WEBVTT 00:00:00.220 --> 00:00:07.820 Thanks very much, Rachel. Good morning, everyone. Really good to have you with us, whether you're present in person here at the church or joining us virtually. 00:00:08.460 --> 00:00:13.599 It would be helpful if you've got a Bible, if you have that in front of you as we go through the passage. 00:00:15.080 --> 00:00:23.000 I think one of the most difficult things for many people during lockdown has been having loved ones who they're really worried about, 00:00:23.379 --> 00:00:28.480 but they've not been able to go and see or not certainly not be able to go and see as much as they would like to. 00:00:29.260 --> 00:00:35.600 They've wanted to care for perhaps elderly relatives, to visit people in hospital or in nursing homes, 00:00:35.980 --> 00:00:39.600 or perhaps these days to be able to see their student children. 00:00:40.299 --> 00:00:45.679 And they haven't been able to and they've found it a real burden and have really worried about them. 00:00:45.740 --> 00:00:48.719 Perhaps some of you are in that position. 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:54.019 Or perhaps you're at the other end of that, that you're the person that someone is really concerned about 00:00:54.019 --> 00:00:58.359 and you want to say to them, look, don't worry, I'm all right, or maybe you don't. 00:00:58.479 --> 00:01:01.359 Either way, it's very difficult. 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:06.840 And we're thrown back perhaps as never before on our trust in the Lord, 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:10.519 believing that he will work all things for his purposes. 00:01:11.259 --> 00:01:16.400 And the thing that we can always do is come to him in prayer. 00:01:17.459 --> 00:01:20.659 Now you might be saying, what's the relevance of that rather heavy introduction 00:01:20.659 --> 00:01:24.479 to this wonderful passage in Ephesians? 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:32.299 Well, Paul's condition as he wrote this letter was very similar in many ways to what I've just described. 00:01:33.019 --> 00:01:39.140 He was in prison and the people he was writing to, the church in Ephesus and perhaps others who received the letter, 00:01:39.579 --> 00:01:42.939 they were worried about him and his circumstances. 00:01:42.939 --> 00:01:48.980 And he wanted to say to them, look, don't worry, you shouldn't be worrying about me. 00:01:49.399 --> 00:01:53.239 What's happening is all in God's purpose. 00:01:54.560 --> 00:02:00.539 And so we have Paul's position as the starting point for this passage. 00:02:00.939 --> 00:02:03.659 Now we're not going to go through it consecutively verse by verse, 00:02:03.659 --> 00:02:09.000 and Paul's position is really in verse 1 and then again in verse 13. 00:02:09.500 --> 00:02:13.359 And in both cases, he describes himself as a prisoner. 00:02:14.079 --> 00:02:18.900 A prisoner, in fact, for the sake of the Gentiles. 00:02:19.340 --> 00:02:23.659 Now if you remember the story of Paul, Paul went and he was the apostle to the Gentiles. 00:02:23.960 --> 00:02:25.639 And when he went back to Jerusalem, 00:02:26.199 --> 00:02:32.000 because he was seen as going against the Jewish law by some who wanted to stick rigidly to it, 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:37.620 and because he accepted the Gentiles as equals within the church, 00:02:37.960 --> 00:02:41.360 he was arrested, he was imprisoned, he was taken to Rome. 00:02:41.780 --> 00:02:47.259 Ultimately, he would be executed for his work for the Lord Jesus. 00:02:47.759 --> 00:02:49.420 He wasn't quite at that stage here. 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:53.159 He was probably under house arrest, maybe in Rome. 00:02:53.620 --> 00:02:59.180 Nevertheless, he was a prisoner and the people in Ephesus were worried about him, 00:02:59.180 --> 00:03:03.120 perhaps particularly worried because he was suffering because of them, 00:03:03.219 --> 00:03:05.939 because of what he had done for them. 00:03:06.819 --> 00:03:08.560 And Paul wants to say to them, 00:03:08.920 --> 00:03:11.540 don't worry about me. 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:13.159 Yes, I'm a prisoner. 00:03:13.879 --> 00:03:16.300 Yes, I'm suffering for the gospel. 00:03:16.819 --> 00:03:18.800 But there's a bigger picture here. 00:03:19.260 --> 00:03:21.140 And when we look at the bigger picture, 00:03:21.140 --> 00:03:27.480 the temporary, the present troubles come into some kind of perspective. 00:03:27.479 --> 00:03:31.179 So I said, Paul's positioner, he's a prisoner. 00:03:31.259 --> 00:03:33.879 He's a prisoner of the Romans probably at this stage. 00:03:34.219 --> 00:03:35.319 He's in prison. 00:03:35.399 --> 00:03:36.359 But look at verse 1. 00:03:37.339 --> 00:03:37.859 Paul says, 00:03:37.939 --> 00:03:43.199 For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus. 00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:46.219 Now, he doesn't say a prisoner for Christ Jesus. 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:47.479 That would have been quite correct. 00:03:47.780 --> 00:03:50.519 He was suffering for the sake of the gospel, 00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:51.879 for the sake of Christ Jesus. 00:03:52.519 --> 00:03:53.239 But he says, 00:03:53.339 --> 00:03:56.259 I'm a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 00:03:56.259 --> 00:03:59.560 And it may have been the Jews who got him arrested. 00:03:59.959 --> 00:04:02.239 It may have been the Romans who had him in prison. 00:04:02.739 --> 00:04:04.439 But actually, Paul says, 00:04:04.780 --> 00:04:08.159 this is all part of God's purpose for me. 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:12.120 And I don't see myself as being just a prisoner of the Romans. 00:04:12.799 --> 00:04:14.719 I'm a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 00:04:15.180 --> 00:04:17.099 I am doing it for his sake 00:04:17.099 --> 00:04:20.680 and for the sake of the gospel. 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:23.420 And that makes it worthwhile. 00:04:23.939 --> 00:04:26.139 He talks in Philippians about being able to participate 00:04:26.139 --> 00:04:29.300 in the sufferings of the Lord Jesus. 00:04:30.139 --> 00:04:31.780 And because he's doing it for the gospel, 00:04:31.980 --> 00:04:32.540 Paul says, 00:04:32.860 --> 00:04:35.139 that is really worthwhile. 00:04:36.379 --> 00:04:37.540 And then verse 13, 00:04:37.699 --> 00:04:39.199 at the other end of the passage, 00:04:39.300 --> 00:04:39.500 he says, 00:04:39.579 --> 00:04:40.399 I ask you, therefore, 00:04:40.899 --> 00:04:44.019 not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:46.720 which are your glory. 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:48.420 That's quite a strange phrase, isn't it? 00:04:48.420 --> 00:04:50.660 Which are your glory. 00:04:51.379 --> 00:04:52.480 What does he mean by that? 00:04:53.160 --> 00:04:55.300 Well, I think what Paul means 00:04:55.300 --> 00:04:57.660 is that the fact that he's suffering 00:04:57.660 --> 00:04:59.939 for the sake of the Gentiles 00:04:59.939 --> 00:05:03.200 and the fact that he's willing to go through that 00:05:03.200 --> 00:05:04.620 without complaint 00:05:04.620 --> 00:05:07.280 shows just how important it is 00:05:07.280 --> 00:05:11.080 that the Gentiles are now part of God's people. 00:05:11.079 --> 00:05:13.599 And it gives them extra worth, 00:05:13.719 --> 00:05:14.279 if you like, 00:05:14.599 --> 00:05:16.879 that someone cares enough about them 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:19.379 that he is willing to suffer for them 00:05:19.379 --> 00:05:23.039 because there is a huge principle at stake here 00:05:23.039 --> 00:05:25.240 that the Gentiles, the non-Jews, 00:05:25.399 --> 00:05:27.019 are welcomed into the church 00:05:27.019 --> 00:05:29.839 on the same basis as the Jews. 00:05:30.579 --> 00:05:33.120 So Paul is a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:36.279 It is part of his fellowship with the Lord, 00:05:36.419 --> 00:05:37.879 suffering for him. 00:05:37.879 --> 00:05:42.120 He is also someone who is showing the worth, 00:05:42.500 --> 00:05:43.560 the value of us, 00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:46.439 of those who were not born as Jews, 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:48.079 that in God's sight, 00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:50.219 we are really important. 