Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.  Revelation 5:12

Handel’s Messiah is, undoubtedly, the greatest oratorio the world has ever known.  It has been part of my annual Christmas celebration for many years.  I prefer live performances, but often have to settle for a good recording.  (Try this Robert Shaw classic). 

I was first exposed to the full Messiah as an adolescent, when my mother took me along on a Sunday afternoon to hear a performance at the famous Moody Church in Chicago.  I was enthralled, and thought I had been transported to heaven when the choir sang Worthy is the Lamb! That selection is based on a passage from the book of Revelation chapters 4 and 5, and is a marvelous revelation from Jesus Christ to John the apostle of the universal worship of the Lamb of God that will characterize eternity.  There are four key elements in this passage that deserve our attention.

1.  The Awesome Setting (4:1-11)

John peers into heaven’s open doorway and sees something spectacular:  a throne on which God is seated.  His appearance is like the glimmer of precious stones.  Encompassing the Divine seat is an emerald-colored rainbow – presumably a complete circle, or perhaps a bubble of sorts – a token of God’s promises.

Also surrounding the throne of God are twenty-four other thrones, occupied by elders, who are clothed in white robes and decked with golden crowns.  Many scholars believe they are representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Adding to the intensity of the scene are thunder and lightning and voices, issuing forth from the Divine throne, reminiscent of the scene on Mt. Sinai when God spoke to the Israelites as Moses was receiving the ten commandments.   Blazing nearby the throne are seven torches, representing the Holy Spirit in His seven-fold ministry.  Before the throne is a sea of glass, smooth and shimmering like crystal, a picture of God’s infinite kingdom.

Perhaps the most terrifying images are the four beasts surrounding God’s throne, each having numerous eyes and six wings.  One looks like a lion, another like a bull, yet another like an eagle, and the fourth like a man.  Day and night they cry out:

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

This incessant proclamation prompts the elders to fall prostrate on their faces before God in profound worship, saying:

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

The setting is awesome and difficult to imagine in its splendor.  The glory of God is terrifying, yet beautiful.  Amidst this powerful backdrop, a drama ensues in chapter 5 which causes John to sorrow at first.

2.  The Uncertain Future (5:1-4)

The awesome setting of Revelation 4 turns into a stage for a moving drama in Revelation 5.  John notices a scroll in the hand of God, who is seated on the throne.  The scroll is sealed with seven seals which correspond to the seven initial judgments of the tribulation era of history yet to come.

An angel cries out, “Who is worthy to open the book?”  There is silence in heaven and on earth.  No one is qualified to predict the future, much less to bring judgment upon mankind.  No human, no angel, no demon, no astrologer; no one has a rank so exalted or moral attributes so perfect to even look upon the book.  Uncertainty about the future causes John to sob in great sorrow.

Uncertainty about the future is a cause of great consternation for mankind.  In recent years Hollywood has produced numerous movies focused on global natural disasters and apocalyptic catastrophes.   Best-selling books are now in bookstores that predict the end of the world according to Mayan mythology.  Amidst the curiosity about the future, someone has appropriately written:

Life is a book of volumes three:

The past, the present, and the yet-to-be.

The first is written and laid away;

The second we are writing day by day.

The next and last of the volumes three

Is locked from sight – God holds the key.

– Source unknown

One of the elders consoles John with good news.  “Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah … hath prevailed to open the book.”  Instantly, all attention is focused on a Lamb that appears center-stage.  It is an unusual Lamb, having seven horns and seven eyes, again, representing the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  The Lamb is qualified!

3.  The Worthy Lamb (5:5-10)

John is admonished not to weep, because the Lamb – a descendent of the royal King David – has prevailed.  The Lamb has emerged the victor in a struggle or conflict.  Christ has defeated sin, death, and hell on the cross of Calvary

… that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;  Hebrews 2:14

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.  Colossians 2:15

Why does Christ appear as a Lamb rather than a Lion?  In the Old Testament, spotless lambs were offered to atone for the sins of the people.  The imagery is fitting.  Christ was without sin and willingly gave Himself to die for the sins of the whole world.  He is the fulfillment of the type portrayed in the Old Testament sacrifices.

… He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.  Isaiah 53:7

… ye were not redeemed with corruptible things … but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:  1 Peter 1:18-19

Christ is the only One qualified to approach the throne of God and take the book.  He is the only One qualified to pronounce judgment on mankind.  What qualifies Him?  His blood atonement as “the Lamb of God.which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

He reaches out and takes the scroll from the right hand of the Father, and as He does, the elders – representing the Church — fall down and worship Him.

