Seven Parts of the Mystery Part 2

If you did not read last week’s post I recommend it before moving on to this week’s.  A lot of material I went over last week will be useful as you wade through the next 3 parts of Paul’s mystery.

4.  The fourth piece of the mystery is that Israel will be hardened for a time.  Romans 11:25, “For I do not want you, brethren to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”  This truly is a mystery, I am not sure how this fits in with free will, but it is not the first time God has used this tactic to bring about His will (Exodus 7:3).  I also don’t know how many or how long it will take until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.  However, God has not forgotten about the nation of Israel, despite her rejection and disobedience He will provide a way for her salvation (see Revelation).  

5.  The fifth part of the mystery is the rapture of the church.  I Corinthians 15:51-52, “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed….”  Keep reading until the end of the chapter if you just need a little hope and encouragement.  Once again we see this is a mystery that was not revealed in ages past, but is now revealed to the church through Paul.  There are more details about the rapture in I Thessalonians.

6.  The sixth part of the mystery as taught by Paul is that believers are united with Christ through the church.  Ephesians 5: 29, 30, 32, “for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.  This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.”  This passage is about marriage, but there is a great mystery hidden in this context.  We are members of Christ’s body and united with Him through the church.  I plan to go into this mystery in much more detail in later blogs so I will let it rest for now. 

Number 7 is coming next week and it is a doozy.  Thanks for reading and studying your Bible it is a true encouragement to me.

Seven Parts of the Mystery

Over and over again Paul writes in his epistles about a mystery.  I wrote briefly about this mystery and what the word mystery means (Look at my posts from 2011).  However, I will give a brief recap.  The word Paul uses that is translated mystery means a completely new, unprophecied event.  This means that much of what Paul wrote, taught, and died for was not backed up by the Old Testament.  No wonder everyone was out to get Paul, he could show Jewish believers how the Scriptures pointed towards Jesus as Messiah, but he could not convince them of the truth of this mysterious gospel (Ephesians 6:19).  He especially had a hard time when he declared in Acts 13 that due to Israel’s stubborn rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, he would turn his attention to the Gentiles.

So what is this mystery that Paul was beaten, shipwrecked, hungry, poor and eventually died for?  It is a shame more people who study the Bible don’t know.  I have broken the mystery down into 7 parts.  Each part could be a sermon unto itself, but I don’t have the space (and you probably don’t have the patience), so I will put them down quick and easy.  Please understand that this is only the tip of the iceberg where each is concerned. 

1.  The first part of this mystery is that it was hidden by God and revealed by God .  Romans 16:25-26, “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith.”  This is a mouth full, but proves that Paul takes ownership of this gospel that is different from other methods of salvation in times before.  It also shows that this gospel was kept secret, but now is manifested to all the nations according to the commandment of God. 

2.  The second component of this mystery is that Gentiles are fellow heirs and members of the body.  Ephesians 3:6, “to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I (Paul) am a minister.”  Once again we see Paul’s ownership of this gospel.  However, the rest is revolutionary.  Gentiles, who Jesus himself called dogs (Mark 7:26-29), are welcomed into the body as second class citizens.  No, coheirs!  In fact Romans 8:17 teaches that we are not even coheirs with Israel, but coheirs with Christ!  Who am I, not a dog any longer, but a coheir according to this gospel being taught by Paul.

3.  The third part of this mystery is that Christ dwells in believers.  Colossians 1:25-27, “I became a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from the ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”  Paul has been given a ministry from God to reveal a mystery which was hidden and now is manifested.  This mystery is made known to Gentiles and includes the hope we have by the indwelling of Christ. 

Wow, time has flown, I will teach the 4-7 parts of the mystery next week.  Thanks for reading and please leave a comment if you need further clarification or explanation.  See you next week!

I am back, and I had a great summer!

Hello again, I am back writing after taking some time off for the summer.  Honestly, I have a few reasons for taking a break, but none was more important than I just didn’t have a clear direction of what to write about.  Every time I sit at the computer I ask God to show me what to write and I wasn’t hearing anything so I took God’s hint and took a needed break.  In that time I have been enjoying my family, friends and recreation. 

I have also been working with a publishing company to finish my book, From Prophecy to Mystery.  It will be available for purchase at the end of 2012.  They just finished the cover design, and I am trying to trust the experts to make my project the best it can be.  I am discovering that I am a bit of a control freak, but as this is my first venture into publication, I will have to trust. 

