God's Plan for Us Before the Ages of Eternity

So here we are, the second Sabbath after the Feast of Tabernacles. We need to look at a situation that's interesting:

Deuteronomy 16:16: "Three times in a year shall all your males appear before the LORD your God in the place which He shall choose: in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and in the Feast of Weeks, and in the Feast of Tabernacles…."

We have just finished that. What starts up in the world is this: they have coming up three times that they appear before Satan the devil:

• Halloween

We just had that!

• Christmas

It is coming!

It's the most deceptive and most hard, difficult thing for people to understand and give up, because Satan comes and brings benefits!Everything about it is built on a lie. Everything about it is built on get.

• Easter

Jesus was never resurrected on Easter! So, you see how Satan works.

• three Feasts of God
• three feast of Satan the devil
  • one to get to God
  • the other to get to Satan and worship him as 'God'

Now, maybe you've never looked at it that way, but when we do, and when the world is there and everything that is going on. They already have the Christmas trees up. They already have everything for sale.

One of the reasons that the strike of the dock workers on the East Coast was solved was because most of the ships coming in had all the goodies for all the stores to sell to all the people. That, by all means, must continue to go forward. WHENwe look at that, and we look at what God has done, and we look at His Word and what we need to do, THEN we need to focus in on the things that are greater than us, the things that are out there and in the mind that are greater than us.

Now, let's think about this for a minute because as we enter into the time when the three seasons of Satan come up, we need to understand for us. Here's a key important thing: Without vision:

• without goals
• without understanding
• without the knowledge of God

the people perish!

We have seen that the last four years here in America and in the UK and other places in the world, as well. We're entering into a time that Jesus said that will be the most difficult, the most trying, the most horrible times from the beginning of the world will come upon this age at the end.

Now with the Church, many of us that are older and many of us will probably end up in our places safety in the grave. Others will start to go through it. Then there will be the young ones who will come along.

Then when Satan gets full control, then there will be the martyrdom of the saints. So, it's important for us to have the vision and understanding that we need from the Word of God:

• to give us strength
• to give us understanding
• to give us wisdom so we can go forward in God's way as we ought to

Now let's come to the book of Titus, the first chapter, and let's see that we are dealing in God's way with things that were laid out well before the creation of man.

I think it's very interesting because when you study through the Epistles of Paul and you study through the General Epistles of James, Peter, John and Jude, you find that at the end of their ministries. Their knowledge and understanding had grown. And now they look back upon that everything that they were doing was something that God had set in motion and planned before what we call the ages of time, because God inhabits eternity. That means He lives eternally!

Titus 1:1: "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the Truth that is according to Godliness."

Now it's very interesting. The Bible is such a fantastic book that you can study it and study it and restudy it. If you yield to God and keep His Commandments and have the Spirit of God, you'll continually grow in grace and knowledge.

Verse 2: "In the hope of eternal life, which God Who cannot lie promised before the ages of time."

That's why it's important that you understand what God is doing before the ages of time! Now the only way we get a concept of that is IF we realize and we look to the heavens and see how great they are.

Now, Paul wrote this just before he died. In 2-Tim. let's see what Paul wrote. At this time He was in prison again in Rome and sometimes this will happen. Sometimes you will be absolutely alone. There's no one else. This is what Paul was going through.

2-Timothy 1:15: "You know this, that all those who are in Asia have rejected me, of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes."

Interesting indeed, isn't it? Notice what he wrote here in:

Verse 1: "Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ…"

Now there are some people who say that Paul was not an apostle because he's not listed in the 12 apostles of the foundation of New Jerusalem. Well, that's not true. Paul will have his name someplace else, but he was an apostle of Jesus Christ

"…by the will of God… [it wasn't Paul's will] …according to the promise of life, which is in Christ Jesus" (v 1).

This is for us today, and we must always have this vision of eternal life that is to come.

Verse 2: "To Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord."

Now that's what it is, and with the Spirit of God, it comes directly to us! This, coupled with—

• the Word of God
• living by the Word of God
• studying praying
• yielding to God

so we

• understand what He's doing!
• understand how we are to live
• have the vision that comes from understanding the Word of God!

Now let's go ahead and take a look at the Bible. We'll continue on with this and we will see that what God has planned for us was before the ages of time!

We're going to find again that the Bible is the most incredible book in the world because it is the only book that tells us of things before the ages of time! It tells us:

• when the angels were created
• when Satan rebelled
• what happened with the renewing of the earth
• the creation of man and woman

an amazing thing! Also it talks about what God is going to do to help man.

