This sermon delves into the mystery of God and the church, emphasizing God's revealed plan for His beloved Son to head up all things. It explores the story of redemption from the restoration of the earth in Genesis to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, highlighting the importance of surrendering all aspects of our lives to Christ. The sermon emphasizes the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit in guiding believers to bring every thought, emotion, and action to the feet of Jesus, aligning with God's eternal purpose for each individual.

Will you please turn to Romans. Romans chapter 11, verse 36. Romans chapter 11, verse 36. For of him that is of our Lord Jesus and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. Let's have a word of prayer. Dear Lord, we want to thank thee for gathering us together this morning. Thou has been good to us and we believe that it is thy intention that thou will continue to speak to our hearts. Thou knowest our need and thou are preparing us for thy imminent return. For this we are grateful. We commit this time into your hand and trust thy Holy Spirit to do the work because he alone can do it. Lord, speak, thy servants heareth. We ask in thy name. Amen. We thank the Lord for bringing us again together before his presence. We believe that he has a plan for each and every one of us and it is only by his Holy Spirit that his plan will be fulfilled. So as we are gathering this morning, we just commit ourselves to the Lord, praying that our time together will be profitable and will really prepare us for his imminent return. My assignment is the mystery of God and the church. We mentioned yesterday that God is the greatest mystery in the universe. Nobody knows him, not even by searching, but we thank God that he is the God who reveals himself and whatever he has revealed of himself. That's for us. It is for us to believe and it is for us to respond. God has a mystery. He is the one who is able to keep his mystery. Even before the foundation of the world, according to the pleasure of his will, he has conceived a mystery. And to us today, thank God, this is an open mystery because God, but God has hidden that mystery. Over many centuries, he has done lots of things, but he has not told anyone why and what he is aiming at. But as the apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians chapter 3, that now God has revealed that mystery to the apostles and the prophets of the New Testament. So to us today, it is an open mystery and it is a mystery that concerns each one of us most deeply because it will be our life and it will be our testimony. We mentioned yesterday that a mystery of God that he has hidden for centuries is that he wants his own beloved son to head up all things. As we tried to explain yesterday, the meaning of Christ heading up all things, it is illustrated by another place in the scripture. In Romans 13, we are told that there are many commandments, but all these commandments can be summed up in one, and that is to love your neighbor as yourself. So love is the sum of all things. Likewise, we find that God has done many things, but all these things are centered upon his beloved son. He wants his son to head up all things. In other words, that in everything, especially in our lives, that Christ will be all and in all. And not only that, but thank God he commits this ministry to his own children. That we are not only to submit ourselves to Christ in all things, that in all things Christ may be manifested in us, but he has also commissioned us to bring all things to the feet of our Lord Jesus. This is our life, and this is our work. So that's what we have been trying to share together yesterday. But for the purpose of God to be fulfilled, God knows there will be many hindrances. In the first place, we find how Lucifer, the archangel, because of his beauty and of his talents, he began to be proud of himself, and he began to have the ambition to be equal with God. In other words, to take the place of God's only beloved son. And that is something God will never allow. So this archangel Lucifer was dispelled from heaven, and the domain that God has put under him all went into ruin and emptiness. It is as if God's plan has been frustrated, but God never fails. He knows what to do. As we say yesterday, it is for him to be pretty easy, very easy, extremely easy, to put Lucifer to death. But that will not bring glory to God. So in God's plan, he put that work to man, made a little lower than the angels, and yet is going to do God's work. So that's what we have mentioned yesterday. Now this morning, we would like to concentrate on how the Lord brings in his redemption. We find that in Genesis chapter 1, in verse 2, the earth was void, ruined, and empty. But then God, in his mercy, began to restore the earth to be habitable. So from Genesis chapter 1, verse 2 onward, it is not a