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:53.459 He's saying it is for your glory. 00:05:54.279 --> 00:05:57.219 He saw beyond the immediate position he was in 00:05:57.219 --> 00:06:00.279 and he saw the big picture. 00:06:00.920 --> 00:06:02.100 And perhaps that's a lesson for us 00:06:02.100 --> 00:06:04.120 if we are suffering in lockdown, 00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:05.740 perhaps in the way I was describing earlier, 00:06:05.740 --> 00:06:07.579 perhaps in other ways. 00:06:08.259 --> 00:06:11.279 Yes, there is a lot that we could complain about 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:13.339 and we could say this is really, 00:06:13.779 --> 00:06:15.060 really difficult. 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:17.180 But there is a bigger picture. 00:06:17.420 --> 00:06:18.519 We don't know what it is. 00:06:18.899 --> 00:06:20.659 We may know bits and pieces of it. 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:22.360 God knows the big picture 00:06:22.360 --> 00:06:25.300 and God's purposes will be fulfilled 00:06:25.300 --> 00:06:27.060 whatever happens. 00:06:27.139 --> 00:06:28.620 Whatever position we're in, 00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:31.420 we should be willing to put our trust in God 00:06:31.420 --> 00:06:35.079 and to recognize that he is in control. 00:06:35.079 --> 00:06:39.800 And we do that as we come to him in prayer. 00:06:40.300 --> 00:06:42.359 Paul says to the Ephesians, 00:06:42.779 --> 00:06:44.939 do not be discouraged. 00:06:45.399 --> 00:06:46.879 And that reminded me of the old hymn. 00:06:47.459 --> 00:06:49.439 Have we trials and temptations? 00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:52.319 Is there trouble anywhere? 00:06:52.319 --> 00:06:55.639 We should never be discouraged. 00:06:55.639 --> 00:06:59.719 Take it to the Lord in prayer. 00:06:59.719 --> 00:07:01.639 Let's do that if we're struggling at the moment 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:03.000 in current circumstances. 00:07:03.540 --> 00:07:04.639 Let's bring it to the Lord 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:05.740 and leave it with him 00:07:05.740 --> 00:07:09.740 and seek his peace and his help in it. 00:07:10.740 --> 00:07:11.740 But then in the other verses, 00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:12.680 the ones in the middle 00:07:12.680 --> 00:07:14.659 of what we've been looking at, 00:07:15.079 --> 00:07:16.539 Paul expands a bit more 00:07:16.540 --> 00:07:19.140 on what the big picture is. 00:07:19.760 --> 00:07:21.500 So he's talked about his condition, 00:07:21.640 --> 00:07:22.860 verses 1 and 13. 00:07:23.540 --> 00:07:24.840 And the second thing I want to look at 00:07:24.840 --> 00:07:26.960 is what I've called Paul's cognition. 00:07:27.800 --> 00:07:29.660 Now I suspect cognition isn't a word 00:07:29.660 --> 00:07:31.220 you use in everyday language 00:07:31.220 --> 00:07:32.260 unless you have to be 00:07:32.260 --> 00:07:33.560 an educational psychologist. 00:07:34.379 --> 00:07:35.720 But what it simply means 00:07:35.720 --> 00:07:37.840 is it's how we make sense 00:07:37.840 --> 00:07:40.040 of the world round about us. 00:07:40.420 --> 00:07:41.980 How we take what we see, 00:07:42.200 --> 00:07:43.160 what we hear, 00:07:43.160 --> 00:07:44.640 what we experience, 00:07:44.639 --> 00:07:46.000 and we process it 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:47.620 to build our knowledge 00:07:47.620 --> 00:07:49.599 and our understanding. 00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:51.860 And Paul's talking here 00:07:51.860 --> 00:07:54.379 about how he came to make sense 00:07:54.379 --> 00:07:56.019 of this relationship 00:07:56.019 --> 00:07:57.079 between the Jews 00:07:57.079 --> 00:07:58.800 and the Gentiles in the church 00:07:58.800 --> 00:08:00.659 and how all of us 00:08:00.659 --> 00:08:03.399 are together in Christ. 00:08:05.060 --> 00:08:05.699 Now last week 00:08:05.699 --> 00:08:07.279 when we were looking at chapter 2 00:08:07.279 --> 00:08:09.159 which also talks about a similar thing, 00:08:09.539 --> 00:08:11.659 Graham made the very correct point 00:08:11.660 --> 00:08:14.720 that this is not something new. 00:08:15.400 --> 00:08:17.340 That as we go through the Old Testament 00:08:17.340 --> 00:08:20.500 it foreshadows what is happening here. 00:08:20.920 --> 00:08:21.760 For example, 00:08:21.880 --> 00:08:23.140 in God's promises to Abraham 00:08:23.140 --> 00:08:25.960 that all nations would be blessed through him. 00:08:25.960 --> 00:08:26.580 And that's correct. 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:28.160 There's a continuity in Scripture. 00:08:28.379 --> 00:08:30.260 There's nothing that's contradictory 00:08:30.260 --> 00:08:32.580 in the Old and the New Testaments. 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:34.940 And yet, here Paul says, 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:37.720 actually there is something that's new. 00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:40.300 What's new is our understanding 00:08:40.300 --> 00:08:42.420 of God's purposes. 00:08:42.580 --> 00:08:44.259 It used to be a mystery. 00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:45.560 It is a mystery, he says. 00:08:45.820 --> 00:08:47.360 But in the biblical context, 00:08:47.460 --> 00:08:48.620 a mystery is not something 00:08:48.620 --> 00:08:50.379 we don't understand 00:08:50.379 --> 00:08:51.300 that we've got to go away 00:08:51.300 --> 00:08:52.340 and try and solve. 00:08:52.820 --> 00:08:54.200 A mystery is something 00:08:54.200 --> 00:08:57.060 that was previously hidden 00:08:57.060 --> 00:08:58.320 that people in the past 00:08:58.320 --> 00:08:59.680 didn't understand 00:08:59.680 --> 00:09:03.040 but has now been revealed to us. 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:04.679 And Paul says, 00:09:05.059 --> 00:09:08.740 God has revealed this mystery to me. 00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:10.259 And we will be looking in a few minutes 00:09:10.259 --> 00:09:13.099 at exactly what that mystery is. 00:09:13.599 --> 00:09:14.579 But for the moment, 00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:16.939 we're looking at how Paul 00:09:16.939 --> 00:09:19.199 came to understand it. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:20.759 And he says, 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:23.599 this mystery was made known to me 00:09:23.599 --> 00:09:24.839 by revelation. 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:27.599 It was revealed by the Spirit 00:09:27.599 --> 00:09:32.019 to God's holy apostles and prophets. 00:09:32.019 --> 00:09:34.939 And that would include Paul, of course. 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:35.559 Now, we don't know 00:09:35.559 --> 00:09:37.519 how it was revealed to Paul. 00:09:38.019 --> 00:09:39.799 Did he have some kind of vision 00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:40.960 like Peter did 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:42.100 when the cloth came down 00:09:42.100 --> 00:09:44.659 and he saw the different foods on 00:09:44.659 --> 00:09:45.639 and God taught him 00:09:45.639 --> 00:09:47.720 that the Gentiles were able 00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:48.819 to be part of the church 00:09:48.819 --> 00:09:49.960 as well as the Jews? 00:09:50.220 --> 00:09:50.679 Perhaps. 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:51.860 Perhaps not. 00:09:52.059 --> 00:09:52.779 Perhaps it's just 00:09:52.779 --> 00:09:54.199 there was a sudden insight 00:09:54.199 --> 00:09:54.939 that he got 00:09:54.939 --> 00:09:56.319 as he was thinking, 00:09:56.439 --> 00:09:57.860 as he was studying God's word. 00:09:57.860 --> 00:09:59.919 And he came to understand 00:09:59.919 --> 00:10:01.100 the significance 00:10:01.100 --> 00:10:02.480 of the Gentiles 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:04.500 coming into the church. 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:05.200 And I'm sure you spent 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:06.139 a lot of time then 00:10:06.139 --> 00:10:06.960 studying it 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:08.320 and building up 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:09.460 the theology of it, 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:10.860 if you like. 00:10:11.139 --> 00:10:12.480 But it was revealed to him 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:13.259 by God 00:10:13.259 --> 00:10:15.720 and he came to understand it 00:10:15.720 --> 00:10:18.399 through the Spirit of God. 00:10:19.259 --> 00:10:20.080 Now, as Paul's condition, 00:10:20.200 --> 00:10:21.779 what about our cognition? 