(Note – I would like to acknowledge that a great portion of the content of this message series comes from a series by the same name as taught by Pastor Bob Yandian of Grace Church and Bob Yandian Ministries in Tulsa, OK.)
I would not have you ignorant:
1 Corinthians 10:1 KJV Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1 Corinthians 12:1 KJV Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 KJV But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
The three things are not hard to understand but men make them hard to understand:
- Understanding the Old Testament
- Baptism of the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, Gifts of the Spirit
- End time events
Matthew 25:1-13 NKJV “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. (2) Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (3) Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, (4) but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (5) But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. (6) “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ (7) Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. (8) And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ (9) But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ (10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. (11) “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ (12) But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ (13) “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Hebrews 1:1-2 NKJV God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, (2) has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
V 1 – God has in different time periods and in various ways in the Old Testament.
V 2 – the time period is referred to as the “last days”. This is referring to the Church Age in which we live.
In verse 1 there are many time periods and God spoke to His people in different ways but in verse 2 there is one time period, and God spoke to His people through the Lord Jesus.
In general terms, the Old Testament was written to the Jews and the New Testament was written to the Gentiles. (This is a broad stroke of summary because there are some variations of this.)
In the Old Testament, He spoke primarily through the prophets.
In the New Testament, He has spoken through the Lord Jesus.
God has divided time into Seven Dispensations (General state or order of things).
- Dispensation of Innocence – Genesis 1-3 (Ends at the Fall of Man)
- Dispensation of Conscious – (Ends at the Flood) – Every man did what was right in his own eyes.
- Dispensation of Human Government – (Ends at the Tower of Babel)
- Dispensation of Promise – God isolated one man – Abraham – and made a covenant with him. God made a new race spiritually through him. (Ended with Egyptian Bondage)
- Dispensation of the Law – Given through Moses and ended at the Cross
- Dispensation of Grace or the Church – Began with the Resurrection of Jesus and will end at the Tribulation Period.
- Dispensation of the Millenium – This will end at the revolt of Satan when he is released and will be defeated once and for all by Jesus Christ.
All of the dispensations start by God and end by man. Starts with righteousness and ends with sin.
After the Millennial Dispensation, there are no more dispensations.
Hebrews 1:10-12 NKJV And: “YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS. (11) THEY WILL PERISH, BUT YOU REMAIN; AND THEY WILL ALL GROW OLD LIKE A GARMENT; (12) LIKE A CLOAK YOU WILL FOLD THEM UP, AND THEY WILL BE CHANGED. BUT YOU ARE THE SAME, AND YOUR YEARS WILL NOT FAIL.”
The earth is compared to a garment. You buy it new, you wear it, then wash it until it falls apart. The earth will be made new without sin, death, and corruption. The earth will last forever after that time.
God spoke to man in a different way in each of the different dispensations.
How God approaches man in each dispensation has been different but how man approaches God has never changed – by faith.
Hebrews 1:2 NKJV has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; (Ages – perpetuity)
The Church Age
The Church Age began on the Day of Pentecost, and it will end when the rapture of the Church takes place.
Ephesians 3:1-2 NKJV For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles– (2) if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,
Dispensation – oikonomia – administration of a house or an administration since we are referring to a time period.
A new presidency is called an administration. The White House does not change; but the workings in it do change.
The bulk of the teaching on the Dispensation of Grace came through the Apostle Paul.
Ephesians 3:3-4 NKJV how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, (4) by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
Mystery – musterion – something hidden in other dispensations that was revealed in this dispensation.
Matthew 13:11 NKJV He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
There are church-aged truths that are taught in these parables taught by Jesus.
Matthew 13:44 NKJV “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Treasure is made up of precious jewels. God had the priesthood wear a vest that had precious stones fastened to it representing the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 13:45-46 NKJV “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, (46) who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
A pearl is something that comes out of the sea and is caused by an irritating sand or stone that as time progresses is built.
Matthew 16:18 NKJV And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Mark 4:10-11 NKJV But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. (11) And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,
Ephesians 3:4-12 NKJV by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), (5) which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: (6) that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, (7) of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. (8) To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, (9) and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; (10) to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, (11) according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, (12) in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
Colossians 1:25-29 KJV Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; (26) Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: (27) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (28) Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: (29) Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.