God's Eternal Purpose, His Will, His Council, His Work — Stephen Kaung

Will you please turn to the letter to the Ephesians, Ephesians chapter 1, we read from verse 9 through verse 14, Ephesians chapter 1 verse 9, 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, in Him in whom we have also obtained an inheritance, being marked out beforehand according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His good will, that we should be to the praise of His glory, who have pre-trusted in the Christ, in whom we also have trusted, having heard the word of the truth, the glad tidings of your salvation, in whom also, having believed, you have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the earnest of our inheritance, to the redemption of the acquired possession, to the praise of His glory.

Let's have a further word of prayer. Dear Lord, our hearts do rejoice because we know that Thou art with us, and if Thou art with us, who can be against us? Lord, we do ask Thee to open Thy word to us, make Thy word living and operative in our lives.

We pray that Thou will grant us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of God. Thou knowest that without Thee we can do nothing. Without Thy spirit opening our understanding, Lord, we just cannot comprehend.

So we just give ourselves to Thee this morning and pray that Lord, Thou will reveal Thyself. We ask in Thy precious name. We do want to thank the Lord for gathering us together here again this time. I personally feel that every time when God's people are gathered together, it is a special time because we are living at the end of the days.

And there are many places where God's people are not able to meet as we are. But who are we that He should be so gracious, merciful to us, allowing us to meet in this way? So may the Lord really help us that we will treasure such time and that He may be able to do whatever He wants to.

The Eternal Purpose of God Is Personal and Practical

The theme of this conference is the eternal purpose of God. The eternal purpose of God. I do not know, how do you feel? Do you feel it is something very remote, far away from you? Do you think too theoretical or theological a subject?

Do you feel that it is something so objective that you do not sense any relationship with it? You need to think about it. How does the eternal purpose of God appeal to you? Do you sense that the eternal purpose of God is very, very near to you, is much closer to you, probably, than you think?

Something so intimate that you cannot avoid it. You are in it, even without your knowing it. It is nothing theoretical. It is the most practical thing in the whole world. It is not theological at all.

It is very personal. Every one of us is involved in that eternal purpose of God. And it is tremendously important for us to know the eternal purpose of God. I think, brothers and sisters, we all desire long to know our God.

Knowing God Through His Will and Ways

Now how are we going to know God? What is the best way to know God? What is the direct road to the knowledge of God? It is by knowing God's will, God's purpose. Remember, the psalmist said, in Psalm 103, verse 7, God has made known to Israel His acts, but He made known His ways to Moses.

The children of Israel, they only know the acts of God. When God does something to them, then they know God. But Moses knew God much better than the children of Israel, because he knew the ways of God.

How will God work? There are certain principles behind God's action. And he knew these principles. But dear brothers and sisters, we who are in a New Testament time, by the grace of God, we can go even a step further.

We can know God's will, God's purpose. Knowing God's purpose is really knowing God. So I believe that it should be the deepest longing of our hearts to know God's eternal purpose. Knowing God's to our lives, so that God created man with a purpose.

We do not know that purpose, our life. And that's the reason why you find in the world today, most people live in this world without knowing the meaning of life. They are just grouping around. But once you know God's eternal purpose gives you the real meaning of life, you will begin to see life is worth living.

And you will be given the understanding of living in a way that is worthwhile. I remember back in 1942, I was in India, and I met an elderly lady. She told me a little bit of her life in India, in something that is most unusual.

She was not there as an ordinary missionary, the gospel. But she felt led of the Lord to go to India. There are some places in the best resort area in India, Nigiri Hills. She will set up some houses, and she will have servants and maids, beautiful English gardens.

And her ministry was every summer, she will receive God's servants and let them rest. And she will just serve them. That's her ministry. Now how did it come about? She told me. She came from a very rich family.

Her parents were millionaires. And she was married to a title man. And while her parents were living, she used to travel with her parents all around the world. And after her parents died, and her husband died, she was left alone.

She was a Christian. She loved the Lord. She lived in Italy. She has a marble palace there. And every summer, she would go back to England to attend the Keswick Convention. Life was meaningless. She had everything, but it was meaningless.

