Tabor Baptist Church

Apologies, but due to a technical error the sermon did not record

Introduction

• Taught to pray
• Remember that you are a valuable part of the Church of God
• There is much emphasis on the unity of the Church of Jesus Christ (chapters 2-3)
• 2:16 - Reconciled into one body, harmony and peace in Jesus Christ
• 3:6,12 - Both Jew and Gentiles have access
• Sometimes we can be sectarian
• Thinking only about our own activities
• Thinking only about our own individual walk
• How important is the Church of Jesus Christ to you?
• God sent His Son to die for the Church
• Paul is in prison (3:1)
• Because he was faithful in his calling to preach the gospel to the Gentiles
• This brought criticism, persecution and imprisonment
• Paul put before various authorities
• Ends up a prisoner of Rome
• v2-13 appears to be a tangent
• v14: "For this reason"
• v1: "For this reason"
• He gets caught up with the thought of being a preacher to the nations
• The doctrine of the Scripture is not wooden - God uses our personalities
• He returns to his thought that he would 'pray for you'
• This often happens in the book of Romans
• v1-13:
• Paul is speaking about himself
• Is it wrong to refer to yourself?
• Are you drawing attention to yourself, are you exalting yourself, are you becoming proud?
• Paul often refers to his call
• He makes clear that he is the least of all and magnifies the fact that God has called him
• He wants to speak in a way that is helpful to the Ephesians
• Paul reminds the Ephesians that he is an apostle

His Circumstances

• A prisoner of the Lord (3:1, 4:1)
• Not a prisoner of Rome
• Paul believed in the sovereignty of God (in a practical way)
• He does not complain
• He does not say this is the devil or of man
• He says the Lord has arranged this
• In the practical issues do we believe in the sovereignty of God?
• This is challenging for each one of us
• How do we accept things when they don't go as planned?
• Paul in prison saw the gospel spread in a greater way
• Paul was able to write a number of letters whilst in prison
• Paul was there for a purpose
• Example of John Bunion
• Paul had time to pray for these believers

His Call

• v2 - the dispensation of the grace of God
• Paul did not choose to be an apostle
• We do no choose to be a minister [God chooses us]
• Paul when we he was converted was called to be a minister to the Gentiles
• Paul was initially against the Christians
• He was going to persecute them (with letters of authority)
• The Lord had other plans for him
• Paul did not eat and drink for 3 days
• There was a time of deep repentance
• Ananias places his hands on Paul and the scales fell from his eyes
• Paul could see both physically and spiritually
• Paul was baptised
• Gal 1:17-18
• Paul had three years in Arabia alone with God
• Paul had time seeking God before entering the ministry
• 1 Tim 1:12-14
• God put him into the ministry
• Paul had such a burden to preach
• What about those who are called to the ministry today?
• Paul was specifically called not just to be a minister but to be an apostle (a very specific and unique call)
• The person must be fully persuaded that the call is of God
• Example involving famous preachers
• How do you that God is calling you?
• The sense of call and desire will not go away from you - infact it will increase
• Example of Anthony Green
• Think of Jeremiah
• (Young) Age is not a barrier
• Think of Gideon, of Moses
• Think of Saul
• It is the grace of God
• God often chooses unlikely people to serve Him
• The Church must confirm the call given by God
• God had now revealed the mystery to the apostles (v5)
• That the gentiles should be partakers of the gospel (v6)
• God's wisdom may be now known by the church (v10)

His Character

A Humble Man

• How do you see yourself?
• Do you compare yourself to other Christians?
• Do you think you are better than other Christians?

An Unselfish Man

• Paul had a very low view of himself
• He realised who he was as a sinner
• He considered himself less than all the saints (v8)
• Therefore, God used him in a mighty way
• Can God trust us for His glory or will we try and claim the glory for ourselves?
• Paul was a very unselfish person
• v13
• He is thinking of other Christians
• How much do we think of ourselves or other believers?

A Man of Great Prayer

• Paul was a man who often spoken about prayer (v12)
• Also Chapter 1 and 2
• Paul is forever praying
• We have great assurance that we can draw near in boldness through Jesus to God the Father
• 1:16
• 6:18

Closing Remarks

• Paul's call to gospel work
• What will be our response be?
• Lord I am available
• Pray that God will raise up workers for the harvest field
• Wales, Europe and throughout the World
• Raise up people even from Tabor Baptist Church
• We must be faithful in supporting those in gospel work