As a child of God, we are given the wonderful, yet challenging,
privilege to view each day of our life from the view point of our
Heavenly Father's purpose. Each day that we view life through nothing
more than our circumstances, we pass up a golden opportunity to grow in
the wisdom and the stature of our Lord Jesus Christ. We may not always
receive a revelation of God's purpose in the midst of our
circumstances. Nevertheless, the training ground for growth in the
Spirit remains when we simply hold fast to what the Lord has revealed
to us in the past, with the expectation for a further revelation. When
we simply wait on the Lord in expectation we have become partakers of
His patience and longsuffering. You can also rest in the fact
that all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas,
or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come;
all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's
(1 Cor.
3:21-23).
In light of 1 Corinthians 3:22-23, as well as a multitude of
passages that speak of the Lord's awesome provision for us, we would
like to consider the purpose of His provision. In our previous article
we spent a great deal of consideration on our riches in Christ in hope
of soberly pondering that which He has done for us. We would like to
once again consider the passage in Haggai 2:8, The silver is
mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.
As we have
noted in the previous article, silver speaks of redemption. Spiritually
speaking, our Redeemer has made His people the richest people in all of
creation. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in
Christ
(Eph. 1:3).
Sometime after writing the previous article, I was struck with the convicting truth that we (myself included) are the richest people in the world, and yet, we often live like the poorest. When I say we often live like the poorest, I'm not even hinting at the idea that we need to name and claim more material blessings and accumulate lots of money. As we seek His face and His will and His kingdom, our needs in the temporal realm will be taken care of (Matt. 6:33). What I mean by living as the poorest is that often we are simply existing, rather than partaking of the abundant life we have in the Spirit, that life of intimate heart to heart fellowship between God and man. That is the purpose of our existence in the first place.
After spending a few pages on the implications and the typology
mentioned in Haggai pertaining to the silver, we would like to consider
what the gold represents. If you'll pardon the pun, we might add that
our subject at hand heavily involves the golden opportunity we
mentioned in our opening comments. You see, the purpose of these riches
is not for the sake of simply being blessed. Indeed, we need to know
that we are a blessed people. We need to remember that we are saints of
the Most High God. We are called holy brethren (Heb. 3:1). These are
things that are true about us by virtue of our birth into the family of
God. We should never be conned into thinking that there is something
we have to do in order to make these things true. However, at
the same time, we must not think that we are fully mature by virtue of
our birth into the family of God. We are rich in the Spirit by virtue
of being redeemed, yet there is a development of God's nature which
must take place in the redeemed. Gold represents His divine nature. As
we have stated in the previous article, Job spoke a prophetic word
concerning the redeemed. ...when he hath tried me, I shall come
forth as gold
(Job 23:10).
That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks,
rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and
offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in
Jerusalem... Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that
keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book
(Ezra 7:17 and
Rev. 22:7).
In our spiritual sojourn it is important to distinguish what is true about us by virtue of our spiritual birth and what is becoming true of us by way of growth in the Spirit. Knowing what we are by virtue of our union with Christ gives us a key weapon in spiritual warfare. Without this key weapon we are left in ignorance, which has often caused many saints to forfeit what is rightfully their's in Christ. Another result of being ignorant of what is true about us is self-condemnation. However, when dealing with the typology of the gold, we need to turn our concerns over to another key which is equally important. This key is realizing that our awesome provision in Christ was not given to us so we could escape the growing pains of maturing in the Spirit!
We must keep in mind that Ezra and the remnant, who were provided
for by the Lord through the agency of earthly kings, still had a
journey between Babylon and Jerusalem. They still had a path before
them to walk out. We see this same principle played out all through
human history. One of the first and the most obvious illustrations of
this took place when Abram left Ur (Gen. 12:1). It runs like a golden
thread all through the Old Testament. The characters may have different
names, but the theme remains the same. The word of God came to His
chosen vessel, the story begins to unfold, then we see that faith is to
be tested. Beloved, each time we hear the voice of God speak to our
hearts, we can count on this: a test will come to try our faith. So
then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God ...greatly
rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness
through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much
more precious than of gold...
(Rom. 10:17 and 1 Peter 1:6 and 7).
