From Gary.... Lessons from a sunrise

Of late, I have started my day before sunrise.  And it has become quite common for me to walk my poodles just as the sun comes up.  Today, I couldn't help but notice the sky, for the Eastern sky was bright red this morning- truly a beautiful thing to behold.  And as I stood in awe of this grandeur, I wished I had my camera; then I remembered my phone, but the picture it took just didn't cut it. As I continued to look, the words of Jesus from the book of Matthew (quoted below) came back to me. So, later, when I sat down to do my daily blog entry, I looked on the net and found the scenes above.  The thing is... I tried to choose which one to use, but couldn't- they are both beautiful, but meant different things to me. The top one is more flashy, but that bottom one...  Well, Jesus referred to a red sky in reference to "a sign from heaven" and at this point I will let him do the speaking...

 Matthew, Chapter 16

  1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven.  2 But he answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’   3  In the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can’t discern the signs of the times!   4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.”

 Curious about this "sky" thing, I found more information on the net...  

RED SKY IN MORNING, SAILORS WARNING

METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY
The complete saying states: RED SKY IN MORNING, SAILORS WARNING; RED SKY AT NIGHT, SAILORS DELIGHT. This saying only applies to mid-latitude locations (winds are easterly in the tropics / in the high latitudes the sun rises and sets at a large deviation from the east-west trajectory). Storm systems in the middle latitudes generally move west to east. A red sky in the morning implies the rising sun in the east is shining on clouds to the west and conditions are clear to the east. Clouds moving from the west (especially upper level cirrus) indicate an approaching storm system. A red sky at night implies the sun (setting in the west) is shining on clouds to the east and conditions are clear to the west (because the sun can be seen setting). If you can see the sunset, the sky will be redder. Clouds to the east indicate an exiting storm system in the middle latitudes. Upper level clouds (especially cirrus) are noted for giving the sky a reddish hue during dawn or dusk. As a mid-latitude cyclone approaches, it is the upper level cirrus that are seen first, followed by lower clouds. The approach of upper level cirrus from the west often indicates an approaching storm system. The sky will not be as red at night if a storm system is approaching because the sun is setting behind the clouds approaching from the west. A red sky at night implies "the storm system moving through has ended!"; The clouds have broken and the sun is shining on and reddening the exiting clouds. The sun will continue to shine on clouds for a period of time after the sun has dipped below the horizon (especially cirrus). Keep in mind this saying was developed before satellite, radar and modern meteorological knowledge. Much of the knowledge of an approaching storm system back then was cloud and wind patterns. Of course, this saying (weather folklore) has some profound problems such as:

(1) The sky can be "reddish" near the sun at dawn and dusk (with or without clouds)
(2) storm systems do not always move straight west to east
(3) cirrus can occur without a storm system approaching or leaving. Clouds can cover one side of the sky or the other without being directly associated with a storm system
(4) the meteorological sailor may delight at an approaching storm system even while taking precautions at the same time
(5) rarely do the clouds from an approaching or exiting storm system only cover 1/2 of the eastern or western sky. The saying represents an ideal case.

SUMMARY: If you can see the sunrise but the west part of the sky is dark: look out for approaching bad weather. If you can see the sunset: the weather conditions will be nice.

 

Now that we both know far more than we need, let me just go back to Jesus for a minute....   It is amazing how harsh he is with people who should know better, but still say stupid things.  He calls them hypocrites and chides them for seeking signs!!!  Stubborn people need harsh medicine, I guess.  And his explanation using the sign of Jonah should have been clear to them, but I am guessing they didn't get that one either.  Gary- don't be like them; open your mind and your heart and think spiritually.  So, with this in mind, I pick my favorite of the two pictures above - the second one.  Why? Because the rays in the second picture seems to be announcing something.  And when God speaks, I try to listen!!! Do you???