She didn't know what to do. But one year, she went back to England. She attended a Swan Lake Conference. That was Mrs. Penn Lewis for the Keswick Convention. And while she was attending that conference, she said she heard a young man speaking on the eternal purpose of God.

And God opened her understanding. She began to realize the real meaning of life. Transform her. And she gave her life to the Lord. And she was led of the Lord to India to do such a work. Dear brothers and sisters, do you feel your life lacks meaning?

Why are you here? God created you. Why did God save you? What is the meaning of your being here? Your life is linked to the eternal purpose of God. Life is meaningless. It's not worth living. But once you see your life is related to God's eternal purpose, you know the full meaning of life.

And by the grace of God, you can live to the fullest of the life that God has given to you. So you see, it is very personal. It is very important. Not only it is important to your own personal life, but knowing God's eternal purpose.

God's Purpose in the Midst of Suffering and Uncertainty

In our days, many things are happening. And all the time we wonder, why? Why God allows these things to happen? What are the meanings of all these things? Some people even blame God for allowing all these tragic things happening around us.

And even something happening to us. Why? The answer is in knowing the eternal purpose of God. God has a purpose. And He works out everything according to His purpose. We may not be able to know the particular meaning or explanation of a thing.

But we do know that there is the eternal purpose of God behind everything. His purpose controls everything. Big things, small things. International, national, personal. Whatever it may be, the explanation lies in the eternal purpose of God.

You know, brothers and sisters, we are need-oriented. We are looking forward to hear something that will supply your need. Meeting you go. Your desire is that your need may be met. We are need-oriented.

If we are need-oriented, brothers and sisters, one need is met and another need comes forth. There is never ending. It's like the children of Israel going through the wilderness. Just going round and round and round and you never reach the end.

We are not purpose-oriented. Be purpose-oriented. If we are purpose-oriented, we will be lifted of ourselves. You know, we are just centred upon our petty little self. How can we be delivered from self-centredness?

We are delivered from self-centredness when we are lifted into the eternal purpose. It broadens our horizon. Instead of looking at ourselves and at our need all the time and cry out, who can supply my need?

We are being brought to God's sight and to see His purpose. And how can His purpose be fulfilled? That will be our aspiration. Knowing the eternal purpose of God will give us the discipline that we need.

You know, we are a very undisciplined people. Can we get the right discipline? We are disciplined by the eternal purpose. Knowing the eternal purpose of God, then we are able to work with God. Instead of working against God.

You know the Apostle Paul? Before he knew God's eternal purpose of Tarsus, he thought he was serving God by persecuting the believers of Jesus Christ. With sincerity, and yet how mistaken he was. Brothers and sisters, if we do not know God's eternal purpose, maybe unconsciously, even while you are in God's work, you are seemingly serving God, but actually you are opposing God.

So how important it is that we know God's eternal purpose, and then we will be able to work with God. So dear brothers and sisters, there are many more reasons, I believe, why we must know God's eternal purpose.

Why is it so essential to us? It is not something that we can live without. The reason why you find Christian life today is so shallow, it is because we lack the true knowledge of God's eternal. The Apostle Paul wrote in a letter to the Ephesians, having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in himself.

God's Will as His Supreme and Loving Purpose

Now as an introduction, there are three things we would like to consider this morning. One is God's will, or God's purpose. Second is God's counsel, or God's ways. And the third is God's work. Supreme will in the universe.

God is not impersonal, a person. Why? Because he has a will. A personal living God. Supreme will in the universe. God does whatever he wants to will. The Bible tells us that he wills according to his good pleasure.

Whatever pleases him, he wills it. He does not need to consult anybody. He does not need to get approval from anyone. Because he is sovereign. He wills whatever he wants to. But he wills always according to his good pleasure.

That which pleases him. That which satisfies him. So God is love. That is his very nature. He is love. Therefore, whatever he wills, he wills out of his love. He has willed, satisfied his loving character.

Our God is good. Whatever he wills must be good. Perfect. He wills must be perfect. And that's the reason why in Romans chapter 12, you'll find if we present our bodies a living sacrifice, then our mind will be renewed.

And then we will be able to prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. It's because our mind is deranged. Therefore, sometimes we think the will of God is bad. You know, at one time, when I was working with young people, I asked young people, what do you think is the will of God?