So, I am taking up the pen again and will attempt to post weekly until I am unsure again about direction or subject matter.  However, for now I feel I am to expound on the meaning of the word mystery in Paul’s writing and explain the parts of this mystery.  I will focus most of my attention on the mystery of the church as written by Paul.  I will lay out the parts of the church, the function of the church, the unique nature of the church.  I think this should be an interesting study and one that I will learn much from.   

Contentment part 6

In this series on contentment I hope you found a few nuggets to help you go forward living a more content life.  First, we established what our priorities revealed about ourselves and that we should place God at the center rather than ourselves to find true contentment.  Then, we talked about world views and what it takes to have a consistant world view.  We discussed stewardship and how to be a good steward of our time, talent and treasure.  Finally, we finished with some practical ways to start applying your new content attitude! 

As I look back over my life I realize that there were many times that I made a decision that was not God focused, but Natalie focused.  I am not saying that God could not redeem those situations, but as I look back I see that my motivation for my decision was not guided by God.

I finished college with my Environmental Biology degree and a wonderful husband.  I pondered, what is next for me, what am I supposed to do now.  I did not want to stay in Indiana, but I was not ready to go to Wisconsin.  I wanted to go off on another adventure.  So, because I had gone to Alabama before on spring break, I thought that would be a cool place to go.  I looked for graduate programs in that state and settled on forestry (after not researching forestry at all).  I said no to other programs, even though my husband was excited about them.  And off we went to Alabama for forestry...luckily my husband found a job he loved.  However, beyond his job we were miserable. 

Looking back at this decision I realize how self centered it was.  I was only thinking of myself, I didn't look to anyone for guidance, I basically told my husband what was going to happen.  We moved down there for good weather, and because I was not ready to give up being a student.  I did not consider what was important to God, I was discontent and I was motivated by the fear of not having anything to do.  So as you make decisions consider what God might want for you. 

I Corinthians 3:11-15, "For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Chirst.  Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it becuase it is to be revealved with first, and the fire itself will test the quality of eah man's work.  If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.  If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." 

This verse is talking about God's judgement of the deeds of those who are His.  My move to Alabama was built on a foundation of straw and it will not stand up through the fire.  I built that decision on stuff that will not remain like good weather and fear.  However, if I had made that same decision considering where God wanted me, what my husband wanted, then this deicsion would have been built on a foundation of gold.  Make your decisions considering what is important to God and others in your life and this will remain and you will receive a reward. 

My challenge is to move myself from the center of the wheel.  With this information to remind me, I hope I will make my next big decision from a God-centered rather than a self-centered focus.    

Contentment part 5

Investing your time, talent and treasure wisely involves applying a few skills to your life.  Will you be perfect every time? Probably not, but the more you practice applying these principles, the better you will be.  Remember, practice makes perminant!

First, in order to invest wisely, you must continue to rehearse what is important to God.  The list I provided last week is not comprehensive, so feel you can add to it, as long as the things you add are supported by Scripture (preferably Paul’s writings).  Ultimately God loves people and He wants people to be in a right relationship with Him.  Remind yourself of what is important to God as much as possible.  Put a verse up in your bathroom or your car.  Before you make a big decision analyze how that decision fits into God’s priorities and if it will allow you to be a good steward.

Second, in order to invest wisely, you must be content with what you have.  Here is the challenge verse for today, Philippians 4:11-12.  “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.”  How do you get here?  How can you be content in any circumstance?  Often we think, if I would just get this thing, or position, or relationship then I will be content.  However, God is suggesting that we can be content despite these external things. 

I am going to share a story that helped me to understand what it will take for me to be content.  This story happened when my oldest daughter, Lily, was about a year old and just learning how to stand.  One of her favorite things to do was to help me unload the silverware from the dishwasher.  Of course being a good mom I took out all the big knives and dangerous objects first.  Every time I took these things out she would begin crying and pointing, she wanted those big knives and dangerous things, after all they looked like the most fun.  Of course, being a good mom I didn’t cave and give her anything she could get hurt by.  She would eventually settle down and find contentment in handing me spoons and butter knives. 

One day as we went through this same routine for the hundredth time, I realized what I must put God through.  He is my good father and trying to protect me from harm, as he takes things away from me to keep me safe, I keep crying and pointing and begging through prayer for that very thing.  If I think I am a good mom, how much more is God a good father, trust me, he listens to our requests and knows what we want, but also wants to keep us from harm.  He is a good father and continues to say no to keep us safe, but we keep asking for the big shiny knife.  Contentment is trusting completely in God as a good father and to know He has our best interest at heart.  Contentment is to know that the things I have are from God, and the things I don’t have are also His decision, resting in His plan for you is the key.

