Hidden
Mysteries
By George Kirkpatrick
Vital Words to the Body of Christ
Proclaiming the Everlasting Gospel of the Kingdom
God's Word holds great promises for His end time generation of people.
"For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." Matthew 13:17
The prophets of old and righteous men have desired to see the things which will be manifested to this end time generation:
"Now to Him that is of power to stablish 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
Paul writes of the power to stablish us. The word stablish means "to strengthen, make firm, to render constant, confirm one's mind," and we can only do this by the power given us by the Holy Spirit. This is what Peter spoke of:
"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:" II Peter 1:10
Peter stated we are to give diligence (to exert ourselves) to make our calling and election sure (stable, firm, and stedfast). How do we do this? It is only by and through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can establish, strengthen and make our calling and election sure. This Holy Spirit power that works in each of us is the cleansing power of God to reveal what is pleasing and acceptable in His sight. Only then will he reveal the mysteries which have been hidden until these last times. Paul wrote to the Romans:
"But is now made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God." Romans 16:26a
The word manifest means "to make known that which has been hidden). God makes His hidden mysteries known by the scripture of the prophets. The prophets wrote the Old Testament. If we are to have these mysteries revealed unto us, then we must spend time in the Old Testament. Peter spoke of the revelation of this great mystery:
"To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." I Peter 1:4-5
These great mysteries of God are reserved in the heavens (the Spiritual realm). They are kept by the power of God ready to be revealed in this last time.
What is the power of God?
Paul declared to the Ephesians:
"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according the power that worketh in us," Ephesians 3:30
The power that worketh in us will make the mysteries of God known to us, if we apply ourselves to the scriptures of the prophets found in the Old Testament. To the Thessaolonians Paul wrote:
"Comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work." II Thessalonians 2:17
Paul knew how important it was to be established in our faith. What is our faith? The word faith means "assurance and belief, the conviction of the truth of man's relationship to God through trust." Can we hold on to our faith when our world is shaken and this way of life is taken away? Paul gives us God's promise:
"But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil." II Thessalonians 3:3
In this day it is hard to keep away from the evil. Evil and ungodliness is everywhere we look. But our God is faithful to keep us from this evil, if we are committed to Him with our whole heart. But if we get our eyes off Him and look around, we too can once again be entangled in the evil around us. Paul continues:
"To the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints." I Thessalonians 3:13
We need to establish our hearts, unblameable in holiness toward God. How do we do this? We can only do this by keeping our lives and our eyes from all appearance of evil things that draw us away in thought and deed. Peter also exorts us:
"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." I Peter 5:10
Peter relates we may have to suffer a little for God to make us perfect. The word perfect means "to grow up, to mature." Through suffering, the Lord will strengthen His mighty army. They will no longer be children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, looking elsewhere instead of in His Word. He will establish us, strengthen us, and settle us. The phrase to settle means "to lay a foundation". That foundation in us is Jesus Christ and His Word. We are called into His eternal glory - - - but it is up to us to make are calling and election sure if we are going to walk into it.
God's Hidden Mysteries Revealed
As Paul foretold:
"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 the faith." Romans 16:26c
If we are obedient to the faith, then God has promised to manifest His hidden mysteries to us in the last times. God truly wants us to understand His hidden mysteries. Paul relates:
"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:" I Corinthians 2:7
These hidden mysteries have been with God since the world began, and will be revealed in the last times for our glory.
"Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself:" Ephesians 1:9
God has purposed in Himself to make known these mysteries to an obedient people in these last times. He will do this for His good pleasure. Who will these mysteries be revealed to:
"Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints." Colossians 1:26
The word saint means "a people separated to God's service." What is God going to make known to His saints:
"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27
There are many references in God's Word to the Holy Spirit coming upon His people, but the mystery hidden before the world began to be revealed in the last times is that the Holy Spirit is going to come in us. An example of the Holy Spirit coming upon His people was on the day of Pentecost:
"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
The four gospels also state the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus:
"And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him." Matthew 3:16
"And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him:
"And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased." Luke 3:22
"And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him." John 1:32
When Jesus received the Holy Spirit anointing, it rested upon Him. When His saint's received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit sat upon each of them.
But the mystery hidden since the world began to be revealed in the last times is that Christ is going to be IN US! Praise the Lord! Jesus declared this to His disciples:
"And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever;" John 14:16
Our first Comforter was Jesus - - - but He promised another Comforter. This is the eternal Comforter in our life. Jesus prophesied of the Spirit coming in us in these last days:
"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be IN YOU." John 14:17
The days are directly ahead when the anointing of the Holy Spirit, Jesus spoke of will be in us for all eternity. Praise God, what a day!
