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.
THE MISSING APOCALYPSE
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HaHa!! The best I've read on "the end of the world", that just happened. And my friends, remember, always drink upstream of the herd! lol
Promises, Promises
May 22, 2011,
Anthony Sacramone
With the possible exception of Harold Camping himself, nobody wanted the world to end yesterday more than me. I’m thoroughly sick of the joint. War, rumors of war, politicians, lies (but I repeat myself), cancer clusters, unemployment, certified public accountants, season 7 of House. The whole thing could have exploded in a gargantuan ball of green flame, and I would have been there in the cheap seats with my popcorn (small, no butter) waving goodbye.
In fact, when the infallible date of May 21 was first announced, I was dismayed by all the naysayers mocking Brother Camping and his peculiar brand of narcissistic eisegesis. Could I at least have a few days of wishful thinking, please?
Well, the day has come and gone, and my AMEX bill must still be paid Tuesday. But before those of you who saw through this hokum have a good gloat, keep something in mind: Camping was just an extreme example of a scary form of idolatry that is very, very old and very, very prevalent in every denomination—namely, the cult of personality.
The rapture rap, after all, is newish but not new. It’s a product of the 19th century, popularized by Anglo-Irish Calvinist John Nelson Darby and sent coursing through the veins of American fundamentalist Christianity via the correspondence courses turned study Bible of the phony “D.D.” and dubious family man C.I. Scofield. But the fires of millennial apocalypticism tend to dim over time without fiery types to preach its eerie imminence. Granted, Camping has all the charisma of a coroner reading a Microsoft end-user licensing agreement, with that hangdog look and intonation just left of kill me now. Yet he proved over time sufficiently convincing in his “studies” to convince hundreds of thousands, if not millions, that his gimcrack methodology was sound, nay, properly prophetic. And he has been far from alone in preaching that the end is nigh: “Who can forget Herbert W. Armstrong, who started his own quasi-Adventist church dedicated to British Israelism and doomsday speculations. Trending more mainstream, I remember Pat Robertson spouting something on the 700 Club about 1988 being the year to end all years. Today John Hagee and, yes, Hal Lindsey are still going strong, only they’re smart enough to know that actually picking a date is bad for business. (Keep in mind that Lindsey’s bestselling Late Great Planet Earth was published more than 40 years ago—and he’s still on TBN covering events in the Middle East with all the joyful expectation of Robespierre at a gallows half-off sale.)
You might be saying to yourself, “Sure, a buncha fundy, dispensationalist cranks with clever marketing skills. Tough luck on their ignorant, desperate disciples.” But ask yourself something: If your pastor, preacher, teacher, elder, priest were to walk into an open manhole tomorrow, only to be replaced by some less-winsome personality, would you leave your church? If so, leave now.
Better yet: if your pastor, preacher, teacher, elder, priest were to be led out in handcuffs tomorrow, or discovered to have run off to Acapulco with the 16-year-old daughter of the youth minister, would you consider leaving the Church, full stop? If so, leave now.
Evangelical churches seem to be particularly susceptible to superstar preachers, because of the emphasis on preaching. We want to hear a new, fresh take on the old wooden Cross. We need some spiritual Red Bull to keep our enthusiasm up, but too often we wind up with just the bull.
But priests, too, can beguile, if less flamboyantly or on a lower scale. They too can usurp from their proper recipient the devotion and attention of congregants. But liturgical churches, those that emphasis not just our faith but also the Faith, the creeds, and the fact that the church is the bride of Christ and not a franchise, offer greater, albeit not infallible, safeguards against the cult of personality, not to mention the Armageddon clock-watching. (Perhaps the liturgical calendar, with its reassuring rhythms, provides its own kind of antidote.)
So the next time you hear that your guy (or, in some cases, gal) will not be leading worship on a particular Sunday, ask yourself if your heart sinks a little, and whether you even reconsider showing up for services until he/she makes his/her return. If so, ask yourself why — and in whom you have been putting your faith. May 21 may not have been the end, but of the making of many self-styled prophets there is definitely no end. ~ Sacramone
*great article if we can wink a little at the author's sleepy liturgical leanings ~ Jack
HaHa!! The best I've read on "the end of the world", that just happened. And my friends, remember, always drink upstream of the herd! lol
Promises, Promises
May 22, 2011,
Anthony Sacramone
With the possible exception of Harold Camping himself, nobody wanted the world to end yesterday more than me. I’m thoroughly sick of the joint. War, rumors of war, politicians, lies (but I repeat myself), cancer clusters, unemployment, certified public accountants, season 7 of House. The whole thing could have exploded in a gargantuan ball of green flame, and I would have been there in the cheap seats with my popcorn (small, no butter) waving goodbye.
In fact, when the infallible date of May 21 was first announced, I was dismayed by all the naysayers mocking Brother Camping and his peculiar brand of narcissistic eisegesis. Could I at least have a few days of wishful thinking, please?
Well, the day has come and gone, and my AMEX bill must still be paid Tuesday. But before those of you who saw through this hokum have a good gloat, keep something in mind: Camping was just an extreme example of a scary form of idolatry that is very, very old and very, very prevalent in every denomination—namely, the cult of personality.
The rapture rap, after all, is newish but not new. It’s a product of the 19th century, popularized by Anglo-Irish Calvinist John Nelson Darby and sent coursing through the veins of American fundamentalist Christianity via the correspondence courses turned study Bible of the phony “D.D.” and dubious family man C.I. Scofield. But the fires of millennial apocalypticism tend to dim over time without fiery types to preach its eerie imminence. Granted, Camping has all the charisma of a coroner reading a Microsoft end-user licensing agreement, with that hangdog look and intonation just left of kill me now. Yet he proved over time sufficiently convincing in his “studies” to convince hundreds of thousands, if not millions, that his gimcrack methodology was sound, nay, properly prophetic. And he has been far from alone in preaching that the end is nigh: “Who can forget Herbert W. Armstrong, who started his own quasi-Adventist church dedicated to British Israelism and doomsday speculations. Trending more mainstream, I remember Pat Robertson spouting something on the 700 Club about 1988 being the year to end all years. Today John Hagee and, yes, Hal Lindsey are still going strong, only they’re smart enough to know that actually picking a date is bad for business. (Keep in mind that Lindsey’s bestselling Late Great Planet Earth was published more than 40 years ago—and he’s still on TBN covering events in the Middle East with all the joyful expectation of Robespierre at a gallows half-off sale.)
You might be saying to yourself, “Sure, a buncha fundy, dispensationalist cranks with clever marketing skills. Tough luck on their ignorant, desperate disciples.” But ask yourself something: If your pastor, preacher, teacher, elder, priest were to walk into an open manhole tomorrow, only to be replaced by some less-winsome personality, would you leave your church? If so, leave now.
Better yet: if your pastor, preacher, teacher, elder, priest were to be led out in handcuffs tomorrow, or discovered to have run off to Acapulco with the 16-year-old daughter of the youth minister, would you consider leaving the Church, full stop? If so, leave now.
Evangelical churches seem to be particularly susceptible to superstar preachers, because of the emphasis on preaching. We want to hear a new, fresh take on the old wooden Cross. We need some spiritual Red Bull to keep our enthusiasm up, but too often we wind up with just the bull.
