WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.580 Do sit and turn to Ephesians chapter 3. 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:13.720 This term we're going through really what is God. God is infinite. God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, unchangeable. 00:00:14.620 --> 00:00:15.019 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.079 God is. And it would just be kind of recapitulating. Lots of that. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:36.780 And so we're going to go on to God's wisdom. 00:00:37.880 --> 00:00:39.039 There's different ways of preaching that. 00:00:39.240 --> 00:00:45.140 We could look at all the verses which we've done in many ways kind of through the series. 00:00:45.659 --> 00:00:46.719 Try to bring them all together. 00:00:47.100 --> 00:00:51.079 We would see that God is wise in his decrees and his plans. 00:00:52.159 --> 00:00:55.039 We'd be able to see that God is wise in creation. 00:00:56.120 --> 00:00:59.379 We would see that God is wise in his plan of redemption. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:04.920 God is wise in salvation. God is wise in his providence and in the governing of our lives. 00:01:04.980 --> 00:01:07.299 And you could do that and it would be good to do that. 00:01:08.519 --> 00:01:16.260 But as I was thinking about it on Friday, I really think that Ephesians chapter 3 takes this wisdom of God, 00:01:16.359 --> 00:01:19.460 that God is wise and does something quite surprising with it. 00:01:20.920 --> 00:01:25.159 And so look at chapter 3 verse 10 of Ephesians. 00:01:26.780 --> 00:01:28.000 The Apostle Paul says, 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:48.200 The Apostle Paul speaks about the wonders of the wisdom of God. 00:01:48.200 --> 00:02:00.240 And he says to you and I that through the church, the manifold wisdom of God is to be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. 00:02:01.760 --> 00:02:05.659 And actually wisdom is one of the major themes in the book of Ephesians, or one of the minor themes. 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:08.259 And if you go to chapter 1 and verse 8, 00:02:08.259 --> 00:02:12.399 He says to you and I that when we became Christians, 00:02:13.219 --> 00:02:18.060 God lavishes his grace upon us. 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:21.579 And he gives to us wisdom and insight. 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:27.739 Our eyes are opened and God gives to us the gift of wisdom and insight. 00:02:27.740 --> 00:02:35.760 How is it that you came to see the truth about the Lord Jesus and the power of the gospel? 00:02:37.100 --> 00:02:43.439 And your need to be saved is that God opened your eyes and gave you wisdom. 00:02:44.379 --> 00:02:47.379 And then towards the end of the letter, in chapter 5 and verse 15, 00:02:47.379 --> 00:02:53.280 And the Apostle urges us, because we've received this wisdom from God, 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:57.639 He says, because you've received this wisdom, don't continue to walk foolishly. 00:02:58.359 --> 00:03:03.579 But walk as those who are wise and who understand the will of the Lord. 00:03:05.460 --> 00:03:07.120 And so it's in between those two things, 00:03:08.120 --> 00:03:11.579 that you've received wisdom and you are to walk in wisdom. 00:03:11.580 --> 00:03:16.160 God has imparted wisdom to God's people. 00:03:16.820 --> 00:03:18.900 And he exercises wisdom. 00:03:19.200 --> 00:03:21.140 We are to exercise wisdom by God's people. 00:03:21.580 --> 00:03:24.960 But the Apostle then expounds to us what is the wisdom of God. 00:03:25.340 --> 00:03:26.980 The nature of the wisdom of God. 00:03:27.960 --> 00:03:30.000 He wants to illustrate it for us. 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:37.580 And he does so in the glory and the splendor of that wisdom that God himself possesses. 00:03:38.540 --> 00:03:40.700 That is shared with us in the gospel. 00:03:41.580 --> 00:03:44.200 And it's illustrated in the way we live out the Christian life. 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:47.960 And the way that he describes God's wisdom here is remarkable. 00:03:49.420 --> 00:03:53.080 But what is the wisdom of God about which he speaks in chapter 3 verse 10? 00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:59.260 The wisdom of God is, and in the Bible, is the manner by which he fulfills his purpose. 00:03:59.540 --> 00:04:00.700 It's the way he gets things done. 00:04:01.820 --> 00:04:06.600 And the wisdom of God is the expression of his sovereign holiness. 00:04:06.880 --> 00:04:08.960 Of God's wonderful faithfulness to us. 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:15.740 His amazing love in how it is expressed and illustrated and worked out in human history. 00:04:16.639 --> 00:04:21.000 And it's all under the control of God's fatherly eye and his paternal care. 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:24.319 The wisdom of God is how he gets things done. 00:04:25.899 --> 00:04:30.100 We've seen, haven't we, in this series, as we've looked at it this autumn, that God is infinite. 00:04:31.560 --> 00:04:33.680 He has no limits with regards to space. 00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:34.500 He is eternal. 00:04:34.620 --> 00:04:36.019 He has no limits with regards to time. 00:04:36.279 --> 00:04:37.779 And he is unchangeable. 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:40.899 And he's all of those things in his wisdom. 00:04:41.300 --> 00:04:42.379 His wisdom is infinite. 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:43.579 His wisdom is eternal. 00:04:43.959 --> 00:04:45.300 His wisdom is unchangeable. 00:04:45.300 --> 00:04:47.180 It's how he gets things done. 00:04:48.500 --> 00:04:53.720 But you'll notice that in this verse, chapter 3 and verse 10, he describes the wisdom of God in a particular way. 00:04:55.860 --> 00:05:00.840 He speaks about it not just simply as the wisdom of God, but he speaks about it as the manifold wisdom of God. 00:05:02.340 --> 00:05:11.300 And the word he uses literally means multi-layered, multi-coloured, many-splendored wisdom of God. 00:05:11.300 --> 00:05:14.780 He wants us really to grasp two things. 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:21.660 He wants us to grasp that the wisdom of God is far richer and fuller in its expression than we can ever begin to understand. 00:05:21.780 --> 00:05:23.699 It's like a diamond that glitters in different lights. 00:05:25.600 --> 00:05:27.840 It's always true, isn't it, that God's ways are above our ways. 00:05:28.840 --> 00:05:31.319 It's always true that God's thoughts are above our thoughts. 00:05:31.540 --> 00:05:38.639 For as his way, as high as the heavens are above the earth, so are his ways higher than your ways, and his thoughts than your thoughts. 00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:43.699 And he works out his wisdom in a multitude of ways. 00:05:44.939 --> 00:05:49.620 This is the many-splendid, the multi-coloured wisdom of God. 00:05:51.579 --> 00:05:55.479 By using this expression, he wants to say to you there's something really beautiful. 00:05:56.639 --> 00:05:58.459 There's something glorious about this wisdom. 00:05:58.459 --> 00:06:07.739 There are times in your life, aren't there many of you at the moment, there are times in our lives where God deals with us in his wisdom and we feel pain. 00:06:09.719 --> 00:06:11.579 And that sense of being in the dark. 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:15.519 And we look at our lives and we don't know what God is about. 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:23.459 But not only is God's wisdom various in the way that it works itself out, but it is always glorious. 00:06:25.339 --> 00:06:27.459 It is a rainbow of God's wisdom. 00:06:28.740 --> 00:06:33.199 And he wants us this morning to try and grasp something of this so that our spirits would be lifted. 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:43.719 That this should bring us a sense of joy as God works out his purposes in our lives, moment by moment, day by day, year by year. 