In the soil of humanity, where corruption is a given and deception
festers
in the selfish heart of man, God has purposed in Himself to bring a
people
out of a people. He desires something ripe, something complete, and
something
mature. Indeed, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of
the earth
(Jas. 5:7). Beloved, the Lord has planted a specific
hunger
in a people in each generation. By this, we are not speaking of the
obvious
emptiness which naturally vexes mankind, and which causes him to grope
unknowingly in the darkness for God. We are speaking of a hunger which
is deep rooted in the heart of a people, who have already seen the
darkness
within themselves begin to fade by the rising of the Son, and by His
life-changing
illumination. For them, the loving Shepherd has made His advent to
their
pastures, and as a result, their bleating cry is Draw me, we will
run after thee
(Song of Sol 1:4).
There is also another kind of hunger which we have already discussed in previous articles, which concerns the itching ears of those who are settling for anything and everything but the Christ! You see, in this day and age, the very word Christ has become some generic label that holds no significant tie to the Lord. In a message entitled "In Christ," Dan Ricciardelli has commented about this: "There are those who have this idea that Christ is some spiritual mass or blob of something that all men have. It is along this New Age line that Jesus had some of this Christ in Him, and Buddha had some of this Christ in him, and Confucius had some of this Christ in him, and so on. There are some who do not even mind using the word 'Christ' to explain this."
Are members of the body of Christ the Christ? Does not the Christ speak of the Head? The pride of man in its most subtle manner is found in the heart that sees the hidden things of God, and yet, cannot accept the fact that preeminence belongs to the Christ, rather than to the members of His body. On the other hand, there are those who have the simple fact established in their hearts that without the Lordship of Jesus the Christ, Sonship is an empty claim. The proud boasting of who we are and/or what we are becoming is abominable, to say the least; but it is very common in the circles which pride themselves on revelation knowledge. In God's great garden, both plants grow side by side... the proud and the humble; the counterfeit and the real; the pretentious and the genuine; the unyielding and the yielding; those who love knowledge about being in Christ and those who simply grow in their love for Christ; those who boast of being under grace and those who grow in grace; those who seek to be known and those who groan to intimately know the Lord. They are all there in the same garden, and in the same plan; but in the Gardener's perfect timing, there is also a weeding out process. We have
made some comments about this weeding out process in the last article, but we would now like to draw some serious points to ponder from of a specific time in Israel.
This takes us back to a time when God's called out people were being carted off into captivity. At the same time, Ezekiel, a man in his thirtieth year, was by the river Chebar (which means abundance). Ezekiel was somewhat of a foreshadowing of our Lord, who, in His thirtieth year, also enters the river Jordan. For it was the Lord who came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. And, like the Lord in the Jordan River, the heavens were open to Ezekiel by the river Chebar (John 10:10, Mark 1:10, and Eze.1:1). The visions that Ezekiel experienced, and what was going on in the House of the Lord in his day speak volumes to us concerning the vision of a mature corporate son and this generation.
"Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, that the heavens were opened , and I saw visions of God. In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity, The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest , the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was upon him" (Eze. 1:1-3).
Although it may be questionable in Ezekiel 1:1 whether the prophet was speaking of his age or of some other point of reference when he mentions the thirtieth year, we only wish to show the significance of the number thirty, and its association with that of Ezekiel being called a priest in 1:3. Remember the Lord's ministry began at the age of thirty (Luke 3:23). So, regardless of the position one may take, the very mention of thirty and its foreshadowing of the obvious, points us to that ministry which brought about the ultimate offence to those filled with pride. This captivity was the shame of a nation, and it was a most dreadful time. Nevertheless, Ezekiel, who was among the captives, found himself captivated by the vision. The captivity of God's people speaks to us today with just as much truth and relevance as it did when it was first written. To be taken away into Babylon speaks of God's people being carried away into confusion. However, in the midst of today's captives of confusion, there are also those who are captives to a God given vision!
Ezekiel typifies every son of God who refuses to turn a deaf ear to the convictions which God has planted in the hearts of His apprehended ones, due to the vision He has given. Those who embrace the vision of a mature corporate son, and of all the implications of such a priesthood, must also have those God-birthed convictions which set them apart from those who simply have the knowledge of Sonship. When you see a man with a vision, you see a man with convictions; but a man who simply claims to have a vision, and yet, has no convictions has a problem. At best, he has a second hand revelation which has yet to fully open up to him; and at worst, he is deceived by the knowledge which he possesses, and by a heartless disposition toward spiritual commitment. Can we not see that it is entirely possible to get truth from what others have received from God, and yet, lose it to the next passing wind? Nevertheless, when God plunges His hand deep into our hearts and imparts truth, diverse winds cannot sweep it away. When we speak of diverse winds, we are speaking of the many voices that filter knowledge through personal opinions, but which may or may not bear witness to the living Word.