00:10:21.920 --> 00:10:23.960 How do we come to view 00:10:23.960 --> 00:10:25.100 the world around us 00:10:25.100 --> 00:10:26.879 and to make sense of it? 00:10:27.620 --> 00:10:28.560 Well, there are two ways 00:10:28.560 --> 00:10:29.279 that God does it, 00:10:29.300 --> 00:10:30.019 two principal ways 00:10:30.019 --> 00:10:30.899 that God does it. 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:32.480 One is through the Bible. 00:10:32.659 --> 00:10:35.040 The Bible is God's revelation to us. 00:10:35.860 --> 00:10:37.060 We are not going to have 00:10:37.060 --> 00:10:39.639 new theologies being developed today 00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:40.779 because it is all there 00:10:40.779 --> 00:10:41.899 in the Scripture. 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:44.019 God has given it to us. 00:10:44.659 --> 00:10:47.060 But we also need God's Spirit 00:10:47.060 --> 00:10:48.420 working in us 00:10:48.420 --> 00:10:49.860 and teaching us 00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:51.200 and drawing us 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:52.460 to the Lord Jesus. 00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:54.460 Reading our Bible 00:10:54.460 --> 00:10:56.800 isn't just an intellectual exercise. 00:10:57.680 --> 00:10:58.740 It's not just something 00:10:58.740 --> 00:10:59.800 we read like we would 00:10:59.800 --> 00:11:01.080 a scientific textbook 00:11:01.080 --> 00:11:03.720 or something like that. 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:05.320 Reading the Bible 00:11:05.320 --> 00:11:06.480 is allowing God 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:07.600 to speak to us, 00:11:07.900 --> 00:11:09.720 to reveal himself to us, 00:11:10.019 --> 00:11:11.580 and to come to understand 00:11:11.580 --> 00:11:12.620 more about him 00:11:12.620 --> 00:11:15.080 and about the world around us 00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:17.000 as the Spirit 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:19.400 make us clear to us. 00:11:19.920 --> 00:11:21.400 And as we come to read the Bible, 00:11:21.400 --> 00:11:22.500 whether it's in church 00:11:22.500 --> 00:11:24.419 or whether it's at home 00:11:24.419 --> 00:11:25.799 in our quiet time 00:11:25.799 --> 00:11:26.539 or who's typically 00:11:26.539 --> 00:11:28.639 sitting down to study, 00:11:29.340 --> 00:11:30.299 we should be praying 00:11:30.299 --> 00:11:31.259 that God's Spirit 00:11:31.259 --> 00:11:33.159 will open up the Word to us 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:36.059 and reveal the mysteries, 00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:36.679 the things that were 00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:37.519 previously hidden, 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:38.360 perhaps previously hidden, 00:11:38.360 --> 00:11:39.259 to us as well, 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:41.600 and that we will understand them, 00:11:41.659 --> 00:11:44.340 what God is saying to us. 00:11:45.080 --> 00:11:45.940 Paul's condition 00:11:45.940 --> 00:11:48.380 and Paul's cognition. 00:11:49.280 --> 00:11:51.280 Third thing I want to look at 00:11:51.280 --> 00:11:52.020 is what I've called 00:11:52.020 --> 00:11:53.280 Paul's commission, 00:11:53.900 --> 00:11:55.300 and that's mainly in verses 00:11:55.300 --> 00:11:57.680 7 to 11. 00:11:58.860 --> 00:11:59.880 Paul says, 00:12:00.280 --> 00:12:01.340 I am a servant 00:12:01.340 --> 00:12:02.940 of the gospel. 00:12:04.020 --> 00:12:04.800 He says, 00:12:05.080 --> 00:12:06.460 I have been given 00:12:06.460 --> 00:12:07.740 the administration 00:12:07.740 --> 00:12:10.680 of God's grace. 00:12:10.679 --> 00:12:13.120 Paul's specific role 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:13.979 in the church 00:12:13.979 --> 00:12:15.379 was to take 00:12:15.379 --> 00:12:16.579 the message 00:12:16.579 --> 00:12:17.819 of the gospel 00:12:17.819 --> 00:12:19.519 to the Gentiles. 00:12:20.099 --> 00:12:20.479 Now we know 00:12:20.479 --> 00:12:21.359 what a commission is. 00:12:21.899 --> 00:12:22.899 A commission is 00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:23.500 where someone 00:12:23.500 --> 00:12:24.199 is entrusted 00:12:24.199 --> 00:12:25.259 with a responsibility 00:12:25.259 --> 00:12:27.199 because they're deemed 00:12:27.199 --> 00:12:28.639 to have the expertise 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:30.339 and the experience 00:12:30.339 --> 00:12:31.620 to carry it out. 00:12:32.259 --> 00:12:32.959 So an artist 00:12:32.959 --> 00:12:34.039 is given a commission 00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:35.339 to paint a portrait 00:12:35.339 --> 00:12:36.039 of the queen, 00:12:36.759 --> 00:12:37.819 or a soldier 00:12:37.819 --> 00:12:38.819 is given a commission 00:12:38.820 --> 00:12:40.040 to be an officer 00:12:40.040 --> 00:12:41.280 in the army. 00:12:41.920 --> 00:12:42.600 They're put 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:43.240 in a position 00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:43.960 of trust 00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:45.240 because they're 00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:47.080 worthy of it. 00:12:48.060 --> 00:12:49.080 Paul has been given 00:12:49.080 --> 00:12:50.440 a commission here, 00:12:50.500 --> 00:12:51.280 although he would say 00:12:51.280 --> 00:12:52.500 in many ways 00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:53.640 he wasn't worthy of it. 00:12:53.660 --> 00:12:53.840 He says, 00:12:53.900 --> 00:12:54.580 I'm the least 00:12:54.580 --> 00:12:55.920 of God's people, 00:12:55.920 --> 00:12:56.820 but he has been given 00:12:56.820 --> 00:12:57.420 a commission 00:12:57.420 --> 00:12:58.940 because he is the person 00:12:58.940 --> 00:12:59.720 who has been chosen 00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:00.560 by God 00:13:00.560 --> 00:13:01.720 and has been 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:03.280 empowered by him 00:13:03.280 --> 00:13:04.280 to preach 00:13:04.280 --> 00:13:05.840 to the Gentiles. 00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:07.240 Now as you go 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:07.880 through the passage, 00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:08.799 there's a kind of 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:09.759 three-stage process 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:10.740 going on here. 00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:12.820 So the first thing is 00:13:12.820 --> 00:13:14.480 that God reveals 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:15.399 the mystery 00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:16.439 to Paul. 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:18.100 So Paul comes 00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:19.259 to understand 00:13:19.259 --> 00:13:20.279 God's grace 00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:20.840 to him 00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:22.220 and to the Gentiles. 00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:22.939 So the Gentiles 00:13:22.939 --> 00:13:23.620 and the Jews 00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:24.539 are one 00:13:24.539 --> 00:13:25.779 in Christ Jesus. 00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:26.620 That's stage one. 00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:28.620 The second stage 00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:29.299 is that Paul 00:13:29.299 --> 00:13:30.259 takes what has been 00:13:30.259 --> 00:13:31.240 revealed to him 00:13:31.240 --> 00:13:32.460 and having been 00:13:32.460 --> 00:13:33.539 commissioned to God, 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:34.399 he goes 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:35.240 and preaches it 00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:36.240 to the Gentiles. 