From Ben Fronczek.... Prayer of the Antioch Church

Prayer of the Antioch Church

Acts 13:1-4 (Based on a sermon by Jeff Strite)

A 5-yr-old said grace at family dinner one night. “Dear God, thank you for these pancakes.”

When he finished his prayer, his parents looked curiously at him and asked him why he thanked God for pancakes when they were having chicken.

He smiled and said, “I thought I’d see if He was paying attention tonight.”

There are many prayers recorded in Scripture. From Moses to David, from Jehoshaphat to Daniel. Over and over we are exposed to powerful, earth shaking prayers, prayers that show us that God DOES pay attention. We have especially seen this as we have studied the book of Acts. Prayer was an important part of the early church.

Over the past four weeks we saw some interesting lesson from Acts chapter 12. We saw where James was martyred. We talked about what to do when disaster strikes. We talked about Peter who was arrested next, and how to sleep peacefully like he did even though he thought he would be killed next. We talk about reality of angels watching over and guarding us. And last week we finished up the chapter and talked about  King Herod and how unprofitable it is to have an evil high and mighty attitude like he had.

But what was the church doing through all this drama that took place? The writer, Dr. Luke lets us know that they were earnestly praying in 12:5 and again he tells us they were praying in 12:12.

We don’t know exactly what they prayed, but Peter is rescued and goes free, the villain Herod is removed, and the final verses in Chapter 12 let us know that the word of God continued to increase and all was well in the church.  In other words, the church was growing!

And now as we begin Acts 13, we have another wonderful snapshot of the church and what is taking place there: 

Read 13:1-3 “Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”

Here we read that we have several leaders and they were worshipping, fasting, and  I’m sure praying.  I say that because we already saw that this was a praying church.  And so we see that they got God’s attention. But, did you notice? What were these men fasting and  praying about?

I’ll give you the answer. It doesn’t tell us what they prayed?            

Verse 3 does tell us that they fasted and prayed and laid their hands on Barnabas and Paul before they sent them off on their mission trip. But it doesn’t tell us what they were fasting and praying about before the Spirit spoke to them.   All we’re told is – that in response to their worship, and fasting, the Holy Spirit told them to set aside Barnabas and Paul for a work that He has for them. It would be an adventure that would change the face of the world forever.

We don’t know what they fasted and prayed about before hand, but it seems like it got God’s attention. I don’t know about you but I would like to be able to pray like that.  I want you to notice a few things here:

*We may not know what was on their minds before the Spirit spoke to them but we can see in this text what their hearts were focused on; we are told that they were fasting and worshipping the Lord.

Now, the church in Antioch was a relatively new congregation, but it had experienced enormous growth. When the leaders at Jerusalem heard about this, they sent Barnabas to the church to teach these new converts more about Christianity and then Barnabas eventually went to get Paul to help him. For a whole year, Paul and Barnabas taught a great number of people. AND… they were so successful that they made a name for the church in area. Acts 11:26 tells us believers were called Christians first at Antioch.

So, the church in Antioch is a growing church with powerful teachers and all kinds of potential. So what could they be fasting and praying about?

I believe that the leaders at Antioch felt a great need to worship and glorify their beloved Lord.  Granted, it was a dynamic church. They had marvellous leaders and great potential. BUT, I think they were beginning to suspect or realize that there could be something more… something bigger that they could accomplish. But they just didn’t know what it was.

I believe that part of the reason we’re not told what was on their minds was because they had no idea what God had in mind for them next.  But when these leaders worshipped, prayed and fasted; they opened themselves up to being used by God anyway He desired, and God responded in a BIG WAY.

Did you realize that when they allowed God’s Spirit to lead them, and they set apart Barnabas and Paul to be missionaries:

* The world literally was turned upside down
* Antioch became the jumping off point for a world wide mission effort
* Nearly a dozen new congregations were established throughout Asia
* Paul began a ministry of writing that resulted in the composition of a major
part of our NT.
* And Antioch was established as one of the central hubs of Christianity in the
ancient world.
 

