Building Our Lives on God's Plan

I don’t know what kind of phone or computer you have, if you even have one, but we can’t deny the impact that the company Apple has had on this world. Even if you’re not an iPhone user, you are definitely in your lane because, well, Apple. One distinctive aspect that contributed to Apple's identity was the leadership of its now deceased founder, Steve Jobs. His introductions of new products were infamous. In fact, instead of being called a keynote, it was called a Stevenote. In every Stevenote, you could expect “Jobs presenting sales figures for Apple products and a review of products released during the past few months. He then presented one or more new products. Reminiscent of Peter Falk's Columbo, he typically feigned some concluding remarks, turned as if to leave the stage, and turned back, saying, "But there's one more thing." The "one more thing" formula was used to introduce at least 20 Apple products.

Today, we’re beginning a series that focuses on God’s plan. When I say God’s plan, I hope you see today how this flows out of God’s heart and has consequences. It’s easy to see God’s plan as a “one more thing” that we can give ourselves to if it’s convenient enough, is something we like, or doesn’t get in the way of what we have going on in our own lives. But what God is saying is that God’s plan isn’t just a “one more thing,” it is the plan. Additionally, you may hear about the plan when I discuss it this morning and think, 'This isn’t new; this is just doing what the Bible says.' Through this upcoming series, we will consider how we might apply what the Scriptures say in a different way. And, we have a lot of baggage when it comes to God’s plan. So, we need to take some time to plod through what He’s saying and what this means for our lives. 

Furthermore, I don’t want you to confuse this plan with the most consequential news that any of us could hear —the Gospel. We are a Jesus people. It’s Jesus first for us, even on this holiday weekend here in America. Jesus is God’s Son and the Promised One in whom all of God’s promises are fulfilled. He’s the Lord of glory, and no matter who you are in this room, one day we’re told in the Bible that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God Himself. Jesus is glorious and set apart because of what He did. Even though we are sinners and in desperate need of hope and a relationship with God, we still attempt to create our own righteousness. We do this by thinking that good works are the point and actually impressive to God. We believe that our preferences are equal to Jesus (or at least we act that way because we talk about all of those things more than we talk about Him). And, the Gospel is the good news that you can give up all of that and yourself, and by faith look to Jesus the Savior. He’s the One who satisfied God’s law with His perfect life. He’s the One who never disobeyed. He’s the One who never let His preferences stand in the way of what God was doing. He demonstrated that He was fully dialed into God’s plan by dying for sinners on the cross and rising again so that we could be free from sin and death to experience eternal life forever. And He returned to His Father to rule and reign as His people, who are changed by this good news, live out God’s plan.

To delve into God’s plan, we return to the book of Ephesians. I realize we covered the book of Ephesians last Fall. That was a quick 6-week series to skim the book, and likely left many of you wanting more. On my end, I reflected on things I said that I could clarify, and even parts of the preparation left me wanting to preach it more effectively. So, here we are. After this, we’ll continue in Paul’s middle letters (Colossians, Philemon, Philippians). Today, I’m going to try to unpack the heart of these middle letters.

I love how this writer set up the context so well: “Paul the apostle knew [our understanding of God’s plan matters]. He spent nearly three years in Ephesus, longer than in any other place by far. The work that the Spirit did there was AMAZING and powerful. The gospel transformed so many lives; it disrupted the region's economy, and churches spread throughout the entire area. And yet, ten years later, Paul writes them a letter about God’s plan. In this letter, Paul is praying that they would have illumination to understand just exactly who and what God’s plan is. Like Paul's desire for the church in Ephesus to comprehend this grand vision of the plan and how it informs the mission, I, along with the other leaders here at Crestview, desire for us to see this same vision. So, we are going to begin taking a closer look at the book of Ephesians and the recipients of this letter to see what kind of awesomeness we might have yet to discover together.” 

