Mystery of Christ

Sermon Notes

Minister Joaquin Chavez

Ephesians 3:1-6

1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 

1.     God desired to be one with us.

-       Made the garden of Eden to meet with us

-       Shared his plans with Abraham as a true friend.

-       Spoke directly to his people.

-       Brought his people out of Egypt and brought them to the mountain where they could all meet.

-       Led their country to protect them and care for them until they rejected him.

-       Promised repeatedly that he would make his home in our hearts.

2.     God would do anything to restore our relationship.

-       God shared that he wants all people to be saved. 2 Peter 3:8-9

-       Does not want to punish and condemn. John 3:16-17

-       Was willing to give up his Son to restore us. Romans 8:32

-       Withheld nothing to achieve his dream to be with us all. Jeremiah 29:11

3.     Jesus is the reason we can be close to our Heavenly Father again.

John 15:13-16

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 

Jesus broke the veil between us and God Matthew 27:51

We suggest there are five major ways intimacy is expressed: spiritual, emotional, intellectual, social and physical. (Preventing Ministry Failure by Michael Todd Wilson)

Spiritual intimacy refers to those things done to participate in and encourage the building up of our personal love relationship with God. Prayer, corporate worship and spiritual readings or discussions together are all examples of such intimate relating spiritually. 

Emotional intimacy grows in proportion to our ability to express our positive and negative feelings with each other. This requires practice and risking vulnerability with one another but is necessary to experience deeper intimacy of the soul.

Intellectual intimacy includes dreaming about and planning for the future, use of humor with one other, making deliberate choices based on how it affects both of you and engaging in stimulating discussions on topics of mutual interest over a lifetime together. 

Social intimacy might involve spending time with other friends and talking about faith, serving together on a community service project, taking a day trip together or going out to dinner or a favorite activity. 

Physical intimacy Enjoying the smell of flowers. Looking at the sunset or sunrise (God’s gift of a new day or God’s gift that the day is over, and you get a fresh chance the next day). Eating delicious food. Warm house. Cool AC filled home. Physical gifts to play sports. Ability to sing and play music. Using your gifts and talents and giving credit to God afterwards. 

Applications:

1.     Spend some time tonight in prayer thanking Jesus for doing everything possible to restore our relationship with our Heavenly Father.

2.     Ask for the strength to do more to grow closer to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

3.     Rate how close you feel to God from 1-10. Additional step is to rate each area.

4.     Make a plan to grow in each area each day, week, month, and year. 

5.     Talk with others about areas you struggle with to get advice and for encouragement to push yourself past your comfort zones. 

How does it make you feel knowing how close God wants to be with you?

What area do you need to work on the most to be closer to God? (Spiritual, emotional, intellectual, social and physical.)

What can you do for each category to get closer to God? (Share one with the group)

Spiritual:

Emotional:

Intellectual:

Social:

Physical:

Verse to meditate on tonight.

Hebrews 10:19-25

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.