A1
Scripture
Ephesians
3:8-13 NKJV To me,
who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given,
that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of
Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the
mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God
who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that
now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to
the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according
to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our
Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence
through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart
at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
A2
Past and present life
B1
Before salvation
C1
Pharisee
D1
Studied under Gamaliel
E1
Acts 22:3 NKJV I am
indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city
at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our
fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.
E2
Acts 23:6 NKJV But
when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other
Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men and brethren, I am
a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and
resurrection of the dead I am being judged!
E3
Acts 26:5 NKJV They
knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that
according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
D2
Zealous (this is a partial list from Torrey Topical)
E1
Zealous for Law
E2
Zealous for tradition
E3
Outwardly moral
E4
Fasting
E5
Proselytising
E6
Self-righteous
E7
Cruel
E8
Believed in the resurrection
E9
For the most part hated Jesus
D3
Tent Maker
C2
Accomplice: Acts 7:58-60 NKJV And
they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid
down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And
they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he knelt down and cried out
with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin."
And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
B2
After salvation
C1
Apostle
D1
Called by God: Acts 9:15 NRSV
But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is an instrument whom I
have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the
people of Israel.
D2
Commissioned by God: Acts 13:2 NRSV While
they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set
apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called
them.
D3
Gifted by the Holy Spirit: Acts 9:17 NRSV So
Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and
said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your
way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled
with the Holy Spirit.
D4
Witness of the resurrected Son of God, Jesus: Acts 9:4-5 NRSV He
fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul,
why do you persecute me?" 5 He asked, "Who are you,
Lord?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are
persecuting.
D5
Signs of an Apostle
E1
Seen the resurrected Jesus
E2
Signs and miracles: 2 Corinthians 12:12 NKJV Truly
the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all
perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
E3
Anointed preaching (this is NOT the so-called anointed preaching
today which is just a compliment, not reality): 1 Corinthians 9:1-2
NRSV Am I not free?
Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my
work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am
to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
E4
God’s strength to do this work (by application, we can do what God
calls us to): Philippians 4:13 WPNT I
can handle anything through Christ who strengthens me.
C2
Missionary
D1
To Jews: Acts 22:1-5 NKJV Brethren
and fathers, hear my defense before you now." 2 And when they
heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the
more silent. Then he said: 3 "I am indeed a Jew, born in
Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of
Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and
was zealous toward God as you all are today. 4 I persecuted this
Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and
women, 5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the
council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the
brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were
there to Jerusalem to be punished.
D2
To Gentiles (primarily)
E1
Acts 13:2-4 NKJV As
they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now
separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called
them." 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on
them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit,
they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
E2
Romans 11:13 NKJV For
I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles,
I magnify my ministry.
A3
Plan
B1
Mystery: Salvation/redemption
C1
Hidden and need to be revealed: Matthew 11:25-27 NKJV At
that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and
prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father, for so
it seemed good in Your sight. 27 All things have been delivered to
Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does
anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son
wills to reveal Him.
C2
Hidden from teachers of Israel: John 3:8-10 NKJV The
wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot
tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is
born of the Spirit." 9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him,
"How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered and said to
him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these
things?
C3
The future blessings for believers: 1 Corinthians 2:6-9 NRSV Yet
among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of
this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. 7
But we speak God's wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed
before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age
understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the
Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen,
nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared
for those who love him.
C4
Salvation, fellowship, and indwelt by God: Colossians 1:25-27 NKJV
Of which I became a
minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me
for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been
hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to
His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches
of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in
you, the hope of glory.
C5
The suffering Messiah: 1 Peter 1:10-12 NKJV Of
this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who
prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what,
or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was
indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and
the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not
to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now
have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel
to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels
desire to look into.
C6
The finish of the mystery: Revelation 10:7 NKJV But
in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to
sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His
servants the prophets.
B2
Purpose: to show the plan which was unknown (and cannot be known) by
wisdom or search.
A4
Persecutions
B1
His did
C1
Stephen: Acts 7:58-60 NKJV And
they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid
down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And
they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he knelt down and cried out
with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin."
And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
C2
Christians: Acts 22:4 GW
I persecuted people who followed the way of Christ: I tied up men and
women and put them into prison until they were executed.
B2
He received
C1
2 Corinthians 11:23-28 NKJV Are
they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors
more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently,
in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty
stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I
was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have
been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in
perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the
Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in
perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness
and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings
often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what
comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
C2
As all Christians do: 2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV Yes,
and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer
persecution.
A5
Application
B1
What God calls us to, He will give the strength and ability to
accomplish it. Philippians 4:13 WPNT I
can handle anything through Christ who strengthens me.
B2
Boldness to pray: Hebrews 10:19 NKJV Therefore,
brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.
B3
Comfort and encouragement
C1
Romans 8:35-36 NRSV Who
will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As
it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.
C2
John 16:33 NKJV These
things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the
world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have
overcome the world.
