Mystery of Fellowship - Wisdom of God - Ch.3-Pt.1

(9) And to make all men see

what is the fellowship of

[or association to]

the mystery,

which from the beginning of the world

hath been hid in God,

who created all things

by Jesus Christ:

(10) To the intent

that now

unto the principalities and powers

in heavenly places

might be known by the church

the manifold

[variegated, complex]

wisdom of God.

-Ephesians 3:9-10

        
Even though Paul feels unqualified to preach about Christ, he knows that God is going to use him to define the fellowship of the mystery and reveal the manifold wisdom of God to the Church.

        
We will eventually see how the Mystery of Fellowship and the Mystery of the First Love Lost both relate in some way to fellowship or to an association of some sort (#2842 in the Greek).

        
In this case it is God's desire to have all men see the association or connection that the mystery has with the wisdom of God. When we see this connection, we will then be better equipped to identify and understand both mysteries.

        
This fellowship or association is a secret that has been hidden in God since the beginning of the world, when He created all things by Jesus Christ. We are now privileged to be living in these end times when God intends to reveal the mystery, making this complex (manifold #G4183) wisdom of God known to all true believers.

(41) Then they

that gladly received his word

were baptized:

and the same day

there were added unto them

about three thousand souls

[people - followers].

(42) And they continued steadfastly

in the apostles' doctrine

and fellowship,

and in breaking of bread,

and in prayers.

-Acts 2:41-42

        
Acts 2:41-42 describes true believers. They became believers when they embraced the Word of God and then continued steadfastly, or adhered to it, as the word, "steadfastly," comes from the Greek #4314.

        
In other words, once those who were called by the Father received the Word of God, they stuck like glue to the doctrine (or interpretation of the Word) Christ had personally handed down to the apostles. As a result they experienced true "fellowship," the same fellowship (close association #G2842) that connects the mystery to the wisdom of God.

        
Why is it so important to mention this type of fellowship and how it has an identical connection to the mystery?

        
The definition of genuine fellowship in this passage in Acts, is telling us that wherever true believers gather, we will witness true fellowship.

        
It is our responsibility to be able to accurately identify the churches that are marked for removal by Christ and to either be instrumental in their repentance or avoid being guilty by association.

        
The type of fellowship one believer has with another believer will identify true believers and help us correctly discern the condition of the church and whether it is marked for removal. This ability to discern will be given to us by the Spirit of God through our own fellowship, or our own mutual association, with the wisdom of God. 

        
It is this association with the wisdom of God that reveals whether our relationship with God is genuine. This relationship is not determined by accomplishment or ecstatic spiritual experiences, but depends on whether our heart is in harmony with the Word of God.

        
In this way even the new Christian who is just beginning to receive the wisdom of God can participate in true fellowship with other believers.

        
It is very possible that our association with the mystery of fellowship may not be clear to the reader yet. Remember we were warned that the wisdom God wants to reveal is "manifold" meaning complex. Therefore we may not be able to identify the specific connection fellowship has with the wisdom of God until all of the pieces of the puzzle come together.

        
While each piece of the Word of God is simple to understand, we need to assemble all of the pieces in order to be able to see the entire picture.

Mystery of Fellowship - The Foundation - Ch.3-Pt.2

(9) God is faithful,

by whom ye were called

unto the fellowship

of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

(10) Now I beseech you, brethren,

by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

that ye all speak the same thing,

and that there be no divisions among you;

but that ye be perfectly joined together

in the same mind and in the same judgment,

(11) For it hath been declared unto me

of you, my brethren,

by them which are of the house of Chloe,

that there are contentions among you.

-1 Corinthians 1:9-11

Paul is sounding the alarm. Something is seriously wrong in the Corinthian Church.    There are divisions and contentions among the members. He encourages them to come to an agreement.

        
Because Paul exhorts members of the Corinthian Church not to let divisions exist among them, should we presume like the world and so many churches today, that divisions are a bad thing?  Or should we conclude that divisions are a valuable means to alert us, when doctrinal error creeps into the body of believers, so doctrine can be corrected and genuine unity maintained?

