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GTM - The Mystery Hidden From the Ages in God - By Eduardo Elizondo - December 30, 2023 Contact Us: https://www.cbcg.org/contactus.html God's Plan for Mankind https://www.cbcg.org/special-offer-godsplan.html Books: https://www.cbcg.org/books.html Booklets: https://www.cbcg.org/booklets/booklets.html Messages Index: https://www.cbcg.org/sermon-index.html
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GTM - The Mystery Hidden From the Ages in God - By Eduardo Elizondo - December 30, 2023 Contact Us: https://www.cbcg.org/contactus.html God's Plan for Mankind https://www.cbcg.org/special-offer-godsplan.html Books: https://www.cbcg.org/books.html Booklets: https://www.cbcg.org/booklets/booklets.html Messages Index: https://www.cbcg.org/sermon-index.html
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Eduardo Elizondo discusses the mystery hidden from the ages in God, as mentioned in Ephesians 3:9. The Apostle Paul was given the task to enlighten others about this mystery, which was not previously known to mankind. The mystery has now been revealed to the apostles and prophets by the Spirit. One aspect of the mystery is that the Gentiles can now be joint heirs and partakers of God's promise in Christ. The other aspect is the unsearchable riches of Christ. The purpose of understanding this mystery is so that the manifold wisdom of God can be made known through the church. Jesus also mentioned the mystery of the kingdom of God, which is given to his disciples to know. Eduardo emphasizes that it is a privilege to know this mystery, as it has been given to believers through the word of the disciples. The goal is for the church to make known the wisdom of God. Thank you, Steve, and happy Sabbath, brethren. This message is entitled, The Mystery Hidden from the Ages in God. And this very phrase, the mystery hidden from the ages in God, is actually, let's go there. Let's go there to begin in Ephesians 3. This is in Ephesians 3 and verse 9. So that's where we're going to start today. Reading in Ephesians 3 and verse 9, where it says, and this is Paul speaking, we're catching this in the middle of his thought, in the middle of his sentence, and then we'll come back to the beginning to get the context. But this phrase is where it says in verse 9, and that I might enlighten all as to what is the fellowship of the mystery that has been hidden from the ages in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ. That's what the Apostle Paul was talking about. He basically was saying that God gave him some things, and we'll read about that, that he might enlighten all as to what is the fellowship of the mystery that has been hidden from the ages in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ. So obviously he's talking about God the Father, who created all things by Jesus Christ. But he talks about this mystery that has been hidden from the ages in God. And in order to understand the context of this, we're gonna go back up to the beginning of the chapter and read this in context to arrive at what it is, but we're going to ask ourselves the question, what is this mystery hidden from the ages in God? What is he talking about? How is it that he is going to enlighten us, or why was he given this ministry that he might enlighten us as to what is the fellowship of the mystery? Because the word fellowship is in here as well. But what is this mystery hidden from the ages in God, and how do we have a fellowship in it? In verse one, if we go back up to the top of the chapter in Ephesians three, Paul says, for these cause, I, Paul, I'm the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles, if indeed you have heard of the ministry of the grace of God that was given to me for you. He's talking to the Gentiles, it is Paul, and he's gonna get to what we just read in verse nine. And in verse three, Paul is starting to talk about this mystery. It says, how he made known to me by revelation the mystery, and there's a parenthetical statement here right after, but for now, let's leave that out. Let's just read it without the parentheses, and just read what he's getting to, what is his point? Because this is important. It says, how he made known to me by revelation the mystery, which, verse five, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as he has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. So, the apostle Paul is saying that it was made known to him by revelation this mystery that before was not made known to the sons of men. It was hidden. It was a mystery, but it was hidden. And now it has been revealed, it says, not only to him, it says to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. And it is very interesting what he says that when he talks about this mystery, because now we're gonna read what he says in the parentheses which brings even more light and more context to all this. It says in the parentheses, even as I wrote briefly before, so that when you read this, you will be able to comprehend my understanding in the mystery of Christ. So it is, we see several things here. We see that there is a mystery hidden from the ages in God. There is this mystery that had not been made known to man, but now has been revealed, but is revealed by the Spirit. Because before the Spirit of God was given to everybody, this mystery was not being able to be understood by anybody. So Paul was given this commission to go and make known this mystery that was made known to him, to the apostles, to the prophets by the Spirit. And then the purpose of him writing these things is so that when we read this, that we are able to comprehend that understanding that he has in the mystery of Christ. So it all comes together. He has been sent to preach about this mystery. The mystery has been revealed to him. He also says that the mystery has been revealed to us as well. And we know that we have the Holy Spirit of God that we received by the laying on of hands after baptism. And that is the point of what he's gonna talk about here. And we're gonna see that the mystery is so great. Obviously, this is the whole plan of God, and we don't have time to talk about everything about the mystery, but we're gonna see two big aspects of it. And we're gonna delve into one of those aspects. Because the very first thing that he talks about right after saying these things, that God made this mystery known and revealed to him, and that he's writing so that we may get to understand, may be able to comprehend his understanding in the mystery of Christ. And that's what he's aiming to. He's aiming for us to comprehend Paul's understanding of the mystery of Christ. Why? Because he himself knows that this mystery is so great