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:48.360 He moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform. 00:06:49.740 --> 00:06:58.659 But there is always something glorious and splendid about the outworking, the multi-coloured tapestry of the wisdom of God. 00:06:58.660 --> 00:07:11.360 And as he begins to unfold this great doctrine in Ephesians chapter 3, he tells us that the wisdom of God is primarily seen in one location, in one place. 00:07:12.740 --> 00:07:17.600 He says that if you want to see the great living monument to the wisdom of God, 00:07:19.140 --> 00:07:23.600 if you want to see God's wisdom put on display, put on the big screen, 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:33.700 then there's one place that you will find the many, multi-faceted wisdom of God illustrated wonderfully, exhibited powerfully. 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:37.800 And that place, to our astonishment, can you notice it in verse 10? 00:07:39.180 --> 00:07:40.000 It's the church. 00:07:43.100 --> 00:07:48.820 That God's purpose is that through the church, the manifold wisdom of God will be made known. 00:07:50.420 --> 00:07:52.060 That is to say, through ourselves. 00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:55.600 Through the family of God's people. 00:07:56.939 --> 00:07:58.879 Through all the families of God's people. 00:07:59.020 --> 00:08:01.160 Throughout the universal family of God's people. 00:08:01.280 --> 00:08:02.300 In heaven and on earth. 00:08:04.020 --> 00:08:06.040 That as people look at the church, 00:08:07.520 --> 00:08:12.580 the multi-layered, multi-coloured wisdom of God is made known. 00:08:15.020 --> 00:08:16.600 And so the obvious question is this. 00:08:16.600 --> 00:08:24.040 How is it that in the church and through the church, the multi-coloured wisdom of God will be seen? 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:24.780 How is that? 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:29.760 Well, there's three different ways that are all connected. 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:34.919 In which Paul tells us, God makes his wisdom known through the church. 00:08:34.919 --> 00:08:37.439 So the first is this. 00:08:37.599 --> 00:08:42.139 The wisdom of God is made known through the church in its foundation. 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:44.539 In the work of Jesus. 00:08:45.479 --> 00:08:46.740 In the work of Jesus. 00:08:46.740 --> 00:08:52.000 The Lord Jesus, he goes on to say in verses 11 and 12. 00:08:52.659 --> 00:08:55.799 That this wisdom of God is made known through the church according. 00:08:56.500 --> 00:08:58.320 This was according to the eternal purpose. 00:08:58.980 --> 00:09:01.080 That he has realised in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:05.500 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in him. 00:09:05.500 --> 00:09:13.299 And the wisdom of God is to be seen first of all in the foundation of the church in Christ Jesus. 00:09:15.940 --> 00:09:21.980 He's telling you and I that what God did in Christ Jesus and through Christ Jesus was not merely an afterthought. 00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:30.820 What God did in Christ Jesus and through Christ Jesus, he had planned and prepared for before all ages. 00:09:30.820 --> 00:09:35.960 It was a timeless, eternal purpose. 00:09:36.760 --> 00:09:38.420 That God had to send his son. 00:09:39.680 --> 00:09:44.140 And then sending his son into the world and accomplishing his purposes through him. 00:09:44.420 --> 00:09:50.200 He shows one of the bright colours of his multi-coloured wisdom in the church. 00:09:51.980 --> 00:09:54.060 How does this show us the wisdom of God? 00:09:55.500 --> 00:09:56.380 Well, in this way. 00:09:57.620 --> 00:10:00.380 We need to ask ourselves, who is it that belongs to the church? 00:10:00.820 --> 00:10:05.060 And again, Ephesians has already told us, isn't it? 00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:07.200 The beginning of chapter 2. 00:10:08.140 --> 00:10:10.040 He tells us, who is it that belongs to the church? 00:10:10.100 --> 00:10:10.580 In Ephesus. 00:10:11.480 --> 00:10:12.780 Or this church for that matter. 00:10:13.540 --> 00:10:19.140 He says, you were formerly dead in your transgressions and sins. 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:22.940 You used to walk according to the ways of the world. 00:10:24.260 --> 00:10:28.080 You used to walk under the dominion of the prince of the power of the air. 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:32.480 And you were without hope and without God. 00:10:33.800 --> 00:10:38.180 And you were without any possibility of sharing in the promise of forgiveness. 00:10:39.040 --> 00:10:40.500 And the covenants of God's grace. 00:10:40.500 --> 00:10:44.100 And he says, that's what you were. 00:10:46.019 --> 00:10:48.259 These are the people, he says, you Ephesians. 00:10:49.159 --> 00:10:51.460 Are you people in IPC eating? 00:10:51.620 --> 00:10:56.820 You have been brought into the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:10:56.820 --> 00:11:03.320 And in bringing sinful men and women and boys and girls who were dead to God. 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:05.680 Dead in their trespasses and sins. 00:11:06.080 --> 00:11:07.640 In bringing men and women to God. 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:09.560 You were strangers to his covenant. 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:11.260 And to his promise. 00:11:11.700 --> 00:11:15.200 And God has shown his wisdom now in bringing you in. 00:11:16.520 --> 00:11:17.480 How is this so? 00:11:17.480 --> 00:11:24.139 Well, it's because of this remarkable fact that God has brought us into the church of his son. 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:26.700 By one and the same act. 00:11:28.420 --> 00:11:30.759 Think about what the Lord Jesus did on the cross. 00:11:32.539 --> 00:11:33.720 That in the cross. 00:11:34.519 --> 00:11:37.159 God both punished our sin. 00:11:37.379 --> 00:11:38.580 And forgave our sin. 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:41.840 At the cross of the Lord Jesus. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:43.980 God exhibits his holy justice. 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:46.399 And his gracious forgiveness. 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:49.460 At the cross. 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:53.600 God both exhibits his wrath against our sin. 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:56.539 And his love for us. 00:11:57.139 --> 00:11:57.879 In his son. 00:11:59.560 --> 00:12:02.440 And Paul says, here is the wisdom of God. 00:12:02.740 --> 00:12:04.560 Displayed in the foundation of the church. 00:12:04.980 --> 00:12:07.120 In the dying of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:12:07.580 --> 00:12:09.899 Bearing our sins upon his body. 00:12:10.539 --> 00:12:11.460 Upon the tree. 00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:14.060 Crying out. 00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:17.460 In a sense of God's desertedness. 00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:21.659 He bore God's just punishment for our sin. 00:12:23.100 --> 00:12:25.920 And in that bearing of the punishment for our sin. 00:12:26.700 --> 00:12:31.560 He releases God's heart of love for the forgiveness of our sins. 00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:33.740 And the redemption for sinners. 00:12:33.740 --> 00:12:41.039 And that of course is something that gripped the Apostle Paul's heart and mind. 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:43.779 He was always talking about it. 00:12:45.220 --> 00:12:46.620 He was always talking about it. 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:51.519 That the wisdom of God is to be found in the cross of Jesus Christ. 00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:53.039 In Jesus and him crucified. 00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:56.539 And he wants to remind us as he speaks about God's purpose. 00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:59.319 As being fulfilled in Jesus Christ. 00:13:00.579 --> 00:13:01.480 That it's there. 00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:03.879 It is to the cross that we go this morning. 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:08.080 Firstly to see the wisdom of God. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:11.019 We sing about it. 