We would like to stop and take note to the fact that opinions can be shaped and molded by cultures, trends, and a number of influences outside of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, when God births a conviction in our heart; and we are truly sensitive to His leading, we will find ourselves feeling grieved and vexed if we toss our convictions aside for the sake of compromise. The same is true, if we give in to those things which may even seem comfortable at the moment, while we ignore the voice of the Lord. Moving in accordance with the convictions of the Spirit leaves no room for the influence of popular opinion. The convictions of which we are speaking come with that invaluable quality that leaves us feeling cheated whenever we fail to measure every idea by the witness of Spirit.
When it comes to our opinions, we have the liberty to redefine what it means to be a mature son of God. But when it comes to God-given convictions, we do not have that same liberty. An opinion may be easily offended by the indwelling cross (which is characterized by that which strengthens the spiritual man, and subdues all that would draw our soul away from the leading of the Spirit.) Interestingly enough, Ezekiel's name means, "whom God will strengthen," and, whenever one is devoid of convictions, spiritual weakness is a given. Embracing a truth without conviction is an open door to instability. Truth without conviction has no backbone. We are persuaded that spiritual conviction is one of the first things that God plants in those who would go on to walk in the reality of the vision of Sonship. May we seek the counsel of the Lord to find out whether our opinions reflect the convictions of the Spirit. If they do not, may we count them as weeds which must be uprooted from our garden.
It was painfully obvious that there was no stability in the
priesthood
in Ezekiel's day. Israel did not impact the world around them. However,
the world around this called-out nation (which is nothing less that the
darkened system governed by the spirit of the age) left its impact on
Israel. ...ye have not walked in my statutes, neither executed my
judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are
round about you
(Eze. 11:12).
Today, the priesthood, which is to minister to this world by expressing the life of Christ, has gone after the manners of fallen humanity. The systems of this world often set the standard for many Christian circles. One true trademark of such a worldly influence in the body of Christ is the lack of spiritual conviction! It is more popular to overlook the very things that hinder spiritual growth. Today, the theme of the Christian walk is nothing more than a feel good philosophy, rather than overcoming sin by the indwelling power of Christ. Compromise is perpetuated at the cost of spiritual growth. Maturity and growing in Christ are unheard of as goals in many circles within Christianity. In this age, people tend to measure growth by how many people come to the meetings, rather than by the growth of the inner man expressing Christ in the earth. Unsaved men and women can come up with great schemes to get a large group of people under one roof; but when the Church employs some of those same schemes, we are prone to immediately call it a move of the Spirit.
In the so called "deeper circles," growth in the Spirit is measured by how much we know; and when our beloved knowledge begins to lose the thrill of newness, we stray after something that sounds more exotic. The measuring of spiritual growth by way of knowledge has led many men and women of God to a high place in their heart, only to fall into a state of depravity and spiritual desolation. Their hearts are not given to Christ, but are given wholly to some message which they deem to be "the message." I do not know how many times I have heard someone shout"this is the message of the hour," and yet, felt something was missing in the Spirit. I must confess that "the message" is too often based around either a group of people or around a revelation which they feel like they own, rather than the embodiment of all divine truth and revelation (which is none other than Jesus, who is not just a member of the body of Christ, but is the Christ! Each of us should be humbled by the mere fact that we are privileged to be a part of His body!)
While the majority of those within Christendom seem to let the influence of worldly kingdoms dictate their affairs (which should be led by the Holy Spirit, in order to make manifest the Kingdom of God in the earth), the so called "deeper ones" grow prouder as they speed toward a rude awakening. This awakening will reveal their lives as being unstable and absorbed into their own deceiving hearts, and can only express self. Nevertheless, those who cannot buck against the convictions which have been deeply rooted into the soil of their hearts may find themselves quite vexed, whenever they are among those who pride themselves in the quantity of people in their group (who, if the truth be told, are often captivated by entertainment, personalities, and cunning marketing techniques.) Even miracles have no place being the center of attention among the members of the body of Christ! They should only be the result of Christ being the center of His people, and never the motivation for people gathering together and calling the meeting or message whatever they want.
