Travail for the Church — Stephen Kaung

God's Eternal Purpose in Ephesians

Will you please turn to the letter to the Ephesians, letter to the Ephesians, chapter one, verses nine and ten. Ephesians chapter one, verses nine and ten. Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Himself for the administration of the fullness of times, to head up all things in the Christ, the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth.

Chapter three, we begin with verse eight. How many less than the least of all saints has this grace been given to announce among the nations the glad tidings of the unsearchable riches of the Christ, and to enlighten all with the knowledge of what is the administration of the mystery hidden throughout the ages in God, who has created all things, in order that now to the principalities and authorities in the heavenlies might be made known through the church the all-various wisdom of God, according to the purpose of the ages, which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access in confidence by faith in Him.

Let us have a further word of prayer. Dear Lord, we are glad to be in Thy presence. We praise and thank Thee because Thou hast the word of life. We have believed in Thee, and there is no one else we can turn to but to Thee.

Our hearts do rejoice knowing that Thou art for us, and if Thou art for us, who can be against us? We praise and thank Thee that as we come to Thee, we know, we believe, that Thou wilt speak to us. Speak, Lord, Thy servants hear it.

We ask in Thy precious name, Amen. We all know that the theme of this conference is the eternal purpose of God, and we are going to look at this subject from three different directions. We will look at God's eternal purpose as seen in Christ Jesus.

Colossians, the letter to the Colossians, will be the background, and our brother Lance has already started on that last night. Then we will look at God's eternal purpose in the church, and the letter to the Ephesians will be the background, and this will be my responsibility.

And then we will look at God's eternal purpose in Christians, and the book of Romans will be the background for it. And our brother Dana will speak very soon. God's eternal purpose, we can look at it from three different, in three different dimensions.

There is Christ, there is church, and there is Christian, and yet all these are one. The Ephesians, chapter one, verses nine and ten, that God has made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure.

In other words, even before the foundation of the world, God has exercised his own will according to what pleases him. And he purposed a purpose in himself, and that purpose is to be fulfilled at the fullness of time.

That purpose is that one day all things will be summed up in Christ Jesus. The things in the heavens and the things upon the earth. In other words, here we see the mystery of God. God has a secret of God, his beloved son.

So if you look into the heart of God, what will you see in God's heart? God's heart, you'll only see one person. That is his beloved son, his fullness. That is the mystery of God. No one has ever seen God, but the one who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

We say God is the greatest mystery in the whole universe. He reveals himself. No one can know him, but we praise and thank God that he does reveal himself in his son. You remember our Lord Jesus said, see me, you see my Father, because he is the mystery of God.

He is what has been hidden in the heart of God, all since the foundation of the world. And he is the one who reveals the Father, who reveals that secret of the Father. Now our brother has already started last night, how Christ, the mystery of God.

He is the heir of all things. One day, everything will be summed up in Christ Jesus. He will be the head over all things. Everything will be under his feet, and everything will manifest Christ Jesus. That is God's eternal purpose, and how important it is that we know him.

The Church as God's Purpose in Christ

But when you turn to Ephesians chapter 3, from verse 9 to verse 11. And here you find it is said, and to enlighten all with the knowledge of what is the administration of the mystery hidden throughout the ages, who has created all things, in order that now to the principalities and authorities in the heavenlies might be made known through the church the all various wisdom of God, according to the purpose of the ages, which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When you compare chapter 1 verses 9 and 10, with chapter 3 verses 9 to 11, you find there are lots of points of similarity. You find God purposed, you find before the foundation of the world, you find the administration of the fullness of time, you find God's counsel, and you find God's working to the accomplishment of what he has purposed.

And yet you find there is a difference here. And the difference is, in the first case, you find God has purposed in himself. God exercised his free will, made a purpose that is purpose in himself. And so far as that purpose is concerned, it concerns his beloved son.

That is the purpose. But then, in the second case, when you come to Ephesians chapter 3, you find again God purposed, and it is before the foundation of the world. But it says he purposed in Christ Jesus.

He purposed in himself, and that is concerning his son. Then he purposed in Christ Jesus. And what does he purpose in Christ Jesus? Even before the foundation of the world, you will find it is the church.

