As the Church – the ‘ekklēsia’ it does not fail to happen that we enter periods of time when we feel that the presence of Christ is not present. This feeling, however, is only an indication that the LORD has gone to a higher place of power with His presence because it is the will of the Heavenly Father that we stand in a greater dimension of His power, authority and governmental rule as saints (cf. Luke 22:69 i.c.w. Colossians 3:1).
Luke 22:69:
“… 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”
“… 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”
Colossians 3:1:
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Furthermore, it is in the interest of the Father and the Son that we come to rest with our inner man in the realm of the spiritual dwelling place of the Father established by Christ Jesus and that we act out of this rest (cf. John 14:2-3 i.c.w. Hebrews 4:1.3a).
John 14:2-3:
2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Hebrews 4:1.3a:
1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. …
3a Now we who have believed enter that rest, …
1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. …
3a Now we who have believed enter that rest, …
This dwelling place involves being enfolded in the Fatherhood and Sonship of God in Christ Jesus in order to stand in the triune presence of God’s light expressed through the Father, the Son, and His people who have set out to stand in the presence of God (cf. John 17:20-21 i.c.w. Isaiah 60:1).
John 17:20-21:
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. …”
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. …”
Isaiah 60:1:
1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. …”
1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. …”
This light carries the revelatory truth of God’s Word expressed through His Fatherhood and Sonship and through the ‘ekklēsia’. Moreover, this light works victoriously in the church against the pulling forces of the adversary (cf. Psalm 119:105).
Psalm 119:105:
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Ecclesiastes 4:12:
12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
The Entering into the Revelatory Truth and the Message of the Women
This going forth into the increase of God’s light can be compared to the decision of the women who, after the death of Christ, went to His tomb with the fragrant oils. They were in a certain kind of spiritual ‘emptiness’ because they ‘lost’ Jesus through the crucifixion and set out with their measure of ‘anointing’.
Even though they expected to find Jesus’ body in the tomb to anoint Him, they entered the realm of the truth of God’s Word for that time and were taught therein the truth about the resurrection in Christ by the wisdom and knowledge that is in Christ in the form of the two men who appeared to them (cf. Luke 24:1-8 i.c.w. Colossians 2:2-3).
Luke 24:1-8:
1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.
2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.
5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?
6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”
8 Then they remembered his words.
1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.
2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.
5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?
6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”
8 Then they remembered his words.
Colossians 2:2-3:
2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
These two angels and the women, who in this context can be called the ‘ekklēsia’ established the presence of the triune light of Isaiah 60:1. As a result, they communicated the Word of God in a new way and thus brought light into the darkness in the form of unbelief and doubt.
Hereby it was not left out that also the apostles had to step into a new level of faith through the proclamation of the good news of the women, in order to set out in faith into the revelatory truth (cf. John 17:20 i.c.w. Romans 10:17).
John 17:20:
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, …”
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, …”
Romans 10:17:
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
The message of the women at first seemed like babble to the apostles, but ultimately they responded to the revelatory light of God’s Word that came to them through the women, so that Peter and John set out for the tomb to know the truth that brought them into greater freedom (cf. Luke 24:9-11 i.c.w. John 8:31-32).
Luke 24:9-11:
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.
10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.
11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.
10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.
11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
John 8:31-32:
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
After the women delivered the revelatory truth of Jesus’ victory over sin, death and the devil, the men also entered into the power of the revelatory truth represented by the disciples or apostles. This resulted in the increase of light or revelatory knowledge kindled by more of the disciples’ testimonies. This finally reached its climax when Jesus Christ Himself entered into their midst. His coming secured the already established revelatory truth with its associated experiences.
This clearly reveals that our spiritual desire for more of Christ must never end, because it is the spiritual impetus to seek the truth in Christ Jesus in the respective times in order to step onto a higher level of revelatory truth and to assist that people set out on their own to find the knowledge of truth that results in true liberty in Christ (cf. Matthew 7:7 i.c.w. John 8:31-32).
Matthew 7:7:
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. …”
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. …”
John 8:31-32:
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
