4-9-2017 Weekly Message

Contemplation of the Week: Psalms 23:1-6

Text: Ephesians 3: 1-21

Word of God Title: The inheritance given unto the body of the Lord Jesus Christ

 When Simon Peter confessed to Jesus that ” Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16), Jesus said to him of the church of God to be built in the future:  

” And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

          When the Lord spoke of this rock, it was the Rock, not Peter (the Petros: pebble stone). Apostle Paul, who realized this truth in the Holy Spirit, witnessed clearly who this Rock iss:

” And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. “(1 Corinthians 10: 4)

          That is correct! The Church of God was built on the Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ himself, not on Peter, as the Roman Catholic Church claims. Therefore, only the true  church of  God can be the member of the body of Christ. Today, we hear  that many church buildings are being deprived and church doors are closed because of lack of funds. However, because the church is not a building, but an organism with members of Christ’s body, the church cannot be closed because the building is gone. Nowadays, in Korea, hundreds of church buildings are handed over to the bank every year, and the sad news is that the church is closed, pastors are resigned, and church members are scattered. The true church, even if the building is gone,  two or three people can gather together to continue the body of Christ.

          When Apostle Paul testified to the people in Rome, whosoever believes on  the gospel of Christ knowing  Christ died and buried for the sins of the world and was raised on the third day, shall be saved by the power of God, whether they are the Jews or Greeks . He also testified, The  saved one is to be born again without the discrimination of the Holy Spirit, Jews or Gentiles and adopted as the son of God. Only those who are planned to be the sons of God receive the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, and become members of the body of Christ. They also go into the church the Lord has spoken, and have the authority overcome  the gates of hell..

             Apostle Paul testified of  the mystery of the children of God who are born again of the Spirit at the same time to be the bride of Christ:

” For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.“(Ephesians 5: 30-32).

         That is correct. Jesus Christ, the only Begotten Son of God,  left his heavenly Father and came to the earth not only to give power to be sons of God to those who believe and receive him, but also to give his Spirit to be his bride. Therefore, the rebirth members in the church are one body and become the flesh of the body of Christ and do all the things that the Lord wants with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. As to what the Lord wants the Apostle Paul to testify to Timothy, the church pastor, ” Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2: 4).

        When Apostle Paul testified of the knowledge of the mystery  received from the Lord Jesus Christ, “It is that through the gospel the Gentiles become joint heirs in Christ, and become one body, and become partakers of his promise …”   That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:… And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisd“(Ephesians 3: 6, 9-11).

          That is correct! God is to give wisdom to His Church through the Holy Spirit that is the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, so that his church may understand the knowledge of the mystery of God, which is written in detail in the Word of God, to teach the principalities and powers in heaven. God has given this immense wisdom to the humble Apostle Paul and filled the knowledge of the mystery to the churches to testify of the knowledge of this mystery.

         When Jesus taught them about prayer to the Jews, he asked them to pray that  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10). Apostle Paul recognized the meaning of this statement and testified to the saints of the Church of Ephesus: ” Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:“(Ephesians 1: 9-10).

            Apostle Paul testified that the Lord Jesus Christ, the  only begotten Son of God shall be the King of Kings who reigns over all things in heaven and earth. And he will fill all things in all once again in him with his bride that is in him.  :

” And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” (Ephesians 1: 22-23)

            Whosoever understand this great and mysterious things God has given to the Church. is blessed. Apostle Paul prayed for the Saints in the church of Ephesus to realize the knowledge of this mystery:

 ” 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,  ” (Ephesians 1: 17-19)

         Sooner or later, when the Lord Jesus will possess all things, things in heaven, and all things in the earth, and all men  shall kneel before Him, and they will confess Jesus as the Lord with their own tongues.  He will rule as the Lord of Lords, and the King of Kings  forever and ever. At this time, the Church of God and the members of His body shall  be helping forever to fulfill all things in all  helping all things without sin, no death, no curse. Apostle Paul testified that the last enemy to be destroyed is death (1 Corinthians 15:26)

            Apostle Paul, who testified of this knowledge of the mystery urged strongly   the children of God who are members of the body of Christ no longer look upon the world, but look up to the heavens and the earth to which our Lord Jesus Christ will reign for ever and ever.

“ That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.(Eph. 3:16-19)” Amen! Hallelujah!