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:11.840 We confess it. 00:13:11.939 --> 00:13:12.860 We rejoice in it. 00:13:14.759 --> 00:13:16.559 All loving wisdom of our God. 00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:18.860 When all was sin and shame. 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:20.379 A second Adam to the fight. 00:13:21.399 --> 00:13:22.759 And to the rescue came. 00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:26.179 Oh wisest love that flesh and blood which did in Adam fail. 00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:29.879 Should strive afresh against the foe. 00:13:30.100 --> 00:13:32.519 Should strive and should prevail. 00:13:34.740 --> 00:13:37.179 And Paul says you want to know what the wisdom of God is? 00:13:38.539 --> 00:13:39.919 You go to the cross of Jesus Christ. 00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:43.419 We start at that place. 00:13:44.120 --> 00:13:46.299 Which makes us tremble with amazement. 00:13:46.580 --> 00:13:49.100 Where God judges my sin. 00:13:49.100 --> 00:13:50.539 With a holy judgment. 00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:52.319 And a terrifying wrath. 00:13:52.760 --> 00:13:54.480 And yet at the very same time. 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:56.860 He stretches out his arms to you. 00:13:57.260 --> 00:13:58.860 In love and grace and pardon. 00:13:59.960 --> 00:14:01.980 That as his son cries out. 00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:04.300 Father forgive them. 00:14:05.640 --> 00:14:09.120 He's experiencing both the justice of God. 00:14:09.340 --> 00:14:11.840 And he's holding out towards us the love of God. 00:14:13.180 --> 00:14:14.660 And so there is a place isn't there. 00:14:14.660 --> 00:14:17.760 Where heaven's love and heaven's justice meet. 00:14:18.680 --> 00:14:20.560 In the multicolored wisdom of God. 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:24.420 But do you notice Paul says something else. 00:14:24.420 --> 00:14:26.300 About this display of God's wisdom. 00:14:26.700 --> 00:14:28.360 He says this display of God's wisdom. 00:14:28.860 --> 00:14:29.620 Through the church. 00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:32.200 Is not primarily intended. 00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:33.520 For the church. 00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:34.700 It's really shocking isn't it. 00:14:34.700 --> 00:14:35.460 At the end of verse 10. 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:37.519 He says. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:38.379 And what is. 00:14:38.940 --> 00:14:40.360 What is the wisdom of the church. 00:14:40.440 --> 00:14:41.540 As it's gathered here today. 00:14:41.660 --> 00:14:42.800 As people who've trusted in Christ. 00:14:43.060 --> 00:14:43.800 Who is it for? 00:14:45.379 --> 00:14:46.940 And it is for the principalities. 00:14:47.900 --> 00:14:48.639 For the rulers. 00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:50.560 For the authorities. 00:14:50.560 --> 00:14:51.840 In the heavenly realms of the church. 00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:52.920 And again it's a big theme. 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:54.519 In the book of Ephesians. 00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:56.740 He says. 00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:57.559 With its foundation. 00:14:58.120 --> 00:14:59.759 And the death of Jesus Christ. 00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:00.639 Is its foundation. 00:15:02.319 --> 00:15:03.699 Is death for our sins. 00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:04.600 And for our forgiveness. 00:15:05.439 --> 00:15:06.539 There's a sense in which. 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:07.340 The theatre. 00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:08.559 Of the church. 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:10.819 Is showing. 00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:13.100 For the realms of heaven. 00:15:13.779 --> 00:15:14.980 For the principalities. 00:15:15.179 --> 00:15:16.460 For the angelic spirits. 00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:16.660 It's. 00:15:18.100 --> 00:15:18.900 It's focusing. 00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:20.500 Their attention. 00:15:20.700 --> 00:15:21.759 On what God has done. 00:15:22.800 --> 00:15:23.280 And he's saying. 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:24.940 Look at the multicolored wisdom. 00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:28.120 It's one of the reasons. 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:29.540 Why the angels. 00:15:29.540 --> 00:15:31.100 Are all over the gospels. 00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:32.200 Have you seen that? 00:15:33.860 --> 00:15:35.000 In the gospels. 00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:37.500 You can't really read them. 00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:38.980 Without seeing. 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:40.400 The prominence of the angels. 00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:41.180 Terribly. 00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:42.259 We do often read them. 00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:42.720 Like that. 00:15:44.660 --> 00:15:45.560 There's this picture. 00:15:45.559 --> 00:15:46.759 Of the angelic beings. 00:15:46.979 --> 00:15:47.879 Pressing their. 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:48.839 Way. 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:50.099 Into space and time. 00:15:51.479 --> 00:15:52.299 Have you noticed. 00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:53.559 How prominent the angels are. 00:15:53.659 --> 00:15:54.379 In the life of Jesus. 00:15:55.739 --> 00:15:57.359 That they are the eyewitnesses. 00:15:57.359 --> 00:15:58.239 Of the wisdom of God. 00:15:59.119 --> 00:16:00.379 He is conceived. 00:16:01.219 --> 00:16:01.599 Isn't he? 00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:02.659 The angels are there. 00:16:02.699 --> 00:16:03.299 In his conception. 00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:05.979 The angels are there. 00:16:06.199 --> 00:16:07.379 As he steps out. 00:16:07.479 --> 00:16:08.039 Into ministry. 00:16:08.359 --> 00:16:09.459 And they strengthen him. 00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:10.339 In his temptations. 00:16:10.339 --> 00:16:10.859 In the wilderness. 00:16:12.179 --> 00:16:13.179 There's an angel. 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:14.199 That is sent from heaven. 00:16:14.359 --> 00:16:15.279 Into the agony. 00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:16.699 Of Gethsemane. 00:16:17.599 --> 00:16:18.219 They are there. 00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:19.459 At his passion of Calvary. 00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:20.599 It is resurrection. 00:16:20.779 --> 00:16:21.319 In the garden. 00:16:21.419 --> 00:16:22.279 The angels announce. 00:16:22.339 --> 00:16:23.000 That he is risen. 00:16:24.099 --> 00:16:24.979 And on his ascension. 00:16:24.979 --> 00:16:26.139 To the right hand of God. 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:27.319 They gaze with. 00:16:27.439 --> 00:16:28.279 Beated breath. 00:16:28.979 --> 00:16:30.219 They cannot comprehend. 00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:32.479 They dare to behold. 00:16:32.479 --> 00:16:34.119 The wisdom of God. 00:16:36.079 --> 00:16:37.419 That in his son's. 00:16:37.479 --> 00:16:38.299 Awful death. 00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:40.719 Upon the cross of Calvary. 00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:42.099 He should be forgiving. 00:16:42.479 --> 00:16:43.339 Those who are. 00:16:43.539 --> 00:16:44.759 Responsible for his death. 00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:44.840 Death. 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:48.200 And again. 00:16:48.299 --> 00:16:48.559 I think. 00:16:48.659 --> 00:16:49.319 As we suddenly. 00:16:49.580 --> 00:16:50.299 Grasp this. 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:51.399 We are led. 