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A Need For Heavenly Enlightenment
Written & Published by
Revelation Messengers Publishing www.revelationmessengers.com May 2011
The power that rose Christ from the dead and set Him on the right hand of God in the heavenly places, is the same power that opens the eyes of our understanding and causes us to know what is the hope of the calling, and what are the riches of the glory of God’s inheritance in store for us. It makes known the splendor and majesty of the exceeding greatness of God’s power that is toward us who believe. This is the divine purpose for enlightening the faculties of the understanding of the carnal mind. Ephesians 1:17-20: “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.” The working of the mighty power of God is what brings about this enlightenment in a man. The enlightenment is a receiving of the “wisdom that is from above” (James 3:17), and in this way the mind is renewed. Romans 12:2. Without this working of divine power upon the hearts and minds of believers—a greater enlightenment into divine things—faith towards God is robbed of the nourishment to grow into maturity. To remain steadfast unto the end (Revelation 2:3), and not faint, one must have the fellowship of God and revelation of the things of God. The resulting “enlightenment” will be a continual experience of those having a genuine relationship—connection—with Christ, because He will ever lead into new truth. If such is not the present experience of believers, it is that stagnation has occurred, which is but the ceasing of growth. Such stagnation will be if the Christian’s mind is not continually renewed, and thus transformed, by receiving fresh insight from God through a relationship with Him. And if this is so, if the believer’s mind has not the heavenly enlightenment, it will reason only after the pattern of natural thinkers and carnal minds. It will reason according to the corruptible nature. This is detrimental to faith in Christ! In this condition there would no doubt be conformity to the vain ideology and practices of the world, and to that which is not heavenly. We would esteem that which is base like the rest of world. Mark that this we once did and were as lost sheep going astray. It was the presence of God, the kingdom of God, from which we strayed. But in that Christ came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10), the Good Shepherd draws the human soul away from that which is iniquity toward the righteousness of God, bringing us into His true fold, that, when He comes, He may receive us as sheep when He separates the sheep from the goats. Matthew 25:32, 33. And the time for this separation is nearer than when we first believed. Romans 13:11. The day of Christ draws nigh. Yet most of the people of God have fallen asleep and grown careless in matters of faith and relationship with God, having become busy with worldly, unprofitable pursuits; their affection, shifted earthward. This is the result of a loss of heaven’s communion in the life. Many have fallen into fellowship with the world because their minds had not been further enlightened with that wisdom which supersedes the delusions of the world’s delicacies and unholy conduct that attracts us, needed at the time of temptation. His relationship with God would have spared the troubled Christian had he taken time to seek counsel and encouragement from God. They have become no different from those in the Biblical parable (Luke 14:15-24; Matthew 22:1-14), caring not for the supper of the great King, made in celebration for the marriage of His Son, because of earthborn enterprise and care. See Revelation 3:17. They have fellowship with the world but have not the true and genuine fellowship of God. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4 What will happen when Christ appears? These believe that it will be said to them by the Bridegroom when He comes, “Well done, good and faithful servants.” Matthew 25:21. Where, if to be pointed out, is the faithfulness that is to be commended? No, but they have separated themselves from God through their selfish pursuits. It is not possible to be faithful towards the Lord while possessing the friendship of the world. God is seeking to arouse the children of men from the great deception which has swept the masses. Of Christians: because God’s followers think they can have both worlds; enjoy both worlds; live for both worlds. And non-Christians: because they are striving for a corruptible crown alone (1 Corinthians 9:24, 25). See Hebrews 12:1. Jesus declared of Himself that He was not of this world. John 17:16. So then, the faith of Christ, in true form, contains no worldliness. This, only, is pure and undefiled religion before God. James 1:27. If there is a following of the world’s example for work and occupation as the accomplishment for one’s life, rather than fulfilling with his life the works God has given him to do—“For we are…created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10; “For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.” Mark 13:34—; if there is indulgence in the carnal lusts; if there is an esteeming of this world’s goods, in all this, we are brought into likeness with the world. There must be put out of the mind every worldly thing that has come to be cared to be possessed, or we will not follow Christ as true children of God. In Christ is the power to be a son of God, and He bestows it upon those who receive Him and believe on His Name. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12. Therefore in Christ is all the power needed to walk worthy as a child of God. “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation [invitation] wherewith ye are called.” Ephesians 4:1. And so we must have a genuine and personal relationship with Christ if we are to truly be the children of God. None can truthfully be so apart from Christ. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26. That is, none can truthfully be so apart from connection with Him; and in this connection we are given the insight to help overcome temptation for that which is not becoming for the children of God. “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:4, 5 When the heart is yielded to Christ the working of God’s power is
welcome there: a deeper understanding of the hope of the calling, the
inheritance of the saints, and the majesty of God will be brought to
the individual. Only by having this continual enlightenment would
believers not stray from the true faith of Christ, or that
inheritance which it bestows, because the human mind does not, of
itself,
have a perception true enough of the kingdom of God, and therefore, a
believer’s faith is not strong enough to fight for truth and
abstain from the pleasures and practices that attend the present
age—which conflict with the righteousness of God that Christ
seeks to bestow upon believers (Romans 3:22)—apart from this
divine enlightenment; and the weak believer is persuaded by the
convincing suggestions of this fallen age.
Hopeful Answers I asked one weary traveler, “Art thou not tired of traveling this way?” He answered, ‘Twill be worth it, For then will come the glorious day.” I inquired with one worn pilgrim, “Why travelest thou on this rough land?” He responded, “It is this rugged way, That leadeth me to the promised land.” I asked a dusty passerby, “Why walkest on a lonely road so bare?” Said he,“There’s paradise after this lonely journey, And I am almost there.” I asked of one with painful steps, “Why didst thou choose a path as dark as night?” He said, “Although it’s full of shadows, It leads me to the everlasting light.” I met a worn yet cheerful soul, “Is not thy body tired and sore?” “Ah yes,” said he, “but I care not, For not far away is the Golden Shore.” I questioned one who somewhat weekly walked, “Thinkest not that this path has many a difficulty?” “Oh my friend,” he hath answered me, “On reaching the end there is a bright and beautiful city. There’ll be no more darkness nor sorrow there, And best of all, I’ll see my Jesus who for us died. He is lovingly waiting, let us walk there Fixed on His blessed cross, for he waits for you with arms opened wide.”
Eunice Braidman
To inherit a holy kingdom and world requires preparation of him who has lived in a world full of wickedness. God will do this, by His Son Jesus Christ, giving the power to become a true child of God. 1 Corinthians 8:6. The Father and Son, who come to dwell in the hearts of those who believe, are willing to bestow the grace upon us that this spiritual reformation may take place—both in manifestation and in will.
“Wherefore we
receiving a kingdom
which cannot be moved, let
us have grace, whereby
we may serve
God
acceptably
with reverence and godly fear.” Hebrews 12:28
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Our efforts are to encourage individuals to develop a close, intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father and His only begotten Son, by the power of God’s Holy Spirit. The law cannot save; it only condemns those who transgress it (Rom. 7:7). Salvation is only through faith in Christ. Conversion means change. Christian reform means to repent, abandon errors, false doctrines & traditions, and embrace and live according to Biblical truth. We provide all our materials free of charge, simply for the asking. We deeply appreciate your prayers. If you have a burden to share these materials with others, please contact us. May our God richly bless you along paths of righteousness and truth. 1 Jn. 4:1-4.
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