Ah, the trial of our faith. This phrase defines our spiritual
journey. The experience we have with the Lord makes the riches we have
in Him all the richer. As unappealing as it may sound, the crucible of
our faith is just as much a part of our experience with the Lord as our
blessings. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial
which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you
(1 Peter 4:12). Oh, how we need the wisdom of the Lord when the flames
of adversity surround our pathway. Through our eyes alone we will see
nothing more than adversity. Yet, from the heavenly view point we see
that faith is given an opportunity to grow. Through the Spirit we can
see that the divine nature of our heavenly Father is being developed in
mere earthen vessels. Hence, we see the development of that which is
both human and divine, which is the new creation, a new humanity!
Men, as well meaning as they may be, send men to theological
seminaries, bible schools, and other institutions as a part of their
training to go into the "ministry." But God in His wisdom, which is
foolish to man, sent men into the wilderness as a part of their
training, which led to trials. The most obvious example of this is
found in the life of Jesus Himself. Jesus displayed the divine nature
wrapped in humanity. He, being the word made flesh was in all
points tempted (John 1:14 and Heb. 4:15). In Mark 1:10-13 we read
of the heavens opening to Jesus and a voice from heaven declaring: Thou
art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
But immediately
after this glorious descending of the Spirit and the declaration of a
verbal seal of approval is made, the trial in the wilderness begins. And
immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was
there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the
wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him
(Mark 1:12 and13).
We, too, should be able to relate to this scene. Although Jesus is
without sin, we have a parallel with Him in the fact that God has
brought us into His family with much love and approval, and yet trials
await us. It is not because He is displeased with us, but because He
desires a full grown son in the image of Christ. He has sovereignly
placed us in His school of training. But God, who is rich in mercy,
for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in
sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly
places in Christ Jesus
(Eph. 2:4-6). We are seated in the heavens.
The spiritual realm is opened to us. Yet, as contrary to popular
theology as this may sound, being seated in the heavens means warfare
and facing the adversary himself, that accuser of the brethren who
seeks to devour the man child (Rev. 12:3 and 4). For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places
(Eph. 6:12).
We all know the victorious outcome of the Lord's temptation in the
wilderness. The adversary was unable to sway Jesus on the points which
tempt all humanity: the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life. These things are not of the
Father (1 John 2:16). Jesus, being the revelation of the Father
and being about His Father's business, had absolutely no need to prove
anything to the adversary. You see, He heard and He believed the voice
from heaven that said, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased
(Mark 1:11). We may argue that Jesus had a great advantage;
after all, He was without sin. But sin is not so much the issue when it
comes to the trial of our faith. Furthermore, when it comes to the
early stages of our walk, even as little children, we have a great
advantage over the adversary! Ye are of God, little children, and
have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that
is in the world
(1 John 4:4).
We need to take to heart that our victory begins the moment we are
born into the family of God. Our warfare is a matter of keeping the
victory and expanding the Kingdom of God. It is not a matter of trying
to get the victory and trying to make it into the Kingdom. For
whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory
that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh
the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
(1
John 5:4 and 5). The faith to simply believe our Heavenly Father, just
as Jesus did, puts us in victory. The trust we place in what the Lord
has spoken to our hearts is crucial during our trial of faith. When the
visible realm paints a gloomy picture with our circumstance, little do
we know that this creates a healthy atmosphere for exercising faith.
However, we often put more trust in what the visible realm dictates to
us, rather than the realm of the Spirit in which we hear from the Lord.
This brings us back to Ezra's situation. He also faced something
that speaks volumes to our trail of faith. When he journeyed back to
Jerusalem, the visible realm and his circumstance painted a picture of
fear. Ah, but Ezra was not fearful! He believed God. Otherwise, he
would not have made it to Jerusalem. He may have died in the wilderness
or returned to Babylon (Heb. 3:19). For I was ashamed to require of
the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy
in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of
our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his
wrath is against all them that forsake him
(Ezra 8:22).
