Mystery
"I love a great mystery."
Suspense.... Intrigue.... It is all there in a good mystery. I must admit I love a good mystery. Even more than the mystery, I love to know the solution. I like to be "in the know." there is something empowering about knowing "who done it." It was Colonel Mustard in the Library with the candlestick. That is what draws me to this statement.
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived—
these things God has prepared for those who love him”*—
[10] for God has revealed them to us by his Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (TNIV)

The people of God have the greatest advantage in life. They can walk in the know. There is the possibility of being a step above the people around you. You can have the edge.
This passage of scripture has been often quoted and misapplied. Many times it has been applied to the 'Blessed Hope'. Heaven is better than we could even imagine. This may be a true statement. Heaven is better than we can even imagine, but that is not what this scripture is talking about. Paul the writer says even though seemingly no one can unlock the 'great mystery' God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.
"Matt are you trying to say that I am someone special?" That is exactly what I am trying to say. God has divinely elected to reveal to you His Glory and His Goodness. And as you walk in the revelation of God you will find yourself excelling in life.
People have gained great wealth by having insight into the trends that were arising. Wayne Huizenga seemed to have some insight when he sold Blockbuster to Viacom for 8.5 billion dollars. It was the same year that Netflix was formed. Now Blockbuster stores are trending down while Netflix has become a power. The paradigm has shifted.
I believe that people of God should be leading the way in because they walk in the revelation of God. Let me be quick to say that the priorities and measurement of that success should be different than the world, but the excellence should be evident nonetheless.
Joseph is a good case and point for walking in the revelation of God. Because Joseph was able to understand and walk in the revelation of God that came through Pharaoh's dream he was able to position Egypt to excel in a time of crisis. This became the provision needed to care for God's people in the time of famine. This was not insider trading, it was divine revelation.
Over the next few weeks God is going to take us on a journey to help us learn to walk in the revelation of God. This is the great adventure of life. This is where life begins.
I couldn't stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!
Ephesians 1:16-19 (MSG)



Grace Revealed
This journey begins with a revelation of God's grace.
All revelation is a result of Gods grace.
There is nothing in us that makes us deserving, it is a result of God's love, Gods initiative and God's power.
Paul refers to this Grace as the mystery of God that was revealed in Christ. Paul explains that this remains a mystery to many in this age. Many cannot see the grace that is theirs because they are blinded to it's wisdom and power.
The Jewish people that remained darkened in their understanding did so because they were looking for a sign. They expected for God to reveal himself in the miraculous. Although Jesus performed many miracles and even rose from the dead they refused to believe because the signs did not give them control. The miracles of Jesus were works of grace that relied upon giving up control and relying on Gods power not one's own ability.
This is still an issue in this age. The truth is this is an ageless struggle. God and His grace will be an unsolved mystery until you surrender control to Him. God reveals Himself and His grace to the weak.
God's power is revealed when He is given control.
Why not give Him control so that His power can be revealed in your life?
Jesus provided the sacrifice so that we could be forgiven of our sins when he was crucified. He also provided an example of how grace (God's power) is revealed in a someone's life. When He gave up control... when He said not My will but Yours... He availed himself to the power of the Holy Spirit to raise Him from the dead.
[19] and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, [20] which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
Ephesians 1:19-20 (NIV)
Believing in Jesus is more than acknowledging He existed. Believing in Jesus is giving Him control. Jesus gave the Father control. "Father into your hands I commend my Spirit" (Luke 23:26) And when He did God exerted His power in Jesus.
[5] Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
[6] Who, being in very nature* God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
[7] but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature* of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
[8] And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
[9] Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
[10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
[11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV)
Did you notice the word therefore? Therefore is a qualifier. That is since Jesus did the former He is the qualified for the later. Since Jesus humbled himself (gave up control) God gave Him authority and power. And that is key for us to have the power of God revealed in our lives today. We must give up control. We must humble ourselves and commit our lives into the hands of The Father.
How many things to we do so that we can earn God's grace or control God's power?

[8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—
and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)

[31] Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”*
1 Corinthians 1:31 (NIV)

If we are not careful we can try to use our spiritual disciplines as leverage to control God's power and grace. It is a very subtle shift that we make when we begin to believe: If I pray more than God will do a miracle. Or, if I fast God will act. Stick with me for a moment. We need to understand that there is not simple cause and effect going on here. There is more to it than Me + More Prayer = More Miracles. Remember what Jesus taught?