But priests, too, can beguile, if less flamboyantly or on a lower scale. They too can usurp from their proper recipient the devotion and attention of congregants. But liturgical churches, those that emphasis not just our faith but also the Faith, the creeds, and the fact that the church is the bride of Christ and not a franchise, offer greater, albeit not infallible, safeguards against the cult of personality, not to mention the Armageddon clock-watching. (Perhaps the liturgical calendar, with its reassuring rhythms, provides its own kind of antidote.)
So the next time you hear that your guy (or, in some cases, gal) will not be leading worship on a particular Sunday, ask yourself if your heart sinks a little, and whether you even reconsider showing up for services until he/she makes his/her return. If so, ask yourself why — and in whom you have been putting your faith. May 21 may not have been the end, but of the making of many self-styled prophets there is definitely no end. ~ Sacramone
*great article if we can wink a little at the author's sleepy liturgical leanings ~ Jack
JOURNEY TO THE INWARD ROOM
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How often, I have chided those that have taken their leave in this world, "Pick up thy cross pilgrim!" The secret is, we cannot assist in this journey, for this walk is all His. To attempt to pick up the cross, but only signals the advent of our pilgrimage of grace. For in lifting the cross, we discover there is only One, that can bear such weight.
With Ellie's series on "Leaving Bethel" I share this message as only an echoing supplement, to her encouraging word. As our sister has shared, we are leaving religion. Religion, is to believe man has a desire to die to self and with it, the ability to carry the cross. Modern Christianity, with it's whorish church system, is built upon the foundation, of this very very false premise. To the greatest contrary, the "cross", is a "God work", so awesomely Holy, man can have no part in it. Only Christ, within can carry the cross and with this, we die even to our effort. Let all Heaven and earth, bow to Him alone, who is Holy and Able!
CHRIST, THE INWARD ROOM WHERE IS
FOUND EVERYWHERE AND EVERYTHING
Pick up thy cross pilgrim. We are leaving the leeks and garlic of Egypt and are moving to the other side!
"And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. In the same way, none of you can be my disciples, unless you give up everything."
(Heb 11:13-16, Lk 14:33)
God's sons are sojourners, heaven bent. They are not here on earth, to gather and take their inheritance on this side. Daniel knew to refuse the pleasant bread and Jesus became the bread, worthy of all those that followed Him. These pilgrims had nary a place to lay their head, save Jesus, the Promise and Pattern Son. So it is, like Jesus, we die to our selves and die to the things of this world, to follow Him on into Resurrection Life. We cannot assist in this journey, for this walk is all His. To attempt to pick up the cross, but only signals the advent of our pilgrimage of grace. For in lifting the cross, we discover there is only One, that can bear such weight. He even stands before us at paradise gate.
Ray Prinzing wrote beautifully about the stranger and sojourner, we have become. Here is one of many inspired messages he wrote. It is entitled the "As a Stranger." I pray it will encourage and bless you.
“By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as a stranger, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (Heb. 11:9-10)
It was girded up with faith that Abraham sojourned in the land of promise. He was actually in the midst of that land, it was alongside of him everywhere, yet he kept the status of a stranger, with temporary dwelling of tents. He recognized where his citizenship belonged, even in his fatherland, a realm that was beyond this natural, temporal land, and he knew his seed would inherit it after him, he would not settle down as if this was his permanent dwelling place. He could believe for the promise, even swell in the midst of it, but it was not the totality of his vision. The natural promise and fulfillment were to him only the projection of a vision, and he desired the reality and fulfillment of the greater.
If one is content to live in the midst of signs and symbols, they will not go on into the fulfillment of what that sign was pointing to. Abraham looked beyond – he did not belong to the promise, the promise belonged to him. He belonged to the One that was able to fulfill the promise, and satisfy the inner desires of the heart. To be sure, there are a lot of “promises” which belong to us, but how much do we belong to the PROMISER? Belong to Him Who shall work a total redemption!
God has promised us many natural blessings – they pertain to this LAND, this earthen vessel. Food, clothing, etc., your Father knoweth ye have need of these things. But for all these natural blessings, those who have caught a vision of the greater realities, become a stranger to these things. We will not drive our stakes down and settle for present portions – certainly not for the natural blessings, nor yet even for the spiritual blessings of the “in part.” We look for a greater, “when that which is perfect is come.” (end quote)
My friend, "Heaven on Earth" is a paradisaical realm of unimaginable glory and it lays closer, than the nose is to your face. Only Jesus can unlock the gate, to this paradise. He is even the Gate and Paradise Himself, the Supernal Garden that rests within each of us.
Adam, which be you and me, has left the external paradise for greater still. This new paradise is Christ and He is within. For when we see Him, we'll not care to keep the lesser, which stands without, but instead give all, for the better that rests within.
And now good-morrow to our waking souls,
Which watch not one another out of fear;
For love, all love of other sights controls,
And makes one little room, an everywhere
~ Donne
"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments. and His ways past finding out! For from Him every thing comes; through Him everything exists ; and in Him everything ends! Glory to Him forever! Amen." Rom. 11:33,36
.
How often, I have chided those that have taken their leave in this world, "Pick up thy cross pilgrim!" The secret is, we cannot assist in this journey, for this walk is all His. To attempt to pick up the cross, but only signals the advent of our pilgrimage of grace. For in lifting the cross, we discover there is only One, that can bear such weight.With Ellie's series on "Leaving Bethel" I share this message as only an echoing supplement, to her encouraging word. As our sister has shared, we are leaving religion. Religion, is to believe man has a desire to die to self and with it, the ability to carry the cross. Modern Christianity, with it's whorish church system, is built upon the foundation, of this very very false premise. To the greatest contrary, the "cross", is a "God work", so awesomely Holy, man can have no part in it. Only Christ, within can carry the cross and with this, we die even to our effort. Let all Heaven and earth, bow to Him alone, who is Holy and Able!
CHRIST, THE INWARD ROOM WHERE IS
FOUND EVERYWHERE AND EVERYTHING
Pick up thy cross pilgrim. We are leaving the leeks and garlic of Egypt and are moving to the other side!
"And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. In the same way, none of you can be my disciples, unless you give up everything."
(Heb 11:13-16, Lk 14:33)
God's sons are sojourners, heaven bent. They are not here on earth, to gather and take their inheritance on this side. Daniel knew to refuse the pleasant bread and Jesus became the bread, worthy of all those that followed Him. These pilgrims had nary a place to lay their head, save Jesus, the Promise and Pattern Son. So it is, like Jesus, we die to our selves and die to the things of this world, to follow Him on into Resurrection Life. We cannot assist in this journey, for this walk is all His. To attempt to pick up the cross, but only signals the advent of our pilgrimage of grace. For in lifting the cross, we discover there is only One, that can bear such weight. He even stands before us at paradise gate.
Ray Prinzing wrote beautifully about the stranger and sojourner, we have become. Here is one of many inspired messages he wrote. It is entitled the "As a Stranger." I pray it will encourage and bless you.
“By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as a stranger, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (Heb. 11:9-10)
It was girded up with faith that Abraham sojourned in the land of promise. He was actually in the midst of that land, it was alongside of him everywhere, yet he kept the status of a stranger, with temporary dwelling of tents. He recognized where his citizenship belonged, even in his fatherland, a realm that was beyond this natural, temporal land, and he knew his seed would inherit it after him, he would not settle down as if this was his permanent dwelling place. He could believe for the promise, even swell in the midst of it, but it was not the totality of his vision. The natural promise and fulfillment were to him only the projection of a vision, and he desired the reality and fulfillment of the greater.