and so vast that his aim is not for us to understand it all yet, because he doesn't seem to understand it all either. He has some understanding, but it's like, but at least that you, when you read this, you'll comprehend my understanding in the mystery of Christ. Meaning the things that I learned, I pass on. That's what I aim for you to know and understand. And it's almost like also Fred says in his messages, at 89 years of age, and he says, I'm still learning. I don't know everything that there is to know. And Paul has the same outlook and the same attitude. And then we're gonna read, let's continue reading in verse six, because this is one part of this mystery. He says that the Gentiles might be joint heirs and a joint body and joint partakers of his promise in Christ through the gospel. And that is one part. One part of this mystery is that the Gentiles or the nations, if you will, may be joint heirs and a joint body. Joint heirs and joint body with who? With Israel, because that's what it started. And when we read all the Old Testament, it's about Israel. And then here he's opening to the nations that might be joint heirs and a joint body and joint partakers of his promise in Christ through the gospel. And then this gospel, this good news, it says of which I became a servant according to the gift of the grace of God, which was given to me through the inner working of his power. So he knows that he only has this understanding by the spirit and not only him, but the apostles and the prophet. And his point in writing all of this is that we also may understand, may also get at least his understanding, but we continue to understand this mystery. And then he's stating who he is in verse eight. To me, one less than the least of all the saints was this grace given that I might preach the gospel among the Gentiles, even the unsearchable riches of Christ. And that's why he's saying that this mystery is talking about the unsearchable riches of Christ. So there's two parts. One is that the Gentiles might be joined theirs. And then he talks about the other part, which is the unsearchable riches of Christ. And then we get to verse nine, which is where we began. And he says, and that I might enlighten all, all. At this point, he's not talking about Israelites or Gentiles, he's not talking about that. He's talking about all as to what is the fellowship, the fellowship, because that is why we're all here. All of us that are here together today and keeping the Sabbath, we wouldn't have any fellowship with one another. We probably wouldn't know one another just through life if it wasn't for this fellowship of the mystery that has been hidden from the ages in God. It has been hidden in God the Father. It says who created all things by Jesus Christ. Like I mentioned before, this is how we know that it is God the Father who created all things by Jesus Christ. And then we're gonna see more things. But before we continue here, let's go to Mark four. Mark four, because Jesus very plainly said something that is very important for us to remember. Because we talk about a mystery. We talk about this mystery hidden from the ages in God. But he says, but there's a purpose in this. And Jesus said in Mark four in verse 11, and he said to them, he said to his disciples, to you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. But to those who are without, all things are done in parables. So that in seeing, they may see and not perceive. And in hearing, they may hear and not understand. That they should be converted and their sins should be forgiven them. But this is amazing because Jesus Christ is telling his disciples, to you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. It is a mystery and it is hidden and it is hidden from the ages in God. But to us, it has been given. And we know that because we're not gonna go there, but when we read John 17, Jesus Christ prayed for us as well. He said, I don't pray for these only, referring to his disciples, he said, I pray for those who will believe in me through their word, which is us, is you and me, brethren. And that's what it is. That to us, it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. To know the mystery hidden from the ages in God. And to others, it hasn't, and it sounds exclusive, it sounds very elitist, but it's not. It's just the will of God. It's just the will of God because we know he has a plan. But coming back to Ephesians, let's go back to Ephesians three, where we were. Because this is very important. Once we remember now that he has been given to us to know the mystery of the kingdom of God and this mystery hidden from the ages in God, as we read in verse nine, then he tells us the purpose in verse 10, in Ephesians three, in verse 10. The purpose, he says, so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church. And that's all the called out ones. And that's all that are being enlightened. Those that are being called, those to whom it has been given to understand the mysteries, which is you and I, brethren, it says, so that the manifold wisdom of God now might now be made known through the church to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places, be made known to them. It is something really amazing that God would do these things, that God would open our minds, open our hearts to receive his word, to understand the mystery. Because it's a mystery, but it's not to remain a mystery to those who are being called, to those to whom he's given to understand these mysteries. It says that I might enlighten so that the manifold wisdom of God might be made known. What is this manifold wisdom of God? What does it entail? Let's go to 1 Corinthians 2. Because this is, in understanding this mystery hidden from the ages in God, and understanding this, understanding the purpose of the manifold wisdom of God, we're going to start to understand more of this second part of the mystery. Because one part, like I mentioned, is talking about how the Gentiles might also be part of this plan right now. And then the other part is the unsearchable riches of Christ. Let's go back to 1 Corinthians 2 and verse 6. 