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.100 To cry out. 00:16:52.179 --> 00:16:52.960 With the apostle Paul. 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:53.299 Oh the. 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:54.720 The depths of the wisdom. 00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:55.860 And the knowledge of God. 00:16:55.939 --> 00:16:56.220 How. 00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:57.519 Unsearchable. 00:16:57.620 --> 00:16:58.159 Are his judgments. 00:16:58.299 --> 00:16:59.600 And his ways of past finding out. 00:17:00.179 --> 00:17:01.259 So the wisdom of God. 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:01.939 Is revealed. 00:17:01.939 --> 00:17:02.819 Through the church. 00:17:02.819 --> 00:17:03.480 Because the church. 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:04.039 Is founded. 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:05.259 On the work of Jesus Christ. 00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:05.339 Christ. 00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:07.720 But the wisdom of God. 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:08.759 Is revealed secondly. 00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:10.599 In the members of the church. 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:14.319 Can you specifically notice. 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:15.019 The confession. 00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:16.920 Of the Gentiles. 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:18.079 Gentiles means. 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:19.400 Somebody who is not a Jew. 00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:22.599 And it's seen in the foundation. 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:23.200 Of the work. 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:24.900 Of the church. 00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:25.759 In the work of Christ. 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:26.799 But it's seen secondly. 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:27.799 The wisdom of God. 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:29.599 In the membership of the church. 00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:31.619 Through the conversion. 00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:32.440 Of the Gentiles. 00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:36.120 While it's true. 00:17:36.120 --> 00:17:37.080 That the cross of Christ. 00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:38.240 Is absolutely central. 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:39.180 To the wisdom of God. 00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:42.440 The conversion of non-Jews. 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:43.100 Of Gentiles. 00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:44.180 Of people like me and you. 00:17:44.860 --> 00:17:45.740 Is central. 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:46.880 To the apostle Paul's. 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:47.980 Exposition of the gospel. 00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:52.480 In many ways. 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:54.019 It's the heart of Ephesians chapter 3. 00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:54.860 What Paul is teaching. 00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:57.380 He says. 00:17:57.420 --> 00:17:57.960 If you want to. 00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:00.720 Grasp the glory. 00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:01.539 Of God's wisdom. 00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:02.240 In the church. 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:04.640 Then recognize. 00:18:05.180 --> 00:18:05.700 The fact that. 00:18:05.860 --> 00:18:06.420 In the church. 00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:07.120 God has done. 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:08.100 What no human wisdom. 00:18:08.100 --> 00:18:08.519 Could do. 00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:11.779 He's brought into being. 00:18:11.840 --> 00:18:12.420 A church. 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.220 Into which. 00:18:14.620 --> 00:18:15.019 Gentiles. 00:18:15.360 --> 00:18:16.140 In every place. 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:18.140 And at every time. 00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:18.759 Have been invited. 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:19.460 Through the gospel. 00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:22.059 And that's the burden. 00:18:22.120 --> 00:18:22.880 Of the opening verses. 00:18:23.600 --> 00:18:24.460 Of the passage. 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:26.980 Apostle Paul says. 00:18:27.080 --> 00:18:28.220 God had a plan. 00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:29.140 God has a plan. 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:29.920 That was hidden. 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:32.500 It was hidden. 00:18:33.180 --> 00:18:34.080 For ages. 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:36.860 But that plan. 00:18:37.060 --> 00:18:37.740 That mystery. 00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:39.500 Has now been revealed. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:40.380 He says. 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:41.360 It's been made known to me. 00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:42.019 By revelation. 00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:44.900 And in reading this. 00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:46.180 You'll be able to understand. 00:18:46.340 --> 00:18:47.019 My insight. 00:18:47.120 --> 00:18:47.980 Into the mystery of Christ. 00:18:48.360 --> 00:18:49.660 And what is the mystery of Christ. 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.660 That's been made known. 00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:53.200 That in other generations. 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:53.820 Was hidden. 00:18:53.819 --> 00:18:55.659 But now it's been revealed to me. 00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:57.019 By God's spirit. 00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:57.779 The holy. 00:18:57.899 --> 00:18:58.899 And the holy apostles. 00:18:59.019 --> 00:18:59.379 And prophets. 00:19:00.179 --> 00:19:00.539 He says. 00:19:00.659 --> 00:19:01.059 Verse six. 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:02.039 The mystery is this. 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:04.539 That the Gentiles. 00:19:05.399 --> 00:19:06.559 The outsiders. 00:19:07.099 --> 00:19:08.200 The non-Jews. 00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:08.879 They are followers. 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:10.819 Members of the same body. 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:12.200 And partakers of the promise. 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:12.799 Of Christ Jesus. 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:15.740 To be specific. 00:19:15.899 --> 00:19:16.139 He says. 00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:16.980 The wisdom of God. 00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:17.559 Is to be seen. 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:18.779 In the astonishing fact. 00:19:19.639 --> 00:19:21.339 This is the most astonishing fact. 00:19:21.539 --> 00:19:22.700 In the history of the universe. 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:24.259 That the outsiders. 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:25.599 Have become insiders. 00:19:26.879 --> 00:19:28.119 That the Gentiles. 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:29.079 People like you and me. 00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:30.379 Have become fellow heirs. 00:19:30.919 --> 00:19:31.700 Fellow members. 00:19:32.139 --> 00:19:32.899 Fellow participants. 00:19:32.899 --> 00:19:33.899 In Jesus Christ. 00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:38.079 With those whom God has called. 