TOOLS OF A SERVANT

Nepalese Masons At Work

 Read: (Ephesians 3:17-13)

 
Relate: I enjoy working with my hands. I take great pride in knowing how to build and fix things. Along with that, one of the things I also enjoy is acquiring tools.

If you were to look in my work shop, you would find tools for bow making, leather crafting tools, wood working tools and specialty tools that have unique uses.

Recently I acquired a planer. That was one of the tools on my list to make my bow making easier. The next tool that I would like to obtain is a radial arm saw for the same purpose. Experience tells me that having the right tool is imperative to doing a good job.

When visiting in Nepal, I had the unique opportunity to see some Nepalese brick masons at work. I’ve got to tell you that I have never been so frustrated in my life!  I wanted so badly to jump up onto their scaffold and show them an easier way to do their job, but it would’ve been almost impossible to do without the right tools.

Having the right tool makes the job much easier.  As a servant of God, He has given you and I specific tools to make our job of sharing the Gospel easier.
Not only has He given us the right tools, He has also given us the right workplace.

Research:
(v. 7) When Paul became a servant of the gospel, God gave him the ability to share the gospel of Christ effectively. You are not an apostle and you may not be an evangelist, but God will equip you and give you opportunities to tell others about Christ. And with the opportunities, he will provide you with the ability, courage and power.  Make yourself available to God as his servant whenever an opportunity presents itself. As you focus on the other person’s needs, God will communicate your caring attitude. Your words will be natural, loving, and truly compelling.
 

(v. 8) When Paul describes himself as “less than the least of all God’s people,” he means that without God’s help, he would never be able to do God’s work. Yet God chose him to share the gospel with the Gentiles and gave him the power to do it.  If we feel that our role is a minor part, we may be right - except that we have forgotten what a difference God makes. How does God want to use you? Draw upon His power; do your part; and faithfully perform the special role God has called you to play in His plan.
 

(v. 9) “The administration of this mystery” refers to the way God’s great plan is carried out through the church and to Paul’s work to demonstrate and teach God’s great purpose in Christ.
 

(v. 10)  The “rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms” are either angels who are witnesses to these events or hostile spiritual forces opposed to God.
 

(v. 12) It is an awesome privilege to be able to approach God with such freedom and confidence. Undoubtedly, most of us would be apprehensive in the presence of such a powerful ruler. But thanks to Christ, by faith, we can enter directly into God’s presence through prayer. We know we’ll be welcomed with open arms because we are God’s own children through our union with Christ. Don’t be afraid of God. Talk with Him about everything. He is waiting to hear from you!
 

(v. 13) Why should Paul’s suffering make the Ephesians feel honored (“which are your glory”)? If Paul had not preached the gospel, he would not be in jail. But then, also, the Ephesians would not have heard the Good News and been converted either! Just as a mother endures the pain of childbirth in order to bring new life into the world, Paul endured the pain of persecution in order to bring new believers to Christ. Obeying Jesus  is never easy. He calls you to take up your “cross”and follow him - that is, be willing to endure pain and suffering so that God’s message of salvation can reach the entire world. We should feel honored that others have suffered and sacrificed for us so that we might reap the benefit.
 
Reflect: 

• What job do you do well? 
• What did you do to perfect that job? 
• How long did it take you?

Respond: 

• What was Paul’s view of the mission/work God had given to him? 
• Why would Paul consider himself “less than the least of all God’s people”? 
• What important mission does the church have in God’s plan?
• What wonderful benefit of being in Christ is mentioned in v. 12?
• With how much freedom and confidence do you approach God?

Request: 

• How would you compare Paul’s mission to share the mystery of the Gospel with your own passion to share the Gospel?
• What needs to change?
• What needs to be confessed?  

Some excerpts from “Life Application Study Bible, Zondervan

Nepalese Iron Workers At Work