1 Corinthians 2 and verse 6. Because this is something amazing. These are things that are very deep that God has in his word. And it says in 1 Corinthians 2 and verse 6, it says, now we speak wisdom among the spiritually mature. However, it is not the wisdom of this world, nor of the rulers of this world who are coming to nothing. And this is the frame of reference. That is, he's speaking, it has to be to those who are being given to know the mystery. It is given to those who are spiritually mature, those who have received the Holy Spirit. And we'll read that. But it is only among those who have spiritual maturity or are attaining unto that spiritual maturity. And he says, however, it's not the wisdom of this world. Don't be confused. It's not the things that the world considers wise or how they do things. That's nothing of that. It says, not of the rulers of this world who are coming to nothing because that's all that they're achieving. They're achieving nothing. But in verse 7, it says, rather we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery. In a mystery. Is the wisdom of, here's that word again, that mystery here. We've seen it. We saw the mystery hidden from the ages in God. We see the mystery of Christ. We've seen that to us, he has been given this mystery. Now, when we talk about the wisdom of God, it's also a mystery. Even the hidden wisdom, again, hidden mystery. The hidden wisdom of God, that God foreordained before the ages unto our glory. Meaning there is a plan. But the wisdom of God is how is that plan gonna be carried out? How is it gonna be carried out? And there's two aspects to this. There's the macro aspect. This is the whole plan of salvation for all mankind that involves every human being that has ever lived. But then there's also the aspect of the internal, the micro, the individual, the personal, which is that process of conversion in each person. And that is a mystery. That is the hidden wisdom of God. How can he do all of these things in the macro and also in the individual person? And that's really where I want us to focus today, in the person. What is this mystery? What is this wisdom of God foreordained before the ages? It says, unto our glory. And then he explains, verse eight, which none of the rulers of this world has known. None of them has known this because they're searching not the wisdom from God, they're searching their own wisdom. They're searching all of these things that are coming to nothing. They're searching for power and for influence and for their own ways and apart from God and deny God. Like that's what they're doing, but none of the rulers of this world has known. And it's still true today, probably more than ever, because there's less and less belief in God and in the Bible every day that goes by. It says, for if they had known, they would have not crucified the Lord of glory. So they did not know. And then in verse nine it says, but according as it is written that eye has not seen nor the ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him. And we know, we've read this verse many, many times before, and we think about how we don't know, we don't really know what the kingdom of God is gonna be like or what being a spirit being will be like. And that's true. But at the same time, there's another aspect of the scripture that is a little different if we read verse 10. It says, but God has revealed them to us by his spirit. He has revealed to us what? This mystery, the hidden wisdom that God foreordained before the ages unto our glory, God has revealed them to us by his spirit. And isn't that what we read before in Ephesians three? That is now being revealed to the prophets, to the apostles and to everyone who reads that at least that's Paul's desire. So here we're seeing that yes, there is a mystery hidden from the ages in God that involves the macro and the micro, involves the personal and the collective, involves everyone, Jews and Gentiles or Israelites and Gentiles or Israelites and all the other nations. That's what we read and it's so true. But what is this? What is this understanding of this mystery here? What is the manifold wisdom of God? How is that manifested? How are we understanding this mystery? Because this mystery is how does God do it individually? And what does this have to do with us? Because if we understand more about what God is doing with us individually, personally, we're going to be amazed, not only amazed, it's gonna change our lives as to how we live, how we think, how we yield to God. And that's why God has revealed Him to us by His Spirit. For the Spirit, and it's talking about the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. And that is what, brethren, that is what God is showing us. That's what He wants to share with us, the mystery hidden from the ages in Him, the manifold wisdom of God, the mystery of the riches of Christ, all of these things, the deep things of God. Verse 11, for who among men understands the things of man except by the Spirit of man which is in him? No animal can understand the things of man. No animal can reason and think and draw conclusions and form thoughts and ideas and all of these other things. The animal kingdom was not given that, or the plants or the trees or anything like that. In the same way also, just how different are the animals and all of the living things in creation to man? That's how different it is, these thoughts, this mystery, from the thoughts of man. That's how different it is, the human reasoning and the human logic and the human understanding to the understanding that God has and to the manifold wisdom of God and to the understanding of this mystery. That's how different, probably even more. But that's what it says, in the same way also, the things of God no one understands except by the Spirit of God. But we have that Spirit. We have the Holy Spirit of God. And then it says, now we have not received the Spirit of the world. Verse 12, but the Spirit that is of God, the Holy Spirit, so that we might know, know, that there wouldn't remain a mystery, that we might know the things graciously given to us by God. And that's exactly what Paul was talking about, too, in Ephesians 3. He said that God has given me this revelation. God has made me to know and understand these things. And I'm writing so that you would understand these things as well. That's why he goes into detail. We're gonna see how much detail of this mystery he understood. So that we might know. It's not to remain in ignorance. It's not for it to remain a mystery to us because God has given us all these things graciously. And that is a very important part, not that we may boast over anybody else, but that we may be thankful and that we may be humbled by this knowledge and understanding. Because with this knowledge and understanding comes great responsibility. This should really propel us to love God more, to understand more, to search his word more, and to live in a different way. And then he says, verse 13, which things we also speak. And this is also Paul speaking. He says, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Holy Spirit in order to communicate spiritual things by spiritual means. What he's saying is, listen, in order to understand these things, you have to have the Holy Spirit because without that, you're not