If one is content to live in the midst of signs and symbols, they will not go on into the fulfillment of what that sign was pointing to. Abraham looked beyond – he did not belong to the promise, the promise belonged to him. He belonged to the One that was able to fulfill the promise, and satisfy the inner desires of the heart. To be sure, there are a lot of “promises” which belong to us, but how much do we belong to the PROMISER? Belong to Him Who shall work a total redemption!
God has promised us many natural blessings – they pertain to this LAND, this earthen vessel. Food, clothing, etc., your Father knoweth ye have need of these things. But for all these natural blessings, those who have caught a vision of the greater realities, become a stranger to these things. We will not drive our stakes down and settle for present portions – certainly not for the natural blessings, nor yet even for the spiritual blessings of the “in part.” We look for a greater, “when that which is perfect is come.” (end quote)
My friend, "Heaven on Earth" is a paradisaical realm of unimaginable glory and it lays closer, than the nose is to your face. Only Jesus can unlock the gate, to this paradise. He is even the Gate and Paradise Himself, the Supernal Garden that rests within each of us.
Adam, which be you and me, has left the external paradise for greater still. This new paradise is Christ and He is within. For when we see Him, we'll not care to keep the lesser, which stands without, but instead give all, for the better that rests within.
And now good-morrow to our waking souls,
Which watch not one another out of fear;
For love, all love of other sights controls,
And makes one little room, an everywhere
~ Donne
"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments. and His ways past finding out! For from Him every thing comes; through Him everything exists ; and in Him everything ends! Glory to Him forever! Amen." Rom. 11:33,36
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Leaving Bethel part three
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Part 3 ..... “The Inward Bethel....feeding on His life”
In the original story found in Genesis we see how man is given the instructions that he is free to partake of all the trees of the garden EXCEPT from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ....”And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, 'Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.'” (Genesis 2:16-17).
Again, as there are wheels within the wheel, there is an external dimension of Bethel I see as being a place prepared for those that have heard the call ‘to come out of her my people’. This call to leave the man- made church system can be for some, traumatic and for others, liberating. It is a time of questioning everything that one has ever been taught from that system. Up to this point the believer has endured much stripping and purging in order to bring them to this place where they are able to see and HEAR what the Spirit is saying.
Now is the time where the realization hits them that they have been lied to by the Babylonian system and that many things that they have learned are false and this creates such a shaking within their earth. It not only shakes them to the core but it also creates a hunger for THE truth. This hunger is a good thing and the Lord wants to satisfy it with Himself for He is the Spirit of Truth .... and this nourishment can only come about through the eating of His flesh (word) and drinking of His blood (spirit). This is why the Lord leads his called out ones to Bethel/Eden for it is here that they are given a place to rest and be fed. The Shepherd leads them to this garden of
green pastures and once again they too are told that they can eat of every tree of this garden EXCEPT one.
They are given many trees to eat from (trees are symbolic in scripture of representing people). These trees represent the celestial teachers that the Holy Spirit has provided to those who have made the journey to Bethel. They are free to eat from the fruit of these teachers lives. This is a glorious time of eating, drinking, and fellowshipping and this that I speak of is in the Spirit, not literal eating and drinking natural food but partaking of spiritual food and drink. The Lord delights to give us the Kingdom, he delights in our communion with one another for He is the
LIVING BREAD which has come down from heaven....and all those that are joined to Him also become that living bread in the earth.
Let us hear the word of the Lord ... “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I
will give for the life of the world ..... Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by
the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. (John 6:51;53-58)(emphasis mine).
I find it interesting that the Lord instructs us that in order for us to live we must do two things, eat his flesh AND drink his blood. He makes it very clear that those who eat of His flesh and drink of His blood He will raise at the last day. Those that are DWELLING IN HIM are those that HE DWELLS IN .... these are they who are eating of His flesh and drinking of His blood. The Lord explains that just as He lives by the Father so too as we eat of Him we will live by Him. Now this is a mystery indeed. This is not a work that we can do but that He does in us. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Phil.2:13).
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:10) He gives us the appetite for His word and gives us the thirst for His Spirit .... He is the one who will “make you perfect in every good work to do His will, doing in you that which is well-pleasing before Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory -- to the ages of the ages! Amen.” (Heb.13:21). This is rest, knowing that He is the one who brings this about within us. He is the one who gives us the grace to utter the prayer “Lord help me to yield today to your workmanship” and “Lord help me today to learn what it is that you want to teach me”.
Brother Prinzing shares so beautifully this point of how it is all HIS WORK, HIS LIFE that brings this about within us ..... “Though all natural illustrations have their limitations, yet they also give us glimpses into principles of truth. In those areas of our country where we have the change of seasons, with summer and winter, we find there are certain trees, rose bushes, types of shrubbery, etc. that seem to often retain their leaves in the fall -- brown, dead, yet clinging to the branch. The winds and snows of winter cannot remove them. But come spring, with the upsurge of NEW LIFE, the inner life that flows outward through the branch will force the old leaves to fall off, that the new leaves might appear. It does no good to condemn the tree in the fall, the brown leaves hang on. You might carefully try to pick them off one by one. Or, you can wait till that NEW LIFE FLOWS, and then the INNER LIFE accomplishes what all the exterior condemnations could never do.
Furthermore, as the new life emerges, it does not carry on with harsh inditements, "get out of my way, you ugly, dead leaf." It simply LIVES, it quietly expresses its life, and everything that bespeaks of death falls away.
The more we are POSSESSED BY THE LIFE OF THE CHRIST, we will not condemn ourselves, nor anyone around us, concerning the things of the flesh, for HIS LIFE will cause them to drop off, while all the more HE is manifested in the positiveness of His victory.” (End quote).
I love that quote ... it is so beautifully true. How gentle are His ways....truly it is His gentleness that makes us great. How glorious and good is our Father! It really is all about the simplicity of Christ. Did not our Lord teach us how to pray? He instructed us to pray for our DAILY BREAD. Each day I ask my Father to give me His daily bread that He has for me and my family. I also ask for His grace to see it (his daily bread)...for the grace to recognize it when it is given .... and for the grace to learn what it is that He wants to teach me so that I am NOURISHED by Him. He is so good to hear and answer this prayer....for once again it is HIM that is working in me to will and to do ..... all praise to His most glorious name!
What does this daily bread look like to you my beloved? I will tell you what it looks like for me in this season that the Lord has me in. I see his daily bread in the four little loaves that He has given me to raise, these four loaves are my precious little children. I see, taste, touch and experience His daily bread in the glorious gift that He has given to me in my beloved husband. Truly, these five precious loaves that the Lord has given to me is His daily bread that brings nourishment to my body, soul, and spirit. I find His expressions, His words, His tenderness, correction, joy, comfort, encouragement, love, truth, wisdom in the lives/bread of my husband and children .... I am nourished by my Lord through their voices, their hugs and kisses, their laughter, their tears, their questions, their trials, their triumphs ..... many lessons are taught to me through my family....the Lord uses them in such intricate ways to process me and conform me INTO His image. I give you praise Lord ..... oh how I love you so. Oh yes, the Lord also gives to me His daily bread found in the lives of many others as well....those that have shared in His cross, that know Him and His ways. These are those that not only know the written word but have had the breath of the Spirit write it upon their hearts and are now BECOME His living epistles that are read by all men. I praise you Lord.