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:37.120 He goes 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:37.639 all over 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:38.539 the known world 00:13:38.539 --> 00:13:39.680 and he preaches 00:13:39.680 --> 00:13:40.320 the gospel 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:41.779 and he welcomes 00:13:41.779 --> 00:13:42.740 into the church 00:13:42.740 --> 00:13:44.379 everyone who believes 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:45.639 in the Lord Jesus. 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:47.019 Jew or Gentile, 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:48.320 they become part 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:48.940 of the church 00:13:48.940 --> 00:13:49.799 of the Lord Jesus 00:13:49.799 --> 00:13:51.279 throughout the then 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:52.419 known world. 00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:54.220 But then 00:13:54.220 --> 00:13:55.539 there's a third 00:13:55.539 --> 00:13:56.519 stage in that 00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:57.840 and that's in verse 10 00:13:57.840 --> 00:13:59.320 if you have the passage 00:13:59.320 --> 00:14:00.139 in front of you. 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:01.500 Because Paul says 00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:02.100 his intent 00:14:02.100 --> 00:14:02.940 was that now 00:14:02.940 --> 00:14:04.200 through the church 00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:06.000 the manifold wisdom 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:06.680 of God 00:14:06.680 --> 00:14:07.960 should be made known 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:08.660 to the rulers 00:14:08.660 --> 00:14:09.580 and authorities 00:14:09.580 --> 00:14:11.520 in the heavenly realms. 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:12.900 So in other words 00:14:12.900 --> 00:14:13.600 there's a revelation 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:14.320 to Paul, 00:14:15.160 --> 00:14:16.300 there's Paul's preaching 00:14:16.300 --> 00:14:17.680 to the Gentiles 00:14:17.680 --> 00:14:18.220 or to anyone 00:14:18.220 --> 00:14:19.840 who would listen to him 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:21.379 and the third stage 00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:22.500 is that the church 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:23.879 becomes a witness 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:25.440 of God's grace 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:27.220 to what Paul calls 00:14:27.220 --> 00:14:27.920 the rulers 00:14:27.920 --> 00:14:29.020 and authorities. 00:14:29.140 --> 00:14:29.780 Now probably 00:14:29.780 --> 00:14:31.320 what Paul is thinking of 00:14:31.320 --> 00:14:32.640 as the evil powers 00:14:32.640 --> 00:14:33.540 and authorities 00:14:33.540 --> 00:14:34.820 round about 00:14:34.820 --> 00:14:36.740 that the church 00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:37.820 is to them 00:14:37.820 --> 00:14:38.780 a testimony 00:14:38.780 --> 00:14:40.620 of the power of God 00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:41.980 and of the fact 00:14:41.980 --> 00:14:43.460 that God is in control 00:14:43.460 --> 00:14:44.900 and is able to bring 00:14:44.900 --> 00:14:45.820 all things 00:14:45.820 --> 00:14:46.680 and all people 00:14:46.680 --> 00:14:47.780 to himself 00:14:47.780 --> 00:14:49.120 as they trust 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:50.440 in the Lord Jesus. 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:53.520 Paul's commission. 00:14:54.620 --> 00:14:55.700 The challenge for us is 00:14:55.700 --> 00:14:56.360 well what is 00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:57.420 my commission? 00:14:57.419 --> 00:14:59.299 what is it 00:14:59.299 --> 00:14:59.959 that God 00:14:59.959 --> 00:15:01.179 wants me 00:15:01.179 --> 00:15:02.199 to do? 00:15:03.199 --> 00:15:03.779 And if God 00:15:03.779 --> 00:15:04.360 wants us 00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:05.139 to do something, 00:15:05.219 --> 00:15:06.120 if God is calling us 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:06.919 to do something, 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:08.579 he will equip us 00:15:08.579 --> 00:15:09.519 for it. 00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:11.379 Paul was well equipped 00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:12.039 to be the apostle 00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:13.000 to the Gentiles. 00:15:13.339 --> 00:15:14.199 He was steeped 00:15:14.199 --> 00:15:15.179 in Jewish tradition 00:15:15.179 --> 00:15:16.219 and Jewish teaching 00:15:16.219 --> 00:15:17.659 but at the same time 00:15:17.659 --> 00:15:18.159 he came from 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:19.079 a Gentile city, 00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:19.779 Tarsus, 00:15:20.079 --> 00:15:21.439 and he was a Roman citizen. 00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:22.639 He understood 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:23.639 both sides 00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:24.539 and he was able 00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:25.539 to talk equally 00:15:25.539 --> 00:15:26.620 to Jews 00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:28.199 and to Gentiles. 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:29.860 And he had 00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:30.899 the spiritual insight 00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:31.339 to be able 00:15:31.339 --> 00:15:32.159 to understand 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:33.019 God's truths 00:15:33.019 --> 00:15:34.259 and to be able 00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:35.659 to communicate them. 00:15:36.539 --> 00:15:37.279 So what is it 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:38.839 that God wants me 00:15:38.839 --> 00:15:40.480 or wants you 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:42.240 to do for him? 00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:43.179 And it will be different 00:15:43.179 --> 00:15:44.480 for all of us. 00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:45.679 Well I think 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:46.620 we can understand 00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:47.620 it to some extent 00:15:47.620 --> 00:15:48.159 if we look at 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:48.799 what is it 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:49.579 that God 00:15:49.579 --> 00:15:50.879 has gifted us 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:51.759 to do. 00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:53.439 What is the 00:15:53.439 --> 00:15:54.299 experience 00:15:54.299 --> 00:15:55.599 of our life? 00:15:55.699 --> 00:15:56.740 What are the things, 00:15:56.839 --> 00:15:57.379 the expertise, 00:15:57.620 --> 00:15:58.139 the gifts 00:15:58.139 --> 00:15:59.179 that we have been 00:15:59.179 --> 00:16:00.599 given by God? 00:16:00.939 --> 00:16:02.919 And can we use them 00:16:02.919 --> 00:16:04.639 for his glory? 00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:06.519 I look back 00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:07.419 over my own life 00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:09.259 and I see real parallels 00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:10.539 between what I've done 00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:11.099 in service, 00:16:11.219 --> 00:16:11.939 direct service 00:16:11.939 --> 00:16:13.159 for the Lord Jesus 00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:14.459 and what I did 00:16:14.459 --> 00:16:16.019 in my secular employment. 00:16:16.979 --> 00:16:18.000 My training involved 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:18.399 being able 00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:19.919 to analyse things, 00:16:20.219 --> 00:16:20.639 to be able 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:22.059 to manage finance. 00:16:22.059 --> 00:16:23.639 my job involved 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:24.419 taking things 00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:25.019 that were fairly 00:16:25.019 --> 00:16:25.679 complicated 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:26.859 and trying to 00:16:26.859 --> 00:16:27.899 explain them simply 00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:28.959 so that others 00:16:28.959 --> 00:16:30.399 could understand them. 