gonna understand. But even having that, that's how God is gonna communicate those things to you. And they're gonna be words taught by human wisdom, not words taught by human wisdom, but the words of God taught by God himself through the Spirit so that we can understand it, but you need the Spirit of God. And then he goes, and that's why he's talking in Ephesians about the understanding of this mystery because that is the key. That's what God wants us to understand. And when we go back, let's go back to Ephesians again, but now let's go back to Ephesians 2 because that is where he's talking about this part. And actually he talks about both parts, but it starts with the individual part of that mystery. How does God do this? And that's where I would like for us to focus. There's other things too about the mystery. We probably won't have time to talk about those, but he talks about the macro aspects of it, of this. But it is an amazing thing when we know and understand, it's very humbling to know that God is giving us these things as well. That God is giving us, because he's no respecter of persons and how he made Paul to understand all these things, he can also give to us. If we yield to God, if we study, if we humble ourselves before him, he wants to give all of these things to us. And he inspired Paul to write it so that we might be sharing in that understanding. So what is this mystery or this aspect, the individual aspect of the mystery, not just the collective, not just the fact that it's Israel and the nations, but it is each one that receives the spirit of God. Because as we read, we need the spirit of God to understand these spiritual things. Without the spirit of God, we cannot understand the spiritual things of God. But it is a mystery, but not to remain a mystery, but for us to be enlightened and continue to be enlightened as we go forward and continue to learn about this mystery, continue to learn about this wonderful plan of God in the individual, the plan that God has for you, not just for all humanity, not just for Israel, not just for the nations, but for you as a son or a daughter of God that has been called. Let's go to Ephesians 2.1, because this is where he's talking about this part. And we saw that in Ephesians 3.1, for these cause, what cause? The things that we're gonna read in chapter two. So I'm going a little bit backwards. I'm starting kind of like at the end and going back to the beginning. But this is that mystery, because that's what he's talking about in Ephesians 3.9, the mystery hidden from the ages in God. But in Ephesians 2.1, it explains the beginning of this mystery in the personal aspect for each one of us. Now you were dead in trespasses and sins. And he's talking to himself, obviously, too. He knows and understands it's not just us, it's every human being. He says, but this is talking about the process of conversion. He says, now you were dead in trespasses and sins. And the reason he says you is so that we understand, so that each one of us takes it personally, and that we know and understand that this is true, that I was dead in trespasses and sins, that you were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you walked in times past according to the course of this world, because we were all there, according to the prince of the power of the air. And sometimes, sometimes we do sin, we do trespass, but it's different now. We are not dead in trespasses and sins anymore. But we did walk in times past according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working within the children of disobedience. Why? Because what spirit is the one that is working within the children of obedience? What is the spirit that is working within us now? We read it, it's the Holy Spirit of God. Verse three says, among whom also we all, we all had our conduct in the lust of our flesh. And we can circle all, as Fred always says, like circle all, we all had our conduct in the lust of the flesh, and that's true. We can't deny that. He's just starting to reveal this mystery, but he has to start at the very beginning, at the very beginning. We were dead in trespasses and sins, and it's almost a huge blanket statement, right? Because it wasn't just what we did, it's the reason why we did it. We did it because that spirit that is now working within the children of disobedience, the spirit of the world, the spirit of Satan, the devil, that was our spirit. That's what was moving us. And we had our conduct in the lust of the flesh. And he says, doing things willed by the flesh and by the mind, and were by nature, by nature, without having to do anything, the children of wrath, even as the rest of the world that was at it, but it's to give understanding, as the rest of the world. So two big blanket statements. We were all dead in trespasses and sins, and it really doesn't matter what kind. The one who breaks one commandment breaks them all and is guilty of them all. So it doesn't matter, it's very general. We were all dead in trespasses and sins, but in the individual, each one of us was dead in trespasses and sins. The spirit of Satan, the devil, the spirit of the children of disobedience was also in us. We had our conduct in the lust of the flesh, and we were doing whatever we wanted to. And we were by nature, children of wrath, of the wrath of God, because those who break his law are accumulating wrath in themselves, unless there is repentance. And that's what we're gonna go to. But it's just setting the stage to understand this mystery. And this is the very beginning to admit, to recognize that we were dead in our trespasses, that we were no different than anybody else. And that by nature, we were children of wrath, of the wrath of God, that we were alienated from God, that we were separated from God because of those sins. And then this is what happens in verse four. But God, who is rich in mercy, and he gives us a reason because of his great love with which he loved us. And see how he goes from the individual, you know, to the collective. He goes, you were dead in trespasses and sins. You walked in this way. He says, we all had our conduct. He then includes in the label, well, we were all there. And then he says, but God, because of his great love with which he loved us, he's now start talking about more collectively. He says, even when we were dead in our trespasses, has made us alive together with Christ. He says, for you have been saved by grace. We have been saved by this favor, but the favor of God, he just, because of his mercy, because of his great love, even when we were dead, he reached out and said, wait a minute, get out of the cycle. Get out of everything that you're doing. And he said in verse six, and he has