00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:38.980 In days of old. 00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:42.000 There's two elements to this. 00:19:42.120 --> 00:19:42.240 Isn't there? 00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:42.519 Obviously. 00:19:42.660 --> 00:19:43.140 The first of them. 00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:43.400 Is this. 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:44.940 That the church shows God's wisdom. 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:46.579 Because Jew and Gentile. 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:47.339 Are together now. 00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:50.259 I think that's a truth. 00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:50.720 That we've. 00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:52.140 We've mainly lost sight of. 00:19:52.860 --> 00:19:53.680 In our time. 00:19:55.140 --> 00:19:56.559 But if we're to ever understand. 00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:57.319 The wisdom of God. 00:19:57.360 --> 00:19:58.539 As it's expounded in the Bible. 00:19:58.539 --> 00:19:59.019 It's a truth. 00:19:59.120 --> 00:20:01.039 That we really need to get hold of. 00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:04.500 It was in a sense. 00:20:04.620 --> 00:20:05.539 The great truth. 00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:06.559 For the apostle Paul. 00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:08.480 As he wrote the Ephesians. 00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:10.700 That in the gospel. 00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:11.680 Of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:12.620 As that is proclaimed. 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:14.079 The greatest barrier. 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:15.240 Of the ancient world. 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:16.440 Between the Jew. 00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:17.279 On the one hand. 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:18.380 And the Gentile. 00:20:18.420 --> 00:20:18.960 On the other hand. 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:19.740 Has been broken down. 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:22.579 So that both Jew. 00:20:22.819 --> 00:20:23.980 And non-Jew. 00:20:24.099 --> 00:20:24.500 Gentile. 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:25.519 In the wisdom of God. 00:20:25.620 --> 00:20:27.059 Were now to come to God. 00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:28.400 Only. 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:29.579 And solely. 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.460 Through the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:20:33.940 --> 00:20:34.460 One of the. 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:35.059 One of the reasons. 00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:36.339 Why we have lost sight of this. 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:37.740 Is because we are largely. 00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:41.059 A congregation of Gentiles. 00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:41.720 Not entirely. 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:42.400 But largely. 00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:43.660 A congregation of Gentiles. 00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:47.599 But that should make us pause. 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:50.599 That as we read the Bible. 00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:52.059 And as we have our hearts. 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:52.660 Awed. 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:53.500 And humbled. 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:54.980 At the amazing wisdom of God. 00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:58.099 That it has been through the Jews. 00:20:59.460 --> 00:21:00.500 Through the rejection. 00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:01.559 Of their Messiah. 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.660 The promised one. 00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:04.599 Of the Holy Scriptures. 00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:06.279 Is that the doors. 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:08.279 God wisdom. 00:21:08.459 --> 00:21:09.399 Has opened for us. 00:21:11.159 --> 00:21:11.980 That God's. 00:21:12.179 --> 00:21:12.899 In God's wisdom. 00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:14.259 God has opened the doors. 00:21:14.379 --> 00:21:15.299 For Gentile dogs. 00:21:15.299 --> 00:21:16.059 Like you and I. 00:21:17.619 --> 00:21:19.059 Because we were strangers. 00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:19.879 To the promise. 00:21:20.859 --> 00:21:21.639 And the covenants. 00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:23.799 We did not have. 00:21:23.919 --> 00:21:24.439 The Holy Scriptures. 00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:26.539 We did not have. 00:21:26.619 --> 00:21:27.480 The promise of the Messiah. 00:21:28.419 --> 00:21:29.339 We did not have. 00:21:29.399 --> 00:21:29.779 The prophet. 00:21:29.939 --> 00:21:30.639 Pointing forward. 00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:31.679 To the kingdom of God. 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.960 We had none of those things. 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:33.539 By nature. 00:21:34.620 --> 00:21:36.140 We were disinherited. 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:37.420 From God's kingdom. 00:21:37.420 --> 00:21:37.960 By nature. 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:38.600 And then. 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:39.580 In his amazing wisdom. 00:21:39.580 --> 00:21:40.279 As he teaches us. 00:21:40.299 --> 00:21:40.920 In Romans 11. 00:21:41.080 --> 00:21:41.840 God has taken us. 00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:43.279 Wild olive branches. 00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:45.860 And he's grafted us. 00:21:45.940 --> 00:21:46.920 Into the true church. 00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:47.640 Of all ages. 00:21:49.100 --> 00:21:50.120 Those who trust. 00:21:50.560 --> 00:21:51.259 In God. 00:21:51.340 --> 00:21:51.860 By faith. 00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:52.960 And who believe in his son. 00:21:53.360 --> 00:21:54.340 The Lord Jesus Christ. 00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:56.080 He has grafted us. 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:56.799 Gentiles in. 00:21:58.160 --> 00:21:59.200 And so he says. 00:21:59.279 --> 00:21:59.720 The Jews. 00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:00.200 At this time. 00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:01.220 Have been broken off. 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:02.319 Because of their unbelief. 00:22:03.360 --> 00:22:04.299 And he says to you. 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:05.660 Look at the wisdom of God. 00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:07.779 As it works its way out. 00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.240 In history. 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:12.120 You should hold your breath. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:12.640 In humility. 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:15.420 He goes on to say. 00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:15.799 In Romans 11. 00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:16.900 Do not be arrogant. 00:22:17.319 --> 00:22:18.100 Do not be proud. 00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:19.319 Do not take the fact. 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.799 That you are a Gentile believer. 00:22:20.900 --> 00:22:21.240 Lightly. 00:22:21.299 --> 00:22:21.779 He says. 00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:24.039 Or the day may come. 00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:26.240 When God may cast off. 00:22:26.340 --> 00:22:26.799 The Gentiles. 