How do you know this is the will of God? Well, one answer is, whatever is against me is the will of God. It is not good. Not acceptable. Not because God's will is not good and perfect and acceptable. It is because our mind has not been renewed.

Whatever comes out of God must be perfect. God for his will. Out of that will comes his purpose. The Bible said he purposed in himself. Even before the foundation of the world. There before he created the world.

Before there was time, God exercised his will. According to his good pleasure. Purpose, a purpose in himself. There was nobody there. He was all by himself. So, he can only purpose in himself. And that will, the Bible called it the mystery.

Now, why is it called a mystery? You know, a mystery doesn't mean something mysterious. Something bad. No. Mystery simply means a secret. God has a secret. Secretly made of his mind. Even before the creation of the world.

You know, we are not able to keep any secret. Especially if that secret is so glorious. So good. So perfect. So pleasing. We cannot keep it back. We want to tell it to all. But God knows how to keep secret.

He has a top secret. He has hidden it in himself throughout the ages and generations. Until the fullness of time. The greatest mystery in the world is God. Now, who knows God? So above us. Unlimited. Infinite.

We know him. So no wonder. With the Greek. They have an altar called the unknown God. God cannot be known. In one sense, that's true. Thank God. Why? Because he loves to be known. A mystery. A secret.

Waits to be revealed. There is only one way to know a secret. And that is when it is revealed. Brothers and sisters. We do not know God. He is way beyond us. So far as our natural man is concerned. There is no way we can know him.

But thank God. His will is a mystery. He has hidden it throughout the generations and the ages. And yet. He is waiting for the right moment to reveal it. In the fullness of time. He reveals it. Our God is not a God who hides himself.

You remember in Genesis chapter 16. Haggai. He fled from her mistress. And an angel of the Lord met her. And told her to go back. And she will bear a son. Shall be called Ishmael. And God will bless. And then you find Haggai said.

He is the God who reveals. He has revealed himself to me. Our God is a God who reveals himself. In Galatians chapter 1. Verse 15. The apostle Paul said. It has pleased God. To reveal his son in me. So you know that our God is a secret.

He is able to keep his secret. But until the right time. The secret will be revealed. So brothers and sisters. When we come into this matter of. The eternal purpose of God. Remember one thing. We need revelation.

Without the spirit of wisdom and revelation. We are not able. To enter into. God's eternal purpose. We are not able to get that true knowledge. Of God. So we need to cast ourselves upon the Lord. Not trying to depend upon.

Our own ability. I think from the very outset. We need to have a right attitude. As we are faced. With the eternal purpose of God. We need to acknowledge. That so far as. We ourselves are concerned. This is something beyond us.

No matter how we try. We will not be able. To really understand it. And experience it. We need revelation from God. We are utterly dependent upon God. His purpose. His will. Himself. But one thing we are assured.

That it pleases Him. To reveal. You know. If in your family. You have a new born son. And somebody visiting your family. He does not need to ask. You will tell the secret. Because it is something so dear.

To your heart. You know God loves to tell that secret. But unfortunately we are not prepared. So he has to use all kinds of ways. To prepare for it. Before it can be revealed. Then we appreciate it. Anyway brothers and sisters.

We find that God. Is the supreme will. And out of that will. He purpose. A purpose. Not just many purposes. But one. Overall. All inclusive. God purpose that purpose. In himself. Before the foundation.

Of the world. So you can see. How. Important that purpose is. How great that purpose is. How much it means to God. Of that purpose. You know brothers and sisters. When we. Were created. God created us with a will too.

Because. He made us according to his own image. It is the supreme will. And he also created us. With a will. God wants us. To will. His will. Because of sin. That entered into this world. Our will. Naturally.

Will be against. Purpose will be naturally. Against God's purpose. But thank God. By his salvation. We who are saved. By the grace of God. We today. Surrender. Our will. To God's will. Purpose. God's purpose.

Surrendering Our Will to God's Purpose

Remember Daniel. When Daniel was a young man. Probably in his teens. He was taken as hostage. To Babylon. And yet. The Bible says. He purposed. In his heart. Not to be polluted. By the king's food. And the king's drink.

