以弗所书［第三章］
Book of Ephesians 3
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以弗所书 第三章 |Book of Ephesians 3【基督福音的奥秘】
08/08/2024
1. 为福音受苦是荣耀的（v2-6）
从节经文的语气中，我们可以看出保罗完全没有为他的被囚而怨叹。他有一个超越的眼光，看到了背后神的手，知道自己被囚是为了主，所以视受苦为荣耀。因此在囚禁中有平安，并且还能写信安慰和鼓励以弗所教会的信徒。
我们受苦是因为什么呢？如果是为了主，那苦难其实是变相的祝福。问题很常是我们怎么看待这些不容易的环境和事件，还有我们选择以什么样的态度来回应？让我们的回应是走在神的心意里，不单是自己有美好的见证，生命中也会越有主的丰富可以供应给别人。
2. 基督里成为一个新人（v2-6）
保罗相信以弗所教会已经听过神将关切他们的职分托付给他。给他恩赐和启示他有关福音的奥秘。就是v6这奥秘就是外邦人在基督耶稣里，藉着福音，得以同为後嗣，同为一体，同蒙应许。
对当时的犹太人来说，他们是很看不起外邦人，外邦人是不圣洁，不可靠近。他们也绝对没有想到外邦人也可以得救，所以这对他们来说是个不知道的奥秘。但是对今天的我们来说，当然知道外邦人跟犹太信徒可以一同得救。并且外邦信徒和犹太信徒是一样，合而为一成为一个新人。在基督里同得产业，同为基督奥秘的身体，同享神的应许。
弟兄姐妹，既然我们跟以色列有这么深，不可分割的关系，现在的以色列正受到伊朗的攻击。我们有为以色列的局势来祷告吗？求神帮助我们看到，他们的受损是关乎到整个基督身体的受损，我们不能袖手旁观。
3. 成为基督福音的执事（v7-11）
保罗说他是照神的恩赐领受成为福音的执事。保罗本来就不是列在12使徒当中。他认为自己比众圣徒中最小的还小，然而神却呼召他做外邦的使徒。要他将基督测不透的丰富传给外邦人。此外，保罗说有些奥秘是先知、使徒领受了，在讲台上教导，天使在天上观看，才突然明白过来的。这是何等重要的奥秘。因此教会的表现非常重要。因为天使和魔鬼都在观看，我们应该严肃对待神托付的责任。
此外，现今社会，许多人借助不同方法，以为可以改变世界或对世界发挥影响力。 然而，作为神的教会的我们，更要用祷告去祝福政府，实行属神的思想，行公义、好怜悯，存谦卑的心与神同行。让我们今晚和明天就行动吧。参加‘祂大能之日’与众教会一起为新加坡祈福。
4. 基督福音的终极目的（v12-13）
保罗向以弗所信徒阐明真理而被囚。但他绝不会因此而打退堂鼓。他希望读者明白，他成为囚徒是为了让他们获益。
今天我们传福音，教会有很多事工，装备课程是为了什么？都是教我们得了益处之后，可以去造就别人。这是基督奥秘的终极目的。有时候组员会觉得好像被组长逼要去上课，要去祷告会。没有自由，好反感。但我们回头看，那岂不是我们所需要的？如果自己都没有，也不愿被装备，试问我们又怎样能去祝福他人呢？我们愿意为了主的福音被囚吗？虽然好像很多东西要学，被有自由。但这是为了能更好的起来祝福其他人。
其实从使徒保罗所提到的，我们可以明白到神福音的终极目的就是要教会与基督一同成为万有之首。带领在地上的万有，在天上的天使，一起来敬拜基督。但是，现实生活中当我们看自己时，我自己都一大堆问题，还讲什么万有之首？
这也是为什么接下来使徒保罗要来为教会，这个在基督里合而为一的新群体来祷告。也让信徒明白要成为万有之首，能力的来源在哪里？
二、福音带来的转化（v14-19）
1.屈膝谦卑祷告（v 14-15）
祷告是开启一切神旨意成就神应许的钥匙。‘屈膝’ 代表极深的敬畏、感恩和谦卑。
历世历代，圣经里有很多人物，常常屈膝跪着祷告，像所罗门、以斯拉双膝跪下，向神祷告（拉9:5）、但以理双膝跪下祷告（但6:10）、路22:41耶稣也做了榜样，跪下向父神祷告。弟兄姐妹，你有多久没有屈膝跪下来向神祷告呢？祷告是信徒能力的重要来源。多祷告就多有能力。
最近我问一位肢体会参加祂大能之日的祷告会吗？她给我的回应是：“请问这项活动是 "必须 "参加的？还是我们的 "选择"？
参加祂大能之日不是一项活动。这是一个让我们参与在神呼召计划的机会。让我们有机会祝福这个为我们提供工作、住宿和生活所需的国家。也是神给我们机会，让我们的属灵生命可以扩张、使我们可以有国度的胸怀，而不是以自我为中心。
2.渴慕圣灵充满（v16）
被圣灵充满，不是喊口号，也不是为了让自己觉得很属灵。被圣灵充满的目的是要帮助我们让基督成为生活的中心，在一切的事上依靠圣灵的指引，让基督在心里掌权作主，使我们能活得越来越像祂。
3.活出基督的爱（v17-19）
爱是基督徒能力的根基，因为神就是爱。保罗不是为我们有没有爱心祷告。因为我们凡是神儿女的，多多少少都有爱心。保罗求神让我们明白基督的爱是何等长阔高深。因为我们的爱心很常没有根基，经不起考验。
人要真正领悟基督的爱，并在爱中有根有基，就必须在基督身体里与众圣徒实际地磨合，以至达到合一。经历过基督的爱、我们才有能力把人带向基督福音最终的目标，得着神的一切丰盛。
弟兄姐妹，你渴慕成为神爱的器皿吗？你渴慕神使用你将祂的爱带到有需要的人群中，让人得着神的一切丰盛吗？
总结：神能成就超过一切（v20-21）
•心里所求的是什么？想要的又是什么？
•求属灵的成就和神国度的推动？连没求的环境亨通，在世的福乐，祂都要给你！
•世世代代，永永远远，单单荣耀神！
Ephesians 3 The Mystery of the Gospel of Christ
GK611 Morning Devotion
08 August 2024
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Ps Deborah Tan
1. Revealing the mystery of the gospel (v1-13)
(1) Suffering for the gospel is glorious (v2-6)
Paul had a transcendent vision, seeing the hand of God behind him, and knowing that he was imprisoned for the Lord, he regarded suffering as glorious. Thus there was peace in his captivity, and he was able to write to comfort and encourage the believers in the church at Ephesus.