4.  The Universal Worship (5:11-14)

The Bible says that they sing a new song.  The hymn of praise is centered around the Lamb’s qualifications.

Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.  Revelation 5:9-10

Christ is worthy because of His death, burial, resurrection, and exaltation by God.  He has bought us back from bondage to sin and Satan.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;  Ephesians 1:7

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  2 Corinthians 5:21

Redeemed people love to sing praise to God in appreciation for His atoning work.  Think of it!  He has made us kings and priests and we shall reign on earth with Him in His millennial kingdom.  That is cause for shouting and rejoicing, not just for now, but for all of eternity.

Indeed, the choir of heaven will one day include peoples of every kindred (tribe or clan), tongue (language-speaking group), people (ethnicity), and nation (race).  We will all bow in worship, recognizing our unworthiness and extolling Christ’s worthiness.

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Revelation 5:12-13

The angels will join in this chorus – ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands – an innumerable host.  Not only that, every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and in the sea will join in the paean of praise.  Could this include animals?  Will the rocks cry out?  The inquisitive reader can study Luke 19:37-40 and Romans 8:20-22.

Whatever the case, we know that the Savior will be worshiped throughout eternity.  He is truly worthy!  So whenever you have opportunity, take time to listen to Handel’s Messiah, and start your eternal worship of Him now, “that in all things He might have the preeminence.”

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I proposed in Part 1 that Genesis 1:1 is the most important verse of the Bible because it is the hinge on which the entire Bible swings.  To eliminate this verse is to dramatically alter our understanding of how space, mass and time came into existence, and how history began.  In this second part we will examine the seven remaining truths, which are focused on how our understanding of God is shaped from the first verse of Genesis.

Ten Truths Implied in the First Verse of the Bible:

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

From Part 1:

1.  God made the space/mass/time continuum

2.  History begins here

3.  The end of history is implied here

4.  The existence of God is assumed

Genesis 1:1 presupposes the existence of God.  No apologetic is given.  He just appears on the scene as the subject of the first verse.  We must remember that God is God.  He does as He pleases.  His thoughts are not our thoughts.  His ways are not our ways.  He certainly does not need to condescend to man with an explanation for His existence.  Man must simply accept it by faith.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  Hebrews 11:6

Atheism and agnosticism are defiant philosophical rejections of God’s existence.  Incidentally, why do some men disbelieve in God?  Psalm 10:4 and 14:1 provide the answer:

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.

The words there is are italicized in the King James English text because they were added by the translators for supposed clarity of reading.  But the idea of the original is already clear:  the fool hath said in his heart, no God.  Perhaps the contemptuous declaration of man could be stated better:  no God for me!  Atheism and agnosticism are willful, blatant pronouncements of unbelief in the one true God who declares Himself in the very first verse of scripture.

5.  God is three in one

The Hebrew word el means God, singular.  In Genesis 1:1 the Hebrew word translated God is elohim, which is plural.  Why would a plural word be used for God when it is singular in its context?  The answer we learn later in the scriptures:  because God is a trinity of Father, Son and Spirit.  Genesis 1:26 is another case in point:  let us make man in our own image.  Plural pronouns are used in English to refer to the Three-In-One.  Thus, Genesis 1:1 introduces an amazing theological concept that has great impact on one’s understanding of the scriptures.

6.  God is eternal

Before Genesis 1:1, God existed.  He was there before man and the earth and, for that matter, before space, matter and time.  He has always been and always will be.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.  Psalm 90:2

One either has to believe in an eternal God or eternal matter.  To accept one is to reject the other.

We sometimes take for granted that time is linear, assuming that eternity is like a timeline stretching in both directions infinitely.  But that is not the case.  Einstein once said:

People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.

We are creatures of time, in part, because of gravitational forces.  God is not bound by time or gravity.  In fact, He is outside of the physical constraints of time.  Remarkably, He sees the past, present, and future simultaneously.  By way of illustration, if you were to watch a parade while sitting alongside the road, you would only be able to see what was in front of you at the time.  The floats and marching bands which had passed by earlier would be out of your sight, as would be the attractions yet to come.  Yet a reporter in a helicopter could view everything simultaneously.  God views time in the same way, referring to Himself as, the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity (Isaiah 57:15).

… for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done … Isaiah 46:9-10

7.  God is self-existent

How did God originate?  Genesis 1:1 implies that God is the cause of everything existing, yet He is uncaused.  He has always existed of Himself. That being the case, He is answerable to no one, especially man.  We, on the other hand, are created beings and therefore answerable to our Creator.