If the body of Christ will take hold of what the Spirit is speaking in this hour through Ezra, then we will find ourselves moving toward restoration, rather than going through the motions and coming up with more religious programs. First there must be a God birthed expectation of restoration in the body of Christ. If the eyes of our hearts have not been illuminated with the understanding of what the goal of God is during the pressures of life, then we cannot help but go through the religious motions of Christendom, which often leave a generation settling for less than what God intended. Spiritually speaking, rather than entering into the next dimension of God's purpose, we either grow weary in our trials, or some of us may even return to whatever holds a soul captive, be it lifeless religion or otherwise. But praise the Lord, we know that even today God is doing something in a remnant that is going from religious captivity to restoration!
The prophet Zechariah, who was a contemporary of Ezra, prophesied of
restoration. But the prophecy included the experiential knowledge that
is gained in our fiery trials. 'It will come about in all the
land,' declares the Lord, 'That two parts in it will be cut off and
perish; But the third will be left in it. And I will bring the third
part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, And test them
as gold is tested...'
(Zech. 13:8-9 NASB). What is the result of
being tested as gold is tested? What is the outcome? What is the goal? ...They
will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, 'They are my
people,' And they will say, 'The Lord is my God'
(Zech. 13:9 NASB).
This glorious declaration in Zechariah does not simply deal with the
historical fact that in Ezra's day a remnant returned to Jerusalem and
then were purged from idols and strange wives (See Ezra chapter 10).
That happened, but that is a shadow of what is taking place in the body
of Christ today, and in the fullness of time, it will take place in all
humanity!
When the Spirit declares through the prophet They are my people,
And they will say, 'The Lord is my God',
the essence of what is
being conveyed is fellowship - unbroken communion has been restored!
The breach between man and God has been repaired. All of the things you
can find in the scriptures that are to be restored are parenthetical in
light of the very first thing that was lost. For this reason alone we
cannot afford to make the common mistake of strictly applying prophetic
books, like Zechariah, to a natural people who return to a geographical
location. God's purpose is not to repeat the past. His purpose is not
limited to one nation, nor is it limited to geographical locations.
The undisturbed relationship the Father had with the head of the first humanity, Adam, is being restored through Jesus, the head of the new humanity. The body of Christ, as a corporate being, must fully enter into this restored fellowship. Through this divine intimacy the Lord shall have a priesthood to stand in the gap that was made when sin first entered the world. This is the priesthood that shall minister Christ to all creation! Praise God! We do not have to wait on some dispensation to come about to enter into this place. We are called to be a kingdom of priests today (Rev. 5:10)! We are given the grace to excel in our relationship with the Father through the very fact that Christ dwells within us!
David Wilkerson has said, "You know, all ministry to others
flows out of ministry to Him... My one calling on this earth is to
minister unto the Lord." All things are secondary and
parenthetical compared to this great calling. This has been the calling
of mankind all along. This is the ultimate fulfillment of God's
declaration in Zechariah 13:9, They are my people, And they will
say, 'The Lord is my God.'
The fulfillment is expressed again in
Revelation 21:3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying,
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them,
and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and
be their God.
We firmly acknowledge that Adam was a type of Him who was to come
(Rom. 5:14). This conveys that Adam, as all types do, points to Christ,
who was to be made manifest in due season. Nevertheless, Adam is also
called the son of God (Luke 3:38). There are no scriptures that plainly
state that Adam was to be a priest unto God. However, in as much as he
was called to keep and dress the garden of Eden, which prefigures the
service of the priest in the tabernacle, Adam was the first man called
to serve. The Concordant Version rendering of Genesis 2:15 reads, And
taking is Yahweh Elohim the human that He had formed and is leaving him
in the garden of Eden to serve it and to keep it.
The Hebrew word translated in Genesis 2:15 as to dress it in the King James and serve in the Concordant Version is translated to do many times in the book of Numbers in the context of "to do the service of the tabernacle," twice in the context of "to do the work of the tabernacle," and once in the context of "to do the service of the ministry" (Num. 3:7 and 8, 4:23, 30, 47, 7:5, 8:15, 19, 22, 16:9 and 18:6). There are several other passages in the Old Testament that use this word in the sense of service in relation to ministry. The tabernacle was given to us as a pattern of the place in which God dwells. The significance of the temple in Jerusalem, as well as the tent on Mount Zion in which the Ark was located in David's reign is no different. These were locations in which the priests served the Lord.
