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But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:23,24
"Can you hear it? The Cry that is. The Cry of creation, The Cry of the earth and The Cry of the heavens, The Cry of the oppressed, The Cry of the hurting, The Cry of triumph, The Cry of victory, The Cry of deliverance."
These introductory words above were recently penned by a wonderful brother, Bob Torango and if you are feeling a "cry" rising from deep within your soul I believe his anointed writing entitled "The Cry Of Our New Birth" will both encourage and comfort you. The link to Bob's message can be found at the end of this post.
Moving on into the theme of the "cry of His sons" allow me to share this oft misunderstood scripture from the Book of Revelation.
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? Rev 6:9,10
Often in the last five years I have found myself crying out to God, "how long ........ how Long O Lord?" It also so happened that much of my today was filled with this familiar cry to Him. Now, I certainly enjoy many wonderful and incredible days where I truly feel I have no cares and I am soaring with the eagles in the highest of God's heavens. However, there is interspersed between these joyful times, the sufferings of the deepest of spiritual depressions. I have learned over the last few years that this is the way of my walk and also that this is common to the experiences shared by a few others that I know personally. Having acquired enough experience myself, I am now able to realize that although there is sometimes great darkness all about me, I will eventually feel His light and love again. Then I will know His joy and peace anew and in even a greater measure than before. I also know that when I am suffering a "dark night" episode it is most often a call to prayer. This prayerful time can sometimes stretch for days on end before I will eventually be touched again by His hand carrying a wondrous and increased knowing of His grace and love. Over the years I have come to also realize that in the hard days of prayer I am being purged while simultaneously being pressed into His image. In simple terms it is my old nature and fleshly man that used to rule my life that is being purged out and His nature and being that is being pressed in. This is part of God's continual work of salvation in me and it is often painful beyond belief but then with this later comes His inexpressible glory and tender love that wipes away all the tears and the remembrance of pain. Prayer is an ever increasing necessity and also a big part of my life. A couple of years ago I ran across this saying that describes "what prayer is." To this very day I have never read a more beautiful or apt description that echos my own experience with prayer.
"Prayer is helplessness casting itself upon power; it is misery seeking peace; it is unholiness embracing purity; it is hatred desiring love. Prayer is corruption panting for immortality; it is the eagle soaring heavenward; it is the dove returning home; it is the prisoner pleading for release; it is the mariner steering for the haven amid the dangerous storm; it is the soul, oppressed by the world, escaping to the empyrean, and bathing its ruffled plumes in the ethereal and the divine."(unknown)
Unfortunately most in Christendom do not pray much nor do they understand that there is "salvation to the utmost" that entails the redemption not only of our spirit but also our soul and body. The great majority of believers have been taught falsely that our salvation ends when our spirit is quickened and joined to His as we confess and believe in Christ. There is a relevant maxim that Chip Brogden, whom I often quote, uses and it is filled with truth. "Either He is Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all."
Yes, for each of us, in our own order, Jesus Christ will indeed one day be found to be Lord of all ........ all that we are and all that we possess. He will be "All in All" in you and in me along with every other person that has ever been conceived in this world. You can take that to bank. There is a very special place where one has his or her spiritual eyes miraculously opened to envision the wonder of our Christ as the "All in All" as portrayed in the whole of scripture. "All" came from, points to and culminates in Christ. Jesus is the "Alpha and Omega" and the "All in All." Oh my, how we in the past have had our vision so blinded to the seeing of the true length, breadth, height and the depth of our salvation and our Christ.
"Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all." Col 3:11
"And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be All in All" I Corinthians 15:28
God's great purpose was, is and will be forever to share His Love and Glory with a family of many sons. God's Son and our elder brother, Jesus gave His very life that we might be filled totally with His very essence and being. God's loving mercy and grace stretches far beyond the grave, until all men bow, confess Jesus and know Him as Lord of All. I have long loved this little poem I share below, because it succinctly and beautifully speaks to the truth of " many sons" and the "All in All."
How strange it should be,
That we who seemed four,
Are now become Three.
And We Who are Three
Are yet become One,
Father, Spirit and Sons in the Son.
We know that men have devised many legalistic and strange patterns for the cleansing of God’s people. We also know these futile patterns never really accomplish the great desire and purpose of God’s heart. There is really only one pattern and He is Jesus and thus often we describe Him as the "Pattern Son." Jesus gave His life and in doing so, suffered unto death and so shall it be for each of us that follows Him by the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. Every thing of ours without exception must be sacrificed and die to be resurrected unto Eternal Life. This is a progressive dieing and a progressive resurrecting that takes place in our lives until we be filled with Him in body, soul and spirit. Everything must be sacrificed on God's altar and this includes both the good things and the bad. The truth is, we possess many things but in another way they actually possess us.
Outside of God's sacrifice of His Son there is no greater illustration of this found in the Bible than that of Abraham and Issac. We know well the story of "the father of faith" Abraham taking His "son of promise" Issac up the mount to lay the love of his life upon the altar. I'll tell ya, you got to believe that with this sacrificial journey father Abraham found out what was to cry from the deepest depths of his soul. Such has always been the ways of sacrifice and the ways of God. It will costs us all to possess Him that gave His all for us. Oh, the glorious mystery of it all! ........ the hidden treasure of Christ, discovered by babes yet rarely found by the wise of this world.
So having said all that I hope to explain how this introductory scripture from Revelation fits into all this of which I have shared.