If the self-existence of God is difficult to understand, ponder the words of A.W. Tozer:

Few of us have let our hearts gaze in wonder at the I AM, the self-existent Self, back of which no creature can think.  Such thoughts are too painful for us.  We prefer to think where it will do more good – about how to build a better mousetrap, for instance, or how to make two blades of grass grow where one grew before.  And for this we are now paying a too heavy price in the secularization of our religion and the decay of our inner lives.

8.  God is monotheistic

Polytheism, the belief in many gods that is held by idolatrous cultures, is disproven in Genesis 1:1.  Elohim – used in a singular context, as noted above – is the Creator, not a pantheon of gods.  Idolatry is implicitly condemned and repudiated here, culminating in the first commandment, given many centuries later.

For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.  Psalm 96:5

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:  Deuteronomy 6:4

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  Exodus 20:3

9.  God is Sovereign

For a nation to be the sovereign world power, it must be inherently more powerful than other countries, having a greater military presence around the world, and possessing cutting-edge intelligence information.  For God to be the Creator of heaven and earth, He must possess these attributes to the superlative degree.  Indeed, He is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, making Him Sovereign over all.  There is no point of comparison between God and man.  He created all things and controls all things.

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  Colossians 1:16-17

When we understand the sovereignty of God we can rest in Him, knowing that our lives and destinies are under His control.

10.  We owe our existence to God; He owes us nothing

Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?  Romans 9:20

As feeble, created beings we are dependent on our Creator.  He is not dependent on us.  One who is self-existent, eternal, and sovereign does not need our worship or money or time or love, but He has graciously commanded that we give these things for His glory.

We would do well to remember that God does not need us.  But oh how we need Him!  Our place is not to question Him but to trust Him. Tozer said:

Among all created beings, not one dare trust in itself.  God alone trusts in Himself; all other beings must trust in Him.  Unbelief is actually perverted faith, for it puts its trust not in the living God but in dying men.

When we puny humans refuse to trust God, we insult the self-sufficient One, we mock the very character of God, and we exalt ourselves as little gods.

Just ten words in length, yet Genesis 1:1 is, indubitably, the most important verse of the Bible.  Meditate on the profundity of this passage and glory in the great Creator!  His name is Jesus Christ.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  John 1:3

Marvel in the truth that the Creator was made flesh, and dwelt among us (John 1:14)!

(See Part 1)

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(See Part 2)

What is the most important verse in the Bible?  Is it John 3:16?  That is certainly a marvelous verse of scripture, and perhaps the most popular, since it gives the gospel in a nutshell.  However, Genesis 1:1 is arguably the most important verse in the Bible.  It is the hinge on which the entire Bible swings.  Take away this verse, and one would have to wonder how heaven and earth came into existence.  Perhaps the Big Bang would become the theory of choice for Christians as the means for explaining the sudden appearance of our massive universe and tiny planet earth.

Indeed, if we were take this one step further and entirely eliminate the context of Genesis 1:1 – which would include the first two chapters of Genesis – our understanding of how we got here would be a huge question mark.  We would, furthermore, have an entirely different concept of God and His relationship in our lives.

Against that backdrop, I would like to emphasize the importance of Genesis 1:1 by providing ten truths that are implied in the very first verse first of the Bible.  The list is undoubtedly not exhaustive, but it is demonstrative of the primacy of this opening text.  I would argue that Genesis 1:1 lays the indispensable foundation for the entire Bible.

Ten Truths Implied in the First Verse of the Bible:

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

1. God made the space/mass/time continuum

The cosmogonies of most religious and philosophic systems – both ancient and modern, including evolution – do not originate with God but with some form of pre-existent matter.  Even the great philosopher Plato believed in the eternality of matter.  The Bible message is radically different.

Before Genesis 1:1 there was nothing.  No space, no mass, no time.  As hard as this is for finite man to understand, it is biblical nonetheless.  All of that changes suddenly in the first verse of scripture.  From the Hebrew bara, which is translated created, we learn that God called into existence out of nothing – ex nihilo – the heaven and earth, and we accept this by faith.

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.  Hebrews 11:3

In the beginning specifies the creation of time, the fourth dimension.  Time never existed prior to creation.  How comforting to think that God transcends time and has the power to carve time out of the vastness of eternity!

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.  Revelation 1:8

Heaven and earth in our text refer to space and matter.  The particular definition of space which fits our purposes here is:  the infinite extension of the three-dimensional region in which all matter exists.  Mass or matter is that which occupies space, whether formed or not, visible or invisible to the naked eye (e.g., chemical elements, molecules, and even subatomic particles).  Proverbs 8:26 refers to God creating the primal dust of the world and the heavens (NKJV), i.e., the matter which was created first and from which God formed the universe and planet earth and all life.

