This sermon focuses on the mystery of God and the church, emphasizing the importance of being prepared for the imminent return of the Lord. It delves into the revelation of God's will and the purpose of bringing all things under the authority of Christ. The speaker highlights the significance of understanding God's plan for humanity and the role each individual plays in fulfilling the great mystery of God.

Will you please turn to 1 Corinthians, 1 Corinthians chapter 4, we'll read verse 1 and verse 2. Let a man so account of us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Here further, it is sought in stewards that a man be found faithful. May we have a further word of prayer. Dear Lord, we do praise and thank thee for being so good, so gracious, so merciful to us. We thank thee for the privilege of being gathered together in thy name. Thank thee for thy precious promise where two or three are gathered together in my name. There am I in their midst. Lord, may thy presence be manifested among us. As we gather in thy presence, oh dear Lord, we bow our knees and worship. Thou art our Lord. What hast thou to say to us? Speak, thy servants heareth. We commit this time into your hand and pray that thou will use this time to speak to us, to our hearts and draw us closer to yourself. Prepare us Lord for thy imminent return. We ask in thy precious name. Amen. Thank God for gathering us together this morning. I always feel such gathering is a special grace and mercy of God. I believe brothers and sisters, we all are expecting our Lord's return. He has promised us. He said to us, I come quickly. And we believe that it is about time. That he will come. But brothers and sisters, the problem is not his coming. The problem is whether we are prepared for his return. I do send the Lord to give us opportunities again and again to prepare us for his return. So we do pray Lord that he will use this time to really prepare each and every one of us. That when he shall come, he will find us ready for him. And this is all for his own glory. And that is the purpose of our time together. The theme for this time is the mystery of God and the church. And my responsibility is to share with you a general outline of this subject. The mystery of God and the church. This morning, we would like to concentrate on this matter of the mystery of God. First of all, brothers and sisters, we know that God, he is the greatest mystery in the universe. Unless he reveals himself, nobody can know him. You remember in the conversation between Job and his three friends. One of his friends, Sopha, he mentioned in Job chapter 11 verse 7. Job chapter 11 verse 7. Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection? In other words, God is beyond our searching. No matter how we search, we may know something about God. But we will not be able to really know him. But thank God, our God is one who reveals himself. You remember the story in Genesis chapter 16. When Haggai fled from her mistress. And the angel of the Lord met her. And revealed God's mind towards her son. And because of this, Haggai, he said, thou art the God who reveals himself. So brothers and sisters, unless God reveals himself, we will know nothing about him. Because he is far beyond us. I remember in the early days, Brother Watsman Lee had a fellow worker. Her name was Ruth Lee. I knew her very well. She was like a spiritual mother to me. Now this sister, before he believed in the Lord Jesus, she was a very learned person. But she was an atheist. One time he was invited to Nanking to be the matron of a girl's school. And before she went, her relative, who was a believer, told her that in that government school, there was a piano teacher who was very zealous for the Lord. And through her, a number of the girls came to know the Lord. But Ruth Lee said, I'm not afraid of that. Because she was a devout atheist. So after he went to that school, he confiscated all the Bibles that these students had. He was deadly against Christ. She was spoken to. But she refused to accept the Lord. And there was a time when there was unrest in Nanking. So the school had to send these girls back to their homes. She was to accompany some girls from Nanking to Shanghai by boat. And while he was on the boat, she looked at her surroundings. Looked at all the beautiful mountains. Suddenly, she felt, there must be a God. So after they arrived in Shanghai, she asked a fellow teacher, who was a Christian, for a Bible. And she started to study the Bible. And by studying the Bible, she was wonderfully saved. And later on, she became one of the earliest fellow worker of Watchmen. But brothers and sisters, she might be able, through the scenery she saw, to have an idea that there must be a God. But that doesn't mean that she knew God. She knew God through the study of the Bible. God revealed himself to her. And I believe probably you have heard of Brother Boxing. He was greatly used by God. In India. He came from a wealthy family. His father was an industrialist. He wanted to go to England to study. So he asked the help of his mother. And his mother gave him a condition. She said, I will talk to your father and help you to go to England. On one condition. That you will never change your religion. And of course, Boxing promised his mother that he would never change his religion. So on that condition, he went to England to study. He tried to be like an Englishman. He wanted to dress like them. To act like them. And one time there was a touring of Canada. And he wanted to see Canada. So he went with a group on the boat. Now at that time, on Sunday morning. There will be a Christian meeting in the first class. He wanted to see the first class. So he attended that meeting. While the preacher was preaching, he heard nothing. But after the preaching. The preacher asked everybody to kneel down. To pray. And as a courtesy, he knelt down too. But he wanted to get out. But he