Because there, before time begins, God purposed in Christ Jesus that there will be a church. And in that church is to pour forth all his grace, is to even teach the principalities and authorities in the heavenlies, the manifold wisdom of God.

Brothers and sisters, the church is God's purpose in Christ Jesus. Or we may put it in another way. The church is what God has purposed for Christ Jesus. And to that church he will pour forth all his wisdom, that even the principalities and authorities in the heavenlies will see his manifold.

So, in other words, the testimony of the church is not only just to this world, but even to the unseen world. That is what God has purposed in Christ Jesus. The letter to the Ephesians on the mystery of the cross.

If you look at Colossians, in Colossians chapter 2, verses 2 and 3, you will find the full knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ Jesus. We want to know the mystery of God. If we want to have any knowledge of the secret of God, it is in Christ Jesus.

In Ephesians, you'll find Paul said, By reading you know that how I know the mystery of the Christ that has been hidden throughout the ages, but now has been revealed to the apostles and the prophets.

And what is revealed is the church. Letter to the Ephesians is concerned with the church. But brothers and sisters, before we can deal with this matter of the church in the eternal purpose of God, we have to remember that the church is not the center of all things.

Christ is the center. Without Christ, there will be no church. The church has its origin in Christ Jesus. Christ is the head. Church is the body. Christ is at the front. The church, lift the church above Christ.

Because if you look into the heart of God, you see only Christ Jesus, his beloved son, nothing else. If I may put it in such a way, not before because of Christ. You cannot see in God's heart the church.

You cannot see in God's heart you and me. The reason why we are now in God's heart is because we are in Christ Jesus. So strictly speaking, in the heart of God, you see only Christ. He is everything to God.

As our brother already mentioned, all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in him. He is the fullness of God, mystery of God. He is the manifestation, the revelation of the secret of God. That is our Lord Jesus.

Christ's Love for the Church

But thank God, when you look into the heart of Christ Jesus, you see the church. He loved the church and gave himself. Heart of Christ, you see the church. He so loved the church that he came down from heaven, emptied himself of the glory and honor, his right as God, the son of God.

Equal with God. And yet he emptied himself of all his honor and glory and position. And he took upon himself the form of a born slave. Even the fashion of a man. And he was born in a manger in Bethlehem.

For the love of the church, he grew up in Nazareth, hidden for 30 years. For the love of the church, he came out and preached the gospel of the kingdom. For the love of the church, he went to the cross and died for the church.

So brothers and sisters, even though we have to remember, we cannot emphasize the church more than Christ himself. And yet on the other hand, we do find that how the church is the darling of our Lord.

And because of this, brothers and sisters, we cannot neglect the church. If our Lord Jesus loved the church so much, could we love the church less? What is it? The church is the mystery of the Christ.

The Church as the Corporate Christ

Do you remember in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 12? The apostle Paul says, there is one body, but many members. Many members, but one body. So also is the Christ. Now, probably when you first read that verse, your first reaction will be, there's a mistake there.

Because the body is one with many members. The members are many, but only one body. Well, that is the church. So also is the church. But the Holy Spirit makes no mistake. Actually, he gives us the right interpretation.

The Bible makes it very clear. So also is the Christ. Now, why is it? The church is nothing but the corporate expression of Christ himself. There's nothing less than that, and nothing other than that.

I believe, brothers and sisters, we all know that that building at the corner of the city square is not the church. Now, even though we all have the habit of saying, well, look at the corner of the city square, and you can see maybe more than one church, big buildings.

We go to church, which means that we go to that building to worship the Lord. But I believe, brothers and sisters, we all know that church is not made of bricks, or stone, or wood, or whatever material it may be.

That's not the church. That is just a physical building. It can be used for the church to meet, but it is not the church. Sometimes people say, I left my umbrella in the church. Now, you can never leave your umbrella in the church.

You can leave your umbrella in a building where the church meets. So we know this is not the church. Now, what is the church? Ecclesia, the called out ones gathered together. Where two or three are gathered together unto my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Matthew chapter 18, verse 20. We find out that's the church. Church is not the world. The church are the people whom God has called out from every nation, every tribe, every tongue, every people. God called out a people, gathered them together unto himself.

