2. The Minister, Appointed to Proclamation (3:7-13)
V.7 a) Working -
The Gospel of the mystery of Christ made Paul a minister, it released 2 dynamic blessings:
I. The free grace of God. 1.Cor.15:10; Heb.2:9
II. The power that worked efficiently. V.20; Acts 19:11-12
V.8 b) Wealth -
As we come nearer the light the more dirt we will see in our lives, the farther away we are from the shining light the less dirt we will see.
I. After 18-20 years of being a Christian Paul declares to be the least of all the apostles. 1.Cor.15:9
II. After 23-26 years of being a Christian Paul declares to be the least of all the saints. V.8
III. After 26-28 years of being a Christian Paul declares to be the chief of sinners. 1.Tim.1:15 1. True humility is to see yourself (not others) as you really are, to see your poverty and evil and then allow God to amplify it - this is to have a broken heart.
2. The other side to true humility is to see all what you have not and then see God as the answer for all your needs,
to understand that we are complete dependant upon God - this is to have a restored heart.
3. When we have true humility and faith then the grace of God truly overwhelms our lives and we begin to know
(experiencing) the unsearchable riches in Christ. Jam.4:6,10; Heb.11:26
V.9 c) Witness -
I. Paul were called to witness about this mystery that was hidden. We are also called to be witness about this fellowship of the mystery.
II. This mystery were not another so called mystery that arose according to the spirit of this age, no it had its beginning in the very beginning.
III. The Father created with Christ “ Let us make” Gen.1:26; Col.1:16-17
V.10 d) Wisdom -
Not only were the Church declaring this wisdom of God to man but also to the demonic principalities, not in words alone but also through lives.
V.11 e) Will -
This purpose of God were not made at Adam’ s fall but were planned in eternity. 1.Pet.1:20
V.12 f) Way -
Because of the blood of Jesus we can appear before God with boldness and faith. Heb.4:14-16; 10:19
V.13 g) Wellbeing -
He ends this section with how he began in v.1, like parents that suffers hardship for their children in the same way they should glory.
2.Cor.4:16; 1.Cor.4:9-13
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