Jesus related this second Comforter dwells with us, and shall be IN YOU! The Holy Spirit dwelt with them because of the anointing on Jesus, but Jesus promised the secret that has been hidden since the foundation of the world when He stated the second Comforter shall be IN YOU! Jesus also foretold the day of Pentecost when He related:
"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." John 14:18
Jesus was the second Comforter when He came as Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit, on the day of Pentecost and sat upon each of them. Jesus proclaimed:
"For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them." Matthew 13:17
Many prophets and righteous men through time have desired to see those things which are now being revealed. Paul wrote to the Ephesians:
"Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit." Ephesians 3:5
These mysteries of Christ are being seen by those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, and they are being made known by the Spirit.
"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 16:26
Paul tells us these hidden mysteries were made known by the Scriptures of the prophets. Where do we find the scriptures of the prophets? It is in the Old Testament. Those who say we do not need the Old Testament and those who proclaim, "We are a New Testament church" will never fully understand the mysteries of God.
Only those who are obedient to the faith, who hold fast the teachings of God's complete Word of God will be shown the hidden mysteries of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul understood the importance of the Old Testament, because he did not have the New Testament. Many of Paul's writings were quoted from the Old Testament. Paul declared:
"But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:" Acts 24:14
Paul stated he believed everything written in the Law and the Prophets. The Law and the Prophets are the Old Testament. Today some still call the Old Testament, heresy. The word heresy means "dissensions arising from diversity of opinion." If this does not describe today's church system, I do not know what does. There is so much dissension between denominations, and they teach their own doctrines of men which Paul called heresies. Paul continued:
"Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:" Acts 26:22
The prophets wrote much of the Old Testament and Moses wrote the first five books of the Old Testament called the Law. Paul knew he could speak nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses spoke. His words lineup up perfectly with the word of the prophets and Moses. Jesus proclaimed:
"But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things." Mark 13:23
Jesus declared He foretold us all things. Where did He foretell us all things? The only place He could have foretold us all things was in the Old Testament. By Jesus' words we know:
"And He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me." Luke 24:44
Where were these things foretold? Jesus could quote the Old Testament because the things written there were the things concerning Him. Everything written in the Old Testament will be fulfilled, because that is where God put His hidden mysteries He would reveal to us.
"Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." I Peter 1:10-11
The prophets knew God had a salvation plan for fallen man, and they searched diligently to understand what God's plan was. They had the Spirit of Christ which enabled them to prophesy that Christ had to suffer. By the Spirit, they knew God's glory would be revealed in His creation. But they did not understand how or when this would happen. Paul tells of the day Christ will be glorified:
"When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day." II Thessalonians 1:10
This is the day God's hidden mysteries as foretold by the prophets as they were inspired by the holy Spirit are being revealed. God's glory is being revealed in His saints. These saints, the manifested sons of God, will soon be unveiled.
This is going to happen in that day. The phrase in that day is found throughout the Bible as the day of the Lord's judgment upon the sinful nature of man. Peter continued:
"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." I Peter 1:19-20
The prophets knew there had to be a sacrifice made for Adam's sin. This, too, is a great mystery from the beginning of time, how man could again regain a personal relationship with God. Now we know man could only have a relationship with God through the Spirit. And only those who have sought God diligently in the Word of God can understand Jesus is the hidden mystery foretold in the Old Testament. Paul wrote of this:
"And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the Kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening." Acts 28:23
As stated before, in his teachings, Paul taught Jesus out of the Old Testament. Paul persuaded the people out of the prophets and Moses, and he did this from morning till evening.
How much is written of Jesus in the Old Testament. There must be a lot. I encourage you to diligently search the Old Testament to find God's hidden mysteries.
You may ask, "Why don't people see this?" Jesus gave us an example of this when the beggar Lazarus died:
"But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." Luke 16:25-31
Today, if people will not hear Moses and the prophets, don't expect them to hear what you have to say.
In this fast paced life today, people do not or will not take time to read Moses and the prophets. They are satisfied with the four gospels.
God is manifesting the hidden mysteries in our day. Paul exhorts us:
"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God." I Corinthians 4:5
God will manifest the counsel of the hearts. The word counsel means "purpose." God will manifest the hidden purposes in our hearts, those hidden things of darkness in our lives. Why does He do this? He does this so we can repent and once again come into a close relationship with Him, and forever praise the Lord. God desires to bring all the hidden pockets of darkness in our lives to light so we can deal with them and be healed. We must deal with all these hidden areas of darkness if we are going to go into God.
All the hidden things of God from the beginning of time will be revealed in this age. And they will be revealed to those who will diligently seek Him in Moses, the Psalms, and the Prophets.
Those who will not be persuaded by the one risen from the dead (Jesus Christ) will not hear the words of the Holy Spirit (Christ Jesus). Those who will not hear will perish in their own confusion.
God has provided a way. All we need to do is find it.
George Kirkpatrick
207-472-3104