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? Rev 6:9,10
First of all we must possess the knowledge that Revelation is a book filled with signs and symbols. Most believers do not know this, so they think the inspired words penned by John, while living on that lonely isle centuries ago, speak to the closing events of this world. In reality this revered and mysterious book has as it's deepest theme the formation of Christ and His Kingdom within God's sons. The title of the book is "The Revelation of Christ" and the first verse tells us it is a story told through signs. Wow! When we recognize that, it certainly changes the content and theme doesn't it.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and SIGNified it by his angel unto his servant John. Rev1:1
The last time I was in a church service, which was over a year ago, this old gentleman that was teaching that day announced over and over to the group he was a "Bible literalist." Upon closing his talk he announced that he would next be teaching from the Book of Revelation. Being a kind and polite soul, upon hearing this announcement I nonchalantly placed my hand over my eyes as they rolled back into my head. LOL
Alright, so back to the scripture at hand (Rev 6:9,10) let us try and identify these souls that are crying from under the altar. Is it any surprise that these crying souls are actually you and me. You see we walk by the spirit in the heavenlies while we have this great anchor that keeps us tied to the earth. That anchor is the rudiments of our old nature or as identified in the writings of Paul "our old man." Our souls cry out from the altar which is a "place of sacrifice." They cry for the judgement of the "old man with it's Adamic nature" that is tied to the lowest realm of the fallen earth. This is part of the "cry" that Torango wrote of and this is the deep crying of my soul, experienced during those dark nights when I am reduced to submission and painful prayer. I believe if you have been presently called out for a close and deep walk with God you also know well, this crying out from your own soul ............ "how long, O Lord?"
We are sojourners working our way back home to our Father's house. We are passing through the lower realms of pain, grief and suffering as we ascend to the His throne where we are to becoming united and made one with the Father. God, our Father beckons us to "come up hither" and we are learning little by little how to ascend and dwell in the heavenlies. Increasingly, we spend less time and energy in the lower breaches of our existence. We are passing through the wilderness of our carnality and unto the promised land. This is a glorious epic journey and as all journeys we are ever progressing toward our goal ............ our goal, which be Christ; All in All.
Our earthly experience is not about finding gratification in the things of this world but about finding Him in which Eternal Life resides. This world and the things in it are described as "vaporous and temporal." We are being raised in Him and into eternity, beyond the "emptiness of instant gratification" which is all this world can ever give us.
And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. Rev 6:11
"White robes" speak of being clothed with the "righteousness" of Christ. While on our earthly sojourn we do find our seasons of rest and these are times when we often are called to encourage and comfort our brothers and sisters and our fellow servants. We are to be just as Jesus, our pattern; called to lay down our lives one for another. You can never comfort and encourage another by prayer or word except you have suffered first. True empathy and Agape love is wrought from the sacrifice of ourselves even unto death ............ and so it is said, "we (our old man) are being killed all day long."
"For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered." Rom 8:36
"For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them." 2Cor 5:14-15
One of my favorite quotes is posted on our blog's side bar and it describes Brother Lawrence, an old departed saint from a past century. A year ago I read this quote describing his life which was given to contemplative prayer and service of others. I believe it is also a true description of a son being drawn close and united in love with the Most Precious of Sons. "The humility of the cross became more desirable to him than all the glory the world had to offer."
In closing please allow me to share as an example a couple of events last week that so blessed my heart and brought encouragement and refreshment to my soul. I have possibly written earlier in this blog, of a young family I know that has sort of adopted me and me them. They live but a block away and it is often the highlight of my week to pay them a visit. Sometimes these visits are just to shoot the breeze with the young father, Stephen or to give gifts to the four children after I tease and jest them for a period. However bar none, the most precious of times is when on occasion Christie, the young mother, and I get to share Christ over coffee or in prayer.
It so happens we live in one of the most beautiful places in all the world; Jackson Hole, Wyoming but now days it seems I hardly ever really see the beauty all about me. Instead, mostly I find great blessing and joy to see the beauty within others. Just last week I experienced a couple of the most wondrous of times of joy and blessing as I witnessed the beauty of the indwelling Christ within my friend Christie. With one occasion Christie shared with me that her greatest and growing desire was to know God as the closest of all friends. That was pretty neat but when I heard her also say that she had prayed the Father that she was willing to share in the sufferings of Christ by trial I knew she would be found as more than a friend of God but as a dear and valued son. How rare and priceless a treasure it is, to have another share with you such a desire and hunger for Him. I was and am truly blessed!
The second event occurred a few days earlier on Sunday. I was just coming out of a short time of dryness and that morning I had awakened with a dawning new tenderness in my spirit where it was hard to even think of the Lord without tears falling. I paid this family a visit during the late morning and after rousting about with the kids I was quickened by the Holy Spirit to ask Christie to join me in prayer for some others in need, before I left. As Christie and I prayed the skies outside began to thunder with promise of a long awaited and needed rain. Soon after the thunder the sound of a steady rainfall filled the air and as we prayed inside the house we both remarked in amazement how we both could actually feel His holy and refreshing rain falling down upon us. We could feel each graceful drop showering us and those we prayed for with His tender love. It brings tears now even writing about it. He is so good, and isn't it great to be his son!
BE blessed and I pray some of you sons might read these scriptures (below) with a little more meaning and little more blessing,
Jack
Roman 8
5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
26Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Link to Torango's writing "The Cry of Our New Birth"
http://www.thehouseofthelord.com/The_Cry_Of_Our_New_Birth.html
also this is a wonderful writing by the recently departed Ray Prinzing dealing with "the dicipline of sons" It is entitled "The Corrective Judgements of God"
http://home.att.net/~spiritword/Prinzing/all_all/all_11.htm
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We cannot contain the overflowing cup of His love thus we share with you these messages of the Life of our Lord as lived out in His saints.
