MYSTERIES OF GOD
Introduction

Knowing about God is not the same as knowing God. God is a spirit. All heavenly things including knowledge and power are matters which are of the heavenly kind of substance. These can be likened to earthly things in some ways in metaphor or typology but only the Spirit can reveal Godly things to the spirit of a man (person.)

     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, non intellectual 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 philosophical concept as to prove His existence by supernatural attestations, demonstrating the Power of God. (1Corinthians 2). So we are faced with 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.

God has called us unto a life of Spiritual realities and experience.
The new creation is Spirit formed and is designed to give us access to the realm of the heavens. All (every) good and precious perfect gifts come from the Father from heaven. (James 1:7) These gifts begin with the gift of a new spirit born (RE-generated) from the power of the Almighty through Christ Jesus, the Messiah. The person who is walking in the most promises of God, manifesting the highest levels of Christian life and grace, are they who have RECEIVED the most from God. Remember Grace is a mystery in itself that deals precisely with matters of receiving things from Heaven that are prepared to be given to the believer. Grace begins with the new creation which makes us sons and daughters of God and procedes to include all matters of Spiritual gifts as described in 1 Corinthians 12. The life of Godliness (Experiencing God) involves having fellowship with our heavenly Father through the Holy Spirit. As long as we know in part, see in part and prophecy in part; as long as the perfect has not yet come (the millenium with Jesus Christ's having returned to rule of the nations of a renewed and regenerated earth, We will still be subject to the Grace(s) or enablements of the Holy Spirit).

The second act of Grace is the Gift of the Holy Spirit.
Many argue that we receive the Holy Spirit at salvation. But the investigation of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles reveals that it is an event subsequent to receiving the word or salvation. The fullness of the Spirit is a matter requiring continuous replenishment. No one can receive enough Grace to last us for indefinite periods of time. Further, I believe it may be noted that the epistles of the apostles are in a sense, guidance to the believer pertaining to knowing the differentiation between the soulish and Spiritual. Knowledge is soulish; wisdom and understanding is Spiritual. The natural man (soulish man) receives nothing from God for they are Spiritual discerned. They are foreign and foolish to him. (1 Corinthians Chaps. 1 and 2.

Progressive Revelation
     God is a God of mysteries and hidden things. 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 even doctrinal 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 who has been given to act as is the teacher and discipler into truth we are limited pretty much to the moral homily level of the listener.

In our Spiritual walks. We begin to develope testimonies, Stories of our wondrous experiences in heavenly things through the Holy Spirit. These stories are progressive in that they are stepping stones which build our confidence in the knowledge and faith in God to meet our needs and to do exploits on our behalf. These same stories need to be shared with others to build their faith as well. God's stories chronicle success in our own lives.

We grow in the knowledge of truth through study of the Word of God. We are given understanding in the light of Jeshua (Jesus) in a line by line, precept upon precept, revelation and 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.

 

MYSTERIES OF GOD
Spiritual Secrets Revealed in Scripture

RECEIVING FROM GOD
Receiving Spiritual Gifts

What God the Father Imparts

The First Impartation

The Purpose of Receiving Any Impartation is to Minister

Receiving from the Servant who God has sent.

Today Jesus' Hand is Still Stretched Out

God Makes Believers Priests

God Answers Us According to Our Expectations

"Not as the world gives do I give unto you.-"

Human resources and ability give things which are of this world. That which God supplies is spiritual. It can be imparted to us directly or through the hand of a human agent, a servant of God. God makes disciples for this purpose. God's continued purpose is to influence and touch the world on his behalf. Every believer has one great untapped resource. The treasure room of God. Jesus ascended on high took authority over the realm of Satan and gave gifts to men.

What the Father imparts
Reading-- James 1:17

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
 

The Father's Mode of Impartation
Reading--James 3:17 "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."

The First Impartation

The church was birthed in a supernatural outpouring. (gifting.) It included Spiritual life (virtues), Spiritual revelation, and Spiritual Power -- perfect gifts from God. With this endowment of power and giftings the work of ministry was made possible. Every Spiritual blessing was a new thing. A higher form of Spiritual life than had been previously possible. The new birth re-created human beings into a new creation, a form of which began to replicate Christ in God's children. ( as many as have received him, to them he gave them the power to become the sons of God. --John 1:12) And as a result they could interact with the Father as Jesus did. Eventually when maturity in Faith is reached, the disciple is enabled to minister the same gifts and revelations that he has received.

