Ephesians 3:1-21. God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we ask, and we think.

I am a retired pastor of the Church of God (Tennessee).
My name is Isaac Livingston. I am from Neyyoor India
.

Email: Pastor True Gospel

 

If video stops, you may watch this video by a click on this link: You-tube video.

1. God gave grace to Paul, not to endure sickness, but to endure thorns and Prisons.

"Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles," Paul begins this chapter with the cause, from the ending of the previous chapter. That is, the Spirit body of Christ, which is the fellowship of the brethren, is "builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." In this figure of speech, we are the glorious building where God lives. So, the cause is that God and his people are made to live together as one. For this cause, apostle Paul has made himself to be the prisoner of Jesus Christ. Here, Paul refers to the incident that he was locked in prison for the cause of Jesus Christ. "2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:" Grace was given to Paul, not to endure sickness as false preachers say, but to endure sufferings in prison and by other means of persecutions; Paul refers them as thorns. God never tells us to endure sickness to the glory of God; but he tells us to heal the sick, and to endure sufferings for the glory of God. It is to minister people; in this case they are the gentiles. This is the only context the phrase "the dispensation of the grace of God" is used. Satan picks up this phrase, twists the meaning of it, has made it a slogan, teach it to churches with all kinds of perversions, and he made the people as children of the devil. It will not be wise for me to explain what they teach, but instead let me say that if you, by any chance run into them; reject them and run away from them; if not it will take you to hell and you will also be in the lake of fire. So, be careful, not only with this teaching, but also with any false teaching.

2. The mysteries of God are made known to godly people, but not to the ungodly.

God gave Paul not only grace, but also he reveals his mysteries to him. "3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)." So, Jesus Christ has revealed his mysteries to at least a few believers in the fellowship of Ephesians. When they read the epistles of apostle Paul, they will know that the apostle also has the revelation from God. However, what are the mysteries of Jesus Christ or of God? Preachers think that Jesus wants everybody to understand the mysteries and that is why he taught them as parables. No! Jesus says in "Matthew 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." That is, God purposed not to make the ungodly people understand his mysteries; because he did not want them to be converted; but he wants them to be damned. Christians do not know this since they do not want to know. They want to enjoy sin and want to believe the deception as truth.

3. God has His plans made up even before creation; God created all by Jesus Christ.

"5 Which in other ages", what is the difference between the other ages and this age. Israel was considered as people of God and gentiles were aliens to God in other ages. But now they both are considered as equals and as one. "5 again, Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;" God made the apostles knew this mystery. "6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:" That is, now the gentiles are fellow heirs with the Jews, because of Jesus Christ. "7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power." God made Paul as a minister for this purpose and gave him grace and power to show manifestations in the Spirit, for proof. "8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given," Why did apostle considered himself less than all saints: it may be because that he was a strong religious man and was persecuting Christians before his conversion. Verse 8, continues, "that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;" The gentiles were considered low status people in godliness, and Paul was made to preach them the unsearchable riches, which riches that they may receive. "9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:" So, this plan of God, that is to bring all people as one to consider them for eternal glory, was in the mind of God even before he has created the world. One more imported fact in this verse is that God the Father told God the Word to create all the things one by one, and God the Word was creating them one by one. The creation information is in Genesis chapter 1 and 2. Further, God the Word became the Lord Jesus Christ; and so, Jesus Christ has created everything that is created, when he was God the Word. If you like to know the details of creation, please refer the links. "Who is God", "God created all."

4. The principalities and powers in heavenly places are made known by the church.  

"10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him." Eternal mysteries are hidden in God, who has created all that is created by Jesus Christ. This mystery is that the church of God, which is the body of Christ, must be the manifest wisdom of God. God gives such an importance to this church, which is Spiritual, and it is hidden right in the broad daylight, and nobody knows it. But this church will know all the power and principalities in heaven, to the Nitti gritty of all power and glory of God. Not only that, but this Church is also given the boldness and confidence in Spirit, that she can access the Lord Jesus Christ, because she has his faith, which is the faith of God. If we are of the religious church and are part of the ceremonial, social, and religious community aspect of Christianity, we will have no part in this Spiritual heavenly glory. But if we are part of the spirit church, we will know our privilege to access God, heaven, and the glory. "13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory." Apostle Paul wants believers not to grieve for the tribulations he goes through, instead consider it for the glory in heaven for them.