Today, we can say that we are the tabernacle. For just as the
tabernacle consisted of three compartments in which the priests served
the Lord - the outer court, the holy place, and the holy of holies - so
also are we called to serve God with our entire being, which consists
of that which the three compartments prefigured: spirit, soul, and body
(1 Thess. 5:23). We are also the temple of God due to the indwelling of
the Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16). These bodies of ours are now like tents in
which Christ, who was typified by the Ark, is located, both
individually and collectively (Acts 15:17). These realities are all
facets of the same truth: God has chosen to dwell in redeemed humanity.
One of the many facets that confirm the first place in which man was
called to dwell with God is found in Song of Solomon 8:13, Thou
that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice:
cause me to hear it.
In light of all this we pose the question, just where was God's
tabernacle in the early stages of Genesis? Where was it that God met
with man? And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the
garden...
(Gen. 3:8). Indeed, God is omnipresent, but in a day that
was to be Adam's reign, God's tabernacle was the garden of Eden. That
was the place from which the government of God was to flow like a river
and govern the earth, through the dominion that was given to Adam, like
a king is given a kingdom. Nevertheless, Adam, like every son of God,
was to be tested. This brings us back full circle to the trial of
faith.
If we truly believe that the Lord is omniscience, omnipotent, and omnipresent we must ask ourselves if it was God's ultimate intention for mankind to remain innocent and untried. No man who hears the voice of God shall go untried, and beloved, Adam was the first man to ever hear God's voice. If we can just get a glimpse of the glory of the Father's handiwork, we could see Him as a Majestic wordsmith writing on the scrolls of time, with an ever increasing glow of glory on each line as he draws nearer to the awesome consummation of His purpose! Adam, in some degree, shared in those glowing lines of the glorious poem that the Lord is still writing. In summary of our convictions concerning Adam's failure, We cannot conceive of the Lord God Almighty, who foreknows all things, to permit such a thing without the intent to orchestrate a greater glory out of what the serpent meant for evil. Glory be to God in the highest, for He alone can bring life out of death!
We in the household of faith are called to be priests of the Most
High God. We will not be deprived of the proper training. Let us
consider these inspired words; Though he were a Son, yet learned he
obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he
became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec
(Heb.
5:8-10). We would like to take note of the Greek word, pasko,
translated as suffered in Hebrews 5:8. It is also used in
Philippians 1:29. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ,
not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.
This Greek word, pasko, Strong's #3958, means "to experience
a sensation or impression (usually painful)." Interestingly enough,
this word is used a total of forty-two times in the New Testament,
which is also the same amount of months that make up the Lord's three
and a half year ministry.
Jesus' ministry that began at the river Jordan quickly led to the
suffering that Hebrews 2:18 speaks of. For in that he himself hath
suffered being tempted...
The temptation in the wilderness was mere
preparation for His conquest that lied ahead of Him. Yet, after the
casting out of devils, the healings, and all manner of miracles, there
was a greater conquest just ahead. This too required preparation. It
also required another baptism. But I have a baptism to be baptized
with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
(Luke
12:50). This baptism our Lord is speaking of is a baptism of fire. This
baptism is described in Hebrews 5:7. Who in the days of his flesh,
when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and
tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in
that he feared.
This verse describes the climax of our Lord's
preparation for the cross in the garden of Gethsemane. He died in the
garden in the sense that He once and for all put down the great tug of
the flesh, which was never able to bring a single blemish to His
lamb-like nature!
In the garden of Eden, the stage was set for devastation. Through
one man, sin entered into the world (Rom. 5:12). All humanity, in the
loins of Adam, was plunged into the realm of death and darkness.
Fellowship between Creator and creation was torn. A breach was made
between God and man. A gap was made between two realms, the visible and
the invisible. Nevertheless, in another garden there was a man
qualified to stand in the gap! In Gethsemane, the preparation was made
for restoration. But not just a restoring of what was lost in Eden. For
just as in the days of Jerusalem's restoration, the body of Christ can
also rejoice to the words of Haggai! The glory of this latter house
shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts
(Hag.
2:9). Furthermore, if we are truly beholding Christ, having fellowship
with the Lord, then we do not repeat the same cycles, but rather we are
changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit
of the Lord
(2 Cor. 3:18).
