Ephesians 3:7-13: I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
In this passage Paul continues to speak about the mystery that God revealed to him. As noted last week, this mystery is that God has chosen to make one body out of both Jews and Gentiles. We are joint heirs together of the grace of God.
Paul states that he is a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace. We are saved by grace, and we serve by grace.
God's grace is often defined as God's unmerited favor. Grace is receiving what we do not deserve. Grace is receiving something that has been purchased by another. There is no way possible to earn the grace of God. Grace cannot be earned, grace can only be received.
We have all sinned. We have all missed the mark of perfection. Paul considered himself to be the least of all of God's people. Paul had consented to the murder of Stephen. The apostle Peter denied the Lord. King David committed adultery and murder. But God used these men in great ways even though they were sinful, imperfect men. But by the grace of God, they received the ministry to which God called them.
Learning to receive God's grace, and learning to walk in God's grace is a key to a fruitful, productive life.
Paul says that this grace came through the working of God's power. God's power is always available to empower the work of the ministry. Unfortunately, many people strive to do the work of the minstry in their own power. Even though some good works can be accomplished this way, there is very little, if any, eternal fruit in this type of effort.
But God's grace brings the revelation of God's call for your life. When you seek to work out God's call in your life through the power of the Holy Spirit, then fruitful, productive ministry is realized.
Charles Green, the founder of Faith Church in New Orleans, Louisiana, once said, "The calling is the enabling." When a believer, through God's grace, realizes the work that God intends for him, with that call comes the availability of the power of God to accomplish the work to which God has called him.
Verse twelve states an exciting reality in the kingdom of God. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
The flow of God's grace to your life is greatly enhanced by taking advantage of the access to God, which has given to you in Jesus Christ. You may approach God with confidence. As the writer of Hebrews said in Hebrews 4:16: Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
God's throne is called the throne of grace. You may approach the Almighty God with freedom and confidence because he loves you. And because he desires to fill your life with his mercy and grace. He desires to lead you into the fullnes of his call for your life. And he desires to empower you to succeed as you seek to fulfill the call of God for your life.
We celebrated my 50th birthday this past July. At this age you begin to look at your life to see what you have accomplished. And then you begin to see things that you haven't accomplished.
Children sometimes talk about what they want to do when "they grow up." But sometimes as adults are still wondering what they want to be when they grow up. Using that expression really means, "What is the main purpose of my life? For what I have been created? Am I wasting my life, or am I making progress toward my purpose in life?"
Since my 50th birthday I have decided with no wavering or doubt, what I want to do when I "grow up." I believe I know my main purpose in life. I have not arrived, and it is something that I will have to work on the rest of my days on this planet.
I want to be a man of prayer.
If I am diligent to pray, and to take advantage of the access to the throne of God provided by the blood of Jesus, then I will be successful. If I intercede for others as the Holy Spirit leads, then I will be successful. If I am committed to prayer, then I will know what God wants me to do in every arena of life.
Paul was man, who once named Saul. He fought against the gospel of Jesus Christ. But the grace of God came to him, and he entered into a very productive ministry for Jesus. That same grace today is available to you. Enter into that grace!! And walk boldly in the grace and the power of God to fullfill his call upon your life.
Wayne L. Williams
wayne@fotwm.org