"....having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself ('which He purposed in Christ', NIV), that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth---- in Him." (Ephesians 1:9, 10)
The Interlinear translates, "dispensation," as, "administration," and defines it as, "management of household affairs." That could be code for, Jesus Christ is running the show.
I preached on this text in November, 1998, in a relatively large pentecostal congregation meeting in Berlin, Germany. They were in the midst of a great conflict among the members. A few took issue to my message, of course, but one of the elders came to me afterward and whispered, "This is the word for Germany." When you look at divided Christendom, which is another way of saying, "Our group does it better than yours," you and I can take great encouragement that King Jesus will not allow this to go on indefinitely.
Notice that, "the mystery of His will," is, "according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself ('Christ')." It has nothing to do with what you and I "plan," or the myriad of seminars and summits of nations' leaders. What is going on in the governments of the nations, the rise of global humanism, the attitudes of leaders similar to those of the kings rebuked in Ezekiel 28 & 29, it is the Lord Jesus Christ, "The Word of God," He Who, "sat as King at the Flood," Who is orchestrating the, "management of household affairs."
No matter the news, the US and global chaos, the intent of the Godhead is to, "....gather together in one all things in Christ...." And, as the Living Triune God "manages" His, "household affairs," He is bringing history to a "dramatic climax." Let the governments, the cultures, the people groups of the word do as they may; "....the mystery of His will...which He purposed in Himself," is to, "gather together in one all things in Christ." I have great peace in this/Him.
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that in this reading today You have reminded me that no matter how seemingly unrestrained, the angel of the bottomless pit," is rearing his ugly head, he cannot affect Your, "management of Household affairs." Amen.
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Americans: I sincerely hope and pray that you are praying for the President, the Congress, and the Supreme Court. The history of Israel reveals what can happen even to a "chosen nation," when that nation entertains evil (Matthew 25).
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