beginning of creation. It is the beginning of the restoration of the earth. God used six days to restore the earth to be habitable. And on the sixth day, he made man. We all know that man is made a little lower than the angels. The angels are spirits, but man has a spirit, a soul, and a body. God created man, and he put man in the Garden of Eden. He restored that garden to be a beautiful garden, plenty of fruit trees for the food of man. He put man into that garden, and he gave them a command. And the command was, pure the ground, God the garden. God does not want man to be at leisure with nothing to do. He knows better that if we all have nothing to do, we tend to do something that will bring shame to God. So God, in the very beginning, wants man to work, to be occupied, to improve what God has already done. To cure the ground, make it more fruitful. And on the other hand, God's command was to guard the garden. We know the Garden of Eden is a beautiful garden, but it has no wall. Why? Because God wants man to be that wall. So God said, you guard it. God knows the enemy is outside the garden. And he is trying, he was trying to tempt man. So God gave this responsibility to man, to guard the garden. Not only to enjoy the garden, but also to guard the garden against the entry of the enemy. Unfortunately, man did not guard the garden as he should. Because of this failure, the enemy slipped in. And I believe we all know the story. How he tempted Eve to eat the forbidden tree. And after Eve had eaten the forbidden tree, she gave it to her husband, Adam. And Adam ate it. In other words, God created man to defeat God's enemy. That is the purpose of God. But instead, man fell into the hands of the enemy. God created man to be his ally, as it were. To be used of him, to defeat his enemy and bring glory to God. But instead, man fell into the hands of the enemy. Became an enemy to God, instead of an ally to God. And man was thrown out of the garden of Eden. And we know that because of the fall of our forefathers. We who have been born out of Adam and Eve. We were tainted with sin. And that was our condition. Now brothers and sisters, God having made his plan, his purpose. He will never forsake it. So we thank God that he began to work. And this is the story of our Lord Jesus. As we find in Philippians chapter 2. We find that our Lord Jesus, before he came into this world. He was equal with God. He was God's only begotten son. And that is nothing to be strived at. That is to say, that is his right. Because he was the only begotten son of God. All that God is, all the fullness of God dwells in him bodily. He and God are one. That was his position. He was in the place of being worshipped. And yet brothers and sisters, for the love of God. And for the response of his beloved son. He who was equal with God, yet he emptied himself. Brothers and sisters, for us to empty ourselves. There was nothing. And even more than nothing. Because if we empty ourselves. What are to be emptied? Nothing but our sins and our transgressions. But for the son of God. Who is one with God. Yet, for the love of his father. And the love for us. He is willing to empty himself. Of course, he cannot empty himself of his deity. Because that is what he is. Even when he was on earth. He was still God. But he could empty himself. Of all the glory. And the honor. The position. The right of his being equal with God. That is emptying himself. Dear brothers and sisters. Whenever we think. Of what our Lord Jesus has emptied. Of himself. In order to come into this world. He should really draw from us. Worship. And adoration. And not only that. But after he emptied himself. He took up another form. And the form there. Doesn't mean an outward form. It means an inward image. He took the form. The image. The character. Of a born slave. He was to come to be a born slave of God. That is to say. A slave. That had no right of his own. A slave. That belonged to his master. A slave. To serve his master. Without pay. And that is the form. That our Lord Jesus took. As he. Come. Came into this world. As a matter of fact. That is the original idea. Of God. Concerning man. You know man. Was supposed. To be also. A born slave. To God. Now everybody today. Fights for his or her right. We think we have this right and that right. And we do not want to be. Intruded. But dear brothers and sisters. The very thought of God concerning man. Is that we be born slave. To God. We have no right whatsoever. Except. To follow the instruction. Of our master. And that's the inward. Image. The inward. Sense. Of our Lord Jesus. When he came. Into this world. Outwardly he took. The fashion of a man. Dear brothers and sisters. When our Lord Jesus came into this world. He was as any other man in the world. But inwardly. There was a difference. He had the spirit as it were. Of a born slave. And that is the reason when you read the full