2-Timothy 1:7: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear…."

Now the important thing, because a lot of people will look at the Bible knowing nothing about it and say, that's old, that's ancient, that's not for us. Or a lot of people will say it's filled with lies.

Now that's an interesting statement because it's really full of Truth; it's the Truth of God! But it's just like we see in the political field today. The ones who live by lies say that those who want to live by Truth are preaching lies, because their lies are Truth. It's kind of like the movie. There was a movie, True Lies! Well, there's no such a thing as true lies because lies can never be truth.

"…but of power, and of love, and of sound-mindedness. Therefore, you should not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner; but jointly suffer with me for the sake of the Gospel, according to the power of God" (vs 7-8).

So God had a plan, which is His vision, and He wants to give that vision to us so that we understand why we're here and where we're going. But He had this plan way before the beginning of time!

It's very interesting that none of the intellectuals of the world know a thing about it!

Verse 9: "Who has saved us and called us with a Holy calling…"

That's why we're here. The Holy God intervened with His Spirit—which is Holy, which is the Spirit of Truth—to draw us, to call us.

• What is He going to do with us?
• Why does He want us?

We'll find out as we progress through this message.

"…not according to our works…" (v 9). We'll see not according to who we are or what we are.

"…but according to His own purpose and grace…" (v 9).

Now, think about this: God dealing in your life with His Spirit is according to His Plan and His Spirit through Christ.

"…which was given us…" (v 9).

God planned this out, predestined the whole thing before He even created the angels.

"…in Christ Jesus before the ages of time" (v 9).

Now, that's quite a thing! You look at it. Today, because of all of the things concerning politics, everyone is interested in Elon Musk. As a matter of fact, his mother has appeared on a couple of Fox news clips.

He is one of the most intelligent men in the world and one of the richest, and he's fully supported Donald Trump.

How much do they know about God? Well, I think Donald Trump knows a little more about God after he has been spared from two assassination attempts! So, he has more fear of God. As a matter of fact, he said he's only here because of the grace of Almighty God, and that he's going to dedicate his life from now on to serving the people of America. We'll see how that goes.

Sidebar: You could also make a case where Kamala Harris could be elected through fraudulent voting. We'll have to wait and see what happens. But the point of what I'm bringing out is this: Though they're high in honor and recognition in the world, holding important positions.

Elon Musk with his SpaceX programs does phenomenal things that not even NASA could do.

Has God called them? No! He may have revealed Himself somewhat to them like he did to Nebuchadnezzar, but didn't call them! So the question becomes:

• Why has God called us? Now, you think about it!
• Who are we collectively as the world would view us?
• Who are we individually, as we view ourselves and compare ourselves to others?

1-Cor. 1—let's read what Paul wrote. We are here because of the action of God through His Spirit to lead us to repentance and baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit of God. The most important and precious thing that could happen in our lives!

So that, as we know and understand, when the time of the first resurrection comes, that we will be changed from flesh to spirit.

1-Corinthians 1:26: "For you see your calling, brethren, that there are not many who are wise according to the flesh."

• we're not geniuses
• we can't figure things out
• we couldn't figure out how to get anything up into space very far

But look at what Elon Musk can do and others with rockets.

Where does that go? They can only go so far! What God has made requires you to be a spirit being!

"…not many who are powerful…" (v 26). No, we don't have power to make people do this or that or the other thing!

"…not many who are high born among you" (v 26).

• Do we have any princes?
• Do we have any princesses?
• Do we have any kings?
• Do we have any senators?
• Do we have any Presidents?
• Do we have any representatives?

No! God does things differently than men think!

Verse 27: "Rather… [or that is on the other hand] …God has chosen the foolish things of the world so that He might put to shame those who are wise…" Think about that! If you know:

• the Love of God
• the Laws of God
• the Truth of God

You know more than Victor Davis Hanson, who is alleged to be one of the greatest minds of this age, along with Elon Musk and others like that. They're all up there on the intellectual scale.

"…God has chosen the weak things of the world so that He might put to shame the strong things" (v 27).

How's He going to do that? At the resurrection we will be exalted in life, ability and character more than human beings!

Verse 28: "And the lowborn of the world, and the despised has God chosen—even the things that are counted as nothing—in order that He might bring to nothing the things that are; so that no flesh might glory in His presence" (vs 28-29).

