Messianic Perspectives

Liz Aiello: Shalom, and welcome to Messianic Perspectives, a daily program where we look into the scriptures from a distinct first-century Jewish point of view. This is Liz Aiello. Some of God's mysteries are meant to be understood, and others are not. In this series of messages, our Bible teacher, Pastor Al Runge, discusses the mysteries of the kingdom of God. I'll be back a little later with information about a special offer. So have your pencil and paper ready. And now, with today's message, here's Pastor Al Runge.

Al Runge: Thank you for tuning in. I'm speaking on a series of radio messages about the mysteries of the kingdom of God. In my first message, I spoke on the mystery of Israel and pointed out that God has not forsaken his people, evident by the fact that there are still Jews who are believers. Look with me at Romans 11, verse 1: "I say then, hath God cast away his people? God forbid," Paul said. "For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, and of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away his people, which he foreknew."

In my second message, I spoke on two mysteries of the church: that God is glorified in the church through our praises, and that the power of God is demonstrated through the church. Look with me again at Ephesians 3, verse 20: "Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." The purpose of the church is to bring glory to God by Christ Jesus. The Lord loves his church, gave himself for it, so that we might have the privilege of meeting together with him in the assembly, for he meets with us to bless us.

Today I want to talk about the third mystery of the church, which is the mystery of the indwelling presence of Christ, individually and collectively. Listen to what the word of God says. Turn with me to Colossians 1, verse 26: "The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations but is now disclosed to the saints. To them, God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

The indwelling Christ gives the strength that we need to accomplish his will in spite of the obstacles and persecutions we may face. The mystery of his indwelling was kept secret for thousands of years before he came to the earth and fulfilled his ministry on the cross and the resurrection. The ancient Jewish scholars thought of the kingdom of God only as an external kingdom over the nations of the world. But the kingdom of God must first reign in your heart. Let me emphasize this glorious mystery, which is Christ in us, the hope of glory.

This is what Jesus was trying to explain to the Pharisees in Luke 17, verse 20: "The kingdom of God does not come with observation, nor will they say, 'See here,' or 'See there,' for indeed the kingdom of God is within you." The Lord was not suggesting that the kingdom of God was not coming to rule over the earth at the appointed time for a thousand years. But in this dispensation of time, the kingdom of God must first come into a person's very being before he can see or enter the kingdom of God.

The children of Israel in the wilderness saw the Shekinah, or the visible presence of God, residing over the tabernacle. But now the Shekinah, the presence of God, comes to dwell within us. Listen to our Lord's promise to his disciples in John 14, verse 16: "And I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another comforter, another helper, that he may abide with you forever." Did you get that? Listen, the other helper, who dwells with us forever, within us, is the spirit of truth. Jesus said, "Whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him, but you know him, for he dwells with you and he will be in you."

Before Pentecost, the spirit of truth dwelt alongside of the disciples. But after Pentecost, according to the promise of Jesus, the spirit of the living God came to dwell within his disciples. This is the mystery of the indwelling Shekinah, the presence of God. Now pay attention to what our Lord said in John 14:23: "Jesus answered and said unto him, 'If a man loves me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him.'" We have an intimate connection with God our Father, with the Son of God, and with the spirit of God. Think of that! What a wonderful truth.

The indwelling presence of Christ is a secret to the world, but not to us. You know, I just finished reading the testimony of Dr. Michael Brown, a Messianic Jew. He came to the Lord at the age of 16. The Lord delivered him from a drug addiction, and it was instantaneous. His father was happy for his change, but he wanted him to return to traditional Judaism. He took young Michael to a young rabbi who befriended him. The rabbi said, "If you could read biblical Hebrew, if you could read the Bible in Hebrew, you would not believe in Jesus."

Michael was not a scholar but decided to learn Hebrew for himself. Once he could read the Hebrew texts, the rabbi canceled their friendship. Later, Dr. Brown earned his doctorate in Semitic languages and Jewish literature, and he delights to debate rabbis publicly about Jesus. Now, how could Michael, the teenager, have maintained his faith when he knew so little about the Hebrew Bible? The answer is simple: Michael had a living relationship with the indwelling Messiah, so that no one could dissuade him from believing.