That is under his name, under his authority, under his headship. And when there are two or three gathered together under the authority of Christ, his presence is there. And we say now, this is the church.

The Cross and the Elimination of Self

It's the church. Is it when God's people, those who are called out of the world and gathered together, supposed to be under the name of Christ, and yet you find in the church there are so much fighting.

Against each other. Can that be the church? Many years ago, I had the privilege of serving together with dear T. Austin Sparks. And I know Brother Sparks. He is so spiritually minded that if you mention anything earthly, it bothers him.

We were ministering together. I tried to explain what the church is to the people. I turned to Brother Sparks and said, you have to forgive me because I'm going to use a formula. Now, if it's spiritual, there can be no formula.

So I said, I feel sorry for it, but in order to make it clear, clear, so I said, I will use a formula. Now, what is the church? Suppose in the very beginning, there are only three Christians called out once.

And these three are Peter, John, and James. You cannot find a better gathering than these three people. So what is the church? The church is Peter, John, plus James. That's the church. Of course not. Because Peter in his natural self, John and James in their natural selves cannot be the church.

They had to be called out. So we were saying, what is the church? The church is Christ in Peter, plus Christ in John, plus Christ in James equal church. Ah, you got it. No. Why? Because you know, Peter is a person who wants to be the head.

And John and James are not more gentle than Peter. You know, even at the last moment, when our Lord was going to Jerusalem, all the disciples had been struggling against each other all these years. Who is the greatest?

Now the last chance. And you'll find John and James are so clever. They got their mother out. And the mother is our Lord's aunt. And the word of the aunt has some weight. So here you'll find their mother took the two sons to the Lord and said, Lord, we want to ask you for one thing.

Promise you will give it. I think probably they are too ashamed to mention what that thing is. Here is a blank check. Sign it. But our Lord Jesus never signed a blank check. So our Lord said, now what do you want?

Speak it out. Ah, my two sons. One on my right, one on your right, one on your left. And the Lord said, are you able to drink the cup that I'm going to drink? To be baptized with the baptism that I'm going to be baptized?

Oh, they say we will. They do not know even what it involves. And the Lord said, you will. But to sit on my right and left is not for me to give. It's for the father and the other ten were indignant. Why?

Because they were outmaneuvered. Now, if you put Peter, John and James together. How they will fight? And maybe two against one. The church, the church and sisters. You know, that's why. You and me and all of us.

We are the church. We fight against each other. No peace, no unity. So I said, what is the church? The church is Christ in Peter minus Peter. Plus Christ in John minus John. And plus Christ in James minus James equal to the church.

Now you get it. And that's the reason why. So also is the Christ. In other words, the church is nothing but the corporate expression of Christ. You and I have to be eliminated by the working of the cross in our lives.

So what's left is nothing but Christ himself. His corporate expression. He expresses himself. The fullness of Christ. The church is the body of Christ. The fullness of Christ. Who feels all and in all.

He feels you. He feels me. He feels all and in all of us. Nothing but Christ. So anything that is not of Christ has to be eliminated by the cross. Before you enter into the reality of the church. So dear brothers and sisters, what is the church?

The church is the Christ. The mystery of the Christ is the church. When we talk about the church, usually we begin with Pentecost. Because on the day of Pentecost, 2 ,000 years ago, the Holy Spirit came down.

And 120 who gathered in that upper room, they were baptized in the spirit into one body. We say that is the beginning of the church. Why the church begins before the foundation of the world. Even before the world was, is.

God has already purposed in Christ Jesus that he is going to have for his son. Actually you find the church is conceived in the heart of God. Even before the ages began. The origin in God is not a result, product of history.

Today we look at the church as a product of history. When we write church history, you'll find we look it from that viewpoint. But we have to remember the church is heavenly in its origin. And therefore, it is spiritual in nature.

In the mind of God, before the foundation of the world. But one day, it appears upon the earth. And that is the day of Pentecost. When you look into the gospel according to John. You know the whole gospel of John tries to tell us that our Lord Jesus He came into this world for one reason.

Christ Seeks His Bride

Now if you read maybe Luke. You'll find that he came to seek and to save the lost. Because the gospel according to Luke is the gospel of grace. But when you read the gospel of John. You will find the reason why our Lord Jesus came into this world.

