Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(Eph 3:9) “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:”  In context this “fellowship” of the mystery (the gospel and all that it entails) is that both Gentiles and Jews that are saved, are all made “one” in Christ Jesus! We are brothers and sisters. Understand, the saved black man is my true brother in Christ: the Asian, the Hispanic. Whatever the race, when saved, they are more my brother in Christ than that of my physical parents! Praise God for the many saved brothers and sisters I possess in everlasting life!

(Eph 3:8) “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”  There are those who would say that a person experiences none of salvation until they pass from this life! They are so wrong! His riches are bestowed upon the born again child of God and those blessings flow day by day all the days of this earthly life. How do I know? I experience them! What about you? Do you possess the true salvation of God?

(Eph 3:8) “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”  Paul’s was not a false humility, for he forever carried the mental burden of his past actions, the suffering and death of the saints of God. Paul is forever a symbol of the depths to which the Hand of God will reach to save a sinner! My Savior died for the sins of “the world” – every man and woman, boy and girl. He carried their sin on Calvary’s cross. His blood was shed to pay the wage of death we had earned. Yes, even your sin was carried by my Lord! May you have the heart and faith to turn from your sin and embrace Him as Savior!

(Eph 3:7) “Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.”  It is a privilege to serve the Lord in any way, shape, or form. It is a gift given to each of the saved! We, who were once the followers of Satan in attitude as well as action, have been gifted with the Gift of Salvation and Adoption. The opportunity to do something back for Him who gave us so much, is something we should each see as a privilege. I ask you, “What are you doing openly for the glory of God?”  

(Eph 3:7) “Whereof I was made a minister,….”  It is a real and true thing that God “calls’ men to minister in the office of missionary and pastor. I know, for He called me. Yet, there is a sense that all of the saved are to minister. “Minister” simply means to serve. Two types of people gather together in the local church. Those who minister and those who do not. Those who minister are few in comparison to those who do not. It seems the thought is centered on self rather on the people around them. I am not referring to fellowship. It is not ministering if it is for the purpose of receiving rather than to add to the good of the other.

(Eph 3:6) “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:”  Just before the Children of Israel cross over into the Promised Land, the Lord warned them: (Deu 32:17) “They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. (18)  Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee. (19)  And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters. (20)  And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith. (21)  They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people;” If you are not a Jew and are saved, then this is speaking of you!  One of the great things we can learn from this is that the Lord God ALWAYS keeps His Word. Praise Him!  

(Eph 3:5)  “Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;” The Old Testament prophets penned these things (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53 to name a few) not knowing what they meant. Now the Holy Spirit has revealed these things in the writing of the New Testament and to our individual souls as we faithfully read and study God’s Word!