We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world began unto our glory. I Corinthians 2:7-8 But unto them who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God, and the wisdom of God. This is God’s vocabulary. Christ is the wisdom of God. Notice the word does not say Jesus is the wisdom of God. Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted…let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made this same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Acts 2:33-36. After the resurrection and ascension Jesus was completely transformed, perfected, and glorified by God. Christ is the complete fullness, the exalted glorified one. This is part of the hidden wisdom of God and if we are to be mature as spiritual beings, we should also speak the wisdom of God’s vocabulary in Christ. This will be explored further in the chapter Our Gospel. There is power and wisdom in the name of Jesus Christ to those who are called unto the glorious Mystery of God.
I have chosen a “Mystical Approach” as opposed to a religious, theological, or traditional approach to understanding the Scriptures. There’s no power in religion. Little or no truth in tradition. Theology is more indoctrination into man made theories that split ideas and arguments into denominations. “Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, (the scribes were the theologians and Pharisees the religious leaders) “ Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, “Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” Tradition, which is what is mostly taught in every church and Bible commentary, and is contrary to the truth of God’s word. The “commandment” refers to God’s word as it was originally given.[1] Thus, tradition is not spiritual but man made. The religious leaders of today rely heavily on what they were taught in Theological Seminaries based on tradition. Nothing has really changed. This is why there is little or no power in the church. Jesus himself said so,“Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, “These people draw near unto me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matt 15:3-9. ‘None effect’ means no power, no results. No efficacy. It’s all ‘in vain.’ This is why I am writing this book and lessons, for those who feel something’s missing. For those who are seeking a richer experience in the spiritual realm.
A Mystical Approach is the belief of attaining direct contact with God by way of experience and transformation. I call it Experiential Believing. Understanding the wisdom of God, the revelation of The Great Mystery, is the will and desire of God for your life. “Unto you it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom.” Matt 13:11. God is speaking to you. He wants you to know. Not just in words but by true experience. “My speech and my preaching is not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” I Corinthians 2:4. Demonstration is the Greek word apodikesis: making manifest, showing forth, a demonstration of proof. It is only used once in the entire word which gives it a significant emphasis. Power is the Greek word dunamais– from which we get our word dynamite. It means exceeding inherent power that can be exercised and manifested as miraculous power! Today the pulpits are full of just words. I say, show me the power! “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God!” 2:5. God wants your faith to be assured on a foundation through power and experience! Whoever taught you to have blind faith? That God expects you to just believe? That’s a lie. His desire is for you to fully manifest and experience his power. Yes, unto you it is given to know the Mysteries and power of the Kingdom, but here’s the key: understanding. Understanding is synergy power. Until you understand the knowledge given, revealed in The Great Mystery, it will lie dormant. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. 2 Tim 2:7; For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Colossians 1:9
Enlightenment. “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. That the eyes of your understanding may be enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.” Ephesians 1:7-8. What a tremendous truth! It is God’s greatest desire that you attain enlightenment through understanding His knowledge given by revelation. That is what we are seeking. Enlightenment by understanding spiritual knowledge given by revelation from God. And guess what? We have been given the spirit to guide us unto understanding and enlightenment. How can you understand spiritual knowledge with your earthly mind? The simple things yes, the deep things of God, no. For the deep things of God are to be spiritually discerned or deciphered. And that is what we are seeking. The Deep Things of God! “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” Most teachers stop here as if it is coming in the future, but continue “But God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit: for the spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. (deep secrets in some versions). For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom[2] teaches, but which the spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.[3] Because we have been given spirit, when we became a spiritual being at the new birth, we are able to discern or decode the Scriptures with spiritual understanding. But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. I Corinthians 2:9-14. The natural man is just body and soul. He has no spirit. He cannot understand the things of the spirit. This is not a teaching on how to receive the spirit of God or be born again[4]. It is mainly written to those who already are and who want to know the way of God more perfectly.[5] See who Corinthians is addressed to: the church of God (spiritual body of Christ) those ‘sanctified’ or set apart, called to a higher wisdom and experience. Despite what tradition teaches that the Corinthian church was in disarray, it is quite the contrary, for some of the greatest revelation concerning The Great Mystery and spiritual power was revealed unto them which we will discover in more detail in later chapters.
Out of The Scriptures. Search the Scriptures; for in them you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. John 5:39. Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. John 6:68-69. This is our map. The Scriptures. The one I referred to in the beginning. And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures. Acts 17:2 and 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Are you prepared to receive the Scriptures with readiness of mind? To search for yourselves and make the words come to life off the page into your heart? This was how hungry and eager the 1st Century believers were. You have your map, now you need a guide.
And the angel of the Lord spoke unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goes down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot reading Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, “Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.” Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading? And he said, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. Acts 8:26-31. Indeed, how can we understand except someone guide us? Even after my personal spiritual experience with God, it wasn’t until later that someone taught me out of The Scriptures which expanded my spiritual consciousness to grow[6] in understanding and experience more. Trust me, there were many paths from Eastern religions, psychedelic trips, Gurus, false prophets, and countless books and seminars that tried to persuade me what my experience was. “The Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.” Joy, peace and enlightenment. That is the result of understanding The Scriptures. I was not fulfilled until the truth was unveiled and quenched my hunger and my spirits thirst. “Give me this living water,” said the woman at the well, when Jesus told her she would never thirst again after drinking from his spiritual spring from within.
After the resurrection Jesus met two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They spoke of the events of the Messiah and crucifixion yet they did not recognize him. And then their eyes were opened, (enlightened) and they knew him (experientially) and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us The Scriptures?” Luke 24:31-32. Then opened he their understanding that they might understand The Scriptures. v 45. Until they received understanding of The Scriptures being opened up to them, they could not see or recognize Jesus Christ on the road to Emmaus. He was right in front of them. It was then and only then, did their heart burn, their soul was filled with joy and excitement! Until someone guides and teaches you The Scriptures concerning The Great Mystery, it will remain right in front of you, unrecognized and powerless.
Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the Mystery, which was kept secret since the world began. But now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. Romans 16:25-26. The revelation of The Great Mystery was given to the Apostle Paul. An Apostle is one who gives new light to that generation. He originally persecuted the Christians until, he too, heard The Voice. He was a “chosen vessel” unto God to bear His name before the gentiles, kings and children of Israel. It is said in Acts 19, that by two years the entire then known world heard the word of God and that special miracles were performed by God at the hands of Paul. But of all his works, the revelation of The Great Mystery, contained in the Epistles, was his ordained ministry and calling. Here are the 8 foundational pillars or wonders, as I like to call them, of this Mystery that will be the main focus of this teaching:
- The New Age of Grace
- Seed: Christ in You. Sonship and Family
- A New Creation
- The Greater Glory
- Communion in the Spirit
- The Quickening or Rapture
- The Oneness
- Our Kingdom Reign
There are other chapters included that will fill in and support the full practical use of this knowledge in our day to day lives and our spiritual walk with God.
[1] 2 Peter1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy spirit.; 2 timothy 3:6 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
[2] Philosophy such as Plato or Aristotle. Paul addressed to many Greeks who were well versed in philosophy.
[3] The word spirit was not capitalized in the original Greek. It is changed here according to context. It will be explained further in the Introduction: The Giver and the Gift
[4] The keys to the new birth are contained throughout this work and how to know that you are. Trust this journey step by step, for it is His desire for all to become spiritually whole AND com unto a knowledge of the truth.
[5] The mission statement of the Mystic Church from Acts 18:26 and Ephesians 3:9: To lead people unto the way of God more perfectly and make all men see what is the fellowship of the Mystery.
[6] And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. Luke 2:40 NIV