The Mystery that was hid in God Part 2
Click here for part 1
(Hebrews 5:11-6:3) Of whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing.(12) For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food.(13) For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe.(14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are full-grown, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
(6:1) Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,(2) of the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.(3) And this will we do, if God permit.
Paul explains that Christians that are only partaking of the milk of the word have not grown up into perfection. This is mind boggling when you consider what the milk of the word is.
Paul wrote that the milk of the word is: repentance from dead works, faith towards God, teaching of baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. Paul said to move on from these elementary things and grow up into perfection.
He wrote the book of Hebrews to the Jewish believers, those that knew and understood the law and their customs. They were learning that the rituals and festivals that were done in the law by the flesh, were pictures of what was to be fulfilled in the Spirit and showing signs of things that were to come. (Leviticus 23:4) These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. (Notice that they were the Lord’s feasts.)
In Matthew 26:26-29 Jesus was showing the disciples what the Passover feast was really all about. That he was the Passover Lamb, the bread represented his flesh and the wine represented his blood.
And Paul also explains the spiritual meaning of the Passover meal.
(1 Corinthians 10:2-4,11) and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; (3) and did all eat the same spiritual food;(4) and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.
(11) Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.
(1 Corinthians 10:15-18) I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. (16) The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (17) seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of the one bread. (18) Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
This was an example of those things done in the natural, or “flesh”, are fulfilled in the spirit.
The 15th Chapter of Acts shows us a picture of the Jewish believers in Jerusalem. It was 20 years after the descent of the Holy Spirit in chapter 2. Some still wanted to teach the Law of Moses. There was a great dispute among them as to what would be required of the Gentile believers who had never kept the law. But after Peter had spoken: (Acts 15:8-10) “God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;(9) And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (10) Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?”
They agreed not put the burden of the Law on the Gentile believers.
You can see the growing knowledge of Jesus Christ and the mystery (which had been hidden) in the later Epistles of Paul, Peter and John. So much so that by the time Paul wrote the book of Philippians 12 years later, he considered all his own righteousness that was done in the flesh according to the law was of no value. In fact even “count them but dung”.
He Wrote:
(Philippians 3:3-10) For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.(4) Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:(5) Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;(6) Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (7) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.(8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,(9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.
Hebrews 6:1 Paul said not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith in God. These are the dead works of self righteousness which is of the law and not of faith in God. He said to move on from there.
Hebrews 6:2 Paul said to move on from the teaching of (1) baptisms, (2) laying on of hands, (3) resurrection of the dead and (4) eternal judgment.
Let’s use the example of baptisms,
The water baptism of John: {(Mark 1:4) John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.(Acts 13:24) When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.}
The baptism of Jesus, his death and resurrection {(Mark 10:38) But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I drink? or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?(Luke 12:50) But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!}
The baptism of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11) I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire: (Mark 1:8) I baptized you in water; But he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit.
Paul did not baptize many people before he wrote 1Corinthians and it appears he didn’t baptize anyone since. (1 Corinthians 1:17) For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.
Jesus did not baptize anyone: (John 4:1-2) When therefore the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (2) (although Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples). It was the Lord’s disciples that baptized.
Let us grasp the depths of Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Paul said: (Ephesians 4:5) “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” It is all about the Lord. NO flesh will have the glory, it all belongs to him.
We see the progression away from anything done in the flesh by man. We see man disappearing and Christ appearing. This is the beginning of perfection. John the Baptist said, “I must decrease so he can increase”.
This is the resurrection that Paul wanted to obtain to:
(Philippians 3:10-15) that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death;(11) if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead.(12) Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus.(13) Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,(14) I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.(15) Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, this also shall God reveal unto you:
Until we are full grown and to a measure of the fullness of Christ, (Ephesians 4:11-13) He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:(13) till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
“I must decrease so he can increase”.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
God's wonderful grace and miracles - living by faith
My Testimony
In the fall of 1988 I found myself alone and responsible to raise my two daughters ages 2 and 12. I turned to the Lord and he drew closer to me than any human could ever have. In those days of great despair the Lord became my best friend, husband, father to my kids, confidant, defender, provider and comforter.