Convictions which the Spirit has branded in our inner most being will also have us seeking His discernment. When someone is shouting about exclusively having the so called "message of the hour," we will not take and run with it just because it sounds untraditional. If we are really sensitive to the Spirit, we will wait for the witness of the Spirit. We, too, can easily allow the ugly weeds of pride to spring up, which will limit our love and fellowship to only those who are as proud as we are about the same small piece of knowledge we have (which is mixed with God only knows what!). Sure, we are to count our fellowship with those of like precious faith as a blessing. And, if we truly do this, it will bring humility and commitment to the Lord and to one another. But if we become proud, one thing is for sure. Our fellowship is not centered around Christ!
George Warnock once wrote "It would be wrong to base our fellowship on what kind of 'message' we have: Kingdom Message, End-Time Message, .. and all the different titles that we hear these days by people who have left the traditional church. We only have true fellowship when we 'walk in the Light' .. not just knowing about the Light. We must walk in abiding fellowship with the King, rather than just learning the Kingdom Message. Are we following in the steps of Him who is poor in spirit? The One who mourns over His people? The One who is meek and lowly in heart. We must respond to His call: 'I want you to give yourself wholly unto Me.. to be separated entirely unto Me, that I might do with you as I will.'" (Beauty For Ashes Part 5, The Garden of God, p. 69).
In the New Testament, we find an interesting connection in John 8:9
with
the value of having convictions. This passage tells us what happened
when
the scribes and Pharisees brought the adulteress woman before Jesus.
After
the Lord gave those who were without sin the opportunity to stone her,
her accusers dismissed themselves. And they which heard it, being
convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at
the eldest, even unto the last...
(John 8:9). The Greek word for convicted
in John 8:9 is elenko. It is used elsewhere in the scriptures
as fault, being reproved, convince, and rebuke. Many of
you may agree that a lot of what we see expressed today in the Church,
and especially in America (as well as in the so called "deeper
circles") is the same attitude expressed in the Church of the
Laodiceans. They felt that they had it all and knew it all, but they
were blind to their desperate need of correction. They obviously had no
convictions! The last place the word elenko is used is in
Revelation 3:19, when the Lord speaks to the Church of Laodicea. "As
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."
Concerning this Greek word and the way it is used in the scriptures, we would like to quote Marvin Vincent. "This conviction issues in chastening, by which the error is corrected and the erring one is purified. If the conviction is rejected, it carries with it condemnation and punishment" (Vincent's Word Studies of The New Testament, Vol. 2, p.102). We have already discussed chastening at length in this series; so, therefore, we would only like to reiterate the fact that chastening is the result of God's love, and that it is for our growth. Today, the concept of conviction is rejected because God's love has been redefined in such a way that makes correction uncalled for and negative. Furthermore, it is popular in many camps to name and claim perfection, making the need for correction, even when errors are apparent, to be an insult. It is easier just to say,"God sees me as already perfected." If being perfected simply means claiming that in which Jesus walked, while at the same time excusing things which are contrary to His nature, then the groaning creation around us will be left without a visible expression of the true nature of Christ, the nature which God desires to express through His sons!
Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law... my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord's flock is carried away captive (Ps. 119:136 and Jer. 13:17).
Ezekiel represented the true priesthood which God will use to be partakers of His divine government. As you may recall, idolatry and pride had mounted and mounted in the hearts of the Levitical priesthood (as well as in many others' of the people in Israel); but there were those who could not partake of such things, because, as we have stated, they had something planted within their being which drew them to the Lord. You see, the fruit of God-given convictions is seen by the effectual prayers which spring from within, with the sole destination of reaching the throne of God. It is as if something within us is pressing our soul into a place where it cannot take anymore of the vexation . . . the vexation which is felt, whenever we can no longer remain indifferent to the hypocrisy within the body of Christ. It is not a spirit of fault-finding with everyone. We realize there are those who devote their entire ministry to pointing out the faults of others, while never even hinting at correction, restoration, and reconciliation. And we realize that we can waste time on issues which are not really essential to our growth in the Spirit, pressing these issues as if our salvation hinges on it. But this is altogether of another spirit.