gospel. When you read the story of our Lord Jesus. You will find that. He again again declared. That he can do nothing. By himself. Of course. When we think of him. He can do everything. If you will. But he never will. To do anything. Outside from his father. Permission. He said I can do nothing by myself. What I have seen the father doing. I do. He also said that he can say nothing. By himself. Even though we know. That our Lord Jesus. Could say. Many things. Many more things than we can say. And yet. He said I can say nothing. What the father has said. I say. Not only that. He said my time is not my own. You know. During the festival. Of pens. His brothers. Went to Jerusalem. And they say. If you want to get famous. Don't hide in Galilee. Go to Jerusalem. Show yourself. That the people may know you. And our Lord Jesus said. Your time is always ready. But my time. Has not yet come. In other words. Even in his movement. He was guided. By his father's will. That was the life of our Lord Jesus. You know brothers and sisters. When we read the full gospel. Probably our attention. Will be attracted. By the miracles. The power of work. By our Lord Jesus. How he healed the sick. Open the eyes of the blind. Even make. The dead. Alive. How he made five loaves. And two fishes. Good for the. One meal of a little boy. To feed the five thousand men. Women and children. Not counted. Brothers and sisters. He could do everything. And yet. He said I could do nothing. Throughout his life. He was tempted by the enemy. To do things. As God. As the son of God. You remember that after he was baptized. He was led by the spirit to the wilderness. And he fasted 40 days. And 40 nights. And he got hungry. So the tempter came and said. If. You are the son of God. Command the stone. To become bread. That you can feel. Your hunger. That shows the Lord can do it. But he will not do it. He said man does not live. By bread alone. But every word. Come as. From the mouth of God. Brothers and sisters. You remember the story of Gethsemane. It is such a holy. Scene. It is beyond really. Words. Even his disciples did not understand. What's going to happen. But the Lord Jesus was clear. He was going to be the sin bearer. He who knows no sin. Was to become seeing itself. That was a terrible thing. You know. If you are a very clean person. And suppose another person. Came and stayed with you. And he was undisciplined. Unclean. Throwing things around. Never in order. Now how do you feel about it? Probably you will kick him out. As quickly as possible. But our Lord Jesus. Who knows no sin. Absolutely. Knows no sin. Was to be made. Sing for us. Just think of that. It is beyond our understanding. And that very thing disturbed him. Deeply. His disciples did not understand. He asked his three beloved disciples. To stay awake with him. To pray with him. But they went to sleep. And here he alone. In the garden of Eden. Struggled over this matter. Whether he will. Accept. See. To be. His life. He who was sinless. So clean. He was going to be. The dirtiest. The sinful person. Most sinful person. In the world. Because all the sins of the world. Was to be. His. Brothers and sisters. We cannot imagine. What our Lord Jesus went through. In the garden. Of Gethsemane. We only knew. How he prayed. Even he. Prayed. Father. It may be possible. Let this pass from me. But immediately he said not my will. But I will. Be done. And in the garden of Gethsemane. He accepted. The father's will. He went to Calvary. To be crucified. On the cross. Awkwardly he was the Roman government. That crucified him. Awkwardly he was. The Pharisees. The scribes. The God. Governing body. Of the Jewish assembly. It was. The Jewish nation. That rejected him. The Gentile nation. Crucified him. And yet brothers and sisters. Actually. He accepted. The father's. Will. To become a singing offering. For the world. And that's Calvary. Brothers and sisters. Today we are here this morning. It is because. Of what he has done. Not only. In the garden of Gethsemane. But also. At Calvary's cross. We glory in the cross. Of Jesus Christ. Thank God that. By believing in him. Our sins. Were all admitted. Forgiven. We are closed. With him. As our righteousness. Before God. And that is. The beginning. Of our salvation. Brothers and sisters. We have to remember one thing. That to have our sins forgiven. And to have the promise. Of paradise. That is the beginning. Not the end. Of our salvation. How often. After we believe in the Lord Jesus. And are saved. We think that's. About all. But we need to know. That this is the just the beginning. Of our salvation. God has something. Far more. Glorious. And important. A link with his. Eternal purpose. In our life. Nobody as we are. Yet God. Has a commission. Upon all of us. In other words. He wants. Us. To be a specimen. And also. His instrument. In his head. For his eternal. Purpose. So brothers and sisters. We who are