Saturday, January 24, 2015

Introduction To The World To Come - Part 1


Dearly Beloved,

We need to constantly admonish ourselves (Heb. 3:13/Col. 3:16) on the unfailing truth of our real identity and citizenship and set our faces like a flint rock before this great truth.
- Our actual CONVERSION or CITIZENSHIP is neither earthly nor of this present passing world (1Cor. 7:31/Phil.3:20). Rather, it’s HEAVENLY, HIDDEN WITH CHRIST, it’s that of a NEW CREATURE (2Cor. 5:17) and springs from THE WORLD TO COME (Mk 10:30/Heb. 2:5/6:5/Rev. 21:1-2).
-  The primary aim of the rarely known Gospel of God is to Unhook Our Consciousness from The Present and Implant It where Righteousness Indwells (2Pet. 3:13)


The world to come is not only an abode but also a place of eternal reward which is based on what we do while on earth (Rom. 4:1/2 Cor. 5:10). Unknown to many believers and not a few ministers, the actual exploit of the New Testament is not according to WHAT WE DO FOR GOD but rather, our OBEDIENCE TO THE REVELATIONS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS made known to us whenever Jesus Christ is truly preached or unveiled (Rom. 1:16/16:25; 1Cor. 1:30; Gal. 1:16).

 

We are therefore pleased to henceforth dispense this new additional series on this glorious subject which is both a thing of envy and beyond the reach or authority of faithful angels till date (Heb. 2:5)

 

-      Such faithful and true counsels (Rev. 22:6) are superior to time, would remain the sole emphasis and force in the ages to come (Eph. 2:7) after the present earth and heaven would have “expired” and been dissolved (2Pet. 3:10-11).

 

-      In the world to come, those who previously completed the syllabus of fellowshipping with faithful and true sayings (i.e believing overcomers/citizens of the new heaven) would attain a GOVERNMENTAL CELESTIAL STATURE (Rev. 21:2/10/23), while those who don’t (believing non-overcomers/citizens of the new earth) would need to receive ministry from those who attained the stature of righteousness, peace and Joy (i.e.– Rev. 21:24a/22:2f)

 

Graceful reading!

 

INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLD TO COME – PART 1


        The essence of our journey is to make us eternally relevant. The bible says if only in this world we have hope we are of all men most miserable. God is looking (Isa. 66:2c), because men are actually eternal beings. Apostle Peter said in 2 Pet. 3:13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness”. So the essence of the revelation of righteousness is to prepare us for the new heaven and the new earth

Anybody who has not acquainted himself with the conversation of the world to come will not be relevant there and will not be a part of the city (the company of overcomers). The essence of light is to illuminate us on what is accepted in eternity. The conversation of that world is godliness and the bible says it is profitable in this world and in that which is to come (1Tim. 4:8). So while we are preparing to be relevant in the new-world-to-come through godly conversations, the bible affirms that it is also profitable in this present world. The will of the Father is to make us eternally excellent (Isa. 60:15)

      The book of Hebrews 6:5 stated that some people received the good word of the Lord and tasted the power of the age to come. So while they were still in this present passing world, they imported the powers of the world to come as they learnt that future conversation. Anyone who is learning the conversation of the world to come and is importing that power into this world will get profit while here on this earth. This shows that it is possible to use the power of the world to come in this present world. So if we refuse to learn the conversation of the world to come we will be limited to the carnal powers of this age, which is nothing.

      The bible says Jesus Christ is both the wisdom and the power of God as well as a being of the world to come. So the learning of Christ is the learning of the power of the age to come. The power of God is not the power of the present age. The essence of the spirit of God is to illuminate Christ to us. This illumination of Christ is the power and the wisdom of God, and it is also the revelation of the power of the world to come. The pursuit of the revelation of Christ is a major profession (Heb . 3:1).

      There is a way we have been tutored to take our earthly profession as the main reason why we are on earth, and the Christian faith has been positioned as a mere religious practice. There is a way we can handle the faith and it becomes secondary if we don’t give much attention to it as we did to the learning of our earthly vocations. We are still ignorant of the faith profession which is meant to run our life, including our earthly profession. Imagine importing the power of the world to come into our earthly vocation - we will stand out! We will be sought after!

      The power of the world to come is LIGHT (revelation), and the Lord is that light I am talking about (Rev 21:23). Going deeper into this light is coming into deeper understanding of Christ. The work God wants us to do is Christ and it is this deep revelation called Christ that will enable us to do the deep work of God. This is the reason the book of revelation was written to servants. The plume line of God’s judgement is Christ. God is so particular of works (obedience) and that is why He repeatedly affirmed “I know your works” in the Book of Revelation chapters 2 to 3. He is coming to give everyman his reward according to what they have DONE. The work is not the charitable work but how much of the revelation of Christ we have OBEYED. (Heb. 5:9)
    
       So many things can distract us from focusing on this work and the discipline the Lord requires is that we shun this distraction. Anytime the Lord wants to demand works from us, He comes to give us commandment at a particular time. He reveals Himself to you and says, “This is who I am and this is the way I will handle things if I were in your shoes”. The seven Spirits also come to illuminate us and show us Christ, therefore defining a kind of work for us at that moment and showing us what we should engage in at that particular time. When they have measured a work for us, we need to zero in on that measurement so that we can do it very well.