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:27.740 Because of their unbelief. 00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.220 And judgment. 00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:29.299 And as you remember. 00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:30.259 He goes on to speak. 00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:31.099 Of that glorious day. 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:32.599 Where not only the Gentiles. 00:22:33.399 --> 00:22:34.180 But the Jews. 00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:35.480 Were pressed together. 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.399 Into the kingdom of God. 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:37.579 Through faith in Jesus Christ. 00:22:39.579 --> 00:22:40.099 He says. 00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:41.619 This is the manifold wisdom of God. 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:42.480 This is the mystery. 00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.759 That's now been revealed. 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:45.799 That I. 00:22:45.919 --> 00:22:46.599 A Gentile. 00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:48.099 Should be brought. 00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:49.039 Into the kingdom of God. 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:52.379 I think he's speaking. 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:53.259 Not only of. 00:22:53.899 --> 00:22:55.180 The fact that God's wisdom. 00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:55.740 Is seen. 00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.960 In bringing Jew. 00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:57.740 And Gentile. 00:22:57.839 --> 00:22:58.759 Together in the church. 00:22:58.759 --> 00:22:58.839 Church. 00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:00.579 But God's wisdom. 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:01.420 Is also seen. 00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:01.819 In the fact. 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:03.039 That he brings Gentile. 00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:04.420 And Gentile. 00:23:04.539 --> 00:23:05.279 Together in the church. 00:23:06.900 --> 00:23:07.839 His love. 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:09.319 Unknown. 00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:11.180 Has broken. 00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:12.539 Every barrier down. 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:13.319 So that we are able. 00:23:13.379 --> 00:23:14.099 To save one another. 00:23:15.140 --> 00:23:15.940 If you want to see. 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:16.900 The wisdom of God. 00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:18.879 Lift up your eyes. 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:20.660 Look around. 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:23.160 Sense. 00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:23.720 Something. 00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:24.799 Of the amazement. 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:25.779 Of what God is doing. 00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:29.160 That it should flood our hearts. 00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:29.619 This morning. 00:23:29.660 --> 00:23:30.200 As we gather. 00:23:30.339 --> 00:23:30.759 Lord's day. 00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:31.619 By Lord's day. 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:34.200 That we are the very. 00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:35.539 Exhibition. 00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:36.279 To the realms. 00:23:36.399 --> 00:23:36.960 And the authorities. 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:37.879 And to the heavenlies. 00:23:38.099 --> 00:23:38.899 And to the angels. 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:40.379 Of the multicolored wisdom. 00:23:40.379 --> 00:23:40.839 Of God. 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.680 That the angels. 00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:44.420 Look at IPC. 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:45.099 On a Sunday morning. 00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:46.019 In every true church. 00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:46.759 Of Jesus Christ. 00:23:46.839 --> 00:23:47.319 And they say. 00:23:47.399 --> 00:23:47.720 Wow. 00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:50.579 Look what's going on. 00:23:50.579 --> 00:23:53.960 That we're black and white together. 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.919 We're rich and poor together. 00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:58.740 We're highly educated. 00:23:58.740 --> 00:24:00.779 And uneducated. 00:24:00.939 --> 00:24:01.939 We're high culture. 00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:02.699 And low culture. 00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:03.579 Gathered together. 00:24:04.879 --> 00:24:05.960 We're employed. 00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:07.019 And unemployed together. 00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:09.579 Male and female together. 00:24:10.699 --> 00:24:11.539 All one. 00:24:11.699 --> 00:24:12.319 In Christ Jesus. 00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:12.899 Our Lord. 00:24:15.299 --> 00:24:16.939 And you only need to lift up your eyes. 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.359 This morning. 00:24:17.419 --> 00:24:18.039 In this congregation. 00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:20.980 As they could do also. 00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:21.659 In Ephesus. 00:24:24.099 --> 00:24:26.059 To see the vivid illustration. 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:27.480 Of God's multicolored wisdom. 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:31.039 On your service sheet. 00:24:31.379 --> 00:24:32.920 There is a QR code. 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:33.359 Isn't there? 00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:34.000 Where it says. 00:24:34.139 --> 00:24:34.639 If you. 00:24:35.399 --> 00:24:36.000 Want to. 00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:36.980 Read the sermon. 00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:37.680 In a different language. 00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:38.539 You can go. 00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:40.539 Download the Breeze app. 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.460 And not long ago. 00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:44.399 Chris Kitchin. 00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:45.980 Gets a message each week. 00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:46.559 Giving you. 00:24:46.879 --> 00:24:47.759 What the languages. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:48.220 Isaboyer. 00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:50.019 He says this. 00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:50.900 Dear IPC Ealing. 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:51.400 Last week. 00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:52.920 Your church used 70 languages. 00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:54.720 Across 24 unique devices. 00:24:56.140 --> 00:24:57.259 Let me give you the languages. 00:24:58.440 --> 00:24:58.839 Abkhazian. 00:24:59.500 --> 00:25:00.700 I don't even know what that is. 00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:02.220 Persian. 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:02.720 Fijian. 00:25:02.859 --> 00:25:03.160 French. 00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:03.619 Hungarian. 00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:04.079 Japanese. 00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:04.660 Korean. 00:25:05.220 --> 00:25:05.579 Norwegian. 00:25:06.879 --> 00:25:07.279 Pagasinan. 00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:09.299 Papiamento. 00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:10.980 Polish. 