The Mysterious Message

It is part of human nature to be attracted to and intrigued by the mysterious. This is definitely seen in the life of a child. As children, our interest is peaked by the mystery of the unknown. To the child, the unknown has to be exposed, explained, and experienced. To them the adventure of a lifetime could be right around the corner; streams become rivers, trees become forests, and hills become mountains to conquer. As years go by we can lose that sense of adventure. Nothing is a mystery to us anymore, because in our minds we have already experienced it all.

I did not grow up in a Christian home. The only godly influence I had was my grandparents. My grandpa is a pastor and his church was definitely not the coolest place in the world; especially for a teenager. But I had a close relationship with my grandparents. It was because of this relationship that one night; very reluctantly, I accepted an invitation to attend a church meeting with them. My grandpa’s church was full of older people that didn’t get too excited, because they might break their hip bone.

I must say though; that from the moment I walked through the back door of this church, I felt something deep in my gut that I couldn’t quite shake. It was mysterious to me why these people were so devoted to someone and something they could not see. The speaker that night preached with such a passion that I was gripped from the very beginning of his message. As he gave the invitation that night to give up my life for a new one which followed Jesus, I rushed forward, dropped to my knees, and spent the next two hours crying out to a God I didn’t see, but I could definitely feel! That was the start of an awesome journey, with an unseen God who desperately desired to make Himself  known to me!

This God who showed himself real to me has called us all to go on an amazing adventure with Him! He just asks that we walk by faith, not by sight. As Christians, we are called to manifest this mystery of the Gospel.

Mystery in the Greek means “to shut the mouth, a hidden thing.  Not obvious to the understanding.” Manifest means “to make visible or known that which has been unknown or hidden.” In short, to manifest the mystery means to make known that which was unknown.

• Our CALLING is to make plain to others, what has already been made plain to us: that is Christ and Him crucified.

Ephesians 3:8-11 says “Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Paul says that it was his calling to make plain to everyone this mystery.

• Our TACTIC is to diagnose the problem of sin in our culture and know how to deal with it.

Proverbs 20:5 says “counsel in the heart of man is as deep waters, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” In the past the church had been good at pointing out sin, but not very good at offering the remedy for sin. Christ has called us to be fishers of men. Different fish require different bait. There are different kinds of fish that live at various depths in the water. I need to know what kind of bait is needed in specific seasons. What a particular fish bites on now might not be what he bites on a few months from now. Being fishers of men is no different. People are constantly changing, growing, and adapting, to new phases of life.

• Our DESIRE should be to see a culture infused with the knowledge of God.

2 Corinthians 2:14 says “Now thanks be to God who leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” This culture will never be infused with this knowledge, until we are first willing to diffuse this knowledge. Habakkuk 2:14 says, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory, as the waters cover the sea.” The knowledge of God is presented through the people of God. In other words, the knowledge of His glory will cover the earth when we cover the earth, and share this message of redemption and forgiveness to people.

In Luke 8:10 Jesus says, “to you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.” The truth is that some people will not even want to listen, but there will always be honest seekers who are ready to receive the gospel. That is why we are compelled to preach and share our testimony with others.  Jeremiah said the word of God was in him like a fire shut up in his bones, and that he was weary from holding it back.  God makes His ministers a flame of fire. It should make us tired trying to hold in what was meant to come out.

I believe that the church has been going through an amazing shift. Consider this, a recent survey showed that the church in China (which is a network of underground churches) sees an average of 1200 new believers everyday! The church has survived every kind of persecution known to man, but still continues grow in the face of opposition. In the past hundred years the church has seen its greatest harvest of souls ever!!! The church is not dying, it’s growing and becoming a force that sees nations saved in a day!! We have been entrusted to carry the greatest message, and represent the greatest King, in the greatest hour of need this world has ever seen! May we be a new breed of revivalists eager to impart what has been freely given to us!

Darrin Vaughan and his wife, Eva currently reside in Orlando, Florida. Previously, Darrin served at Covenant Community Fellowship in New Albany, Indiana. Darrin has a global vision to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel”, demonstrating the power of the Cross, and emphasizing the importance of living a life of fire. Connect with Darrin at http://www.darrinvaughan.com/