“Now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places” (Eph. 3:10 NKJ).
This word manifold is very interesting. It is the word used in the Septuagint to describe Joseph’s coat of many colors.
Designer fabrics in Bible days were usually made of one solid tint. Joseph’s coat of many (manifold) colors was a radical departure from the custom of that day.
The verse we are looking at here assures that God’s wisdom has a great deal of variety to it. Human methodologies tend to become structured. Whenever spontaneity does occur, our tendency is to imitate it, syndicate it, franchise it, and capitalize off of it until it becomes one of our set traditions.
Not so with God.
It is through His Church that His much-varied and multicolored wisdom is to be displayed to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.
During the first two centuries of its existence, the Church displayed one shade or special tint of God’s wisdom. The Reformation showed forth another hue. Wesley and his revivals demonstrated another facet of wisdom. Restoration movements and renewal groups all display hues, tints, and shades of divine wisdom.
In the ending of the Church Age, there will be yet new demonstrations of divine wisdom. This means that all the shades and hues of God’s manifold wisdom have not yet been exhausted. In the days ahead we will be seeing new expressions of divine wisdom never before displayed. Be ready for new dimensions of God’s multicolored and much varied wisdom.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.