(18) For first of all,

when ye come together in the church,

I hear that there be divisions among you;

and I partly believe it.

(19) For there must be

also heresies among you,

that they which are approved

may be made manifest among you.

-1 Corinthians 11:18-19

        
Paul is teaching that division in the church is God's means of separating truth from error so the true doctrines of Christ may become evident and plainly recognized. If it were not for the light of Truth, we would never realize that we are living in spiritual darkness.

        
(We will discover more regarding this in future chapters.)

(19) What say I then?

that the idol

is any thing,

or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols

is anything?

(20) But I say,

that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice,

they sacrifice to devils,

and not to God:

and I would not that ye should have

fellowship with devils.

(21) Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord,

and the cup of devils:

ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table,

and of the table of devils.

(22) Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?

are we stronger than he?

-1 Corinthians 10:19-22

        
When we do not follow God's specifics regarding our worship and service to Him, we become guilty of idolatry. It does not matter whether we are bowing down to a statue made with human hands or trying to establish our own will above God's will. Both are considered idolatry and bring us into fellowship, (association) with devils, whether we are aware of it or not.

        
Through the idolatry of our own good works we become partners in crime, with the devil and are assisting him in his destructive plans, instead of living in harmony with God's plan for abundant and eternal life.

        
Please note that I did not say "living in harmony with others." On the contrary, when we live in harmony with God's plan, He has told us that it is more likely that we will be out of harmony with others and suffering persecution as a result of it.

        
"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12)

(1) Paul and Timotheus,

the servants of Jesus Christ,

to all the saints in Christ Jesus

which are at Philippi,

with the bishops and deacons:

(2) Grace be unto you, and peace,

from God our Father,

and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

(3) I thank my God

upon every remembrance of you,

(4) Always in every prayer of mine for you all

making request with joy,

(5) For your fellowship

in the gospel

from the first day until now;

-Philippians 1:1-5

        
Paul and Timotheus are writing to the Church in Philippi and describing the foundation for true fellowship among believers. They are referring to this specific type of association as their "fellowship in the Gospel."

        
To discover what true fellowship is, it is also helpful to understand what it is not.

        
Is the "fellowship" in this verse a type of exclusive socialization established by the church and granted to members who profess to believe the Gospel and the church's specifically sanctioned doctrines, sacraments, and/or traditions?

        
Or is true fellowship not socialization at all, but a unique interaction established on something more important than a church or any religious group?

        
Could it be possible that true fellowship depends exclusively on the Gospel itself--the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

(4) 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

(18) And I say also unto thee,

That thou art Peter,

[Peter=#G4074=a stone=soul hard=unyielding]

and upon this rock

[#G4073=large solid rock,

Jesus Himself=firm strength of soul]

I will build my church;

and the gates of hell

shall not prevail against it.

-Matthew 16:18

        
There is a slight, yet very significant difference in the two types of rock mentioned in the above verses. The true Rock of our salvation is Jesus Christ. Then there is the smaller rock or stone that is Peter.

        
Peter is a tough, hard-headed fisherman, yet he would deny Christ three times by yielding to fear and peer pressure. Jesus knew this so in their initial meeting, He wanted Peter to know that He would not expect him to do something he was not equipped to do. The Church of Jesus Christ was not going to be built on the efforts of a mere man, but on the superior strength of Christ Himself, the Solid Rock.

        
The Church which is made up of the fellowship of true believers cannot have any other foundation but Christ. Therefore the real Church of Jesus Christ cannot be built with human hands or independent good works. Christ is the Creator and Leader of His Church which is His true Bride. She loves Jesus as her Husband and is committed to following Him and His specific will alone.

        
Because the true Church is based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ Himself, fellowship in the Word of God definitely involves much more than socialization. There is nothing wrong with socialization, but let us put socialization in its rightful place on our list of priorities. We would be more accurate if we brought back the phrase, "church social," than to mislabel social interaction in the church as "fellowship."

