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THE
MYSTERY OF
POWER FROM ON HIGH
"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
Revelation, inspiration, searching, knocking,
asking;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 neither know nor 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.
It is a very great mystery that it is G-d who calls us to have fellowship
with Him. It is G-d who equips us to grow and minister through Him.
It is G-d who preserves and keeps us until his coming to gather his
called out people unto himself. So you see, that it is very little about
our performance or goodness. The gift of G-d prevails throughout the
life of a believer.
Introduction
The
Gospel of the Kingdom is Manifested Power "For
I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of
God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first,
and also to the Greek."(Romans 1:16) "Through
mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that
from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached
the Gospel of Christ." (Romans 15:19)" Paul said in essence that he
preached the Gospel in full measure, or the "full Gospel message."
Revelation, inspiration, searching, knocking, 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, and believed on a non-sensing level.
If I say that I know God, whom you neither know nor see, you can only
judge my assertions on the basis of my personal credibility. Some
spokes persons for God are more credible than others. The early apostles
did not so much argue the existence of God as a theory or concept,
as 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.
The parables taught by Jeshua (Jesus) had within them truth at multiple
levels, plain story-level truth and higher levels of spiritual revelation.
There is and always has been that matter of hidden truth. For Christ's
disciples it was given to know the secrets of the Kingdom of God while
others received no more than a moral homily. According to the Mystery
of Godliness, God reveals himself to some and not to others. Heaven
and its mysteries are not laid bare for all to intrude upon. There
are defining limits between darkness and heavenly light. God did not
choose that Bible truths and hidden mysteries be 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, the teacher and discipler
of truth, we are limited pretty much to merely the moral homily level
of the listener.
We
are given understanding in the light of Jeshua (Jesus) on 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.
I
have indexed a series of writings that 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 to 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) and
understanding 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 Christ) 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 what man knows the things of a man, except
by the sprit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God, know
man knows, except by the Spirit of God.
MANY
OF THE BIBLICAL MYSTERIES DETAILED BELOW
REMAIN UNREALIZED BY A MAJORITY OF NOMINAL CHRISTIANS.
HOWEVER, THE TEACHINGS HERE ARE NOT HIDDEN OR "ESOTERIC"
AS SO-CALLED OCCULT AND NEW AGE TEACHINGS CLAIM TO BE,
THESE TRUTHS ARE REVEALED IN THE BIBLE
BUT REMAIN VEILED TO THE UNDERSTANDING UNTIL THE HOLY SPIRIT
REVEALS THEM TO US. THEREFORE, THOSE WHO READ THE BIBLE
DO NOT RECEIVE THE SAME UNDERSTANDINGS
THE MYSTERY OF POWER FROM ON HIGH
A
God of Power Today?
TOPICS
Suggested Reading: Mark 16; 1Corinthians 12; 1Corinthians 14; Luke 4:
Matt. 28 end, Acts 1 & Acts 2, and Others listed in the paragraphs following:
TOPICS:
Two Words for Power
God Baptized Jesus With Supernatural Ability, Power and Might
Becoming a New Creation
Power of God Then, What About Now?
Receiving "the Promise of the Father "
Speaking in other Tongues [Spiritual Languages)
Tongues and Holy Spirit Ministry Intercession, a Spiritual Ministry
Among the many persons who have attended church for most of their
lives, I believe there are very few who have actually experienced God's
manifestated power and presence in any real and dramatic way. The believing
Christian, once born of the spirit is set apart for the Glory of God.
This believer should not be relegated to becoming merely a casual listener,
whose spiritual life consists of coming to a place once or twice a week
to hear messages about God, and in some cases related by a person who
may not even know God. It is a shame to relinquish our own spiritual growth
and the potential of being "children of the Most High" with messages framed
in unbelief.
A God of Power Today?