00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:11.779 Pashto. 00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:12.440 Romanian. 00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:13.180 Thai. 00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:14.180 Vietnamese. 00:25:14.819 --> 00:25:15.299 Cantonese. 00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:15.779 French. 00:25:16.579 --> 00:25:18.220 And two people download me into English. 00:25:18.419 --> 00:25:18.819 Each week. 00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:23.899 There's languages I don't even know. 00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:24.299 I don't even. 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:25.440 I couldn't even tell you where the country. 00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:25.919 Like. 00:25:26.879 --> 00:25:27.839 Pangasinan. 00:25:28.139 --> 00:25:29.379 I don't even know where that is. 00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:30.059 If that's you. 00:25:30.139 --> 00:25:31.159 Come and talk to me afterwards. 00:25:31.899 --> 00:25:32.339 Papiamento. 00:25:34.180 --> 00:25:35.720 I've got no clue where that is. 00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.319 God. 00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:41.420 And yet this is the manifold wisdom of God isn't it? 00:25:43.100 --> 00:25:47.059 We should rejoice that God is calling people from every tribe and tongue and nation. 00:25:48.360 --> 00:25:51.819 We should rejoice at the growth that we've enjoyed. 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:56.539 Because it is the display of the mystery of God. 00:25:56.539 --> 00:26:00.940 It's why we want church to be diverse. 00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:02.480 It's that we want to be more diverse. 00:26:04.879 --> 00:26:09.599 God's grace fills our soul with a desire to see his kingdom extended throughout all the earth. 00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:13.480 And as soon as the church says I know enough. 00:26:14.059 --> 00:26:14.839 We've grown enough. 00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:15.319 This is it. 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:16.579 No more. 00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:18.920 This is what I want. 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:20.119 This is where I'm comfortable. 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:21.579 At that point I can tell you what happens. 00:26:21.639 --> 00:26:22.559 The blessing will just go. 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:26.339 Because as you look at the church. 00:26:26.419 --> 00:26:27.000 As it grows. 00:26:27.139 --> 00:26:28.259 And as God calls people. 00:26:28.940 --> 00:26:30.139 From all these nations. 00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:31.359 And from all these different cultures. 00:26:32.159 --> 00:26:33.319 There you see the wisdom of God. 00:26:35.659 --> 00:26:37.279 As Gentile is brought together with you. 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.440 Trusting in Jesus. 00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:40.720 As Gentile is brought together with Gentile. 00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:42.240 Trusting in Christ. 00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:43.139 Behold the wisdom of God. 00:26:44.399 --> 00:26:46.460 And there's a third way in which the wisdom of God is seen. 00:26:47.399 --> 00:26:51.319 And it's not only in terms of the foundation of Christ's work on the cross. 00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:53.519 And it's not only through the conversion of the Gentiles. 00:26:53.619 --> 00:26:54.720 But in the third place. 00:26:54.859 --> 00:26:56.939 He says the wisdom of God is seen in suffering. 00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:00.919 Through the experience of the saints. 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:04.339 Paul. 00:27:05.179 --> 00:27:06.179 He does this doesn't he. 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:08.159 He kind of goes from the lofty heights. 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:10.419 Of stretching our hearts and minds with great theology. 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:12.519 To a very practical matter. 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:14.019 Of relevance to the church in Ephesus. 00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:14.679 And he says. 00:27:15.899 --> 00:27:16.779 On the basis. 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:18.319 Verse 13 should have a therefore. 00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:18.519 Therefore. 00:27:19.179 --> 00:27:19.319 Therefore. 00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:23.839 On the basis of what I've been saying to you. 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:24.279 Therefore. 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:26.139 I ask you. 00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:26.919 Don't lose heart. 00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:27.559 Don't give up. 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:30.599 Don't be discouraged of what I'm suffering. 00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:32.000 For it is for your glory. 00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:32.639 Verse 13. 00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:37.399 Don't be discouraged by my sufferings. 00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.419 For you. 00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.299 They are your glory. 00:27:40.619 --> 00:27:42.419 And what he's really saying to them. 00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:44.460 Is that the recognition of the wisdom of God. 00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:45.180 As it's painted. 00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:48.880 In the history of God's people. 00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:51.100 And his work through his son. 00:27:51.100 --> 00:27:52.940 And the conversion of the Gentiles. 00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:57.079 We should see God's wisdom. 00:27:57.299 --> 00:27:59.360 In our own individual personal experience. 00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:03.519 And that is why he says. 00:28:03.619 --> 00:28:05.240 When you've grasped the wisdom of God. 00:28:05.439 --> 00:28:06.559 You will not lose heart. 00:28:06.679 --> 00:28:07.919 You'll not become discouraged. 00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:08.959 You'll not give up. 00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:10.719 Because of what I'm suffering. 00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:15.439 It's not difficult to see why the Ephesians were becoming discouraged. 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:18.940 And there's Paul. 00:28:19.080 --> 00:28:19.940 At the start of chapter 3. 00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:20.160 He says. 00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:21.500 God has chosen me for a special mission. 00:28:21.660 --> 00:28:23.000 I'm going to be the apostle to the world. 00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:26.900 God has chosen me to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. 00:28:27.820 --> 00:28:31.460 He's chosen me to be a recipient of this remarkable revelation and divine truth. 00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:33.740 The mystery that was hidden has now been revealed through me. 00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:38.019 I'm going to be a penman of holy scripture. 00:28:39.320 --> 00:28:40.059 And where is he? 00:28:41.140 --> 00:28:41.820 He's in prison. 00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:43.860 He's a Roman prisoner. 00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:48.299 And he's been arrested because of his work in converting the Gentiles. 00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:50.899 His mouth apparently had been stopped. 00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:54.119 And I think it would be really tempting. 