raised us up together and has caused us to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. And that is a true statement, not only a prophetic statement. It's a true statement now. How do we know that he has raised us up together and has caused us to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus? The answer, let's go to John 15. The answer, let's go to John 15. That's the answer. John 15, in verse four. This is where Jesus is instructing his disciples. And we read this every Passover because these are the words of the new covenant. And in verse four, Jesus instruct us. He says, dwell in me and I in you. That's how. That's how. Dwell in me and I in you. A branch cannot bear fruit of itself, but only if it remains in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you're dwelling in me. We are to dwell in Jesus Christ. And he clarifies, verse five, I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who is dwelling in me and I in him bears much fruit because apart from me, you can do nothing. So let's go back to Ephesians. But that's how. I just want to point out that he says, that Jesus Christ said for us to dwell in him and he in us, obviously through the same spirit. But when we read Ephesians two and verse six, this is not just about the future. This is not just about the resurrection to be raised up together. This also talks about that, of course. It says, he says, past tense has caused us to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus because Christ Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the father right now. And if we're dwelling in him, he has then caused us to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus because we're dwelling in him. If we're dwelling in him, he's dwelling in us through the same spirit. And how do we know? Because let's read verse seven in Ephesians two. It says, so that in the ages that are coming, in the ages that are coming, he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. He means what he says. And he says what he means. And yes, of course, verse six is also prophetic because there's promises in Revelation where Jesus Christ says to the one who overcomes, I will give him to sit in my throne as I have overcome and sat with the father in his throne. And that's what he says here too. I'm not discounting that, but he has already raised us up together in the spirit because we are of one spirit with Christ and have caused us to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. So in the ages that are coming, he might show that exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. We have not yet, we have not seen yet the exceeding riches of his grace. We've seen his grace and we have seen the riches of his grace, but maybe not yet the exceeding riches of his grace. I don't know. But it looks like there's so much more. Exceeding riches of his grace is something hard to comprehend in his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. And if we stop and think about it, like what he has done in Jesus Christ, giving his life for us, an eternal life that had no beginning to come and live as one of us, live as a man and then die on the cross for us. It's an amazing thing. It's a very profound thing. That is his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Now we haven't seen the exceeding riches of his grace completely, but that is a purpose. That's why in chapter three, he said, so that when I write this, you might be able to understand this, that you may understand the manifold wisdom of God, the wonderful wisdom of God that takes care of every aspect of your conversion. And in taking care of that aspect of your conversion, he's actually carrying out his plan for all humanity because this is not just about you. And it's not just about the millennium. And it's not just about the white throne judgment period. It's about the new heavens and the new earth. It's about eternity. It's about the entire plan of God, the kingdom of God forever and ever, that kingdom that shall not be taken away. And that we know, that we may know those exceeding riches of his grace, that we might know that wisdom, that we might be filled with the fullness of God. We're going to see that. But that's what he's explaining here. It's explaining something amazing. Something, it says, for by grace, and we continue studying this process in the individual, in the personal, for by grace, you have been saved through faith. We have been saved by grace. There's nothing, absolutely nothing that we've done to deserve salvation. It's only by the grace of God. Salvation is a gift, 100%. And he says, for by grace, you have been saved through faith. If we believe, if we truly believe who God is and who Jesus is, and this is especially not of your own self. It is the gift of God, 100% the gift of God. This is not of yourself. And then he clarifies it again, because especially for us, we sometimes tend to get too caught up in our works. This is not of your own works. That's not of your own self. It's not of your own works. That's not the reason. It's just because God loved you and he had compassion in you. And when you were dead in your trespasses, he pulled you out to teach you, to show you his wonderful wonders, to show you his wisdom, to show you his love, to cover you with his love. It says, not of your own works, so that no one may boast. He never wants any of us to boast about anything. Not of your own works, so that no one may boast. And here comes in verse 10, one of the great aspects of this mystery, not only the things that we've been reading, but verse 10, for we are his workmanship, being created in Christ Jesus unto the good works that God ordained beforehand in order that we may walk in them. We are his workmanship. Let's stop there and think about it. What does that mean? What does it mean for us to be his workmanship? It means that we are not the authors of our salvation, of our construction of character. We're not the authors of any of that. We are his workmanship. We are the object of his love. He loves us and he's building us. He's working on us every day. And as we've seen through his Holy Spirit, to understand the spiritual things through spiritual means, even the deep things of God, God wants that. Have you stopped and think about that? And have you asked God in prayer? What are your deep things, God? What are these deep things that you want us to know? Maybe we should. Maybe we should, for we are his workmanship. And so much of our walk with God obviously has to do with what we have to do, what is our part, because God will take care of everything else. But today, I would like for us to think about that. It's like, no, it's not that way. God is sharing these things so