Yes, he came to seek and try to find. But it's more than the lost. He came to seek for his bride. That's the gospel. Why the first miracle, first time he performed is in a marriage. As the bridegroom, he came into this world.

Try to seek and find his bride. John the Baptist understood that. Because he said he is the friend of the bridegroom. When you hear the voice of the bridegroom. He's happy. The bridegroom must increase.

And he the friend must decrease. So the purpose of our Lord Jesus coming into this world. Is to find his bride. You know just like Adam. Our brother mentioned last night. God brought all the animals before Adam.

Now why God did that? Because God knew Adam was lonely. So he brought all the animals before Adam. And Adam gave names to all these animals. But he could not find his like. And because of this God put him to sleep.

And out of his sight God took out something. And used that something that came out of Adam. To make a woman. And the word make is an architectural word. To construct. And you remember Adam woke up. God brought that woman to Adam.

Adam looked at her and said this is me. And they joined together in one. You know this is just a type. The anti-type. The fulfillment of that type is Christ and the church. Because you'll find in Ephesians chapter 5.

Paul says this mystery is great. But I'm speaking of Christ and the church. So brothers and sisters when Christ came to this earth. He's looking for his bride. But you'll find not the animals passing before him.

You'll find all the men, people passing before him. The sick, the blind, the lame, even the dead passing before him. He couldn't find his contact. He couldn't find anyone that answers to his heart. Because man had fallen into sin to be his bride.

And for that reason he had to go to the cross. He had to die. And our brother mentioned also last night. The soldier came and found the Lord has already died. To make sure that he did die. He thrust a spear into his side.

And out of it comes a water. And John was there. He make it very emphatic. He said I saw it. I witnessed to it. That out of that side came a water and blood. Now why he testified to it emphatically. I really mention it because the blood for the remission of our sins.

The water is his life. He gave us a new life. His own life. And with himself as the material he built the church. Brothers and sisters that is what the church. When our Lord Jesus was on earth. Mentioned only twice about the church.

Christ's Teaching About the Church

One in Matthew chapter 16 verse 18. You know when he asked his disciples. Who do men say I am? And they brought to our Lord all these good reports. They purposely withheld all the bad reports. Try to please the Lord.

Oh you are John the Baptist coming into life. You are the prophet. You are Jeremiah because you wept a lot. But the Lord was not satisfied. The Lord said whom do you say I the son of man is? You who are with me.

You who should know me. Who do you say I am? And Simon Peter said you are the Christ. The son of the living God. And our Lord Jesus blessed are you Simon by Jonah. Because this is not something show you by flesh and blood.

But it is my father who is in heaven who has revealed it to you. And I say unto you. You are Peter. A little stone. A living stone. I will build my church upon this massive rock. Myself. And the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

That's the first mentioning. From the mouth of our Lord about the church. Then the second mentioning is in Matthew chapter 18. And they say if your brother sin against you. You go to him. Try to restore him.

If he didn't listen to you. You get another one or two brothers with you. And try to convince him. If he doesn't. Then you tell the church. And the church will have to deal with him. Now of course from these two mentioning.

You can see very clearly. In Matthew 16. He gave us the spiritual principle of the church. Because everything is spiritual. There. Will build my church. Is my church. Build on the rock. Myself. That confession.

Build with living stones like Peter. And there will be spiritual conflict. But Hades gates shall not prevail against it. So you'll find everything is on a spiritual realm. That's the church universal.

And then in Matthew 18. You'll find it is being condensed. And applied practically on earth. What happened where the churches are. You will find there will be sin against each other. And there has to be forgiveness.

Has to be love. Try to restore. There has to be discipline. And there has to be prayer together. So brothers and sisters. There you'll find it is the practical application. Of the spiritual heavenly principles.

The Travail of Christ in the Cross

Now even though our Lord mentioned the church only twice. Now why is it so? Because there's no church. He's not ready yet. He has to die for the church. And only after he died. Then the church becomes a reality.

Now let us go to the beginning of the history of the church on earth. Say it is Pentecost. But actually you'll find the birth of the church. Have to go back to the cross. Because as we have already mentioned.