As we cover during the Feast of Tabernacles with the Job Syndrome, perfect example of Job boasting in the presence of God.

Verse 30: But you are of Him in Christ Jesus, Who was made to us wisdom from God, even righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."

That's quite a thing that God has called us and sanctified us, in other words: set us aside for a Holy purpose. As we grow in grace and knowledge in the Spirit of God, we grow in Holiness and understanding of the Word of God. This is the way that we have vision.

• vision to see the future
• vision to understand what we must do
• vision to have goals that we are able to meet to set for ourselves and especially to work with God's Word

Verse 30: "But you are of Him in Christ Jesus, Who was made to us wisdom from God…" That's amazing!

If you understand the Bible as much as you do, it doesn't mean you understand all of it, because no one even in a lifetime of study can understand everything that's in the Bible. But:

• you know more than the greatest minds in the world
• you know more than the greatest scientists in the world

But they wouldn't acknowledge that!

Verse 31: "So that, as it written, 'The one who glories, let him glory in the Lord.'" That's what we do; we give God:

• all the praise
• all the honor
• all the glory

for what He has done!

The longer we have the Spirit of God, and WHEN we're praying and studying every day and drawing close to God, THEN God helps us to understand more of His:

• love
• truth
• grace
• righteousness
• wisdom

Then we become wiser but more humble because we realize that it all comes from God!

2-Corinthians 2:7: "Rather, we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery…"—not the wisdom of the world!

What's wrong with the religions of the world? They're all based on philosophies and teachings of men and Satan!

That's why they don't understand the Word of God. A key thing to even begin to understand the Word of God is that when you read the Word of God, you believe it. IF you believe it, THEN you're also to obey it.

WHEN you obey it and begin to understand the greatness of God and Who and what Christ is and what He has done, THEN we begin to understand that we need

• the Spirit of God
• the Truth of God
• the Word of God

as we are able to do so!

In this Book [the Bible], which had been published in 3,000 languages. It is better than any book that has ever been written. So keep that in mind. We have seen how translating committees led by those of a wrong spirit want to change the Bible, but all of their changes are noted so we don't have to worry about what we need for The Faithful Version!

Verse 9: "But according as it is written, 'The 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.'"

What did Jesus say? I go and prepare a place for you. And in my Father's house are many abodes or dwelling places! Think about that!

Christ is preparing a place for every one of us! That goes all the way back through time. That's another thing that's important concerning the Bible and important on having a vision as we live. Not a vision that we see like a movie or something, but a goal ahead of us to accomplish what God wants.

"…neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him" (v 9).

• How do we love him?

Since God is doing this for us

• How are we to love God?

With all our heart, with all our mind, with all our soul, with all our being!

• that in turn draws us closer to God
• that in turn brings us more of His Spirit
• that in turn gives us greater understanding over a period of time

Verse 10: "But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit…"—that's what it takes!

You can't receive the Spirit of God unless you repent of your sins and accept the Truth and keep His Commandments and love God!

That's what's missing in the pseudo religion of the world.

"…for the Spirit searches all things—eventhe deep things of God" (v 10)—which were before the ages of time!

Amazing! Think how important that is for us, and for all of those that have the Spirit of God.

Verse 11: "For who among men understands the things of man except by the spirit of man, which is in him? In the same way also, the things of God no one understands except by the Spirit of God."

That's why God has given what he's given. That's why He's given the Commandments so that we can have a relationship with Him so that we can understand what we need to do.

That's why we have the Sabbath every week, because what we are learning is so important that we have to have our mind completely converted and dedicated in serving God in the way that he wants.

Verse 12: "Now, we have not received the spirit of the world…"

Where does that come from? Satan the devil!

• that's the spirit of philosophy
• that's the spirit of men's thinking

"…but the Spirit that is of God, so that we might know the things graciously given to us by God" (v 12). That's an amazing thing to understand!

It gives you a broader view of the Word of God and actually a more detailed understanding of it as well, as you study and grow in grace and knowledge.

Verse 13: "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."

That's exactly what's happening here today. We're here on the Sabbath Day before God.

• we have the Spirit of God
• the Spirit of God is in us
• the Spirit of God is leading us
• the Spirit of God will help us to understand His Word

That's really a tremendous and amazing thing when we really grasp it!