In other words. He purposed a purpose. In himself. For God. The purpose of God. For him. And because of. That purpose. You remember how God. Honored. His purpose. How God. Gave him wisdom. Understanding.

And how God greatly used him. Because his life. Is linked. With a purpose. Dear brothers and sisters. Living beings. We all have our will. We all made our purposes. Has our will. Been surrendered. Our will.

So he respected. He would never force us. To do anything. On our own will. Even though he tried. To rescue us. But. He respected our will. It is very important for us. Our will. To God's will. Because we know.

That his will is perfect. And if we surrender our will. To his will. Then we will purpose. Our purpose. According to. His purpose. I think this is very important. Has a will. Now what that purpose is.

Leave it. To my brother. After God. Made a purpose. Then it follows. With a counsel. He tells us. According to his counsel. God not only has a will. And has made. A giant purpose. After that purpose is made.

He also laid a plan. Can that purpose. Be accomplished. We do things sometimes by chance. We do not have a plan. And some people even boast. That they have no plan. Now if you do not have a plan. Then you find somebody.

Will plan for you. You will be. Just moved. By your circumstances. And somebody. Is behind it. God never does anything. He plan very carefully. Every step of the way. Until. That purpose. You know what is time.

God's Counsel and His Progressive Plan

Time is God's workshop. God created time. His plan. Important to God. Why the Bible said. The administration. Of the fullness. Of the time. Divide the time. Into times. At each period of time. He is working.

Something. Towards the fulfillment. Of his purpose. Now his purpose is so gigantic. So glorious. So immense. So it takes all the time. To work. This thing. Administration. In some. Versions you will find.

Management. Now the word means. Management. Of household. Or household affairs. God is managing. His house. He is managing. His household affairs. It is the. Administration. Of his own affairs. Work out.

Into fullness. His purpose. You will find even. In the very beginning. Because God has that. Purpose. In him before the foundation. Of the world. So. He began to plan for it. And the first thing he did.

He created. God created all things. According. To that purpose. God created. Then God created man. In his own image. According to his likeness. Why? The answer is. According to that purpose. And throughout the Old Testament.

You can read through the Old Testament. And you will find. How God gradually. Worked out his plan. During the patriarch age. How he called one man. Abraham. How he got a nation. Israel. How he worked with that nation.

He brings. Brought in. The Messiah. The Redeemer. In the fullness. You will find that God just gradually. Working out. All his plan. He never missed a point. You know Israel. They only know. The acts of God.

When God brought them through the Red Sea. They saw the miracle. The sea opened. And they walked. Through. On dry land. Oh they praise God. They worship God. God is good. And then soon they forgot. When they have no food to eat.

God provide. Set a table. In a wilderness. Is God able to do that? Immediately you will find. They begin to doubt. Because all they know. Is the act. Of God. Very shallow. Knowledge of God. But then God Moses.

Knew God. In a deeper way. Because he had a life. With God. You know sometimes. I wonder. When Moses went to the mountain. And received from the hand of God. The two tables. Of law. These stones. Were made by God himself.

And God's finger. Printed the word. On these two tables. Of stones. How precious. This must be. And then when Moses came down. And he saw. The children of Israel. How they worship the golden calf. Moses.

He smashed these two stones. Sometimes I wonder. Did he do something wrong? How dare him. Destroy. The very hand work of God. Now probably he was. He was angry. But. Maybe he had sinned. Because he knew.

The ways of God. He knew God was righteous. Because God was righteous. Sin against God. And violated his law. Punishment. Would follow. Severe. And he made the children of Israel. Drink. The water. Where the golden calf was.

Became powders. And threw on the water. And asked them to drink it. Drink your own sin. And further than that. He stood at the gate. Of the camp. And said who is on the Lord's side. Come. And go from one gate.

To another gate. And slay. Everyone that you meet. Whoever he may be. Why? Why all these things. Moses. Commanded. The children of Israel to do. Why? Because he knows the way of God. He knows God. Is so righteous.

God's righteousness. Has to be vindicated. It cannot be compromised. And yet. Immediately afterwards. He went up to the mountain. And pleaded. For the children of Israel. Why? Because he knew. God is merciful.

