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Purpose! Newsletter - May 2024

Ephesians 3

1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

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)

5 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;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

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.

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

The Mystery of Christ

The very Jewish Paul is in prison because of what God has done through Jesus Christ at the cross in bringing the Gentiles into fellowship with Himself the same as the Jew. God fulfilled his eternal plan at Calvary and then assigned Paul the task of proclaiming this to the Gentile world and explaining it to the Jewish community. This cost him his freedom. Paul’s Jewish friends would not easily give up their long standing prestigious religious position of being uniquely God’s people. They persecuted and imprisoned Paul at every opportunity. Paul writes this letter to the church at Ephesus during one of those prison events.

Paul’s assignment and accompanying incarcerations may not have reached the ears of the Ephesians. “If ye have heard” allows for the possibility they are not fully informed concerning the matter. He declares it concerns the Gentile world and they are included in its implementation. He refers to his commission as the dispensation of the grace of God.

In this context the term dispensation refers to the management of a household or of household affairs; specifically, the management, oversight, administration, of others' property; the office of a manager or overseer, stewardship"; hence, the word is transferred by Paul in a theocratic sense to the office (duty) intrusted to him by God (the lord and master) of proclaiming to men the blessings of the gospel, (Thayer's Greek Lexicon).

No other apostle claims such a responsibility and no other apostle delves as deeply and extensively into this teaching. He is its administrator in charge of its dissemination.

As such he enters into the realm of prophet at the level of the major prophets of the Old Testament but with a greater message. While to them was revealed the future concerning God’s plan, to Paul is revealed the fulfillment of it in the person of Jesus Christ.

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery.

He transitions into the level not only of the prophets but even of Moses with whom God spoke and gave revelation concerning the Old Covenant. Paul, by revelation from the same God is the minister of the New Covenant. The mystery of Christ has been revealed!

Now, what he wrote about briefly in chapter one verses nine and ten he is now going to expound upon so those who read may understand his knowledge in the mystery of Christ. Non readers miss out on understanding.

That which was hidden from the sons of men for ages past, the Holy Spirit has now revealed it to the apostles and prophets attendant to Paul’s writings and ministry.

The mystery is now to be explained in verse six.

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

The Jews were not to remain as the only people of God. Jesus had spoken of another fold. We the Gentiles are it.

John 10:16: And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

There is now one fold and Jesus is its shepherd. All who will be saved, Jew or Gentile, must come through Him.

Paul then reiterates and expands upon concerning his part in all of this. He has a divine assignment to promulgate this message to the Gentile world.

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.

Of that program Paul was made a minister by God. How did that happen? By the effectual (efficient, competent in performance) working of God’s power he was unmeritoriously selected for this tough assignment.. He was not deserving of such a gift. That is the gift of grace.

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

He humbly acknowledges his leastness, especially in retrospection. He expresses this in 1 Timothy 1:12-14:

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

And in 1 Corinthians 15:9:

9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Again in Galatians 1:13:

13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

But God’s grace allows for the least to preach the greatness of the unsearchable riches of Christ. The least preaching the greatest message to the lowest of the Gentile world. Never underestimate the grace and power of God. Amen. -PJF-

And now a word from our Pastor…

Two Types of Remembering

We can see the process of prayer take place in Psalm 77. It begins with a person who is deeply troubled. This individual is unable to do anything but remain in prayer. That is always a good place to be. When you are troubled or experiencing any kind of frustration, what we need to do is go to God.

1 I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.

2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

The first type of Remembering:

3 I remembered God, and was troubled (growl, murmur): I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled (deeply disturbed) that I cannot speak.

5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.

6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.

7 Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?

8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?

9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.

The focus of his remembering is self-centered. His focus is on the trouble, not on God. As he continues to focus on how he feels and what this trouble has reduced him to, he begins to question God.

But then things begin to change in verse 10.

The second type of Remembering:

10 And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.

Infirmity (Strong’s H2470 ḥālâ) which means to be rubbed or worn, that would cause someone to be sick or feel sick or weakened. The right hand of God is referring to God’s help and strength.

All that he has done so far, has worn him down and is causing great distress to his physical body. Something changes. He begins to remember again. This time he is focused on God, and not his trouble. By the end of the Psalm he is strengthened and no longer troubled.

11 I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?

14 Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.

15 Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

16 The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.

17 The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.

18 The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.

19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.

20 Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Even in times of frustration we must remember the goodness of God. Keep your focus on him and nothing else. He was there for you before and he will be there for you this time too. Amen. -SAF-