God almighty created the Heavens and the Earth. We are told of miraculous
deeds done in time past by the power of God, the stopping of the sun's
movement which allowed time to give Joshua a military victory; Miracles
and signs done by Moses and Aaron in Egypt; the opening of the Red Sea;
the power of God which came down to consume Elijah's sacrifice before
the priests of Baal. We know that Jesus performed miracles outside of
realm of natural law, healings, raising from the dead, walking on the
water, changing water into wine; as well as mental miracles, knowing the
thoughts of men and knowing the events of the future. We also know that
the disciples of Christ duplicated Jesus' miracles when they ministered,
according to the accounts written in the book of The Acts of the Apostles.
How do we look upon these accounts? Shall we say they did not occur? Shall
we say that God has changed? Or shall we say that God has not changed
and that He does work the same way in the present as He did in times past?
This writer grew up attending churches which had no manifestation of God's
presence. Neither was there teaching that God was to be an intimate part
of church fellowship. Sadly, there was no reality of God being a good
God who brought benefits from day to day.
Hymns were sung without conviction or zeal. How can anyone give heart
felt praise when they do not know the God they praise? (John 4) "-
-You worship what you do not know - -" It is amazing to me that people
continue to support traditions in which there are no manifestations which
attest the truth in the words which are preached. For all practical purposes
one could easily preach that "God is dead." One might say that faith was
equated to believing in the God of Glory without any way to test that
assertion. No person, no disciple or
believer in Jesus the Messiah can understand or experience the fullness
of this truth nor act as a manifested child of the Most High without supernatural
enablement.
"- -No man knows the things of God except for the Spirit of God
- - (1Corinthians 1:11,12)
Thank God for His excellent Grace, He has provided that which is necessary
to walk as a child of God, walking in Jesus' footsteps. It is dunamis
power which Jesus promised to all his true disciples. This power is the
God-Power of the Holy Spirit. This manifestation is God in us, which God
has provided to fulfill his word and provide us with a first hand witness
of the promises and provisions stated in the Bible. This power is scripturally
promised for Disciples of Jesus Christ to use to perform the outreaches
of the Gospel of the Kingdom, also called the work of ministry.
If we are not taught about this provision in the Word enunciated to us,
we can not believe it nor appropriate it. If we have only heard a contrary
Gospel, then we are encumbered to have to unlearn that wrong doctrine.
There is a spirit of unbelief , a spirit of slumber, the leaven of Pharisees,
which masquerades as scripturally correct doctrine. This religious tradition
is not unlike the spirit which the Pharisees manifested to withstand Jesus
in the time of his earthly ministry. Bible training centers are training
practitioners of a form of godliness without power, presenting many arguments
which contradict the promises of God, namely that the Power of the Spirit
and His ministry gifts are no longer being manifested today. Jesus said,
If you believe you will see the glory of God.
Paul
stated that he did not bring words of spell-binding oratory or philosophy
(intellectual reasoning) but rather, the demonstration of the Holy Spirit
and his Power. Today institutional Christianity abounds as a religion
without power and if by chance power it is manifested, we look upon it
as something questionable. We might on the other hand, have the tendency
to exalt the man by whose hand these miracles occurred, placing him on
a pedestal. Note in the Book of Acts disciples Paul and Barnabus had to
constrain people from deifying them when powers from God were displayed.
The Two Words for Power
The Bible mentions two kinds of power, power (dunamis) and power (exousia).
Both words have a place in understanding the power which is granted to
every believer. Exousia power is the authority to act granted by God.
Jesus declares after his resurrection, All power (exousia authority) in
heaven and on earth have been given to me -- you go therefore -- and the
commission to his disciples is given to take the Gospel into every nation.
Jesus states in his prayer to the Father in John Chapter 17, "the glory
you have given me, I have given to them- The glory of God is, I believe,
a physical manifestation of God's presence, therefore it must be equated
with Power. I will share a phrase with you, that I believe has been spiritually
revealed, the phrase is this, "The glory of God is the manifested presence
of God.
Jesus
speaks of "the promise of the Father" power from God when he tells the
disciples, "to wait in Jerusalem until you are endued with power from
on high." God Baptized Jesus with the Same Dunamis Power of the Spirit.
