Introduction

The rules for The Mighty & Strong to act as the ministers of God are given in the following stanza:

25 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. Colossians 1)

The explanation follows.

Their Calling

Paul revealed that his calling as a “minister” to reveal “the mystery” which had been “hid from ages and generations” had been extended to all Believers:

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 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. (Col.1:26-27, KJV)

The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 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. (Col.1:26-27, NIV)

Holy

The main part of their qualification was being “holy.” This has been translated different ways: “saint” (KJV), “Lord’s people” (NIV), “God’s people” (NLT), and “Holy Ones” (APE), “holy people (the saints)” (AMP). Thayer says in his Greek Lexicon:

Just as the Israelites claimed for themselves the title of ἅγιος (Grk. hagios), because God selected them from the other nations to lead a life acceptable to him and rejoice in his favor and protection so this appellation is very often in the N.T. transferred to Christians, as those whom God has selected, that under the influence of the Holy Spirit they may be rendered, through holiness, partakers of salvation in the kingdom of God. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

The foremost qualification for becoming a minister is to become “holy,” or a Saint. How a person does that is by “the mystery.”

Mystery

“The mystery” according to Paul is “Christ in us.” The reason he is being referred to as a “mystery” is because he has always been “in us”…for “ages” and “generations”…and we never knew it.

The “riches of glory” of this mystery could be stated in reverse: his “glory is rich,” and “full of hope.” The process of discovering the “richness” of the “glory of Jesus” that is already in us, is the subject of Quickened Within: The Mystery of the Inner Man.

The cleansing process is commonly referred to as becoming “born again” and is or should be life changing.

Make Known

The process of “making known” to unbelievers (i.e. Gentiles) the riches of the glory of Jesus that is within them, is the task of The Mighty & Strong Ministers.

Methodology

How The Mighty & Strong Ministers are to “make known” the “mystery” of Jesus within them was also given by Paul:

28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; (Colossians 1:28)

Threefold Mission

Paul identified the threefold mission of The Mighty & Strong Ministers as preaching, warning, and teaching.

1. Preach

Effective preaching is important.

2. Warn

Unlike most preachers on the payroll of their congregants, The Mighty & Strong Ministers will make no concessions in their preaching, but will duly warn people of the consequences of their actions. “Hell” will more than likely be frequently preached by them.

3. Teach

Whereas preaching is a one-way communication, The Mighty & Strong Ministers will also be teachers, whom people can approach and ask questions. [When was the last time you saw a preacher open the floor to a Q&A session?] They will have much to teach about “the mystery” and how to “quicken” it, etc.

Wisdom

It is expected that each person will use whatever wisdom they have gained thus far in life as to how best to carry out the Threefold Mission.

Objective

The object of the Threefold Mission of The Mighty & Strong Ministers was clearly given by Paul:

28 That we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: (Colossians 1:28)

There are three objects as well.

1. Present Every Man

“Present every man” is referring to offering unto God another son or daughter, righteous and holy, who have cleansed themselves from all unrighteousness.

2. Perfect

Perfect speaks of a perfect alignment between their soul and God.

3. Christ Jesus

Jesus Christ is the spirit within us, our conscience, that allows us to know if we are aligned with God.

Mightily

How will you know if you are called?

a. The spirit of Jesus within you will tell you.

b. It will be unmistakable, you will not be able to shrug it, or let it go.

You will have no happiness unless you follow through:

29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. (Colossians 1:29)

Precedents

Have there been any precedents regarding how to conduct this work? Yes.

John the Baptist

Who was John the Baptist?

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost [spirit of holiness], even from his mother’s womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Luke 1:11–17)

We see from the above text that John was raised by righteous parents, and lived a holy life as well. One of the things he did was to turn the “children of Israel” i.e. Christians, to God. That may sound odd, since they were already identified as “God’s people.” In other words, he helped them to turn true believers.

Though it says he had the “spirit and power of Elias,” he did not perform a single miracle. He did turn many from a state of disobedience, whereby they repented.

What did John do? He prepared the way for the coming of Jesus.

22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judæa; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
23 And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
24 For John was not yet cast into prison.
25 Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.
26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. (John 3:22–26)

1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) (John 4:1–2)

Some of John’s disciples followed Jesus – Andrew and John:

13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphæus, and Simon called Zelotes,
16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor. (Luke 6:13–16)

And other disciples:

21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. (Acts 1:21–23)

Jesus had no limits on the Spirit:

34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. (John 3:34)

What became of John

14 And king Herod heard of him [Jesus]; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
15 Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.
16 But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her.
18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.
19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:
20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;
22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.
24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb. (Mark 6:14–29)

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.
4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
6 But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.
9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. (Matthew 14:1–12)

What Jesus said of John:

19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.
26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. [no mention of the power of Elias]
28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. (Luke 7:19–28)

1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. (Matthew 11:1–14)

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judæa, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Mark 1:1–11)

Malachi’s Messenger Prophecy

1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. (Malachi 3:1–4)

Isaiah’s Voice in Wilderness Prophecy

1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. (Isaiah 40:1–8)

Though messianic, true fulfillment will not take place until Jesus returns.

What did John not do? No miracles.

40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
42 And many believed on him there. (John 10:40–42)

John was the/a witness of Jesus:

31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. (John 5:31–37)

Jesus in the Temple

Like many things in the Bible, the following stanza may have more than one meaning, particularly if viewed as a Type, that has future meaning.

13 And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;
16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.
17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21 But he spake of the temple of his body. (John 2:13–22)

Like many references to “temple” in the New Testament, they actually are referring to our body, or the body of believers. Perhaps this memorable event of Jesus driving the money changers from the temple IS itself a Type for what will happen to believers in the days ahead. Are believers individually, or our churches as a whole preoccupied with the buying and selling of “merchandise”? A simple view of Christian TV programming, their ministries, and websites reveal that’s mostly what they are about.

The opinions of their leader/pastor/evangelist/etc. are put forth as being synonymous with “God.” Donations to them we are assured, are donations to “God.” So the logic goes, “support them,” and you’ll be “supporting God.” I think God would have at least “some” information about His Son for free on their web sites, but you’d be hard pressed to find any.

Types Defined

Jesus = Mighty & Strong Ministers

Temple/Father’s House = Believers & Churches

Changers of Money = Christian Marketing Firms (Anyone in the industry out to make a buck off Christians, ministers, churches, and ministries.)

Drove Them Out = Righteousness (Jesus being righteous, righteousness drove them out. The righteousness of the Mighty & Strong Ministers will drive them out.)

Poured Out Changer’s Money = Believers and their churches will become bankrupt.