The final concept you need to understand in order to invest wisely the way God would desire you to, is to be motivated by love, not by fear.  Are you afraid if you give to this organization or that friend that maybe you won’t have enough for yourself?  Are you afraid if you begin this commitment you won’t have time for another project you have going on?  Are you afraid if you try this new ministry in the church you won’t be talented enough to complete it?  Let’s look at Matthew 25: 24-25, “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.  And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground.  See, you have what is yours.’ ” If you know this story from the Bible at all, the Master was not happy with this servant.  Using fear as an excuse shows that you are not focused on the love.  Could you love that friend, organization, or church body more?  If love is your motivation nothing should stop you, what do you love?  What or Who do you need to develop love for?  Satan is the author of fear check out Hebrews 2:14-15, but Christ conquered death and delivered us from fear.  I John 4:18-19, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts our fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.  We love, because He first loved us.”  Pray that God would give you a love for those things you know you should be giving to, then nothing will stop you from investing wisely.        

I hope you feel you have a few practical things you can do to feel more content in your life.  I will finish this series next week when I share an example from my life when I didn’t apply these principles.  Thanks for reading!

Contentment part 4

We are called to be stewards, but what in the world is a steward?  A good steward is someone who looks after the resources of another with their best interest at heart.  We have already established that everything we have in this world is ultimately from God.  However, it is not my job, in the name of Godly stewardship to manage my neighbor’s resources.  God gave me certain resources that I am to manage with the ultimate goal of having God’s interest at heart. 

So what is God interested in? 
The Body of Christ
Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her.”
The gospel
Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”  
Others coming to Christ
2 Corinthians 5:20-21, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Healthy marriages and families
Colossians 3:18-21, “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives, and do not be embittered against them.  Children, be obedient to your parents in all things. For this is well-pleasing to the Lord.  Fathers, do not exasperate your children, that they may not lose heart.”

This is just to name a few.  Imagine how your life would be different if with everything you had, you sought out how you could use it to invest in the things God is interested in?  God, how do you want me to use my tax refund, my bonus, my home, my free time, my car?  Would anything in your life look different?  If so, maybe God is calling you to make these changes as His steward.  Here are a few resources we have that God wants a say in how we are using them. 

Are you a good steward of your time?
Ephesians 5:15-17, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.  So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
Are you a good steward of your talent?
Ephesians 4:11, “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”
Are you a good steward of your treasure?
2 Corinthians 9:6, “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one much do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 

So, are you a good steward?

Contentment (part 3)

So as I see it, if you can picture this with me.  God should be at the center on the wheel, each other area of your life should branch off from there like spokes, all supported by our spiritual beliefs.  So can I have “me” time?  Of course, but is it focused on God?  Just recently I had to get away for a few days, much of my alone time was spent getting my attitude and my perspective corrected.  I was not living a very content life.  I was searching and striving for each next thing to make me happy.  God showed me during my “me” time just how good I had it and if my situation never changed I could be content knowing I was just where God wanted me.  When I got home, nothing really changed, except my attitude about my life and isn’t that everything? 

So if we could see our work, our entertainment, our family, our finances through a God first lens, how would that change things?  Ultimately our time and our resources all come from God in the first place, look at Colossians 1: 15-17, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”  Psalms 24:1 states, “The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.”

If we saw all that we had as God’s would that change the way you used your time, energy, resources, relationships?  Would you spend so much time watching TV?  Would you change the way you treated your spouse?  Would you spend so much money on your car or your vacation?  If your job ultimately came from God, have you been honoring God with how you are working? 

Often as I analyze my own life I am sad to see that I spent 2 hours watching TV, 1 hour reading a novel and 2 minutes reading my Bible and praying.  I am equally as challenged to use my time for God.  As I close I want to look at the Definition of Stewardship and next week I will talk about what exactly we are to be Stewards of.  The definition of Stewardship out of the Webster’s New 20^th Century Dictionary is: 1.  A person entrusted with the management of the house or estate of another; managing domestic affairs, servants, and finances  2.  One who acts as a supervisor or administrator, as of finances and property of another.

This is conveys the idea of the head servant of a manor, who takes care of all the master of the manor owns by delegating resources and time so the estate runs as it should.  If we picture the world as God’s, we are head servant over the things God has placed in our charge:  our job, family, marriage, free time, money.  Are you using these things for the betterment of His estate or are you selfishly using His resources to please yourself?