The Forgotten Son! Part 5

Good day. Today we are posting the 5th newsletter in the series The Forgotten Son; there was originally 7 parts to this series but over time Part 4 went missing. We pray that you will allow the Lord to fill in the missing part in your hearts as He ministers unto you as you partake of these newsletters. The Forgotten Son newsletters were written in 1996 by our dear brother, fellow steward and ambassador of the mystery of Christ, Larry Gazelka. Our prayer is that you will be blessed and encouraged by this newsletter series. Have a very blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. ***You can download a copy of the writings for personal use only by clicking on the Built Anew Ministries Archive page link above and scroll down to the year 1996.

The Forgotten Son!       Vol.18 No.30
Part V
  
Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (KJV)
 
Every “knee”, (that is the flesh), shall bow at the name of Jesus of Nazareth, and all that He accomplished in the flesh, by the Spirit of Christ.
 
Every tongue, (out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks), will confess and proclaim, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
 
We read what the scriptures say, but we do not hear what they are saying! We are to caught up in the traditions and doctrines of men, instead of hearing what the Word of God has to tell us.
 
For some reason, we are more concerned with what man is preaching and telling us, rather then allowing the Spirit of truth to lead us and guide us in all truth. We seem to have forgotten that we are to be studying for Father’s approval.
 
Galatians 1:6-12 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8       But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (KJV)
 
Paul is quite explicit to tell us that he marvels that we are so soon removed from Him that called us. That call that made available to us the grace of Jesus Christ, to each and every person on this earth. They have allowed in words, that have removed them from the gospel of Christ. They have allowed a perversion of The Gospel!
 
What would another gospel be?
 
It does not matter who or what they are; if they do not preach that Christ is the power of God to everyone that believes, let them be accursed!
 
331 anathema- accursed; a thing devoted to God without hope of being redeemed, and if an animal, to be slain; therefore, a person or thing doomed to destruction a) a curse b) a man accursed, devoted to the direst of woes.
 
Paul goes on to explain to us, that if he was a person pleaser, he would tickle their ears with what they would like to hear, instead of what they needed to hear. Paul did not seek the favor or approval of man. He had already tried the traditions and doctrines of men and knew that they did not work. (Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the unadulterated Word of God).
 
If you follow after man and his doctrines, you cannot be a servant of Christ!
 
Paul, after his encounter with Jesus Christ, sought out the will of Father. He did not want to hear man’s opinions and ideas, for he had listened to those all of his life, up until this point. He did not chase after the Apostles either! Paul went straight to the source! In doing so, it was revealed to him, by the Holy Spirit.
 
We see so many people, that can quote what someone else has to say about the Word of God, but do not know the Word of God for themselves.
 
Amos 8:11-13 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. 13 In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst. (KJV)
 
How many of you, run from meeting to meeting, and church to church, seeking what man can tell you? How easy is it to just turn to Father and His Word? We are so busy running to and fro, looking for the Word of God, and yet it is right in front of us in the Bible.
 
From sea to sea! How much growth in a garden, will sea water bring about?
 
The Word tells us that there is a famine in the land. Why?
 
The Spirit of truth will lead us and guide us in all truth!
 
Galatians 1:13-20 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. 20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. (KJV)
 
When the Son of God was revealed to Paul, he sought wisdom and understanding from Father. It would have been real easy for him to run here, and to run there, hearing what everyone else had to say. But Paul sought out the truth. (Thank God for that!) For three years he roamed through Arabia and finally to Damascus, hearing Father’s instructions. After this, Paul proceeded to carry out his calling. (I praise God through Jesus Christ for his obedience.)
 
Matthew 16:15-20 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (1 Corinthians 10:4) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. (KJV)
 
Upon this Rock, the revelation of Christ, Paul established the truth in his life.
 
2 Timothy 4:16-17 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: (KJV)
 
Not everyone wanted to hear the insights that Paul had received from the Father. If you will look closely, you will see, that at the very first, there were not any that stood with Paul. They wanted nothing to do with him.
 
2 Peter 3:15-16 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (KJV)
 
If we look at those of the gospel as mere men, how can we ever hear what Father wants to say to us. Paul was sure of the Word that the Spirit of Christ had revealed to him. He knew what it said, and no man could take that away from him.
 
Upon this Rock, the revelation of Christ, Paul established the truth in his life. And because of Paul’s obedience and faithfulness, we are now able to be partakers of the Kingdom of God.
 
 
That you may know Him
In the service of Jesus Christ
Larry Gazelka
 
 
Matt 16:19, And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (KJV)
 
Next week: The Keys of the Kingdom   Part 6