DAY 96 - THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD
KEATON TUCKER, YA GROUPS TEAM LEAD
So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Ephesians 3:10
A few days ago Connor sent us a video of a girl who had been delivered by Jesus from new age spirituality. In this video, this girl shares her testimony about the practices she used and how she would invite different spirits into her body, which gave her a sense of power but also of oppression, like she wasn’t safe. The video was very enlightening.
Earlier, Paul wrote in the letter to the Ephesians that prior to Jesus, the people at the church of Ephesus were “following the prince of the power of the air”. (Ephesians 2) and at the end of Ephesians he writes “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the rulers, the authorities, against cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6)
There is invisible evil behind all of the evil you can see.
The word Paul uses for “heavenly” is epouranios which has its root is the greek word ouranos. It’s translated as heaven, but can also be translated as air or atmosphere. There is a closeness to the word. It’s all around us.
But it is through the church, that the manifold wisdom of God is made known to them. God has a plan to defeat all of these rulers and authorities through his church, his united church, where all are welcome to participate in the Kingdom of his son. Manifold means “having many forms.” God has enough wisdom to use all people in his church to defeat evil.
He does it through love, hope, kindness, patience, goodness, hospitality, unity, prayer, worship, preaching, and through everyone who proclaims Jesus Christ as Lord, the head over all things. Paul has given us two prayers in Ephesians for us in this battle against invisible evil, one for eyes to see (Ephesians 1) and strength with power (Ephesians 3). May we all take these prayers to God so that through his church, evil may hear the message: Your time here is done.
The Kingdom of God will come. The will of God will be done. On earth, as it is in Heaven.
Grace and Peace to you.