saved. Or not just take it as. As some people say. As my two feet. Can be within the gates of heaven. I'm satisfied. But maybe you are satisfied. God is not satisfied. Because this is. Not why God. Created man. In the first place. He created us with a glorious purpose. He wants not only to save us. And by saving us. Is to bring all things. To the feet. Of Jesus. You know brothers and sisters. What is meant by being saved? When you are saved. Not only your sins are forgiven. Though your sins be. As red as scarlet. They shall be white. As snow. I believe we all experience that. I can recall. Very clearly. Back in 1915. I was born. I was born in a Christian family. My father loved the Lord. We have family altar every night. I was brought up in Christian. Schools. I was considered as a good. Christian. And yet. When the spirit of God touched me. I know I'm the chief of sinners. You may wonder how can a boy. Of 50 years old. Sometimes will sit by himself. And wet. Because of his sins. But thank God. In his mercy. He has saved me. Brothers and sisters. There's the way that the Lord. Has given grace to each and every one of us. And do you think that is all? No. That is the beginning. If we take this as our all. Not only we will suffer for it. But how God. Will suffer. Because we have not accomplished. His eternal. Purpose. Dear brothers and sisters. You are connected. With the eternal purpose. Of God. You are to be a recipient. As well as. A worker. For the eternal purpose of God. Concerning his beloved son. So that's how our Christian life. And our ministry will begin. You know we all have. A Christian life to live. And this Christian life. Is related also. To our Christian work. When we. Are saved. What happened. In our lives. Not only our sins are forgiven. But God has done something much more. Before that. Our spirit. Was dead in sin. And transgressions. And because of that. We have no communication with God. Because God. Is a spirit. I always remember when the cosmonaut. The Russian cosmonaut. First went to outer space. He came back and declared. There is no God. Why because he said. I have been to outer space. I look around. I do not see God at all. Therefore. There is no God. But brothers sisters. This is a foolish thing. Because God is spirit. And you can only contact him by spirit. And if your spirit was dead. In sins and transgressions. How can you contact God. By your soul. By thought. By mind. By emotion. Or. By your physical body. You cannot contact God. That way. You have to contact him. With your spirit. So brothers and sisters. When we are saved. The first positive things is. Our spirit. Became alive. And it becomes. A new spirit. That is a spirit. That is cleansed by the precious. Blood. As a spirit. Within us. That can communicate. With God. So you can. Cry out. To God. About. Father. That's the first thing. That's happened in our spirit. We can communicate. With God. And I believe we all have. That experience. But more than that. We know that. Christ Jesus. Came into. Our spirit. And became the life. Of our spirit. More than that. God gave. The Holy Spirit. To come into our spirit. And dwell there. Now we want to ask the question. Why does God give us the indwelt. Holy Spirit. Every brother and sister. Has the indwelt. Holy Spirit. Now why God. Put the Holy Spirit. Into us. There is one reason. And that is. By the indwelt. Holy Spirit. We are to bring all things. In us. To the feet. Of our Lord Jesus. And that is. Christian life. You know Christian life is not something. External. Many Christians. Today. Live their Christian life. Only in an external way. In Richmond where I live. On the Lord's Day. Where we. Drive to the meeting place. Because we live in Huguenot Road. On that road there are many. So called Christian. Churches. You have Catholic. You have Protestant. And you have Jewish. And I always. When we drive through. I would look at these. Different buildings. And see how many cars. Were there in each of these places. That represent how many people. Were in the building. To so called worship God. But brothers and sisters. Many people serve God. Only externally. That is to say. To keep some rules. And revelation. Regulations. Given. By the church authority. That on Sunday. You have to go. To church. That's your duty. And you have to read your Bible. You have to pray. You have to. Share. Christ with other people. And if you do all these things. You are a good Christian. Brothers and sisters. Christian life. Is more than that. Christian life is an inward way. That is to say. How inwardly. You will grow. In the life of Christ. Within you. And that is the reason why. We have the indwelt. Holy Spirit. Brothers and sisters. Have you experienced. The working of the indwelt. Holy Spirit. In your Christian life. I believe. Immediately after you are saved. The Holy Spirit. In you. Begins to work. The work of the indwelt. Holy Spirit is. To