In this hour, if we are being led of the Spirit, we will find
ourselves on a spiritual journey that parallels the course of events
that took place in Ezra during the journey to restore Jerusalem. But,
as we have said, the restoration of Jerusalem is parenthetical to the
bigger picture that is typified in Ezra. You see, Adam was driven out
of his priesthood. Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the
garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he
drove out the man...
(Gen. 3:23 and 24). Mankind is destitute of a
corporate expression of a perfected priesthood. However, the Lord
intends for His body to join Him in His perfected priesthood. Indeed,
we have a perfect example, our high priest Jesus, being made
perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that
obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisdec
(Heb. 5:9 and 8). Malachi prophesied of a refining and purifying of the
Levites who returned from Babylon to Jerusalem. But who may abide
the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is
like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a
refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi,
and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an
offering in righteousness
(Mal. 3:2 and 3).
There is a reality conveyed in such words concerning what must take
place in our trial of faith. We are now priests of the Most High God,
but are we all fully mature? The Levites were already Levites before
Malachi prophesied about their purification that must take place.
Notice the questions in Malachi 3:2. But who may abide in the day
of his coming? Who shall stand when he appeareth?
He concludes
verse three with the purpose of the purification of the sons of Levi: that
they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
Beloved,
we are now children of God, called into a priestly office, but we too
can easily apply Malachi's words to our lives in light of 1 Peter 1:7. That
the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and
honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
Who will stand
when He appears? Those who walk victoriously through their trial of
faith! Those who cannot be burned by the fires of adversity, because
they have become one with the fire that God has kindled in their being.
Those who have discovered and settled it in their hearts that the
offering that God is after is our complete being. You see, in the Old
Covenant you brought an offering to God, but in the New Covenant you
become the offering. We are called to be a living sacrifice (Rom.
12:1).
It has been well put that our suffering is not redemptive. We
wholeheartedly agree with this point. As we hope to have conveyed in
the previous article, the Lord alone is our redeemer. None of us could
suffer enough to redeem ourselves, much less anyone else. However,
redemption is not the issue when it comes to the suffering that is
given to us. According to Paul in Philippians 1:29, unto you it is
given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to
suffer for his sake.
In order to avoid the imbalance of making
blanket statements concerning suffering, we would like to also state
that there are hardships we can bring on ourselves. For what credit
is there if you endure the beatings you deserve for having done wrong?
(1 Peter 2:20, Good News New Testament). In light of this aspect of
suffering, we are reminded of 1 Peter 4:15.But let none of you
suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a
busybody in other men's matters.
Others may come up with various ways to reason around the painful
birth canal that we must go through in the trial of our faith, in which
the expression of Christ is born, but we must come to terms with the
fact that our Father is glorified in the maturity of His children.
Therefore, we are persuaded that Since we are his children, we will
possess the blessings he keeps for his people, and we will also possess
with Christ what God has kept for him; for if we share Christ's
suffering, we will also share his glory
(Rom. 8:17, Good News
New Testament).
We thank God for the finished work of Calvary. There is a freedom
that the natural man knows nothing about when it comes to peering into
the glorious revelation of the finished work of Christ! All prisoners
of sin can be released from condemnation once they realize that the
debt has been paid in full. We would do well to quote Loyal F. Hurley
on this matter. "...our Lord, hanging upon the Cross, and ready to give
up His spirit, spoke the word that, in His day, was regularly written
across every receipted bill, 'Tetelestai,' 'Paid in full' (John.
19:30)." However, our suffering, in relation to growing up into the
maturity of Christ, was not fulfilled or done away with at Calvary. As
a matter of fact, it does not even begin until God Himself reaches into
the realm of time and apprehends us by the quickening of His Spirit! We
cannot ignore what the apostles endured. Let's consider one of the
apostles' own accounts of what he endured. Five times I was given
the thirty-nine lashes by the Jews; three times I was whipped by the
Romans; and once I was stoned. I have been in three shipwrecks, and
once I spent twenty-four hours in the water. In my many travels I have
been in danger from floods and from robbers, in danger from fellow Jews
and from Gentiles; there have been dangers in the cities, dangers in
the wilds, dangers on the high seas, and dangers from false friends.
