Why God Is The Greatest Mystery Writer of All Time [Podcast]

One of the most widely used phrases about God involves this area of mystery. ‘God moves in mysterious ways — His wonders to perform’ is what people have parroted for millennial on end. Yet, when you understand what the Bible says about the subject of mystery – you will find that in some ways, He is not as baffling as you would suppose. There are some areas that God kept hidden in His ‘all-knowingness’ but then chose to reveal. We see that mystery unveiled in the pages of the New Testament. You know, since time began, it seems as if there’s been separation among humankind. Prejudice, bitterness, segregation, hatred, disturbance, hurt, anger, and division rage between people. They rage in the hearts of husbands and wives, children and parents, students and teachers, neighbors and workmen, races and religions, denominations and organizations, neighborhoods and nations. Division in all its various forms is one of the most significant problems confronting the world. It is the most severe problem facing men, for as long as men are divided from God and each other, there is no hope of man’s ever being reconciled to God. One of the mysteries hidden in God was to create a new body of people, a people who will love Him and each other supremely. ¹ Today, we focus on this subject of mystery and Why God Is the Greatest Mystery Writer of All Time – all in this week’s Light On Life.

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Each week’s podcast contains a call to action. The Word of God will not produce in your life unless you put it into operation.

This weeks ‘Call to Action’ is:

God cloaking some of His plan in mystery means things are hidden for you, not necessarily from you. Are you trusting the Lord to reveal to you what you need to know to fulfill His plan for your life?/callout]

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Each week’s podcast also contains a question designed to encourage testimony. Testimony is vital to a believer’s life. We overcome by it (Rev. 12:11).
This week’s question is:

Question of the Day: How does the fact that some things are hidden for you make you feel about how special you are in God’s eyes? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below./callout]

Episode Resources

You can find more information on the book of Ephesians by clicking on the links below.

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 42 years ago. He has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. Both he and his wife Sharon of 38 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is both the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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If you enjoyed the podcast, please rate it on Stitcher Radio and leave a review. If you have a suggestion for a Bible topic you would like to see taught, or if you have a question, please e-mail me at emery@emeryhorvath.com.

Podcast Notes

The Mystery of His Will

Ephesians 1:7–10 ESV— In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Mystery, that’s what we are looking at today.
And so we need to start off and already know what I’m going to say because we need to define terms to understand what we are talking about.
And, so with that thought, here is the Definition of the Day.

Definition of Mystery

Mystery is a wonderfully important word to define for our lesson today.
The Greek word ‘mystery’ means a divine secret in God not revealed to all but only a few.
Louw Nida is a classical Greek lexicon and, it would help you know what a classical Greek lexicon is and how it would help you.

Matthew 13:11 (ESV) — 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

The word ‘secrets’ here is the same word mystery in Ephesians one.
The background to this statement that Jesus made is the Parable of the Sower.
Jesus told the disciples that the sower sows the Word and then described the result of the Word planted in different types of ground.
When the disciples asked Jesus why He did that — why He spoke in Parables instead of using plain and simple language, Jesus declared that the mysteries of the Kingdom were meant to remain mysteries to the religious hypocrites.
But not to true lovers of God.

How Does Classical Greek Differ from New Testament Greek?

You know there is classical Greek, and there’s New Testament Greek.
Classical Greek is the Greek used for about 500 years, from the 9th century BC to the 4th century BC.
A 3000-year-old language is essential because some of our English words come from classical Greek.
But then there’s also New Testament Greek which is Koinonia Greek.
This version of Greek was what was spoken by the common people of Jesus’ day.
Koinonia Greek is what the New Testament was written in — the common Greek language of everyday life, not classical Greek.
Louw Nida, a classical Greek lexicon, says that the word mystery or mustērion is “a hidden thing, a secret, a mystery, which has only been revealed “to an in-group or restricted constituency.”
So, you see, the definitions match.
Mystery is “the secret purposes and counsels which God intends to carry into effect in His kingdom.”
It is something which is not understood until revealed, and when revealed, not difficult of being understood by the Spirit-enlightened believer.”

What Is the Mystery of Ephesians One?

So, let’s lay out the mystery that Paul talks about here in Ephesians one.
Remember what Paul said.