couldn't because he was surrounded by people. But anyway, that gave him such an impression of God. That after he arrived in Canada. He asked his colleague. Who was a Christian. To give him a Bible. He wanted to read it. And he read it. All the way. Until he came to John. The gospel of John. And through the reading of the word. God revealed himself. To him. Brother Voxing was greatly used by God in India. Wherever he went. The Bible. Was also. Brothers and sisters. We thank God. For he is a God. Who reveals himself. Otherwise. We will have no chance of knowing him. Brothers and sisters. God is not only. The greatest mystery in the world. Thank God. He is also one. Who reveals himself. And it is revelation. Of him. That we really need. But God not only himself. Is a great mystery. The Bible tells us. He had. A great mystery. In his heart. When you look at Ephesians chapter 1. Verses 9 and 10. You will find that God. Before the foundation of the world. There is. The mystery of his will. You know God is the greatest will. In the universe. That is why when he created man. He created man. With a will. Because he was the will. Of the universe. And before the foundation of the world. He made a will. According to his good pleasure. It pleases him. And after this will. He created. All things. But God is one. Who is able to keep it secret. For centuries. You know when we have a secret. Probably it will be out. Very soon. We will tell people. This is a secret. You are the only one. I am to share with you. But we know the secret is out. Everybody seems to know your secret. But God is not like that. He is one who is able to keep it secret. For centuries and centuries. Even when he began. To create all things. And all things had been created. And God. The secret was still. Hidden. What a secret this must be. Because it is this secret. That started God. On creating. The universe. Many times had gone by. History after history. Had occurred. But the secret was still. Kept. Nobody knows. Why God created. The universe. Nobody knows. Why everything happened. In history. Why did God allow all these things. To happen. Nobody knows. Not until. He revealed his secret. To the apostles. And the prophets. In the New Testament time. That is what you find. In Ephesians chapter 3. Brothers and sisters. This is the greatest mystery. In the universe. Aside God himself. The mystery of his will. But thank God today. It has been revealed. So the apostle Paul. In Ephesians chapter 3 tells us. He has revealed that. To the apostles and the prophets. Of the New Testament time. Now brothers and sisters. Since this is. A great secret. Since this you can sense. Controls the whole universe. And all the actions. Of God. Throughout time. It must be a tremendous. Mystery. Thank God it has been revealed. To us today. So brothers and sisters. It is a privilege. To know what that will. What that mystery is. And it is God's intention. That every one of us. Should be familiar. With that mystery. Not only in the sense of knowing. What it is. But in the sense of being involved. In that mystery. So if you turn to Ephesians. Chapter 1. Ephesians. Chapter 1. We read from verse 9. Having made known to us. The mystery of his will. According to his good pleasure. Which is purpose in himself. For the administration. Of the fullness of time. To head up. All things in the Christ. The things in the heavens. And the things upon the earth. So brothers and sisters. What is this great mystery? Of God. It is that one day. He wants all things. To be summed up. In Christ. God has. One beloved son. He loved his son so much. That is the reason. Why he created all things. He wanted to give everything. To his son. So the will is. The mystery of the will is. That his son is to sum up. To head up. All things. In other words. Everything will speak of Christ. Everything will reveal Christ. That is the reason. For creation. That is the reason for you and me. What is the purpose? Of creating. You and me. The purpose is. That in our lives. It may reveal. That Christ is the head. Of all things. Otherwise. There is no meaning to our life. Brothers and sisters. Do you wonder why? You live. What is the real purpose? Of life. It is just to enjoy the world. Enjoy what God has created. For you. Have a good time. Or it is something. Far more precious. Precious and honorable. God's purpose. For man. Is that we may. Use of God. To bring all things. Under the feet. Of Jesus. Do you know why? You are saved. Is it because. Heaven is so empty. That God wants to fill heaven with people. Of course not. God saves you and me. With a real. Purpose. And a glorious task. That he has committed to us. It is to. Bring all things. To the feet of the Lord Jesus. That our Lord Jesus. Is able to head up all things. To sum up. All things. Now probably. We do not quite understand what does it mean. To head up all things. Or to sum up all things. In Christ. But thank God there is another illustration. In the Bible. In Romans. Chapter 13. In Romans chapter 13. Please turn to it. We will read from verse. Nine. And 10. For thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not lust. And if there be any. Any other commandment. It is summed up. In this word. Namely. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love works no ill. To its neighbor. Love therefore. Is the whole law. We all know that. In the Old Testament time. God gave the children of Israel. The 10 commandments. And all the laws. But. There is. One thing there were some of. All these laws. No matter what it is. Thou shalt not. Commit adultery. