God's Two Greatest Mysteries
Chapter 2

In the first chapters of I Samuel, Eli, the prophet, was going blind and Hanna was barren. Until Samuel, the blessed redeemer, came on the scene and brought a nation back to God. Here in Luke 13:10 we have a woman who is bound and a ruler who is blind. Who has blinded this ruler? II Cor. 4:4 says,

"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

Jesus said that Satan had bound this woman for eighteen years even though she was a daughter of Abraham. In no way am I saying that Christians can be demon possessed, but I am showing you that because of a blind ruler who thought only in the natural principles of the Sabbath Day we find a bound woman. She is not only bound but bent over and can only see the natural realm of her own circumstances.

Even though, in the Church world today, Jesus is the glory and the lifter of our head but we are not looking to Jesus. We are looking unto man and their programs and their charisma and their wisdom. We are looking for a Church who will cater to our desires and whims. Some would say, "But brother Johnson, I am ready to meet the Lord!" Jesus said in Rev. 3:17,

"You say, 'I am rich. I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."

To be filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking with other tongues is only the beginning. You are only a babe. Paul said in Hebrews 6:1-3;

"Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so."

If you want to see how mature the Church is today just listen to what She is saying. Most churches today spend all of their time talking about the fundamental principles of Christ and never teach on the eternal purpose of God which will bring us to maturity. Most of the Church is talking about getting out of the battle instead about being overcomers. As a result, the Church is not maturing.

As long as the majority of the Church is caught up in an escapism mentality She is unaware of Her real condition and can not lift Herself up. God said in Hosea 4:6,

"My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests...."

The wise man Solomon said in Prov. 4:7-9;

"Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor."

And again in Prov. 18:15;

"The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out."

If the Church can not lift Herself up, how will She ever be able to lift anyone else up?

Jesus saw this woman in her condition on the Sabbath Day and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmities." In the dawning of the Seventh Day there is coming a ministry that is going to set the Church loose from Her boundness and straighten Her out.

I will be very bold to declare to you that you have the blessed privilege to be part of such a ministry but with this privilege there comes a tremendous accountability and responsibility. In Luke 12:48 Jesus said,

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

Nothing has weakened the Church more than the traditions of men which, because of a lack of responsibility and accountability, take the truths of God and regulate them either to the past or to the future. This is because the traditions of men are based on the reasoning’s of the carnal mind and the carnal mind will always insist that the natural Jew is God's chosen people, even in the light of Romans 2:28-29 which says,

"A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code."

In Galatians 3:29 Paul said, "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." And still there are many bible scholars that will tell you that there are two seeds, a natural seed and a spiritual seed. In spite of the fact that Paul said in Galatians 3:29, The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his SEED. There is only one seed of Abraham, Jesus Christ. If you are in Jesus Christ, then you are Abraham's seed because Jesus is Abraham's seed. And if you are not in Christ Jesus, you are not Abraham's seed.

Any Jew, today, that is not in Christ Jesus, is not an heir according to the promise, because the promise is to Abraham's seed. Not seeds!! If you want to bless God's Israel today, then you had better bless the Church and not the natural nation of Israel.

As long as people do not know what they have and who they are in Jesus Christ, they are in a bound position and cannot see. As long as the Church is ruled by the carnal mind and as long as She subjects Herself to carnal rulers, She will always have a spirit of infirmity. She will remain bowed and unable to straighten Herself out.

As a result, Satan is having a hay day with carnal minded leadership in the Church. As long as Satan can use carnal minded leadership to govern and feed the Church, he can prevent Her from maturing and taking Her rightful position of authority over him. He is greatly aided by a Church, on the whole, that allows their thinking and mind set to be controlled by the carnal mind.

If you ever open your heart to the Spirit of the One who wrote the Word and allow Him to illuminate your mind and understanding, you will discover that many of the teachings of the hour, which are so popular and prevalent, are in direct opposition to the scriptures. Every teaching that comes from the carnal mind is always in direct opposition and an adversary to the mind of Christ.

(Continue to Chapter 3)