‘…he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will…’  * Now, in Ephesians three, Paul lays out exactly what the mystery is.

Now, most people like a good mystery.
I know Sharon, and I enjoy a good mystery as long as the bad guy gets caught at the end.
Now in just a few sentences, Paul lays out the plan of God.
Remember, this is a 4000-year-old secret plan.
Don’t take this for granted.
Abraham had no clue of the plan — of the mystery.
Noah had no clue.
David had no clue.
None of the major prophets had a clue.
The minor prophets, we could say the same — they had no clue.
None of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, the scribes, the Pharisees, the lawyers, the experts of the Law, none of them had a clue.
So value what you are getting ready to read.
It was thousands of years in the making.
Here it is.

Paul Reveals the Mystery of Ephesians One

Ephesians 3:1–9 ESV — For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,

The Need for this Mystery: The Origin of Division

The need for the mystery came about via the early workings of man.
Adam sinned in the Garden.
Division is separation.
And, man experienced separation from the purpose of God when he yielded to the whisperings of the Serpent.
Mark this down, and don’t forget it.
You also will experience separation from the purpose of God for your life if you listen to the whisperings of the evil one.
So, that was the first division.
There was already a plan in the mind of God when the First Division took place.
God had already planned it already knew about it in his foreknowledge – He already had the details all worked out for man’s redemption.
But, division became the norm for man.
Cain followed suit – he separated from the purposes of God for his life and became a wandering Vagabond on the earth.
Then we have the whole tower of Babel escapade.
Man had grown increasingly evil and defiant and determined to do things his way.
So, God came down and aborted their defiance by confusing their languages.
What started as a division spiritually because man was doing his own thing apart from the Lord, God made real in the physical by confusing their languages. “You want division,” God said, “You think you know the way so much better than I — then, have the full measure of your thinking.” *So, man became separate from God, and it’s no wonder that man then became separate from one another.
Strife, envy, murder, racism, hatred all became magnified in a torrent of super sinful defiance.
Can you see that the great wisdom and plan of God here?
God’s going to take care of the first division by reconciling man back to God — by paying for man’s sin — by paying the ransom price and delivering man from the power of death, hell, and the grave.
He’s going to do this through Jesus.
God’s going to do this by sending Jesus.
He’s going to do this by offering Jesus as a perfect sacrifice for you and me.
Then, can you see that once man is reconciled to God, the next step in the process has to be for man to be reconciled to one another?
And that’s the mystery.

The Ramifications of Division

So, man is reconciled to God and reconciled to one another in the mind of the Most High.
The plan of God is that we walk out the mystery in our everyday life.
We must live ‘the reconciled life.’
And that reconciled life must be all-encompassing.
Therefore, strife and division and anything that separates us is an ugly devilish thing.
And, that’s what we see in the world today, that’s what we see in our government, and in our political landscape — we see defiance of the mystery.

Galatians 5:19–201(ESV) — 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Right in the middle of this passage, you see rivalries, dissensions, and division.
Divisions are part of the old nature.
The Greek word divisions mean factions or a circle of people with a common purpose who dissent from another group.
So, God’s plan in Jesus is to bring everybody together.
Since that’s the mystery that has been set for from the foundation of the world to reconcile God to man and man to one another, it has to be that we can deal with strife and divisions.
Because of Jesus shed Blood, we must have the capability in Jesus to walk free from a life of strife.
But, it doesn’t just take redemption; it takes ‘a walking’ out of that redemption.
The strife-free life is part of the mystery.
Jew and Gentile come together in Jesus.
Husband and wife come together in Jesus.
Brother and sisters can come together in Jesus.
Baptists and Pentecostals can come together in Jesus.
Republicans and Democrats can come together in Jesus.

Two ladies in a train coach were arguing about the window. One claimed she would die of heatstroke unless it was opened. The other insisted she would die of pneumonia if it wasn’t kept closed. The ladies called the conductor who was at a loss to solve the problem. It was then that the stranger sitting with them in the coach spoke up. “First, open the window. That will kill one. Then close it. That will kill the other. Then we’ll have peace.”²

Of course, this is a humorous illustration — there are better ways to peace — there are more significant ways to peace than eradication.
Strife is defined in an English dictionary as an angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues, a conflict.