The anointing of Holy Spirit power came upon Jesus after John baptized
him in the Jordan river, it was thereafter that Jesus performed mighty
works and began His ministry. " - -God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with
the Holy Spirit and power who went about doing good and healing all those
oppressed by the devil." (Acts10:38)
Supernatural Ability
The ministry of Jesus was a four-fold ministry; teaching, preaching the
kingdom, healing, and deliverance to demonstrate the Kingdom. It was a
ministry of power directed against the forces of Satan. As described in
Luke Chapter 4:18, there is an emphasis on power in order to fulfill the
commission of the Gospel of the Kingdom:
Power ministry is heart of the Gospel of the Kingdom. It can be summarized
as freeing people and restoring them from conditions (Luke Chapter 4:18
- body, soul and spirit) which Satan had placed upon mankind in general
and upon ourselves and our families individually. Lack of wholeness through
the bondage of Satan in sickness; Lack of wholeness through the bondage
of Satan through mental oppression; Lack of wholeness through the bondage
of Satan which are demonic in nature; Lack of: wholeness through the bondage
of Satan through various kinds of curses; Lack of wholeness through the
bondage of Satan in lacks and limitation, and in fears; Lack of wholeness
through the bondage of Satan in connections to unclean, destructive and
dehumanizing forces. Where the ministry of the Gospel is taught the adversary,
(the enemy of God) must never be omitted for he remains the enemy and
has oppressed the race of man since the beginning. Satan has not retired
in Florida since the victory of Christ Jesus was proclaimed in the heavens
and in the earth!
A
Gospel without power is a false Gospel. Likewise any Gospel which does
not introduce us to the spiritual powers of the enemy which are against
us is a false Gospel. The faith life is to a large degree spent in enforcing
God's authority in the earth with respect to our own lives, our families
and other who we care for. Satan's team is positioned to take advantage
of our ignorance. They will take an offensive action against us unless
we are poised to stand our ground. Satan comes to steal, kill, destroy
& deceive, and to perpetuate false Gospels. The Promise of the Father
Help from the Spirit of God for Every Disciple The book of acts introduces
the promise of the Father, What is this promise of the Father? It is Power
from on high!. The Holy Spirit came to ordinary men and gave them supernatural
knowledge, ability and might. They were clothed with the Glory of God's
fire. Under the power of the Spirit, they manifested total loss of normal
mental self control, they began to utter language which was not their
own. They became witnesses. After being touched by Power (dunamis) we
also bear witnesses that our lives are being remade, renewed, blessed
in wholeness, through an agency which is totally beyond man's natural
enablements. but that is something of the heavens.
A
Matter of Moments to Become a New Creation
The disciples of Jesus, men and women, waited in an upper room of the
temple that day of Pentecost. They were all believers in Jesus. They all
knew him. They all walked with him and knew his voice and his sayings
but they were not yet able to minister as God desired them to minister.
It was not enough to have known Jesus personally, face to face. They and
ourselves can not minister from knowledge and experience and natural ability
alone! dunamis holy spirit baptism.wpd The kind of ministry that the Jesus
through God had prepared for his disciples was to replicate Christ within
each of them! Suddenly at the appointed moment each man and woman experienced
what the prophets had written: The prophet Joel writing states: "It shall
come to pass in the latter days that I will pour out of my spirit upon
all flesh --' The prophet Ezekiel writes: "-- a new heart will I give
you, and put a new spirit in you; I will remove the heart of stone and
put in a heart of flesh-"(Ezekiel Chapter 36:26) I will write my laws
upon your heart " and David the psalmist prophet writes: "- Let this be
written for a future generation, a people not yet created shall Praise
the Lord" --(Psalm 102,18)
That was Then, What About
Now?