… all because, these men humbled themselves before God and sought out His will

Maybe God has more in mind for us than we know how and what to pray for.

And just maybe it wouldn’t hurt us to worship and fast and pray like they did in Antioch. Not telling God what we want… but asking Him to use us, lead us, and help us to be more than we can even imagine.

Ephesians 3:20 tells us our God “is able to do IMMEASURABLY MORE THAN ALL WE ASK OR IMAGINE, according to his power that is at work within us.”

A fellow by the name of Carl Bates once wrote: “There came a time in my life when I earnestly prayed: “God, I want your power!” Time wore on and the power did not come.  One day the burden was more than I could bear. I asked “God, why haven’t you answered that prayer?” God seemed to whisper back this simple reply: “With plans no bigger than yours, you don’t need my power. 

Interesting thought. Is it possible that we can not even imagine how much God can actually use us? Is it possible that when we imagine things, we think too small.

We may be praying about how to just get through the day, how to pay a bill, or how to get a job, but God sees our potential and what we can do to change the world with His help.

Just maybe we need to do what they did there in Antioch. Maybe God preserved this story for us so that we can learn something from it. Maybe He is showing us a way to get His attention and lead us to even greater goals that we can’t even envision on our own.

Look at what they did here. The text says as they served Him, they worshipped, and they fasted and there is no doubt in my mind that serious prayer was also included.

Over in over we read throughout scripture that when individuals, or groups of individuals needed God’s help, this is what we see them doing; fasting, praying in a serious state of worship.

We see this taking place throughout the Bible for many reasons. People in the Bible fasted and prayed in times of war, or at a threat of it; when loved ones were sick; when the sought God’s forgiveness; when they faced with impending danger. And when they were seeking God’s will.

Jesus even fasted and instructed His disciples on how to fast. And this won’t be the last time we’ll read about the disciples praying and fasting in the book of Acts.  

Read Acts 14:19-23 “Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

So here we read that after Paul and Barnabas appointed elders they fasted and prayed committing them to the Lord.  Maybe that’s what we should do now that we have appointed elders here.

From what I see there weren’t many required fast given by God in the Bible.  But when people did fast and prayed in a way that pleased Him, and God seem to pay attention.

The kind of fast God seems pleased with is one that humbles us in His presence. It is whole hearted and worshipful.  That’s  is what we saw in Acts 13:1-3 when they just wanted to know what God wanted and how to please Him.     

Read  Isaiah 58:1-11 something God said through Isaiah “Shout it aloud, do not hold back.  Raise your voice like a trumpet.  Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.

For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them.

‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’    “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.

Your fasting ends in quarrelling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists.  You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.

Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves?  Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?  Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”

I’m going to challenge you this week; to pray throughout for the same thing I believe they were  fasting and praying about in Antioch when they wanted to know what God wanted for them and how to please Him..

AND, if you feel led by God – to fast at least some time during this week (maybe one meal/ one day/ whatever) I’d like you to give this to the Lord.  Don’t fast to try to loose weight, fast to draw close to God.

If food means little to you, give up something else that important to you. Give up television for a day or two. Or maybe something else that means a lot to you. In 1 Corinthians 7:5 Paul also make reference to the fact that some even give up sex for a time to devote themselves to the Lord in prayer.  Whatever is important to you.

Do it to draw close to the Lord. So that every time you feel hungry, or the need for whatever you gave up, humble yourself before God and pray that God will lead you where He wants you to go, (like they did back there in Antioch). But then you also have to be open and listen for a response.

And even if God does not give you an answer, I can’t help but believe He will be pleased with your love and devotion.

From Jim McGuiggan.... Matthw 7.9-11 and "My mother's eyes"

Matthw 7.9-11 and "My mother's eyes"

 

 

Jesus said (John 12:48): "There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him in the last day."