There are some things the Lord has measured to me that were revealed. So He will tell me, “I know your works and I will judge you based on this work (revelation or instruction) I have revealed to you”. Our meditation should zero in to God’s instructions (laws) because on his law must we meditate day and night. His laws are the instructions that are given to us at a particular time. It is worth meditating on. We need to give attention to those instructions, corrections, etc., so that we can thoroughly obey them. We can then move on to the next level after we have obeyed them. God will give us grace to focus on His revelation and more light will be thrown on us so that we can be illuminated because we need to know Him the more and generate works that will attract rewards.

Rev. 20:11-12 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

      The content of THE BOOK OF LIFE is Christ. Christ is the plume line of God‘s judgement. Paul said the secret of men’s heart shall be judged according to the gospel of Christ. The holy and undefiled one who is separated from sinners and also made higher than the heavens is the plumb line/judgement of God. The thought of every man is lower than the earth and that is why we should not waste time playing religion but zero in on Christ. We should be thankful each time the Lord corrects us.

       The Lord will rather make us priests who can walk according to the pattern of the world to come than give us plenty money. Man is not good, he is not enhanced. What enhances man is not plenty money but the knowledge of Christ. This knowledge is what turns man around, changes and strengthens him and makes him profitable to man and unto God. The Knowledge of God is strong and mighty and God brings it to us in a way that demonstrates his love. When you are without knowledge of God you are carnal. You are neither good, reliable nor trustworthy. Anyone who is not receiving instructions can’t be trusted.
      
       That is why you should not marry a man or woman whose ears have not been opened (Ps. 40:6/Isa. 50:4c). If you do, you won’t enjoy your marriage. A man whose ears have been opened can be instructed and yield to correction when it comes. Such a man will be humble, meek and can easily be corrected. What revelation does to a man is that it makes such a person humble and admit that he is not perfect. It makes one accept his fault; and when it goes deeper, it make one accept wrong even when he is right like Jesus did. The commandments are a reflection of God and His character. God wants us to be thorough, fine, and excellent according to the standard of eternity.

Spiritual judgement is according to what is written in the volume of the book, so our works is measured by what is written in the book (Heb. 10:7). You can do great and mighty works, but if it is not according to what is written in the book, it will not attract reward. What the seven spirits of God is doing to us at this time is to illuminate what is written in the book so that we can know the works that attracts reward.

The commandment (Jn. 12:49/1Jn. 2:8/2Jn. 1:5) is what takes us deeper into the nature and the character of Christ. The summary of God is that He is love! So what the spirit is illuminating is the love of God. More of God’s revelation ought to lead us into more of God. 1 Pet. 1:22 says “Seeing that you have purified your soul in obeying the truth unto the unfeigned love of the brethren“. This shows that the truth that is being revealed to us is meant to lead us in to the fervent love of the brethren. The revelation of Jesus is strictly meant to take us deeper into the love of God. The works they are coming to judge is how much of your life are you able to lay down for the brethren because that is God’s love (1 Jn 3:16/Jn 15:13).

The unveiling of truth is the dethroning of self. If truth is being unveiled to us and self is not dethroned, then we are not getting truth. Truth ought to make us little as we enthrone others. Deemphasizing self enables us to press  deeper into truth. The more you press into truth, the more little you become because you are becoming Christ-like. The unveiling of Christ is meant to reduce the emphasis on looking on our own things but rather on the things of others – “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others(Phil 2:4). This is what truth does and this is the kind of work heaven is requiring from us. The work God is going to judge me according to how much of my own I have been able to deemphasize at my expense and therefore exalt my brethren.

Self is the root of all unholiness and ungodliness. It is self that makes us envious and jealous of one another because the root of such emotions is, “why you and why not me?”, and then we become angry when it is not in our favour. Competition springs out of self-centeredness. When it seems that the other person is better than we are, we become unsettled because we feel it must be us. Nothing can unveil all these things and make us see our state except light (the revelation of Christ).

We can be pre-occupied with ourselves and become blind to our true state if we are taken by what we have. The unveiling of truth will purge self out of you. Light will bring an end to flesh because flesh must not stand. God is not looking for that fallen man (flesh) because it cannot wear the glory of God. The revelation of what is in the book of life is the weapon of God to “kill” that carnal nature in us, so that a new man that is approved of God and that can serve God can rise from our inside. This new man serves God according to the book of life. So the revelation of Christ unveils good works so that we qualify us to receive reward.

