MAKE KNOWN THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL
Wednesday – May 10, 2017
Greetings and blessings in the name of our Lord and Savior from Patti and me at The Three Minute Word publication. It is hump day and our Arabian camel is proclaiming his/her love for Jesus, being fully committed to obeying the Scripture, are we? Today before I move on in our Bible Study let’s take one more look at Ephesians 6:18 and then the text to follow.
Ephesians 6:18-24 (KJV)
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Notice that the Holy Spirit is instructing the folks at Ephesus and us to pray and make our requests in the Spirit. Our prayers, whatever they are must be guided by the Holy Spirit. We are not to just grab any Scripture and pray it or burst out with it for it is the one we always us in a certain circumstance. Take a moment and let God the Holy Spirit quicken the proper Scripture, promise of God. For those who are not only born again but have been filled with the Spirit of God evidenced by the speaking in other tongues (language unknown to the speaker) we can pray in that tongue (language) as desired. This is especially useful when we do not know how to pray for a certain person or situation.
Brother Paul is getting ready to wind up this Epistle to the saints and faithful in Christ Jesus at Ephesus so we are entering his final remarks. In Ephesians 6:19 the Apostle Paul asks that the saints and faithful in Christ Jesus at Ephesus pray for him but not just in general but for a specific purpose. Likewise our prayers need to be specific whether they be in our native language or an unknown tongue (unknown to us) as the Spirit of God gives us the utterance. This is important, it is in essence a prayer of agreement (agreement with God). Sometimes a person may ask us to pray for them but keeps the target or purpose of the prayer hidden. In that circumstance it is vital that we are able to pray in tongues for then we are praying the perfect will of God into that person’s life (if they will receive it). Just because a person asks for prayer does not mean they have faith to receive it or will receive it. They may have a preconceived idea of how the prayer should be answer and that will prevent the answer unless God has revealed that idea. Paul asks that they pray for him to speak boldly making known the mystery of the gospel.
The speaking and making known the mystery of the gospel must be the prayer of each of our hearts. The gospel is the good news that the Kingdom of God is now available to all persons by the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Jesus is the head of this Kingdom and upon choosing Him as Lord we are instantly a citizen of this kingdom, we instantly have eternal life, right standing with the Father and the capacity to do things His way (as Jesus did), we are restored to our place in the family just a little lower than Elohim, and we are in line for a glorious body like unto our Saviors’. We complete the deal with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. At salvation we have authority restored and with the filling and overflowing of the Holy Spirit we receive power. Jesus told the disciples that watched Him ascend into Heaven to go in His authority (they were born again) but not until they were endued with the Power of God with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Brother and sister can you see that we are living way below our station as citizens of the Kingdom of God, as dear children of God, and as sons and daughters of God, ordained and equipped to do the works of Jesus and even greater works?
Perhaps there are many reasons that a person would not open their mouth boldly to speak the mystery of the gospel but two come to mind quickly. The first is fear, and the second is the idea that no one cares or is listening. Both are sin. Our duty is obedience to our Heavenly Father and not to judge the outcome or what others may think of us. When we operate in fear we have received that and are operating in it (fear) from our spiritual enemies. God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. The second reason for not opening our mouth boldly to reveal or uncover the mystery of the gospel is by concluding that they are not interested, that they don’t care, or they are not going to do anything with the information and that is not our call to make. Our duty is to sow seed and water the seed sown and God gives the increase. Our duty at the leadership of the Holy Spirit is to make this mystery known. Our reward, our prosperity, our health, our family, and our ministry is inseparable from our obedience to God. Until tomorrow, love and blessings.
Please determine in your heart (mind, thinking) to receive and walk in the Blessing which is freely available to all believers.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