That it is on the cross. That our Lord Jesus. How he prevailed. We notice Jesus knowing his time has now come. He set his face towards Jerusalem. You know his disciples were amazed. Frightened. Because they knew that the Jews were going to kill him.

But our Lord set his face towards Jerusalem. And you remember that night. How he was agonizing in the garden of Gethsemane. That I was sorrowful even unto death. He was oppressed in his spirit. He told his three disciples.

Wait with me. Watch with me. And he went forward and he prayed. Father if it be possible. Let this cup be removed from me. But not my will. Thy will be done. Brothers and sisters. Being in Gethsemane is so sacred.

There you'll find our Lord Jesus. The Holy One. He who knows no sin. He who pleases the Father. Even from eternity. And yet there you'll find. He was going to be the sin offering. No wonder. His holiness.

His purity. Rebelled against. All the awfulness. The wickedness. The sinfulness. How could he be defiled? He who knows no sin. To be made sin itself. He could not bear it. The temptation. Ask the Father to remove that cup.

He insists. But he said not my will. But thy will be done. And when he was praying. He agonized. His sweat comes down. Like blood drop. He was so weakened. Physically. That an angel has to appear. To support him.

Brothers and sisters. We cannot understand. How much he loved us. How he gave himself so. The travail. It is through his travail. That the church is. You remember on the cross. The first three hours. He suffered from the hands of man.

And of the enemy Satan. And the evil. How he was surrounded by evil. Seen and unseen. They attack him. But the Father was with him. So he can pray. Father forgive them. For they know not what they do.

But then at 12 o 'clock. Suddenly. The son was gone. Filled the place. And for three hours. He was there alone. Towards the end he cried out. My God. My God. Why? During those three hours. He tasted. Eternal death.

For each one of us. Separated. Of the travail. Of his soul. He shall see. Brothers and sisters. The church. Is not something. That man can make. The church. Has to be born. And it is born. Through the travail.

Travail for the Birth of the Church

When our Lord Jesus. Was crying. My God. My God. Why hast thou forsaken me? Is he the only one. Who is in travail? No. The Father had to hide his face. He couldn't. See his son. He had to give up his son.

What travail it must be. To our Heavenly Father. On the day of Pentecost. When a hundred and twenty were there. Praying. Suddenly. In the original it says. Like a wind. But it is. A hard. Breathing. You know when a woman is in travail.

To give birth. He has to. Have hard breathing. It is the travail of the Holy Spirit. Trying God. They travail together. For the birth. Of the church. So how precious it must be. To God. You know we today look at the church as nothing.

We play the church. But if you really see what the church is. What a great price. Our God has paid. To bring it. And because of this brothers and sisters. You'll find. Even in the early days. The hundred and twenty.

They also travail. With God. For the birth of the church. They saw the Lord ascended. But the Lord said. Go to Jerusalem. Wait. So they went back to Jerusalem. At one time five hundred saw our Lord Jesus.

But only a hundred twenty. Went back to Jerusalem. And they spent ten days. Praying. Travailing. Waiting. And through the travail. Of these hundred and twenty. Early believers. You know wherever. A church is born.

It has to come. Even in our time. There must be. Some people. Who travail. For the church. For the testimony of Jesus. And out of their travailing. Prayer. The apostle Paul. How he to travail. How he toil.

In the power of the Holy Spirit. Willing to fill. Up that which is behind. Of the affliction of Christ. For the church which is his body. And because of this. You'll find. The church. In Ephesus. The church.

In other places. And the same principle. Apply. So dear brothers and sisters. First of all. God so loved the church. Loved the church in the right way. Now if our Lord Jesus himself. Is willing to travail.

For the birth of the church. Then. Should we not. Have fellowship. With his sufferings. That we too. Are willing to travail. To pay a price. To pray. So that. The church. May become a reality. Something.

That is Christ. Something. That is his like. That can be. His helpmeet. So may the Lord. Dear Heavenly Father. We do thank thee for giving us. Thy beloved son. He is. Everything to us. Lord we want to thank thee.

That you are willing to give yourself. Your own life. To the church. That it may be your like. Your helpmeet. Lord pray. That thou will open. Not only our understanding. But what thou will touch. That we may love what thou lovest.

And we may. Be willing. For that which thou dost. And to thee be the glory.