        
If you have ever attended church or are currently attending a church, think about what your church fellowship looks like.

        
Certainly when we get together with other Christians, we need to be concerned about what is happening in their lives. But does "How are you doing?" refer to wanting to know all about the sports activities the kids are involved in or what color you decided to paint your living room?

        
Or should the question really refer to how your life has been recently affected by the Word of God or how it relates to the Gospel of Jesus Christ today?

        
If someone actually desired to engage in this type of real fellowship, they might be required to get permission from church authorities before speaking on the topic of what  Christ is actually doing in their life today.

        
It may not be "pc" (politically correct) or in this case, "cc" (church correct) to freely fellowship in the Word of God without some sort of control through special training or a "discipleship program" provided by the church or denominational headquarters to insure that new members understand the boundaries of acceptable speech and conduct in their church.

        
While fellowship during a time set aside for socialization should be encouraged, a time set aside for fellowship should not turn into a social session. This was the real purpose of Paul's warning to the spiritually immature church at Corinth.

        
Most churches today do not have a clue regarding what true fellowship is. Unfortunately, the majority of church members associate fellowship with catching up on the latest news in the hallways of the church after the service, sitting around the fire pit in the back yard swapping stories, exchanging political views or sports scores, meeting for coffee, breakfast, lunch, or supper, attending church pot luck, musical events, remodeling projects, and quilt-making clubs.

        
Whew! There are only 24 hours in a day! Maybe it is time to take another look at our priorities. Or should I say, "the priorities God has really given us."

        
While the exchange of information, social interaction, and entertainment are all necessary functions among believers, these activities must be conducted as such and not deemed "fellowship." Fellowship has been designated by the Word of God to occupy an exclusive position and priority above socialization and entertainment.

        
What would happen if a true believer came into your church and attempted to actually fellowship "in the Word of God?"

If there be therefore

any consolation in Christ,

if any comfort of love,

if any fellowship of the Spirit,

if any bowels and mercies,

-Philippians 2:1

        
Genuine fellowship is a fellowship of the Spirit via the Word of God. This gives us a picture of the Spirit of Christ right in our midst as we interact with one another. When Christ and His Word are not present in the conversation, the conversation ceases to be true fellowship.

Fulfil ye my joy,

that ye be likeminded,

having the same love,

being of one accord,

of one mind.

-Philippians 2:2

        
When Christ and His Word are present in the conversation, believers will be in unity and harmony in their thinking. They will be communicating through the same type of love.  Perhaps this is referring to the first love lost. I did not say that fellowship is the first love lost, but that the type of love lost is the same type of love missing from true fellowship.

The point is, when the first love was lost, real fellowship was also lost.

I John, who also am your brother,

and companion in tribulation,

and in the kingdom

and patience of Jesus Christ,

was in the isle that is called Patmos,

for the word of God,

and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

-Revelation 1:9

        
John speaks of this fellowship also as "companionship in tribulation." True believers share something else in common. That is tribulation and their similar testimonies regarding their relationship with Christ. Tribulation (#G2347=pressure, oppression, and affliction) comes from the world, the flesh, and the devil. 

        
When we are members of the Kingdom, all true believers will suffer similar circumstances and tribulation because we are all holding fast to the same truths of the Kingdom.

        
Yes, when we remember what was lost, repent, and do the first works, we will also find true fellowship and genuine unity among believers.

Mystery of Fellowship - Submission - Ch.3-Pt.3

The Truth about. . .
Humility and Submission

(3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory;

but in lowliness of mind

let each esteem other better than themselves.

(4) Look not every man on his own things,

but every man also on the things of others.

-Philippians 2:3-4

The Mystery of God's Will spills over into the Mystery of Fellowship as we realize that our relationship with God and others is not about us. It is about God's will and our call to become great in the eyes of God (like David or Job) by serving as He specifically prescribes. "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." (Matthew 23:11-12)

(5) Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:

(6) Who, being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery

to be equal with God:

(7) But made himself of no reputation,

and took upon him the form of a servant,

and was made in the likeness of men:

(8) And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

-Philippians 2:5-9

Yes, this is a fellowship of service based on the specific will of God.

