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Does
God have a Secret
We are captivated by
“secrets”. Religion is
filled with secrets and mysteries. Secret
hand shakes, secret passwords, ceremonies, systems of religion that are
secret, masons, illuminates, just to mention a few.
Does God have a secret?
Has He had secrets in the past?
Deut. 29:29 says “The
secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong
to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of
this law.”
We are instructed to follow and
spread the things we know; they belong to us and our children.
This is good!
Psalms 25:14 says “The
LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to
them.”
There is something about knowing
God that is liberating. He
will show them his contract, His agreement with them.
Psalms 27:5 says “For
in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.
This speaks of God “hiding, or
protecting” someone.
Psalms 31:19 “How
great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear
you, which you bestow in the sight of men
on those who take refuge in you.”
God promises a help, protection, and blessing.
There is a shelter, protection, security that is His
secret—comfort, encouragement and blessing are given.
Psalms 91:1-2 “He
who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of
Almighty. I will say of the
LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I
trust.”
Proverbs
3:32
reveals “…for the LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright
into his confidence.”
Those who respond to His revealed truth He
takes into His confidence.
Isaiah 45:19 says “ I have not spoken in
secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob’s
descendants, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, the LORD, speak the truth; I
declare what is right.”
God didn’t
keep it secret. He was talking
to Jacob and it was revealed to him. With
some people there is no understanding of God.
Matthew
13:34
says “Jesus spoke all these things to the
crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a
parable.” Jesus spoke in
parables so people could not understand.
This is explained in Psalms 78:1-8.
Why do some understand the parables and others do not?
People would understand because they were taught and the knowledge
was passed to their sons. Correct
knowledge had not been relayed. The
Pharisees and Sadducees tried to make a “secret club” by their
standards instead of truth.
Matt. 13:10-15 Again
Jesus speaks in parables. Why
is it true that some don’t understand?
What will take place to change it?
Because of the hardness of their heart they would not turn.
Sometimes for our hardness of heart we might not see and understand
as we should. How do we
respond to God? To “you”
it is given to understand. They
didn’t have a heart, and failed to seek God, to repent, to be obedient.
Rom.
16:25
-27 Paul says there is a
mystery, yet people didn’t understand it.
The hearts of men were closed.
1
Cor. 2:6-8 Paul speaks of a
wisdom of God. It’s there to
see.
Eph.
1:9-10 Here Paul describes
bringing all things together under one head—Christ.
Eph 3:3-6
We find here a revelation on this mystery, that the Gentiles (which
merely means nations) would be part of the salvation of God.
This was an incredible truth to these people and mankind.
Eph. 3:7-8,
10-11 talks about this incredible story of salvation.
Talk to your children about this.
This wasn’t completely understood till Jesus Christ came—it was
not just to the Jews but to all the world.
What is the mystery? He
would show truth, give people opportunity to turn to him to be saved and
even to be resurrected.
Col.
1:25-27 This statement changes
things in my mind—it’s not just external.
Christ is in you; everyone of the called.
A personal relationship with Him is possible.
Do we understand this really? Do
we really grasp it---Christ is in you!
Acts
17:16
How do you get this message
over that there is a true God and there is a righteous way.
He wants a relationship with you.
Acts 17;17-21
There were an incredible number of deities in this world of the
Greeks. Many believed in the
body and the soul—dualistic thought.
The soul was captivated in the body.
There was nothing good in the body so they denied the body.
This was also the Epicurean thought.
The people were in disdain of Paul because he talked about the
resurrection—the rising up of the body.
v.22-27
They could not figure Paul out.
This was Paul’s message.
God made people that in some place and time they would seek Him,
grope for Him—and find Him. He’s
not far from us!
v. 28-32
Here is Paul’s testimony that Jesus was raised from the dead and
that he would be the judge.
John 14:18-21
This mystery is not academic knowledge limited to a group or for
one nation. It’s all
encompassing. It is God’s
desire so much that they understand it; even so much that He will
resurrect those who haven’t understood.
Is he in you? How does
he show himself to us? By
living in us and sharing his thoughts, actions—a testimony.
Phil.
4:13
I can do all things through
Jesus Christ my savior because the mystery is revealed.
Christ in us, the hope of glory.
It’s only a secret to those who don’t understand yet.
God has a plan for all mankind—a family, a nation, all nations.
It is the opportunity for Christ in us, the hope of glory.
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