There are seven dispensations throughout the bible that divides different time periods of God's work and purposes toward man. In this study I am going to focus on the sixth dispensation which was a mystery until Jesus gave Apostle Paul the revelation of the Dispensation of Grace. Israel was God's chosen people from the beginning of man's creation. Time after time God being the good shepherd he is, would provide ways to bring his people back to him. In the Dispensation of Grace, he is not just bringing back his people to himself, but all mankind. He put a plan in action from the beginning that would be fulfilled with the life, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
After Jesus ministry had started, He first revealed the upcoming change to a sinful Samaritan woman. She went to a well every day when no one else would be there due to the life she lived. Jesus knew she was going to be there as John 4 starts out letting us know that Jesus had to go through Samaria, to a town called Sychar. He sat at Jacob's well while his disciples went to town to buy food. The Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well. Jesus starts his conversation by asking her for a drink of water. The woman was not too pleased as Jews normally did not associate themselves with Samaritan people. Jesus told her in verse 10 "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." She wanted to know where she could get this living water and asked him if he was better than their father Jacob's well. Vs. 13 Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." This was foretelling of things soon to come to all mankind that included the Gentiles. Then he reveals to her in verse 23 that a time is coming when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. He also revealed to her that He was that Messiah that she spoke was coming. Jesus's encounter with this woman would change her life forever. The woman was so excited that she left her waterpots and ran into the city telling all to come and see the man who told her all she had ever done.
The greatest love story had to happen in order for this sixth dispensation to get it's jump start. It was time for the feast of the Passover, Jesus had sent two of his disciples ahead to prepare for the Passover meal that would be the last meal with his disciples. John 13:2 states that Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world. As they ate together Jesus blessed and break the bread and told his disciples that it was his body, given for us and then he took the cup of wine and shared it with his disciples and said that the wine was the token of God's new covenant to save us. It was an agreement sealed with the blood He will pour out for us. That night while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus was arrest. He suffered many horrible acts by mankind while being tried like a criminal. He was later sentenced to die on the cross alongside two thieves. He bore his cross to the hill called Golgotha where they crucified him. John 19:28 tells us that Jesus now knowing that all things were accomplished, and the Scriptures might be fulfilled said, I thirst." This is the second time recorded in the gospels that Jesus stated, "I thirst." The first time being the woman at the well. The soldiers filled a sponge with vinegar and put it upon hyssop and put it in his mouth. Jesus received the vinegar and said, "It is finished: and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost."
In Matthew 27:45 tells us that from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. Jesus cried with a loud voice and died. In that very moment at his death vs 51 reads that the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. In the moment when Jesus died, the sabbath was near, they could not leave anyone on the cross. They broke the legs of the two thieves on each side of Jesus, but as they came to Jesus and seen he was already dead they did not break his legs which fulfilled another prophecy. To ensure he had died verse 34 states, "but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. This is very important when you understand the sacrificial offerings of Moses era now revealing that Jesus had also fulfilled the ceremonial laws as well. Jesus had previously told the people that he did not come to do away with the law, but to fulfil it. Zechariah 13:1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. Now the foundation of living water was opened. John was an eyewitness to the water and blood flowing from the side of Jesus which is a key event for the sake of our faith. 1 John 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. vs 8 goes on to say, "And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. The greatest love story was not the end, but the beginning and the way for the true worshippers to worship in Spirit and in truth. As John 7:3 If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) This was the greatest love story ever recorded that fulfilled the Dispensation of Law, but also a new beginning It was time for the birth of the Church, The dispensation of Grace.