As we eat of His flesh(Word) and drink of His blood(Spirit) we shall dwell in Him and live by Him. “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”(Jhn.15:5) This is UNION. This is the union that Jesus spoke of when ‘Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (Jn.5:19). I am amazed at how the Lord will allow circumstances to touch our lives to not only show us the truth that APART FROM HIM WE CAN DO NOTHING but also to let us EXPERIENCE this truth in our daily lives. I can testify to the truth that I have been learning this lesson daily and I dare say it has been quite painful...for it has been a year of new emptyings, new strippings, new purgings and yet all of this has happened for my GOOD in order that He can FILL me with His strength and BE my strength. It is one thing to quote the verse “The Lord is my strength” .... and quite another thing to KNOW HIM AS STRENGTH....truly this is when the scripture becomes REALITY within. He would have our eyes so singular upon Him that whatever He is gazing at we would be too. He would have our hearts beat in such rhythm with His that whatever moves His heartbeat moves ours too. This is what He is doing within us as we feed on His life....as the old saying goes .... ’you are what you eat’ ..... so true indeed ..... we are becoming ONE in His life.
It is in eating of His flesh that we are renewed in our mind and are able to discern the difference between the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (soul) and the tree of life (spirit).
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb.4:12).
There are many within the ekklesia that have yet to come into the understanding that the Word is LIVING .... the WORD is Jesus Christ Himself .... ”The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14). Not only does He dwell among us but He dwells WITHIN us .... ”Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21).
Just yesterday a dear friend of mine retold a conversation she had with another christian lady. In this conversation my dear friend was retelling how this lady spoke of her love for the Word (the letter) and how she loves those that also see the Word as very black and white. My precious friend was troubled by this statement but didn’t really know why .... I then explained to her the reason she had a check in her Spirit was because THE WORD is living...and COLORFUL .... He is Spirit and in Him is LIFE. “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” (2 Cor.3:6).
These beloved children of God, like this precious lady mentioned above, know Him as the letter. He is the man that walked the shores of Galilee two thousand years ago, the man that fed the five thousand with only a couple of loaves of bread and a few fish. They have read of this man in the holy scriptures and believe in this man. They have even put their trust in this man for their salvation but they still don’t really KNOW this man. They still have not really come to know His voice within. They look to their daily devotional to hear ‘a word’. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a daily devotional, I enjoy reading one too and yet I am very much aware that the Lord uses it as he does with other writings including the scriptures to CONFIRM what He has been speaking WITHIN.
All we have to do is remember back to the dark ages, a period of time where Father’s holy sons and daughters were not permitted to read the scriptures on their own. These saints were not given access to the holy scriptures, they certainly did not have access to any lexicons or a concordance either, and yet it was during this time that some of the greatest REVELATIONS of God were given. How did this happen? Jesus was the LIVING WORD .... they came to know His voice within. As Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). These precious sheep of the dark ages sat at His feet and heard Him. He would then open up their spiritual eyes to see some of the most glorious mysteries hidden in the scriptures. I have been enriched by the broken bread found within the life of a precious daughter of the King that lived in the 1600's. I sit in awe as I read what the Lord allowed her to see and experience. She knew THE WORD on such an intimate level as very few have known Him. She knew His voice WITHIN. This is true for all those that FEED ON HIS LIFE .... I give Him praise even now.
Continued in Pt. 4 “The Inward Bethel .... Sinking Into”
Part 3 ..... “The Inward Bethel....feeding on His life”
In the original story found in Genesis we see how man is given the instructions that he is free to partake of all the trees of the garden EXCEPT from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ....”And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, 'Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.'” (Genesis 2:16-17).
Again, as there are wheels within the wheel, there is an external dimension of Bethel I see as being a place prepared for those that have heard the call ‘to come out of her my people’. This call to leave the man- made church system can be for some, traumatic and for others, liberating. It is a time of questioning everything that one has ever been taught from that system. Up to this point the believer has endured much stripping and purging in order to bring them to this place where they are able to see and HEAR what the Spirit is saying.
Now is the time where the realization hits them that they have been lied to by the Babylonian system and that many things that they have learned are false and this creates such a shaking within their earth. It not only shakes them to the core but it also creates a hunger for THE truth. This hunger is a good thing and the Lord wants to satisfy it with Himself for He is the Spirit of Truth .... and this nourishment can only come about through the eating of His flesh (word) and drinking of His blood (spirit). This is why the Lord leads his called out ones to Bethel/Eden for it is here that they are given a place to rest and be fed. The Shepherd leads them to this garden of
green pastures and once again they too are told that they can eat of every tree of this garden EXCEPT one.
They are given many trees to eat from (trees are symbolic in scripture of representing people). These trees represent the celestial teachers that the Holy Spirit has provided to those who have made the journey to Bethel. They are free to eat from the fruit of these teachers lives. This is a glorious time of eating, drinking, and fellowshipping and this that I speak of is in the Spirit, not literal eating and drinking natural food but partaking of spiritual food and drink. The Lord delights to give us the Kingdom, he delights in our communion with one another for He is the
LIVING BREAD which has come down from heaven....and all those that are joined to Him also become that living bread in the earth.
Let us hear the word of the Lord ... “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I
will give for the life of the world ..... Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by
the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. (John 6:51;53-58)(emphasis mine).
I find it interesting that the Lord instructs us that in order for us to live we must do two things, eat his flesh AND drink his blood. He makes it very clear that those who eat of His flesh and drink of His blood He will raise at the last day. Those that are DWELLING IN HIM are those that HE DWELLS IN .... these are they who are eating of His flesh and drinking of His blood. The Lord explains that just as He lives by the Father so too as we eat of Him we will live by Him. Now this is a mystery indeed. This is not a work that we can do but that He does in us. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Phil.2:13).
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:10) He gives us the appetite for His word and gives us the thirst for His Spirit .... He is the one who will “make you perfect in every good work to do His will, doing in you that which is well-pleasing before Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory -- to the ages of the ages! Amen.” (Heb.13:21). This is rest, knowing that He is the one who brings this about within us. He is the one who gives us the grace to utter the prayer “Lord help me to yield today to your workmanship” and “Lord help me today to learn what it is that you want to teach me”.
Brother Prinzing shares so beautifully this point of how it is all HIS WORK, HIS LIFE that brings this about within us ..... “Though all natural illustrations have their limitations, yet they also give us glimpses into principles of truth. In those areas of our country where we have the change of seasons, with summer and winter, we find there are certain trees, rose bushes, types of shrubbery, etc. that seem to often retain their leaves in the fall -- brown, dead, yet clinging to the branch. The winds and snows of winter cannot remove them. But come spring, with the upsurge of NEW LIFE, the inner life that flows outward through the branch will force the old leaves to fall off, that the new leaves might appear. It does no good to condemn the tree in the fall, the brown leaves hang on. You might carefully try to pick them off one by one. Or, you can wait till that NEW LIFE FLOWS, and then the INNER LIFE accomplishes what all the exterior condemnations could never do.
Furthermore, as the new life emerges, it does not carry on with harsh inditements, "get out of my way, you ugly, dead leaf." It simply LIVES, it quietly expresses its life, and everything that bespeaks of death falls away.