How did Christ humble Himself?

Did He dress in rags, put on a sad face, and go everywhere saying, "I am nothing, I am nothing?"

Did He become every man's slave?

        
No, He never stopped bolding proclaiming that He was the Creator of the Universe and very Son of the living God. He was not bragging, but stating a fact. He neither hid nor apologized for His calling or His gifts.

        
His humility was not about making Himself acceptable to the people so they would like Him and what He had to say, decide to "get saved," buy His Book, and join His Church. It was a genuine response of obedience to the specific will of God and His willingness to give His life for those the Father had already called before the foundation of the earth. (Ephesians 1:3-5)--as God specified in and through His Word.

        
His humility was not a passive superficial act, but a result of genuinely yielding his will to the specifics of the Father's (not anyone else's) will. When Peter rebuked Jesus in Matthew 16, telling Him that He shouldn't talk about dying, Jesus said to him, "Get behind me Satan." Jesus knew the specific will of God. It was written in His Holy Word.

        
In the garden the night before He died, it was from His humanity that He prayed that the cup would pass from Him. He was really asking the Father if death on the cross was the only way mankind could be redeemed. Wasn't there any other option, any other solution God could come up with?

        
He already knew the answer to this question. But as He prayed alone that night, He was engaged in the process of preparing the human side of His nature for the excruciating physical, mental, and emotional pain associated with the unimaginable burden He was about to endure on the cross as He assumed upon Himself the wretched filth and sin of those the Father was calling out of the world.

        
No, there was not any other way to pay the penalty for our sin. The specifics of God's will were prescribed and prophesied from the beginning. Only the blood of the sinless Son of God had the power to wash away the sins of those the Father was drawing to Himself.

        
So Jesus yielded His will to the Father's will, humbling Himself and becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

        
How does God want us to humble ourselves then?

        
While we are told by the Scriptures to "submit ourselves one to the other," we are also told to only "humble ourselves before God."

        
The word, "humble" also is used in the Scriptures to describe the physical condition of the poor and afflicted. But in the spiritual application, we are to humble ourselves only before God.

        
On the other hand, when the word, "humble," is used in the context of being humbled by someone other than God, it is always referring to a person sinning against us by demanding something that they are not entitled to. For example, rape or any other means of demanding or forcing someone to yield to someone else's control, is a biblical example of sinful humbling. Love does not demand one person to humble himself before another person. This is idolatry.

(8) But be not ye called Rabbi:

for one is your Master, even Christ;

and all ye are brethren.

(9) And call no man your father upon the earth:

for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

(10) Neither be ye called masters:

for one is your Master, even Christ.

(11) But he that is greatest among you

shall be your servant.

(12) And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased;

and he that shall humble himself

[before God only]

shall be exalted.

-Matthew 23:8-12

Therefore, we are to humble ourselves before God only and do His will as opposed to humbling ourselves before others so as not to offend them by going against their will. God warns us to be careful not to come under peer pressure, elevate anyone else to the position of spiritual authority, or humble ourselves before them desiring to do their will, instead of being careful to only obey God's will.

        
Serving others does not involve blindly becoming their slave and fulfilling their every wish. The specifics regarding how we are to serve others does not come from a church, a denomination, a governmental dictatorship, our husband, or any other hierarchy. It must come from God alone.

        
In marriage a husband is to lead--that means that he is to be the first to take the responsibility regarding discovering God's will for the family and attending to the needs of the family, not demanding and dragging his wife into something she does not believe is God's will. They must work together as fellow believers, seeking God's will from the Scriptures until they find unity in their decisions. Real love yields to God's will first and allows others to do the same.
        
False doctrine and wrong interpretations of the picture of marriage God gives us regarding Christ and His Bride, have brought confusion into many churches today.
        