that we might be enlightened about this manifold wisdom of God, about this mystery that we may be on the way to. Understanding this mystery hidden from the ages in God, because it's not just the macro plan of salvation, it's the individual work that he's doing in you, because you are his workmanship. Because he says it for all of us, we are his workmanship. But each one of you individually is a work of art. It really is a work of art. We are his workmanship, the character that he's developing in each one of us. According to the gifts and the personality and all the things that make you you that are unique. That is, we are his workmanship. We are the object, we're not the subject. So many times we think about, well, what do I have to do to earn salvation? It's like nothing. Nothing, because salvation doesn't come by that. You have to love and obey God, that's true. But to earn salvation, but that's not to earn salvation. Let's not get too mixed up. There's things that you have to do if you love and obey God, and you're really coming under his wing to be worked on by him, because we are his workmanship. But you're the object. You're not the one that's gonna carry it out. And how many times in our past, we've just been thinking about us, us, us, us, us, instead of thinking of God. We've just focused on ourselves and the things that we need to do. And that's important, that has its place. But the most important thing that we can do is to think on God and to yield to him. That's the most important thing, because we are his workmanship, because we are being created in Christ Jesus unto the good works. God already has those good works. He's gonna put us in that path, he's gonna make it happen. His manifold wisdom is gonna carry it out if we cooperate, which is the biggest thing that we have to do. And that is what God wants us to know, to understand. And this is what he understood. This is what Paul understood. This is what he was saying, it's like we are being created in Christ Jesus. We are being created unto the good works so that we may do those good works. The God foreordained beforehand, foreordained beforehand, meaning he already had a plan. He already had a plan. He already had all of these, all of these things that were gonna come, not only the preaching of the gospel, the changing of a people, of the saints, so that they may labor in the millennium as kings and priests, so that all the people that come from the millennium may labor in the great white throne judgment, so that everybody helps the next generation, the next people that are coming, so that all may come to the knowledge of God and the unity of the spirit. That's what he wants. That's exactly what he wants. Those are the good works. But this understanding that we are his creation, that is part of the mystery. That is a big part of the mystery of the individual, not only that we've been rescued like we read in the first verses, but also the rest of the chapter that talks about more of the macro, and I would like for us to think about this particular, the individual, which is what he's leading with, and what it says that we are his workmanship. Let's go to Psalm 138 and verse eight, because this was known from the beginning. This is not just New Testament doctrine. David knew this. This is the Psalm of David, Psalm 138. And let's read verse one, because we will see that verse one is the key. I said verse eight, we'll get to thereafter. But in verse one, it says, I will praise you with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praise to you. That is the key. The reason that he understood what David understood is because he praised God with his whole heart, because his focus was on God, not on himself, not on his own salvation, not on his own works. That's why he said, Paul says, not of works so that no one may boast, because God doesn't want us to boast. What God wants us to do is to love him and to look to him and to believe him and to let him work in us. We are his workmanship, and that we will praise him with our whole heart, and we give our whole heart to the Lord, like most men Christians say, but actually do it. What does that mean to actually do it is to obey his commandments. That's what he means. That is the expression of our love for God. That's not our works unto salvation, and that's nothing to boast about. That's only the natural thing if we love God. That's why loving God and keeping his commandments always go together. But in verse eight, it says, the Lord will perfect his work in me. He knew that. He knew, David knew that he was God's workmanship. This is not new. Now, Paul put it in writing so that we would see the words clearly. But David knew this in his heart, and then he wrote about it. The Lord will perfect his work in me. Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. He knows that he was doing a work in him, that he was the workmanship of God, and then he knows why. Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. The reason is the love of God. It says, do not forsake the work of your own hands, meaning I have no chance without you. You're making me, and that's a great part of the mystery that we have to understand individually before we understand the other aspects, the macro aspects. But today, like I said, wanted to just focus on this part, that we are his workmanship, that he has rescued us, that there is a mystery that he's carrying out. But that mystery, how does one person go from being a carnal human being, as we read, walking in the loss of the flesh, being led by the spirit of the world, the spirit of the children of disobedience, to being a born child in the family of God? How does that happen? It's through the workmanship of God, and David understood this. And if we read this, it says, your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your own hands. And let's continue on to Psalm 139, because what does it say? And this is a song to the chief musician, a Psalm of David. And we're gonna read some verses here in Psalm 139, and it's really going to start to enlighten us about this mystery. But with the frame of reference that there is a mystery, why did God create man? That's the ultimate question, right? Why am I here? That's what everybody wants to know. That's a mystery hidden in God, hidden in God from the ages. That is that mystery. And it was hidden because God is going to reveal it to those who are truly seeking Him. God is going to reveal that mystery of how the process of conversion plays out. But this Psalm 139 tells us a lot about that using the physical terms, because those are the things that we understand each year. And then to understand it in the spiritual aspect as well. Psalm 139, verse one, "'O Lord, you