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n the third day Jesus rose from the grave and later revealed himself to his disciples. Acts 1:4 Jesus being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise. vs. 5 but they should be filled with the Holy Ghost not many days, that they should receive power, after the Holy Ghost comes upon them. After speaking this Jesus was taken up into heaven. There were about 120 people that did not depart from Jerusalem as told by Jesus to tarry there. They gathered together in an upper room all in one accord in prayer and supplication. In Acts 2 it was the 50th day after the Passover all of a sudden there was a sound from heaven as of a mighty rushing wind; it filled the house where they were sitting. vs 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Then something new and exciting happens in Acts 10 which tells the story of how Cornelus and everyone who had gathered in his house were all filled with the Holy Ghost as Peter was preaching. This being the first account that God was not a respect of person as now the Holy Ghost had been poured out upon the Gentiles. This is fulfilling the prophecy of Joel 2:28 that He will pour out his Spirit upon all flesh as well as the words of Jesus to the Samaritan woman at the well that the true worshippers will worship Him in spirit and in truth. This was the purpose that Jesus must go away after fulfilling his sacrificial offering for the world, now the Spirit has birthed the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As the church begin to multiply this angered others who sought out to destroy people who believed that Jesus was the Messiah. One of these men was Saul of Tauras. We first read about him as a young man in Acts 7 and how the men that stoned Stephen laid their garments at Saul's feet. Acts 8:1 tells us that Saul consented to the stoning death of Stephen. Who was this young man who recked havic on the church? Acts 22:3 lets us know that he was a Jew by birth from the tribe of Benjamin. He also had Roman citizenship. A tentmaker by trade (Acts 18:3). Saul considered himself zealous for God who was trained Pharasee (Acts 23:6) by a well known rabbi named, Gamaleil. Verse 5 said he had letters from the high priest and was on his way to Damascus to bind and bring the men and women to bring back to Jerusalem to be punished. Saul said while he was on the journey to Damascus that about noon he was all of a sudden surrounded by a great light from heaven. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say unto him, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Saul asked him who he was, "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest." Saul asked Jesus what he should do in which Jesus told him to arise and go into the city. Saul was unable to see, but his heart had changed towards Jesus. He obeyed and with the help of his men went into the city of Damascus. Jesus sent a devout man named Ananias to Saul, who said unto him, "Brother Saul, receive thy sight and he did and was filled witht he Holy Ghost. He told him that God had chosen him to know his will and that he would be his witness unto all men of what he had seen and heard. Saul was then baptized and began to preach with great power. He is known as Saul until Acts 13:9 that states, "Then Saul (who is also called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost," and from this time on he is known as Apostle Paul.
The Apostle Paul is attributed to writing 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament. In the Book of Ephesians chapter 3 Apostle Paul shares a gift that was given to him by Jesus, Grace. A mystery that had been hidden since the beginning of time until Jesus first reveals it to him by the spirit. Paul said that Jesus made him the Apostle of the Gentiles. That the Gentiles should now be fellow heirs, and of the same body as the Jews, and partakers of Jesus promise. Now the Apostle Paul as the minister of the Gentiles should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. Grace being a free gift given by God that was paid for by the blood of Jesus on that old rugged cross. Apostle Paul said that this mystery was hidden vs 10 to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly placed might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God. How can we explain grace? Well just as Apostle Paul's example who felt the least of all the Apostles, it is by spreading the good news of the Messiah and our testimony of how his grace touched our life. Like all the other followers that lives were changed the moment Jesus came into it. It didn't matter to him if they were devil possessed, stinky fishermen, tax collectors, as he showed this to us in picking his disciples. He didn't choose people from religious synagogues or temples. He didn't see them for their occupations or their social standing, he looked upon their heart and how they could come together to make up the body of Christ and do great and mighty things for the kingdom of God. He knew each individual person had something within them that would fit them together into one body. That is our reasonable service working together as one body while spreading the news of the gift that God is pouring out still today.
When Jesus called Paul to the ministry, He sent him to minister unto his other sheep he referred to in John 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16) And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. This could only happen after Jesus gave his life and when he died the Old Covenant was broken when the vail tore in the temple. He came unto his own and they rejected him, mocked him, bruised and beat him, and then hung him on cross as a thief not knowing what they had done as a strong delusion was put about them. This was the plan from the very beginning to save the souls of mankind and restore what was taken in the garden the day sin entered into the world. I have a part II that gets deeper into this mystery.
The first 18 years of my life is not glorious or something to be proud of. However, it was the foundation in making me the woman I am today. I can honestly say I really didn't know that there was a Creator looking out for me and had plans for my life. What I know now is there were moments that God touched my life that left markers to reflect back on. What does this have to do with grace you may ask, everything. If it wasn't for the grace of God, most commonly described as the unmerited favor of God; I would not be living the life I am today. Is everything grand? No! Is everything smooth sailing? No! Life happens! It is what you know and do with it that will make all the difference in your world. I am not sure what it was about me that I found favor in God's sight, but I am very grateful I did. I pray that God leads me in this study to help someone understand the dispensation of grace that we are living in today. This great gift of grace that I found the day I too was filled with the Holy Ghost at the age of 18. I understood that day what real love felt like it was out of this world. Nothing can compare to it. How do you find this grace? As Jesus called his disciples he would say two words, Follow Me. He also said that if you seek him you shall find him. It is my prayer that you find this same grace that is still being given out today while we are still in the sixth dispensation. Time is drawing close as we near the end of another age. God Bless!
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