As the title of this blog reveals, there are within the context of scripture mysteries or secret things that belong to GOD. Belong to, or it could be stated this way, are held within GOD. This all is familiar grounds for those who have found this blog and may have been dogging its trail with me. I am about to look again at the revelations of divine things held as being in the light. Where light is wisdom and understanding of the hidden things that are GOD's. But first Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace. And then with the help of the LORD from within me I will use the ESV translation and look once again at Divine Revelation, to see the light that is there in.
""Unpopular" Promises Regarding Pride and Humility"
"Whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Matthew 23:12)
"In returning to our category of "unpopular" promises, we now consider a pair that contrasts pride and humility. Basically, these promises guarantee grievous results for those who chose the path of pride, a path of lease resistance while assuring abundant blessings for those willing to walk in humility. In a proud world (and, far too often, a proud church world), these promises are definitely "unpopular."
The way of the world is self-exaltation. Babylon is an example of this truth. Babylon was one of the mightiest kingdoms of ancient history. GOD allowed them to rise to worldwide power. He even used them to chastise His own rebellious people, Israel. Yet, the LORD warned them of the end to which their pride would lead them. "I was angry with My people; I have . . . given them into your hand. You showed them no mercy . . . you . . . who say in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one else besides me' . . . Therefore evil shall come upon you . . . And trouble shall fall upon you . . . And desolation shall come upon you suddenly" (Isaiah 47:6, 8, and 11). Even mighty Babylon could not prevent this promised end. "Whoever exalts himself will be abased." If kingdoms powerful enough to dominate their era could not negate this promise, how much less can any individual person (whether in the world or in the church world) avoid this sober end for all who walk in pride?
Many of those who would scoff at this warning against pride, also disdain its corollary: "he who humbles himself will be exalted." Many religious and irreligious people alike hate to accept that humility is GOD's path of promised blessing. To them, humility is weakness and foolishness. They are convinced that self-confidence and self-assertion will gain whatever is desired. They refuse to accept that humility will lead to blessing. Nevertheless, humility is what pleases the LORD. David, a man of great intimacy with GOD, understood this truth. "The sacrifices of GOD are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart — These, O GOD, You will not despise" (Psalm 51:17). GOD delights in those who come before Him admitting the greatness of their need. GOD is not looking for "mighty Babylons." He is looking for humble and broken hearts. Jesus clearly taught such Truth. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven . . . Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:3, 5).
Divine Revelation,
Daniel 2:17-23 "Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the GOD of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. The mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the GOD of heaven. Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of GOD forever and ever, to Whom belong wisdom and might. For He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light (understanding) dwells with Him. To You, O GOD of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for You have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of You, for You have made known to us the king's matter."
Amos 3:1-8 "Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt: "You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities (today this includes all of mankind since the transformation of this Age). "Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet? Does a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from his den, if he has taken nothing? Does a bird fall in a snare on the earth, when there is no trap for it? Does a snare spring up from the ground, when it has taken nothing? Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the LORD has done it? "For the LORD GOD does nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets (the one who brings forth the inner fruit). The lion has roared; who will not fear? The LORD GOD has spoken; who can but prophesy (that which comes from the inside of man, a knowledge not known by the 5 senses)?"
John 15:12-17 and Romans 16:25-27 (Jesus is speaking) "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit (the inner fruit of Amos 3:7) should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in (through) My name (Me), HE may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another."
Romans 16:25-27 "To Him Who is able to strengthen you according to my (revelation of His Will in His) gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long Ages, but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the Eternal GOD, to bring about the obedience of faith—to the only wise GOD be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! The Amen."
1Corinthians 2:6-13 "Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of GOD, which GOD decreed before the Ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this Age understood this (this, being the Age of Israel only), for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what GOD has prepared for those who love Him"— these things GOD has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of GOD. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of GOD except the Spirit of GOD. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is from GOD that we might understand the things freely given us by GOD. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual."
Ephesians 1:3-14; Ephesians 3:1-13 and Colossians 1:24-2:5 "Blessed be the GOD and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in Christ (this being a qualifier for what is stated next) with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as HE chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love HE predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His (plan and purpose of)Will, to the praise of His glorious Grace, with which HE has blessed us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His Grace, which HE lavishes upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His Will, according to His purpose, which HE set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him Who works all things according to the counsel of His Will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also, when you heard the word of Truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory."
Ephesians 3:1-13 "For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of my stewardship of GOD's Grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the Gift of GOD's Grace, which was given me by the working of His power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light (their understanding) for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for (past dispensations or seasons of stewardship) Ages in GOD Who created all things, so that through the Church the manifold wisdom of GOD might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that HE has realized in Christ Jesus our LORD, in Whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory."
Colossians 1:24-2:5 "I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the Church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from GOD that was given to me for you, to make the word (the Will of revelation, wisdom and understanding) of GOD fully known, the mystery hidden for Ages and generations but now revealed to His saints. To them GOD chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that HE powerfully works within me. For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of GOD's mystery, which is Christ, in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ."
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