Unity in the Mystery PM 233 Mar 1998 There is one unity for whosoever will, and there is a deeper

unity for those with eyes to see and ears to hear. The latter group is jointly fitted and united in the mystery of God. Mystery normally sets people on edge . This mystery shouldn't. The mystery we will be discussing is understood by the elect. That is not to say that whomsoever will may not join in the body of Christ. We are going to begin our study with Isaiah 40. After God's promise that through the Saviour His children would be gathered, He tells us of His majesty. Within God's promise that through the Saviour His children would be gathered, He tells us of His majesty. Within God's majesty lies a part of the mystery. ISAIAH 40:13-14 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being His counceller hath taught Him? (14) With whom took He counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of judgement, and taught Him knowledge, and shewed to Him the way of understanding? No one. God ministers to man. Man doesn't minister to God. ISAIAH 40:15-16 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, He taketh up the isles as a very little thing. (16) And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. We should be watchmen; however, there is no reason to worry about the nations. They are nothing compared to your Father. If you sacrificed all the animals of Lebanon, it would do no good. Christ was the Sacrifice that opened salvation to all of God's children; however, there is a remnant that must see and understand. ISAIAH 40:17 All nations before Him are as nothing; and they are counted to Him less than nothing, and vanity. God controls the nations. They will do exactly that which is written about them in the Bible. ISAIAH 40:18-19 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto Him? (19) The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains. Some people don't have enough faith. They must make something they can see to worship. ISAIAH 40:20-21 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved. (21) Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? At this point we begin to see some of the mystery. How many people do you think understand the foundations of the earth? How many know there was a first world age? God's Word declares the fact. Understand the mystery. ISAIAH 40:22-24 It is He That sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; That stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in; (23) That bringeth the princes to nothing; He maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. (24) Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and He shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. Evil has no chance. The chaff will be separated from the wheat and burned. A portion of the mystery is solved by our understanding the awesome might of our Father. There is none like Him. Let's go to the New Testament. I CORINTHIANS 2:1-2 And I brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. (2) For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Herein lies a large portion of the mystery for some. Paul didn't just teach Jesus. He taught Him crucified. You see, to understand the mystery you have to know the who, what, why, and where concerning the cruxificion. I CORINTHIANS 2:3-4 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. (4) And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and the power:

In the flesh, Paul was just as weak as the rest of us. Through the Holy Spirit, Paul could demonstrate the power of God. I CORINTHIANS 2:5-6 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (6) Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: The princes of this world have put together the four hidden dynasties. Politics, education, the economy and religion are utilized by the princes of this world to capture the minds of the foolish.Don't allow them to deceive you. I CORINTHIANS 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: The mystery of God is not hidden to you. His plan was there long ago, even before this earth age. There is no mystery to those that understand God's plan. Let's turn to Ephesians for more of Paul's teaching. EPHESIANS 4:1-2 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,(2) With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forebearing one another in love; God does the calling. If God has called you and you apply yourself with humility and patience, you will be successful in that calling. EPHESIANS 4:3-5 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (4) There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (5) One Lord, one faith, one baptism, There is only one baptism, and that is in Jesus Christ. EPHESIANS 4:6-9 One God and Father of all,Who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (7) But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (8) Wherefore He saith, "When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." (9) (Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? Christ went to the prisoners on the wrong side of the gulf and gave them an opportunity to receive salvation (I Peter 3:19). God is fair. These prisoners were those that had passed on back to the days of Noah. They didn't have a chance to accept Jesus as you and I. EPHESIANS 4:10-12 He That descended is the same also That ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.) (11) And gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Pastors should be teachers. If they are not, their flock will get mighty hungry. Christ gave all of these to edify the many membered body so they could become mature and ready to accomplish that which is written. EPHESIANS 4:13-14 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; There are some that want to deceive you. The princes of the world utilize many pulpits to teach false doctrine. How can you identify false doctrine and true doctrine? Study God's Word. Don't listen to man. EPHESIANS 4:15-16 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, Which is the Head, even Christ: (16) From Whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Fitly joined means united. Every joint of the many membered body must be prepared to do their part. All are united in the mystery of God. Part of that body will be delivered up before councils to speak with one voice, the Holy Spirit, in testimony against the princes of this world and the prince of the air, that is to say Satan. In conclusion, let's go to Colossians. COLOSSIANS 2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Ladociea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

The word conflict may also be translated care. COLOSSIANS 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ, Are you united in the mystery of God? Do you have the truth implanted in your mind? COLOSSIANS 2:3 In Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. The wisdom and knowledge are only mysteries to the princes of the world and those that listen to their deception. There are no mysteries to those that love God and study His Word. COLOSSIANS 2:4-5 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. (5) For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. Don't ever allow anyone to shake your faith. Focus on the truth. COLOSSIANS 2:6-7 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him; (7) Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Always thank your Father, when He gives you knowledge. You should even thank Him for corrective knowledge that might sting a little bit. COLOSSIANS 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ: The rudiments are the elements of the princes of this world, all that is wicked. You will find these same elements destroyed in II Peter 3:10. COLOSSIANS 2:9-10 For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. (10) And ye are complete in Him, Which is the head of all principality and power: Christ is the Head of the many membered body. Let's skip to verse 18 to conclude. COLOSSIANS 2:18-19 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, (19) And not holding the Head, from Which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. Those that are united in the mystery of God receive God's increase. It isn't free. To those He gives more, He expects more. You can handle more, if you are united in the mystery of God.

In His Service, Arnold Murray