Paul’s Stewardship of the Mystery
Ephesians 3:1-6
The Main Point: Since Christ is __________, you ought to be a good
________ of His grace given to you for the benefit of _________.
How can one be a good steward of God’s grace?
I.
_____________ being a prisoner of Jesus!
v. 1
A. Understand the great __________________ (1a).
1. Have a proper appreciation for God’s love.
2. Marvel that God has chosen you to participate.
B. Understand your _________________ in life (1b).
1. _________ the Lord through all circumstances.
2Ti 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be
persecuted (1Th 2:14)
2Ti 4:5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an
evangelist, fulfill your ministry (Act 21:13)
1Th 2:15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us
out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men…
2. _________ a minster to others (1:8).
Act 22:21 "And He said to me, 'Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'
Rom 9:2-3 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. 3 For I
could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake
of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh…
Application:
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
II.
____________ the divine mystery of Christ!
v. 2-6
A. It involved a (task) _________________ of grace (2).
1. He was commissioned by _________.
Act 20:24 "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so
that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord
Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.
Gal 2:7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the
gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised (cf.
Acts 26:15-18)
2. He was commissioned to the ____________.
Gal 2:7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the
gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised (cf.
Acts 26:15-18; Col 1:24-26)
B. It involved a ___________________ from God (3-5).
1. Grace gave _________ of special revelation (3).
2. Grace __________ this revelation to others (4).
Rom 16:25-26 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my
gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the
mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now is
manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the
commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations,
leading to obedience of faith…
C. It involved God’s _____________ on the Gentiles (6).
1. They had everything that was promised to Israel.
2. They received this _______ through the Gospel.
Conclusion:
How can you be a good steward of the mystery of Christ?
1)
2)
___________ being a prisoner of Jesus;
__________ the divine mystery of Christ!
Grace is the unmerited favor of God bestowed upon us out of love!
What we do with His grace will identify whether or not we truly love
Him as we ought.
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
“Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasin, Call for songs of loudest praise… Praise
His name–I’m fixed upon it–Name of God’s redeeming love.”
He Leadeth Me
“And when my task on earth is done, When, by Thy grace, the vict’ry’s
won, E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee, Since God thru Jordan
leadeth me. He leadeth me, He leadeth me! By His own hand He leadeth
me! His faithful foll’wer I would be, For by His hand He leadeth me.”
Why is this important to me?
God has chosen you to be a steward of His grace (mystery of Christ).
You will give an account to God and receive a reward or suffer loss
for your stewardship.