INVISIBLE THINGS CLEARLY SEEN
Romans 1:16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Romans 1:19 ¶ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
The Invisible Essence of Eternal Glory has always determined to manifest Himself both to, and by his creation. In his nineteenth psalm the ancient Psalmist reveals that He has done so through both His World Book, in its first six verses, and through His Word Book in the remainder of this psalm.
Even the rains are but a gospel witness, revealing the goodness of the person of God. Acts 14:17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. And the affect of the rain upon the earth reveals the effect of the gospel upon human souls. Hebrews 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. 9 ¶ But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
The Lord Jesus plainly instructs us that worship is not to be regarded as far as location, but only as regards the condition of the heart. For since God is spirit, those true worshippers are only those who worship him in spirit! Therefore it is no longer location of the gatherers, but the condition of their spirits! John 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
He strongly warned his disciples that there would never be another day of his being physically seen at any location. But it would be as by lightening flashes of spiritual revelation. Therefore we are to worship him by faith, and in our spiritual man. For the true gathering together of the spiritual believers would be as wherever individual souls were hungering and thirsting after righteous; where there is the spiritual feasting from his flesh and blood! Matthew 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
Those who see the day approaching do not forsake the assembling themselves together as they individually gather around the Heavenly Bread, drawing spiritual nourishment from the Being of Christ Himself! For this is the whole reason for the ordinance of the Lord’s supper! It is to show through the physical that which we constantly do in the spiritual! Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
1 Corinthians 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
Only those who have been given the gift of faith have the ability to see these things, not as religious practice, but as spiritual life. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Therefore we are commanded to see things through our spiritual eyes of faith. 2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. And those who do not are severely warned of the wrath of God! Psalm 28:5 Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.
But we have now so come to the reduction and acceptance of the church as an organization and not an organism, that we are completely satisfied upon leaving our ‘worship service’ fully content not to contemplate or meditate upon the spiritual Being of God throughout the oncoming week! We are so much like the society in which Noah dwelt. For it is written that they “knew not till the flood came and took them all away.” And as those in the days of Lot, who regarding his warning of immediate danger, “seemed as one that mocked.”
Our churches are filled with baptized professors who faithfully practice the traditions of religion, but have no knowledge of the spiritual meaning of the things they profess! Ezekiel 33:30 ¶ Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD. 31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. 32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. 33 And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. “Sad, sad that bitter wail, Almost, but lost!”
But there is a marvelous example of one only having the “World Book,” yet coming to know the Invisible God most directly. John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Those are the words of the very “express image of his person,” the Lord Jesus Christ. But Abraham had no Bible! He had no written record book, as Moses, who wrote the first five books of the bible, was yet to come on the scene! So what was his “bible?”
Abraham “saw” the day of the Lord Jesus as he took Isaac up upon Mount Moriah, which is the same Mount Calvary in the New Testament, (see 2 Chronicles 3:1), upon which God the Father would go with God the Son to offer himself the final and complete sacrifice for the sins of all God’s people. There is where the Lord God opened the heavens to declare the glory of God to Abraham. His ‘bible,’ in acting out the very sacrifice of the father on the exact same mount as would transpire with God the Father, was the stars of the sky and the sands of the sea! Genesis 22:15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
And we have the exact same stars in our sky and the exact same sands on our seas as did Abraham. And God has been so merciful as to add to us the written word in our completed Bibles! John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. And yet, the masses of religious practicers still do not know the true and living God! Therefore the visible things in creation shall render them “without excuse!” “…even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20)
And those who had far less revelation, yet came to know the true and living God shall rise up in judgment against this gospel-hardened generation in our day. Luke 11:31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
And that is why God has given this generation up to the vilest of debauchery! Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Be careful, dear Reader, that when you look at the majesty of the star-lit sky, or see the vastness of the mighty oceans, held back by mere sand, you do not fail to read Abrahams ‘bible!’ Humble your hearts and minds as you are given to read of God’s World Book. Join in with father Abraham in humble submission as a realized sinner, crying out to the Lamb for cleansing. Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand:
Pastor Gene Breed
May 25, 2022