Regardless of our earthly achievements and acquisitions, as long as it does not meet up to the standard of good works, it does not matter. In every circumstance, we must walk in love - that is what will attract reward. Men shall be judged according to what is written in the book, and what is written in the book is the love of God. Judgement here is based on work done according to what is revealed, according to the revelation of Christ.  What are the works God has defined for you?  Am sure God is in the business of defining works for us.

From Psalms 1:1-6, we can see that the ungodly (sinners) are those who are not working according to the book. The law of the Lord is not the ten commandment but the commandments or instructions of the Lord that comes to you per time. In verse 1, this man’s meditation day and night is on the instructions (revelations) of God. When Christ is revealed, the law of God has just been given. The meditation is day and night, and this is the work we ought to give our soul to do instead of those foolish things people of this world do, which they call ‘exploits’. The secret of flourishing is meditating on the revelation of Christ. The reason for MEDITATING is so that we can DO righteousness.

From Joshua 1:8, we also see that the reason for MEDITATION is so that we can DO, because our thought is what propels us. Before we implement anything, we have already conceived it in our hearts and minds. So God brings His own thoughts to us and says, “meditate on these”. The thought of the Lord are His ways; they are His revelations that we ought to meditate on so that we can do them and be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. Those instructions are of eternal life and when we meditate upon and do them, we allow it to flood our lives and we will flourish forever. As we give ourselves to these meditations we are made alive, we flourish life is brought to our system and we will abide forever!

When God wants you to live, He brings commandments, because His commandment is life everlasting (Jn. 12:50/Rom. 7:10a). In the light of this revelation we can see who the ungodly is. Rev 22:11 say “He that is righteousness let him be righteous still and he that is unrighteous, let him be unrighteousness still. The ungodly are those who are living contrary to the revelation of righteousness. We feel righteous after we get born again because we don’t commit fornication, don’t cheat etc., but that is just the beginning of righteousness.

True righteousness begins when revelation starts and that is when heaven determines who is righteous. Someone whose life is patterned according to what is revealed, according to that which is in the book is regarded by heaven as a righteous person. So you can be the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (according to that which your recreated human spirit has experienced) and yet live an ungodly life and give ungodly counsel. Many believers do not have the revelation of righteousness and that is why many give ungodly counsels, because they have another manual where they generate works.

The ungodly are like the chaff, the godly are like tree planted by the river. Chaffs are very dry and light, so the wind easily carries it away because it is cut away from the supply of life. What supplies life are the instructions of God which are life everlasting. God gives illumination so that we can walk worthy of the Lord and by so doing, we flourish. The end of yielding to instruction is eternal life.

Dying to self is righteousness and causes us to generate good works. Dying to self is not what you can do by yourself but the Holy Spirit will lead you against yourself. As long as instructions of God are not in a man’s life such a man is as dry as the chaff that the wind blows away, but the righteous is like a tree planted by the rivers of water. The water is supplied from constant commandments which will make you live an ever-green life.

These corrections or instructions are what improves us. The interruptions of the Lord corrects us from acting in a particular manner and that is what makes us live. The commandment does not come as, “Thou shall not”, but it comes in a simple way. At times, we take some steps or decisions and we feel the Lord withdrawing. At such times, we should do well to inquire to know what is happening. These are the things we must be sensitive and as we inquire of these things, He gives us instructions. This instruction comes from the Lord through the inward witness, i.e. “If I were the one, I will not do it that way”. At this point, the Lord has given you a commandment and that is what He will judge you with.

The standard of the Lord’s judgement is very high, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). The Lord is bringing us up to a place where we don’t justify or defend ourselves. 1 Peter 3:10-11 say “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it”. We are meant to eschew peace at our expense as much as it lies within our power or as much as we can take wrong from others (Romans 12:18). THE REASON WHY THERE’S NO PEACE ON EARTH IS BECAUSE PEOPLE CANNOT TAKE WRONGS AND THAT IS THE REASON FOR WAR (James 4:1). But as we learn Christ, we learn how to take wrongs. This is a measure of death and anyone who takes wrong even when they are right has obeyed the Lord. Letting go of your rights will not kill you, but it would rather make you better. Our progress in life is taking a deeper walk into the instruction of God.

As we take a deeper journey into the commandments of the Lord, a new people will emerge. Our obedience to the commandment of the Lord is what conforms our nature to God’s and that is what attracts the glory of the Lord to rest upon us.

Rev 21:9-11  And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, “Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife”. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

When John saw God seated on a throne he was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone and then this bride also is having the glory of God and her light was the light of God. Everything about divinity is the yard stick of judgement and that is our light.

Rev 21:22-23 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

The Lamb is the light thereof: It is the light which the city (overcoming believers) were exposed to, that lightened her. What prepares, adorns, and prepare the bride for her husband is the light. She was introduced to the light which she will walk in eternally.

Blessings!

Title: The Work in The Book of Revelation       
Ministering: Rev (Mrs) Helen Oyegoke
Date: 23rd Sept. 2014