[This announcement relates to those who heard Jesus' message and rejected it and has nothing to do with those in distant parts of the earth who didn't hear what he taught. Those non-hearers will come to judgment and if condemned it will not be for rejecting Jesus and his teaching since they never heard.]

The bad news

But those who heard the teaching and would have nothing to do with it or him need not guess what they'll meet in the judgment day. The person and the truth they defied while they were alive is what they will meet on that day and what is true of them would be true of us. It won't be a purer or more attractive or more truthful Jesus that we'll meet on that day—say a definitive no to him now and there's no reason to think that he will be more attractive at Judgment, even if we were given another chance to judge Jesus. The one we judge now is the one we will meet then and for those who impenitently and finally reject Jesus in this life that's bad news.

The good news

But for those who give their lives to him as he has already been revealed to us it is the best news. Part of the good news about the good news is that Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever. The lover of the oppressed and sinful, the defender of the helpless, the spokesman for the voiceless that we find throughout the Gospels—the One to whom the penitent turn in faith—that's the one they'll meet in that day. All the kindness, understanding, righteousness, truthfulness and faithfulness we saw in him while he was here—that's what we'll meet then! Since he said, "I will be with you always!" we can be sure that he'll be there when the final critical day arrives.

First and foremost our assurance of all this comes from the Spirit of God in the Holy Scriptures but a host of us have been privileged to come across people who illustrate the truth of what lies ahead for us in and through Jesus Christ. We're going to find that all that is lovely and splendid and honourable and true is eternal and that the beauty we saw in people was a pointer and a promise of the completed thing.

Goodness now is goodness then, honour now is honour then, and bravery and gallantry are forever the same. If we ask, "What will we find in the future?" the answer is that we'll find all the loveliness and righteousness that we've known in life made permanent and deeper and richer.

Henry Ward Beecher said he only came to grasp the love of God through the love of his mother. He knew, he said, that whatever trouble he might ever get into she would do anything, give anything, to redeem him. Knowing that helped him to rise to sense the depth of God's love. If God is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ not even Beecher's mother could out-love him.

Hudson Taylor, the famed missionary to China had a similar conviction. He said, "Before I had children of my own I used to think, God will not forget me; but when I became a father I learned something more—God cannot forget me."

Jesus looked around at a group of caring fathers and wanted to know, "If your child asked for a loaf would you give him a stone? If he asked for a fish would you give him a snake?" You know the response he got—that'd never happen. "Well, then," he said, "if you being evil know what it is to give good gifts to your children how much more is your heavenly Father like that?" He has no hesitation to take the best and truest that is in us and use it as an illustration of what we can expect from God.

We get a glimpse of the meaning of life as it's meant to be in the people who reflect the character of God and this is how God meant it to be. Sometimes we find it hard to climb to the heights where we can love and admire God and treasure what he has in mind (compare 1 John 4:20 and its implication) and that's where lovely people come to our aid. They're no substitute for God but there's no doubt that they make it easier for us to believe in God and love him (compare Isaiah 32:1-2). They make goodness warm as well as true; they make it look like what it is, something worth pursuing, and they make us believe that goodness is possible in a human life. Heaven won't be anything lovelier than that.  Don't be afraid of any of this for God isn't jealous when our love for a loved one always brings him to mind.

A songwriter of earlier years got it right when he wrote this (I've adapted it some for our purposes while leaving his point intact):

One bright and shining light
That taught me wrong from right
I found in my mother's eyes
Those wondrous tales she told
Of streets all paved with gold
I found in my mother's eyes.
Once I was lost in sorrow
A lonely soul
Now I walk the straight and narrow
To reach my goalGod's gift from up above
His pledge of lasting love
I found in my mother's eyes.   

