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It is the Glory of God to Conceal a Matter,
It is the Glory of Kings to Search out a Matter.
Proverbs 25;2
MYSTERIES OF GOD
Spiritual Secrets in Scripture
"But we speak the wisdom of God in
a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world
unto our glory: 1 Corinthians 2:7 Which none of the princes of this
world knew: (2:7) for had they known it, they would not have crucified
the Lord of glory. 1Co 2:9 ¶ But as it is written, Eye hath not seen,
nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things
which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1Co 2:10 But God hath
revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things,
yea, the deep things of God. Tools specific to 1Co 2:11 For what man
knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?
even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God."
But the natural man receiveth
not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him:
neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Cor. 2:14
MYSTERIES OF GOD
Introduction
Today
the world is divided. It is divided between those who know and those
who have not yet received understanding of the Truth. The truth is
hidden to the 'natural man' to those who have not been "born
of the Spirit." The natural man does not think like the person
who is renewed spiritually. This kind of person is governed by the
senses and guided by self preservation. The Spirit of God works in
the heart of men and women to bring them to repentance. Religious
systems require a wide range of self discipline to achieve right standing
with God their gods. The Christian on the other hand is called
by God who through grace extends a Spiritual hand that provides the
power to change a person's life. The transformation begins within
and gradually affects all of his thought and action.
The
Bible says that we can begin to experience and know G-d by searching,
knocking, and asking; these are all pathways that lead
a seeker into the knowledge of the mysteries of God. "God
is a Spirit," says the scripture. His divine existence is one that
can only be perceived, believed on a non-sensing level. If I say that
I know God, whom you don't know or see, you can only judge my assertions
on the basis of my personal credibility. Some spokes persons for God
or more credible than others. The early apostles did not so much argue
the existence of God as a theory or concept but to prove His existence
by supernatural attestations, demonstrating the Power of God. (1Corinthians
2). So we have the matter of proving to a materialistic non believing
world that God is real and that He still has a part in the day to day
affairs of this world and its occupants.
Progressive Revelation
God is a god of
mysteries and hidden things. He has chosen to hide his presence.
The parables taught by Jeshua (Jesus) had within them truth at varying
levels, plain story-level truth and higher spiritual level revelation.
There is and always was that matter of hidden truth. To Christ's disciples
it was given to know the secrets of the Kingdom of God while others
received no more than a moral homily. God reveals himself to some and
not to others. Heaven and its mysteries are not laid bare for any to
intrude upon as there are defining limits between darkness and heavenly
light. The Bible truths and hidden mysteries are not delineated as point
by point, topic by topic facts and realities. Thus the key to unpacking
and deciphering the Word of God can not be achieved strictly by academic
skills and study alone. Without the Holy Spirit which is the teacher
and discipler of truth we are limited pretty much to the moral homily
level of the listener.
We
are given understanding in the light of Jeshua (Jesus) in a line by
line, precept upon precept, understanding that Jesus is the Word of
God, Itself the greatest mystery. For when the Scripture is made known
in its completeness we
shall See Him as He IS.
The
following writings deal with the subject of Mysteries. They do little
more than introduce the topics of God's mysteries, some of the mysteries.
There remains, more, much more to be gleaned within these domains of
study. Moreover, there are likely more and more mysteries and mysteries
within mysteries which will come into our field of view in due time.
Revelation
is progressive and always deepening as His truth is being revealed
by God's Holy Spirit in God's divine time. God is withholding
certain things from us because it is not yet His time. Contrary to some
ecclesiastical authorities we do not have all the answers (facts) as
to Who God is and what His complete plan is for His Body, The Church
(another mystery).
Matthew
16:16 But who say ye that I am?
Jesus asks his disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter,
answers and says, "You are the Messiah, the son of the Living God."
Jesus then tells Peter, "- - - Flesh and blood have not revealed
this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. This is an example of how
we receive knowledge of hidden things,
Mysteries revealed by God
1Corinthians 2:0 - -"Eye has not seen nor ear heard, neither has
entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for
those that love him. 10: But God has revealed them unto us by his
Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of
God. 11. For man knows the things of a man, save the sprit of man
which is in him? Even so the things of God, know man knows, but the
Spirit of God.
The
Mystery of Access
to G-d
Anyone
can pray. You can pray to anyone or anything. Pagans and anamists find
god in anything in the physical world. They may pray to creatures, mountains,
rocks, rivers or volcanoes or ancestors. Yes, this counts as prayer
but it is a only a form of godliness and it is idolatry. There are many
gods who occupy the spirit realm as well. They have many names but they
are those demonic entities associated with Lucifer's fall. In the time
of the exodus, tribes of Canaan called upon Baal, Ashteroth, Milcom,
Dagon and a host of others demon gods. These were called "abominations"
by "JHVH. The Israelites were commanded to destroy every trace
of the demon worshiping tribes lest they would become a snare to the
covenant people. For an interesting account of these encounters read
the book of Joshua and his conquest of Canaan after the death of Moses.