5. This is not an evangelical stories sermon, but it is Spiritual meat study.  

Please do not consider this study as an evangelical message to kindle you emotional instinct but take it as a difficult study of a mystery type. If you are not for strong meat, or for God's mysteries, then this study does not belong to you. So, think about it as a strong meat study. Thanks.

6. Jesus was declared to be begotten Son to God and God became Father to Jesus.  

"14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," Apostle Paul says "For this cause," what was the cause? It is the privilege that is given to the spirit church to access God, heaven, and his glory. Scripture says that Jesus Christ was, and he is God, except the time that he was made a flesh man. Bible also says that Jesus Christ and God the Father were in the same status as equals. It is in Philippians 2:6-11. Yet in this context, Paul calls Jesus Christ as Lord, but not as God, and God the Father as the Father of Jesus. Why? The purpose here is to establish the fact that the man Jesus was made the Son of God and God has become the Father of the man. Hebrews 1:5 says this: "For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?" Here, the man Jesus was declared as the Son of God in the Spirit, as God is in the Spirit. By the same verse, God the Father also declared himself as the Father of the man Jesus. Please look at the next verse also. "2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." Here we see that many more Sons will be adopted as Sons of God in Spirit, in the same way Jesus Christ was made the Son of God. So, God the Word became a man, and the man became God the Son of God in the Spirit. And, following man Jesus, many more men, here it is the Spirit church, will be brought to heaven as Sons of God in Spirit, as the family of God. And so, men will become the family of God in Spirit. "15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named," So, the spirit church, not only on earth, but also in heaven are and will be known as Sons, in the same way the Lord Jesus Christ became the Son in Spirit. "16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;" So, the Spirit in the inner man, which is the holy Spirit that is given to us, will be granted the strength now, while we are living as people on earth, according to the riches of glory in heaven, which is a lot of Spiritual power. However, the spirit church must go through much tribulation. This situation continues so that, "17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love," God allows this, not because the church is not given power, but it happens so that the same love of Jesus Christ, that he had, as he went through his cross, may be also grounded in us, by abiding of Jesus Christ in our hearts. So, even though we appear to be week in the flesh, we will be mighty strong in the Spirit, and our eternal future is sealed with God, as his Spirit Sons.

7. God would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to strengthen us even here.  

"18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." At this point we will be given to comprehend the dimensions of heaven and the love of Jesus Christ. Not only that, but we will also be filled with the fullness of God. Please think how powerful and glorious that will be. "20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us," Please notice, if and when we arrive at this level, the Almighty power of God will work in us. However, we may be enduring the sufferings as Man Jesus, as in Hebrews 12: 1-3. "1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." The religion, enemies, sinners, the world, and all such powers will be against us, and they will seem to be winning and we will seem to be losing. But look at what happened to man Jesus. He "set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Consider him and run the race without being "wearied and faint in your minds." We will become Sons of God in Spirit in heaven, while those who persecuted us will be burning in the lake of fire. It will happen for the glory of God, and God is the avenger, but not us. "21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." It is for eternity to come, that is forever and forever.

If any point needs explanation, OR, if you find an error according to scripture,
Please write to me in the 'Mail Box' below. I will reply promptly.
Thanks.

God Bless You

 Your Feedback

HOME
Home

Looking for the true gospel? This site has the true gospel!

What is the true gospel and what are false gospels?

Matthew 28:20, & Mark 16:15. Jesus Christ preached his commandments to obey, as his Gospel; it is the true Gospel to inherit Eternal life. Genesis 3:1-4 & 2 Corinth 11:2-4. But Preachers, who are Serpents of Satan, preach the life of man Jesus just to believe, but not to live as a chaste virgin, as the gospel; it is another gospel, which cannot and will not give Eternal life.

What will the true Gospel do?

The true gospel will convert evil people to do good and thereby they will inherit the kingdom in heaven. John 3:19-21 say that people are two kinds, evil and true. Evil doers will not come to the Light, who is God; but people of truth come to God for their deeds to be made manifest. We have good and evil people by our standard of our society or culture. These evil people may be converted to be doers of truth by the power of God, and they may inherit the kingdom of God in heaven.

Email: Pastor True Gospel

God Bless You