#326 Kingdom: God’s Provision, Our Participation

When we examine God’s Promises and God’s provision we may wonder why we actually experience so little of what the Bible reveals is normal for the church, which IS his body. We may come up with many excuses but we still fall far short of “our inheritance in Christ.”

For Example; There are several things that we have been predestined to receive. “Predestined” is a stronger assurance than a “promise” that may or may not be received at this time. However, when we discover what Jesus Christ has already provided for us through Calvary, it seems logical that we should actually experience and participate in these things during the church age.

We might call this “participating experientially in the provision.” There seems to be a large gap between what God has provided through Christ and what we actually hold as our genuine experience. Many people assume that IF God has provided something in Christ, I must already have it because I have accepted Jesus as my personal Savior. The “Personal Savior” doctrine has deceived multitudes into thinking “accepting Jesus” is the full salvation.

It is certainly true that Adam fell into sin and disobedience in Genesis 3. However, mankind has fallen much farther than that since Genesis 3. Even Cain killing Able included Adam’s sin but exceeded his sin. The downward spiral began in Genesis 3 but Romans, chapters 1 and 2 reveal how much farther mankind has fallen since Genesis 3.

Now there is not only the sin, rebellion, disobedience and perversion but there is still God’s Eternal Purpose that must be fulfilled. This IS the reason we were created in the first place. Therefore, our recovery is not just from sin and its works but we must also be recovered to fulfill God’s Eternal Purpose. Solving the problem of the FALL in Genesis 3 is only part of the recovery process that includes the establishment of God’s Kingdom and man ruling over all the works of God’s hands. It is NOT just forgiveness of sins that man requires but a complete transformation of our persons and our character into the image of Jesus.

The Bible says that we were appointed once to die and then comes the judgement. It is also true, then, that we have been appointed “once to live” and then comes the judgement. In other words this IS the only time we have to make a complete transition from sinners to perfected sons of God, who are qualified to take our place in the Kingdom of God as co-heirs with Christ.

God has already established a fixed and absolute “eternal call for us” that will never change. We have been predestined to that place but we must also qualify by making our calling acceptable to God. Another Bible says to make our calling an election sure.

2 Pet 1:10] Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; [11] for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

EVERYTHING that God is doing today or waiting upon us to do has ALREADY been predestined / predetermined before the foundation of the world. EVERYTHING has been designed to fulfill God’s Eternal Purpose. Of course we are excited about and fully appreciate what God has accomplished for us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Calvary. Still, we must realize that is just the doorway into the fulfillment of God’s Eternal Purpose. To receive the sacrifice of Calvary and then NOT fulfill God’s Eternal Purpose for your life is either ignorance or a lack of gratitude. This ignorance, which is widespread in the church, must be firmly dealt with quickly if we are going to participate in what God has already predestined us to receive.

If we clearly understand this principle we can understand why Paul was praying these 4 tremendous prayers for the Ephesians, Phillipians and Colossians. Paul wasn’t satisfied that these “churches” were saved, redeemed and sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. He knew that was just the entrance into God’s Eternal Purpose. From this time forward they must have a direct revelation from God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The first principle we must learn is that whatever Jesus Christ has provided for us at Calvary has already been delivered once for all. The next thing is that everything we will ever need to fulfill God’s Eternal Purpose has already been provided. Nothing more needs to be done except for us to “see” the things freely provided for us at Calvary. To pray for God to do something more for us than what has already been done for us at Calvary, in His death, in His burial, in His Resurrection and in His Ascension to the throne of God is the result of NOT seeing.

Until the eyes of our understanding are enlightened most of these things are incomprehensible to us. Closed or blind spiritual eyes means ignorance of spiritual and eternal truths. This is NOT intellectual ignorance but a “lack of seeing” that results in ignorance. No matter how smart we are in the natural, we are still ignorant in the hidden, secret things until our spiritual eyes are enlightened by a direct revelation by God. What Paul is praying for in these four prayers is not that God would release more to us but that we might have “eyes to see” what has already been freely given. The principle is this; No matter how much has been provided, if we don’t know it we cannot benefit from it. In this case we can only “know it by having our spiritual eyes opened” to see the unsearchable riches of Christ. EVERYTHING has already been given. The problem is we don’t “SEE” it.

Many are praying as though God had not yet given it and we need to remind Him about it. What the church desperately needs today is “VISION.” Not to see things that are far off and declared by prophesy but that we be able to “SEE” the things already given to us by God and are presently our inheritance in Christ. It is easy to forget doctrine in a few minutes but once we “see” eternal things [by revelation] in the spiritual realm it is ours and remains with us.

