Revelation

• Something unique you will learn about God‘s personality is that many times, God creatively communicates aspects about himself. 
• Through creation, God is communicating, his creativity, wisdom, precision, character
• Through marriage, God is communicating, his covenant, his faithfulness, his patience and forbearance
• Through Israel, God is communicating, his Messiah, his faithfulness to his promise, the entire human story
• The church is beautiful, but it’s also symbolic. You are beautiful, but you’re also symbolic.

Revelatory point

• I’ve been to art exhibitions and not known at ALL what I was looking at. Someone that has an eye to see can pick out all kinds of things, because they are tuned to see the message in the art. In the same way, many of us miss the demonstrations of the glory of God because we don’t know what we’re looking at, but nonetheless, it speaks. 
• Possibly talk about symbols of our faith, like communion, baptism, etc. 

Ephesians 3:10–11 (NLT) — 10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

It’s humbling to think that God could be using us as a trophy and art piece to display certain things about His nature

1. A picture of his wisdom
   1. The church was the unveiling of a masterpiece, not just for humanity, but for the cosmos. Why was it the display of God’s wisdom? 
   2. The spiritual powers wondered how on earth:
      1. God would repossess the earth
      2. God would restore peace and harmony to men
      3. God would restore Eden
      4. God would fulfill all of the prophetic symbols and pericopes of the Old Testament
   3. His wisdom was brought to fullness in Christ
      1. 1 Corinthians 1:24–25 (NLT) — 24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.
   4. His wisdom was brought to fullness in the Cross
      1. 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NLT) — 18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.
   5. His wisdom was brought to fullness in the Church 
      1. Ephesians 3:10–11 (NLT) — 10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
   6. All of these things would be answered in Christ, and Christ left behind His Church. The Church is the assembly of little Christs! 
   7. The church is THE ANSWER to the world. We are the wisdom of God! 
2. A picture of his unity
   1. Ephesians 3:6 (NLT) — 6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.
   2. A catchphrase that has been said about Bethany for years is that it resembles heaven. There is a tremendous diversity here.
   3. God wants to use his church as a beacon of unity. 
   4. For Paul it was:
      1. Jews and Gentiles 
      2. Slave and Free
      3. Cultural and Geographical
      4. Philosophical and Religious
      5. Differences in Christian Practice
   5. Here’s the way we can best be a trophy for His unity 
      1. Truly break down all walls of ethnos
      2. Become a magnet for ALL people 
      3. Bringing ALL people into the life, family, and purpose of God
3. A picture of his love
   1. Ephesians 3:14–19 (NLT) — 14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
   2. The church was made to see, receive, give, and symbolize the love of God
      1. Marriage is the symbol of Christ and the Church.
      2. The Church is the bride of Christ and the symbol of God’s love.
      3. The Church in ages to come will come to symbolize God’s intense and faithful love because He will permanently be committed to her.
   3. In the Ephesians text, we see:
      1. He is loves us more than we’ll ever be able to comprehend.
      2. That our roots are meant to go down into his love.
      3. That we need special empowering to grasp His love.
   4. Need story or illustration 
4. A picture of his power
   1. Ephesians 3:20–21 (NLT) — 20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
   2. Pre-workout supplement or steroid - what it is able to accomplish through us is far more than we could ever accomplish on our own. 
   3. You are an example of His power
      1. Of His redeeming power (how he brought you back)
      2. Of His transforming power (how he transforms you)
      3. Of His miraculous power (how he intervenes for you)
   4. God will point to His church as the incredible example of His POWER! 
      1. God intents to do miracles through us

Ephesians 2:9–10 (NLT) — 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.