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:31.479 And as I look at 00:16:31.479 --> 00:16:32.099 what I did 00:16:32.099 --> 00:16:32.679 and what I do 00:16:32.679 --> 00:16:33.359 in the church, 00:16:33.699 --> 00:16:34.359 these things are 00:16:34.359 --> 00:16:35.079 very relevant, 00:16:35.219 --> 00:16:35.879 they've been helpful. 00:16:36.419 --> 00:16:37.339 God has been 00:16:37.339 --> 00:16:38.739 helping me 00:16:38.739 --> 00:16:39.719 to build up 00:16:39.719 --> 00:16:40.279 the gift 00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:41.699 that he has given me 00:16:41.699 --> 00:16:42.459 to be able 00:16:42.459 --> 00:16:43.399 to use it hopefully 00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:45.219 for his glory. 00:16:45.859 --> 00:16:46.519 And the challenge 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:47.299 for all of us 00:16:47.299 --> 00:16:48.639 is what is it 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:49.539 that God has 00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:50.339 called us 00:16:50.339 --> 00:16:51.939 and enabled us 00:16:51.939 --> 00:16:53.079 to do. 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:55.159 And if he has 00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:55.719 called us 00:16:55.719 --> 00:16:56.339 and enabled us 00:16:56.339 --> 00:16:57.099 to do something, 00:16:57.439 --> 00:16:58.939 we need to do it. 00:16:59.699 --> 00:17:00.839 There's no place 00:17:00.839 --> 00:17:01.500 in the church 00:17:01.500 --> 00:17:03.439 for lazy Christians. 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:04.319 All of us 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:05.200 are commissioned 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:06.180 to work 00:17:06.180 --> 00:17:07.500 for the Lord Jesus. 00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:09.519 Now for some people 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:10.779 that work 00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:12.019 may be behind the scenes. 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:13.399 It may be 00:17:13.399 --> 00:17:14.240 that your work 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:15.039 for the Lord Jesus 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:15.619 now 00:17:15.619 --> 00:17:17.039 is to uphold 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:17.839 the church, 00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:18.440 those who are 00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:19.240 able to be more 00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:20.539 actively involved 00:17:20.539 --> 00:17:21.500 in prayer 00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:23.700 and to bring them 00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:24.500 before the Lord 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.299 and to encourage them 00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:27.220 perhaps in their service. 00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:28.720 For some of us, 00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:29.799 what God has called us 00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:30.380 to do 00:17:30.380 --> 00:17:32.039 is to care for others, 00:17:32.620 --> 00:17:34.100 to care for elderly parents 00:17:34.100 --> 00:17:35.580 or an ill spouse 00:17:35.580 --> 00:17:36.820 or to care for children. 00:17:37.580 --> 00:17:38.380 And these are 00:17:38.380 --> 00:17:39.240 high callings 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:40.380 from the Lord Jesus 00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:41.500 and we should see them 00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.600 as being part 00:17:42.600 --> 00:17:43.600 of our service 00:17:43.600 --> 00:17:44.080 for him 00:17:44.080 --> 00:17:44.700 as well as 00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:45.620 of our love 00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:46.700 for others. 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:48.340 But for many of us, 00:17:48.339 --> 00:17:48.939 there are things 00:17:48.939 --> 00:17:49.980 that we could be doing 00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:50.879 and should be doing 00:17:50.879 --> 00:17:52.319 in the church 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:54.000 and in Christian service 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:55.679 and the question is 00:17:55.679 --> 00:17:56.480 are we? 00:17:56.539 --> 00:17:57.959 Are we using the gifts 00:17:57.959 --> 00:17:59.059 that God 00:17:59.059 --> 00:18:00.819 has given us? 00:18:01.939 --> 00:18:03.379 And Paul presents this 00:18:03.379 --> 00:18:05.359 in a very positive way. 00:18:06.159 --> 00:18:07.599 He doesn't talk about 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:08.519 the work he's doing 00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:09.539 as being a chore 00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:11.259 or as being something 00:18:11.259 --> 00:18:12.119 difficult. 00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:13.639 Rather, 00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:14.579 he talks about 00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:15.259 the gift 00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:16.980 of God's grace 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:18.980 that was given him. 00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:20.379 Twice he uses 00:18:20.379 --> 00:18:21.700 the word grace 00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:23.240 in these verses. 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:25.400 And Paul is saying 00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:26.099 being able 00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:27.579 to serve the Lord Jesus 00:18:27.579 --> 00:18:29.559 is a great privilege. 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:31.859 It's not us 00:18:31.859 --> 00:18:32.720 giving to him. 00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:34.359 It's us taking 00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:35.879 what he's given to us 00:18:35.879 --> 00:18:37.839 and benefiting from it 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:39.799 as we serve him. 00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:41.440 And as we serve, 00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:42.700 we never lose out. 00:18:42.700 --> 00:18:44.380 If we faithfully 00:18:44.380 --> 00:18:45.620 serve the Lord Jesus, 00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:47.220 we do truly experience 00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:48.000 his grace 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:49.400 in our lives. 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:51.740 And if we don't serve him, 00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:52.779 we lose out 00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:53.640 on that gift 00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:55.120 that he's given us 00:18:55.120 --> 00:18:56.720 and the ability 00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:58.059 to serve him 00:18:58.059 --> 00:18:59.539 and to live for him 00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:01.279 as we should. 00:19:02.120 --> 00:19:03.360 Paul's commission. 00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:05.180 What is my commission 00:19:05.180 --> 00:19:06.460 to serve 00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:07.680 the Lord Jesus? 00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:09.600 And then finally, 00:19:09.700 --> 00:19:10.799 we thought of Paul's condition, 00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:11.880 Paul's cognition, 00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:13.260 Paul's commission, 00:19:13.800 --> 00:19:14.540 and let's finish 00:19:14.540 --> 00:19:16.100 with Paul's conviction. 