It is my opinion that the way to join our work to the work of God is to be able to “SEE” into this realm where God is working. Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing. The shallowest way to interpret that is that when Jesus saw the Father healing, He immediately started to heal. The reason that is shallow is because it involves natural seeing and not spiritual seeing.

If we can understand these two ways of “seeing” eternal truths, we may understand why Paul prayed the way he did for these three churches. Jesus said that when He, the Spirit of Truth, came He would lead us into ALL truth and that The Holy Spirit would take the things of Jesus and reveal them to us. The Holy Spirit IS the Spirit of Revelation. He is also the Spirit of Wisdom. However, the Holy Spirit must function in these two realms of Wisdom and Revelation at the same time. If this seems incredible we could also refer to the other 12 ways the Holy Spirit manifests Himself. The Seven Spirits of God reveal everything that has been assigned for the church to understand and experience during the church age.

To restate this principle to be very clear we could say; “Everything we will ever need to grow up into Jesus Christ and fulfill the purpose of God in the Church Age has already been given. Asking God to provide something more is ignorance! What we really need is to have the eyes of our spiritual man enlightened so that we can actually “see” and know the things that have already been freely given and are now available. Since the Holy Spirit has been sent to accomplish this work, we should pray for the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding in the knowledge (epignosis) of God.

Straining to see these things with the natural eyes is a lost cause and we will never see that way. These are the very things that “eye has not seen and ear has not heard.”

1Cor 2:6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; [7] but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; [8] the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; [9] but just as it is written,

“THINGS which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, AND which HAVE not entered the heart of man, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”

1Cor 2:10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. [11] For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. [12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, [13] which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. [14] But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

There are many levels in the spiritual realms surrounding us that we can be totally unaware of until our spiritual eyes are enlightened to permit us to “see” into those realms. We don’t have to “go someplace” to see but these things are visible right here and at the present moment. The “veil” between these realms of the natural and the spiritual are very thin and only just a step away. Still, the Spirit of Truth, Who Is the Spirit of Wisdom and the Spirit of Revelation, must draw us through this “veil” by opening our spiritual eyes and cause us to be enlightened in the inner man.

This is JUST a matter of “seeing.” It is in this other realm of “seeing” that our spiritual ears are also enabled to hear what is said in that realm. All this confusion of hearing His voice and being able to see what He is doing and hear what He is saying is because this is NOT the natural realm that we are accustomed to functioning in.

The application we are making is that between the Outer Court and the Holy Place is just a veil [Truth or Reality]. The Outer Court being the natural realm and the Holy place being the spiritual realm that is illuminated by the Seven Spirits of God. The Outer Court is the “preparation” and the Holy Place is the “function.” The last experience in the “preparation stage” is the “Consecration Offering.”

We should immediately begin to ask God to grant unto us the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation and to open our spiritual eyes and to illuminate our inner (spiritual) man. In this way those things that have been hidden from all past generations can be known to us. Those things which the natural eyes cannot see and the natural ears cannot hear and the things that are beyond natural understanding and intellect can be known and enjoyed now, during the church age!

In other words we are just asking according to the Will Of God revealed in the scriptures and according to the unfolding revelation shown in the Tabernacle in type and shadows. The greatest problem is NOT that we don’t know these things, the greatest problem is that we can’t “see these things through the eyes of the spirit.” Once we “SEE” we will understand that “WE HAVE” them as part of God’s provision of Calvary. We don’t receive them so we can glory in them but so we can fulfill God’s Eternal Purpose and bring Joy to His Heart. These are all part of “the things that God has prepared for those who love Him.” He IS revealing them through the Spirit but NOT with natural words but spiritual words given by the Spirit and seen and understood in the “inner man” that has been illuminated by His Spirit. We can ONLY know these things by a direct revelation of the Holy Spirit.

This partially explains the frustration of moving from the Outer Court to the Holy Place Life and Ministry. We just can’t “GO” when we decide because we really aren’t “GOING” anyplace. We must make the transition into the spiritual realm by total dependence upon and total surrender to the Holy Spirit. He is NOT slow about doing it but He must prepare us to receive it. He can’t speak this Wisdom among the immature because it is spiritually understood. If we are frustrated waiting, we might consider how frustrated He must be trying to give this revelation to the church for 2000 years. I am guessing that God is at work in us both to will and do His good pleasure and that the end of that is to give us the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledge of Him. He is working “IN US” so He can enlighten our inner man to the hidden things and to the mysteries. This was the purpose of Paul’s prayers. It is God’s will and His purpose to enlighten our inner man but a lot of garbage must be removed first so the light will shine into these recesses where revelation begins.