Therefore, we need to go back to the Bible and examine Christ's attitude and behavior toward His Church--His Bride. Is this what we are getting from the pulpit? Is this what we are really seeing in Christian marriages today?

        
Those who abuse their position, ultimately lose their position.

        
Serving in one particular manner at one specific time, may not be necessary at another time. The details and timing concerning our service must always come from God. Often serving will take the form of sharing the Word of God. If we humble ourselves before God, we are going to respectfully, while sometimes even boldly, stand on the truth of the Word of  God when challenged by false doctrine. Standing boldly for what is right takes humility before God.

        
Do not let the devil's agents accuse you of lacking humility because you boldly stand on the truth of God's Word. It is their desire that you humble yourself before them so they can ensnare you and control you themselves. They are the ones who really lack humility before God and are not serving anyone but themselves and the devil.

        
On the other hand, "submitting" refers to "obeying." When children are told to submit to parents, or spouses and believers are told to "submit one to the other," they are being told also to obey one another--but always "in the Lord." This means that neither children, spouses, nor believers are to submit to nor obey commands that are not "in the Lord," or are not in agreement with God and His Word.

Mystery of Fellowship - True Fellowship - Ch.3-Pt.4

(1) That which was from the beginning,

which we have heard,

which we have seen with our eyes,

which we have looked upon,

and our hands have handled,

of the Word of life;

(2) For the life was manifested,

and we have seen it,

and bear witness, and shew unto you

that eternal life,

which was with the Father,

and was manifested unto us;)

(3) That which we have seen and heard

declare we unto you,

that ye also may have fellowship with us:

and truly our fellowship is with the Father,

and with his Son Jesus Christ.

-1 John 1:1-3

  

John is declaring the reality of the life of Christ, which the Apostles observed with their own eyes, heard with their own ears, and touched with their own hands.  John is providing evidence that Jesus is the living Word in the flesh. 

       
It was God's intention from the beginning that true believers should experience the same type of fellowship, one with another, as they have with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.  This is fellowship that is based on the truth and preeminence of God's Word.

(5) This then is the message

which we have heard of him,

and declare unto you,

that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

(6) If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie, and do not the truth;

(7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

-1 John 1:5-7

Many profess to have fellowship with Christ.  But do they?

       
The determining factor is whether we are walking in darkness or in the light--according to the Word or in harmony with the world, which is the enemy of Christ.

       
If one is a true believer in Christ, he will not only be walking in the light and having fellowship with other true believers, but the blood of Christ will be cleansing him from all sin.

       
It is important to be walking in the light then.  What does "walking in the light" and having "fellowship one with another" really mean?

       
We will have the answer to this question when we finally discover the Mystery of the First Love Lost.



Mystery of the Kingdom of God - Preeminence - Ch.4-Pt.1

(10) And when he was alone,

they that were about him with the twelve

asked of him the parable.

(11) And he said unto them,

Unto you it is given to know

the mystery

of the kingdom of God:

but unto them that are without,

all these things are done in parables:

(12) That seeing they may see,

and not perceive;

and hearing they may hear,

and not understand;

lest at any time

they should be converted,

and their sins should be forgiven them.

-Mark 4:10-12

A parable is a verbal picture.  But Jesus told His disciples that the parable of the Mystery of the Kingdom of God was more than just an illustration.  It was a secret that had been hidden by God from those who would reject Christ.

       
Like the Mystery of the First Love Lost, the Mystery of the Kingdom will not be discovered by everyone.

       
Should the mystery of the Kingdom be this exclusive?

       
Is it unfair of God to be selectively hiding this valuable information from some people and revealing it to others?

       
No, not when He knows all things and already knows that those it has been hidden from, really do not want to know and will not value the mystery anyway.

       
Anyone who really, with their whole heart, wants to experience the mystery of the Kingdom of God and values it--will discover it.

(25) Then king Darius

wrote unto all people, nations, and languages,

that dwell in all the earth;

Peace be multiplied unto you.

(26) I make a decree,

That in every dominion of my kingdom

men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel:

for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever,

and his kingdom,

that which shall not be destroyed,

and his dominion

shall be even unto the end.