Space, mass, and time are mutually inclusive, an inseparable trinity of sorts.  Each is essential to the other and, therefore, we speak of them collectively as a continuum.  In eternity there is no space, mass, or time.  Not only does God transcend time, He also is not limited by any type of spatial constraints, and He is not comprised of matter as we know it.  God is a Spirit.

To summarize, God’s first creative act was to call into existence the very elements which make up everything in the universe (mass) and the context in which it can function and have meaning (space and time).  The first verse of scripture is indeed profound!

2. History begins here

The word genesis means origin.  The book of Genesis, then, is a book of origins.  The late Dr. Henry Morris, founder of the Institute for Creation Research, said in his classic book, The Genesis Record:

The Book of Genesis gives the only true and reliable account of the origin of … the universe, order and complexity, the solar system, the atmosphere and hydrosphere, life, man, marriage, evil, language, government, culture, nations, religion, and God’s chosen people.

Without Genesis we have no meaningful Bible!  Genesis provides an understanding of man’s existence, man’s purpose for living, the cosmic conflict of the ages, the universality of sin, man’s eternal destiny, the importance of the cross, and the end times

To reject Genesis is to reject the entire Bible.  Those liberal theologians who deny the first ten chapters of Genesis may as well throw away their entire Bible.  And it all starts with verse one.  If you reject verse one, the whole Bible crumbles.

Genesis 1:1 is the basis – the starting point – of all history.  Evolutionists love to use the word prehistoric to refer to the period of time before man.  But the Bible teaches that there are only five days preceding the creation of man.  Anything before Genesis 1:1 is not prehistory but eternity.  Time is not measured in eternity.  A day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as a day.  I find it amazing that the theory of evolution is disproven in the very first words of the Bible.

3. The end of history is implied here

The phrase in the beginning, in Hebrew, refers to a starting point of a specific duration; e.g., the beginning of a year.  By using this phrase in Genesis 1:1, God is marking the starting point of a period of time.  But in Hebrew, when this word is used to mark the beginning of something, it is often accompanied by its Hebrew antonym, marking the ending of something.

The author has not only commenced a history of God and his people, he has also prepared the way for the consummation of that history at “the end of time.” Expositor’s Commentary

In other words, by the very usage of Hebrew words here, God is saying, “Here’s the beginning, but there will be an ending.”  So right from Genesis 1:1 our minds are subtly pointed by God to the book of Revelation which tells of the end of history as we know it.

Interestingly, the ending will be like the beginning.  In Genesis 1:1 God creates heaven and earth.  In Isaiah 65:17 – referring to the end of times – God prophesies that he will create a new heaven and earth.  For those who are in Christ, these are comforting truths, but lost man lives in uncertainty about the future and is terrified by the thought of earth’s destruction.

Just ten words in length, but the first verse of Genesis speaks volumes!

(See Part 2).

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Approaching the Bible chronologically, what is the first verse?  Some would say Genesis 1:1.  I believe there is a verse which actually precedes Genesis 1:1 chronologically, and that is John 1:1.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Notice three important facts brought out in this verse:

1.  The Word is pre-existent (In the beginning was the Word …)

The Expositor’s Commentary remarks, “The expression does not refer to a particular moment of time but assumes a timeless eternity …  When the beginning began, the Word was already there.”  Perhaps we could rephrase the verse to read:  before time began, the Word was already existing.  That is difficult for finite beings to comprehend, and so we must accept it by faith.

2. The Word is distinct (… the Word was with God …)

Literally, the Word was face to face with God.  But Expositor’s again adds clarification:  “The preposition indicates both equality and distinction of identity.”  In other words, the Word is both equal with God and of the same nature, but having His own distinctiveness.

3.  The Word is deity (… the Word was God)

The Word equals God.  In fact, in the Greek it reads:  God was the Word.  It can also be reversed, The Word was God, as in English.

Now that we have provided a brief exegesis, we can re-phrase the verse:

When time began, the Word was already pre-existing; the Word was face to face with God; the Word was God Himself.

Jehovah’s Witnesses have totally manipulated and mistranslated the Greek in this passage to arrive at their own corrupted translation.  They add the article “a” before the last word of the verse, so that it reads, “the Word was a god.”  Why would they do this?  Because, as a cult, they do not believe that Jesus is God.  Incidentally, Jesus gave a strong warning to cults in John 8:24

… if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Who is the Word, according to verse 14?