As we grow as disciples, we change in our focus from self-ward to others-ward. During the baby Christian stage we have some Spiritual experiences but tend to place them in a personal or self centered perspective. Later with growth we become aware that we have come not to be ministered to but to minister. (The son of man came not to be ministered to but to minister. Matthew 20:28 & Mark 10:45) The uniqueness of every believer is necessary because of our background experiences, our special sphere of influence, and our giftings which God fully intends to use to minister to others.
   

The Purpose of receiving or Impartation is Ministry"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:8) Impartations Are Given In the Name of Jesus Christ
Jesus said, He (the Holy Spirit) will take things that are mine, and give them to you.

We believers are not alone, nor are we to speak for ourselves. The Christian life is or should be a cooperative effort.

The Lord has come to reside in human flesh, working with us and through us, even manifesting signs to follow that attest his reality. Jesus continues to minister if we can get out of his way. Most of the nominal church has not grasped this in the fullness of this mystery. Few have developed the kind of yielded spirit which would allow us to recognize and practice Christ inside consciousness. Let us not deceive ourselves, the spiritual life is not dependent upon our abilities but his enablement.

The God-empowered life is an hour by hour and a day by day spiritual walk. It is a continuing communion and following the pathway of faith. When called to do so the believer may exercise authority over natural forces or demonic ones. Such authority is not based upon who we are but who he is in us. The Lord Jesus is still "lord of all."

A case of misused authority is noted in acts Chapter 19 vs.13-16. In this example exorcists were trying to emulate the apostle Paul, they stated, "in the name of Jesus who Paul preaches." In this case, however, the demons attacked the exorcists and did them physical harm. Saying, "Jesus, we know, Paul we know, but who are you?"

Using Jesus' name to cast out a demon would be normative for a spirit-born believer; but in this case, the ministering individuals were not qualified to act in Christ's name. I believe it is evident from the spirit-side of these transactions those who belong to Christ and those who do not.
 

Receiving from the Servant who God has sent.

"And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet." (Matthew 10:14) "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me."(Matthew 10:40)

God's servant brings the gift of God in one of many forms, healing, wisdom and revelation, empowerment or deliverance.

If this messenger is not received in the name of a servant of God, we will miss the gift which was to be ours. Again, Jesus is the exemplar of God's messenger not being received. "He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward." (John 13:20) The key words are to receive a prophet in the name of a prophet to receive the reward. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." (John 14:17 )

Even John the Baptist had to be reminded about the identity of "God's man:" "Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see:" "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them."
(Matthew 11:4,5)
 
Today Jesus' Hand is Still Stretched Out
He Still Desires to Minister to Us

By faith we receive that which Jesus has promised. By faith we know that he stands close at hand with the desire to reach out and touch us and to be our friend and deliverer. Jesus asks us very simply, "what do you want me to do for you?" (Luke 18:41) "Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight."

This blind man was focused upon receiving sight. "And Jesus said to him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee." (Luke 18:42) Jesus noted that he was in right position to receive by faith.
 

God Makes Believers "Priests"

God, in this age of grace has made provision for any who believe to interact with Him without the mediation of a priest or go between. Grace and spiritual provision may be sought in prayer in its various forms. Matthew 21:22 "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

We as believers can boldly enter into the Holiest Place in the heavens to obtain mercy and find grace and help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Turn on Your "Expecter"God Answers Us According to Our Expectations

"And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him." (Luke 8:40)

The power that faith works is very difficult to explain. But faith pleases God. Believing pleases God. Trusting his promises boldly and implicitly pleases God. Those who stumble at faith stumble because their minds turn to the "exceptions." But to remain firm regardless of the exceptions is the mark of a person of faith. We believe in God. We believe he rewards those who seek his face. There is an assurance which a person of faith commands. The assurance is settled and unwavering, it overlooks circumstances in the natural realm.  
 

"Knowledge makes arrogant, love edifies."

 

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