have searched me and have known me.'" And see how this goes together with what you just read? You have searched me and known me, yeah? You did know that I was dead in trespasses and sins, and that I was walking in the lust of the flesh, that I was fulfilling the desires of the flesh, that I was not paying attention to you or to anything good. You have searched me and have known me. He knew that. He knew that. He knew that it was the work of the God's own hands. And he pleaded with God to not forsake that work. And we are His workmanship. And that's part of that, a great part of that mystery hidden from the ages in God. And it's a mystery. And it says, "'You know my sitting down and my rising up. "'You understand my thoughts are far off.'" And He understands our thoughts all the time. Far off. "'You measure my going about and my lying down. "'You are acquainted with all of my ways.'" And it's not this false religion image of God that He's just sitting there to see when we mess up, to see how He's gonna punish us. No, that's not the God we serve. The God we serve, He's looking at us lovingly, lovingly. Yes, with compassion, with mercy as we've seen, with love, He does know our thoughts. He has searched us and have known us that we have felt after God, that we want to follow Him, that we have made a covenant of baptism. It says, "'You measure my going about and my lying down. "'You're acquainted with all my ways.'" So it's not only the thoughts, it's also our actions. He knows everything that we think and everything that we do, but not to accuse us. He's not the accuser. That's the false God. That's the accuser of the brethren that is accusing us day and night. But that we have a high priest that is Jesus Christ that is saying, "'No, Father, I gave my life for them.'" And God looks at us lovingly. So He knows our thoughts and He knows our works. And Jesus Christ also says that in Revelation, "'I know your works.'" In verse four, "'For there is not a word on my tongue, "'but though, O Lord, you know it altogether.'" He knows even what we're going to say. He knows that, and again, not to accuse us, but to work on us. We're the object of His love. Verse five, "'You have enclosed me behind and in front. "'You are protecting us, and you laid your hand upon me.'" This is protection. This is protection. This is caring. This is love. This is the God we serve. He loves us so, so much. And when we really understand it, we're going to say the same words that David said here in verse six. "'Such knowledge is too wonderful for me.'" Too wonderful. "'It is high. "'I cannot attain unto it.'" How is it, Lord? How is it that you care about me? How is it that you're working in me? How is it that you pay attention to me? To everything that I think, to everything that I say, to everything that I do. That's what we read, and that's the truth. And it comes on the heels of what we just read, right? "'Do not forsake the work of your own hands. "'You are my God.'" That's what it says in Psalm 138a. With that conviction that the Lord will perfect His work in him. That's what we read, and that's who God is. Verse 13, let's drop down to verse 13. You can read the entire Psalm. It's amazing. It's something to really meditate on. But in verse 13, it says, "'You have possessed my reins. "'You have knit me together in my mother's womb.'" And that is part of the mystery. Because to this day, scientists really do not understand, can't figure out how is it that from two tiny little cells, a whole human being is developed and born. It's amazing. It is really amazing, and God did it that way. It's a mystery. Because that's exactly what we're going through spiritually. We are a tiny bit of the Holy Spirit of God in us, and how that develops in this life, to develop the character and the mind of Christ. And He's knitting us together. And it says, in my mother's womb, same. The church is also referred as our mother. And that's where we've been together. We've been knit together, the body of Christ. And also individually, we're being transformed. And that, in and of itself, is part of that mystery hidden from the ages in God. It says, you have possessed my brain, you knit me together in my mother's womb, and we don't know how in the physical, and much less in the spirit. But it's something that He can reveal. He wants us to know that. He wants us to know how He's changing us. And then understand, verse 14, I will praise you, for I am awesomely and wonderfully made. And it's not just in the physical. It is true in the physical, for sure. We are awesomely and wonderfully made because we're made in the image of God, awesomely. It says, your works are marvelous, and my soul knows it very well. We know. We know that the works of God are marvelous. And the greatest work of God is that spirit of God dwelling in us, in Him teaching us, in showing us how to think, how to act, how to speak. All of these things is what He's teaching us in the spirit in order to communicate spiritual things by spiritual means. That's what we read. And that's what He wants. It says, your works are marvelous, and my soul knows it very well. And we know soul is this body, this person. We know it very well. My substance, verse 15, my substance was not hidden from you. When I was made in secret and intricately formed in the lowest parts of the earth. What is our substance? What is that substance that was not hidden from Him? It was those groups of cells in the physical. That's the substance. The substance is just those little groups of cells that develop, and that's the substance. The substance is the flesh. The flesh and then the heart forms and the blood and all of the limbs start to form for the head. And then it's an amazing thing. That's a substance. What is our substance now in the spirit? It is the spirit of God within us. And that is also not hidden from Him. He gave it to us. He's dwelling in us through His spirit. This is when I was made in secret and we are being made in secret right now. That's why the world doesn't understand. The world doesn't see it. But we are being made in secret. It's here and it's here. It says intricately formed in the lowest parts of the earth. That's when we were being formed in the womb of our mother. And we all went through that process. And it was a mystery. We didn't even know it. We didn't even know that was happening. Do we know now what is happening spiritually? How He is developing His children through the spirit? Do we know now how He is developing the mind of Christ in us? Do we know that? It is something to really meditate on because it is something amazing. And then it says, verse 16, your eyes did see my substance yet being unformed. That's what I'm saying is that the