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Jesus Christ is the Word!  The Greek word translated Word is logos, meaning communication.  Jesus Christ is the ultimate communication from God to man.  Furthermore, He is the preexistent one, co-equal with God the Father.  Jesus is the visible manifestation of the invisible Father.  The Companion Bible notes say, “As the spoken word reveals the invisible thought, so the Living Word reveals the invisible God.”

Isn’t that an exciting thought?  Jesus Christ is the physical manifestation of God whom we cannot see.  Yet they are one and the same.  The miracle of the trinity never ceases to amaze me.  Yet Jehovah’s Witnesses, in changing the wording to “a god” have taken away the deity of Christ!  J. Sidlow Baxter said, “No exegetical jugglery can really hide the force of the Greek here, especially when it is read honestly with its context.”

In our study of the Bible we are going to see that Jesus Christ is the tie that binds the Old Testament and the New Testament.  That is proven in vs. 3:

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

What does this tell us?  Jesus Christ was the Creator.

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made.  (Psalm 33:6)

Interestingly, word is translated logos in the Septuagint, the same Greek word used of Jesus in John 1:1.

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.  (Colossians 1:16)

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:1-2)

Notice the very clear link between Old Testament and New Testament.  The same Jesus who walked on this earth is GOD.  He is the pre-existent one.  He created the very world on which He walked, and He created the very humans for which He died!

Thus, the Bible doesn’t actually begin in Genesis 1:1 with creation.  It starts in John 1:1 with the eternal Word of God, Jesus Christ the Creator.

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Riding down Interstate 65 recently I noticed a new addition to the landscape.  Dozens of massive white windmills have been strategically erected in neat rows, at varying angles, amidst the cornfields.  For several miles, as far as the eye can see, they appear, one after another, like misplaced giants.

I have seen modern wind turbines before, en masse, in other places like Pennsylvania and California.  But there was something unusual about these Midwestern models.  Not one of the huge propellers was turning!

I looked in unbelief as I counted more than one hundred still mills.  Obviously, there was no wind, not even a slight breeze.  For anyone who has lived in the Midwestern plains states or, for that matter, driven on I-65, that is an anomaly, indeed, a rarity.  The windmills were constructed here, in part, because the owners expect almost constant wind in this region.

Observing these motionless monsters, I could not help but think of how well this illustrates a dilemma within the church.  The church in America has well-oiled machinery in place for doing the work of the ministry:  finely-manicured facilities, captivating music and drama, peer group fellowships, entertaining programs, etc.  Nevertheless, what is often lacking is the wind of the Spirit.  Apart from His energizing, the work of the ministry will lack vitality.  Plainly put, the church will be lifeless, having the potential to impact culture but not the power to do so.  The apostle Paul accurately described the pitiful condition of the church in 2 Timothy 3:5:  “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”

Of course, the fault lies, not with the Spirit, Who is ever willing to breathe on surrendered saints, but with the saints themselves, who have grieved and quenched the Spirit.  The result is devastating.  The God-given mission of the church is not being fulfilled.

Ironically, as I exited the interstate and continued driving on rural roads, I eventually came upon one of those old-fashioned farm windmills, the sort that individual farmers have used for decades.  The blades were spinning!  No, the structure was not as big or beautiful as the gleaming white towers on I-65, but it was working, and so with those churches where the Spirit of God is at work.  They may not be as elegant or structured as others, but as long as they have the wind of the Spirit, they have power for ministry.

Oh, may we recognize our pitiful spiritual condition in America and cry out to God for His enabling power.  Without it, the church may look pretty, but nothing of eternal significance will be accomplished.

Breathe on me, Breath of God, Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love, and do what Thou wouldst do.
Breathe on me, Breath of God, Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee I will one will, To do and to endure.
Breathe on me, Breath of God, Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me Glows with Thy fire divine.
Breathe on me, Breath of God, So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life Of Thine eternity.
- Hymn by Edwin Hatch (1835-1889)

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I … cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (Ephesians 1:16-19)

It is my firm conviction that believers in Christ have the priceless revelation of God in their possession, but many do not begin to understand the treasures contained therein.  How sad to think that many Christians know Bible facts but do not know the God of the Bible.  They do not fully comprehend the purposes of God as revealed in His Word.  How appropriate for Paul to pray for these dear believers.  May we pray the same for one another!

Are your eyes fully enlightened by the Word, or do you have cataracts on your spiritual eyes?  Do you fully grasp the hope of your calling?  Do you fully comprehend the riches of your inheritance in Christ?  Do you understand the great power at your disposal?