00:28:55.379 --> 00:28:56.959 For some of those Ephesians to say. 00:28:57.039 --> 00:28:58.639 Well where's the wisdom of God and all that? 00:29:01.099 --> 00:29:03.240 It's all very good Paul for you to speak about. 00:29:04.119 --> 00:29:06.119 Us being a witness to the heavenly realms. 00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:09.119 But actually your imprisonment has brought enormous shame. 00:29:10.879 --> 00:29:13.199 There's people saying you're in prison for all sorts of things. 00:29:13.859 --> 00:29:16.779 Where's God's wisdom in this situation? 00:29:18.719 --> 00:29:21.679 If you know the epistles you'll know that Paul not only wrote Ephesians. 00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:26.159 He wrote Colossians, Philemon and he wrote Philippians. 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:32.119 I'm not really sure whether the events that Paul describes in Philippians have happened yet. 00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:40.099 In Ephesians chapter 3 he wants them simply to trust in the wisdom of God. 00:29:41.679 --> 00:29:43.199 And that it will be worked out. 00:29:44.479 --> 00:29:51.839 But in Philippians, at the beginning of Philippians he gives us that truth that his imprisonment, 00:29:51.979 --> 00:29:56.919 him being put into prison, had been the means that God had used to bring the gospel and to spread the gospel 00:29:56.920 --> 00:29:59.980 into the very palace guard, the Praetorian guard in Rome. 00:30:01.840 --> 00:30:06.039 And because of his chains and because of other brothers' chains, 00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:09.660 those who had been imprisoned in Rome, 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:13.279 actually the people who were in prison with him had been converted. 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:19.359 That in prison, in the midst of his suffering, the gospel had gone out. 00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:23.500 And so he's able to say to the Philippians, 00:30:23.639 --> 00:30:27.539 even my imprisonment is a mighty evidence of the wisdom of God. 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:32.339 That God uses the things that are difficult, the things that are painful, 00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:35.879 the things that are hard to understand to further the cause of Christ and his gospel. 00:30:35.880 --> 00:30:40.680 And Paul longed for the Ephesians to know that. 00:30:43.100 --> 00:30:44.580 But do you notice he does tell them something. 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.860 He does say, doesn't he, 00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:49.080 See the wisdom of God and don't be discouraged because of my sufferings, 00:30:49.520 --> 00:30:53.600 for which you are your glory. 00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:58.700 He says, don't you see how amazing, how tender the wisdom of God is? 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:03.060 That in my sufferings, God is bringing glory to his people. 00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:07.799 My sufferings are a token of how much God cares for you. 00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:13.299 My sufferings are a token of how far God is prepared to go 00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:15.259 in order to bring the Gentiles to the Lord Jesus. 00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:20.139 And my suffering is a gracious symbol of the wonderful wisdom 00:31:20.139 --> 00:31:21.839 of the ways God is with his people. 00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:26.079 Elsewhere in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul says, 00:31:26.679 --> 00:31:29.779 God's strength is seen in your weakness. 00:31:33.059 --> 00:31:37.700 Paul says to you, my suffering is the suffering of one 00:31:37.700 --> 00:31:40.879 who was the most hostile persecutor of the Christian church 00:31:40.879 --> 00:31:42.500 in all of human history. 00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:45.799 And now that hostile persecutor of the Christian church 00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:47.220 is suffering in a prison in Rome. 00:31:48.119 --> 00:31:49.119 Don't you see the glory of that? 00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:53.419 That he suffers now in order to bring salvation to you. 00:31:53.420 --> 00:31:58.240 And I think it's not difficult to take a step back from this 00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:59.800 and look at our own experience 00:31:59.800 --> 00:32:01.820 and the experience of other Christians. 00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:06.200 And we might not be able to see it now, 00:32:06.660 --> 00:32:10.100 but we can see, however painful, 00:32:11.840 --> 00:32:14.460 the wisdom of God in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:32:14.460 --> 00:32:18.360 We can see in the most awful event 00:32:18.360 --> 00:32:20.160 that's ever happened in the history of the world, 00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:22.059 the glorious, wonderful wisdom of God. 00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:25.680 And as we look at the church this morning, 00:32:25.840 --> 00:32:27.840 we see the wisdom of God in the congregation 00:32:27.840 --> 00:32:29.400 where Jew and Gentile meet, 00:32:30.160 --> 00:32:31.519 and Gentile and Gentile meet. 00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:35.759 And he shows us his wisdom in his suffering. 00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:39.340 And I don't know what you're going through this morning. 00:32:40.700 --> 00:32:43.400 I don't know the pains and the anguish of your heart, 00:32:43.400 --> 00:32:45.680 but I want to say to you as a follower of the Lord Jesus, 00:32:46.100 --> 00:32:48.620 it is not meaningless. 00:32:50.920 --> 00:32:53.900 And he is too wise to be mistaken, he. 00:32:54.620 --> 00:32:57.060 Too good to be unkind. 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:01.860 Edith Schaeffer, this denomination was founded by Francis 00:33:01.860 --> 00:33:02.519 and Edith Schaeffer, 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:05.640 and Edith Schaeffer wrote very, very long books 00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:06.920 that could really have done with an editor. 00:33:07.840 --> 00:33:10.040 But she has this amazing picture of a tapestry. 00:33:11.180 --> 00:33:12.060 And she says, 00:33:12.059 --> 00:33:14.019 we stand on one side of the tapestry, 00:33:14.139 --> 00:33:14.799 on the back end, 00:33:14.919 --> 00:33:16.299 and there's kind of bits of 00:33:16.299 --> 00:33:19.179 whatever there is in tapestry. 00:33:20.819 --> 00:33:22.940 There's all the colours of blurred, 00:33:24.039 --> 00:33:25.019 bits of string, 00:33:25.139 --> 00:33:26.679 and bits of kind of other material, 00:33:26.980 --> 00:33:28.279 and it seems to have no pattern. 00:33:29.779 --> 00:33:31.859 And it seems just to be random. 00:33:31.859 --> 00:33:33.759 And yet she says, 00:33:33.819 --> 00:33:36.439 one day God will turn the tapestry around, 00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:38.779 and we will see God's wisdom fully displayed. 00:33:40.219 --> 00:33:42.099 And that is the truth for the Christian, 00:33:42.419 --> 00:33:44.179 that we lay hold of by faith today. 00:33:45.479 --> 00:33:47.839 That God is too wise to be mistaken. 00:33:49.079 --> 00:33:50.979 He's too good to be unkind. 00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:53.819 And we can trust him this morning. 00:33:54.880 --> 00:33:57.860 We can trust his sovereign plan at the cross. 00:33:57.980 --> 00:34:00.460 We can trust his wonderful sovereign plan in the church. 00:34:01.339 --> 00:34:03.099 And we can trust him with our suffering. 00:34:05.079 --> 00:34:06.819 And so it's no wonder that Paul cries out, 00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:07.319 doesn't he, 00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:09.860 over the depths of the riches of the wisdom 00:34:09.860 --> 00:34:10.780 and the knowledge of God. 00:34:12.519 --> 00:34:14.300 How unsearchable are his ways. 00:34:14.300 --> 00:34:17.240 Can you not trust him? 00:34:20.840 --> 00:34:21.340 Let's pray.