(Isaiah 54:5) For thy Maker is thy husband; Jehovah of hosts is his name: and the Holy One of Israel is thy Redeemer; the God of the whole earth shall he be called.
(Isaiah 54:6) For Jehovah hath called thee as a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, even a wife of youth, when she is cast off, saith thy God.
With the constant care and direction from the Lord also came many miracles during this time of my life. As finances were very slim, I had to trust God for many of the very basic needs of life and he never failed me.
One of the miracles was how God returned my stolen car to me. During this time my sister-in-law and her two children had moved in with us to help share expenses as she too had found herself alone.
We had gone to the grocery store that evening and bought milk, diapers and a few other essentials. We then went to another store to see if we could find an inexpensive telephone as mine had quit working. We only had $10 left between us, and even though I had never seen a phone sold for that little amount before, I had a feeling we would be able to find one that we could afford. I knew that God said he would supply all our needs and this was a need. My oldest daughter had to baby sit the younger children a little while each day and needed a telephone in case of an emergence. As it happened the store we went into was no longer going to carry telephones and had the remaining phones on sell at close out prices. We were able to get a $50 telephone for $7.
While we were leaving the store and praising the Lord for supplying our need again we looked into the parking lot and could not find my car. It was gone. When realization hit me that someone had stolen the car a miracle happened within me that is hard to explain. The best way I can describe it is, an unbelievable joy and confidence rose up within me. Like John 7:38 says: He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
An exciting expectation, I knew that I was about to see a miracle. God was going to either bring my car back to me, or he would provide us with another car with milk and food in it. It really didn’t matter to me how he did it, we needed a car and we needed the groceries that were in the car. Praise God, we knew it was coming our way.
When the police came they put the description of the car over the police radio and officers in the area were looking for the car. The officer that responded to our call, allowed us to ride around with him and look for the car for a while. He said he had never met anyone like us before in his life. He had responded to many calls like ours before, stolen vehicles and such, but never had anyone act the way we were acting. He could see that we were very happy and excited; we told him that we were going to see a miracle. We told him that the car was coming back or God would send us another one with the groceries in it. He was being very nice and patient with us. He also did not want to discourage us, but he said the chances were very slim we would be able to recover the car. I said don’t worry, God had it under control.
I asked the officer what thieves did with the stolen cars. He said a lot of times they would break them down and sell them out as parts; they also could be used in a robbery before they are torn down. My sister-in-law and I immediately agreed together in prayer that the car belonged to the Lord and could not be used in any crime. I am sure the officer was thinking we were crazy by this time, but he seemed to be enjoying the change from the norm.
By this time the car had been missing for over an hour. The store where the car was taken was at the edge of town and at a fork in the road between two highways leading out of town. The car could have been in the next county and in another town by this time.
A call came in over the radio saying the car had been found and pulled over just a mile from the store. It was on one of the highways headed back towards the grocery store. It turns out it was a profession car thief with a long record of such crimes. When they were caught, they told the police officer that when they saw the baby car seat in the back seat, they had an over whelming feeling and HAD to return the car.
Praise God the car was in perfect shape and the groceries were fine. The milk was as cold if it just came out of the refrigerator. The police officer knew he had just witnessed a miracle.
There was another time when we needed $150.00, my sister-in-law had a hand gun she took to the pawn shop. The clerk offered to buy it for $115.00, we were disappointed but accepted the offer. The owner came out to approve the deal, he saw the $115.00 written on the paper, and he approved it and then took the paper work back to his office to complete the deal.
While we were waiting, we prayed together and believed that God would somehow provide the extra $35 we needed.
A little while later the owner came out and gave the paperwork to the clerk who then had my sister-in-law sign it. When she looked at the amount it now said $150.00! She was shocked and showed it to me. She then turned to the clerk and asked him if it was right. He confirmed it was the right amount and gave her $150 cash that we needed! Praise God!