There has been work and toil; often I have gone without sleep; I have
been hungry and thirsty; I have often been without enough food,
shelter, or clothing. And not to mention other things, every day I am
under the pressure of my concern for all the churches. When someone is
weak, then I feel weak too; when someone is led into sin, I am filled
with distress
(2 Cor. 11:24-29, Good News New Testament).
Many people treat the account of the New Testament Church like a buffet. You just get in line, pick out what you like, and leave anything that is unappealing off your plate. In other words, we will take the blessings, the miracles, the revelations, but when it comes to knowing Christ in the fellowship of His sufferings how many of us want to stand in line for that? Lord grant us spiritual sight to see that this is the hour of preparation and there is a glory that shall follow. Our trial of faith is not one miserable difficulty after another that never seems to end. Anyone outside of the household of faith could look into the life of the Apostle Paul and conclude that his natural life was nothing anyone in their right mind would desire. The discomfort, the misunderstandings, the accusations, the beatings he endured, and the catalog of mental, emotional, and physical pain goes on and on. His last days were spent in prison awaiting death. But we in the household of faith have no excuse to look at Paul's life in a negative sense, unless we prefer to view things through the eyes of fleshly self-preservation.
There have been those that have implied that the Apostle Paul did
not have to go through those painful experiences. Nevertheless, we
reverence the words of our Lord concerning Paul's experience that were
spoken to Ananias shortly after Paul was apprehended. Go thy way:
for he [Paul] is a chosen vessel unto me,
to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of
Israel: For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my
name's sake
(Acts 9:15 and 16). Rude awakenings may very well await
those who have numbed themselves with the shallow prosperity messages
that have been popular for quite some time now. Suffice it to say, the
Lord knows what each one of us needs in order to experience a reality
check. We will leave the details to Him, as far as how the shallowness
of such doctrines will be exposed. We simply wish to share the measure
of light that the Lord has given us concerning our trial of faith.
Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be
baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
(Matthew 20:22).
This question was a response to those who had not yet soberly realized
that before one is raised to a position to reign He must first be
trained. This cup and this baptism are symbolic language for the Lord's
passion and burial. But as we have stated, He experienced death in one
sense in the garden of Gethsemane before He physically laid down His
life. He also suffered and experienced a burial in one sense when He
pressed onward in prayer in the garden. The Lord went on to complete
the work of redemption. We rejoice and glory in this accomplished fact,
but at the same time, we would do well to see that redemption is
parenthetical to the plan of God. Beyond the scope of redemption lies a
glory that has yet to be made manifest. That is the glorious body of
Christ headed up under Jesus, reigning until God is all things to
everyone! Between the work of redemption at Calvary and the
manifestation of this glorious body operating in fullness, there lies a
cup and a baptism to be endured. Yes, when it comes to redemption we
have an empty silver cup, just like the cup Benjamin received from
Joseph (Gen. 44:2). Our Saviour has endured and paid the price, but
there is another cup we find later in our walk. This cup is not empty.
For all those who would reign in glory, they must partake of this cup!
And while we have been baptized into one body, there is yet a baptism
of fire that remains.
The challenge to partake of this cup and baptism is presented in
many exhortations throughout the New Testament. The Greek word we have
previously mentioned, pasko, is found in the context of
partaking of sufferings, i. e. the cup. The usage of the word
and the chronology is revealing in and of itself. The first time we
find this word, it is mentioned in reference to the suffering Christ
must experience during his arrest and crucifixion (Matt. 16:21, Mark
5:26 and Luke 9:22). The last time it is used, it is found in the book
of Revelation, in reference to the church in Smyrna. Fear none of
those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall
cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have
tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee
a crown of life
(Rev. 2:10). In the Gospels, we find this word in
relation to the work of redemption. In Revelation, we find it in
relation to those who are already redeemed, but yet to be crowned. The
purpose of God expands and progresses from one stage of glory to the
next!
