Chapter Five
Eph. 1:18-21 speaks to us on this wise,
“the eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his invitation, what the glorious wealth of his inheritance among the saints, and what the surpassing greatness of His power towards us who believe according to the energy of his mighty strength which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come”.
A heavenly place in this verse is not limited, as most think, to a natural heaven in the sky, in the sense of it being the destined home of the redeemed, but rather it speaks of a throne room authority, a spiritual temple, a body of people in which Christ does and shall come to dwell. The Greek word for heaven as used above refers to the invisible realm that surrounds our present daily situation, the arena, or sphere of spiritual action and activity. Christ’s authority, which encompasses every age and exceeds every known power, is in the here and now. Principality, power, might, and dominion are terms for ruling authorities in both the visible and the invisible realms.
The New Testament reveals an invisible hierarchy of evil powers who deceive and manipulate human behavior, thereby advancing the adversaries strategy. Christ Himself and all who are in Christ are shown to be placed in authority above these evil powers, an authority that only spiritual warfare can assert, demonstrate, and sustain. Present conditions make it seem as if the church has missed the mark. However, provision available in Christ is available to us, but humanity, for the most part, has not accepted nor participated in it yet. However, with the transitional time we are in now coming to an end, humanity will see this fullness of God operating through His many member first-fruits.
Let us realize that there are certain things, or orders that we will not be a part of in the age that is to come. Things conceived to be and sometimes even established as doctrine, such as setting about in limbo, sitting on white clouds and strumming harps. We shall not be polishing our crowns nor admiring our white robes. We shall not be just sitting under our own fig tree, but instead, Christ body will be actively fulfilling their purpose of being just like Jesus. Jesus declares in John 4:34 that, “… my food is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work.” Note, the word “sent,” which is the Greek word “PEMPO” has the meaning of “to send, the sender accompanying those sent.” Therefore, God sends forth a people with the purpose of walking along side those He sends.
This is an order of manifestation wherein the body of Christ in the next age, the one that is coming and is even now upon us, shall move us into the supernatural of God that far exceeds the blessings of these past ages. These ones shall be of those who receive and stay committed as stated in Hebrews 6:4-5, those who receive that portion of God that fulfills all His purposes.
“…. those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,”
The word “enlightened” above is from the Greek word “PHOTIZO” means “may light thee”. Also in Luke 11:36 we read,
“If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.”
This phrase “doth give thee light” is also the word “PHOTIZO” again meaning, “may light thee.” Becoming enlightened is the light of Christ that anoints the vessel to lighten up a darken world while leaving nothing within that is dark. This light enables us to move in the anointed nature of God, which means, becoming a people who only do His will, who only speak His word and who work the works of Christ.
Back to Heb. 6:4-5, the word “gift” in that scripture is the Greek word “DOREA” which means “a gift.” What is this gift, this “DOREA”?
John 4:10,
“Jesus answered and said unto her, if thou knowest the gift of God and Who it is That saith to thee, Give Me drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water”.
Receiving a born again experience is this gift, which shall progressively enlighten the whole man in his spirit, his soul, and finally his body, a progressive sanctification that births the completed perfect man. A born again experience that enables the vessel to come and go as the wind. (Read John 3:3-8).
Again back to Heb. 6:4-5, let’s look at the word “partakers.” It is from the Greek word “METOCHOS” meaning “fellows.” This same Greek word is used in Heb. 1:9 stating,
“… therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows”.
Note the anointing that enables a people to come into unity, a partaking of the same Christ who walked in that first-born Son. Note, this does not make us a God, but only sons of a first-fruits harvest.
Next, let us take note of the word “powers” in verse five. From the Greek word “DUNAMIS” meaning, “inherent power, the power of reproducing itself, mighty works, the manifestations of power.” Could this be speaking of a people called and chosen, but also those who are to manifest that which they received? This is a moving away from that old cursed Adam man into that new creation man to manifest the nature of Christ in all things.
During this age of grace in which we live, called the church age, we have only tasted of limited powers in and by the Holy Spirit. Here the church knows a restrained anointing because there remains a portion within the church that remains dark or carnal. Thus, this church age is one that restrains man, moving only in a gift realm anointing that remains, according to the Apostle Paul, as an in-part order only. However, in the age that is now upon us, this speaks of a vanishing away of the in-part order.
1 Cor. 13:9-12,
“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child; I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now, we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known”.
The word “perfect” in verse ten above is the Greek word “TELEIOS” which means “that which has reached its end.” Did not Jesus say while on the cross, “it is finished”? This is declaring a paid in full sacrifice; it has reached its end, now to be appropriated into His body, through faith and obedience, until in them it also reaches its end, thus being perfect. Again, in verse ten, the phrase “done away,” when speaking of the in part, means “faileth, to be brought to naught.” This is signifying that the in-part realm of the Holy place shall pass away in the lives of this overcoming people, perfected to enter into God’s Holy of Holies. They shall stand in that which has already come, that which is perfect or has reached its end, as they become the manifested first-fruits of God in the earth.