Ephesians Lesson 20 of 39 part 4

All are to follow Paul's and the Lord's pattern to be restored back to the place that Adam was prior to the fall. This is what Paul means when he said to walk as he walks and then to follow his pattern or example. To find out more pick up our post which is linked here at whmaynard@blogspost.com/.

2 Timothy 4:1a-2
"I charge thee therefore before God,...Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." 
I just realized that this is what the Lord had told me to do back in 1971, the light just came on for me. Thank You LORD! And now verse 5 and 6;

2 Timothy 4:5-6
"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.”
Paul is going to be taken off the scene, but he is charging the young man Timothy to continue with these mysteries you might say, that have been revealed to this unique individual. So now back to verse 3, where Paul tells us about these secrets.

Ephesians 3:3-4
"How that by revelation (by illumination which reveals within the soul or conscious) he (Christ the risen LORD) made known unto me the mystery; (these things that had been kept secret, primarily contained in Genesis 3:15) (as I wrote afore in few words, (in his other letters and chapters 1 and 2) Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)"

Now what in the world can he be talking about unless it’s something that had never before been revealed. This is the idea then of the revelations of the mystery. For the prophets of old where told to keep them concealed until the time of the end. This small book can be seen throughout the Old Testament and in each instance it is be with held what it says. Lets just look at one and this is taken just before the Lord pronounces the woes upon a rebellious and unbelieving people:

Isaiah 29:10-14
“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. 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”: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, "Read this, I pray thee": and he saith, “I am not learned.” Wherefore the Lord said, 'Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid'.” 
Here is the beginning of the wisdom which God teaches to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit is saying. But if this is the case for Israel then who was worthy one to open the book and two to disclose what was within it. To find out we need to turn again to Revelation chapter 5.

Revelation 5:5-10 
"And one of the elders saith unto me, "Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals (these are not the same kind of seals as found on the book of plagues or the books of Life) thereof". And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as He had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne. And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, "Thou are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and have redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And have made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." 
So the Lamb of God has opened the seals of this small book and we know by Paul's words that while he was being ministered in the wilderness of Sinai the LORD revealed these things to him.  

All right let’s go back to Romans so we can put some other scripture verses with this. Romans is the foundational book of Paul’s letters so far as doctrine in concerned. And yet Romans does not relay some of these deeper things that we’re already seeing in Ephesians, but he does make one reference to all this in his closing remarks in chapter 16.