00:19:17.120 --> 00:19:17.880 And that is 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.660 at the heart 00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:19.200 of the past. 00:19:19.300 --> 00:19:19.500 I agree, 00:19:19.560 --> 00:19:20.360 I've spoken some detail 00:19:20.360 --> 00:19:21.400 about this last week, 00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:22.800 so I'm not going to go 00:19:22.800 --> 00:19:23.640 into as much detail 00:19:23.640 --> 00:19:24.300 this morning, 00:19:24.620 --> 00:19:25.420 but it's particularly 00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:26.360 in verse 6 00:19:26.360 --> 00:19:27.460 and then again 00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:28.160 towards the end 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:28.900 of the passage 00:19:28.900 --> 00:19:30.860 in verse 12. 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:33.000 What is this conviction 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:34.240 that Paul has 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:35.540 that is worth 00:19:35.540 --> 00:19:36.700 suffering for, 00:19:37.040 --> 00:19:37.620 that is worth 00:19:37.620 --> 00:19:38.820 going to prison for, 00:19:39.060 --> 00:19:40.020 that ultimately 00:19:40.019 --> 00:19:41.000 will be worth 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:42.259 dying for. 00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:43.639 And it's there 00:19:43.639 --> 00:19:44.400 in verse 6, 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:45.180 this mystery, 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:45.660 this thing 00:19:45.660 --> 00:19:47.019 that is now revealed 00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:48.319 but was previously hidden, 00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:49.839 is that through 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:50.759 the gospel, 00:19:51.339 --> 00:19:52.079 the Gentiles, 00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:53.240 people who aren't Jews, 00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:54.680 are heirs together 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:55.480 with Israel, 00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:57.460 members of the one body, 00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:59.619 and sharers together 00:19:59.619 --> 00:20:01.319 in the promise 00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:03.400 of Christ Jesus. 00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:04.980 Notice three words, 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:06.639 he says the word together. 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:08.140 We're heirs together, 00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:09.980 we're members together, 00:20:10.560 --> 00:20:12.200 we're sharers together. 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.460 In other words, 00:20:13.580 --> 00:20:14.259 all the things 00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:15.400 that God has in store 00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:16.780 for us through Christ Jesus, 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:17.640 the inheritance 00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:19.100 that is ours, 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:20.740 it is there equally 00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:22.460 whatever our background. 00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:24.700 There's no distinction 00:20:24.700 --> 00:20:26.380 between Jews and Gentiles 00:20:26.380 --> 00:20:27.600 or any other group. 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:29.360 It is only through faith 00:20:29.360 --> 00:20:30.700 in the Lord Jesus. 00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:33.460 Then we're members together. 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:35.340 We're one family, 00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:36.779 we're one body 00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:38.539 in the Lord Jesus. 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:41.259 And there is no distinction, 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:42.639 there is no discrimination 00:20:42.639 --> 00:20:44.139 within that. 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:46.359 And we're sharers together 00:20:46.359 --> 00:20:47.500 in the promise. 00:20:47.579 --> 00:20:48.019 In other words, 00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:49.220 we have the same hope 00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:50.339 for the future 00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:52.379 and the same understanding 00:20:52.379 --> 00:20:55.279 of God with us. 00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:58.500 There is no distinction. 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:02.599 Now, what Paul is talking about 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:03.759 specifically here, 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:05.359 the relationship between Jews 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:06.220 and Gentiles 00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:07.519 and their equal acceptance 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.299 in the church 00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:09.599 is theologically 00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:10.579 very important, 00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:11.879 but actually, 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:12.680 practically, 00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:14.420 it probably doesn't mean 00:21:14.420 --> 00:21:15.900 a lot to most of us 00:21:15.900 --> 00:21:16.759 these days. 00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:18.059 Most, if not all of us, 00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:19.359 are Gentiles 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:19.879 and we probably 00:21:19.879 --> 00:21:20.720 don't really think 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:22.160 that there's any distinction 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:23.160 between Jews 00:21:23.160 --> 00:21:24.420 and Gentiles 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:25.440 when it comes 00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:26.579 to the church. 00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:28.819 But perhaps we need to 00:21:28.819 --> 00:21:29.680 think a bit 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.879 wider than that 00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:32.400 and to recognize 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:33.400 that anyone 00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:35.080 who trusts in the Lord Jesus 00:21:35.080 --> 00:21:36.140 through faith 00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:38.100 is welcome in the church 00:21:38.100 --> 00:21:39.380 and is part 00:21:39.380 --> 00:21:40.520 of the body 00:21:40.520 --> 00:21:41.720 of Christ. 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:42.900 There is 00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:44.640 no distinction. 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:46.440 Christ died 00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:47.700 for all those 00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:49.260 who will trust in him 00:21:49.260 --> 00:21:51.140 and accept him 00:21:51.140 --> 00:21:51.880 as their savior 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:53.340 and follow him 00:21:53.340 --> 00:21:54.580 as their Lord. 00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:56.000 Doesn't matter 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:57.280 what your gender is, 00:21:57.740 --> 00:21:59.240 what your age is, 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:00.940 what your race is, 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:03.480 what your abilities are, 00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:04.880 what your wealth is, 00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:06.079 what your life experience 00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:06.900 has been, 00:22:07.380 --> 00:22:07.980 these things 00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:08.720 in many ways 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:09.519 are irrelevant 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:11.079 because when we come 00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:11.960 to the Lord Jesus, 00:22:12.180 --> 00:22:12.759 we all come 00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:13.980 on the same basis, 00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.339 recognizing that 00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:15.720 we are, 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.279 as Paul says, 00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:17.279 we are unworthy 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:18.740 to come to him 00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:21.680 and yet he welcomes us 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:23.120 and he is willing 00:22:23.120 --> 00:22:24.140 to forgive us 00:22:24.140 --> 00:22:25.640 whatever we are 00:22:25.640 --> 00:22:26.620 and whoever 00:22:26.620 --> 00:22:27.920 we have been. 