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and
murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all
liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and
brimstone: which is the second death
(Rev. 21:8). The fiery trials,
as well as the baptism of fire, is something we, as part of the elect,
experience in this present age. But there is a lake of fire to be
experienced for those who avoid the baptism of fire and fail to see the
purpose of their trials. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches, He that overcometh shall not be hurt of
the second death
(Rev. 2:11). This is the word given to the church
at Smyrna, and, beloved, when the Spirit quickens this to our hearts,
the application is no longer limited to a people in the dusty records
of history. The Spirit can bring any word right up to our present age
and shed new light on our pathway of faith. The challenge then stands
to make wise use of the grace of God, in order to walk in this new
measure of light, or else find ourselves in darkness.
He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Those who faithfully endure their trial of faith, the cup if you will,
receive a crown of life at the end of their race. But the fearful,
those who shrink back from the cup, have their part in the lake of fire
(Rev. 21:8). This is why we read: Fear none of those things which
thou shalt suffer
(Rev. 2:10). Make no mistake about it. You can be
saved, and yet fearful and in danger of suffering loss in the second
death. We are not advocating the loss of salvation, but rather our
part, our lot, our inheritance, the prize of the high calling is what
is at stake when it comes to our trial of faith.
There is a crown at stake. The Greek word for crown in Revelation
2:10 is literally translated as wreath. Become faithful until
death, and I shall be giving you the wreath of life
(Rev. 2:10,
CLNT). This is significant in light of the fact that these wreaths were
often made up of green leaves, especially olive leaves. It is only
fitting that they are made up of green leaves, since green represents
life, hence a crown of life. This wreath is promised to those who go
through tribulation, and in the process, they experience what we call
the law of life out of death! This is a principle that
emerges throughout the course of God's dealings with mankind. We see
this principle taking place through the utter destruction of what Peter
called the world at that time [which]
was destroyed, being flooded with water
(2 Peter 3:6, NASB). In
order to see this principle, let us consider the eight souls in the
ark. They were in the ark, but where was the ark? The ark was in the
flood. The ark did not secretly vanish. The ark remained in the earth
and endured the tribulation. In other words, the ark, which represents
Christ, kept them from perishing while they endured the flood. After
all the destruction, life came, or should we say, out of death came
life. The dove Noah sent out returned with a token of that new life, a
freshly plucked olive leaf (Gen. 8:11).
Another picture of life coming out of death is the Lord's agony
which took place in Gethsemane. This garden was no random selection the
Lord made to endure His excruciating time of travailing in prayer. In
fact, it is quite fitting since Gethsemane means oil press.
This gives us a very vivid picture of the place of pressing we all must
endure if we desire to go on to full maturity. It is highly significant
that during the Lord's time of prayer in which He offered up His entire
being, symbolically, He offered an olive branch. ...he had offered
up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears...
(Heb.
5:7). According to Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words,
the word translated as supplications in Hebrews 5:7 is the
feminine form of the adjective hiketerios, denoting 'of a
suppliant', and used as a noun, formerly an olive branch carried by a
suppliant. E. W. Bullinger comments that in the classical Greek the
olive branch in the hand of the suppliant implies need and claim.
Adam Clarke shares a quote that shows us the full force of the word and the nature of the custom. "Ten delegates from the Locrians, squalid and covered with rags, came into the hall where the consuls were sitting, holding out in their hands olive branches covered with wool, according to the custom of the Greeks; and prostrated themselves on the ground before the tribunal, with weeping and loud lamentation." (Clarke's Commentary Vol. 6, p.718). Clarke goes on to say, "This is a remarkable case, and may well illustrate our Lord's situation and conduct." Beloved, when Jesus symbolically offered that olive branch in Gethesemane He claimed the entire human race!
The offering of the olive branch and the dove returning to Noah with the olive leaf both illustrate an offering that comes through much tribulation. You see, when Noah stepped off the ark, he was in a sense stepping into a new world. This is typical of resurrection life, it is also typical of the new heavens and the new earth to which Peter alluded while using the flood as an illustration (See 2 Peter 3:3-13). The olive leaf was brought to Noah, then he leaves the ark (Gen. 8:11-16). Jesus offered Himself in the days of His flesh and in return He was resurrected. The parallels and connections of the events in the Old Testament and the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ are inexhaustible. With that in mind, we will stop here and focus on the fact that while our sins are paid in full, this maturing process cannot be circumvented. When we get a glimpse of the glory of the high calling, we will find ourselves challenged to offer our entire beings without reserve. Many can be saved and go on their merry way, but those who have been impregnated with the desire to obtain the prize of the high calling have no such luxury!