(27) He delivereth and rescueth,

and he worketh signs and wonders

in heaven and in earth,

who hath delivered Daniel

from the power of the lions.

-Daniel 6:25-27

King Darius was a wise ruler.  He understood the preeminence of Daniel's God.  This regal authority witnessed how God had delivered Daniel from the power of the lions; rescued him, working signs and wonders. 

       
The king understood the importance of honoring this omnipotent power and submitting to it.  

He realized that God's preeminence exemplified and qualified God's position as Universal King, that His Kingdom was indestructible and therefore eternal.

(8) But unto the Son he saith,

Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever:

a sceptre

[#G4474 = staff - symbol of authority]

of righteousness

is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

(9) Thou hast loved righteousness,

and hated iniquity;

therefore God, even thy God,

hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness

above thy fellows.

-Hebrews 1:8-9

It is God's love of righteousness (doing what is right) and hatred for evil (iniquity) that has established His preeminence and right to rule.  In addition to His qualification to rule by right of Creator, He is also the only perfectly good God that exists.  It is God's ownership and His goodness that establishes His position of authority; and according to His universal laws, set forth in His Word.  

These laws guarantee that in the great battle that currently exists between good and evil--good will ultimately and most definitely win.

(31) Therefore take no thought,

saying, What shall we eat?

or, What shall we drink?

or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:)

for your heavenly Father

knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

(33) But seek ye first

the kingdom of God

and his righteousness;

and all these things

[things mentioned above]

shall be added unto you.

-Matthew 6:31-33

Just as God is preeminent, His Kingdom should also be preeminent in our lives.  The sooner we begin living the reality that this worldly system is not our home, the better off we will be.

       
When the Kingdom of God and the first love lost become our priority, everything we need will be provided. . . and everything else in our life will fall into place.

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Mystery of the Kingdom of God - Invisible - Ch.4-Pt.2

(20) And when he was demanded of the Pharisees,

when the kingdom of God should come,

he answered them and said,

The kingdom of God

cometh not with observation:

(21) Neither shall they say,

Lo here! or, lo there!

for, behold,

the kingdom of God

is within you

(22) And he said unto the disciples,

The days will come,

when ye shall desire to see

one of the days of the Son of man,

and ye shall not see it.

(23) And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there:

go not after them, nor follow them.

-Luke 17:20-23

Obviously the Pharisees did not understand the nature of the Kingdom of God.  They were looking for another physical worldly kingdom.  Jesus told them that the Kingdom of God could not be seen with human eyes.  The Kingdom of God is something that resides within a person; therefore we should not go looking for it elsewhere.

(27) And this word,

Yet once more, signifieth

the removing of those things that are shaken,

as of things that are made,

[with human hands]

that those things which cannot be shaken

[things established by God]

may remain

(28) Wherefore we receiving a kingdom

which cannot be moved,

let us have grace, whereby we may serve God

acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

(29) For our God is a consuming fire.

-Hebrews 12:27-29

There are things which are made with human hands--things that we can see.  These are the things that will pass away.  There are also things that are established by God--things that cannot be seen--the invisible things.  These are things that will last forever.

(1) There was a man of the Pharisees,

named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

(2) The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him,

Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God:

for no man can do these miracles that thou doest,

except God be with him.

(3) Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

(4) Nicodemus saith unto him,

How can a man be born when he is old?

can he enter the second time

into his mother's womb, and be born?

(5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water

and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

(6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh;

[a first physical birth propelled by water/amnionic fluid]

and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

[a second spiritual birth propelled by the power of the Spirit of God]

(7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again,

(8) The wind bloweth where it listeth,

and thou hearest the sound thereof,

but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth:

so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

(9) Nicodemus answered and said unto him,

How can these things be?

(10) Jesus answered and said unto him,

Art thou a master of Israel,

and knowest not these things?

(11) Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen;

and ye receive not our witness.