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:29.500 and we are accepted 00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:30.700 into the church 00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:32.840 on the same basis 00:22:32.840 --> 00:22:34.700 and that those 00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:35.700 who God has 00:22:35.700 --> 00:22:36.700 joined together 00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:37.320 as one 00:22:37.320 --> 00:22:39.160 let us in no way 00:22:39.160 --> 00:22:40.140 try to separate 00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:41.940 or try to discriminate 00:22:41.940 --> 00:22:43.880 or try to say 00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:44.980 that one is better 00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:46.100 than the other. 00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:47.759 The Lord Jesus 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:49.420 accepts us all 00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:50.500 on the basis 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.580 of faith in him 00:22:51.580 --> 00:22:52.420 and is saving 00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:53.580 death for us 00:22:53.580 --> 00:22:54.740 on the cross 00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:56.700 and we are one 00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:58.180 in Christ Jesus. 00:22:58.400 --> 00:22:58.980 Whether Jew, 00:22:59.160 --> 00:22:59.620 Gentile, 00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:00.559 or all the other things 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:01.819 I talked about, 00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:03.180 in the Lord Jesus 00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:04.759 there is no difference. 00:23:05.140 --> 00:23:06.240 We are all accepted 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:07.420 on the same basis 00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:08.559 and we all have 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:09.500 the same inheritance. 00:23:10.120 --> 00:23:11.500 We all equally belong 00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:13.380 in the body of Christ. 00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:15.039 We all equally have 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:17.519 the same heavenly father 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:19.420 and that is Paul's conviction 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:21.180 that it is only 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:22.880 by faith in the Lord Jesus 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:24.460 and through the grace 00:23:24.460 --> 00:23:25.060 of God 00:23:25.060 --> 00:23:26.380 that we are accepted 00:23:26.380 --> 00:23:28.100 into God's family 00:23:28.100 --> 00:23:29.900 and there is nothing else 00:23:29.900 --> 00:23:31.120 that we need to do 00:23:31.120 --> 00:23:32.860 or to be in advance. 00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:34.659 if we trust in Jesus 00:23:34.659 --> 00:23:36.379 then we are part 00:23:36.379 --> 00:23:38.119 of that great body 00:23:38.119 --> 00:23:38.779 of the church 00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:40.119 which the Lord Jesus 00:23:40.119 --> 00:23:41.139 is building up 00:23:41.139 --> 00:23:42.959 for his glory. 00:23:43.979 --> 00:23:45.139 So Paul's condition, 00:23:45.919 --> 00:23:46.699 Paul's cognition, 00:23:46.979 --> 00:23:47.719 Paul's commission 00:23:47.719 --> 00:23:50.179 and Paul's conviction. 00:23:51.139 --> 00:23:51.719 Let's end 00:23:51.719 --> 00:23:52.679 where we started. 00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:54.439 We are living 00:23:54.439 --> 00:23:56.819 in very difficult times. 00:23:56.899 --> 00:23:58.019 I think for all of us 00:23:58.019 --> 00:23:59.039 these times 00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:00.439 are unprecedented 00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:03.180 and they are not going 00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:04.500 to get that much easier 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.320 very quickly. 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:07.080 I think everyone accepts 00:24:07.080 --> 00:24:07.519 we are looking 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:09.360 at quite a long winter ahead 00:24:09.360 --> 00:24:10.200 when things 00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:11.840 will remain difficult. 00:24:13.080 --> 00:24:14.440 And so it is really important 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:15.360 that we are able 00:24:15.360 --> 00:24:16.660 to step back 00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:18.440 from our immediate circumstances 00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:19.559 and the things 00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:20.779 that would bring us down, 00:24:21.100 --> 00:24:21.920 the things that would 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:23.059 discourage us 00:24:23.059 --> 00:24:25.059 and to fix our eyes 00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:26.220 on the things 00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:28.440 that really matter 00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:30.120 and to recognize 00:24:30.119 --> 00:24:31.219 that whatever 00:24:31.219 --> 00:24:33.259 our current circumstances are 00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:34.759 God knows them, 00:24:35.219 --> 00:24:36.639 God cares about them 00:24:36.639 --> 00:24:38.500 and we can draw strength 00:24:38.500 --> 00:24:39.759 and encouragement 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:41.000 from him. 00:24:41.439 --> 00:24:43.099 We shouldn't get discouraged 00:24:43.099 --> 00:24:44.519 in our faith 00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:46.759 when we face difficulties. 00:24:47.439 --> 00:24:48.119 The difficulties 00:24:48.119 --> 00:24:49.000 that we face 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:50.039 if we face them 00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:50.659 in the strength 00:24:50.659 --> 00:24:51.559 of the Lord Jesus 00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:52.959 they will build up 00:24:52.959 --> 00:24:53.599 our faith. 00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:54.939 They will draw us 00:24:54.939 --> 00:24:55.539 closer 00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:57.159 to the Lord Jesus. 00:24:58.399 --> 00:24:59.399 And so in these times 00:24:59.400 --> 00:25:00.540 it becomes 00:25:00.540 --> 00:25:01.660 more important 00:25:01.660 --> 00:25:02.019 than ever 00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:02.900 it's always vital 00:25:02.900 --> 00:25:04.019 that we turn 00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:04.740 to the Bible 00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:06.300 and that we seek 00:25:06.300 --> 00:25:07.460 to understand 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:08.380 what it is 00:25:08.380 --> 00:25:09.259 that God is saying 00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:09.840 to us 00:25:09.840 --> 00:25:11.440 and to draw strength 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:12.759 and encouragement 00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:14.000 from it. 00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:15.420 It's important 00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:15.940 that we look 00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:17.019 round about us 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:17.759 and we say 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:19.259 well what can I do 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.660 for the Lord Jesus? 