God’s Sovereign Pleasure: A Hope Beyond Our Horizon

God’s Sovereign Pleasure: A Hope Beyond Our Horizon

There are moments in life when the weight of trials presses so heavily that we begin to wonder if God has forgotten us. We pray, we wait, and sometimes the silence feels unbearable. Yet Scripture reminds us of a profound truth: God does whatever He pleases, and His pleasure is not bound by our fleeting desires or limited vision.

God’s Pleasure Is Higher Than Our Plans

We often equate God’s pleasure with our comfort—believing that if He is truly sovereign, then surely His will must align with our longing for ease and prosperity. But His pleasure is not a reflection of our temporary wants; it is the unfolding of His eternal wisdom. His scope stretches beyond the flicker of our candle-like lives, reaching into eternity where every trial, every unanswered prayer, and every moment of waiting is woven into a greater design.

To know that God does what He pleases is not a cause for fear, but for peace. It means He is never surprised, never thwarted, and never dependent on human approval. His will flows from a character that is perfectly holy, just, and good. When He acts, He does so with eternity in mind, not merely the discomfort of the present hour. What feels like delay or denial to us is often the very means by which He is shaping something far more glorious than we could imagine.

The Constitution of the King: Why We Misunderstand the Beatitudes

The Constitution of the King: Why We Misunderstand the Beatitudes

We have a tendency to turn everything in the Bible into a "how-to" guide for a better life. We open Matthew 5, read the Beatitudes, and immediately start trying to "do" them so we can be "blessed." We treat them like a spiritual ladder to climb.

But if we are to rightly divide the word of truth, we must ask a critical question: To whom was Jesus speaking, and what was He announcing?

The truth is, the Beatitudes aren't just "nice thoughts." They are the legal constitution of the Millennial Kingdom.

Context: The King is Present

When Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, He wasn't giving a general lecture on ethics to the 21st-century Church. He was the Messiah of Israel, standing on a mountain, presenting the requirements for the Earthly Kingdom He was offering.

Unveiling the Mystery of the Gospel (Part 4 of 5)

Unveiling the Mystery of the Gospel (Part 4 of 5)

The Scripture

"...made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:" — Romans 16:26b

The Doctrine: Universal Proclamation

In this penultimate section of the doxology, Paul identifies the scope and the intent of the revealed mystery. The doctrine here is the Universal Mandate of the Gospel. In previous dispensations, God’s dealings were primarily focused on one nation, Israel, through a specific covenant. However, under the "commandment of the everlasting God," the mystery is now to be "made known to all nations." This is not a suggestion or a human missionary strategy; it is a divine decree. The intent of this proclamation is to produce "the obedience of faith"—a specific response where individuals from every tongue and tribe give their total allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Extracting the Truth in Context

To understand this in context, we must see how the "all nations" focus of the mystery differs from the prophetic program. While prophecy foretold that the nations would eventually come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord through a redeemed Israel, the mystery reveals a current dispensation where the message goes directly to the nations while Israel is in a state of temporary blindness. This is "made known" not to set up a political kingdom on earth, but to call out the Body of Christ from among all people. In the context of the whole passage, this universal reach is what the "Everlasting God" had in mind when He kept the secret since the world began. He was waiting for the moment to bypass national boundaries and offer salvation to all strictly through the cross and resurrection, leading to an "obedience" that is rooted entirely in "faith" rather than the works of the law or national identity.

Instruments of Grace: Why God Chose the Body to Answer Prayer

Instruments of Grace: Why God Chose the Body to Answer Prayer

We often pray for "breakthroughs." We envision the heavens parting, a direct hand reaching down, or a sudden, miraculous windfall. And while God is absolutely capable of the spectacular, I’ve realized that He usually prefers a different method.

He works through the Body.