James 4:1 (ESV) — 1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

Proverbs 13:10 (ESV) — 10 By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.

There Are Other Mysteries

The Mystery of Godliness

1 Timothy 3:16 (ESV) — 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.  * Great is the mystery of godliness.

To understand the Mystery of Godliness, you must first know what godliness is.
The Greek word ‘godliness’ means piety.
Now, you may say, ‘Well, what does piety mean?’
Godliness or piety is an umbrella word covering being devout, saintly, holy, spiritual — in some circles; religious is a word you would use.
We could say being a godly or pious person is a person of faith, a person of devotion, a person who has reverence, respect, or a fear of God.
All of these words fall under godliness.
So, there is a Mystery concerning godliness — how one becomes this type of person or how it is achieved.
Now the scripture tells us how it’s achieved.
Listen to it.

He was manifested in the flesh.

Who was manifested in the flesh? — well, Jesus was.
The Mystery of Godliness, or how a person becomes godly, starts with one of the greatest mysteries of all.
How did God become a baby?
The magnificent God of the Universe — how did He get inside of a baby in Bethlehem?
What are the mechanics, if you would, of Jesus, who was God and one with God, how did He become a man?
Now from here, it’s a short jump over to the Doctrine of the Trinity.
If God was manifested in the flesh in the form of Jesus, who was Jesus talking to when He said, Father, forgive them they know not what they do?
You have passages like Matthew 3:16–18.

Matthew 3:16–17 ESV — 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”  *Jesus is being baptized by John — the Spirit of God descends upon Him and a voice out of heaven declares this is my Son — that’s the Trinity.

So you see, people have tried to unravel the Trinity — you can’t.
It’s a mystery.
So, let’s get back to Jesus manifested in the flesh.
How did that happen?
Well, that’s a mystery.
And, you know what?
Some mysteries are going to remain mysteries.
Maybe some of them will be uncovered when we get to heaven.
But, for sure, if God wanted you to know all about it today, if He desired for you to know all the in’s and out’s — He would have laid it for us in His Word.
The fact that we don’t have that spelled out for us is a clue for our brain cells.
You don’t need to worry about it.
Don’t feel under pressure trying to explain it to someone.
Just believe it, declare it, and act like it’s so.
Don’t waste time trying to unravel the mystery because you won’t be able to make progress.
No level of IQ is high enough; there isn’t enough combined brain matter on planet earth to solve the mystery.
God not wanting it known is the definition of mystery, and if he didn’t want it known, that’s it.
I don’t care how many computers you have.
When it’s time for a mystery to be known, it will be revealed, not solved.
So, the Mystery of Godliness is God manifested in the flesh.
- vindicated by the Spirit,
- seen by angels,
- proclaimed among the nations,
- believed on in the world,
- taken up in glory.
Now, here’s another mystery.

The Mystery of Iniquity

2 Thessalonians 2:7 (ESV) — 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.

The next mystery is the mystery of iniquity.
Who is the Antichrist? — who is the man of sin?
Who or what is the Beast?
When is the Tribulation?
The Rapture? what about that? — when is it? — before the Tribulation – after the Tribulation — or, during the Tribulation?
Will there even be a Rapture?
It doesn’t matter what side of these questions you fall on because you know what?
The event has not happened.
It’s coming — it’s out in the future.
And, it’s all shrouded in mystery.
The Mystery of Lawlessness is precisely that — it’s a mystery.
There’s no use speculating on it.
There is no use wondering if this or that or the other.
A heinous world leader pops up, and people immediately began building a case why they thought that man might be the Antichrist.
Something happens that’s different in the world arena, and people immediately begin speculating and building a case why they think that’s the Mark of the Beast.
It sells books — it boosts social media traffic.
But, you know what? — when the dust all settles, it’s still part of a mystery — the Mystery of Lawlessness. *And until such time that God uncovers the mystery — you are wasting your time trying to pry the answer open.
Here’s another mystery.
One writer said this:

There is always something fascinating about a mystery. When a “Mystery Tour” is advertised, or a “mystery” of one kind or another hits the headlines in the newspapers, or some best-selling “mystery” novel is published, widespread curiosity is aroused and excitement is kindled. “I love to lose myself in a mystery,” confessed Sir Thomas Browne. Many of us would be ready to make the same admission.³

The Mystery of the Resurrected Body

1 Corinthians 15:51–53 (ESV) — 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

Behold, I show you a mystery: we shall not all sleep.
The Resurrection of the Righteous at the coming of the Lord was a mystery.
Paul said I am going to show it to you.
It was revealed to Paul, and the Lord directed him to share it with us.