(12) If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not,

how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

-John 3:1-12

Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews, a Pharisee, yet God had given him the rare ability to recognize that Jesus was a teacher that had come from God.

       
Jesus uses Nicodemus' discerning comment as an opportunity to help him understand the Kingdom of God, describing it as an invisible Kingdom.  Unless a person is born again, Jesus tells him, a person cannot see this Kingdom.

       
Nicodemus wonders what Jesus means by being "born again."  He is thinking in physical terms and the impossibility of returning to the womb.  Jesus corrects Nicodemus' concept and encourages him to approach this invisible reality from a spiritual perspective.

      
He tells Nicodemus that being born again is the result of the Spirit of God moving in a person's life, just as the wind moves across the earth.  We cannot, with our earthly eyes, see the Spirit of God moving, but we can see evidence that the Spirit is moving.

      
As an important religious authority, Nicodemus should not have been ignorant of this significant concept regarding our relationship with God.  Jesus warns Nicodemus that if he does not understand this illustration of the wind moving in the earthly realm, how is he ever going to understand how the Spirit of God moves in the spiritual realm; since what transpires in the physical dimension is actually an illustration of what takes place in the spiritual dimension?

(17) For the kingdom of God

is not

meat and drink;

but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

(18) For he that in these things

serveth Christ

is acceptable to God,

and approved of men.

-Romans 14:17-18

The Kingdom of God is not a physical kingdom where people physically consume meat and drink, but a spiritual kingdom where righteousness, peace, and joy through the Spirit of God are manifested.

Through these spiritual means we serve Christ, are accepted by God, and approved [from Greek #1380--accepted as genuine] of men.

       
Being "approved of men" does not always mean that we will find favor with men and not suffer persecution.  On the contrary, God's Word tells us that if we live Godly, we will surely suffer persecution.  Man's approval in this case refers to how some men evaluate our relationship with God.

       
When we have true righteousness, peace, and joy, it may be evident to those around us that our relationship with God is real, therefore some may love us while others may hate us because the genuineness of our relationship with God verifies that He exists and if a righteous God does exist, everyone who comes in contact with us is forced to face their own state of sinfulness.

       
This is why worldlings are so dedicated to removing Christians and every remembrance of God from the face of the earth.  They want the freedom to sin without feeling uncomfortable about it.

(19) But I will come to you shortly,

if the Lord will,

and will know, not the speech

of them which are puffed up,

but the power.

(20) For the kingdom of God

is not in word,

but in power.

(21) What will ye?

shall I come unto you with a rod,

or in love,

and in the spirit of meekness?

-1 Corinthians 4:19-21

Paul is getting ready to reprove the Corinthian Church and is warning them that they cannot talk their way out of their sin.  The Kingdom of God embodies the power of God.  He asks them, "Which is it going to be?  Shall I come with a rod of correction or in love and meekness?"

       
The heady and high-minded in the church think that they can use their verbal gymnastics to stand against Paul and the power of the Kingdom of God, but Paul is ready to use the "rod of correction," if he must, unless they change their attitude.

       
Usually the "rod of correction" refers to some type of physical discipline or spanking a rebellious child.  Paul is not referring to physical correction, but to a very strong presentation of the Word which is "sharper than any two-edged sword."

(12) For the word of God

is quick, and powerful, and sharper

than any twoedged sword.

piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow;

and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

-Hebrews 4:12

This sort of correction can be a very painful experience, especially for the rebellious.  Those who love the darkness rather than the light and work hard to hide their sin, instead of dealing with it, may retaliate against the truth and falsely accuse those who attempt to help them separate from their sin and may even call them "hateful," "rude," or "unloving."

       
Isn't this what transpired at the crucifixion of Christ?  

       
When we encounter this retaliation, God instructs us to withdraw from such people because their response reveals that they are scorners and do not have the capacity to receive the Word of God.  (See Proverbs, Chapter 9 and 13.)

       
When the first love was lost, mankind also lost the power of God.

       
But the power of the Kingdom of God will be experienced again, when the Mystery of the First Love Lost is finally solved.

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