God’s Desire vs. God’s Will vs. God’s Good Pleasure vs. God’s Mystery vs. God’s Economy
Ephesians 1:5 "He predestined us according to his pleasure and will..."
Ephesians 1:9 "He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his pleasure and will."
Colossians 1:26–27 “The mystery hidden throughout the ages… Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Ephesians 3:2, 9 “The economy of God’s grace… has clearly defined the arrangement of the mysteries of the ages.”
|
Aspect |
God’s Desire (What God wants) |
God’s Will / Purpose (God’s set intention) |
God’s Good Pleasure (God’s delight) |
God’s Mystery (Hidden desire) |
God’s Economy (Arrangement to carry out His will) |
|
Meaning |
God’s inward wish, longing, what He wants to do. |
God’s determined purpose to fulfill His desire. |
God’s delight and satisfaction in His desire. |
God’s desire hidden in God before revelation. |
God’s arrangement to dispense Himself into man to fulfill His purpose. |
|
Reason |
Rooted in God’s heart of love and desire for a dwelling place. |
God must define a goal to carry out His desire. |
God delights in what He desires. |
God’s desire remained hidden until Christ revealed it. |
God practically works out His purpose through dispensing. |
|
Distinction |
The source (the desire itself). |
The goal (purpose). |
The feeling (delight). |
The secrecy (hidden intention). |
The action (execution). |
|
Illustration |
A father desires a family. |
He sets the purpose to build a house. |
He delights in this plan. |
The plan before it is revealed. |
The construction and supplying process. |
|
Explanation |
God’s eternal longing in Himself. |
God’s specific purpose according to His good pleasure. |
God’s joy in His own desire. |
God’s hidden intention before revelation in Christ. |
God’s administration to dispense Christ into the believers and build the church. |
|
Mutual Relationship |
Source → |
Purpose from the desire → |
Pleasure motivating the revelation → |
Desire hidden until revelation → |
Desire carried out through dispensing → |
|
Examples (Biblical) |
Eph 1:5, 9; 2 Pet 3:9 |
Rev 4:11; Eph 1:11 |
Eph 1:5; Luke 12:32 |
Eph 3:3–9; Col 1:26–27 |
Eph 1:10; 3:2, 9 |
|
Application |
Seek what God desires, not personal desire. |
Align with God’s purpose — church building. |
Live to satisfy God’s heart. |
Live in revelation, seeing Christ and the church. |
Cooperate with God’s dispensing in the Body. |
|
Burden |
Recover the vision of God’s desire in the saints. |
Help believers stand on God’s side of purpose. |
Lead saints to live for God’s pleasure. |
Reveal the eternal mystery — Christ & the church. |
Bring believers into God’s economy in daily life. |
|
Prophetic Speaking Direction |
Speak God’s desire for a corporate dwelling place. |
Proclaim God’s purpose — New Jerusalem. |
Declare God’s delight in the church. |
Unveil the mystery of Christ and the church. |
Speak the divine dispensing into the members. |
|
Conclusion |
The beginning. |
The direction. |
The motivation. |
The revelation. |
The accomplishment. |
|
Related Scriptures |
I. God's Will (Desire) • Ephesians 1:5 "He predestined us according to his pleasure and will..." • Ephesians 1:9 "He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his pleasure and will." • 2 Peter 3:9 "He desires that everyone be saved, and that no one perish." 👉 Will is God's deepest inner longing. II. God's Purpose (Determined Intent) • Revelation 4:11 "For by your will all things existed and were created." • Ephesians 1:11 "All that God has decided according to his will..." 👉 Purpose is the goal set by God to fulfill His will. III. God's Joy • Ephesians 1:5 "According to his pleasure and will..." • Luke 12:32 "The Father was pleased to give you the kingdom." 👉 Joy is God's emotional response to His will. IV. The Mysteries of God • Ephesians 3:3–9 “The mystery of Christ,” “which has been hidden in God since the foundation of the world…” • Colossians 1:26–27 “The mystery hidden throughout the ages… Christ in you, the hope of glory.” 👉 The mystery is the state before God's will is revealed, and is later fully revealed in Christ and the church. V. The Economy of God • Ephesians 1:10 “In his reign all things are united in Christ.” • Ephesians 3:2, 9 “The economy of God’s grace… has clearly defined the arrangement of the mysteries of the ages.” 👉 The economy is God imparting His being into humanity to accomplish His will. |
Core Summary (Condensed)
|
Progression |
Summary |
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God’s Desire |
What God longs for inwardly. |
|
God’s Good Pleasure |
God’s delight in His own desire. |
|
God’s Will |
The purpose God sets to fulfill His desire. |
|
God’s Mystery |
God’s hidden desire, revealed in Christ and the church. |
|
God’s Economy |
God’s plan to dispense Himself into His people to fulfill His will. |
*Please refer to the May 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training: General Topic: Matthew Chapters 5-7 - The Most Important Aspects - Week 9: Fulfilling the Father's Will so that we may enter the Father's Kingdom on "that day," the day of Christ's judgment seat.