When salvation through Christ alone has been circumvented, we must also face the fact that it is not some simple academic point with which we may agree or disagree that is at issue. In every generation, the Spirit has laid a burden upon the hearts of convicted believers to confront that which strikes at the foundation of the only true faith. There is a foundation, beloved, which is very exclusive. It is exclusive to those who know Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation. There will be a people found standing firm on this foundation after all the winds have done their damage to everything else around it. Were we called to be in a popularity contest? If we go on to know Jesus Christ as our Lord, we will be true to what the Spirit is saying to us, even if that means sounding like the odd one or the negative one. That, my dear friends, is Sonship; a call to obedience, plain and simple.
In a recent article by Terry Crisp, we find a quote which sums up our feelings concerning being true to what the Lord has laid on our hearts. "'Ah,' but some will say, 'that's such a negative message. Shouldn't you be preaching a positive, uplifting word to God's people?' Sure... if we were at liberty to pick and choose our messages. But we cannot help but speak what we have seen and heard!" (Good Seed Publications, "A Time to Weep, Part 1", p.1).
It is no wonder that the sleepy-eyed, indifferent attitude is so
common
in the circles which pride themselves on revelation knowledge. These
proud
islands are only concerned with themselves. We find a prophetic word in
Isaiah 23:4 concerning them: Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea
hath spoken even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor
bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up
virgins.
Something is deeply wrong, something is desperately
missing, whenever the testimony of those who have revelation knowledge
say by their lifestyle, "I travail not, nor bring forth children,
neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins."
The weeds of indifference had no doubt been yanked out of Ezekiel's
garden. There must have been a remnant which also had their hearts
prepared for the upcoming weeding-out process which was about to take
place. And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the
cherub, where upon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called
to the man clothed in linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his
side; And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city,
through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of
the men that sigh and that cry for the abominations that be done in the
midst thereof
(Eze. 9:3 and 4).
Those who received the mark on their foreheads represent those
who cannot
be indifferent to the obvious abominations in the body of Christ today.
There is no doubt that there was some serious prayer for righteous
judgment
going on with all the sighing and crying. Let my prayers be set
forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the
evening sacrifice
(Ps. 141:2). When Ezekiel and the remnant of
those who
were not
indifferent
cried out to God in prayer, it was no form or dead ritual through which
they went, as those offered by many before a meal or bed time. They
discerned
between the Holy and the profane. And when they prayed, their hearts
cried
out to the Living God. They were offering up that which God desired,
while
their brothers and sisters were burning incense to dumb idols. Women
were
weeping in the sacred porch over a Syrian god, Tammuz, which, according
to Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names, was an
abominable
form of worship the idolatrous kings of Judah had introduced to God's
people.
Men, called to be priests of the One true God, were filling the temple
of God with the stench of idolatry, as they turned toward the east
(Eze.
8:12-18).
It is quite sad to say that even as I type these lines, incense is being offered to pieces of truth, rather than to Him who is the Truth. We hear of many great things which God has quickened to our spirits, things concerning the reconciling of the world, and other such truths. However, people are often inclined to make a god out of reconciliation, while forgetting about the God of reconciliation. Some have made idols out of their pieces of truth, because they have allowed them to become the center of their attention and devotion. In fact, I can think of many of these truths which have even been put in the place of our Lord Jesus Christ! Have we forgotten that without Him, the reconciliation of all things could not happen in the first place? Without Him, the Feast of Tabernacles would have no true meaning. It would just be a dead ritual, with no expectation of fulfillment. Without Him, the Most Holy place would be a most distant place to all of us. Without Him, we would not have an inkling of an idea of what Sonship means. Without Him, the different names of God would be just that . . . just different names, rather than different attributes of divine power and majesty expressed through Him. Without Him, all revelation with true spiritual understanding is locked up and tightly sealed to a creation starving for light. Without Him, oneness in the Spirit would not be possible. Without Him, all truth is incomplete, and fullness is a word which we will never know in its fullest sense. Without Him, all of our gleanings from study would be lifeless. Without Him, we cannot be realistic and honest with ourselves or with others, whenever we talk about all creation being set free. Without Him, there lies no trail blazed through Hades. Without Him, hope, in its most practical sense, is a myth. Without Him, immortality is restrained from the arena of existence while death endlessly pollutes creation. Without Him, the mere mention of salvation is nothing but a tease to the spiritually destitute multitudes of humanity!
Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of
Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery?
(Eze. 8:12). Indeed we have, indeed we have. With God-given
convictions, we can also discern the weeds of idolatry which may spring
up within our own hearts. With all sobriety and reverence to our Lord,
may we acknowledge our hearts bare before Him, and yield to Him for the
removal of such things in our personal garden.