We didn’t go around telling anyone about our “troubles” only the Lord knew about them. The biggest “miracle” is what the Lord did within me. The things of this world meant nothing to me, only being in the prefect will of the Lord matter. God placed that desire in me. As the Bible says, he gives us the desires of our heart; he placed his desire in my heart. Only he can get the credit for that. The trials and tribulations I was going though brought me there. And I praise God for them! It changed my life forever!
After I had been attending my church for several months, I meet the worship leader. We were having a small group fellowship for the purpose of getting to know everyone. I was asked to give a testimony about my life. When I was finished he said he couldn’t believe I was going through everything I had mentioned. He said every Sunday morning he would search out for the two ladies with the smiles on their faces to encourage him while he lead the praise and worship service. He would have never dreamed we had a care in the world. But a truth, we didn’t have a care, God had it. Again, I cannot take credit for that, no one in the natural can do that, but with God everything is possible. What people would call the worst time of my life became the best time of my life.
I had many hurtful things thrown at me, and suffered much rejection. But the Lord took the brunt of it all for me. It was as if the Lord himself was standing in front me. When these fiery darts were hurtled at me it was as if they hit the Lord first before it came to me. He took the full force of the darts before they passed on to me, and while I felt them they could not do any real damage their sting had been softened and I was quickly released from the sharp pain of them. What a wonderful comforter we have.
After moving North Carolina, God continued to provide for us.
I had to travel to Florida to pick up my now 13 year old daughter who had been visiting a couple of weeks with my father. It was an 800 mile trip to Fort Myers from where we now lived in North Carolina. I knew that my car wasn’t in the best of shape, it needed new tires and the transmission had been slipping a little bit in Austin, Texas before we moved North Carolina a few months before. But I trusted God to get us there and back home safely. My 3 year old and I set out to Florida. After traveling several hours we stopped for gas and food. I noticed my front driver’s side tire was almost completely flat and could see it going down even more while I watched it. It must have happened quickly after I had left the highway because there had been no sign of having a flat tire. The steering had been fine and I had no vibration. Thank God he got me off the highway at just the right moment.
I was at a service station that sold tires; I went to the office and asked if they could put a plug in my flat tire. The mechanic came over and could see right a way where the air was leaking from. He told me there was already a plug in that spot and another plug would not work and I needed a new tire. I did not have any money to buy a new tire. I told him to please put a plug in it anyhow because I knew it would work. He again said it was impossible for it to work; you cannot put a new plug in with the old one it could not seal the tire. But again I insisted because I KNEW it would work.
He finally decided to put the plug in and prove to me that it would not stop the leak. He put the plug in and filled the tire with air. Then with a smirk on his face, he rubbed the spot with some soapy water expecting to see it bubble up proving his point that air was still leaking out. The look on his face was priceless when there were no bubbles and no air escaping the tire. He stared at it for a while; trying the soapy water a few more times to make sure, and then said to please check on the tire often.
Six hours later when I pulled into Fort Myers, I got out and checked the air pressure and not one ounce had leaked out. I drove on it back to North Carolina without any more trouble. A few months later because I could not pass the state inspection and God provided the money, I finally got new tires.
That has been almost 20 years ago now and God has given me so many wonderful things since then including a wonderful husband who has been a father to my children. God miraculously started and maintains our present business. For 15 of the last 20 years my husband and I ran a church/mission within our business. God preformed unbelievable miracles of provision for both us and homeless that came to stay with us. Like the small pot of rice that didn’t run out, but fed over 30 people one Thanksgiving Day.
God has been so good to us, but I have found if we are not careful, it is easy to get tangled up in the things of the world if we are not as “dependant” on him for our every need. I thank God he has kept us close to the vest for the most part depending on him. While I have failed him, God has never failed me. He is quick to bring us to repentance and keeps us growing in him unto perfection. As Paul said: (Philippians 3:13-14) Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, (14) I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
In the fall of 1988 I found myself alone and responsible to raise my two daughters ages 2 and 12. I turned to the Lord and he drew closer to me than any human could ever have. In those days of great despair the Lord became my best friend, husband, father to my kids, confidant, defender, provider and comforter.
