The holy, the faithful part1 : (Ehe1:1)

The holy, the faithful part1 : (Ehe1:1)

The book of Ephesians that we read while ago is a latter.

The apostle, Paul wrote this latter to the people of Ephesian church.

And verse 1 and 2 is a greeting to the people of Ephesian church.

In verse 1 and 2, look at first part, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God…”

Through this verse we can learn that the attitude of the people who are called by God.

And you look at the second part in verse 1, “….to God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus”. This part teach us what is the believers position in Christ and how should we Christians response to the Lord. And in verse 2, the last part of greeting, show us what is the privilege for the all the believers.

This time I just want to share about the first part in verse 1. And if I have opportunity to share the word of God I will share another part as well.

First of all, Paul introduces himself to the people of Ephesian Church.

Paul says, he is an apostle who became apostle by the will of God. In other word, he is an apostle and it is God’s will.

Then why Paul emphasize too much that he is an apostle?

Do you know where he wrote this latter to the people of Ephesian church?

He was writing in a jail.

Did you have been in a jail.

I just visited before a jail in the Philippines. It was poor surrounding.

Paul might think that ‘I didn’t do wrong, I just shared gospel, I just preached the word of God.

Then why God drove me here?’ he might be disappointed. And he could complain to the Lord, and leave God.

In this situation, he was writing a letter to the Ephesians church members with concern over them. You know the church member stayed outside of the jail. But Paul wrote letters for them, and was worried about them. Where Is Paul? In jail. Then he have to worry about who? Himself.

But he didn’t. rather he had concerned over them. can you catch his heart?

Can you see “the will of God” in verse 1?

Paul says, “he was called by the will of God as an apostle.

He shared gospel but he was prisoned.

He understood that it is God’s will.

So that he was satisfied with his difficult situation.

Even though he was in jail, he believed that he was called by God as an apostle, and he shared gospel according to his calling by God as an apostle. So, it is God’s will.

So he thought that it is of course to be prison because of sharing gospel.

Because he was sent by God.

In here, I can see the great sense of calling what Paul had. Even though he was in jail, he didn’t worry about himself. He didn’t care his difficulty. He only cared the people of Ephesians with all of his heart. This terrified sense of calling challenged me.

Do you know the story about 로베르토 고이주에타, ? he was great CEO of Coca-Cola.

He told that “ coca cola flows in my blood channel.” And he said “ I will make the people of the world to drink coca cola”

It is symbolic expression about his incredible concentration on his work.

Because of this terrifying concentration of a leader, the coca cola company has distributed the coca

Cola to all the world.

I could see the great sense of duty more than coca cola CEO in Paul.

People could send him in a jail. But they cannot touch or destroy Paul’s burning love for the

Believers, and his burning heart with sense of his calling as an apostle.

I have a question, who is leaders of youth in Christian National Church?

Are you needful for this people?

Or they are needful for yourself to being youth leader?

Is it difficult question? There are only some good leaders who are needful for the church members.

But there are many leaders or pastors who are using people for themselves.

I want to challenge you, especially, the leaders and pastors who are in here, please don’t care about your self too much.

Rather, Please care much more your people who God brought under your leadership. Please don’t lover yourself too much rather love much more your people.

And you youth member show your love to your leader. And respect them and trust them.

If we can’t do it, we couldn’t see the revival of God in this church, and in your life.

I pray that God gives the heart of Paul to all of us, especially, the leaders and pastors in this church .

This time I want to correct misunderstanding about the Paul’s name.

Many of people have known that originally, Paul’s name was Saul. Not Paul.

But after he met Jesus Christ on the way to Damascus, after he experienced the grace of God, he changed his name to Paul. Before he met Christ he was very proud of himself, so that he used the name Saul, because it means great. But after he met Christ he recognized that how smallest he is. So he changed the name to Paul with humble heart.

It is very good story and preaching. Right? But it is not true.

Since he was born, he had two names, Saul and Paul.

Saul was Hebrew name and Paul was Greek name.

When you read carefully the bible, he didn’t change his name to Paul right after he met Christ on the way to Damascus.

After13-14 years since he met Christ on the way to Damascus in Acts 13, we could see his name changed to Paul.

Then, why he changed his name to Paul at that time?

The time in Acts 13 was the time to start Paul’s world mission.

At that time, this Greek name was more helpful to his world mission than his Hebrew name.

You know whether he uses Hebrew names, Saul or Greek name Paul, he only focused on his calling.

Do you believe that you are saved?

Then, believe this also, when you were saved, you were called by God.

Therefore, you must seek to God what is your calling, you must know that.

And you have to live for you're calling from God,

So that, no matter what you are rich or poor, you must focus on you're calling from God in your situation.

If coca cola flows in the CEO of coca cola’s blood channel, then, in our blood channel, you're calling

for the gospel and His kingdom must flow in your blood channel.