00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:22.140 Are there things 00:25:22.140 --> 00:25:23.040 I could be doing 00:25:23.040 --> 00:25:23.900 at this time 00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:25.160 that will help others? 00:25:25.280 --> 00:25:25.800 Well there's things 00:25:25.800 --> 00:25:26.400 in the church 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:27.500 helping with the 00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.740 operation of the church 00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:29.400 and the ministries 00:25:29.400 --> 00:25:30.100 of the church 00:25:30.100 --> 00:25:30.880 or whether it's 00:25:30.880 --> 00:25:31.720 on more individual 00:25:31.720 --> 00:25:32.180 basis 00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:33.340 helping others. 00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:34.019 What is it 00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:35.220 that God is calling 00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:36.920 is commissioning 00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:38.440 me to do? 00:25:39.300 --> 00:25:39.740 And we should 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.500 all of us 00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:41.500 make sure 00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:41.940 that we have 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:42.800 an understanding 00:25:42.800 --> 00:25:44.540 of God's great grace 00:25:44.540 --> 00:25:45.840 in the Lord Jesus 00:25:45.840 --> 00:25:47.560 of all that he has 00:25:47.560 --> 00:25:48.500 done for us 00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:49.600 in sending his son 00:25:49.600 --> 00:25:50.580 to die 00:25:50.580 --> 00:25:51.759 on the cross 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:53.000 and make sure 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:53.860 that our trust 00:25:53.859 --> 00:25:55.419 is in the Lord Jesus 00:25:55.419 --> 00:25:56.979 and our confidence 00:25:56.979 --> 00:25:57.819 is in him 00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.719 that we're not 00:25:58.719 --> 00:25:59.979 depending on ourselves 00:25:59.979 --> 00:26:01.079 but we're trusting 00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:02.279 in him for our future 00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:03.579 and bringing it 00:26:03.579 --> 00:26:04.079 to him 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:05.099 in prayer. 00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:06.240 May that be 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:07.539 all of our experience. 00:26:07.679 --> 00:26:08.399 Let's pray together. 00:26:10.459 --> 00:26:11.159 Our Father 00:26:11.159 --> 00:26:11.679 we thank you 00:26:11.679 --> 00:26:12.259 for your word 00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:12.879 to us today. 00:26:12.959 --> 00:26:13.379 We thank you 00:26:13.379 --> 00:26:14.179 for this tremendous 00:26:14.179 --> 00:26:14.879 passage 00:26:14.879 --> 00:26:16.539 where Paul presents 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.679 just the clarity 00:26:17.679 --> 00:26:18.319 with which 00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:19.439 you showed him 00:26:19.439 --> 00:26:20.419 the greatness 00:26:20.419 --> 00:26:21.519 of your grace. 00:26:22.039 --> 00:26:22.719 That there is 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.579 no distinction 00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:24.140 in coming 00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:25.100 to the Lord Jesus. 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.519 Whether you are 00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:27.200 Gentile 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:28.440 you accept us 00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:28.920 equally 00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:29.940 and we are 00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:30.640 all one 00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:31.460 together. 00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:32.880 We pray that you 00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:34.079 help us first of all 00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:34.880 to ensure 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:35.779 that we belong 00:26:35.779 --> 00:26:36.779 to the Lord 00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:37.940 that our trust 00:26:37.940 --> 00:26:38.680 is in him 00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:39.779 and we are 00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:40.620 following him 00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:42.079 and living for him. 00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:43.860 And then help us 00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:44.920 in this difficult 00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:45.460 time 00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:46.940 to take 00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:47.460 everything 00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:48.319 to the Lord 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:49.519 and leave it 00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:50.000 with him. 00:26:50.440 --> 00:26:51.039 And if there are 00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:52.400 things that concern us 00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:53.120 and things 00:26:53.120 --> 00:26:53.640 that we feel 00:26:53.640 --> 00:26:54.240 perhaps there is 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:55.300 nothing we can 00:26:55.300 --> 00:26:56.100 do about them. 00:26:56.620 --> 00:26:57.220 We thank you 00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:57.780 that you are 00:26:57.780 --> 00:26:58.680 all powerful 00:26:58.680 --> 00:27:00.040 and that you are 00:27:00.040 --> 00:27:00.920 able to move 00:27:00.920 --> 00:27:02.259 in every situation. 00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:03.140 Help us to have 00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:04.140 a real trust 00:27:04.140 --> 00:27:04.680 in you 00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:06.160 and to 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:07.340 live 00:27:07.340 --> 00:27:08.560 our lives 00:27:08.560 --> 00:27:09.420 knowing that 00:27:09.420 --> 00:27:10.540 you care for us 00:27:10.540 --> 00:27:11.440 and that you 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:12.220 work things 00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:13.200 for our good. 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.220 We thank you 00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:14.880 for your presence 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:15.840 with us this morning 00:27:15.840 --> 00:27:16.920 as we worship 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:17.440 together 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:17.960 as we have 00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:18.720 learned from you. 00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:19.820 We ask for your 00:27:19.820 --> 00:27:20.500 presence in the 00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.059 coming week 00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:21.960 in the name 00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:22.440 of the Lord 00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:22.759 Jesus. 00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:24.059 Amen. 00:27:24.059 --> 00:27:24.140 Amen. 00:27:24.140 --> 00:27:24.160 Amen. 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:24.200 Amen.