As believers, we need to see the inadequacy of our knowledge of God.  We need to recognize that there is within the Word a deep mine of gold nuggets that we have barely grasped.  We need to reject any vain idea that we know God intimately, that we fully understand the purposes of God, that we grasp the riches we have in Christ.  Humbly cast off any such ideas.  Paul said in Romans 11:33:

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

We turn our attention now to Ephesians 3:8-11, where our subject gets even deeper.

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

What is Paul saying?  That God, in His manifold (i.e., multifaceted) wisdom proposed to Himself in eternity past an eternal plan to create a world which would culminate in Christ.  A world which He knew would result in sinful choices by man, yet a world which He knew would bring glory to His name when his eternal plan was restored in Christ.  Remarkably, God wants us to comprehend this truth …

vs. 18 that ye … may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height

… and to preach it to all the world …

vs. 9 to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery

… so that the angels of heaven and the demons of hell can clearly see the manifold wisdom of God (see vs. 11 above).

The unfortunate reality is that many Christians never fully comprehend the depths of these truths and are, therefore, unequipped to proclaim them to a lost and dying world.  Frankly, it is my belief that twenty-first century Christians are ignoring the gold mine that God has in His Word.  They strip-mine rather than digging deep beneath the surface.  Notice the tremendous result when Christians plumb the depths of God’s riches:

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.  (Ephesians 3:16-19)

Yes, there is a scarlet thread of redemption in the Word of God and, arguably, a black thread of Satanic assault on the seed of the woman.  But there is also a golden thread of wisdom which spans from Genesis to Revelation.  Wisdom existed in eternity past in the purpose of God to glorify His name by creating man which He knew would reject Him; by creating a beautiful paradise which He knew would be ravaged by sin; by creating a host of angels, though He knew one-third  would turn their backs in rebellion and defiance of Him.  This wisdom, from before the foundation of the world, knew that Christ would redeem lost man and restore the sin-cursed world.  This same wisdom is bestowed upon believers once they are regenerated, so that they have the capacity to understand the fullness of God’s revelation if they will but come to know the God of the Bible.

God wants us to know and understand this wisdom.  It is one of the central themes of the Word of God.  He wants us to see His purpose for creating the world.  He wants us to comprehend the mystery of the gospel.  He wants us to be wise in the plan of God.  He wants us to clearly see and understand the unifying theme of the Book:  Jesus Christ.  We must get to know him more intimately.

That being said, every Bible believing Christian ought to love this divine book and revere it.  We should read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it, hear it preached and taught.  If we really believe this book to be precious, the divine revelation of God to man, then it will become our primary focus in life.

In closing, notice the ultimate result when believers come to know God and understand His unsearchable riches:

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.  (Ephesians 3:20-21)

To the extent believers are empowered by the Spirit of wisdom, the world – including the demon world! – witnesses the manifold wisdom of God.  They stand in awe, as God’s manifold wisdom is beautifully displayed in and through His church.

You have likely seen a mirrored ball mounted on the ceiling of a roller rink or a dance hall.  When bright light is shined on the ball, each of the mini-mirrors on the ball reflects rays of light around the room which arebreathtakingly beautiful.  So when believers are truly mining the depths of the riches of Christ, they will be mirrors, reflecting the manifold wisdom of God to a lost and dying world.  (See also 2 Corinthians 3:18).

(See Part 1)

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To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, (Ephesians 3:10)

In what sense is God’s wisdom manifold?  The word manifold means variegated; multi-faceted; greatly diversified.  In Greek the adjective manifold referred to the beauty of an embroidered pattern or the variety of colors in flowers.  The commentary of Albert Barnes is especially insightful:

It is like a landscape, or a panoramic view passing before the mind, with a great variety of phases and aspects, all tending to excite admiration … It is wisdom, ever-varying, ever-beautiful. There was wisdom manifested when the plan (of redemption) was formed; wisdom in the selection of the Redeemer; wisdom in the incarnation; wisdom in the atonement; wisdom in the means of renewing the heart, and sanctifying the soul; wisdom in the various dispensations by which the church is sanctified, guided, and brought to glory. The wisdom thus shown is like the ever-varying beauty of changing clouds, when the sun is reflected on them at evening. Each aspect is full of beauty … all tend to fill the mind with elevated views of God.