(Isaiah 54:5) For thy Maker is thy husband; Jehovah of hosts is his name: and the Holy One of Israel is thy Redeemer; the God of the whole earth shall he be called.
(Isaiah 54:6) For Jehovah hath called thee as a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, even a wife of youth, when she is cast off, saith thy God.
With the constant care and direction from the Lord also came many miracles during this time of my life. As finances were very slim, I had to trust God for many of the very basic needs of life and he never failed me.
One of the miracles was how God returned my stolen car to me. During this time my sister-in-law and her two children had moved in with us to help share expenses as she too had found herself alone.
We had gone to the grocery store that evening and bought milk, diapers and a few other essentials. We then went to another store to see if we could find an inexpensive telephone as mine had quit working. We only had $10 left between us, and even though I had never seen a phone sold for that little amount before, I had a feeling we would be able to find one that we could afford. I knew that God said he would supply all our needs and this was a need. My oldest daughter had to baby sit the younger children a little while each day and needed a telephone in case of an emergence. As it happened the store we went into was no longer going to carry telephones and had the remaining phones on sell at close out prices. We were able to get a $50 telephone for $7.
While we were leaving the store and praising the Lord for supplying our need again we looked into the parking lot and could not find my car. It was gone. When realization hit me that someone had stolen the car a miracle happened within me that is hard to explain. The best way I can describe it is, an unbelievable joy and confidence rose up within me. Like John 7:38 says: He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
An exciting expectation, I knew that I was about to see a miracle. God was going to either bring my car back to me, or he would provide us with another car with milk and food in it. It really didn’t matter to me how he did it, we needed a car and we needed the groceries that were in the car. Praise God, we knew it was coming our way.
When the police came they put the description of the car over the police radio and officers in the area were looking for the car. The officer that responded to our call, allowed us to ride around with him and look for the car for a while. He said he had never met anyone like us before in his life. He had responded to many calls like ours before, stolen vehicles and such, but never had anyone act the way we were acting. He could see that we were very happy and excited; we told him that we were going to see a miracle. We told him that the car was coming back or God would send us another one with the groceries in it. He was being very nice and patient with us. He also did not want to discourage us, but he said the chances were very slim we would be able to recover the car. I said don’t worry, God had it under control.
I asked the officer what thieves did with the stolen cars. He said a lot of times they would break them down and sell them out as parts; they also could be used in a robbery before they are torn down. My sister-in-law and I immediately agreed together in prayer that the car belonged to the Lord and could not be used in any crime. I am sure the officer was thinking we were crazy by this time, but he seemed to be enjoying the change from the norm.
By this time the car had been missing for over an hour. The store where the car was taken was at the edge of town and at a fork in the road between two highways leading out of town. The car could have been in the next county and in another town by this time.
A call came in over the radio saying the car had been found and pulled over just a mile from the store. It was on one of the highways headed back towards the grocery store. It turns out it was a profession car thief with a long record of such crimes. When they were caught, they told the police officer that when they saw the baby car seat in the back seat, they had an over whelming feeling and HAD to return the car.
Praise God the car was in perfect shape and the groceries were fine. The milk was as cold if it just came out of the refrigerator. The police officer knew he had just witnessed a miracle.
There was another time when we needed $150.00, my sister-in-law had a hand gun she took to the pawn shop. The clerk offered to buy it for $115.00, we were disappointed but accepted the offer. The owner came out to approve the deal, he saw the $115.00 written on the paper, and he approved it and then took the paper work back to his office to complete the deal.
While we were waiting, we prayed together and believed that God would somehow provide the extra $35 we needed.
A little while later the owner came out and gave the paperwork to the clerk who then had my sister-in-law sign it. When she looked at the amount it now said $150.00! She was shocked and showed it to me. She then turned to the clerk and asked him if it was right. He confirmed it was the right amount and gave her $150 cash that we needed! Praise God!
