In Secret Newsletter #326 December 2005 ***The Passover 2006 Information Packets are available.

Please write or call to request an Information Packet, if you plan to attend. Passover 2006 will be held April 1st and 2nd.*** Unfortunately, all too many people believe Father speaks in mysterious ways. They think that He likes to keep things secret. For some people who don't love God enough to study His Word this is true. On the other hand, God speaks very clearly and precisely to His elect. There is nothing secret or mysterious about God's plan. Let's begin our study in Proverbs. Proverbs 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; The word "hide" in this verse would be better translated "lay up". God doesn't want His commandments to be hidden from anyone. Lay them up in your mind. Proverbs 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine h eart to understanding. Set your mind to understanding His Word. There are no dark shadows, confusion, or misunderstandings in His Word for those who love and serve our Father. Proverbs 2:3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; When you are studying the Word and you don't understand something, let your voice be heard in prayer. God wants you to understand, if you are seeking wisdom. Proverbs 2:4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; v5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. Does this sound like God is trying to hide anything from His children? No! He rewards those who zealously seek knowledge and truth from His Word. Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. All true wisdom comes from God. Don't look for it from men or the traditions of men. You won't find it there . Proverbs 2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. Don't overlook the conditions. These promises aren't made to idol worshippers or those who don't care about God. Wisdom and knowledge are hidden from them. The promises are to the righteous and upright who seek Him. Proverbs 2:8 He keepeth the paths of judgement, and preserveth the way of His saints. God watches out for His elect. He makes sure they stay on the right path and protects them when necessary. Proverbs 2:9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. God wants you to find the good path; He isn't hiding the path from you that love Him and study His Word. Proverbs 2:10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; v11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: Again, don't overlook the conditions. These promises don't apply to everyone. Has wisdom entered your mind? Proverbs 2:12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; The evil man is Satan. If you love the Lord and meet these conditions, Satan wants you real bad. You are his enemy. But God will deliver you and protect you from Satan and the wicked. Let's turn to Isaiah. We are going to be talking about Cyrus, a heathen king

whom God used mightily. Within this chapter, we will see the secrets that have been hidden from many since the foundation of the world. Isaiah 45:1 Thus saith the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him, and I will loose the loins of kings; to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; God utilized Cyrus to conquer the nations of the world and to restore Israel. Isaiah 45:2 "I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces th e gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: When God goes before you, you will most assuredly win. Seek the paths of righteousness, and God goes before you, as well. Cyrus couldn't lose. You can't lose. Isaiah 45:3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, Which shall call thee by the name, am the God of Israel. V4 For Jacob My servant's sake, and Israel Mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known Me. God named Cyrus many years before he was born. Through His prophets, God announced the accomplishments Cyrus would perform. God didn't have any secrets concerning what Cyrus would do. Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside Me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known Me. God chooses whomsoever He wills, to bring forth good paths to those who love Him. Isaiah 45:6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me, I am the LORD, and there is none else. Beloved, you don't need anyone else. When you begin thinking there is someone else, especially when it comes to God's plan of salvation, you are in a heap of trouble. Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. The word "evil" should be translated "calamity or distress". God did not create evil as we think of the word. Isaiah 45:8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it. God created the way for you to find that righteousness. It gives Him pleasure, when you find that way. Righteousness simply means doing what is right. Isaiah 45:9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let t he potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioned it, `What makest thou?' or thy work, `He hath no hands?' Strive with other people, if you must, but don't ever strive with God. Arguing with God doesn't pay any dividends, and you might very well end up with a broken pot. Isaiah 45:10 Woe unto him that saith unto his father, `What begettest thou?' or to the woman, `What hast thou brought forth?'" v11 Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, "Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons, and concerning the work of My hands command ye Me. Does it sound like God wants to keep secrets? No. If you want to know what the future holds, ask Him. In many cases, God has already told you the future through His prophets, "Behold, I have foretold you all things" (Mark 13:23). The question is have you taken the time to read what His prophets have to say? Isaiah 45:12 I have made the earth, and created man u pon it: I, even My hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. V13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build My city, and he shall let go My captives, not for price nor reward," saith the LORD of hosts. Cyrus is our subject.

Isaiah 45:14 Thus saith the LORD, "The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying `Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.' " People recognize divine influence, when they see it. God did this through Cyrus to make a point. The point is God doesn't hide things from those who seek truth. Isaiah 45:15 Verily Thou art a GOD that hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. V16 They shall be ashamed, and als o confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols. You don't want to be part of this crowd. They think God operates in strange and mysterious ways. It is because of their own lack of knowledge that truth is hidden, and confusion reigns. Make time for God, not idols. An idol can be anything that comes between you and Father. Isaiah 45:17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD, with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end. V18 For thus saith the LORD That created the heavens; God Himself That formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD; and there is none else. Not everyone can understand this last verse. They have no idea there was an earth age before this one. And that the earth "became" void and without form (Gen. 1:2). God didn't create the earth that way. This truth remains hidden to many who hav en't taken time to study. Thank God for you who seek truth from the Word of God. Isaiah 45:19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, `Seek ye Me in vain,' I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. God doesn't speak in secret. Things are a mystery only to those who don't care about God. Confusion reigns in the lives of those who prefer their idols to God. God does hide truth from certain people. Why? Let's continue our study in Isaiah Chapter 29. Isaiah 29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath He covered. When people try to create their own salvation through the traditions of men, God will allow them to be ignorant. Isaiah 29:11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, "Read this, I pray thee:" and he saith, "I cannot; for it is sealed:" How many times have you heard a preacher say, "You don't have to understand the Book of Revelation. It is sealed, and you are going to be gone anyway."? Isaiah 29:12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, "Read this, I pray thee:" and he saith, "I am not learned." v13 Wherefore the LORD said, "Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men: Unfortunately, the traditions of men have replaced the Word of God in many churches. God isn't happy. Isaiah 29:14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this People, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." Seek wisdom and understanding from God's Word. He will make cer tain you receive both. God keeps no secrets. Or, seek wisdom and understanding from the traditions of men, and you will receive neither. God has promised it.

In His Service, Arnold Murray