UNITY IS ESTEEM SPELLED BACKWARDS
Could today’s view of esteem be in reverse? Jesus advises those who claim to follow Him to esteem himself or herself less and others more. How does this align with today’s concept of being Number one?
In this series, we are studying the Book of Ephesians. Paul wrote Ephesians as a letter to the churches in Ephesus. The Ephesians were Gentiles (Non-Jews) who had accepted Christ. He wrote the letter to encourage these converted Gentiles not to lose hope despite their opposition.
This week we look at Ephesians 3, which addresses the Mystery of the Gospel. We examine how God’s Good news to save humanity brings about a change in the relationship between two groups of people who hated each other, the Jews and the Gentiles.
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Let Us Inviting God’s Presence:
Father, unity is the goal for your people. Help us understand the true meaning of esteeming ourselves less and others more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Jesus taught us that being humble and putting others before ourselves is very important. He wanted people to avoid being prideful or selfish because those attitudes can lead to negative behaviors. Instead, he encouraged people to be humble and kind, which can help us understand and care for others better.
Humility is seen as a good quality and is important for showing compassion and empathy towards others. By being humble, we can better understand the challenges and difficulties that others go through.
Esteem, which means how much we value and respect ourselves and others, plays a big role in keeping families, churches, organizations, communities, and societies together. When people have mutual respect and value for each other, it helps create harmony and unity among people groups.
But if someone thinks they are better than another or only cares about themselves, it can cause problems. This kind of behavior leads to power struggles, a lack of cooperation, and a focus on individual interests instead of what’s best for everyone.
So, it’s important to treat others with respect and value their contributions regardless of how big or how small. By this, we promote unity and togetherness.
Notice how Paul responds to the special gift God has given him. In Ephesians 3:7-13 he takes no credit but attributes all the work he is doing to God’s grace.
In Ephesians 3:7, Paul expresses that God, in His mercy, made him a preacher.
7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. (Ephesians 3:7)
He makes a similar statement in Ephesians 3:1, 2
1 For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, (Ephesians 3:1, 2)
Paul is willing to lower himself to be a prisoner for the sake of the Gentiles’ conversion to Christianity.
Paul is acknowledging that God doesn’t give him this gift of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles because he is special.
The gifts that God gives us are not given to us because of our worth. As a matter of fact, we don’t deserve them, but they are given to us because of God’s grace. Therefore, we have no reason to be boastful or to esteem ourselves above another.
Paul makes this point in Ephesians 3:8
8 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, (Ephesians 3:8).
In reading Paul’s letters, we learn how Paul views himself as a preacher of the Gospel. Notice his progression in how he sees himself:
Early on in Galatians 1:1, Paul claims his status as an apostle divinely appointed by God to do a special work for the Jews.
Galatians 1:1
1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),
In 1 Corinthians 15:9, Paul sees himself as the least of the apostles. He expresses that he isn’t worthy to be named a preacher for Jesus.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. (1 Corinthians 15:9).
Later, In Ephesians 3:8, as previously expressed, Paul says he is the least of all the saints (Ephesians 3:8).
And Finally, in 1 Timothy 1:15, Paul describes himself as the worst of sinners.
I Timothy 1:15
15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15).
Paul’s view of himself aligns with what Ellen White says in the Book Steps to Christ:
“The closer you come to Jesus, the more faulty you will appear in your own eyes; for your vision will be clearer, and your imperfections will be seen in broad and distinct contrast to His perfect nature.”—Steps to Christ, page 64
After humbly establishing where he stands as a messenger to the Gentiles, Paul continues in Ephesians 3:10 sharing his purpose, saying:
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, (Ephesians 3:10).
This leads to a question.
How does the church announce God’s wisdom to others that are looking on?
The answer is the church shows God’s wisdom when its members are united. Recall in the past, the Gentiles (the non-Jews) and Jews were bitter enemies. But when they accepted Jesus and joined the church, a miracle took place. They learned the true meaning of esteeming themselves less and others more
In Jesus Christ, we become united. Therefore, we are no longer enemies fighting to be first. The Jews and the Gentiles who accept Christ are at peace with one another because, in Christ, they are united.
When we are at peace with one another, we show Satan and his angels that God’s plan “to unite all things in him [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth” (Ephesians 1:10, ESV) is happening.
The point here is that a loving church, united in Christ, signals to Satan and his angels that they are defeated, and their end is coming.
The idea of esteeming others more and self less could seem difficult, but it is possible. How? Hit the Pause button and read Ephesians 1:16-18 and Ephesians 3:14-19. Then hit play to Find out in Part 5: Christ, Dwelling in Your Heart.
Ephesians
(Lesson 6)
The Mystery of the Gospel
Part 5 Christ, Dwelling in Your Heart
Yes, it is possible to esteem ourselves less and others more. But it is only when we allow Christ to have control of our hearts, that is, our minds.
Listen to what it says in the book Lift Him Up.
It is Christ dwelling in the soul that gives us spiritual power and makes us channels of light. The more light we have, the more we can impart to others around us. The more closely we live to Jesus, the clearer views shall we have of His loveliness. As we behold Him in His purity, we discern more clearly our own faults of character. We yearn after Him, and for that fullness that is in Him, and that shines out in the perfection of His heavenly character; and by beholding we become changed into His image. . . . (Lift Him Up, p. 266.) (Split)
This is Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians both in Ephesians 1:16–19, and Ephesians 3:14–19.