We didn’t go around telling anyone about our “troubles” only the Lord knew about them. The biggest “miracle” is what the Lord did within me. The things of this world meant nothing to me, only being in the prefect will of the Lord matter. God placed that desire in me. As the Bible says, he gives us the desires of our heart; he placed his desire in my heart. Only he can get the credit for that. The trials and tribulations I was going though brought me there. And I praise God for them! It changed my life forever!
After I had been attending my church for several months, I meet the worship leader. We were having a small group fellowship for the purpose of getting to know everyone. I was asked to give a testimony about my life. When I was finished he said he couldn’t believe I was going through everything I had mentioned. He said every Sunday morning he would search out for the two ladies with the smiles on their faces to encourage him while he lead the praise and worship service. He would have never dreamed we had a care in the world. But a truth, we didn’t have a care, God had it. Again, I cannot take credit for that, no one in the natural can do that, but with God everything is possible. What people would call the worst time of my life became the best time of my life.
I had many hurtful things thrown at me, and suffered much rejection. But the Lord took the brunt of it all for me. It was as if the Lord himself was standing in front me. When these fiery darts were hurtled at me it was as if they hit the Lord first before it came to me. He took the full force of the darts before they passed on to me, and while I felt them they could not do any real damage their sting had been softened and I was quickly released from the sharp pain of them. What a wonderful comforter we have.
After moving North Carolina, God continued to provide for us.
I had to travel to Florida to pick up my now 13 year old daughter who had been visiting a couple of weeks with my father. It was an 800 mile trip to Fort Myers from where we now lived in North Carolina. I knew that my car wasn’t in the best of shape, it needed new tires and the transmission had been slipping a little bit in Austin, Texas before we moved North Carolina a few months before. But I trusted God to get us there and back home safely. My 3 year old and I set out to Florida. After traveling several hours we stopped for gas and food. I noticed my front driver’s side tire was almost completely flat and could see it going down even more while I watched it. It must have happened quickly after I had left the highway because there had been no sign of having a flat tire. The steering had been fine and I had no vibration. Thank God he got me off the highway at just the right moment.
I was at a service station that sold tires; I went to the office and asked if they could put a plug in my flat tire. The mechanic came over and could see right a way where the air was leaking from. He told me there was already a plug in that spot and another plug would not work and I needed a new tire. I did not have any money to buy a new tire. I told him to please put a plug in it anyhow because I knew it would work. He again said it was impossible for it to work; you cannot put a new plug in with the old one it could not seal the tire. But again I insisted because I KNEW it would work.
He finally decided to put the plug in and prove to me that it would not stop the leak. He put the plug in and filled the tire with air. Then with a smirk on his face, he rubbed the spot with some soapy water expecting to see it bubble up proving his point that air was still leaking out. The look on his face was priceless when there were no bubbles and no air escaping the tire. He stared at it for a while; trying the soapy water a few more times to make sure, and then said to please check on the tire often.
Six hours later when I pulled into Fort Myers, I got out and checked the air pressure and not one ounce had leaked out. I drove on it back to North Carolina without any more trouble. A few months later because I could not pass the state inspection and God provided the money, I finally got new tires.
That has been almost 20 years ago now and God has given me so many wonderful things since then including a wonderful husband who has been a father to my children. God miraculously started and maintains our present business. For 15 of the last 20 years my husband and I ran a church/mission within our business. God preformed unbelievable miracles of provision for both us and homeless that came to stay with us. Like the small pot of rice that didn’t run out, but fed over 30 people one Thanksgiving Day.
God has been so good to us, but I have found if we are not careful, it is easy to get tangled up in the things of the world if we are not as “dependant” on him for our every need. I thank God he has kept us close to the vest for the most part depending on him. While I have failed him, God has never failed me. He is quick to bring us to repentance and keeps us growing in him unto perfection. As Paul said: (Philippians 3:13-14) Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, (14) I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
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