Read Ephesians chapter 3

1.      … The prisoner of Christ for you Gentiles

a.      Prisoner in Rome…

                                 i.      Living for Jesus Christ has brought him to a Roman prison yet he finished his course.   2Tim 4:7

                               ii.      Hated by the Jews and considered an enemy to be sought out and destroyed.  Acts 23:12-14

                              iii.      Roman citizen in Roman prison by the accusation of liars under the influence of the devil.  Acts 25:11-12

                             iv.      Freedom in the physical sense was lost. 

1.      How do you think Paul responded to the circumstances of being a prisoner in Rome?  He responded with a joy and purpose that reflected his faith in a larger plan orchestrated by the Lord

2.      What is the greatest loss, just or unjust, at the hands of another you or a loved one close to you have faced?  (Answers should be kept brief.)  It could be because of hatred or some other selfish motive. 

3.      What do you think you can take from Paul’s response to adversity to help you with your challenges in life?  He was Christ centered and did not see men as having the ultimate control over his life. 

b.      Prisoner of the Lord…

                                 i.      1 Cor 7:20-23  Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. NKJV 

1.      Staying with the historical context of the day, can you describe how God could use a slave for His purpose of advancing His Kingdom in the earth?  He used Paul as a prisoner of Rome to write a large portion of the New Testament.  The Book of Philemon is another very brief story of a runaway slave becoming a minister of the Gospel.  The former led many to Christ yet did not receive freedom, eventually being put to death.  The latter received his liberation from slavery for the because of his living for the Lord. 

2.      Noting the contrast presented by Paul’s serving the Lord in prison and Philemon’s being liberated from slavery; consider how you have served the Lord in difficult circumstances and how you could be even more effective despite adversity.  I should focus more on walking with the Lord through all of the ups and downs of my life, and being a blessing from the Lord to those around me.  Paul witnessed to his jailors and converted many of them.  Philemon was willing to go back into slavery to walk out righteousness.  Both were using their circumstances to advance the Kingdom of God.   Also the apparent contradiction of a former Pharisee ministering to Gentiles can be noted, as God sends us to people that we will not relate to well. 

c.       Not a prisoner to his flesh…

                                 i.      Rom 6:16-18 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Rom 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  NKJV

1.      Paul went through battles with his flesh as evidenced in 1Cor 9:24-27; 2Cor 10:3-5; Romans 7:15-20.  In the past, how have you been successful in resisting sin and how would you help someone who is looking to you for help with habits they can not seem to break?  It is important to offer people what has worked for you, what is consistent with the Scriptures, and what can be shared with compassion.  “Knock it off!” may be ineffective advice for someone who is struggling.  Our advice needs to call those we minister to into a higher level of faith.  You could be speaking of things like over eating, mishandling money, bitterness, alcohol abuse, and much more.     

2. Eph 3:2 Dispensation of grace…  Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age… NKJV
1. For you Gentiles…

                                                               i.      Divine influence upon the heart and mind of a person is a manifestation of God’s grace working in their life.  Eph 2:8-9 Grace in your life is about receiving the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ before it is about ministries and callings.  Has the free offer of salvation and the presence of the Holy Spirit within been made real to you yet?   Perhaps someone will testify of the change of heart and mind they experienced after praying to the Lord Jesus for forgiveness of sins and asking Him to be their Lord and Savior.  It could be good to be aware of each other’s testimonies. 

                                                             ii.      Grace is given to Paul to minister to the Gentiles.   Eph 3:7…I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me … NKJV Acts 26:12-18; Phil 3:5-7. 

1.      Who do you think God is giving you grace to minister to?  It could be the extended family, the people you work with, or peers at school. 

2.      This may be a good time for your friends here to agree with you in prayer to be a more effective minister of God’s grace to those He is sending you to.  As the Lord leads it may be good to share in some way those you are praying for with each other and create a way to help each other in prayer to win them to Christ.   

3. Eph 3:14-19 For this reason I bow my knees … to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  NKJV
1. The work of Grace in each Christian is reflected in the above text

                                                               i.      His Spirit within…in your hearts…rooted and grounded in love…able to comprehend the love of God…

1.      It is important that you have the holy Spirit working in your inner person.  Can you relate to this description of the work of grace in your life? 

© 2003  Rev. Paul Gmitter