Notice what Paul prays for.
- He prays that God gives them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they may know Him better.
- He prays that God will give them a clear vision so that their eyes may know the hope of His calling.
In Ephesians 3:15, Paul expresses that he bows before “the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named” (Ephesians 3:15).
In the Greek language, the words “Father” and “family” are related. In other words, these two words in Greek are much the same.
In using the words Father and family in
Ephesians 3:14 and 15, Paul, wants us to understand that God’s saving plan includes all things both in heaven and earth, as expressed in Ephesians 1:9, 10,
9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. (Ephesians 1:9-10)
He also wants us to know that God’s salvation plan extends to all times, as expressed in Ephesians 1:21. (Split)
God’s plan is
21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. (Ephesians 1:21)
So, every family in heaven and on earth belongs to the Father.
Take a moment and think about it.
Your family belongs to God. Despite your family’s imperfections and shortcomings, regardless of how dysfunctional, God loves your family. Your family carries God’s name. They possess His mark of ownership.
In Ephesians 3:16–19, Paul asks God to give the believers in Christ a strong spiritual experience.
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)
In Ephesians 3:16, Paul asks God to give His Spirit to them to strengthen their inner being. This is the power we need to be able to esteem others more than ourselves.
Paul also asks in Ephesians 3:17 that God would give them a deeper relationship with Jesus. This is portrayed as Jesus living in their hearts, that is, their minds. By faith, He lives in the hearts of every true Christian.
When this happens, they become rooted and grounded in God’s love. God’s love helps them esteem others better than themselves, thereby bringing about unity. (Ephesians 3:17)
Paul gives God praise for the blessings He offers to Christians, and in Ephesians 3:18, 19 he expresses his desire for they
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
(Ephesians 3:18, 19).
Why does Paul use the words width, length, depth, and height?
Paul uses these four words to tell us that God’s love for us is deep and wide.
May we realize the blessing that Paul desired for the Ephesian church when he prayed.“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe.”
Of course, there will be times when we feel pressed with problems and temptations that lead us to doubt God’s love and feel it necessary to fight to be at the top at the expense of pushing others down. What can we do at times like these? Continue to Part 6: Glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians
(Lesson 6)
The Mystery of the Gospel
Part 6: Glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus
To overcome the drive for self-exaltation, we must allow Christ to be at the center of our lives. We must allow him to be the ruler of our thoughts and intent. We must have the mind of Christ. (Split)
The Book Our High Calling says: We are to reflect the highest attributes of the character of God. Scarcely can the human mind comprehend what is the breadth and depth and height of the spiritual attainments that can be reached by becoming partakers of the divine nature. . . . Christ must be all in all to us; He must dwell in the heart; His life must circulate through us, as the blood circulates through the veins.—Our High Calling, p. 60. (Our High Calling, p. 60)
This is the point Paul makes in Ephesians 3. Therefore, Paul ends his prayer report with a short poem that praises God in Ephesians 3:20, 21. Observe what Paul praises God for.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21) (Split)
Looking at the words “throughout all generations, forever and ever” in Ephesians 3:21 shows us that Paul expects a wonderful future for us Christians. For instance, because we are sealed by the Holy Spirit according to Ephesians 4:30, we can look forward to the day, when we will be free” from sin and death at the Second Coming.
Therefore the poem at the end of Pauls’s prayer should be read as a celebration of Jesus’ unending strength. His strength has no limits or end. He uses His never-ending strength to help us win the battle against sin. (Split(
As we have seen in Ephesians 3:14-19, Paul shared with us a list of things he prayed for. Now Paul prays a powerful prayer for the church, the believers in Christ. He ends his prayer with a short poem. At the end of this poem, Paul says,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:21).
In reviewing Paul’s second prayer report, we see that:
Ephesians 3:14-15 – Our care is found in him who is Father of the entire universe.
Ephesians 3:16 – We receive our power, and we are strengthened through His Spirit.
Ephesians 3:17 – Through faith, we are in partnership with Christ. He lives in our hearts; we are rooted and grounded in love.
Ephesians 3:18-19 God’s love for us is infinite; it has no limits; it is measureless.
Finally, Ephesians 3:10 says that Because of God’s never-ending love, we “may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Paul helps us understand that Jesus lives in the hearts (the minds) of His followers and that Jesus is the Savior of God’s church, His believers. Therefore, In Paul’s short poem, he praises God for His saving love. God offers His love to us not for anything special we have done but because of Jesus.
It says in the Book That I May Know Him. Many think it is impossible to escape from the power of sin, but the promise is that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.
We aim too low. The mark is much higher. Our minds need expansion so that we may comprehend the significance of the provision of God. (That I May Know Him, p. 302.)
Therefore, whenever you have problems or feel pressed down with discouragement, temptations, or doubts, turn to Paul’s letter and read his prayers. They are a reminder of God’s ultimate plan for us. We, therefore, do not need to fight to esteem ourselves above others because we are a part of God’s bigger plan to save all humanity. We are a part of His family. He is our Father, and Jesus is our elder Brother. When God’s love is at work in us, we strive for peace, harmony, and love.
We need not esteem ourselves because God lifts us to where we belong. And for that, we are most grateful.
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Hebron Seventh-day Adventist Church
7902 Wheatly Street
Houston, TX 77088
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