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not lust. Or any other commandment. Whatever commandment it may be. You may sum it up. In one thing. And that is love. Your neighbor as yourself. In other words. Love is the sum total. Of all these commandments. Why does God give. The children of Israel. These commandments. Because through these commandments. You may be able to be brought. To love. One another. And that is the sum of the law. So in like manner. No matter. How many commandments there may be. No matter what things it may be. It will all be sum up. In one thing. And that is Christ. He is all. And in all. And brothers and sisters. This is a tremendous. Mystery. This explains everything. This explains you and me. Why are we saved. In the first place. Out of the millions. And millions of people. Why is it God should. Show special mercy. Upon us. To save us. It is not because. Of you. And me. Ourselves. It is because God has a plan. For you and me. God wants to use us. As his instrument. And vessels. For his great mystery. That it may be Christ. All and in all. In us. And of course we know. This is a very long history. In the beginning. God created the heavens. And the earth. That is Genesis chapter one. Verse one. That is the beginning. Of creation. But as we read the Bible very carefully. We find. In the beginning. Of God's creation. There was no man. The highest of his creation. Was an angel. God created the heavens and the earth. And he created the angels. Spirits. And these angels. Were to serve. God. And among the angels. As we find. In Ezekiel chapter 28. There was. One angel. Called Lucifer. The bright and shining light. He was the highest creation. Of the former. Creation. He was gifted. He was almost perfect. He was anointed. Angel. To guard. The throne of God. And after he was created. As Ezekiel. 28 tells us. God used. The king. As a type. But when you read that you know. No king on earth. Is qualified. With the description. So we know the Lord has used that. To tell us. That in the very beginning of creation. The highest created. Was the angel and among the angels. The highest. Was Lucifer. The bright and shining star. He was anointed. To keep the throne of God. To lead the worship. Of the angels. He was given great gift. Musical. And he was beautiful. Beyond description. The Bible tells us that in the beginning. He was good. He was doing all. That God has created him for. Bringing glory to God. But gradually. Because of his beauty. And his talents. He began to be conscious. Of himself. He began. To want. To be equal with God. That you find in Isaiah chapter 14. Five times he said. I want, I want, I want. I want, I want. He wanted to be equal with God. In other words. From the New Testament. Understanding. He wanted the place. Of God's son. Jesus Christ. And because of this. Of his pride. He was dismissed. From the third heaven. And very. Truly. The earth. That we know now. Was under his domain. So therefore when Lucifer. Was dismissed from heaven. All that. Was under his domain. Enter into curse. And judgment. That's why you find in the second verse. Of Genesis chapter one. The earth became void. And empty. The earth become. Purposely. And ruin. So actually Genesis chapter one. From verse two onward. Is the restoration. Of the created. Earth. God used six days. To restore the earth. To be habitable. Now brothers and sisters. It is easy. For God. To finish Lucifer. God can do it with his breath. But that didn't give God glory. Just like a grown up man. Beating a little child. There was no glory. To that man. So in order that everything. Will glorify God. God has a plan. And in that plan. He created man. The Bible tells us man. Is made a little lower. Than the angels. Man is not as powerful. As the angels. And yet. God will use man. To defeat Lucifer. And all his plan. And to restore. God's mystery. In the very beginning. So dear brothers and sisters. What an honor it is. For us man. We should know. That God created us. With a very. High and important. Purpose. We are not just here casually. We are saved. For a reason. And it is for the great mystery. Of God. In other words brothers and sisters. Powerless. Little as we are. God has great plan. For our life. And this is the reason. Why we as Christians. We need to know. What is God's purpose. In creating us. What is God's purpose. In saving us. What is it that God is doing. In our lives. We need to know the purpose. Of our life. That it is. In connection. With the mystery of God. That we should be instrument. Vessels and instruments. Of God's great purpose. We are committed. To bring everything. To the feet. Of our Lord Jesus. So brothers and sisters. This is the meaning. Of life. Sometimes you know. We feel that life is meaningless. Probably we are tired. Of living. But whenever we are reminded. That God has a marvelous. Purpose. For us. That should revive us. That should enable us. To press on. Towards the goal. So brothers and sisters this morning. This is all that I want to share. Just to impress upon. Every one of us. That you are. Precious. To God. That God has a definite. Plan for you. You are to do the greatest. Work in the universe. Because you are. To bring all things. To the feet of Jesus. Thank God. That he should be. So mindful of us. Let us pray. Dear Lord we want to send thee. That thou has great. Plan for us. So small as we are. Weak as we are. And yet Lord thou has committed to us. The greatest mystery. That thou has hidden. Even from the foundation of the world. Until thou has revealed it. To the apostles. And the prophets of our time. So Lord we want to thank thee. For creating us. As man. We want to thank thee. For saving us. That by thy grace Lord. We may be used of thee. To accomplish. The great mystery of God. In bringing all things. To the feet. Of our dear Lord Jesus Christ. Dear Lord we thank thee. For the meaningfulness. Of life. Life is not a waste. Lord. Life is precious to thee. And therefore it is precious to us. So we want to offer ourselves. Totally and completely. And without any reservation. To thee Lord. That thy purpose for creating us. For saving us. Might be realized. In each of our lives. May thou be glorified. In the midst of the redeemed. We ask in the name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.