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Dr. Arnold Murray, DRE Newsletter #233 - March 1998

01998 SCN

There is one unity for whomsoever will, and 'ltt it . ...... ISAIAH 40:22-24 It is He That sitteth upon
there is a deeper unity for those with eyes to see Um
lI:tU "r t the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants
and ears to hear. The latter group is jointly fitted 1lHunttrn
and united in the mystery of God. Mystery normaIly ll;;;;_ _iiiiiiii;"__"~
thereof are as grasshoppers; That stretcheth
toC_;;iJ out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth
"" them out as a tent to dwell in: ~ That
sets people on edge. This mystery shouldn't. The bringeth the princes to nothing; He maketh the judges
mystery we will be discussing is understood by the elect. of the earth as vanity. !M Yea, they shall not be planted;
That is not to say that whomsoever wi11 may not join in yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not
the body of Christ. We are going to begin our study with take root in the earth: and He shall also blow upon
Isaiah 40. After God's promise that through the Saviour His them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take
children would be gathered._Be__ teUsJlS of His majesty. them away as stubble.
Within God's majesty lies a part of the mystery. Evil has no chance. The chaff will be separated from
the wheat and burned. A portion of the mystery is solved
ISAIAH 40:13-14 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD,
or being His counseller hath taught Him? H With whom took by our understanding the awesome might of our Father.
He counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him in the There is none like Him. Let's go to the New Testament.
path of jUdgement, and taught Him know/edge, and shewed
to Him the way of understanding? I CORINTHIANS 2:1-2 And I brethren, when I came
to you, came not with excellency of speech or of
No one. God ministers to man. Man doesn't minister to wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. z For
God. I determined not to know any thing among you, save
Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
ISAIAH 40: 15-16 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a
bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: Herein lies a large portion of the mystery for some.
behold, He taketh up the isles as a vel}' little thing. 1§ And Paul didn't just teach Jesus. He taught Him crucified.
Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof You see, to understand the mystery you have to know
sufficient for a burnt offering. the who, what, why and where concerning the crucifix­
ion.
We should be watchmen; however, there is no reason
to worry about the nations. They are nothing compared to I CORINTHIANS 2:3-4 And I was with you in weak­
your Father. If you sacrificed all the animals of Lebanon, ness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my
it would do no good. Christ was the Sacrifice that opened speech and my preaching was not with enticing words
salvation to all of God's children; however, there is a remnant of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and
of the power:
that must see and understand.
In the flesh, Paul was just as weak as the rest of
ISAIAH 40:17 All nations before Him are as nothing; and
they are counted to Him less than nothing, and vanity. us. Through the Holy Spirit, Paul could demonstrate the
power of God.
God controls the nations. They will do exactly that which
IS written about them in the Bible. I CORINTHIANS 2;5-6 That your faith sholJld not stand
in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. §
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect:
ISAIAH 40:18-19 To whom then will ye liken GOD? or what yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes
likeness will ye compare unto Him? 1Il The workman melteth
a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with of this world, that come to nought:
gold, and casteth silver chains.
The princes of this world have put together the four
Some people don't have enough faith. They must make hidden dynasties. Politics, education, the economy and
something they can see to worship. religion are utilized by the princes of this world to
capture the minds of the foolish. Don't allow them to
ISAIAH 40:20-21 He that is so impoverished that he hath deceive you.
no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh
unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, I CORINTHIANS 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God
that shall not be moved. 21 Have ye not known? have ye in a mystel}', even the hidden wisdom, which God
not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? ordained before the world unto our glol}':
have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
The mystery of God is not hidden to you. His plan
At this point we begin to see some of the mystery. How was there long ago, even before this earth age. There
many people do you think understand the foundations of the is no mystery to those that understand God's plan. Let's
earth? How many know there was a first world age? God's turn to Ephesians for more of Paul's teaching.
Word declares the fact. Understand the mystery.
EPHESIANS 4:1-2 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,
beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation where­
with ye are cal/ed, 2. With all lowliness and meekness,
with long-suffering, forbearing 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 Endeavouring to keep the unity of
the Spirit in the bond of peace. 1. There is one body,
and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of
your calling; ~ 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. z But unto
every one of us is given grace according to the measure
of the gift of Christ. .I! Wherefore He saith, "When He
ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave
gifts unto men." fl (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.) 1.1 And He gave some, apostles; and
some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors
and teachers; 1£ 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 al/ things, Which is the Head, even
Christ: ~ From Whom the whole body fitly joined together
and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, ac­
cording 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 Laodicea, 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 acknowledgement
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 de­
ception. 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. ~ For though I be
absent in t~e flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying
and beholdmg 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; z 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.
[JOLOSSIANS 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 a/l the fulness
of the Godhead bodily. 1Q 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, li. 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,