Today, then, let’s lean into our Lord. Let’s say, “Whatever you want, Lord, I’m Yours. Let me embrace your plan and live it out so that our community comes to know You.” Is that your heart? Join me, then, as we see three descriptions of God’s plan…

Read Ephesians 3:7-10 (This is God’s Word; thanks be to God)

Again, it is here, in the heart of Chapter 3, that we find three descriptions of God’s plan…

First of all, one description is that I. God’s plan comes by grace. (7-8) 7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ…

Don’t you love that the opening word of God’s intention for His people is grace and not wrath? Now, for sure, God is many things. He does punish wickedness perfectly and did this by sending His Son to the cross, but the opening unleashing of God’s plan is grace. Paul has just rehearsed, in the opening verses of chapter 3, that all people (whether Jews or Gentiles) are saved in Christ Jesus by the Gospel. It’s even deeper than that: people who don’t agree with you or don’t share your background or get on your nerves are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus in the Gospel. This wording means that what we experience in Jesus is a more consequential thing than any social determinant. The Gospel, again, is the good news that we are made right with God through Jesus. Look around this room. Every person that you see has access to God in the same way, through Jesus. And those in this room who are believers are your family. And this is grace (that’s just v.6). 

In v.7, Paul says that he was set apart to serve this good news according to the gift of God’s grace. God took Paul, who was finding Christians to put in prison, and so radically changed his life that now he was finding non-Christians to put them in Jesus. And, this was a work of God’s power. You remember Paul’s dramatic conversion in Acts, when God’s power buckled Paul to his knees and changed his life. That’s the case for all of us, too. It’s a miracle of God’s power that I’m saved. Otherwise, I would live a life of religion and try to be good for all my life. Now, in Christ, I’m freed to lean into all that He wants for me. That’s your story, too, by the way. You didn’t just have salvation coming because you’re a good ol’ chap. It was a display of God’s power to save you. 

Paul continues in v.8, that in his case, though he’s the least of all the saints, this grace came so that he could tell all peoples, especially non-Jews, the unsearchable riches of Christ. So, God’s plan comes by grace. And, this plan comes by grace on mission, to tell others of the incredible riches (think of that: unsearchable riches!) of Christ. Do Christ’s unsearchable riches still wow you? Take your breath away? Or have you drifted from Jesus and His salvation, and are so far away that you don’t feel like having Christ makes you incredibly wealthy? God’s plan comes by grace. It comes where we are and takes us, despite what we deserve, to make much of Christ’s riches to others. 

Secondly, another description is that II. God’s plan needs illumination. (9) 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things…

Not only did God’s grace propel Paul out, but it also invited him to bring illumination to people like us. Illumination is that process of “causing light to shine upon some object, in the sense of illuminating it—‘to illuminate, to shine upon.’” In this case, Paul’s preaching sheds light on what God’s mysterious, hidden plan is for the ages. Usually, when something is illuminated, something is causing the light to shine. Consider turning on a light switch, a complex electrical process, depending on how it's described. But, I flip a switch and the light (usually) comes on. In this case, Paul is making known to these Ephesian believers through his preaching what this plan is. The mystery is that Jews and Gentiles both get in on this. And, God has the right to have a plan like this, after all, He created all things (and said that it was good). Now, God has given this plan, and we need to see it. We need it illuminated. 

A passage we’ll return to soon is a prayer found in Chapter 1. Listen to how Paul is writing a prayer of illumination for these believers to understand God’s plan: “15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:15-23) 

This prayer would be something I’d love for you to join us as leaders in praying for us as a body. Would we not resist seeing God’s plan but have the “eyes of our heart enlightened” to what God is speaking to us in His Word? God’s plan needs illumination.

Third and finally, we see a description that III. God’s plan is the church. (10) 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

I’ve hinted at this reality throughout this sermon so that you could see the point when it comes in the text. And, seeing grace move into lives to show us God’s plan, prepares us for this unveiling, that it is through the church that the manifold wisdom of God is revealed to all. In v.10, it’s not just the watching world that benefits from our life together in the church. No. God’s wisdom (manifold, so plenteous) is known to rulers and authorities in heavenly places. Paul will return to this in chapter six, reminding us that our biggest enemies aren’t other believers but spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places. And, God’s plan, seen and experienced in this church, puts God’s wisdom on display. 