bring everything in you. To the feet. Of Jesus. That he may head up. All things. In your life. And the Holy Spirit. Works very gently. He knows our situation. And in the beginning. Probably he will only work something. That concerns. Your outward behavior. Suppose you are a person. Who like to boast. And whenever you boast. You feel fine. So you become the center. Of any. Gathering. But after you believe in the Lord Jesus. Something happens. When you begin to boast. To say something which is. Untrue. In order to attract attention. What comes. Instead of feeling. Great. You feel. Down. Something someone. Is telling you. You have said too much. Stop. And our experience is usually. In the beginning. We did not listen. To the still small voice. We continue to speak. But the result is. Instead of feeling fine. Glorious. Uplifted. You feel downward. You feel grieved. You feel you have done. Something wrong. And your contact with God. Was stopped. You have to. Confess your sin. And ask the forgiveness of the Lord. And to have your. Communication with God. Restored. And brothers and sisters. I believe this has happened to you. And sometimes positively. You lost something. And you just. Pray. And ask the Lord. To open your eyes. To find that which was lost. And do you have such experience. That after you pray. The loss was found. Or you usually go to. Certain places. And after you believe in the Lord Jesus. The spirit of God within you. Tell you. You as a Christian. Should not go to such place. But you harden your neck. You continue to go. But your feeling afterwards. Was entirely different. To illustrate. Myself. I was a pastor's son. But strangely. I love movie. The first thing I look at newspaper. Is the movie news. And it so happened. I have a friend. Who have. Whose family. Owns a movie house. So I can go with him. To see movie without pain. And as a pastor's son. I dare not go. To see movie on Sunday. Because I think Sunday. Is a holy day. But on Saturday. I usually. Be in a movie house. And after I was saved. I still go to movie. House. But somehow. People began to tell me. You are a Christian. You shouldn't. Go to movie house. To see movies. And I usually argue with him. I say I only see good movies. Religious movies. What's wrong with that? But brothers and sisters. The holy spirit within me. Will not let me go. He was very gentle. But he was very persistent. He continued to speak to me. Outwardly I argue with people. Why. Should I not go to movie house. But inwardly I'm getting. Weaker and weaker. Until finally I decided. I said. All right. I will not go to a movie. House. But I did not tell anybody. Why because I'm afraid. That I may not be able. To keep my promise. And sure enough. After a few months. People. Gave my family. Some tickets. To go to a movie house. To see a religious movie. I still can remember vividly. It was Noah's Ark. Now I argue with myself. What's wrong. To see a. Religious movie. I could not. Resist the temptation. So I. Went to that movie house. And look at that picture. But brothers and sisters. During the two hours. Outwardly I was looking at the movie. Inwardly I was fighting. All the time. But strangely. I hope the movie will go over quickly. And yet I did not leave. The movie house. Until it is finished. But dear brothers and sisters. Thank God. As I walk out of the movie house. That was the end of it. So brothers and sisters. The law would deal with us. Outwardly. Our manner of life. Even our closing. The law would deal with us. Is it proper for a Christian. To be dressed. Like this. It is as if the Lord has taken care. Of every detail. Of our life. Brothers and sisters. We should thank God. For the indoor Holy Spirit. That no matter how much. We have seen against him. He is still willing. To bring us back to Christ. That it is. It may be all of Christ. And none of ourselves. And usually. Begin with small things. Without with things. But gradually you find. The Holy Spirit. Will begin to work deeper. He will work with our. Not only with our emotion. He will work with our mind. And he will. Work with our will. For instance. You remember your. Matthew chapter 10. Our Lord Jesus. 12 disciples. Send them out. To be apostles. To preach the gospel. And the Lord told them. Many things. And one of the expectations was. We knew in the Old Testament time. We were given. The commandment. Honor. Love. Your parents. But strangely. There in Matthew chapter 10. The Lord said. If you love your father and mother. More than me. You cannot be my disciple. If you love your brothers and sisters. Your wife and even your own life. You cannot be. My disciple. He that loves his life. That is so life. Cannot be my disciple. Brothers and sisters. You know the Lord. Begins to deal with our emotion. Are we emotionally. Completely. Yielded to the Lord. And allowed him. To take charge. Of our emotional life. I believe. In my life. I was challenged by