God’s Desire vs. God’s Will vs. God’s Good Pleasure vs. God’s Mystery vs. God’s Economy

 

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
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.