The more we are POSSESSED BY THE LIFE OF THE CHRIST, we will not condemn ourselves, nor anyone around us, concerning the things of the flesh, for HIS LIFE will cause them to drop off, while all the more HE is manifested in the positiveness of His victory.” (End quote).
I love that quote ... it is so beautifully true. How gentle are His ways....truly it is His gentleness that makes us great. How glorious and good is our Father! It really is all about the simplicity of Christ. Did not our Lord teach us how to pray? He instructed us to pray for our DAILY BREAD. Each day I ask my Father to give me His daily bread that He has for me and my family. I also ask for His grace to see it (his daily bread)...for the grace to recognize it when it is given .... and for the grace to learn what it is that He wants to teach me so that I am NOURISHED by Him. He is so good to hear and answer this prayer....for once again it is HIM that is working in me to will and to do ..... all praise to His most glorious name!
What does this daily bread look like to you my beloved? I will tell you what it looks like for me in this season that the Lord has me in. I see his daily bread in the four little loaves that He has given me to raise, these four loaves are my precious little children. I see, taste, touch and experience His daily bread in the glorious gift that He has given to me in my beloved husband. Truly, these five precious loaves that the Lord has given to me is His daily bread that brings nourishment to my body, soul, and spirit. I find His expressions, His words, His tenderness, correction, joy, comfort, encouragement, love, truth, wisdom in the lives/bread of my husband and children .... I am nourished by my Lord through their voices, their hugs and kisses, their laughter, their tears, their questions, their trials, their triumphs ..... many lessons are taught to me through my family....the Lord uses them in such intricate ways to process me and conform me INTO His image. I give you praise Lord ..... oh how I love you so. Oh yes, the Lord also gives to me His daily bread found in the lives of many others as well....those that have shared in His cross, that know Him and His ways. These are those that not only know the written word but have had the breath of the Spirit write it upon their hearts and are now BECOME His living epistles that are read by all men. I praise you Lord.
As we eat of His flesh(Word) and drink of His blood(Spirit) we shall dwell in Him and live by Him. “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”(Jhn.15:5) This is UNION. This is the union that Jesus spoke of when ‘Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (Jn.5:19). I am amazed at how the Lord will allow circumstances to touch our lives to not only show us the truth that APART FROM HIM WE CAN DO NOTHING but also to let us EXPERIENCE this truth in our daily lives. I can testify to the truth that I have been learning this lesson daily and I dare say it has been quite painful...for it has been a year of new emptyings, new strippings, new purgings and yet all of this has happened for my GOOD in order that He can FILL me with His strength and BE my strength. It is one thing to quote the verse “The Lord is my strength” .... and quite another thing to KNOW HIM AS STRENGTH....truly this is when the scripture becomes REALITY within. He would have our eyes so singular upon Him that whatever He is gazing at we would be too. He would have our hearts beat in such rhythm with His that whatever moves His heartbeat moves ours too. This is what He is doing within us as we feed on His life....as the old saying goes .... ’you are what you eat’ ..... so true indeed ..... we are becoming ONE in His life.
It is in eating of His flesh that we are renewed in our mind and are able to discern the difference between the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (soul) and the tree of life (spirit).
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb.4:12).
There are many within the ekklesia that have yet to come into the understanding that the Word is LIVING .... the WORD is Jesus Christ Himself .... ”The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14). Not only does He dwell among us but He dwells WITHIN us .... ”Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21).
Just yesterday a dear friend of mine retold a conversation she had with another christian lady. In this conversation my dear friend was retelling how this lady spoke of her love for the Word (the letter) and how she loves those that also see the Word as very black and white. My precious friend was troubled by this statement but didn’t really know why .... I then explained to her the reason she had a check in her Spirit was because THE WORD is living...and COLORFUL .... He is Spirit and in Him is LIFE. “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” (2 Cor.3:6).
These beloved children of God, like this precious lady mentioned above, know Him as the letter. He is the man that walked the shores of Galilee two thousand years ago, the man that fed the five thousand with only a couple of loaves of bread and a few fish. They have read of this man in the holy scriptures and believe in this man. They have even put their trust in this man for their salvation but they still don’t really KNOW this man. They still have not really come to know His voice within. They look to their daily devotional to hear ‘a word’. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a daily devotional, I enjoy reading one too and yet I am very much aware that the Lord uses it as he does with other writings including the scriptures to CONFIRM what He has been speaking WITHIN.
All we have to do is remember back to the dark ages, a period of time where Father’s holy sons and daughters were not permitted to read the scriptures on their own. These saints were not given access to the holy scriptures, they certainly did not have access to any lexicons or a concordance either, and yet it was during this time that some of the greatest REVELATIONS of God were given. How did this happen? Jesus was the LIVING WORD .... they came to know His voice within. As Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). These precious sheep of the dark ages sat at His feet and heard Him. He would then open up their spiritual eyes to see some of the most glorious mysteries hidden in the scriptures. I have been enriched by the broken bread found within the life of a precious daughter of the King that lived in the 1600's. I sit in awe as I read what the Lord allowed her to see and experience. She knew THE WORD on such an intimate level as very few have known Him. She knew His voice WITHIN. This is true for all those that FEED ON HIS LIFE .... I give Him praise even now.
Continued in Pt. 4 “The Inward Bethel .... Sinking Into”
Leaving Bethel part two
.
I would like to touch upon the external dimension that I have seen and experienced regarding how this test unfolds within the sojourner’s life as they encounter Bethel/Eden for the first time.
As I have stated in the previous article there is an external dimension of Bethel where it is known as the place in time where one leaves the man-made church system and they come into the realization that they are the ‘church/temple/house of God’.....they don’t have to GO to church....but that they ARE the church. I really don’t like to use the word ‘church’ for its meaning is derived from ‘circus’ (and how true that is and sad at the same time) so I would prefer to use the original word when referring to the Lord’s called out ones and that is the greek word ‘ekklesia’(strong’s G1577).
It really is a liberating time on so many levels when one finally arrives spiritually at Bethel. I remember how freeing me and my husband felt when we finally cut the chord of the ‘church’ and entered into enjoying our weekend. No more having to hurry up and get the family dressed for ‘church’...no more feeling like we had wasted an entire day with church activities and not having enough time to enjoy our family, really all of it was nothing more than works of the flesh and saying good-bye to that was joyful and freeing. It was also a time of child like wonder...of the Holy Spirit introducing us to new teachers...those that have been born OF HIM...established BY HIM... those of HIS KINGDOM. How delightful it was when the Holy Spirit gave to us these heavenly teachers to help us learn of deep kingdom truths.
These teachers are His hidden ones. They are hidden from the masses and shun the spotlight. They have been trained on the back side of the desert for many years and have no desire to build an empire. They only want to please the Father. You will not find their teachings being sold in the market places of Christendom either for they have come to understand that freely they have received so freely they must give. No, you will not find His hidden ones, period; unless they are given to you from ABOVE. This is the time where one comes into the experiential understanding of what John meant when He said, “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.”(Jn.3:27). Wow is all I can say.....and I continue to be in awe of all those that have traveled further up Mt. Zion. I honor the Lord in their lives. I appreciate what it has taken and the deaths that they have died in order to manifest more of His life and truth in their earthen vessels....of BECOMING the broken bread that enriches so many.
