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| Pastor Gbenga Aluko |
Text:Ephesians 3:11-19
The teaching will be done with the following sub-headings:
* Background
* Revealed Mysteries
* Strengthened by His Spirit
* Rooted and grounded in Love
Background
Apostle Paul during his third missionary journey spent about three years in Ephesus ( a town in modern-day Turkey) establishing a body of believers in the city and this group blossomed by grace Acts19:1-20:1, the book was initially addressed to those body of believers.
The book is one of the four prison epistles of Paul the others being Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Although the book wasn’t written to correct any major anomaly or error it clearly portrays amongst others the salient point that God: reconciled men to Himself through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2:1-10, He also reconciled men to themselves 2:11-22 and placed everything under the control of Christ.1:10.
Are you reconciled to Christ? If the answer is in the affirmative then it should not be a difficult task to be reconciled with anyone should there be a rift.
Revealed Mysteries 3:3
This heading is a sort of oxymoron which means two opposite/opposing words placed beside each other to form a phrase. While revealed means to make known to others, mystery means something difficult or impossible to understand.
Apostle Paul in his writing to the Ephesians spoke about Mysteries in the portion referenced, The writings of the book of Ephesians amongst very few other books are flooded with mysteries that were revealed to the human vessel by God.
Godly mysteries are not entirely a function of research, copied, not characterized by high-sounding technicality, or garnished with fluid grammatical prowess as pictured in recent parlance but are simply contacted by revelations or encounters made available by God.
Which/What revelations/encounters have you had through/from God? God still gives revelations, and people are still having encounters with God pant, cry, and wait for yours before you launch out on that project/journey/ministry.
Revelations are not only for ministerial accomplishment although the latter is not possible without the former in and by God’s method. e.g. Moses, Gideon, Apostle Paul, etc. Revelations and encounters are needed for all-around fulfillment. The following people had encounters/revelations not for ministry in the scriptures:
( a ) Isaac: to have bountiful harvest even in difficult times Gen.26:2,12-14
( b ) Jacob: to escape the wickedness/enslavement of his relative Gen.28:13-15,31:7-12,42.
( c ) Joseph: He knew God’s plan for his life Gen. 37, provided meaning for the troubled dreamers( butler and the baker) in the prison which catapulted him to his destiny too.Gen.40:5-13,41:9ff.
There is a need for these three basic knowledge as revealed in the scriptures:
1. God is Love 1 John 4:8
2. made all men in His Image Gen 1:26ff (irrespective of their outcomes/choices and affiliations
3. Love is a commandment Matt.22:37.
Strengthened by His Spirit
Humanly speaking it is challenging to love some people as they are bile or wicked or possessed commandments or all of the above ( please don’t be in this group) this doesn’t however remove or reduce the weight of Jesus’ summary of the ten commandment and other scriptures where we were told to love even our enemies. Luke 6:32-36,Matt.5:44-45,John 3:16.
The above situation captures another need for the spirit of God, His presence is not only for warfare but to aid us to follow Him and His words, are we continually yielding to the infilling of the Spirit and His lordship over our lives and actions/inactions.
He is a spirit of love 2 Tim.1:7, love is one of the fruit of the spirit Gal.5:22-23,God is love, God is Spirit John 4:24, love is therefore more spiritual than physical.
Rooted and grounded in love
Following the subheadings we have highlighted above, the first condition to being rooted in love is to be completely reconciled with Christ which points to our Salvation and sanctification, If we are truly saved and are of God then we will be loving and continue to grow in love just like our father who is love.
Secondly, our understanding of the position and revelations of the scriptures will be our guide and broaden our horizon on the all-important and sacrosanct nature of love.
And finally, we would long for more of His spirit to help us overcome the flesh which is a major hindrance to love. May God grant to us the grace to love Him and others genuinely in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.
SHALOM !