A Short Walk and a Long Realization

The other morning, I decided to hop out of the car a few blocks away from my office. It was a small sacrifice to help my wife get a head start on her commute. It was only a few hundred meters—nothing I couldn't handle—but as I started walking, a colleague and friend pulled up beside me.

"Jump in," he said.

It was a short ride, and truthfully, I didn't need the lift. But as he dropped me off right at the front door, it hit me: This is how God works. I didn't ask for a ride, but God provided one through the simple, attentive kindness of a friend. In that moment, my colleague wasn’t just a coworker; he was the hands and feet of Jesus.

We Are the Answer to Someone’s Prayer

We often treat the "Body of Christ" as a theological term, but it is a functional reality. When we pray for provision, comfort, or help, God’s primary "delivery system" is us.

Unveiling the Mystery of the Gospel (Part 3 of 5)

Unveiling the Mystery of the Gospel (Part 3 of 5)

The Witness of the Scriptures

"...But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God..." — Romans 16:26a

The Doctrine: Scriptural Confirmation

Paul now adds another layer to the unveiling of the mystery: its manifestation is not only by divine decree but also "by the scriptures of the prophets" (Romans 16:26). This phrase emphasizes that the revelation of the mystery is consistent with, and confirmed by, the prophetic writings of Scripture. The doctrine here is one of Scriptural Harmony—the truth that the mystery, though hidden in God, does not contradict the prophetic record but stands in perfect alignment with it. The everlasting God commands its revelation, and the Scriptures bear witness to its validity (Romans 1:2–3; Acts 10:43).

Extracting the Truth in Context

The phrase "but now is made manifest" continues the dispensational contrast Paul has been drawing (Colossians 1:26–27). What was once hidden is now revealed, and this revelation is not detached from the written Word. The "scriptures of the prophets" serve as a validating witness, showing that the mystery fits within the broader framework of God’s eternal plan. Importantly, Paul is not saying the prophets themselves understood or foretold the mystery (Ephesians 3:4–5); rather, the revealed mystery now sheds light on the prophetic writings, demonstrating their coherence with God’s eternal purpose. In context, this means that the believer’s stability (Romans 16:25) and understanding of the mystery (Romans 16:25b) are reinforced by the authority of Scripture, which stands as a divine testimony to the manifestation of God’s plan.

Unveiling the Mystery of the Gospel (Part 2 of 5)

Unveiling the Mystery of the Gospel (Part 2 of 5)

The Revelation of the Mystery

"...according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest..." — Romans 16:25b–26a

The Transition of Ages

In this portion of the passage, Paul introduces the concept of the "mystery" (mysterion). In the context of Romans and the wider New Testament, a mystery is not a confusing riddle to be solved by human intellect, but a sacred secret that was once hidden in the counsel of God and has now been revealed by His decree. The doctrine here is one of Progressive Revelation: the truth that God did not reveal His entire plan for humanity at once, but unfolded it over time, reaching its peak in the person of Jesus Christ.

Extracting the Truth in Context

Paul emphasizes two distinct timeframes: "since the world began" and "but now." By stating that this mystery was "kept secret," he is acknowledging the period of history where God’s plan was present in seed form but not fully understood. To understand this in context, one must contrast it with the nature of prophecy; while the Bible records that "prophecy was spoken since the world began" regarding the coming King and His earthly kingdom, this specific "mystery" was strictly "kept secret since the world began." This distinction reveals a dispensational shift: prophecy dealt with what was foretold to man, whereas the mystery dealt with what was hid in God. This manifestation is not a change in God’s mind, but the scheduled fulfillment of His eternal purpose. In the context of the whole passage, this revelation is the very content of the "preaching of Jesus Christ" mentioned previously. While the entire plan of God is to preach Jesus Christ, we must recognize that we today are to preach Him according to the revelation of the mystery, which is a very specific gospel. This provides the intellectual and spiritual substance that God uses to "stablish" the believer; we are made firm by understanding that we are part of a plan that spans from eternity past to the present day.