I love what Ray Prinzing writes about all those that have been called to BECOME HIS BROKEN BREAD..."God is preparing that which shall become “bread for the hungry”. Jesus is the ‘LIVING BREAD which came down from heaven”, (John 6:51), was broken for the world. And now, that which is becoming HIS BODY, becoming in Him “one bread”, (I Corinthians 10:16-17), is also being bruised, broken, as a living sacrifice which shall become the ministration of His life for all of His creation." (end quote).
I give you praise Lord even now for all of your hidden ones, your precious saints that have endured the cross, and are BECOMING ONE with you, to BE your BODY/BREAD that is given for many.
It is during this time of being introduced to new teachers and dining on the richest of fare that the child of God is brought right back to the first test given in Paradise. Yes, this test is still given today. This test is given (and I believe will continue to be given as long as necessary until eventually we pass it) and enter into HIS REST. “ There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.” (Heb.4:9-11).
Many within Bethel begin to eat from various trees and this is good for God created these trees and called them good. Trees in scripture are symbolic for people. It is from the fruit found within the lives of these holy teachers that Yahweh has given, that the saints of Bethel eat from and enjoy. These precious lambs that are being raised within this lush garden begin to have a very discriminating palate. They no longer are drawn to the shallow and corrupted teachings they once were fed while dwelling in the Harlot’s house, but now have come to relish the table set before them by the King himself. They are growing up in Him and their inner man is becoming stronger by the day. This is the time where the test begins to unfold to find out what is in the heart, the appetite of the heart.
It is here that one can be drawn away by the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. It is here that gluttony can begin to crouch at the door. Gluttony for more and more knowledge. This is where the temptation comes to allow oneself to be given over to epicureanism found within the soul. The dictionary defines epicurean as one “devoted to the pursuit of sensual pleasure, especially to the enjoyment of good food and comfort.”
Yes, the soul will always look for comfort. It will shun the cross. The gluttonous appetite will take and take. The glutton has no patience to wait upon the Lord, to wait to receive from the broken bread of His life. The broken bread can only be received from His hands....His nail pierced hands. It is in the waiting of life’s circumstances (the cross), the yielding, the
processings, the inworkings, that we BECOME crucified with Christ and have our eyes opened to SEE HIM.
This is where the spiritual glutton misses it. For the glutton only wants more and more knowledge, wants to hear more and more revelation and has no desire to be decreased so that the Lord can be increased. They are enticed by the pride of life to tell and show off all of their new found knowledge and wisdom. Sadly, this is true even for those who have heard the call to sonship. There is a temptation to go and tell others and share all the glorious revelation that they have received in the garden. The motivation of the heart is really about promoting self in order to gather a following. Did not Jesus warn us of this when He said “He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.” (John 7:18). This is the ego that has now made Bethel into the golden calf. The fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil has now been ingested and SELF has become the idol.
Ah, but those that wait upon the Lord, those that deny self and say yes to His cross, for them there is an entirely different outcome. They become the TREE OF LIFE people.
The truth is that those that say “Yes Lord, not my will, but yours be done” these are those where the message received and ingested becomes the MESSENGER of His life that is manifested.
They become ONE in the message. Christ is now their life.
It is at this point where Bethel is no longer and external dimension of being a place where one is fed, but becomes and internal place of Christ being the source of living water, that flows from the very throne of God.
To be continued......in pt.3.... ‘The Inward Bethel....feeding on His life”
I would like to touch upon the external dimension that I have seen and experienced regarding how this test unfolds within the sojourner’s life as they encounter Bethel/Eden for the first time.
As I have stated in the previous article there is an external dimension of Bethel where it is known as the place in time where one leaves the man-made church system and they come into the realization that they are the ‘church/temple/house of God’.....they don’t have to GO to church....but that they ARE the church. I really don’t like to use the word ‘church’ for its meaning is derived from ‘circus’ (and how true that is and sad at the same time) so I would prefer to use the original word when referring to the Lord’s called out ones and that is the greek word ‘ekklesia’(strong’s G1577).
It really is a liberating time on so many levels when one finally arrives spiritually at Bethel. I remember how freeing me and my husband felt when we finally cut the chord of the ‘church’ and entered into enjoying our weekend. No more having to hurry up and get the family dressed for ‘church’...no more feeling like we had wasted an entire day with church activities and not having enough time to enjoy our family, really all of it was nothing more than works of the flesh and saying good-bye to that was joyful and freeing. It was also a time of child like wonder...of the Holy Spirit introducing us to new teachers...those that have been born OF HIM...established BY HIM... those of HIS KINGDOM. How delightful it was when the Holy Spirit gave to us these heavenly teachers to help us learn of deep kingdom truths.
These teachers are His hidden ones. They are hidden from the masses and shun the spotlight. They have been trained on the back side of the desert for many years and have no desire to build an empire. They only want to please the Father. You will not find their teachings being sold in the market places of Christendom either for they have come to understand that freely they have received so freely they must give. No, you will not find His hidden ones, period; unless they are given to you from ABOVE. This is the time where one comes into the experiential understanding of what John meant when He said, “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.”(Jn.3:27). Wow is all I can say.....and I continue to be in awe of all those that have traveled further up Mt. Zion. I honor the Lord in their lives. I appreciate what it has taken and the deaths that they have died in order to manifest more of His life and truth in their earthen vessels....of BECOMING the broken bread that enriches so many.
I love what Ray Prinzing writes about all those that have been called to BECOME HIS BROKEN BREAD..."God is preparing that which shall become “bread for the hungry”. Jesus is the ‘LIVING BREAD which came down from heaven”, (John 6:51), was broken for the world. And now, that which is becoming HIS BODY, becoming in Him “one bread”, (I Corinthians 10:16-17), is also being bruised, broken, as a living sacrifice which shall become the ministration of His life for all of His creation." (end quote).
I give you praise Lord even now for all of your hidden ones, your precious saints that have endured the cross, and are BECOMING ONE with you, to BE your BODY/BREAD that is given for many.
It is during this time of being introduced to new teachers and dining on the richest of fare that the child of God is brought right back to the first test given in Paradise. Yes, this test is still given today. This test is given (and I believe will continue to be given as long as necessary until eventually we pass it) and enter into HIS REST. “ There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.” (Heb.4:9-11).
Many within Bethel begin to eat from various trees and this is good for God created these trees and called them good. Trees in scripture are symbolic for people. It is from the fruit found within the lives of these holy teachers that Yahweh has given, that the saints of Bethel eat from and enjoy. These precious lambs that are being raised within this lush garden begin to have a very discriminating palate. They no longer are drawn to the shallow and corrupted teachings they once were fed while dwelling in the Harlot’s house, but now have come to relish the table set before them by the King himself. They are growing up in Him and their inner man is becoming stronger by the day. This is the time where the test begins to unfold to find out what is in the heart, the appetite of the heart.
It is here that one can be drawn away by the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. It is here that gluttony can begin to crouch at the door. Gluttony for more and more knowledge. This is where the temptation comes to allow oneself to be given over to epicureanism found within the soul. The dictionary defines epicurean as one “devoted to the pursuit of sensual pleasure, especially to the enjoyment of good food and comfort.”
