2013-03-03
Being Channels of His Grace
Steve Lane

A. Review/Intro
Ephesians 2:1 – 9 God's Grace expressed through reconcilliation
Ephesian 3:2 God's grace expressed through us....
Ephesians 2:10 Are you limiting God's administration of grace through you and the church?

Grace seen through the unity of the church taking on His mission. Eph 1:19 – 23, 2:21 – 22
The harness of commitment is the very thing that connects the power to the plow...

B. Gentile believers' previous position outside of Christ
Paul again is highlighting the grace of God and turning their eyes to Him rather than themselves.
Division that was preventing the free overflow of God's grace to the world.
Ephesians 2: 11 – 13
Ephesians 2:14 – 19 Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel

C. Gentile and Jewish believers made one in Christ, a holy temple to the Lord
Ephesians 2:19 – 22 (1 Peter 4:5)
Foundation and Cornerstone
We individually are called a temple of God and collectively we are called a holy Temple
The Temple, a place of the very presence of God, the center of the Israelite life. Worship...
Body of Christ Eph 4:16

D. Paul, the Preacher, to the Gentiles (channel of God's grace)
Ephesians 3: 1 – 13 A channel of God's grace... what a high calling!
Eph 4:1 Receive God's grace, don't receive in vain

'Draw on the grace of God now, not presently... As we draw on the grace of God... always give the best you have and always be poor' Oswald Chambers
This is why Paul could say in 2 Cor 6:10...

Paul was always being filled and always being emptied... like manna. God's spiritual principles.

Paul has continued to dispense God's grace in the form of the gospel and it has been costly

Verses 2 – 13 a parenthesis

Paul is going to tell them about God's saving grace and to do this he is receiving grace

But if it is not by grace that I am giving out I will expect something in return and I will get empty quickly and probably bitter.

So Paul is giving out this message of life, of a reconciled relationship with God and it is costing him in his emotions, his health, his free time but he is constantly being filled by the favor and power of inexhaustible grace of God.

Look ahead to 3:16 and 19 Grace now

E. Paul's second prayer for the Ephesian believers
Ephesians 3: 14 - 15

1. That they will be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man
Ephesians 3: 16

2. That Christ may dwell in their hearts by faith
Ephesians 3: 17

3. That they will be rooted and grounded in love
Ephesians 3: 17

4. That they will comprehend and know the love of Christ
Ephesians 3: 17 - 19

5. That they might be filled with all the fullness of God
Ephesians 3: 19

6. Praise to God for His almighty transforming power
Ephesians 3: 20 - 21