We need to soberly acknowledge what is involved in our preparation for the deliverance that a groaning creation is looking for. It involves a place of pressing, if you will. It involves a baptism of fire. It involves a ministry that will partake of such a cup. If we want to experience this glorious calling of sonship without going to our Gethesemane, we will find ourselves like so many who know the doctrines but have no anointing. But, if we have prayerfully pressed into a place in which we have offered up our Isaacs, yea, even that which is so precious to us, then we will have that precious oil. It is true that I'll never have to sweat great drops of blood to redeem humanity, but I still have a will to bring into subjection with the will of my Father. I still have a narrow pathway that is filled with pressures that are divinely designed to fully form the Son in me. I cannot say that Jesus went to Gethesemane so that I don't have to.
The following quote is an excellent summation of just how vital it is to see what the Father is doing in our lives in relation to our subject. "For those of us who have been prepared in the garden of God's dealings, we shall see the most awesome display of God's mighty delivering power ever exhibited in all of recorded history! But those who avoid the pressure, ignore the lessons, and seek to save their lives will not be able to stand the intense heat! The furnace of afflictions will be seven times hotter; and only those who have learned to dwell amidst the 'everlasting burnings' shall be conditioned for it! A CORPORATE, MANY MEMBERED MAN OF SORROWS will soon be revealed for all the world to behold... not one who goes about murmuring, complaining, and whining about the intensity of his battles; and not one who seeks to annihilate those who disturb him; but one who has been driven to his knees through the pressures, trials and tribulations he has endured! He has come to see that everything that has happened in his life has purpose and meaning, and has turned his prayers for personal deliverance into a universal intercession for all men! The greatest expression of God's love will come through a people who have 'no guile in their mouths' ...a people who are broken, humble, who have labored to enter into HIS rest! They will be Gods 'kings and priests,' exercising dominion first of all over their own spirits, enduring whatever is necessary for the Kingdom of God, and resting in His provisions! And when the enemy has exhausted himself by going 'to and fro in the earth, seeking whom he may devour', God shall rise triumphant in His people, bringing restoration to the whole groaning creation! Hallelujah! HE WILL BE GLORIFIED IN HIS SAINTS !" (From "Behold The Man" by Terry Crisp, p.9).
The gold is mine, saith the Lord. It is His nature that is being developed in us. It is only by His nature, Christ in us, that we have the capacity to keep the prophecy of the book, i.e. walk in the revelation we have received! Concerning our trial of faith, the 'Ezras' of today must see that such trials are nothing more than the pathway to maturity. The following testimony gives us great inspiration and encouragement to continue to put one foot in front of the other as God's grace strengthens us down the pathway. It is by a man who was somewhat of an Ezra, in as much as Ezra was a ready scribe. "In the year of 1950 prophecy went over me that God had chosen me to write and publish His message. For years nothing happened, while I stewed and fretted and dreamed of great things. I sold Life insurance, worked as a radio announcer and Gospel disc jockey. I preached on radio, and in pulpits here and there. Pastored, construction work, and back to selling insurance. And finally, after ten years, I had our first tract printed and mailed out to a few hundred addresses. Believe me, those ten years were hard to come by, our whole family experienced a furnace of divine dealings. We learned patience, and trust in God. And confidence in the fulfillment of His revealed purpose in our lives. I cannot tell you the times that I had to pull my car over to the side of the dusty country road in the flat plains of Kansas, and plead with God to give me the strength and determination to drive to one more farmhouse, make one more call, try to sell one more policy. In the summer's heat I could visualize the campmeetings going on around the country, see myself in the pulpit preaching the end-time message of glorious victory. But here I sat by the side of the road, sweat running down my face, begging God for grace to make it to the next farmhouse. I had a precious family back home, depending on me for next week's groceries. Working on commission, no sales - no groceries. Does God know how to burn the impatience out of us? Oh, yes! I know" (From Hebrews, The Book of Better Things, by Bill Britton, p.61).