Yes, the soul will always look for comfort. It will shun the cross. The gluttonous appetite will take and take. The glutton has no patience to wait upon the Lord, to wait to receive from the broken bread of His life. The broken bread can only be received from His hands....His nail pierced hands. It is in the waiting of life’s circumstances (the cross), the yielding, the
processings, the inworkings, that we BECOME crucified with Christ and have our eyes opened to SEE HIM.
This is where the spiritual glutton misses it. For the glutton only wants more and more knowledge, wants to hear more and more revelation and has no desire to be decreased so that the Lord can be increased. They are enticed by the pride of life to tell and show off all of their new found knowledge and wisdom. Sadly, this is true even for those who have heard the call to sonship. There is a temptation to go and tell others and share all the glorious revelation that they have received in the garden. The motivation of the heart is really about promoting self in order to gather a following. Did not Jesus warn us of this when He said “He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.” (John 7:18). This is the ego that has now made Bethel into the golden calf. The fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil has now been ingested and SELF has become the idol.
Ah, but those that wait upon the Lord, those that deny self and say yes to His cross, for them there is an entirely different outcome. They become the TREE OF LIFE people.
The truth is that those that say “Yes Lord, not my will, but yours be done” these are those where the message received and ingested becomes the MESSENGER of His life that is manifested.
They become ONE in the message. Christ is now their life.
It is at this point where Bethel is no longer and external dimension of being a place where one is fed, but becomes and internal place of Christ being the source of living water, that flows from the very throne of God.
To be continued......in pt.3.... ‘The Inward Bethel....feeding on His life”
Leaving Bethel part one
.
I honor my Father today by sharing this message that He has given to me. My desire is for the Lord’s Kingdom to be increased within all those that read these lines. I have come to learn that I can only give out of what I have received from heaven and that I am to let my light shine so that what I have experienced of His Kingdom advances in others and is multiplied. This is a five part series entitled “Leaving Bethel”. Being prepared for His fullness one has to leave all that they have known to come into all that they have not known. This is leaving Bethel to come into the land of promise.....THE GREEN MOUNTAIN of His life. May the Lord bless you deeply and richly as you journey on with Him to Zion.
Leaving Bethel...for ‘my’ Vermont.
It has been over a year since I wrote my last article ‘Prepare the Way’. There is something so precious about the anointing when one writes...for one understands that they are just the vessel and it is the Holy Spirit that is writing through them. “My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” (Psm.45:1). Little did I know at the time how prophetic that article was and how generous the Holy Spirit was in sharing some deep mysteries. I am humbled and so thankful to my Lord and King. When I speak of it being prophetic I am referring to the Spirit of Prophecy, the Lord Himself, opening up more of HIS WAY within my life and the lives of His people. I look back now and see that it was the Holy Spirit that moved within me to write about the mystery of Bethel knowing that I would only be seeing it from one facet of the jewel.
Bethel means ‘house of God’and just as there are wheels within THE WHEEL the Lord has begun to enlarge my understanding to the deeper truths regarding Bethel and why His sons and daughters must leave it, in order to come into His fullness. I love it when the Lord brings us to that place of hindsight....of looking back, seeing, and understanding His ways. It truly is a precious time of surveying the ground that has been covered and appreciating the intricate details of the journey. That is how I feel today, as one who has come to the mountain top with a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation of how my Lord has led me through the plains and valleys in order to arrive at where I am at this point in my journey IN Him. I also am very keenly aware that there is still an upward ascent to an even HIGHER mountain.
This last year has been a tough one for me as I have been allowed to go through some areas of shaking that I have never encountered before. The Lord is in control of all things that touch our lives and so I take comfort in knowing that He is using everything for my good so that I BECOME His will and purpose in the earth. I have been made more tender this year to people that struggle with health issues. I have been made more tender this year toward seeing my own need for the Lord’s mercy and His deliverance. I am amazed at what the Lord uses within our lives to process us and conform us into His image...for it seems that much of this year has been used to conform me into His mercy seat....and it has been painful but I praise Him that He has given me the grace to say ‘yes Lord, not my will but your will be done.”
My beloved precious brothers and sisters in Christ... my prayer is that what I have been learning over this last year and am about to share will be a blessing and will encourage and strengthen you to leave your Bethel(s) so that you can move onward to’ your’ Vermont.
What do I mean by ‘my’ Vermont?
Vermont is derived from two french words....vert (green) and mont (mountain)....literally meaning green mountain. If you were to ask me where I would like to live in the United States of America my quick reply would be Vermont. I have never been but I have this romantic vision of what living in Vermont would be like. Since fall is my favorite season of the year I am captivated by the glorious beauty of the fall foliage that Vermont is renown for. I love how the citizens are commited to preserving and restoring the architecture of their charming villages. I love to read about their organic farms and how the state is known for its maple syrup. I love that the green mountain state seems to take great delight in ‘swimming upstream’... for I sense that the citizens of Vermont are very open minded people and yet grounded.
So, as far as I am concerned with living on this natural plane, this is what ‘my vermont’ looks like.
On a deeper spiritual level my Vermont....my GREEN MOUNTAIN....is the Lord Himself....my inheritance....my promised land...of complete UNION in spirit, soul, and body with Him. Even as I write those words I am aware that I really have no idea as to what that is going to be like....I can peer only so far with the eyes of my spirit for I am still seeing through a glass darkly....and yet I am amazed as He continues to draw me onward to Himself by giving me the grace to follow His light as He leads me to His Holy mountain....all praise to His most Holy name!
“Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of Thine inheritance, in the place, O Lord, which Thou hast made for Thee to dwell in, the Sanctuary, O Lord, which Thy hands have established,” (Exodus 15:17).
“Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.” (Psalm 43:3).
In “Prepare the Way” the Holy Spirit unfolded this truth....
“The Lord wants HIS BODY/HIS BRIDE to be prepared.....and He has His ministers, His HOLY CHAMBERLAINS that minister to only Him that He will send to those virgins that are still camping out.... these chamberlains are those that know the King’s likes and dislikes....they know His tastes. Some of these virgins are still camping out at Passover....others are camping out at Pentecost....then there are those that have heard the feast of trumpets but are still camping out at BETHEL. Bethel is the place/house that has become VERY COMFORTABLE for them.....for this is the place where usually their beloved earthly teacher is residing....and this is the place where they have learned many deep and profound kingdom truths....but just as Abraham they too must LEAVE THEIR FATHER’S HOUSEHOLD and go to a place I will show you.....a place of the UNKNOWN.....the feast of Tabernacles.
The journey of the Feast of Tabernacles begins at Jordan....the place of descending....this is the place of dying to all that you have known, to come into all that you have not known. This is the INWARD JOURNEY. “
As I wrote that above about Bethel I was writing from the perspective of those that have left the Harlot’s house (the church system of man) and have heard the call of sonship and been given the understanding of the restoration of all things. These are the ones that have had their eyes open to the REAL HOUSE OF GOD... “Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16) and for them it is a time of great delight and feasting. All those that have made the journey to Bethel have found that truly there has been prepared for them a place in the wilderness, “And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.” (Isaiah 25:6) Not only is it a place laden with fat things but they also have been supplied with glorious celestial teachers to aid them in their understanding of great Kingdom truths that have been hidden from the masses. It truly is a time of rejoicing, rich fellowship, and FEASTING.
