Series: The Mystery; An Administration Suitable
Sun am 24 June 2018 – Kobus Swart
Dan. 2:37-44; Gen. 1:28; (Matt. 16:18); (Matt. 24:37); Matt. 21:42-44; 1 Pet. 2:9; Eph. 4:11, 23; Eph. 3:2-9; Eph. 2:20; Eph. 1:10; Col. 3:1-4 (Passion & Message); (John 7:1-15); Acts. 3:21; Rom. 8:28-29 (Message)
You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the [a]kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory; and wherever the sons of men dwell, or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into your hand and has caused you to rule over them all. You are the head of gold (Dan. 2:37-38). If you compare that with Gen. 1:28, God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth” Quite a similarity there!
The stone which was cut out of the mountain without hands was Jesus, who was born not of seed of man, but by the Holy Spirit. The stone hit the big image at its feet of iron and clay and crushed it and it became dust. The stone that struck the statue became a great mountain, or a large rock (Matt. 16:18), which eventually filled the whole earth. We are talking about Christ in us, the hope of glory. We are talking about the Church into whose hands are given the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 16:19). When the stone crushed the image, even the head of gold became dust and was blown away. God has had enough of the kingdom of man. It is the kingdom of God that will fill the earth, not the kingdoms of man. In the days of Noah, God looked at the earth and God said, “I’ve had enough” (Matt. 24:37). Then he found Noah whose testimony was that he had a walk with God, and eight people were saved, eight being a sign of new beginnings. The rest of humanity was wiped away. The kingdom of God and Christ within us must fill the earth.
God is looking for those who can be administrators of the mystery. The stone which the builders rejected became the cornerstone. Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust (Matt. 21:43-44). It was taken away because there was no fruit. It will be given to a nation, not any nation, a nation called ‘the holy nation’ (1 Pet. 2:9). The holy nation is a people put together from all the nations of the earth who are born again. He is going to give the keys of the kingdom to the Church built on the large rock.
Stewards, builders, administrators – The stone that was rejected by the stewards, the administrators, became the chief cornerstone. Jesus was talking to the Jewish nation who had the first opportunity to accept and recognize who Jesus was. They did not, so He said He would take it away from them and give it to a nation, a holy nation, who would bring forth the fruit of the kingdom. Here is the warning signal: God is looking for an administration suitable. This administration is not for people with titles. The Church is built on the foundation of apostles and prophets with Jesus the chief corner Stone (Eph. 2:20). God is looking for faithful stewards, stewards of His grace and of the mystery of Christ (Eph. 3:2-9). Paul was fully aware of his calling. Whether God called you to be an apostle, prophet, evangelist or teacher, God is looking for stewards, administrators of this mystery. Jesus walked in all 5 graces mentioned in Eph. 4:11. But He referred mostly to the being the good shepherd. The ministry that is lacking in this apostolic season is the ministry of a faithful shepherd. We want to represent the good Shepherd as well.
This administration of the mystery is unveiled. To reveal is to unveil, to show what is. This mystery is revealed, has been revealed through the apostle Paul and the early New Testament Church walked in it. God is busy restoring a New Testament Church who will have administrators (Eph. 1:10).
Christ’s resurrection is our resurrection (Col. 3:1-4-Passion & Message versions). Some still wait to be resurrected. The challenge we have as Christians is to live the resurrection. Our biggest problem is the mind. We must set our mind on things above. Jesus is sitting with all authority and power given to Him by the Father in another dimension called the spirit realm, which is among us here. One if these days God is going to open our eyes to see what is happening. Whatever happens in your life, look beyond the physical, look for the hand of God. That is where reality is. Fill your thoughts with heavenly realities. Feast on the treasures of the heavenly realm. Your life is hidden away with God in Christ. When Christ is revealed, you will be revealed with Him. And as Christ himself is seen for who he really is, who you really are will also be revealed (vs. 4). Look beyond the natural. Our mind keeps us hostage. We let a depressed mind define who we are. We need each other. When we pray for each other, let us pray from the point of resurrection life instead of the point of being defeated. See things from His perspective.
Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ (Col. 3:4- Message). When Jesus was invited by the disciples to go with them to the Feast of Tabernacles, He said His time had not yet come. Jesus then went but in secret. In the middle of the Feast He went into the Temple and began to teach, and the people were awestruck (John 7:1-15). Jesus is looking for a corporate temple through which to sound His voice, like the sound of many waters to fill the earth, but He is waiting to find such a temple, the corporate Body of Christ.
We believe in the unfolding of the fulfilment of the Feast of Tabernacles. When Jesus was born He came and tabernacled with man. He was the beginning of the fulfilment of the Feast of Tabernacles which has been unfolding through the last two thousand years. Even in our corporate worship, we must have a hungry heart, reaching out to God, engaging the Spirit of God. The Feast of Tabernacles is unfolding and reaching its final stage.
For the time being, he must remain out of sight in heaven until everything is restored (Acts 3:21 – Message). Where is Jesus? He is right here, but He is invisible. The Christ in us is the hope of the world. Not Christ in me, but Christ in us, the corporate.