Monday, November 05, 2012

Ephesians 3:6-8


6 [It is this:] that the Gentiles are now to be fellow heirs [with the Jews], members of the same body and joint partakers [sharing] in the same divine promise in Christ through [their acceptance of] the glad tidings (the Gospel).

What is the Divine Promise? The Divine Promise is that we would become one with our Father in Christ. The Divine Promise is that we would be one with God just as Jesus is One with God, John 17:21-23. The Promise is that we will never be left or forsaking, Hebrews 13:5. The Divine Promise is that as He is, so are we in this world, 1 John 4:17. The Divine Promise is that we have life and that we have it abundantly, John 10:10, just as Jesus has life and has it abundantly. The Divine Promise is that we now have eternal life, John 3:36. And eternal life means that we are now actually empowered with the Holy Spirit to know our Father, John 17:3. The Divine Promise is to be one with Jesus for all of eternity.

7 Of this [Gospel] I was made a minister according to the gift of God's free grace (undeserved favor) which was bestowed on me by the exercise (the working in all its effectiveness) of His power.

Once again the Holy Spirit has Paul write that it was only because of our Father that Paul was a minister. To truly serve the Kingdom of Heaven we must first be empowered to serve it. It is not a choice we make on our own, it is a calling, and the call only comes from God.

8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God's consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out],

Paul tells us that he was the least of God’s consecrated people and look at how our Father used Him. Never look at your flesh or your circumstances to see if you are worthy to be used by God. Our Father chooses the foolish things of this earth to confound the wise, 1 Corinthians 1:27. The Truth is that the worse off we are, the more likely our Father will use us to serve the Kingdom, that is His M.O. Our Father chose slaves, prostitutes, tax collectors, fishermen, widows, and shepherds to serve the Kingdom in the greatest capacity. He chose the blind, the sick, and even the dead to show forth His power. So rejoice if things seem bad, because that is exactly when our Father works His best through us.

So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [ in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength). 2 Corinthians 12:10.

There is also a great Truth for us who are in Christ and it is that the least one of us is now greater than the greatest who ever lived under the Old Covenant. 

Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Matthew 11:11

The least one of us is now greater than John the Baptist, Moses, Noah, Daniel, and King David. This is what Jesus came to do, make us one with our Father and give us His greatness and glory so that we might have an abundant life.

I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: John 17:22

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