Before I try to explain what we mean by the church, I want to recognize that many of us might have let out a collective “sigh” when I said God’s plan is the church. And, this should clue us in that there is something we’re missing about God’s heart. So, related to the church, let’s think about the meaning. On one level, the church means “called out ones.” We are those who have been drawn to God in a particular time and place for His mission. However, considering the meaning of the word 'church' is important. This question of “What is the church?” is the one that proves so consequential for us and our lives lived on mission. Again, one writer asked the questions this way: “Our living out what we are as the church, who we are as a church, will be based on how we see ourselves and what we believe of ourselves as the church. Has God brought us together in the church, showing forth His wisdom to be those who just “do good,” come to Sunday mornings to support our “doing good?” Or will we, as the church, the sent people of God, see ourselves as God's plan A to rescue a broken world? How we see ourselves and what we believe about this word “church” will make a difference in how we wake up in the morning.”

Do you see that we are God’s plan? Just imagine if we realized the people in this room are God's A-Team rescue squad for Hutchinson, Kansas, and the world? Would this not change and reorder every decision in our lives? Wouldn’t this give our daily lives and mundane actions a sense of purpose and motivation? Wouldn’t this charge our conversations, our work, and our times of suffering with meaning? If we don’t see ourselves as God’s plan, without a proper understanding, we will just continue trying to do good, attending Sunday mornings if it’s convenient enough, and keep burning our wheels, so we just don't look or act as if we are that bad. We will get bored and exhausted with that purposeless routine (but we won't want anyone to know this, so we learn to look happy despite a sense of emptiness inside). Listen to what God is saying here, church: we are God’s plan. It’s through our life together that the world is reached. How we see ourselves and what we believe about ourselves as the church matter.

Just as the church in Ephesus, where Paul had spent all this time helping to plant and build them up in the Gospel, needed this reminder nearly 10 years after they had come to know Christ, we have much to grow in and learn, as well. No matter how long you’ve been in church or what teaching you’ve heard, no matter the books you’ve read on the church, or how familiar you are with the doctrine of the church, we all have more to learn and embrace from the heart of God Himself until our faith becomes sight. So, let’s step into God’s plan, the church. 

In conclusion, today we’ve seen three descriptions of God’s plan… I. God’s plan comes by grace. (7-8)

II. God’s plan needs illumination. (9)

III. God’s plan is the church. (10)

One primary thing I want to make clear is that attending or being involved in church is not what salvation is. We are saved, as Paul says in Ephesians 2, by grace through faith. It’s not about us attending church, being involved, or doing some church thing that saves us. Jesus saves us as we turn from our sin to Him. We are trusting in Him – that all that He has done for our salvation is the work that we’re trusting in. So, don’t confuse salvation with God’s plan in the church. We are saved through Christ alone. Turn from your sin and believe in Him.

Having experienced salvation, God’s plan for reaching the world is the church. Today, on the back of your notes, I have left some space for you to reflect on this. Take some time to “Restate in your own words in this space what God’s plan is.” This will be an important place for you to begin learning in the coming weeks as we unpack this book and see what Paul communicates. Another question is, “How are grace and illumination needed for you to see God’s plan?” You might write a prayer in this space and ask God for help. If God’s plan for our life is the church, “What might we be missing if we don’t prioritize God’s plan?” If we choose to prioritize other things at the expense of God’s plan, what might this mean? And, finally, “How might God’s plan have a more central role in your life?” What’s a distraction that you’ll have to deal with if God’s plan becomes central? Grace is the word. There are likely many questions we have as we step into this plan together. Let’s hear God’s heart for us and step into His plan, looking to our Lord and Savior, Jesus. We press into God’s plan so that we may know Christ and make Him known as a people who glorify and enjoy Him forever.