Why is the manifold wisdom of God so important, and how does it impact us practically in the twenty-first century?  The answer begins in Ephesians chapter 1 where we find God’s wisdom as displayed in His great plan of redemption.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Ephesians 1:7

What a grand and glorious thought for the believer!  We have been redeemed – bought back from sin and Satan – by the precious blood of Christ. To this marvelous spiritual benefit God adds forgiveness of sins past, present, and future.  He accomplishes this through justification, the gracious act of God whereby He declares sinners righteous by imputing the blood of Christ to those who depend upon Him for salvation.  What a wonderful truth!  The chorus sums it up well:  “This one thing I know … God in great mercy pardoned me, snapped sin’s fetters and set me free; once I was blind but now I see …”

But how often do we quote this verse and fail to see the truths that follow?

Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Ephesians 1:8

If we connect verses 7 and 8, we learn that God’s grace has been bestowed upon us abundantly, that is, superabundantly, which is the literal meaning.  This is summed up well in Romans 5:20: “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”  Wuest translates, “where sin existed in abundance, grace existed in super-abundance.”

Included in God’s superabundant grace in our lives is the bestowal of wisdom and prudence.  We receive these marvelous spiritual benefits along with eternal life, forgiveness of sins, the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, and many other wonderful things, which verse 3 collectively labels, “spiritual blessings.”

Wisdom is the capacity to understand God, while prudence is the ability to walk in a way that pleases Him.  Think of it!  At the moment of salvation God graciously bestows upon us the spiritual equipment needed for understanding His will, as revealed in His Word, and obeying it.  One Bible teacher said:  “In Jesus Christ, God takes us into His confidence.”

However, that poses an important question.  Does every believer understand God and obey Him?

Perhaps we could answer by illustrating.  In order to sell my house several years ago I needed to make an electrical repair.  The local inspector instructed me to run some exposed electrical wires into a junction box and cap them off safely.  I was sure that I could do this seemingly simple project.  After all, I owned all the necessary tools! As I strapped on my tool belt and loaded the tools into the pouch, my wife began to shudder at the thought of her novice husband tampering with electricity.  I assured her that I knew what I was doing and that there was no electricity flowing through those particular wires.  (Famous last words).  She watched in horror as I put on a fireworks show while trying to cut through the wires. Needless to say, I got the shock of my life as the pair of pliers flew out of my hand, and I was jolted and stunned.

Does every man who owns power tools and straps on a tool belt know how to be a handyman?  Of course not.  Even though I had all the necessary equipment, I lacked the know-how.  I needed instruction but was unwilling to humbly get what I needed.

Isn’t that just like the Christian?  God has bestowed on us wisdom.  We are fully equipped to be able to understand Him, yet we fail to appropriate wisdom through diligent study of God’s Word.   The result is tragic.  We think we know God and we think we know how to navigate in life, but we fail miserably at it.  What is needed is the divine instruction manual, the Bible, which teaches us how to use our God-given tools.

Thus Paul’s prayer in verse 17 makes sense.

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

Recognizing that believers have been given divine wisdom (vs.8) he, in essence, prays that they will effectively learn to use this remarkable tool by studying the instruction manual.  I agree with those commentators who believe that the word spirit should be capitalized, referring to the Holy Spirit.  He is the Spirit of wisdom.  Positionally, believers already possess the indwelling presence of the Spirit.  In what sense, then, do we need the Spirit of wisdom?  In the practical sense of getting to know Him personally through the Word.  As our relationship with the Divine Partner develops, we will be growing in wisdom and obedience.  The result is glorious, as described in verses 18-19:

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

The glorious result is confidence in what Christ intends to accomplish in our lives through His mighty power.

(See Part 2)

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Can you solve the riddle?

By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
-  taken from Proverbs 8

What is the answer? Besides God, what is the only thing that existed before the creation of the world?  What existed then and continues to exist now and forever?  The answer:  Wisdom.

Incidentally, did you notice the pronouns “me” and “I,” used more than twenty times in this passage?  God is personifying Wisdom, portraying it as a Divine Being rather than an inanimate virtue.

Who is this Divine Being?  Who is Wisdom?  His other name is Holy Spirit.  How do we know that Wisdom is the Holy Spirit?  The Bible tells us that God, in Wisdom and by Wisdom, created the world.

Psalm 104:24 “O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all:”

Prov. 3:19 “The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.”

Wisdom is clearly the Divine Being present at creation, along with God.  Genesis 1:2 tells us the name of this Divine Being:  “and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

Let us now marvel how God has chosen to place this Divine Being – Wisdom, the Holy Spirit of God – within the life of every true believer!  He is our Heavenly Partner as a result of our new creation in Christ, just as He was God’s Divine Partner at the creation of the world.  We have a member of the God-head living within us!  Furthermore, we are given a precious promise in the New Testament that when we lack wisdom, all we must do is ask God in faith to give us wisdom.  The result is that He fills us with His Holy Spirit, so that we can have Divine Wisdom.