Religious tradition has relegated the book of Acts to "stories" or fables
about unique and favored saints and apostles. Some imagine God no longer
wishes to make disciples and to use them, as he once did; nor any longer
empower them with power from on high as at the time of Peter, James and
John. Remember God does not lie, if he made any promise he will certainly
fulfill that promise. The "promise of the Father" was specifically that
of receiving divine, enabling power. It is the prophetic bottom line enabling
the Ministry of Jesus Christ to continue in the church age. The Gospel
of the Kingdom has not changed in its objectives or methods. However,
hundreds of years of religious myths and baggage has to examined and if
it is necessary, trashed. Unbelief keeps us from entering the upper room
and emerging a vibrant 'New Testament church' ALIVE with the first-hand
witness of God's power and blessing.
How
You May Receive the Promise of the Father
Only believers can receive the Holy Spirit. This may require some personal
self-evaluation. Do you believe? What do you believe?
Do you believe that you are a sinner alienated from the life and promises
of God? Do you believe that you have until this time either knowing or
unknowingly followed a life which was ruled by Satan's nature, pride and
rebellion and self-service and uncleanness? Do you believe you need a
Savior? Do you believe that Jesus was the lamb of God who carried the
sins and offenses of the whole world as well as your own? Do you believe
that his blood has the power to wash all of your sins away and restore
you in perfect accord with God the Father? Do you believe that God loves
you and wishes to forgive you? Do you believe that He has the power to
make your life entire over again and to make you a new creation?
If so, Hallelujah! An ordinary person like you and me, who are called
outcasts, or sinners in the Bible, may begin a spiritual life by talking
to God and asking Him to do something in our life. I can assure you of
the truth in this. You need to do two things, the first is to believe.
Kindly note and consider the things discussed above, for these are the
essential elements of believing in the Gospel of Christ. The second is
a spoken confession or petition to God. The psalmist states, "I spoke
unto the Lord with my voice and He heard me out of His holy hill." (Psalm
3:4 and Psalm 77:1) You confess (say with your own words) what you know
about the promises that the cross the Lord Jesus in any way that is personal
and honest to you.
It is not a ritual but simply your getting honest with God and telling
Him that you need Him and dunamis holy spirit baptism.wpd that you accept
the sacrifice of his Son for your sins. The words which provide a change
in our lives begins with a confession of our need. It follows with a statement
of believing that Jesus has met that need. God honors this confession.
He will change you in an instant and take you into His family. However,
you must act in sincerity and faith , believing that you will most assuredly
receive this new birth and this new status of righteousness in Christ
Jesus.
This
is the first step of receiving the Promise of the Father, the gift of
the Holy Spirit. If you are already a believer and have a sure witness
of the fact that God has restored your spirit, you are eligible to become
a disciple filled with power. The experience of being born of the Spirit
and made new is a good example of how God (Through Christ Jesus) works
on our behalf. All transactions of faith operate through a similar sequence
of action to that demonstrated above (Romans Chapter 10, verses 9 and
10.) Belief is followed by action. We believe in our hearts and express
the belief vocally, that the Father is anxious to give you out of His
Kingdom. (Luke 12,32) . We know and confess that Jesus died for this cause,
to make you a completed disciple. We know and confess that God has not
changed nor will He ever change. We know and confess BELIEVING that God
empowered all of his first disciples and that you believe He wishes to
give you a good gift and empower you. Expect Jesus to do that greater
work. Receiving the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" is God's desire for you.
As he commanded the first disciples he likewise commands us so that we
can function as a child of God. In the process of being filled with the
Spirit the disciples in the second chapter of Acts came together to seek
the promise of the Father. They sought it prayerfully. After the Holy
Spirit was poured out there were manifestations for each disciples. They
did not proceed to go out and minister without the experience. Then when
the moment of fulfillment came - - - They began to praise God and to prophecy
and to speak in other languages that the Holy Spirit gave to them.