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... The Revelation Of The Mystery (Ephesians 3:1-13)

                     "THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS"

                 The Revelation Of The Mystery (3:1-13)

INTRODUCTION

1. In the last half of the second chapter...
   a. Paul expounded upon "How The Gentiles Became Fellow Heirs" (Ep 2:11-22)
   b. In which those who once were "far off" are now "made near" by the
      blood of Christ - Ep 2:13

2. As a result of the work of Christ on the cross, Gentiles can now 
   become "one body" with the Jews in Christ (Ep 2:14-18), and 
   therefore can be:
   a. "Fellow citizens with the saints" - Ep 2:19a
   b. "Members of the household of God" - Ep 2:19b
   c. "A holy temple in the Lord...a habitation of God in the Spirit" 
      - Ep 2:20-22

3. When you compare Ep 3:1 with Ep 3:14, it becomes clear in verse 
   one that Paul was about to express a prayer in behalf of the 
   Ephesians

4. But the mention of himself as "the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you 
   Gentiles" prompts Paul to interrupt himself...
   a. From Ep 3:13, where Paul concludes his brief interruption, it 
      appears Paul is concerned that his reference to his imprisonment 
      (i.e., his tribulations) should not be taken as a call for pity
   b. For Paul considers that all he endured for the sake of the 
      Gentiles (including his present imprisonment in Rome) as just part
      of the wonderful grace of God that had been shown to him, "who am
      less than the least of all the saints" (Ep 3:8)

5. What was this wonderful grace of God that was shown to Paul?
   a. It pertains to the revelation of a mystery that for ages had been 
      hidden
   b. But was now being revealed through apostles and prophets, 
      including Paul

6. In this lesson, we shall examine Paul's "interruption", and answer 
   the following questions...
   a. What is this mystery that had been hidden?
   b. How was it being revealed?

[Our second question is actually answered first, for before Paul defines
"the mystery" he speaks of God's grace towards him and...]

I. THE REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY (1-5)

   A. A MYSTERY NOW REVEALED... (1-4)
      1. By the grace of God, this "mystery" was made known to Paul 
         - Ep 3:2-3a
      2. Paul, in turn, made known the "mystery" through his writings 
         - Ep 3:3b
      3. The Ephesians, by reading Paul's words, could then have his 
         understanding of this "mystery of Christ" - Ep 3:4
      4. This passage tells us several things:
         a. How "we" come to know this "mystery"
            1) It is not through direct revelation, though Paul may have
               received it this way
            2) It is through reading his words, i.e., through reading 
               the Word of God!
         b. The Word of God is understandable!
            1) Some people say it is not, or that it is too hard to be 
               understood
            2) But clearly Paul intended for people to understand his 
               "knowledge in the mystery of Christ"!
            3) The problem some people have is that they misunderstand 
               Paul's use of the term "mystery" and think the Bible is 
               still a mystery; but notice...
   
   B. CALLED A "MYSTERY", BECAUSE IT WAS ONCE "HIDDEN"... (5)
      1. It is important to appreciate this fact:  this "mystery" is 
         called such, not because it REMAINS a mystery, but because that
         is what it was for so long in times past!
      2. Just as certain novels are still called "mysteries"...
         a. Even though you may have read them and know the ending, you 
            still refer tothose novels as "mysteries"
         b. So it is with the "mystery of Christ", it is called such 
            because it had been one for so long, though now we know the 
            "ending" (or what had been a "secret")
      3. That such is the case here, consider these passages:
         a. "...according to the revelation of the mystery which was 
            kept secret since the world began but now has been made 
            manifest," - Ro 16:25-26
         b. "having made known to us the mystery of His will..." - Ep 1:9
         c. "which in other ages was not made known...as it has been 
            revealed" - Ep 3:5
         d. "the mystery which as been hidden from ages and from 
            generations, but now has been revealed to His saints." - Co
            1:26-27

[So we know that this "mystery" has now been revealed, but WHAT, 
exactly, is the "mystery"?  Paul explained it earlier in this epistle 
(cf. Ep 3:3b-4a), but now he summarizes...]