that. The spirit of God within me. Began to. Ask me this question. And actually. If I tell you this story. You know when I was a baby. I was baptized. With a few sprinkling. On my head. I didn't know anything about it. Maybe I cry after that. I don't know. But I was baptized. So after I was saved. People began to talk to me. That I should be. Baptized by immersion. And I over argue with them. I say no. I have been baptized. Even if it is only a sprinkling. Of a few waters. On my head. And yet. I was baptized in the name of the Father. The Son and the Holy Spirit. I honor his name. I cannot dishonor. The name of the Lord. That's my argument. Again and again. People. Talk to me about baptism. I always argue it against them. But brothers and sisters. As I was reading the Bible. I began to see. That immersion is the only way. Of baptism because. It tells us of. Death. Burial. And resurrection. I remember the last time. I argued about this thing. A friend of mine. Argued with me. And I argued back with him. And he gave me up. He thought I was. Hopeless. And he went to sleep. And I alone sat there. Praying. I said Lord. You know I will be baptized. By immersion. But this is not the time. Because I was still a minor. I love my father. My father was a pastor. I love my father. I did not want to worry him. I told the Lord. After. I became independent. Then I will be baptized. By immersion. But suddenly a voice. Came to me. He that loves his father and mother. More than me. Cannot be. My disciple. This. Broke me down. I often want to be. The disciple. Of our Lord Jesus. So I told the Lord. If this is. Your way. I'll do it. I went downstairs from my. Friend's apartment. And knocked the door. Of the next door. Where brother Watchman Lee. Lived. He came down and opened the door. He knew me. And he said what do you want? I say. I want to be baptized. He said did your father know it? Because he knew my father. I said no. But I felt. The Lord told me to do it. Brothers and sisters. I believe you have experiences. Such as this. The Lord will begin with your life. In bringing. Your emotion. To the feet. Of Jesus. Is your emotion. At the feet of Jesus. Not only our emotion. But also our mind. You remember the story. In Matthew chapter 16. After Peter. Acknowledged Jesus as the Christ. The son of the living God. God said. You are Simon. You are Peter. I will build my church upon this rock. And the gates of Hades shall not prevail. Against it. You know how Peter was elated. But then afterwards. The Lord began to tell them. How he will go to Jerusalem. How he will. Be killed. But on the third day. He will rise up again. And you know what Peter did? Peter lay hold of the Lord. You know you can see the picture. In your mind. He took hold of the Lord. And shook him up. Lord never do that. You don't do it. That way. And you remember the Lord turned around. And said. Satan. Get thee behind. Because you are not mindful. Of the things of God. But you are mindful. Of your things. Brothers and sisters. Our mind. Needs to be dealt with. To bring in. All our thoughts. To the feet. Of Jesus. Not only our mind. But even our will. God has created us with a will. An independent will. But he wants that will. To be surrendered. To him. You know the scene. In Luke. When our Lord Jesus. Was in the garden of Gethsemane. How he prayed. If it is possible. But not by will. Thy will be done. Brothers and sisters. Is your will. Being brought to the feet. Of Jesus. Or do you still have. Your own independent will. When God began to show you. What his will is. But you will not. Because. You have your own will. So dear brothers and sisters. Christian life is very real. In our daily. Living. The indwell Holy Spirit. Is bringing us. Back to the Lord. Jesus. Our whole being. Will gradually be brought. To the feet of Jesus. And this is bringing all things. To the feet of Christ. And this is. Our work. So brothers and sisters. Do not think. Only of the world outside work. But there is a inward work. More important. Than outside work. Whether we. Every one of us. Will bring all things. In our life. Into the feet of Jesus. That God's eternal purpose. May be fulfilled. In us. So dear brothers and sisters. Just this. Little things. And yet. It was so important. So may the Lord help us. To really. In our life. Be in tune. With the eternal purpose. Of God. Concerning man. Let us pray. Dear Lord. As we. Share these simple things. And yet they are so necessary. And important. In your eyes. Lord pray that we may not. Neglect. Our inner life. Do not allow us to be so involved. In outward works. That we forget there is an inward work. That thy spirit is working. In each one of us. So Lord we commit ourselves to thee. And say Lord by thy spirit. Guide and lead us. That we may be able. To bring all things in our life. To the feet of Jesus. That thy eternal purpose. May be fulfilled. We ask in thy precious name. Amen.