Every person working according to his own understanding will not accomplish God’s Eternal Purpose for our time period. It is really by revelation that we join our work to the work of God.

John 5:19 Jesus therefore answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. [20] “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and greater works than these will He show Him, that you may marvel.

It is obvious the “greater works” will be done by joining our work to the work of God and what He, Himself, is doing. Functioning in this realm will be tremendously liberating because it should free us for this carnal syndrome of every man doing what is right in his own natural eyes. Some of us may be sensing that we are working in vain and our labor is not counting for very much in eternity. I am no longer anticipating doing “great things for God” but now I just want to do some little thing that lasts for eternity. If we can actually join our work to the work of God it WILL last for eternity. How really small is our work when we compare it with the vision of eternity and the perfected church, the New Jerusalem.

It is one thing to be called to the work but it is quite another to be called to work with God to complete His eternal purpose. A very small work that is joined to His work will yield great eternal benefits. Even if we have the greatest zeal to do a great work outside of God’s work, it will produce very little in eternity. This is the terrible possibility of building with wood, hay and straw and seeing all our work get burned up. May God deliver us from this lack of vision.

In these prayers of Paul, it is exciting to see that he is praying for a subjective work to be done in the inner man. This work is out of the visible realm and is a hidden work but in that work God can reveal the hidden things that have not been revealed to past generations.

“God is at work in us” is quite a departure from the “gospel of the church” that tries to get God to solve their personal problems and to give them a personal victory. To bless the believers with all kinds of temporal things and release them to do their own things with more provision and visibility. If the “believers” can just live a peaceable and happy life and prosper and be in health they will be exemplary Christians. Evangelism by prosperity is the ideal “gospel of the church” and presents the good news to the natural man.

To just touch the depth of what Paul is praying when he spoke of knowing “what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.” These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might [20] which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places. To know the power of His resurrection is accounted with the “riches of Christ.”

It is my opinion that most of the things we are praying for can only be granted to us by “seeing first into this higher realm” where everything is provided. “Seeing” precedes the experience of these greater things. Why? Because all the things we are praying for have already been given to us in Christ but we don’t know it because we can’t “see” them in this realm. Once we “see” we know they are ours now in that higher realm. What is IN the Holy Place is enjoyed in the Holy Place and is not meant for the Outer Court. Our “send it out to me” prayer is ineffective because God’s plan is for us to come to where the provision is kept.

This is the basis of the priesthood ministry. Standing before the Lord, ministering to the Lord and burning Incense is accomplished in the Holy Place where everything is already provided. My theory is that God is at work now within us so we can “see” a little into that realm and when we “see” a little, God will work much more in us until we arrive at the experience of the Holy Place Priesthood. This may seem like a long way to come such a short distance but the sooner we begin the sooner we experience the reality of priesthood.

To fully experience the “power of His Resurrection” we must have our spiritual eyes enlightened to “see” into that realm. “The surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe” includes all believers who have spiritual eyes to “see” it. If we can “see it” the reality arrives instantly. Why? Because in the realm of “seeing” it is already reality. Time is not the environment but “seeing” and the “seeing” is a mater of the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of Him, having our eyes enlightened to “see.”

This realm is not the product of preaching and teaching but this is the realm of the Spirit that the natural man will never “see.” Therefore, the greatest thing we can do right now is to begin to pray that God will work in us and work out of us all the garbage that will keep us from “seeing.” That God would grant us the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation and enlighten the spiritual eyes of the inner man that permits us to “see.” Once we “see” we must immediately begin to function in that realm because “function” is a matter of being obedient to what we “see.”

If the Son of God depended upon “seeing” what the Father was doing and joining His work to the work of the Father, then that is our example for ministry. Laying hands for ministry on blind inner men is a hopeless ritual. Laying hands on full intellectual heads with empty spirits that don’t “see” is a waste of time. However, God has predestined us to “see” and this IS the time to begin seeing. Still, this is not a matter of our willing it but of our submitting to whatever cleansing and change that the Holy Spirit is indicating is necessary so He can open the eyes of the inner man so we can “see.”

Eph 3:16] that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man;

Col1: 11] strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously [12] giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

This IS the Will Of God for Us in this day of His glorious restoration.