substance still sells. That substance is yet being unformed. It didn't have any shape. It didn't have anything. It was like a dot. And it was not hidden from Him. He knew us from that moment on because He gave that spark of life. And it says, when I was made in secret and intricately formed in the lowest parts of the earth, it says, your eyes did see my substance yet being unformed, verse 16, and in your book, all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there were none of them. And spiritually, the same thing is happening. All our members, everything is being fashioned right now. The character of God, the mind of Christ, the love, the compassion, the mercy, all of these characteristics, all these attributes are being in continuance, meaning all the time through everything we go through, in continuance were fashioned as when yet there were none of them because there were none of them. We did not have the fruits of the Spirit. Right at baptism. Hopefully we had some, we'll display some. If the Spirit was with us, when we're called, the Spirit is with us, not in us yet. When we're being called, when we're striving to do what's right. But the same thing happens spiritually. And to meditate on this process, verse 17, how precious also are your thoughts to me, O God? How precious? How precious is that to God? To see his children develop and change and to not speak the way that we used to speak and to not think the way that we used to think and to not do the way that we used to do. How precious are those thoughts to him? How precious are those thoughts to us when we see that we are the workmanship of God in the Spirit? This is how great is the sum of them. How great is it? It's something amazing. It really is a mystery that has been hidden in God. That he had this plan to transform us into his children. If you tell most people out there that you're gonna be a child of God, that you're gonna be like God, that you're gonna be part of his family, they'll think you're crazy and blasphemous. That's what they think. Because they're cut off from God, at least temporarily, until their time comes. But to us, it's to meditate on. Verse 18, if I should count them, they are more than the sand. They are more than the sand. When I awake, I am still with you. And to think about that, to think about this process of conversion, as we go back to Ephesians, but to think of this process and to think that this is the mystery. That this is the mystery hidden from the ages in God. This is a big part of the mystery. This is how it all takes place individually that then collectively makes the entire plan of God come to fruition, which is amazing. Because everything, everything that he does, everything, the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, everything, Pentecost, everything is about his kingdom and the ones that he's bringing, hopefully everybody, he wishes none to perish, but that's what he wants. But to understand this process and to see, to see that we are his workmanship. And this is an amazing thing when we really think about this mystery. Let's go back to Ephesians 3, because we're not, like, another time, maybe we'll look at Ephesians 2 and the rest of the chapter, because then he's talking about the macro and he's talking about how he's bringing together all the nations and how Jesus Christ is our high priest and he brought down the middle wall of partition. What does that all mean? And how he's making us all together. But we've been talking about the individual face of this mystery. And then in verse 11, Ephesians 3, verse 11, because we read verse 10, talking about the manifold wisdom of God, in verse 11, it says, according to his eternal purpose, which he has wrought in Christ Jesus, our Lord. And listen to this verse 12, in whom we have boldness and direct access with confidence through his very own faith. We have this, brethren, we have this. We have this, brethren, we have access to God. We have his spirit. He loves us so much. We are his workmanship. If there's nothing else that you remember about this mystery hidden in God from the ages, if you remember nothing else, remember you are his workmanship. This is how he is doing it, not you. And don't be discouraged. Don't be discouraged when you see your own sins and your own shortcomings and falling again and doing the things that you don't wanna do, like Paul wrote about. Don't be discouraged because that's part of the plan. That's part of it. Not that you sin purposely. That's not what I mean. But when it does happen, it's part of getting rid of that and then we learn the next lesson and then we go from strength to strength. And then God gives us that understanding of the mystery personally. But if you remember nothing else, remember you are his workmanship. You're not gonna save yourself. You can't do that. Your obedience is not to save yourself. Your obedience is because you love God and because you're yielding to God and you're showing him that you're yielding to him so that he may do with you as he wishes because that is the most important thing. That he, and this is an amazing thing. In Ephesians 3, if we come back down to verse 16, this is what Paul wanted when he was writing all these things verse 16, that he may grind you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power by his spirit in the inner man. That's what we're talking about, the inner man, the inner transformation of what we go through. Why? The purpose is, verse 17, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that you believe that Christ dwells in you and you in him and that he is going to carry out his purpose for you just like we read in Psalm 138. That he will not forsake the work of his hands but that you contemplate, that you meditate on everything that he has done. As he says in Psalm 139, do you understand that not only in the physical but in the spiritual? In verse 18, and being rooted and grounded in love because God is love, being rooted and grounded in him that you may be fully able to comprehend with all the saints, that's why it's a fellowship of this mystery, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and depth and height of this wonderful plan for you, individually, for you? The manifold wisdom of God manifested in your own life. And to know, verse 19, to know the love of Christ which surpasses human knowledge. This is not the wisdom of man. The love of Christ surpasses human knowledge so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. That is the purpose. That is the purpose, that we may be filled with all the fullness of God and that in and of itself is a mystery. How can we be filled with all the fullness of God? But it's a mystery hidden from the ages in God.
