Ephesians 3:10

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.

God's intention in revealing this mystery now, after it was hidden through the ages, is to make known his wisdom to the spiritual powers.

while we often focus in on the human dimensions of God's salvation plan, there is a more profound agenda, the spiritual or supernatural dimension.

It is the church that embodies the wisdom of God. Paul had a very high vision of the church. Even though he had to provide correction and discipline, he had very high ideals of what the church is.

when we are tempted to cynicism about the church, we need to recall that it is through the church that the wisdom of God is being revealed. Every time the church gathers for worship, encouragement, or edification, it is displaying God's wisdom. When the church proclaims the gospel, it is displaying God's victory over Satan. Whenever the church stands up for jjustice or for the poor, it is proclaiming God's Kingdom. Whenever the church ministers healing or miracles it is revealing the power of God.

what we, the church, do together in the name of Christ is not insignificant or weak or boring. The world may portray it as boring, weak or irrelevant, but the powers of hell tremble..

the manifold wisdom of God is manifested through the church.

God’s wisdom operates at many levels simultaneously. People can usually act in wisdom according to their experience or expertise. It is folly to do otherwise, unless we are advised by the Holy Spirit .

wise leaders seek out the wisdom of other people to augment their own wisdom .

God has no need for advisers and experts. He has infinite wisdom and is able to plan goals and strategies at every level right across time and space. He is not limited by a lack of knowledge because he has all knowledge about all things. He is not limited in strength because he is all powerful. He simultaneously sees the big picture and the individual hearts of billions of people. He sees the beginning and the end, and all points in between .

the wisdom of God is based in his love. He loves his creation, and so His wisdom is rooted in lifting up people, and seeing us achieve our potential as sons and daughters.

God's love requires also an abhorrence of sin because of the way it destroys people. Therefore, all who refuse to receive his forgiveness will be condemned. There can be no tolerance of sin and evil in God's wisdom .

God’s wisdom is to be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms .

the church is engaged in a spiritual war that started before recorded history. The rebellion of satan and his followers resulted in their expulsion from heaven and the institution of a separate kingdom, a false kingdom. Satan's kingdom is less than God's Kingdom in every way. It is less in numbers and it is less powerful. But it is real nonetheless .

the spiritual war revolves around the worthiness of people to participate in God's realm. We are both physical and spiritual beings and we fall short in so many ways. While God loves people as the pinnacle of creation, higher even than the angels, satan wants only to destroy us.

the plan of salvation, the mystery, is now being revealed. God loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us. In this act he demonstrated his love. He showed that humility is not weakness and that love is powerful. He uses the cross to draw sinful men and women to Himself.

so God reconciles the world to Himself. This is the wisdom being shown through the church to the rulers and powers in the heavenly realms .

in the end, God will be vindicated by the existence of the church, a huge number that is impossible to count, drawn from every tribe and nation on the earth.

key points in this verse:

• God's plan of salvation is not just about people, but a demonstration of God's wisdom

• The church is greater than we often give it credit for

• The church shares God's wisdom to the spiritual powers

• God's wisdom operates at many levels and from infinite knowledge

• God's wisdom is based on his love

• We are involved in a spiritual war