The Mystery – Important To Us Today – Eph 3:9-13

We are about to learn more about the importance of Paul’s ministry, as we finally see the conclusion of this great parenthetical statement in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

[3:8b-9] …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;

Part of Paul’s ministry was not only to preach “among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,” but also to make them see the importance of the time period in which they lived. And, “to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery.” This is Paul’s driving desire that every believer see their personal role in dispensing, (spreading, distributing, administering) this awesome truth of God’s purpose in the church age. Paul was commanded by God to preach and reveal the mystery of the church age for an important reason.

The Purpose of the Ministry (3:10-12)

[3:10] 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,

Verse 10 makes me want to shout! Here is an awesome part of the reason for the mystery. It is so the church can show evil angels they are losers. And that two peoples whom Satan had so long enjoyed seeing in hatred and separation, were now allied in Christ, authorized and seated above him and his principalities and powers in the heavenlies. The church is to display the “many-colored” manifold wisdom of God to the evil angelic hoard and their leader. This is why the devil hates it so much when a believer realizes his position in Christ Jesus.

When I first realized what this verse was saying, I wanted to shout and do a happy dance. Then I thought of when the 70 “sent ones” returned all giddy, Jesus told them, “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Lk 10:20).

Jesus was blessed with what He saw when His 35-pairs of sent ones returned.

Lk 10:17-24 (NKJV) –[17] Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” [18] And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. [19] “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. [20] “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” [21] In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from [the] wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. [22] “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and [the one] to whom the Son wills to reveal [Him.]” [23] Then He turned to [His] disciples and said privately, “Blessed [are] the eyes which see the things you see; [24] “for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen [it,] and to hear what you hear, and have not heard [it.]”

v.17, Seventy – Interestingly, this is the number of Gentile nations, according to the Jews.

v.18, I saw Satan – this was not a vision in which Jesus saw Satan cast out of heaven; rather He was seeing in their ministry the present and ultimate defeat of Satan.¹ “I was watching (NASB) Satan fall from heaven like lightning.” Watching means, to view with interest, with careful observation of details.²

v.20, Do not rejoice in this; “Rejoice” chairo (khah’ee-ro) used twice here, is related to the Greek word used for “grace.” (A young sheep or lamb skipping and frisking for joy).³ The first “rejoice” here is a verb that means to stop rejoicing. The second “rejoice” is the Greek verb that means to keep on doing an action.⁴ It is natural to be a happy winner, but that joy should be stopped quickly and the focus turned to the spiritual, with thanksgiving and glory to Him who provided the victory (see, Eph 6:10). We should never gloat over our enemy’s demise (see, Pr 24:17).

v.21, Within moments, Jesus rejoiced (to leap or jump for joy), in the Holy Spirit. “Rejoiced” here is a different (from v.20) Greek word, agalliao (ag-al-lee-ah’-o). To jump for joy, i.e. exult, be (exceeding) glad, with exceeding joy, rejoice (greatly). To exult, leap for joy, to show one’s joy by leaping and skipping, denoting excessive or ecstatic joy and delight. This word is sometimes after chairo (khah’ee-ro) which is of less intense signification. This is to leap forward with joy, to meet the object of one’s wishes.⁵

Because of the successful mission of the 70, I believe Jesus rejoiced because the Holy Spirit had just given Him a sneak preview of Ephesians 3:9-10, “…the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church [His people], the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,” (NIV).

v.23-24, “Prophets and kings have desired to see what you see.” Spiritual leaders of the Old Testament are now watching from the balcony to see what you see.

God doesn’t come down and tell the devil how He beat him so bad. He shows him through us, the church! When you know who you are in Christ, you can show the devil just how retarded he is.

When Jesus was raised from the dead, He gave all authority back to man, in His name. When a believer uses the name of Jesus, all hell comes to a halt. God is glorified, and the devil is humiliated. God smiles at Satan because we show forth His wisdom. We were created inferior to angels (Ps 8:5; Heb 2:7) of whom Satan was the leader. But through the new birth we are superior by position. What is so humiliating to Satan is to be stopped through the authority in an inferior creature: man.

You cannot stop Satan in your own name, but you can in the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus, you can cast out devils, speak with new tongues, and lay hands on the sick and see them recover (Mk 16:17-18). That is the purpose of the mystery which was hidden in the heart of God. Can you now see why it was so important for Paul to get this truth across to the believers of his day and ours? When we realize our position in Christ, then we too can be faithful stewards of the mystery. What was so important for Paul to preach is now in our hands to share.

[Eph 3:11-12] 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.

[v.11-12] The mystery was planned between God and the Lord Jesus in eternity past. This takes us back to the heavenly conference room of eternity (see Eph. 1) where God planned the redemption of man before the foundation of the world. Notice that verse 12 says, “we have boldness and confidence in Christ” to approach the throne of God. We do this through the “faith in (and from) him.” We know that faith comes as a gift from God. (Acts 3:16, Eph. 2:8). And the faith He gave us is our boldness and access to the throne of God.

[Eph. 3:13] Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

And so ends the parenthetical exposition of the mystery.

Verse 13 is the conclusion of the sentence that began in verse 2. If the Ephesians understood “the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to” Paul (v.2), they surely would “not lose heart at” his “tribulations for” them, “which is” for their “glory” (v.13).

God bless you my friend,

— Dwight Hammond

---

¹The Spirit-Filled Life Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), p. 1533.

²Zodhiates, Spiros. Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible–New American Standard (Chattanooga: AMG, 1984; revised edition 1990) p. 1841.

³Zodhiates, Spiros. Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible p. 1886.

⁴Gary Hill. The Discovery Bible (NASB N.T.) H.E.L.P.S. Study System (Winona Lake: BMH Books, 1987).

⁵Zodhiates, Spiros. Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible p. 1796.