This feasting begins at Bethel. I have come to understand that this place is really a journey back to Eden, for Eden is where we see the first environment given for man to dwell...and this environment of feasting is necessary so that the appetite of man can be tested. For it is in Eden where once again we are given the opportunity to CHOOSE....we can either take from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.....or we can receive the broken bread from the TREE OF LIFE.
As one makes their selection from which tree they will eat from their EYES are opened. If one chooses from the tree of knowledge of good and evil their eyes are open to see self, the soulish life....if however they choose to wait upon the Lord and receive from Him, from the broken bread of His life found through the sharing of His cross, their eyes will be open to see HIM and in so gazing they will see, know, understand and find their TRUE LIFE hidden with Christ in God... “for ye did die, and your life hath been hid with the Christ in God;” (Col. 3:3 Youngs).
To be continued in “Leaving Bethel....the external dimension”....pt. 2.
I honor my Father today by sharing this message that He has given to me. My desire is for the Lord’s Kingdom to be increased within all those that read these lines. I have come to learn that I can only give out of what I have received from heaven and that I am to let my light shine so that what I have experienced of His Kingdom advances in others and is multiplied. This is a five part series entitled “Leaving Bethel”. Being prepared for His fullness one has to leave all that they have known to come into all that they have not known. This is leaving Bethel to come into the land of promise.....THE GREEN MOUNTAIN of His life. May the Lord bless you deeply and richly as you journey on with Him to Zion.
Leaving Bethel...for ‘my’ Vermont.
It has been over a year since I wrote my last article ‘Prepare the Way’. There is something so precious about the anointing when one writes...for one understands that they are just the vessel and it is the Holy Spirit that is writing through them. “My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” (Psm.45:1). Little did I know at the time how prophetic that article was and how generous the Holy Spirit was in sharing some deep mysteries. I am humbled and so thankful to my Lord and King. When I speak of it being prophetic I am referring to the Spirit of Prophecy, the Lord Himself, opening up more of HIS WAY within my life and the lives of His people. I look back now and see that it was the Holy Spirit that moved within me to write about the mystery of Bethel knowing that I would only be seeing it from one facet of the jewel.
Bethel means ‘house of God’and just as there are wheels within THE WHEEL the Lord has begun to enlarge my understanding to the deeper truths regarding Bethel and why His sons and daughters must leave it, in order to come into His fullness. I love it when the Lord brings us to that place of hindsight....of looking back, seeing, and understanding His ways. It truly is a precious time of surveying the ground that has been covered and appreciating the intricate details of the journey. That is how I feel today, as one who has come to the mountain top with a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation of how my Lord has led me through the plains and valleys in order to arrive at where I am at this point in my journey IN Him. I also am very keenly aware that there is still an upward ascent to an even HIGHER mountain.
This last year has been a tough one for me as I have been allowed to go through some areas of shaking that I have never encountered before. The Lord is in control of all things that touch our lives and so I take comfort in knowing that He is using everything for my good so that I BECOME His will and purpose in the earth. I have been made more tender this year to people that struggle with health issues. I have been made more tender this year toward seeing my own need for the Lord’s mercy and His deliverance. I am amazed at what the Lord uses within our lives to process us and conform us into His image...for it seems that much of this year has been used to conform me into His mercy seat....and it has been painful but I praise Him that He has given me the grace to say ‘yes Lord, not my will but your will be done.”
My beloved precious brothers and sisters in Christ... my prayer is that what I have been learning over this last year and am about to share will be a blessing and will encourage and strengthen you to leave your Bethel(s) so that you can move onward to’ your’ Vermont.
What do I mean by ‘my’ Vermont?
Vermont is derived from two french words....vert (green) and mont (mountain)....literally meaning green mountain. If you were to ask me where I would like to live in the United States of America my quick reply would be Vermont. I have never been but I have this romantic vision of what living in Vermont would be like. Since fall is my favorite season of the year I am captivated by the glorious beauty of the fall foliage that Vermont is renown for. I love how the citizens are commited to preserving and restoring the architecture of their charming villages. I love to read about their organic farms and how the state is known for its maple syrup. I love that the green mountain state seems to take great delight in ‘swimming upstream’... for I sense that the citizens of Vermont are very open minded people and yet grounded.
So, as far as I am concerned with living on this natural plane, this is what ‘my vermont’ looks like.
On a deeper spiritual level my Vermont....my GREEN MOUNTAIN....is the Lord Himself....my inheritance....my promised land...of complete UNION in spirit, soul, and body with Him. Even as I write those words I am aware that I really have no idea as to what that is going to be like....I can peer only so far with the eyes of my spirit for I am still seeing through a glass darkly....and yet I am amazed as He continues to draw me onward to Himself by giving me the grace to follow His light as He leads me to His Holy mountain....all praise to His most Holy name!
“Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of Thine inheritance, in the place, O Lord, which Thou hast made for Thee to dwell in, the Sanctuary, O Lord, which Thy hands have established,” (Exodus 15:17).
“Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.” (Psalm 43:3).
In “Prepare the Way” the Holy Spirit unfolded this truth....
“The Lord wants HIS BODY/HIS BRIDE to be prepared.....and He has His ministers, His HOLY CHAMBERLAINS that minister to only Him that He will send to those virgins that are still camping out.... these chamberlains are those that know the King’s likes and dislikes....they know His tastes. Some of these virgins are still camping out at Passover....others are camping out at Pentecost....then there are those that have heard the feast of trumpets but are still camping out at BETHEL. Bethel is the place/house that has become VERY COMFORTABLE for them.....for this is the place where usually their beloved earthly teacher is residing....and this is the place where they have learned many deep and profound kingdom truths....but just as Abraham they too must LEAVE THEIR FATHER’S HOUSEHOLD and go to a place I will show you.....a place of the UNKNOWN.....the feast of Tabernacles.
The journey of the Feast of Tabernacles begins at Jordan....the place of descending....this is the place of dying to all that you have known, to come into all that you have not known. This is the INWARD JOURNEY. “
As I wrote that above about Bethel I was writing from the perspective of those that have left the Harlot’s house (the church system of man) and have heard the call of sonship and been given the understanding of the restoration of all things. These are the ones that have had their eyes open to the REAL HOUSE OF GOD... “Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16) and for them it is a time of great delight and feasting. All those that have made the journey to Bethel have found that truly there has been prepared for them a place in the wilderness, “And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.” (Isaiah 25:6) Not only is it a place laden with fat things but they also have been supplied with glorious celestial teachers to aid them in their understanding of great Kingdom truths that have been hidden from the masses. It truly is a time of rejoicing, rich fellowship, and FEASTING.
This feasting begins at Bethel. I have come to understand that this place is really a journey back to Eden, for Eden is where we see the first environment given for man to dwell...and this environment of feasting is necessary so that the appetite of man can be tested. For it is in Eden where once again we are given the opportunity to CHOOSE....we can either take from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.....or we can receive the broken bread from the TREE OF LIFE.
As one makes their selection from which tree they will eat from their EYES are opened. If one chooses from the tree of knowledge of good and evil their eyes are open to see self, the soulish life....if however they choose to wait upon the Lord and receive from Him, from the broken bread of His life found through the sharing of His cross, their eyes will be open to see HIM and in so gazing they will see, know, understand and find their TRUE LIFE hidden with Christ in God... “for ye did die, and your life hath been hid with the Christ in God;” (Col. 3:3 Youngs).
To be continued in “Leaving Bethel....the external dimension”....pt. 2.
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