Ephesians 3:7

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me by the working of his power.

the gospel is the amazingly good news that God is saving, or at least wants to save, every person whether Jew or gentile through the promise in Christ Jesus; God's grace is available to all.

Paul was made a minister of this gospel. He was moulded into the ministry by God, who took all of Paul's learning and knowledge of scripture, and turned him into a powerful apostle, teacher, and evangelist.

the word for minister here means a servant, not a slave. The word is diakonos from which we get the word deacon. It can mean and attendant or minister. Paul here is saying that his calling is to serve the gospel. The gospel is like a master, a force that directs his life .

in other places, Paul describes himself as a slave to Christ. A slave suggest someone who is owned, generally for any purpose the owner might desire. The implication of the word diakonos, though, is that there is a specific purpose, a calling that is on Paul's life. He could not be used for any other purpose then to preach the gospel, because that is his life's sole reason for existence.

paul was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace.

the grace of God is a many-faceted thing. We most often think of God's grace in the context of salvation. We are not saved by anything that we can do, nor by good deeds, nor by animal sacrifices, nor by acts of heroism. It is only because God, in his love for us, gives us the gift of forgiveness that we are saved.

God’s grace is experienced in other ways also. The gift of life itself comes from God. The provision of our daily food, shelter, and clothing is by grace, even when we have a job that provides these things .

the gifts of the Holy Spirit are graces that enable us to serve God and his people. The word for gift in the various New Testament passages that describe spiritual gifts is itself derived from the word grace. This is why John Wimber preferred the word gracelet to the word gift - it places the attention on the giver not the receiver of the gift.

the grace of God was responsible for the gift which was given to Paul. Paul is at pains to express a sense here that whatever he might do as the minister of the gospel, it is all through the gift of God. It is not his innate talent. He might be the smartest person in the room, but it is God who has done this, not Paul.

All of this was given by the working of God's power.

God’s power (dunamis) is the same power that created the universe in six days, which raised Christ from the dead, and which turned Paul from persecutor of Christ's followers into an apostle of Christ .

God’s power brings the non-existent into existence. He spoke and it happened.

God's power restored life - resurrection life- into Christ's body. This same power will raise all of his followers from death also. God's power is life giving power.

The same power took hold of a violent and zealous man, and transformed him into a tireless minister of grace. Under the law, Paul sought to bring death, but under God's grace he seeks to bring life.

this power of God is restless, hovering over all of creation. The wind is often used as an analogy for God's power. It is always moving. It brings movement and excitement. It cannot always be recognised, but its effects are plain.

the working of God's power produced the gift of God's grace in Paul. The word for working is the word from which we get energy. God's energising power was poured into Paul to enable him to fulfil this ministry to which he was called .

God’s power is not a self-referring thing like a bright light. God's power brings change by working in people’s lives. This energy fills us, changes us, enables us, transforms us. It is like a flow of electricity through a person's spirit .

Key points in this verse:

• Paul was made a minister of the gospel

• the gospel is about God's grace

• Paul had a specific calling or a role to be filled.

• God’s grace is experienced in many different ways

• Paul’s gift or calling was given by the working of God's power