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He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered … Psalm 111:4

The psalm begins with an emphatic statement of resolve.

I will praise the Lord with my whole heart.  v. 1

The will must be exercised.  A choice must be made.   Will I praise the Lord today or will I choose to grumble and complain?  Will I rejoice in the Lord amidst my overwhelming circumstances, or will I allow myself to get discouraged?  We make choices like this every day of our lives.

The psalmist is determined to praise the Lord with his whole heart.  His entire being is focused on giving God glory.  Mind, will, and emotions are all involved.  Thoughts may enter his mind which cast doubt on God’s goodness, prompting a questioning spirit.  Feelings may not confirm the truth of the Word.  The experiences of life seem to cry out that God doesn’t care.

Yet choices must be made based on fact.  Reasoning must be cast down.  Erring thoughts must be taken captive to the obedience of Christ.  Truth must trump emotions.  Despite what you are experiencing at the moment, the Word of God declares that Jesus does care!  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.  1 Peter 5:7 Knowing this, will you willfully seek to praise the Lord with your entire being, regardless of your lot in life?

Public testimony is one of the keys to victorious praise.  The psalmist doesn’t merely praise the Lord in his heart.  He shares his intent to praise the Lord with his whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.  He will give a public declaration of the wonderful works of God.

When you publicly proclaim the works of God – whether to another individual or in a congregational setting – there are three results.  First, God is glorified.  If that were the only result it would be sufficient, but there is much more.  Second, others are pointed to the Lord and prompted to join with you in praise.  Perhaps the listeners will be challenged or encouraged by your open-heartedness.  Third, something will happen in your own heart.  The irony of public praise is that although true worshippers do not seek anything in return, they get much in return!  God always blesses those who praise Him.  He fills their heart with joy and confidence.

Are you miserable in life?  Could it be because you have not chosen to praise the Lord with your whole heart?  Have you been publicly declaring God’s wonderful works to those around you?  Right now you have a choice.  You can continue in doubt or fear or anxiety, overcome by the cares of life, or you can rejoice in the God of your salvation.  Find a friend and share with them what God is doing in your life.  Seek out other public opportunities for declaring the goodness of God.  It will make all the difference.

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He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.  Ecclesiastes 3:11

When did you last stop to smell the roses?  In our complex and fast-paced world, there is hardly time.

Yet the wisest man who ever lived reminds us that God made everything beautiful, which implies that we should take time to enjoy the wonders of creation.  Beauty is for beholding.  Indeed, God has set, or bestowed, His creative world in the hearts of humans, which means that all men have an innate desire to savor the natural world.

I took time for some savoring today.  Often on Sunday mornings I spend several minutes preparing my heart for the Lord’s Day while sitting beside the Menomonee River, reading my Bible, praying, and soaking in the sights and sounds of nature.  Suddenly, an incessant knocking sound, in perfect staccato, pierced my otherwise quiet prayer time.  It sounded much like a metronome in overdrive.

I looked up at a nearby tree and saw a beautiful woodpecker perched vertically, pecking away at break-neck speed.  The noisy pecker didn’t seem to mind the fact that most of the neighborhood was still asleep early on this Sunday morning.   Nobody is bothered by such sounds, anyhow, for there is something within us which appreciates this natural beauty.

For some reason – perhaps for the sake of variety – God designed this bird with special equipment for pounding away at hardwoods.  He also made it camouflaged, brown and spotted in color to blend in with the tree bark, with one exception:  the tuft of red feathers on the back of its head.

My attention was also drawn to the call of the woodpecker, a sort of repetitive squawk, and when I listened carefully the call was answered by another way off in the distance.  As if to entertain me, the pecker would periodically tilt its body nearly upside down into a hole in the tree, leaving its tail feathers immodestly perched toward heaven.

The whole episode was refreshing and certainly preparatory to a day of worshiping the Lord.  Christian creationists can appreciate the beauties of nature in a much greater way than evolutionists, for we know the Creator.  Truly, He has made everything beautiful.

When we deliberately take time to smell the roses – or hear the woodpeckers – around us, we behold the beauty that has been set aside for our enjoyment and thereby demonstrate our appreciation for the One who made it all.  So take time – schedule it, if necessary! – to observe God’s creation.  Learn everything you can about it, and revel in the glories of our great Creator!