1 Thessalonians 4:15–18 (ESV) — 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

But, before this time, no one knew about this.
The greatest of the prophets did not know about this.
God is the most fantastic mystery author of all time.
What is the bottom line of this mystery?
We shall all be changed.
There are two words here that need emphasis: ‘changed’ and the word ‘all.’
The saints of God, followers of Jesus, and lovers of God the Father will be changed — all of us.
Our mortal will put on immortality, and you will be changed.
What does changed mean?
You will have a glorified body just like the one Jesus has after God the Father raised Him from the dead.
He modeled that body during the 40 days He was alive after His resurrection and before His Ascension.

John 20:19 (ESV) — 19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

Luke 24:36–40 (ESV) — 36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

Note some incredible things about this Resurrected, glorified body.
First, it doesn’t have blood — Jesus said that His body was flesh and bone.
Where is the blood?
Jesus Blood was poured out for you and me.
He then took His Blood, or at least a portion of it, to heaven and sprinkled it on the altar there.

Hebrews 9:22–24 (ESV) — 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. 23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

When Jesus entered the Holy place, He didn’t go there empty-handed.
Here is the next fact — the doors were closed when Jesus entered the room where the disciples were.
How did He get into the room?
Remember, He has a body.
God in a body — in a human body — that’s the marvel of the Incarnation.
We’ve already alluded to that.
When Jesus rose from the dead — He still was confined — if you can say it that way — to a body.
Why? – because He is made like unto His brethren.
He is your representative before the Father.
But, this is a body with perks.
This glorified body can pass through walls.
How do we know that?
Jesus appeared amid the disciples while the doors were closed.
How did He get into the room?
The only answer? — He passed through the walls.
Just think for a moment about the marvelous machine that your human body is.
That’s what scientists say — it’s a marvel — the human brain? — they still can’t figure it out.
So, if parts of the human body are still wrapped in a mystery, what do you think about this glorified body that the saints will receive in a moment — in the twinkling of an eye?
Let’s repeat it — God is the greatest mystery writer of all time — He is the designer and the holder of all of the greatest secrets of the universe.
You guys have a great God-week in Jesus’s Name — Amen.

#S4-045: Why You Should Believe in the Rapture [Podcast]

___________
References:

Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Practical Illustrations: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2001), 32. ↩
Leslie B. Flynn, The Speakers Quote Book ↩
Ian MacPherson, Usable Outlines and Illustrations, Dollar Sermon Library Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1976), 25–27. ↩

emeryhorvath.com

Equipping people to pursue God's glory

Why God Is The Greatest Mystery Writer of All Time [Podcast]

Podcast: Light on Life Season 8 Episode 40

by Emery Horvath

Listen to the Audio

Click Play to Listen | Right Click to Download | Subscribe in Stitcher Radio

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources

You can find more information on the book of Ephesians by clicking on the links below.

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Podcast Notes

The Mystery of His Will

Definition of Mystery

How Does Classical Greek Differ from New Testament Greek?

What Is the Mystery of Ephesians One?

Paul Reveals the Mystery of Ephesians One

The Need for this Mystery: The Origin of Division

The Ramifications of Division

There Are Other Mysteries

The Mystery of Godliness

The Mystery of Iniquity

The Mystery of the Resurrected Body

Listen to the Audio

Click Play to Listen | Right Click to Download | Subscribe in Stitcher Radio

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources

You can find more information on the book of Ephesians by clicking on the links below.

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Podcast Notes

The Mystery of His Will

Definition of Mystery

How Does Classical Greek Differ from New Testament Greek?

What Is the Mystery of Ephesians One?

Paul Reveals the Mystery of Ephesians One

The Need for this Mystery: The Origin of Division

The Ramifications of Division

There Are Other Mysteries

The Mystery of Godliness

The Mystery of Iniquity

The Mystery of the Resurrected Body

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