Bible Study Notes for Lord’s Day,
December 5, 2010
Luke 8:10, 16-21
“The Mysteries of the Kingdom” Part 2

Introduction  One reason Jesus came to Earth was to establish the Kingdom of God.  In order to to that, He needed to help people understand the principles it operates on - to believe it, receive it and become part of it.  Some were able to get with the program, others floundered, others flatly rejected it, the same as today.  It was all about “the mysteries of the Kingdom.”

 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God.”

2 Corinthians 2
 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
 9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God 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 that have been freely given to us by God.
 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
 16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

What are the mysteries of the Kingdom of God?  7 main ones.  This is not a comprehensive treatment, but just to ask some questions to whet your appetite to research these things, let the Holy Spirit enlighten us.

7 Mysteries, things which appeal to most people - relationship, love, nature, forgiveness, new life, help, hope.

1. Relationship - knowing there are other conscious individuals in the world, on different levels and in various capacities.  Deity, angelic/demonic spirits, principalities and powers, humans, animals, all other living things.  How do we relate to each other?  Different aspects of fellowship, communication, respect, trust.  A great mystery.

Exodus
20:1  And God spoke all these words, saying:
 2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
 7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
 8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.
 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
 12  “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
 13 “You shall not murder.
 14 “You shall not commit adultery.
 15 “You shall not steal.
 16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Notice all the relationships.  Often a distinction is made between beings with natural and supernatural powers.  Sometimes anything thought to be supernatural is called divine - deities, idols, gods and goddesses, demigods, fairies.  No, angels, demons and people can also have supernatural powers.  But only God is divine, deity.

How do we relate each other?  In various aspects of fellowship. communication, respect, honor, worship, love, faith.  Only God can be worshipped as supreme.

We bring an offering to contribute to the Kingdom of God.  Is that worship?  Someone may bring an offering, a bowl of rice, to an idol of a pagan deity.  Is that worship, ministry?  I put water and fertilizer on young sapling trees, and pull the weeds.  Am I ministering to them?  Am I worshipping them?  What’s in your heart when you minister to another being?  Do trees, rocks, streams, natural features have spirits?  Rocks cry out, heavens declare, trees of the field clap their hands. Is Gaia, Mother Earth real?

How do we trust each other?  I trust God for my salvation.  I trust fire to keep me warm, food to nourish my body.  I even trust the dog to provide companionship and entertainment for the family.  But only Deity, God is worthy of absolute trust.

How do we relate each other?  In various aspects of fellowship. communication, respect, honor, worship, love, faith. 

Applied to Deity, angelic/demonic spirits, principalities and powers, humans, animals, all other living things.

These are some of the mysteries of relationship.

2. Love God and others

Mark 12
30 ‘And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
 31 “And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

What does it mean to love God?  What thoughts and feelings might you have?  What actions would you be motivated to take?  How would it influence your lifestyle?

What does it mean to love other people?  What thoughts and feelings might you have?  What actions would you be motivated to take?  How would it influence your lifestyle?  How would your love be influenced by the characteristics of the person?

These are some of the mysteries of love.

3. Creation

Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

This is nature, the environment, our Earth home, with such intricate, fantastic designs, systems and effectiveness.  Science is still discovering the mysteries of Earth and the universe.  Many things we don’t have any idea. 

What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?  An inconceivable smash.

Beyond these things, we were created in the image of God.  What does being made in the image of God mean in your life?

Created in love, and to love God and others.

Continuity of creation - the blessing, support and continual creativity, or lack thereof if God withholds it for some reason.

Mystery - the infinity of time and space.

These are some of the mysteries of creation, nature, the environment.

4. Atonement

Romans 3
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Why do we need atonement?  Created in love and to love God and other people. What if we have failed, missed the mark of love?  The Atonement provides forgiveness for our lack of love, both toward God and other people.

This is the mystery of forgiveness through the sacrifice of God incarnate, the Lord Jesus on the Cross.  The word “amazing” is used over and over, in hymns new and old.  “Amazing Grace”, “Amazing Love, how can it be that Thou my God shouldst die for me?”

We will be lost in wonder, love and praise forever because of the mystery of the atonement.

5. Resurrection

John 11
 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

The mystery of new life, after death, to live in a relationship of love, made possible by the Resurrection of Christ.

How many things are candidates for resurrection?  Ideas, careers, relationships, marriages, dreams, physical bodies, glorified bodies.

6. Enablement

John 14
 26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

This is the concept of help.  We all need help from time to time.  “Lean on me...”

The Holy Spirit came on Pentecost to empower us to love God and others in this life, even to perform supernatural miracles - fruit and gifts, all about love.

What kinds of things has God enabled different people to do?  How did He do that?  What was the interaction between human and divine?  Mystery.

7. Consummation

Revelation 21
 21:1  Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.

This is hope, that things in the world will not continue on as they are forever, bu there will be a New Heaven and New Earth, the consummation, nothing but love forever.

What will it be like?  Is God putting a longing into the hearts of people today for a new earth?

Conclusion  These are mysterious concepts, mysterious names, hard for the world to understand - creation, atonement, resurrection, pentecost, consummation.

 10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God

Yet all people long for the basic principles - relationship, love, nature, forgiveness, new life, help, hope.  How can we help them understand?

Application to My Life

Where are you on your journey to become aware and to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom? 

Are in agreement with Jesus and His Kingdom, in principle?

Are there things you don’t understand, but would like to?

Are you determined to press on, press in? 

Are you asking the Holy Spirit for aptitude and guidance? 

Are you studying God’s Word and being taught God’s Word? 

Have you become part of the Kingdom of God?