This sermon delves into the eternal purpose of God as revealed in Ephesians 1:9-14, emphasizing how God's purpose is not distant but intimately connected to each individual. It highlights the importance of understanding God's will and purpose as the key to truly knowing God, drawing parallels between the knowledge of God's acts and knowing His ways. The speaker encourages the audience to seek a deeper understanding of God's eternal purpose as a means to know Him more intimately.

We please turn to the letter to the Ephesians. Ephesians chapter 1, read from verse 9, through verse 14. Ephesians chapter 1, verse 9. Having made known to us the ministry of his people, according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in himself for the administration of the fullness of time, to set 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 good, 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 spirit of wisdom and revelation in full knowledge of God. Thou know 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 to us. We ask in thy precious name. Amen. 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 well. But who are we to tell the Lord 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. Everybody knows the theme of this conference is the eternal purpose of God. When you mention 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 it is too theoretical or theological a subject? Do you feel that it is something so objective that you do not sense any relationship with it? But we need to think about it. How does the eternal purpose of God appeal to you? In a very real sense, the eternal purpose of God is very, very near to you. It is much closer to you probably than you think. It is something so intimate that you cannot avoid it. You are in it. Even without you are in 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. 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 God. 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. We 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 the New Testament time, by the grace of God, we can go even a step further. We can know God's will, God's purpose. And 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.