Speaking
in other Tongues - - two varieties, unknown actual languages and
Spiritual languages. Understanding and receiving these spiritual languages
are a problem for many believers. Not thinking too much, is a weird kind
of thing for people to do. Releasing the language utterance is a little
confusing. Do you try or try not to try? It is hard to release words you
do not know by not thinking. But the wisdom of God has made it possible
to bypass the normal function of mental processes. Your thought processes
are mostly by-passed in the tongues of God. These are not words you "learn"
such as learning vocabulary words. The language of tongues are real languages
a form of speech. They are not usually identified as any human dialect.
Two Kinds of Tongues
Paul refers to 2 kinds of tongues; of men; and of angels (1Cor 13). Nevertheless,
tongues are messages from God, to allow us to give God perfect praise
back to him. At times tongues along with a spiritual interpretation is
a message to edify others. dunamis holy spirit baptism.wpd Tongues work
to edify and instruct ourselves on a spiritual level. Tongues bring revelatory
wisdom. Tongues open the door to Spiritual experiences of all kinds. Tongues
build our faith and open understanding of the Scripture. Prayer language
and Holy Spirit Ministry The gift of Tongues as listed in 1 Corinthians,
Chapter 12 is the ability to speak a language having never learned it.
An example is described in Acts Chapter two. Where Galileans spoke the
languages known to many nations who were present. Experience has taught
me that languages can be a part of messages given publicly in meetings
although this is not seen too often. As we pray in the Spirit our minds
are rendered quiescent. the language of the Spirit has no predictability
or conscious control. We find in it many kinds of expressions both in
word and in tones of expression.
Uses of Tongues and Praying in the Spirit
Praying in the Spirit, expresses in a Spiritual language god's perfect
will about matters. When we do not know how to pray in particular the
Holy Spirit provides the necessary words. Romans, 8: 26, describes groanings
or expressions beyond words. Th0is is also called praying in the Spirit.
Intercessors will lapse into prayers beyond words where sounds come forth
that are very strange to listen to and may not sound at all like language.
We can also receive the understanding of prayers that we pray or that
are prayed by others.
Sometimes understanding come into our minds spontaneously after we have
spoken in tongues or after someone else has been heard to utter something
in a spiritual language. You may seek and ask the Lord to reveal these
that you pray about so that you mind may also be fruitful. (1Cor 14) Interpreted
tongues equal prophecy. Intercession, a Spiritual Ministry The ministry
of divine intercession is empowered through the language of the Spirit.
Intercession a Spiritual Ministry
God calls forth true intercession into manifestation. Some are given this
ministry gift in a unique and powerful way. The Holy Spirit causes such
individuals to yield to the Spirit and bring out the words necessary to
enforce the perfect will of God for many things. It has been testified
how people awaken in the night to bring forth prayers for people they
know or for those in ministry undergoing trials and crisis.
The power of praying God's will for people, circumstances or nations,
need not depend upon the leading of the rational mind. Sometimes visions
and revelations can accompany intercession where God allows his servant
to see the nature of the circumstances for which he or she is praying.
Praying in the Spirit and the ministry of intercession is not learned
through natural means, although it may be seen demonstrated by men or
women with the gift. God is willing and happy to train any person who
wishes to explore and learn Spiritual things.
It is continued practice which brings ability and fruitfulness in the
learning and application of Spiritual things. Practice ministering through
prayer, according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Ask the Lord to train
you and lead you in the Spirit. Surely it His will and pleasure to develop
his children to become mature "sons or daughters of God."
"Knowledge
makes arrogant, love edifies."
Go
to Index of all Charles Pinkney Articles
1-27-2024
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Introduction
to Mysteries of God
Index
to Bible Mysteries
The
Rapture of Believers, Part 1
The bride and the Bridegroom
typology and the rapture
Mystery
of Accessing God
Mystery
of the Body of Christ
Mystery
of the Cross, Crucified with Him
Mystery
of Faith Believing God's Word
Mystery
of Grace, God's Hand Stretched Forth
Mystery
of Power and Divine Enablement
Mystery
of Spoken Words of Covenant
Mystery
of Righteousness in the Beloved
Mystery
of the Word -.Bible is a Living Force
Mystery
of Spirit and Spirits
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