Brothers and sisters. If we know the ways of God. Then we are able. To work together. We will not be able. To work with God. So how important it is again. That we may know. Now when you think of. The counsel of God.

God's Unsearchable Wisdom and Counsel

Of course. In the scripture you find for instance. In Romans chapter 11. It says. Oh the depths of the wisdom. And the knowledge of God. How. Unsearchable. Are your judgment. How untraceable. Are your ways.

Who has been your counselor. Does God need to ask anybody. Anything. The wisdom. But thank God. We are able to know. His ways. We are able to know. His counsel. And because of that. We are able to work.

Together. Something that. Dear brother Sparks. Spoke in Manila. In 1964. And he said it is important. To know God's purpose. Only know God's purpose. And you do not know. God's way. The way to that purpose.

It is useless. Not only to know God's purpose. We also need. To know God's ways. His counsel. Finally. The third thing is work. God works. He works according to. The counsel of his will. That that purpose.

God's Work and the Power of Resurrection

May be. Our God is a working God. Remember the Lord Jesus said. In John chapter 5. Verse 17. My father worketh. His atonement. And I work. You see God has been working. Ever since. The heavens and the earth.

Man. Supposed to have his rest now. Because on the seventh day he rested. He looked at everything he said. Wonderful. But very soon. His rest was broken. Our forefather Adam and Eve. They sing in the wilderness.

In the garden. Of Eden. And God began to work again. Adam where are you? God began to come. To seek. And to find the lost. And how God called Abraham. How God worked. With the children of Israel. And how God even sent.

His only begotten son. Into this world. And he has been working. Ever since. Our God works. According to the might. Of his strength. That exceeding great power. Ephesians chapter 1. We are told. Eyes be open.

We will see. The exceeding greatness. Of his power. Towards us who believe. According to the might. Of his strength. In raising up Christ. From the dead. And seated him. On high. At his right hand. And put everything under his feet.

Brothers and sisters. That's the working power. God can answer us. Exceedingly above. All that we can even ask. Or think of. To the glory of God. So. We do see. God has a glorious purpose. And that purpose.

Is made out of love. And God lays down. A plan. According to his wisdom. And now God works. Which is to fulfill. So can you doubt. That his purpose. Will fail. His purpose. Will be realized. We need also.

To know that power. If we want. To work together with God. If we want. To be in that plan. For that purpose. That brothers and sisters. We need to know. The power of God. The apostle Paul. He knows the power of God.

In his own life. You remember. In 2nd Corinthians chapter 12. When he had that thorn. In his body. He pleaded with God. To remove. That thorn. It's a stake. Remove it. That he may be strong. And yet God said.

My grace is sufficient. In other words. In his weakness. He experienced. The power of God. The reason why. We do not experience the power of God. Is because. We are too strong. Our problem is not weakness.

Our problem is strength. Our weakness. Even to the point. Of boasting of our weakness. Not in the wrong way. But boasting. In our weakness. Then we will. Experience. The exceeding great power. We are an earthen vessel.

But there is a treasure. Within us. That the surpassing greatness of a power. May be of God. And not of ourselves. Paul. Even in his labor. How he tore. And labor. In the power of God. So dear brothers and sisters.

We need. To know how to work. With God. We need his power. That we may be able. To be. Used by God. In bringing. His purpose. Into fullness. So dear brothers and sisters. Actually. We are here. Something tremendously great.

Entering Into God's Eternal Purpose

Before us. It is not just a small conference. It is something that touches. Eternity. It is something. That touches. The eternal purpose of God. And thank God. He is drawing us. Into that purpose. We are in that purpose.

And we need to know. What that purpose is. Together with him. To work it out in us. And through us. Until his glory. So may the Lord prepare our hearts. For this time. We do praise and thank thee. That thou.

Art willing to share with us. Thy very heart. We want to thank thee. That thou dost desire. That we may be. Men and women. Of thy heart. That we may. Know thy heart. And we may. Allow thee to work. That out in us.

And even through us. That thy purpose. Of eternity. May become. A reality. Lord. We want to offer ourselves to thee. For thy purpose. Have mercy. Upon us. In thy precious name.