[7] And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. [8] Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:7-8 (NIV)

Prayer, fasting, reading and studying the Bible are disciplines that help us give up control. I pray because I recognize my inabilities. I fast to remind myself of my weakness and my total need for God to sustain my life. I fast because I need to be addicted only to God. He is all I need. I read the Bible because I don't have the answers. And when I read God's Word it reads me. His Word penetrates my self serving self seeking heart and causes me to rely on God and God alone.
So + Prayer - Me x God's Grace = More Miracles
Neglecting prayer is self reliance. It is in effect saying, God I got this one under control. If you want God results you have to give control to God.
Figuring it all out
Paul said this wisdom is revealed but the wisdom of the age could not grasp it because it was foolishness to them. How many times have you found yourself trying to just figure it all out? Have you ever struggled to forgive someone and get true restoration because you just couldn't figure out why they did what they did? It is human nature to try to figure out God. If we can figure him out we can control Him. Perhaps that's why God gave us the book of Job. We try to reduce God formulas, but He acts as He will. And however He acts is right.
If I can reduce God to a formula then I can control Him. This was the prevailing thought of the day when Moses asked God what His name was. The common belief was if I know the name of a god then I can appease him or her. Think about this, appeasement is just a form of manipulation. God revealed Himself to Moses as the I Am. The one who was and is and is to come. Jesus then came as the I Am .... The sons of Sceva thought they could reduce God to a formula. They attempted to cast out demons by calling upon the name of Jesus that Paul preaches about. The demoniac called out, Paul I know and Jesus I know but who are you? The he attacked them and they were bruised and beaten. God will not be reduced to a formula.
I cringe when I hear someone say God has to do this or that as of they can type in some cosmic computer code to get the results they want. God does not work on man's OS. He writes the code. You can't hack into His wisdom, you can only gain access by Grace. The truth you are looking for is that God loves you and He has a plan for your good. His ways are higher than ours and we will only find His truth when we quit trying to figure God out so much. We must live in wonder more than analysis.
There are many scholars of the Bible who have missed God's wisdom.


[8:1] ...We know that we all possess knowledge.* Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. [2] The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.
[3] But the man who loves God is known by God.
1 Corinthians 8:1-3
This is the mystery revealed. It is not all about what you know about God. It is in knowing that God knows you.
God knows me and loves me and has a plan for my life. And that plan and that purpose is beyond imagination.
Revealed By His Spirit
This mystery, this Grace is revealed by the Holy Spirit. This is such a key. The Holy Spirit is the one who brings revelation. Once again it is the act of God. I want you to understand that the Holy Spirit is all about giving this revelation to you.
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!
16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Notice this promise is for everyone. The plan of God is that His people, those who are trusting the God to lead their life, those people are to be given revelation. We are the ones today who are to walk in the revelation of God.
Revealed
As we were preparing for this series the team asked me, is that revelation or reveal, or did you really mean revealed. The tense of the word is important. Notice that this revelation has already happened. It has been revealed. All we have to do is accept and trust in this revelation.
Listen to the prayer of Isaiah 64
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
that the mountains would tremble before you!
2 As when fire sets twigs ablaze
and causes water to boil,
come down to make your name known to your enemies
and cause the nations to quake before you!
3 For when you did awesome things that we did not expect,
you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.
4 Since ancient times no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
5 You come to the help of those who gladly do right,
who remember your ways.
But when we continued to sin against them,
you were angry.
How then can we be saved?
6 All of us have become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
7 No one calls on your name
or strives to lay hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us
and made us waste away because of our sins.
8 Yet, O Lord, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
9 Do not be angry beyond measure, O Lord;
do not remember our sins forever.
Oh, look upon us, we pray,
for we are all your people.
We are blessed. God did rend the heaven. God came down. God became flesh and dwelt amongst us. Emanuel, God with us. John said, “We beheld His glory.” But wait it gets even better. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit. God revealed himself again.
We receive this revelation
#1 By calling upon the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved.
#2 By receiving His Holy Spirit.
#3 As we wait on Him. As we quiet our hearts, still our flesh so that we can rely on His grace.
This Year
As we embark on this new year, MMXI, let us walk in the revelation of God.
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived—
these things God has prepared for those who love him”*—
[10] for God has revealed them to us by his Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (TNIV)