnie Elliott... David, Chris, and Karen were a greater purpose connected to that. All that they have accomplished in their purpose has Pepper and Zoe, Parker, Evan, Kaytlyn, Jessie, Bryson, Livia, Brandon, and their kids, (our 5 great, grand kids) included in it, plus all, that all of them have reached thru their ministry.
The church and those in it, is not an end in itself but a means to an end, the end is to glorify God.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 8:6 “There is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him”
“From Him, For Him, Through Him, and To Him are all things”. (that’s worship) That statement will remove a lot of mystery, uncertainty, doubt, fear, intimidation, and pressure from your life....
In the classroom of God’s universe, He is the Teacher, the angels are the students, the church of the ages (you and me, and all who are before and after) is the , and the subject is the manifold wisdom of God. The church is not only the pattern, but also the means God is using to show that His purposes are moving triumphantly to their climactic conclusion.
What would happen if the Christian church could get her heart, mind and spirit around this claim of Paul—that all powers, all structures, all institutions, all systems can be and ultimately will be redeemed—indeed, that it is God’s plan to bring everything into harmony with His purposes! An understanding of the Prothesis (the unseen things, that are far above, greater, beyond, and superior to what is seen), brings us into what Paul refers to as “High Praises”....
Psalm 149:4 “For the Lord takes pleasure in His people, He will beautify the humble with salvation (wholeness and completeness). v5 Let the faithful ones be joyful in glory. Let them sing aloud on their beds. v6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword (the word of God) in their hand….” Scripture tells us to give Him high praises, it is praise that has moved to another level, and has become mature in understanding, rising above the carnal mind, the emotions and fleshly feelings. It is praise with understanding. If you only praise God when things are going well, your praise has not become high praise yet. If you only praise God when you feel like it, your praise has not become high praise yet. If you only praise God when you come to church, your praise has not become high praise yet. If you don’t understand that praise is Spiritual warfare, your praise has not become high praise yet. If you only praise God for what He does and not for who He is, your praise has not become high praise yet…. As we get this higher perspective, it will change the atmosphere in the situations and circumstances around us as we bring heaven into the earth. We move out of tunnel vision, and begin to see the bigger picture of divine purpose, in our job, our home, our relationships, and our circumstances. Our calling is now and always, to elevate the place where we are. You can’t give something you don’t have…. You can’t call others to a place you have not come to yourself… You can’t teach what you have not learned…You can’t impart what you have not received…. The reason you have been under such heavy attacks from the enemy, is because he knows that you have the potential to elevate where you are to a higher level and sway everything within your circle of life to a higher place and into God’s greater purposes.
There is a greater purpose than the purpose you’re in at the moment. Picture yourself in an orchestra. You may be playing the trumpet, and someone else is playing the base, and another the cymbals, another the violine, another the drums, but all of these are under a conductor, whose task is to bring all of these parts into harmony so that even though the audience sees them all, they only hear one sound, blended in unity so that all the sounds become one sound with one purpose.
Paul also speaks of “The Mystery of The Privilege” In Judaism only the high priest could enter the presence of God in the Holy of Holies, and that would be briefly, once a year on the Day of Atonement. For anyone else to come into God’s presence meant instant death. But God put an exclamation point on His desire for all believers to have the privilege of total access to His throne room, when He tore the veil in half, from top to bottom, so no one could doubt that He did it, to establish a new system of grace and mercy and access for those who belong to Him. Oh, may we move through the open veil, and wade out into the vastness of the depths of His presence.
Ephesians 3:12 “in Christ we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him. [13] So I ask you not to lose heart in suffering, which is for your glory. (ESV)
There are three stages in our progress. First, we believe the promises of God... next, by relying on His word, we begin to gain confidence, which is accompanied by peace of heart and mind, and, last of all, we come into boldness, which enables us to banish fear, and intimidation and to come with firmness, courage and steadiness as we become more and more hungry for the presence of God. Belief, Confidence, then Boldness with the access we have been given. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way...
Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (ESV)
Romans 8:18 “I consider that the sufferings of this present time,” he explained to the Roman believers, “are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us”.
John MacArthur tells a story of an old church in England. A sign on the front of the building read “We preach Christ crucified, Risen, and coming again.” After a time, ivy grew up the walls, obscuring the last words. The sign now read, “We preach Christ, crucified.” The ivy grew some more, and the motto read, “We preach Christ.” Finally, ivy covered the word Christ, so that it read, “We preach”.. Soon, the ivy covered the everything but the word “We” and the church died. Such is the fate of any church or people that forgets the great privilege of access to His presence and fails to carry out its mission in the world. Let us determine that we shall fulfil our mission in the world to share the mysteries of the kingdom.
Paul, who wrote this truth to us, was a blasphemer of Christ, and a persecutor of the church.. But as he surrendered to Christ through the Holy Spirit, he received access into the mysteries of the kingdom. The same access which we have all received... PRESS IN, KEEP MOVING FORWARD, CLAIM THE ACCESS YOU HAVE RECEIVED!
ENTER INTO THE BRIGHT LIGHT OF REVELATION WHICH BRINGS UNDERSTANDING OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE!
Let’s stand together for our confession..... Light is breaking through the darkness, clarity is pushing aside confusion and the end is in sight. The substance of what I hoped for and the evidence of what I believed for is beginning to be manifested. I will stand my ground and see it, as I continue to believe forward, in spite of all I see. In Christ, what can possibly succeed against me. That which stands in my way shall yield to the anointing which has authorized mr for this time and this time for me. The thing that I fear has no substance and my doubts have no foundation. My Lord is bringing this full circle, and He is bringing people across my path who shall guide me into what He has always desired for me. I cannot possibly understand all that He has done and all that He is doing, to bring about what He has put in my heart. I believe that, no matter what it looks like, He will have His way in the whirlwind and the storm. And when it is finished, all shall know that except for the Lord’s doing, I would only fail. God has seen my heart and how you have pursued after Him. I know in my spirit that something, (a God thing) is about to happen that will catapult me to another level. He is walking on the water, so that I will not go under, and as I keep my hand in His, we shall walk through it all together and having done all, I shall stand and see the glory of the Lord. So, I will be still and know that You are God. I will not have to fight this battle, for the battle belongs to the Lord. This battle is already won and the victory is already mine.
