This is US Ephesians #3 – The Mystery Revealed Ephesians 1 – In Christ: everything that we have need of spiritually, is in Christ. Ephesians 2 – Dead made alive: we had nothing to do with our salvation, it was a free gift. But Christ’s death did more that make us alive, it tore down every wall of division between Jew and Gentile. We all belong to the same nation, part of the same body, and comprise the same church. Ephesians 3 – Everything in Christ and all that He provides is available to Everyone. 2 Ephesians 3:1-7 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— if​ indeed you ​ 3 ​ have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how​ that by 4 ​ revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by​ which, when you 5 ​ read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which​ in other ages was not made ​ known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and 6 prophets: that​ the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in ​ 7 Christ through the gospel, of​ which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given ​ to me by the effective working of His power. A mystery is not something that is kept back from being explained, kept secret, or something to keep you guessing but instead it’s a truth that is waiting to be revealed. The mystery is this: Ephesians 3:6 “That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and ​ partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel” The Promise of the Mystery - Salvation is available to everyone. In the midst of the Ephesians Culture, with the tension of racism, religious and political tensions, the tension between the rich and the poor, the oppressors and the oppressed, the answer that is need is simple: that everyone is equally valued, everyone is loved, everyone is invited to participate in the gospel of Jesus and enjoy every benefit of being found in Christ. The mystery means that There is hope in this tension filled world, and it’s available to everyone. The Promise of the mystery - that through Jesus everyone can not only be reconciled to God the Father, but that everyone can be reconciled to each other. Paul says that in Christ, through the mystery of the gospel, we all are: ● Fellow heirs – we inherit together ● Fellow members – belong together ● Fellow partakers - share together Ephesians 3:8-12 “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should 9 preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and​ to make all see what is the fellowship ​ ​ ​ of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things 10 through Jesus Christ; to​ the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the ​ 11 church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according​ to the eternal purpose which 12 ​ ​ ​ He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in​ whom we have boldness and access with confidence ​ through faith in Him.” 1 The Purpose of the Mystery: this revelation of the mystery, isn’t to be kept a secret. Paul says I/we ​ have to preach it, speak it out, and share it. This mystery is all about the unsearchable riches of Christ. It’s inexhaustible, unsearchable, unfathomable. You can’t plumb the depths or fathom the greatness of God’s grace. And there’s enough for everyone. We are to make all see what the fellowship of the mystery is. Ephesians 3:10 “to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.” ​ The intent, the purpose is that we, the church would make known the manifold wisdom of God. But the audience is bigger than we think! Ephesians 3:10 “the principalities and powers in the heavenly places” ​ Every time we gather together as the church, we showcase the workings of this mystery to angels, demonic powers, principalities as well as to those around the throne of God. The Power of the mystery: ​ 15 Ephesians 3:14-19 “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from​ whom ​ ​ the whole family in heaven and earth is named” Paul who has told us that he is a prisoner of Jesus Christ, a steward of the mystery and a minister that serves, now bows his knees to the father. He’s a worshiper. 4 things we are to pray for and pursue after: 1. Pray for Strength: Ephesians 3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His ​ ​ glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man. 2. Pray for Depth: Ephesians 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that ​ ​ ​ you, being rooted and grounded in love. Paul uses 3 pictures to convey the idea of spiritual depth. Dwell, rooted and grounded. To dwell is to settle down and feel at home with. To be rooted is to drive the roots deep to have both nourishment and stability; and to be grounded is a term used in building and speaks of the foundation that we build our lives on. 3. Pray for Apprehension: Ephesians 3:18-19a may​ be able to comprehend with all the ​ ​ 19 saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to​ know the love of Christ which ​ ​ ​ passes knowledge; 4. Pray for Fullness: Ephesians 3:19b that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. ​ ​ Pray to be filled, overflowing, to filled to the rim so that nothing is wanting to a full measure. 2 Ephesians 3:20-21 Now unto Him that is Able Able to do all Above all Abundantly above all Exceedingly abundantly above all. Don’t stop there or you’ll miss its context. Ephesians 3:21 “And to him be all glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Paul brings everything that he spoke about in Chapter 1, 2 & 3 saying that it was all for the church, all glory in the church. This is us. 3 .