Peter also writes of this and gives us the keys on how we grow in grace and knowledge and the use of God's Spirit. This is what will keep us growing in grace and knowledge during all this time of the three seasons of Satan's celebrations of his religions.

2-Peter 1:1: "Simon Peter a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained the same precious faith as ours... [that faith comes with the Spirit of God] …by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ." He gives it to us!

Now think about this: There's no way that you of yourself can make this happen. It has to be with the Spirit of God within us and our choices coming to God:

• to love God
• to obey God
• to do the things that God wants
• to understand the greatness of His Plan

Remember what he told Abraham; it all started with Abraham and from this side of the Flood. What did God do? He told him that his heirs would be like the stars in the heavens!

There's much more to it, but we won't get into that. But that's how great:

• what God is thinking
• what He's doing
• what our purpose is
• where we are going

This comes from God alone. Because we have to live in the world and the world is more controlled by Satan the devil in our lifetimes than ever before.

Verse 2: "Grace and peace be multiplied… [over and over and over again] …in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, according as His Divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and Godliness…" (vs 2-3). That's what God wants to do!

Now, James read that God created us in the beginning male and female in the image and likeness of God. The rest of the Bible tells us—especially the New Testament—what God wants. God wants and is desiring and is putting together a family and a kingdom. We have been called to be part of that.

That goes clear back to what God planned before the ages of time, and that means before the creation of the angels. When you understand what you are partaking of and what God has called you to.

Verse 4: "Through which He has given to us the greatest and most precious promises… [no one can give you or promise you anything greater than God] …that through these you may become partakers of the Divine nature…"

Now that's hard for us to grasp because we're all physical beings. Even with the Spirit of God we still relate a lot of things physically, but we need to also relate to those spiritually. That's quite a thing that he's saying here.

"…having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (v 4).

Here's what we were to do because of what God has done. Go back and you read the seven churches in the book of Rev. 2 & 3. In every one of them He doesn't judge them by their faith. Christ says, 'I know your works.'

If you have faith and the love of God you will produce the right works, because what you have in the mind with the Spirit of God and what you think and you believe, that is what you do. This is what Peter is talking about here. So, he says:

Verse 5: "And for this very reason also, having applied all diligence…" This tells us how we're to do it!

• not in a haphazard way
• not in a lazy way
• not in a slothful way
• not in a way of 'I'll come to God when I need help'

If you do that He might not be there, because you haven't come to Him in the time in between!

"…besides, add to your faith, virtue…" (v 5).

faith is:

• believing in God
• believing in Christ
• believing in His Word
• living by every Word of God, as Jesus said

virtue is:

• Godly actions
• Godly behavior

So we act that way!

"…and to virtue, knowledge" (v 5).

That's why every Sabbath we go through the Scriptures and we add knowledge. The more you study the Word of God—and go back and restudy, restudy and restudy it—the more you're going to learn! The more you will put it together as one whole book that has been inspired by God!

If it's been correctly translated in whatever language that you have, that is the Holy language to you.

Verse 6: "And to knowledge, self-control…"

Now that's quite an interesting thing isn't it? What is the easiest way to overcome any problem? You take the action to correct it!

If each one of us corrects our mistakes and whatever sins we make and repent to God, and we use the Spirit of God so that we will do what is right. That is self-control led by the Holy Spirit of God, which is precisely what God wants us to do!

If we correct ourselves, God doesn't have to correct us!

Let's just take the case of David and Bathsheba. If David would have corrected himself and said:

I'm the king of Israel I know I can do everything that I want to do but I'm not going to commit adultery with this woman because she's the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of my faithful soldiers.

Problem solved!

Bathsheba could have said when the servant came to the door and said, 'The king wants to see you.' She should have said:

I apologize to the king and tell the king that I'm unable to answer his request at this time.

• self-control
• self-correction

That would have never happened. How different would the history have been? Likewise with us

• we look at what has happened in the Churches of God
• what happened in Pasadena
• what has happened to other Churches that God since them

If they do not correct themselves and each one individually then what happens? Trouble comes!
God has to correct!

What happened to David when Nathan had to come to him and say: 'You're the one who committed this crime?' His whole house rebelled against him. He almost lost his kingship!

Joab—the top general—aligned with Abijah in an attempt to take over the throne and not let Solomon have it. Look at all the trouble that came because he didn't have self-control; didn't use the Holy Spirit.

"…and to self-control, endurance..." (v 6).

