Ephesians 3:1-13

          Note that both vs. 1 & 14 begin with the same phrase, For this reason.  It appears that Paul is about to express the prayer of 3:14-21 at the beginning of the chapter when the Holy Spirit causes him to be sidetracked.  Paul is led to explain and affirm his special role as the one who reveals the mystery of His will (1:9).  

¨     Paul had a dispensation/stewardship from God, 3:1-3.

          This word dispensation relates to a household.  In Roman times a wealthy home was run by stewards or servants under the authority of the father, the head of the house.  When the father went on a trip he would give responsibility for the family to various servants to be sure the family was well cared for in his absence.  So Christ, when He ascended to heaven, gave dispensations or stewardships in order to care for the household of God.  In one sense all believers, by their spiritual gifts, have something to give to the family.  

¨     Paul’s stewardship involved the mystery of Christ, 3:4-6.

          Paul’s stewardship was unique.  It involved a mystery not known in Old Testament times.  Though God had always intended to do what He kept secret, it was Paul that God chose to give the details as to how Gentiles would become fellow-heirs, of the same body, and partakers of the gospel promise in Christ.

¨     Paul's stewardship was carried out in his service, 3:7-13.

          This paragraph teaches all believers key truths as to how we carry out our stewardship.  The primary truth is that Paul became a minister or servant.  He realized that his only task was to carry out the will of his Master, and that will was that he serve the body of Christ.  For many people servanthood is demeaning.  But for Paul being a servant was a gift of the grace of God and something he did, not in his strength, but by the effective working of His power.  

          To serve the Lord Jesus Christ is in fact an undeserved gift.  He knew that he was the least of all the saints (v8).  And yet to him was given the task of preaching to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all see the fellowship of the mystery.  In other words, he evangelized among the Gentiles, and then worked to be sure that all in the church knew that there was a unity in fellowship between Jew and Gentile.  A reading of the book of Acts shows that Paul in fact did this.

          The purpose for Paul’s stewardship was the same as for all things: for the glory of God (v10-11).  The working out of this mystery shows, even to the angels, the great wisdom of God.  It was God’s eternal purpose to bring together all under Christ and He deserves glory for how it is all coming together.  This raises Paul’s service to the highest level and gives sense to the trials that accompanied it every step along the way.

          In many ways Paul is the prime Biblical example of the servant of Christ.  Do you see yourself in this passage?  What has God, by His grace, given you to give to the body of Christ?  Are you serving by His power?  Are the accompanying tribulations light because you see God’s glory being displayed?