Now to Him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine, by means of His power that works in us … Ephesians 3:20
A Paradigm Shift. The early chapters in the book of Ephesians explains a major spiritual paradigm shift. For thousands of years, the people of the nations were pagans, but Paul is saying in chapter 3 that GOD has revealed a great mystery to him. Paul, who had once persecuted his Jewish brothers and sisters for believing Jesus was their promised Messiah, was now going to the nations to share the Good News of this very Messiah.
At that time you were separate from Messiah, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (Ephesians 2:12, TLV)
That great mystery was that the Gentiles — who were excluded from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise — were now included by faith in this Jewish Messiah. Unimaginable at that time by both Jewish and Gentile believers.
But really, it shouldn’t have been a surprise.
But there is no gloom to her who was in anguish, as in time past. He treated lightly the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will bring glory— by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan— Galilee of the Gentiles. (Isaiah 8:23, TLV)
“I, ADONAI, called You in righteousness, I will take hold of Your hand, I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations …” (Isaiah 42:6, TLV)
So He says, “It is too trifling a thing that You should be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the preserved ones of Israel. So I will give You as a light for the nations, that You should be My salvation to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6, TLV)
GOD, by His grace, revealed to Paul the mystery that the set time had come for the Gentiles to share in the inheritance as redeemed children of the Creator of the Universe (vss. 5-6)! Because of their faith in Messiah’s atoning sacrifice, these Gentiles were united in the Body with the apostles and Jewish followers of Yeshua!
Question. Do you think these Gentiles woke up one morning asking ADONAI to be a believer in this Messiah whom they never met. Then learn what it meant to be His follower? It was far beyond what they could think of asking. The Holy Spirit had to create a major spiritual shift to go from their pagan rituals to following Biblical practices. Unthinkable.
… to Him be the glory in the community of believers and in Messiah Yeshua throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen. (vs. 21, TLV)
While today’s verse in context with Ephesians is a powerful historical moment, it is also a reminder to us that GOD can do the impossible. That the people who were completely uninterested in GOD would one day beg for that atonement willingly given by His Son. Because the sacrifice is eternal and available to anyone who turns from their sins and accepts Yeshua as LORD throughout all generations.
What that means, dear friends, is that there are souls around us who show no interest in our Heavenly Father and His Son, in fact ridicule them, who may be those very souls who will give their hearts over to Him. We don’t know. And because we don’t know, we pray and share and hope for their impossible paradigm shift.
Thoughts? Have you known someone who had a seemingly impossible paradigm shift? Please share in the comments below.