• you never give up
• you never give up
• you never give up

You endure! You grow in grace and knowledge!

"…and to endurance, Godliness…" Now that's a whole lifetime thing, isn't it?

You might ask: How can I be Godly when I'm physical, when I'm human?

• by doing the things that God says
• by thinking the things that God wants you to think

This is how you have vision. In other words, vision then becomes the ultimate purpose of what you're going to do, and as you do it, day-by-day.

Verse 7: "And to Godliness, brotherly love; and to brotherly love, the love of God."

So this all develops. It's all one package with many parts in it, all put together, which tells us what we must do and how we must do it as led by the Spirit of God!

Now notice what Peter says here.

Verse 8: "For if these things exist and abound in you…" In other words, they become part of you:

• part of your thinking
• part of the way that you act
• part of the way that you do everything in your life

"…they will cause you to be neither lacking effort nor lacking fruit in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (v 8).

Your works will reflect your faith, your love, and all of the virtues that are listed here!

Verse 9: "But the one in whom these things are not present is spiritually blind—so short-sighted that he has forgotten that he was purified from his old sins."

That's what happens with a pseudo-grace of pseudo-Christianity. 'Oh, I've got the grace of God. I can do anything I want to because it covers everything.' Well, that's a bald-faced lie!

The grace of God commits you to loving God and keeping His Commandments. Because:

• not only has He forgiven you, He's given you His Spirit
• not only has he given you His Spirit, He's opened your mind to understand His Word

Verse 10: "For this reason, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure; because if you are doing these things, you will never fall at any time."

• absolute, guaranteed, you will succeed
• you will endure to the end
• you will be in the resurrection

That's the kind of vision or purpose that we have that we need to keep!

Verse 11: "For in this way, you will be richly granted an entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."

So that's quite a thing. Now, let's look at some of these other things that will happen because of that.

1-John. 3—now, this is what God wants, and remember this. Everyone wants the love of God, but very few want to love Him. That's why we need to believe, obey, and love God!  Notice what it's going to result in:

1-John 3:1: "Behold!…. [pay great attention to] …What glorious love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God!…."

Now, that's an amazing statement, really, when you stop and think about it, that:

• we will be spirit beings
• we will have a spirit mind
• we will see God as He is
• we will see the Father
• we will see Jesus Christ

Furthermore, as we covered on the Last Great Day: Where are we going to live? In New Jerusalem! You go read that again and see what that's going to be like. There is nothing that anyone can do and build on earth that can compare to New Jerusalem.

"…For this very reason, the world does not know us because it did not know Him" (v 1).

That's an amazing thing! The world doesn't even know. If you told someone who knows nothing about God and you told them, 'You see me? Yeah, I see you! Do you know that I'm a future son/daughter of God? You gotta be kidding! You?  'I'm sure!'

• they don't know
• they don't believe

Verse 2: "Beloved, now we are the children of God…"

Not yet born into the Kingdom, but we're still children, just like a baby in the womb is a child; it's an individual new life.

By the way, I just saw a new video of a baby in the womb of what they call an ultrasound. And guess what the baby was doing in the womb? Clapping its hands! Think about that.

• Is that baby human? Yes it is!
• Is it alive? Yes, it is!

But it's totally dependent on its mother!

Now, there are those who would murder that little child in the womb because of the selfishness of their own lustful desires! Then demand that you make it legal in the land 'so I can continue living in my sin'! Now, they don't put it that way, but that's actually the way that it is.

Verse 2: "Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be…"

We can get a glimpse of it, but we really don't know the full amount of what it's going to be.

"…but we know that when He is manifested, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him exactly as He is" (v 2). That's going to be an amazing thing!

Now remember what Jesus said to the one who gained the pounds. After he gained five or gained two, He said, 'Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord, and be over five cities or ten cities or two cities.'

Verse 3: "And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, even as He is pure."

How do you purify yourself? By coming to God and every day repenting of your sins!

You might say that you don't have sins every day. Well, you need to think about what enters into your mind by what you see, and what is in your mind by what you think because that's the origin of sin! This is what God wants us to repent of.

Let's again take a look and see what it will be like, because what we are talking about is an amazing thing indeed that the world doesn't know and the religions don't know and they have no idea that it's really here in the Bible, even though they have the Bible. They all want eternal life but they want to have eternal life but they want to have it without doing anything.

And just like the big lie that I explained last week how people say that 'Jesus keeps the Sabbath for me so therefore I don't have to keep it.'

