The Effectual Working of His Power

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

 Ephesians 3:7

The Apostle Paul recognized that it was the gift of the grace of God that was given unto him by the effectual working of God's power that made him a minister of the Gospel. Paul didn't make himself a minister. He was made a minister. This is the essential element in one being made a minister of Jesus Christ. There was no false humility with Paul, he recognized the masters hand in his entire life. He recognized the reason for his being alive and the purpose for which God had called him.

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

That I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. This was Paul's purpose, he was to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. This must be the burning hearts desire of every minister of the Gospel, to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ.

1Cor:9:16: For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

To preach the Gospel was the very purpose of Paul’s life. That is what he lived for. Indeed, if he didn’t preach the Gospel woe (great sorrow) was unto him.

 In addition, Paul recognized his unworthiness in having received such a commission. He had a true sense of what it meant to represent the Lord Jesus Christ as a minister of the Gospel.

Galatians 1:13-16a For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen

“And called me by His grace.” Indeed it is a call of grace that makes a man a minister of the Gospel.

1Cor:3:10a According to the grace of God which is given unto me

1Cor:15:10: But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Paul, as well as any other man, understood that it was all by grace. Having persecuted and wasted the Church, Saul (Paul) was exceedingly zealous of the traditions of his fathers. It was to the accomplishment of this end that Saul ran into the light on the road to Damascus.

Acts 9:1-7 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

It’s interesting to note that Paul asked first who he was dealing with, secondly he wanted to know what the Lord Jesus Christ wanted him to do. Imagine that, the one he had been persecuting was now his Lord, the Lord Jesus. His second question shows the heart indicative of a true minister of the Gospel. "Lord, what will you have me to do?" In other words, he subjects his own will to that of the Lords.

It should be noted here that many Christians upon receiving Jesus Christ as their Savior then ask Him to do things for them. I need this, I want that. Give me this, can I have that. There’s nothing wrong with asking our Lord to do things for us but we, or anyone who is a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (and this includes all Christians), should first be concerned with doing things for the Lord and not the other way around.

Jn:14:15: If ye love me, keep my commandments

1Jn:2:3: And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments

Those that know the Lord Jesus keep (do) His commandments. It's that simple.

Notice what Jesus Christ says to Ananias as we continue with the story of Paul’s conversion.

Acts 9:10-16 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

“He is a chosen vessel unto me,” said the Lord Jesus Christ. The choosing is not of the individual but of the Lord. Paul was a chosen vessel.

Acts 22:14: And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

Indeed, the Scriptures say that no man can take this honor unto himself. No man can make himself a minister of the Gospel.

Heb:5:4: And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

As stated, Paul was a chosen vessel, he didn’t, indeed couldn't take this honor unto himself. Paul however knew how to posses his vessel so as to be a vessel unto honor and not one unto dishonor. This is the great challenge of a minister of the Gospel.

1Thes:4:4: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

Yes, we are to know how to posses our vessel in sanctification and honor, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not ourselves.

2Cor:4:7: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Indeed, the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. We are the clay, He is the potter. This is one of the first pictures in the Bible. The fact that God made man from dust and water (clay) and that He formed and shaped man as it pleased Him.

Genesis 2:6,7But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Yes, God formed man from the dust of the earth. He gave man a shape as it pleased Him, thus we see God pictured as the potter and man as the clay.

Romans 9:21-23 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

Yes, indeed the potter does have power over the clay, that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy which He had afore prepared unto glory. Why you ask?

2Cor:4:7: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

That the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. Paul, as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ understood this.

2Tm:2:21: If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

To become meet for the masters use. That is the challenge of a minister of the Gospel. We are to purge ourselves from those things that are unbecoming a minister of Christ.

2 Tim:2:19,20 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

The truth of this last verse can not be overlooked. The simple fact is that in a great house there are vessels unto honor and some unto dishonor. We are to be prepared unto every good work.

So a minister of God is chosen. He is to be a vessel unto honor. He is to know how to posses his vessel so that the excellency of the power may be of God and not himself.

Finally, a minister of the Gospel will become adept at preaching Jesus Christ and not himself. This perhaps more than any other is what sets apart ministers of the Gospel of Christ and those who serve their own belly.

Rom:16:18: For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

A minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be just the opposite. He will preach Jesus Christ and not serve his belly but will serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

2Cor:4:5: For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

In short, a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be above all, a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

      Rom:1:1: Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ

      Phil:1:1: Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ

      Jms:1:1: James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ

      Jude:1:1: Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ

Rv:1:1: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants

Thus we see that it is the gift of grace by the effectual working of His power that produces a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is His choice, His power, His excellency, His handiwork, His chosen vessel.

2Tim2:24: And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25: In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

A servant of the Lord, a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, exemplifies the following truth.

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

Indeed, it is according to the gift of the grace of God by the effectual working of His power. Anything less isn’t much of anything.