The Recovery Of The Church
Message One
Seeing God’s Eternal Purpose concerning the Church
and Enlightening All concerning the Economy
of the Mystery Hidden in God
Opening Word of the Prophesying Meeting
Reading the verses in each day.
Reading the main points in the outlines.
Pray-reading the verses:
Eph. 3:10-11 In order that now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenlies the multifarious wisdom of God might be made known through the church, according to the eternal purpose which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Eph. 3:9 And to enlighten all that they may see what the economy of the mystery is, which throughout the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things.
Word of Appetizer
Do you know why God created the heavens, the earth, and thousands and thousands of items? Do you know why God created the race of Adam, the human people? You need to answer this question by saying, “It was to have the church.”
The intention, the desire, of God is not to have heaven, not to have the earth, and not to have many different items. The intention, the desire, of God in this universe is to have the church. Therefore, everything is for the church.
Spiritual Burden
Ephesians 3:10-11 reveals that the existence of the church is according to the eternal purpose which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In order to participate in the recovery of the church, we need to see God’s eternal purpose concerning the church；God planned to have the church composed of regenerated and transformed human beings who are coordinated and built together as a corporate Body.
Concluding Word of the Prophesying Meeting
The Revelation of the Truth
In order to participate in the recovery of the church, we need to see God’s eternal purpose concerning the church.
We need “to enlighten all that they may see what the economy of the mystery is, which throughout the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things.
The Experience of Life
We, the sons of God, in whom God’s grace abounds, are the focal point of His purpose, and everything is working for us.
All things in the universe are for the church. The three persons of the Godhead are for the divine purpose of having the church to fulfill God’s eternal plan through the dispensing of God in His Divine Trinity into humanity so that the church may come into existence.
Practice and Application
Today we must announce the gospel concerning the mystery hidden in God in order to enlighten all so that they may see what is the economy of the mystery hidden in God, who created all things for the fulfillment of His will, the desire of His heart, and His eternal purpose.
Using Key Verses to Have a Bird’s-Eye View over the Whole Outline
Key Verses (1)
Eph. 3:10-11 In order that now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenlies the multifarious wisdom of God might be made known through the church, according to the eternal purpose which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I. In order to participate in the recovery of the church, we need to see God’s eternal purpose concerning the Church( 1)
•A purpose is a determined intent to do something or to gain something；God’s purpose is His determined intent to gain the church.
• The eternal purpose (lit., “the purpose of the ages”) was made by God in eternity past for eternity future.
• The word purpose in Ephesians 3:11 is equivalent to the word plan; we may speak of the eternal plan which God planned in Christ.
•Ephesians 3:10-11 reveals that the existence of the church is according to the eternal purpose which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord.
•God planned to have the church composed of regenerated and transformed human beings who are coordinated and built together as a corporate Body.
Key Verses (2)
Rev. 4:11 You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, for You have created all things, and because of Your will they were, and were created.
2 Cor. 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of theHoly Spirit be with you all.
I. In order to participate in the recovery of the church, we need to see God’s eternal purpose concerning the Church( 2 )
• The existence of the universe is according to God’s eternal purpose to have the church .
1. All things in the universe are for the church ; The heavens, the earth, a multitude of other things, and the tripartite man are required in order that the church may exist to express God.
2. the three persons of the Godhead are for the divine purpose of having the church to fulfill God’s eternal plan through the dispensing of God in His Divine Trinity into humanity so that the church may come into existence .
• God’s intention concerning the church is threefold: to express Himself through the sonship , to make His multifarious wisdom known to the enemy , and to head up all things in Christ.
Key Verses (3)
Eph. 3:8-9 To me, less than the least of all saints, was this grace given to announce to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ as the gospel and to enlighten all that they may see what the economy of the mystery is , which throughout the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things.
II. We need“to enlighten all that they may see what the economy of the mystery is, which throughout the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things”.
•The New Testament tells us that the church was a mystery in God ; throughout all the generations before the New Testament time, the church was a mystery.
• God’s mystery is His hidden purpose, which is to dispense Himself into His chosen people; hence, there is the economy of the mystery of God.
• The economy of God’s mystery is to have the church for the manifestation of God .
•Paul preached not only the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ; he also preached the gospel concerning the economy of the mystery hidden in God .
Prophesying Topics—Twelve Topics per Week
D1
T1 God’s eternal purpose（Eph. 1:9, 11）
(Please illustrate that what is God’s eternal purpose according to the Bible)
T2 Seeing that church is something of God’s eternal purpose. （Eph. 3:9-11）
(Please illustrate that church is purposed by God in eternity past for eternity future)
D2
T1 God in eternity planned to have the church. （Eph. 1:4-5）
(Please illustrate that the church did not come into existence by accident but was planned in eternity. Before time began, in eternity, God purposed to have the church.)
T2 The church is the desire of God’s heart（Eph. 1:5;9;22-23）
(Why is the church so dear, so lovable, and so precious to God?)
D3
T1 His good pleasure（Eph. 1:9）
(Please illustrate that God’s good pleasure is the desire of His heart, that is, to have the church)
T2 The church is the center of God’s eternal plan.(Matt.28:19; Zech. 12:1; Rev. 4:11)
(Please illustrate that God, creation, and man are all for the church)
D4
T1 God’s purpose with the church（Eph. 1:5;3:10;1:10）
(What are the three main items of God’s purpose for the church?)
T2 In the Bible a mystery refers to things that are hidden in God’s heart（Eph. 3:9）
(Please illustrate that from the beginning of the world the purpose of creation was a mystery hidden in God)
D5
T1 The church was a mystery hidden in God. （Eph. 3:9）
(Please illustrate that this mystery was hidden in God from the ages (that is, from eternity) and through all past ages, but now it has been brought to light to the New Testament believers)
T2 The eternal economy of God（Eph. 1:10;3:9;1 Tim.1:4）
(Please illustrate that the mystery hidden in God’s heart is God’s eternal economy)
D6
T1 Christ and the church are the great mystery (Eph.5:32)
(Please illustrate that the mystery of God is Christ, the mystery of Christ is the church)
T2 The highest gospel is the gospel of Christ with the church. (Eph.3:8-9)
(Please illustrate that Paul preached not only the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ; he also preached the gospel concerning the economy of the mystery hidden in God)