What is the reason for our suffering? If it is for the Lord, then suffering is actually a blessing in disguise. Let our response be to walk in the mind of God, and not only will we have a good testimony for ourselves, but the more we will have the Lord's riches in our lives to provide for others.
(2) Becoming a new man in Christ (v2-6)
Paul believed that the Ephesus church had heard that God had entrusted to him the ministry of concern for them. Giving him gifts and revealing to him the mystery of the gospel. That is v6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel.
To the Jews of that time, this was a mystery unknown to them. But to us today, of course, we know that Gentiles and Jewish believers can be saved together and become one new person. Since we are inextricably linked to Israel, which is now under attacked by Iran. Have we prayed about the situation in Israel? Pray that God would help us to see that their damage is about the damage of the whole body of Christ and that we cannot stand by and do nothing.
(3) Becoming a deacon of the gospel of Christ (v7-11)
Paul says that he was received as a deacon of the gospel according to the gift of God, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable richness of Christ. Paul says that there are some mysteries that the prophets and apostles received and taught from the pulpit, and the angels watched from heaven, and then suddenly came to their understanding. What an important mystery this is. That is why the performance of the church is so important. Because angels and devils are watching, we should take the responsibility entrusted to us by God seriously.
As the church of God, we should bless the government with prayers, practise godly thinking, do justice, have good mercy, and walk with God in humility. Let us take action tonight and tomorrow. Join the 'Day of His Power' to pray for Singapore with the churches.
(4) The ultimate purpose of the gospel of Christ (v12-13)
Paul was imprisoned for articulating the truth to the Ephesian believers. But he would never be deterred by this. He wanted his readers to understand that he became a prisoner for their benefit.
What is the purpose of the equipping course for today when we evangelise and there are many ministries in the church? It's all to teach us that after we have been benefited, we can go and edify others. This is the ultimate purpose of the mystery of Christ. Sometimes group members feel as if they are forced by the leader to go to classes and prayer meetings. There is no freedom, and they disliked it. But when we look back, isn't that what we need? If we don't have it for ourselves and we don't want to be equipped, how can we bless others? Are we willing to be imprisoned for the gospel of the Lord? It seems like a lot to learn and no freedom, but it is so that we can better rise up and bless others.
Next the Apostle Paul is going to come and pray for the church, this new community. That the believers understand the source of power for believers to understand that they are to be the head of all?
2. Transformation brought about by the gospel (v 14-19)
(1) Bowing the knee in humble prayer (v14-15)
Prayer is the key to unlocking the fulfilment of all God's promises. Bowing the knee' represents deep reverence, thanksgiving and humility.
Throughout the ages, there are many characters in the Bible who often prayed on knees, like Solomon and Ezra who knelt down on both knees and prayed to God (Ezra 9:5), Daniel who knelt down on both knees and prayed (Dan. 6:10), and Luke 22:41 Jesus also set an example by kneeling down and praying to God the Father. Brothers and sisters, how long has it been since you have bowed down on your knees and prayed to God? Prayer is an important source of power for believers. Pray more and you will have more power.
Participating in His Day of Power is not an event. It is an opportunity for us to participate in God's calling and plan. It is an opportunity for us to bless the nation that provides us with jobs, lodging, and the necessities of life. It is also an opportunity for God to give us the opportunity to expand our spiritual lives so that we can have a Kingdom mindset and not self-centred.
(2) Desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit (v16) Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not about shouting slogans or making ourselves feel spiritual. The purpose of being filled with the Holy Spirit is to help us to make Christ the centre of our lives, to rely on the Holy Spirit's guidance in all things, and to allow Christ to reign in our hearts so that we can live more and more like Him.
(3) Live out the love of Christ (v17-19)
Love is the foundation of Christian power, for God is love. Paul is not praying about whether we have love or not. For all of us who are children of God are more or less loving. Paul asks God to make us understand how long and deep is the love of Christ. For our love is often without foundation and cannot stand the test. For a man to truly grasp the love of Christ, and to be rooted and grounded in it, he must be practically grounded in the body of Christ with all the saints, so as to reach unity.
Brothers and sisters, do you long to be a vessel of God's love? Do you long for God to use you to bring His love to the needy, so that people can have all the fullness of God?
Conclusion: God who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all (v20-21)
-What does the heart ask for? What do you want?
-Spiritual fulfillment and the advancement of God's kingdom? He will even give you the smoothness of life and earthly blessings that you did not ask!
-Glorify God alone for all generations, forever and ever!
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