The
Heavenly Father seeks True Worshipers, those who pray in the right Spirit
and in Truth. (John C.4)
Access
and Intimacy
Access to God The Father
Jesus said, “I am the
way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)
" No one comes to the Father accept
through me." Understand that the Son of God, Jesus,
the lamb, the Messiah, is the one Way, the Door
that can remove the shroud of separation to G-d the Almighty. Those who
enter thereby He adopts into His royal family of Kings and Priests. (Exodus
19)
Rethinking
Prayer
The Spiritual life is a life of prayer. Most of us think of "saying prayers"
when we hear about this religious topic. But prayer is less about
saying prayers than it is an attitude continuous communion with the Spirit
of God's presence with our own spirit. In order to enter the holy place
of intimacy we may need to remember that we are prodigals
who have lost our way in an ungodly world and desire to return to the
Father's house. We must
be of a mind that we can be totally welcome, loved and restored to full
sonship and authority in the Father's name. The wall of partition which
once separated us from God has been removed by Jesus' blood and sacrifice.
I have found that many who have lived in this prodigal life think they
are too evil and depraved to ever be made whole and righteous again. The
reality is that he can make the foulest sinner clean again, yes even serial
killers! That is why Jesus died for the worst of sinners who had all lost
their way. Prayer begins with
a worshipful acknowledgment that we are weak, helpless and without ability
in our natural selves. The Gk.
proscuneo refers to the mangy dog licking the master's hand,
knowing full well what we would be without his care.
He
invites us to enter in to His presence. We must turn aside from the continuous
crush of worldly cares. Remember Moses, who turned
aside to enter into G-d's holy presence at the burning bush.
We come to a place of rest where there is fellowship, help, comfort and
restoration. We become positioned to share a place of righteousness in
the heavenly places. We do not travel there by a space shuttle, but by
coming to the temple that is within where your heart is the alter. You
are welcomed by a loving Father.
Prayer
has many facets but not all are spoken or outward in expression. Part
of prayer is honoring the father, giving him praise and reverence; part
of prayer is receiving. Part of prayer is sharing your needs and petitioning
the Lord to act on our be halves. The greatest time portion of prayer
is resting in his presence. It is a time in which we are simply aware
of abiding in him and being surrounded by his love.
There
is also fellowship in the Word of God. In reading the Word of Truth he
instructs us by highlighting the word for our present needs through his
Rhema. In words of spoken praise we come unto his presence. In the consuming
fullness of His glory in the inner court we partake of his Glory and Holiness.
In the silence of Prayer we listen and hear his voice and see
him demonstrate the actions we should follow. In worship God reaches down
to touch us supernaturally to anoint us with supernatural virtues and
abilities. In this audience he directs us in a way to go forth. In
his presence there is freedom and fullness of joy.
Declaring
his will becomes the word of faith. The word of faith establishes our
way. The prayer of faith establishes God's will for ourselves or for others,
as we speak with kingly authority in the earth.
In
the Spirit of Holiness the fear of the Lord is established. At times of
greatest intimacy, in the deepest moments of worship we are aware of the
unspeakable wonder of God and our total inadequacy and limitedness. In
this worship we are the dog who licks the masters hand (Gr. Proscuneo.)
We
Can Minister Only Those Things Which We Have Received: In earlier stages
of the relationship IN CHRIST we are children needing to be nurtured;
later we learn to rely on God's Word and upon God's voice. We can only
minister that which we have received. If we have received living Manna
we will minister with apostolic authority, if not we will weakly echo
vanity and human shallowness.
1
Pet 4:10 "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the
same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." 1
Corinthians 2:12 "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but
the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely
given to us of God."
Eventually
if we pursue spiritual things which God is pleased to supply and if we
remain free from the encumbering unbelief of men's tradition we may begin
to function as Jesus did in the world. As an adopted son of God.
"But
as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1:12) "And of his
fullness have all we received, and grace for grace." (John 1:16)
Apostolic
Authority Comes from First Hand Witness (A personal encounter with the
risen Christ)
Why did the Lord Jesus operate in such authority?
Because of His FIRST HAND knowledge through FELLOWSHIP with his Father.
The Lord walked and talked and communed with the heavenly Father as the
First Begotten Son of God. Why did the apostles operate with such power
and authority? Because of the same intimacy. Now as adopted sons of God
Jesus has given us the same opportunity to fellowship and to know God
FIRST HAND.
"Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have
seen; and ye receive not our witness." (John 3:11) "John answered
and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven."
(John 3:27) "He that hath received his testimony hath set to his
seal that God is true." (John 3:33)
The
"Promise of the Father" provided the necessary tools for being
a first-hand witness. He sends the Holy Spirit to all those who believe.
The Holy Spirit is the teacher and the helper who will lead us in the
Spiritual life. "Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive,
because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he
dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (John 16:14) "He shall
glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you."
(John 16:15) "All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore
said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you." (
John 16:24) "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye
shall receive, that your joy may be full."
Here
are other important Scriptures to show the foundation of receiving Spiritual
enablement from God.
Acts
1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in
all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Acts
2:33 "Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having
received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth
this, which ye now see and hear."
"Now
we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is
of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."
