"He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind
intention which He purposed in Himself." Ephesians 1:9

The knowledge of God's will is one of the Believers' possessions we have in
Christ as we saw in last week's message. Let's look to Scripture to see
something of the revelation of the divine mystery.

Concerning the divine purpose we see--
It is God's eternal purpose:
"This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in
Christ Jesus our Lord." Ephesians 3:11

It is irresistible:
"For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His
stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?" Isaiah 14:27

It is seen in His choice of instruments:
This is Paul in his defense to King Agrippa concerning Jesus' call to this
persecutor of Christians while on the road to Damascus,
"But arise, and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you,
to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you
have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you." Acts 26:16

I can not stop there! Vs. 17-18 go on to reveal Paul's commission and the
purpose of it,
"Delivering you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am
sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light
and from the dominion of Satan to God in order that they may receive
forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified
by faith in Me."

It is revealed in the Gospels: the Gospel of John tells us,
"...I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly."
John 10:10
"And I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one
shall snatch them out of My hand." Vs 10:28
"I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may
not remain in darkness." John 12:46
"...Because I live, you shall live also. In that day you shall know that I
am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you." John 14:19-20

It involves the complete overthrow of the devil:
"The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from
the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might
destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8
And,
"No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him;
and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." Vs 9

How wonderful to know that should we miss the mark (sin) we have the
assurance of 1 John 1:9,
"If we confess or sins, He (God) is faithful and righteous to forgive us our
sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
We are then back in right standing before our Heavenly Father!

It is through that persecutor Saul whom God transformed into that great
Apostle Paul that we have these Holy Spirit inspired words,
"Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God
bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching
of the Word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past
ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints (holy ones,
believers), to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of
glory." Colossians 1:25-27 (My emphasis)

With grateful hearts we say thank You Lord God! Amen