II. THE "REVEALED" MYSTERY EXPLAINED (6-12)

   A. IT INVOLVES THE "GENTILES"... (6)
      1. I.e., those that we saw in chapter two, who at one time were:
         a. "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel"
         b. "strangers from the covenants of promise"
         c. "having no hope and without God in the world"
      2. The mystery now revealed is that these Gentiles can be:
         a. "fellow heirs"
         b. "of the same body"
         c. "partakers of His (God's) promise in Christ"
      3. This is what Paul wrote about in Ep 2:11-22, and to which he 
         refers in Ep 3:b-4a
         a. That Gentiles, who for ages were not included in God's 
            special dealings with the Israelites...
         b. ...could now become part of God's spiritual family and heirs
            to the wonderful blessings that God makes available through 
            Jesus Christ!

   B. AS "APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES", PAUL'S TASK WAS... (7-12)
      1. "to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of 
         Christ" - Ep 3:7-8
         a. This Paul did, even in letters like this one to the 
            Ephesians
         b. As we saw in Ep 1:3-14
      2. "to make all people see what is the fellowship of the mystery" 
         - Ep 3:9
         a. Again, Paul used epistles like Ephesians, and also 
            Colossians
         b. As we saw in Ep 2:11-22
      3. "to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be 
         known" - Ep 3:10-12 - Here Paul expands his thoughts...
         a. This wisdom of God is being made known "by the church"
            1) Paul, of course, was doing his part as an apostle
            2) But the whole church, as "the pillar and ground of the 
               truth", is involved in proclaiming the wisdom of God - 
               cf. 1Ti 3:15
            3) The church does this, both by what it "is" and by what it
               "teaches"
               a) It's very "existence" proclaims the wisdom of God
               b) As well as the "message" it proclaims
         b. This wisdom of God is being made known to "principalities 
            and powers in the heavenly places"
            1) Not just to "the Gentiles" (Ep 3:8) and to "all people"
               (Ep 3:9)
            2) But as the church carries out its mission, even spiritual
               entities are being enlightened - cf. 1Pe 1:10-12 
               (where even angels were once "in the dark" about the 
               salvation now being offered in Christ)
         c. Making known the wisdom of God "by the church" was part of 
            God's "eternal purpose"
            1) The church was not an afterthought, but part of God's 
               plan for eternity!
            2) From the beginning, it was to play an important role in 
               God's scheme of redemption for mankind!
            3) This verse has serious ramifications for some
               a) For there are those who say the church was an 
                  "afterthought", established only after Christ and His 
                  kingdom were rejected
               b) But this verse clearly indicates that the church was 
                  part of God's plan from the beginning!

CONCLUSION

1. Knowing that his work as an apostle, and the work of the church, was 
   all part of God's "eternal purpose" being carried out in Christ 
   Jesus, Paul had great boldness and confidence of continued access to 
   God - Ep 3:12

2. Therefore, he did not want his mention of imprisonment to be a source
   of concern...
   a. For even the tribulations it might have caused him was glory for 
      the Gentiles! - Ep 3:13
   b. How?  Because in imprisonment Paul was "an ambassador in chains" 
      - Ep 6:19-20
      1) As such he could "make known the mystery of the gospel"
      2) And whenever the "mystery" is made known, the exalted position 
         God now has for Gentiles is also known!

3. We, too, should have "boldness and access with confidence through 
   faith in Him", knowing that...
   a. We are part of God's "eternal purpose" being carried out!
   b. We who are Gentiles are but a demonstration of that wonderful 
      "mystery of Christ", in which Gentiles can be:
      1) "fellow heirs"
      2) "of the same body"   
      3) "partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel"
      -- with the faithful of Israel (such as Peter, Paul, and many 
         others who have accepted Jesus as the Messiah)

Are you in this "body", which we learn in Ep 1:22-23 is the church of 
Jesus Christ?  The Lord adds the saved to His church (cf. Ac 2:47).
How can one be saved and thus "added" by the Lord to His church?
Consider carefully Ac 2:36-41...

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011