Becoming a believer is more than accepting a theological creed of doctrines; it is entering into the mystery of God's inner presence. Through the indwelling presence of Christ, we become the children of God. You know, being homeless and without a family in this harsh and uncaring world is a great tragedy. My mother came to the United States from Russia with her family when she was six years old. They were seeking to escape from antisemitism. When she was ten years old, a flu epidemic hit New York City. Her rabbi father and mother both died within days of each other, leaving my mother as a ten-year-old girl and her brothers and sisters as orphans.

Distant relatives took her into their home, but they insisted that she be a servant girl and that she should earn her living with them. She was not a member of the family. They took her out of elementary school, forcing her to earn her room and board. No one was there to protect my mother or provide opportunities for her education. My mother was on her own in a cold and friendless world. It's a tragedy being an orphan, to be unloved and not to be a part of a loving family. However, there's something far worse than being an orphan in this world. It is being a spiritual orphan forever without the heavenly Father to care for us. And so, God wants to include us into his family.

Our Lord Jesus did not promise us an easy time in this hostile world. Listen to his words in Matthew 10, verse 16: "Behold, I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about what you should speak, for it will be given to you in that hour when and what you should say. For it is not you who speak, but the spirit of your Father who speaks in you." It can be dangerous to share your spiritual experiences with some people. Remember what our Lord said in Matthew 7:6: "Do not give what is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."

Jesus was using Aesop's method of personifying animal-like behavior in human beings. The Lord was not speaking literally of dogs and pigs, but of people who are dog-like and pig-like. They could not appreciate the holy experiences of God that we have shared with others who can appreciate them. Rather, they'll turn against us. Listen, this happens all the time. Now, what does a pearl represent? It represents, in a symbolic way, the overcoming power of God's grace that turns life's irritations into precious gems. A pearl begins as an irritation in the side of an oyster. The oyster secretes a chemical that surrounds the irritation with a substance that turns the irritation into a smooth and precious pearl.

When life irritations become thorns in our sides, our Lord within us secretes his grace on those irritations and turns them into precious experiences that dog-like people and pig-like people do not appreciate. We can understand the endurance of a Christian martyr now under torture and the threat of death because the Lord is within him, pouring out his grace. Let me tell you about Richard Wurmbrand, a Romanian Messianic Jew who became a bishop in his church. Well, when he came to faith in Christ, he began to share the good news of the gospel.

The communist authorities told him to stop preaching, to give up his faith in Jesus or go to prison. He refused to deny his Lord and was imprisoned several times and treated harshly. They tried to break his spirit. Here is his personal testimony in his own words: "The tortures and brutality while in solitary confinement continued without interruptions. When I lost consciousness or became too dazed to give the torturers any further hope of a confession, I'd be returned to my cell. There I would be unattended and half dead to regain a little strength so they could work on me again. They broke four vertebrae in my back. They burned and cut 18 holes in my back." Think of that!

How could Wurmbrand survive the brutality without breaking? All he had to do was to deny Jesus and stop preaching. He could have returned to his family and lived an ordinary life. Where did he get such grace and strength? I'll tell you where he got that strength and grace. He got it from the Lord Jesus who was within him. We have this wonderful, precious truth. And not only is it a theological truth, it is a truly practical experience with the living God. Now, in this message, I've spoken to you about the mystery of the indwelling presence of Jesus in our life, which is the hope of glory.

In our next message, I want to speak about the mystery of the last days of the church. I don't think you want to miss it. Until then, welcome Jesus into your life, for with him comes God's spirit and God the Father. This is the greatest experience you could ever have. That's what my prayer is for you, is that you might receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. May God bless you. Amen.

Liz Aiello: Thank you, Pastor Runge. We've been listening to Pastor Al Runge teach on "The Mysteries of the Kingdom of God." If you would like to have your own copy of this series, or perhaps you'd like to share it with a friend, you'll be glad to know that it's available on convenient compact disc. Just ask for ART-24, "The Mysteries of the Kingdom of God." It's available for a suggested contribution of just $6 or more. Just visit our secure online store at messianicspecialties.com, right here on Messianic Perspectives.

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And as always, when you're in touch with us, please mention the call letters of this station. If you're listening to our webcast or podcast, we need to know that too. This is Liz Aiello. Join us next time, won't you, as Pastor Al Runge continues our series on "The Mysteries of the Kingdom of God," right here on Messianic Perspectives.