|
MYSTERY
OF GRACE
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. 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?
Grace is everything that God has provided,
Is providing, Jesus
brings the principle of Grace sharply into focus when he proclaimed,
"I in myself can do nothing, It is the Father in me who does the
work." and, "Why do you call me good? There is none good but
God." An essential key to remember when we try to understand GRACE is that we can do nothing in ourselves. It is the same declaration that Jesus made. He worked directly with and was submitted to that which he saw the father do and what he heard the Father say. The apostle Paul notes that there is nothing that any of us have that was not a gift from another source; a gift of God. What we see predominate in church activity today is men who are greatly gifted in knowledge and personal skills but this is not the same as being empowered by Grace through the Holy Spirit. "If any speak let him speak as the Oracle of God, if any minister let it be by the ability that God provides. 1 Peter 4:11" Human abilities may be rich and charismatic in the literal sense but we see too little of the abilities that God supplies. It is the anointing and its numerous manifestations (See the 7 Spirits of God_)that attest to the Power that God supplies. The Word of Faith movement may have taken Biblical Faith and gone one step too far, turning faith into a method or process that has the effect of removing God's hand from ministering to believers. The kingdom of God reality remains - - It is the work of God to 'will and to do' all the things on our behalf. The faith-filled Christian must not lose sight of the fact that, as Jesus himself said, "In himself he can do nothing - - " It is still the Father that does the work. It is through GRACE that God works on our behalf through Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Grace
in common Christian terminology has a limited theological meaning. Essentially
the grace that once saved us. We believed and confessed unto salvation.
This occurrs once when we believe and are born into the kingdom of God.
Grace is present of course in this blessed moment. This is the Spirit
of Grace that brought us to salvation. But grace continues in a dramatic
sense for any and all of the children of God. As we read in the book
of Acts, "Great grace was upon all the believers." This is
the continuing endowment of Holy Power given to us who believe. Growing
in grace and truth is the mechanism of maturing as believers. The activation
of grace in our inner spirit is enabled through the study and understanding
of the Word of truth. i.e. Scripture.
A Bible Example of Faith in Action To continue the idea of response to God or his Word, we can find it portrayed in the Gospel story in Matthew 14:28. In this account, Peter sees Jesus walking upon the surface of the water, an act quite impossible in the natural world unless of course the water be frozen. Peter, always adventurous, tells Jesus that he would like to join him in walking on the water, but only if it truly is Jesus. The faith sequence is portrayed by Jesus telling Peter to "come." Peter himself, then proceeds to approach Jesus, walking on the water. When he removes his eyes from the master and begins to sink, Peter began to notice the waves and the storm, when his faith was replaced by reason and doubt, Peter began to sink. An indispensable element of the equation is the fact that Jesus spoke directly to Peter and said, "Come." Jesus spoke this Rhema, or spoken word, then Peter acted upon that word from the Lord. It was not Peter's ability to transcend the laws of nature but the power of the Word of God, which formed all of the natural world from the beginning. This Word held Peter up miraculously. This was faith in action. In
the present day we do not often get rhemas to walk on water but if His
voice tells you, "Walk." you should respond. If it tells you, "Sing."
you should resound. If it tells you "Go." you should respond. If it tells
you, "Stop."you should respond. This is acting in response upon faith.
The natural human mind, emotions and will (the human soul) would not seek God, could not believe, and it has no inherent goodness in itself. Though not all of our souls are that of arch-villains, wholly reprobate, everyone in the human race " -falls short of the glory of God." Therefore our faith is first given to us by God. We need His provision or spiritual endowment of GRACE. Grace
is everything which God has provided and will provide, working (spiritually)
on our behalf. Grace is what God does! In the beginning all of Paul's epistles, Paul pronounces a certain phrase. I believe these words were written by the Spirit of God to provide a living rhema capable of empowering our faith as we read. This by the apostle and charged with Spiritual Power, that phrase is, "Grace be unto you -," sometimes it is accompanied by "and Peace -- " This "invocation" has come to be ritualized in church ceremonies but in its initial form, I believe it was Paul's intent that it be, a prayer of faith. A prayer of faith is a spoken proclamation which is intended to achieve a Spiritual result. Grace is the working of a Spiritual God on our behalf. Grace is linked to the term "anointing", which is the manifestation of power and presence of God working upon one of his servants at a certain time. It is the Father in heaven who sends His Spirit to help us in every way including to believe. This is an act of GRACE. Grace is that which God does or supplies freely on our behalf. Grace too is spiritual. It is a "Spiritual Fuel" which allows faith to work. Salvation through grace and faith is described in Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" Faith Grows as a Fruit as we study the Word of God Faith grows as a consequence of studying the Scriptures which are the repository of God's mind and wisdom. The entrance of God's word brings "life" and "light" as the psalmist declares. God's Word begins to redirect our thought processes and renews our minds to conform to God's thought. If we have little understanding of the Word, it follows that we can not be persons of faith. But again I promise you, God provides Grace and anointing to follow Him and know His word. Faith is cumulative, like a living entity it grows and develops. Hearing the Word of God spoken builds faith. (Faith comes by hearing.) Reading the Scriptures aloud is a powerful faith building exercise. Speaking the Word of God with our own mouths builds and activates faith. For example when it says in Scripture, "Fear not, for I the Lord am with you." We may activate faith by saying aloud, "I will not fear for you Lord, are with me." If we believe we shall see the glory of God. If we do not believe, we can not see God's manifested glory. Unbelief does not activate faith. God does not violate our unyielding will and unbelief. As we move toward God in faith, he moves toward us. Though some may wish to argue that Jesus was too much like God and thus exempted from the life of faith that is required of us. I do not believe that this was the case. I believe that Jesus of Nazareth, acting as the "son of man", exercised faith continuously from His youth onwards. It is said of Jesus, that he was full of Grace and Truth. Two things are evident here: First that Jesus lived by the Word (Scriptures) and the Scriptures are the source of Faith. The son of God did not operate as God in this world but as the son of man, thus he operated under faith which pleases God and so demonstrated this principle to all of us! "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17, Luke 3:22) A second obvious proof that Jesus walked in faith is the Scripture which we quote from Habakuk 2:4, " - -the just shall live by his faith." Whose faith we may ask? The answer I believe, is Christ (the Lord.) Therefore if it is his faith which empowers us, he must therefore be preeminent in the exercise and use of faith. Jesus
obeyed the word of the Father with whom he was in Spiritual union.
It was the Father's voice and Jesus' response to his Father's voice, the
Rhema, which characterizes Christ's life of faith for all of us, his disciples.
Jesus likewise, demonstrated faith by action. Thus both Jesus' words and actions initiated a life under God's control. His spoken words were with the tone of authority, they brought a result which was often miraculous. Miracles are spiritual intervention in the natural order, thus they are considered supernatural. To receive any manifestation from God we must act upon faith. We must say or do something. (Romans 10:9,10, we see the principle of Faith described that results in the new birth "for with the heart we believe and with the mouth we confess.") Only true and sincere belief causes God to honor faith. God looks upon the heart of man. We can not in faith through another's belief. We can not walk on water because Jesus told Peter to come forth. Our faith must be personal and it must be sincere knowing with assurance that his Word was given to us. Finally,
friend of God, to summarize: All spiritual promises are reached through
the door of faith. To see the promises of God actualized requires faith.
With faith all things are possible. " "If you believe you will see the Glory of God. "
"Knowledge makes arrogant, love edifies."
  
|
Introduction to Mysteries of God
The Rapture
of Believers, Part 1 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
|