"Which
things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but
which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."
"But
the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they
are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:12-14)
In
the following Paul reminds us not to get carried away with personal glory
& pride for if you are ministering God you have not done any of it
by your own strength or by natural talents.
"For
who makes thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst
not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if
thou hadst not received it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7)
"For
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you,-") 1
Corinthians 11 -- ("That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was
betrayed took bread:")
Unbelievers
or Blindly Religious follow
Second Hand Doctrines & Presumptions
There
are unbelievers who minister saying that God no longer instructs as Paul
was instructed, they are in error. That is precisely how we are instructed
and why the Holy Spirit was given. The question of doctrine may not need
to hinge on direct revelation. But direct revelation will acknowledge
that the Lord still works the same today as he did in times of first apostles.
A
believer may have a religious mentor who may teach a broad range of doctrines.
Doctrine and understanding can be strictly in a mental assent frame of
reference. Some of these doctrines may be correct but it is better to
know than to presume. Spiritual authority comes from the assurance that
one has received directly through the Holy Spirit who teaches deep and
eternal things which are always in accord with Scripture.
Double
mindedness is an Obstacle to Receiving from God
Too
great a mixture of worldly or soulish interests or appetites of the flesh
preclude a person from receiving from God. Why? Because such a person
focus their affections and worship upon other things or themselves. Man
can serve only one master, that master gets his worship. James 1:7 "For
let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." James
1:8 "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
The
Teacher whom Jesus sent is attending to us this very moment waiting to
share the bounty of God Love, Grace, Wisdom, Knowledge and Power. Behold
his hand is still stretched out to us and we are bidden to partake and
to share.
1
John 2:27 "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth
in you, and ye need not that any man teach you-"
Laying
On Hands
Empowerment by Spiritual Transfer
Throughout
the Bible we see the evidence of the power associated with the laying
on of hands. In the book of Hebrews Chapter 5 in verse 1, it is
included as a foundational spiritual doctrine to be followed by believers.
Moses laid his hands upon Joshua in the closing chapter of Deuteronomy
to transfer his anointing on the future leader of Israel with Power and
Wisdom. The glory and the power of is a physical manifestation which is
capable of being transmitted. For this reason it is efficacious to have
a spiritual person lay hands upon you for prayer or for blessing. It is
on the other hand, not advantageous for an unclean person (someone who
is spiritually defiled) to lay hands upon you, even if they claim to be
a Christian, because of the power of transmitting spiritual attributes
which are not to be desired in one's own life.
It
is advantageous to have a spirit-filled believer who is manifesting the
right spiritual fruits and the grace of God in his own life to lay hands
upon you because the spirit (like fire) is transmitted and spreads. It
is also advantageous to know how to give thanks in praise and to worship.
God will personally manifest in praise and worship (He desires true worshipers,
and seeks such; John 4:23) He inhabits the praises of Israel-his people"
(Psalm 22:3.)
Perseverance and Resistance in Receiving the
Spirit
God
is faithful and will not refuse those who ask. Those who seek and those
who knock. He knows how to give good gifts. He will not give a serpent
if you ask for a fish.
Our
spiritual adversary, Satan is not at all desirous of our receiving any
endowment of Spiritual powers given by God, he may cloud your mind or
trouble you and give you thoughts that say, "I'm not worthy. This is all
a lie. I can't be forgiven. I can't receive it now. Etc." You may also
have a residue of idolatry to the other lord, Satan, which you will need
to attend to and purge out before God can complete His work in you. If
you have been active in witchcraft, Satanism, or practice a lifestyle
which anti Biblical which you do not want to give up, this could hinder
your receiving the Promise of the Father. God must own you first or know
that you are sincere in desiring a brand new life with Him.
It
is wise to address Satan and give him notice, saying, "Satan, I give you
notice that you will not affect my life again in any way. I renounce you
in my life, in my body, my mind and my spirit. I declare to you that I
am God's property through Jesus Christ the Lamb!" This will sanctify every
act that will follow.
The
Witness of the Spirit: The Great Amen of GOD
The
message and wisdom that the Gospel teaches is not generated or created
by any man, it is not empowered or generated by the human will. The witness
that the Holy Spirit will provide is that of the Teacher, the Counselor,
The Comforter, The Shepherd's Voice, He will provide the same first hand
witness that Peter and Paul knew and preached. It is a first-hand witness
of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. It is the witness
of the fellowship of the Son, in Jesus. It is the witness of Darkness
fleeing before the light and years of bondage and confusion fleeing from
the presence of God. It is the witness of a new creation. It is the witness
of things our eyes have seen, that which we have touched and our hands
of handled pertaining to the Word of Life. Christ Jesus our Lord. To him
be all glory and praise, forever. Amen.
E
Book 1:
The Gospel Without
Religion
E Book 2:
A Disciples Handbook
E Book 3:
Mysteries in the Bible
Index to all Charles Pinkney Christian Titles
Resources:
Understanding Home Fellowships
Frank Viola Interviews a typical church-goer
(Discussion
of Open Church)
The Glory of Kings to Search Out a Matter"
Proverb of Solomon
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