From: Beverly French [frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us]
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2003 6:40 AM
To: Heritage
Subject: All Praise to Our God

The Apostle Paul speaking in Colossians 1:25-26 says,
"Of the church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from  God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, "that is, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generation, but now has been revealed to His saints."

What is the mystery?  It is the hidden, eternal plan of God that is being revealed to God's people.  It is according to His time and His way.  It is an open secret reveal to His servants through His Holy Spirit.  There is so much more than I will be sharing, but I challenge you to search these things out for yourself.  You will be blessed!

To the disciples Jesus said, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven..." Matthew 13:11; Mark 4:11 Luke 8:10, "...to know the mysteries of the kingdom of  God..." Scripture tells us, to all others Jesus spoke in parables.

What is this mystery?  "Christ in you, the hope of glory."
"To them (His saints, holy ones, true believers) God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the
Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27  (My parentheses)

Concerning the indwelling of Christ:
We see it is revealed in the coming of the Holy Spirit:
"...The Father...will give you another Helper...the Spirit of Truth...He abides with you, and will be in you."  John 14:16-17 "In that day you shall know that I am in My Father and you in Me, and I in you."  John 14:20

We see it demonstrates to the world Christ's mission:
"I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity; that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst loved them, even as Thou didst loved Me."  John 17-23

We see that the old life dies that the new may live:
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me." Galatians 2:20

We see it is obtained by faith:
"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God."  Ephesians 3:17-19

We see that obedience is essential:
"And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us."  1 John 3:24

We see it is possible for all:
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me." Revelation  3:20

Scripture reveals that all things are summed up in Christ Jesus our Lord! "He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Himself with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth..." Ephesians  1:9-10

"For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority." Colossians  2:9-10

To know we are a part of God's glorious plan from eternity is awesome beyond measure!  With all humility we thank our loving and gracious Father for His plan, our precious Lord Jesus for providing the way through His work on the Cross and our faithful Holy Spirit for revealing truth to each of us.

Let us together this day lift our voices in praise and worship to Almighty God for this is our reasonable service!  So be it!