What did Jesus say? The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.'

• What does He do on the Sabbath?
• What do we do on the Sabbath? We study the Word of God
• For what purpose?

Now, here's something that we need to really appreciate, because as we read there in 1st & 2nd Corinthians that the world doesn't understand.

• Why don't they understand? Because they're blinded!
• How are they blinded? They're blinded in three ways!

• they refuse to read it; they refuse to see it.
• they reject the Word of God, therefore, they're blind
• by Satan the devil

That's the way it is with most people!

• Why don't people in the world understand?

Matthew 13:15: "For the heart of this people has grown fat, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed…"—'Oh, I don't want any of that.'

"…lest they should see with their eyes… [meaning they could if they would believe] …and should hear with their ears, and should understand with their hearts, and should be converted, and I should heal them" (v 15).

So, as we know with the second resurrection, God is putting those people's salvation until after the Millennium.

• the fact that you have the Bible
• the fact that you can read the words
• the fact that you understand the words

Verse 16: "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear."

• we're anxious to learn
• we want to know
• we investigate more
• we study and re-study and put it togetherso we know

And the Spirit of God is:

• working with us
• guiding us
• leading us

Verse 17: "For truly I say to you, many prophets and righteous men have desired to see what you see, and have not seen; and to hear what you hear, and have not heard."

That's quite an amazing thing, isn't it? Let's see the result of everything. This  is talking about the return of Christ:

Verse 43: "Then shall the righteous shine forth… [this is what it means to be raised in glory] …as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears to hear, let him hear." An amazing thing!

• that's what God wants us to have
• that's what God wants us to keep in mind
  • where we are going
  • what we are doing
  • how we are doing it

A lot of this was not revealed until Paul was in prison, until he was brought low. He had to cry out to God and cry out to God and cry out to God! God be with him in everything. This is so important to show how he had the understanding and grew in it.

Ephesians 3:1: "For this cause I, Paul, am 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; how He made known to me by revelation the mystery (even as I wrote briefly before" (vs 1-3).

The mystery is the secret of God! Think about that. You know the secret of God!

Verse 4: "So that when you read this, you will be able to comprehend my understanding in the mystery of Christ), which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His Holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit" (vs 4-5).

God gave to all of the apostles and all of the prophets the understanding of God's Plan.

Verse 7: "Of which I [Paul] became a servant…"

Verse 11: "According to His eternal purpose…. [everything He is making known in this chapter] … which He has wrought in Christ Jesus our Lord, in Whom we have boldness and direct access with confidence through His very own faith" (vs 11-12).

That's why God has it: being under grace you have direct connection with God:

• you don't need a middle man
• you don't need a priest
• you don't need a pastor

To rule over you, you go directly to God and let God rule in your life, as Peter said.

Verse 14: "For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power by His Spirit in the inner man" (vs 14-16).

Right here: growing, knowing, understanding and everything!

Verse 17: "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith."

That is to live by the faith of Christ; to believe as He wants us to believe and so forth.

Verse 18: "And that being rooted and grounded in love… [you can't come to this point unless you're rooted and grounded in love] …you may be fully able to comprehend with all the saints… [what God wants you to know, which was planned before the ages of time] …what is the breadth and length and depth and height."

• How much is there to know?
• How much is there with the Word of God in the Bible?
• How much more is there to have that when we are resurrected?

Verse 19: "And to know the love of Christ, which surpasses human knowledge so that you may be filled…" This is what God wants with every one of us:

• why we were created
• why we were called
• why we have the Holy Spirit of God
• why we do the things that we do

"…so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (v 19)—just like John wrote: 'we will see Him exactly as He is.' Now, that's an amazing thing!

Verse 20: "Now, to Him Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that is working in us, to Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all generations, even into the ages of eternity. Amen" (vs 20-21).

All of this started before the ages of time! This is how we have vision, so that we live!

Scriptural References:

• Deuteronomy 16:16
• Titus 1:1-2
• 2 Timothy 1:15, 1-2, 7-9
• 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
• 1 Corinthians 2:7-13
• 2 Peter 1:1-11
• 1 John 3:1-3
• Matthew 13:15-17, 43
• Ephesians 3:1-5, 7, 11-12, 14, 16-21

Scriptures referenced, not quoted: Revelation 2; 3

Also referenced: Message: The Job Syndrome

FRC:bo/po
Transcribed: 11/6/24

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