We might also add that if we do not take heed to the wholehearted devotion which is so vital to the high calling in Christ Jesus, the Lord will let us take our piece of knowledge (with whatever measure of truth we have), and turn toward the east. This is being made manifest today, as ministries pervert reconciliation and the Gospel of the Kingdom with concepts which come straight out of eastern religion and philosophy. Is it any wonder why many sincere Christians will reject such ministries? If they are serious about seeking for light, why, then, should we even expect them to embrace something for which there is no valid scriptural basis? They have no reason to embrace anything without a true witness. Some may say, "it is by the Spirit, the letter kills." To this I would agree; but the Spirit and the scriptures will always agree as well. Therefore, every serious seeker of truth deserves (and will demand) a word that is established in the mouth of at least two witnesses (Duet.19:15, Matt.18:16, and 2 Cor.13:1).
At the very time when Ezekiel saw visions by the river Chebar, we
find
that the leadership of Jerusalem was in rebellion. As it was said of so
many of the kings, we also read that king Jehoiachin, mentioned in Eze.
1:2, did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according
to all that his father had done
(2 Kings 24:9). If we read on in 2
Kings 24, we find among the king and the others carried away into
captivity were all the mighty men of valour
(24:14). This is
quite
interesting,
in light of the fact that these were the men fit for battle. These were
able men when it came to war. Nevertheless, they were taken
away
into captivity, along with the princes, the craftsmen, the smiths, and
so on. The mighty men of valour speak to us of a spiritual capacity
which
every believer has the potential to develop within him. For though
we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons
of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling
down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing
that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of the mind of Christ
(2
Cor. 10:3-5).
This capacity to act on the inspired exhortation in 2 Cor.
10:3-5 is
ineffective if we are taken into captivity with the Babylonian
confusion
that comes from having not a love for the truth! And for this cause
God shall send them strong delusion, that they may believe a lie
(2
Thess. 2:11). We could go deeper into the symbolism concerning what the
others who were taken captive mean to us today in the Spirit; but it is
more noteworthy at this time to mention those mighty men of valour, and
their connection to the warfare we have in the Spirit. For it is in
Paul's
exhortation that we find our responsibility to do some divine uprooting
through Christ. Let us exercise those mighty men of valour within us on
the battlefield of the Spirit, whenever the weeds of pride begin to
spring
up from our earth. Let us draw out the sword of the Living Word when
those
foul spirits which come flying through our heavens seek to provoke us
to
pride ourselves on what we know, and which attempt to pick away
at the plants of humility in our garden.
"And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writers ink horn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen alter. And the glory of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with the linen, which had the writer's ink horn by his side; And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and cry for the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which where before the house" (Eze. 9:2-6).
With the above scriptures in mind, and with consideration of the
principles
gleaned from Ezekiel's vision, we would direct you to these words: For
the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God... Know
ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God
dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God
destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are... For the
mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will
let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be
revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and
shall destroy with the brightness of his coming
(1 Pet. 4:17, 1
Cor.3:16 and 17, 2 Thess. 2 :7 and 8). We know there is the common
objection that Paul
is
strictly speaking of a day in the future in 2 Thessalonians, but the
point
of this study is not to debate over these objections. We are not
interested
here in getting side-tracked with future events; because, if we do, we
may well miss what God is saying to us today! (We admit that we should
not dismiss the above scriptures as having nothing to say to future
generations
of believers; it is just not the issue in this study.)
We will briefly look back to that which Ezekiel saw, and the
application
it had for his generation. Ezekiel beheld what would happen under the
evil
reign of Zedekiah, the king appointed by Nebuchanezzar. Zedekiah's
reign
came after Jehoiachin, who was taken off into captivity (See 2 Chron.
36:1-11).
Typically enough, we read that Zedekiah did that which was evil in
the sight of the Lord his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah
the prophet speaking from the mouth of the Lord. And he also rebelled
against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he
stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the Lord
God of Israel
(2 Chron. 36:12 and 13). What was going on with the
priesthood during
Zedekiah's reign? The very things we have mentioned that Ezekiel saw
(see
Eze. 8:12-17). Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the
people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the
heathen; and polluted the house of the Lord which he had hallowed in
Jerusalem
(2 Chron. 36:14).
As a result of all that Zedekiah, the chief priest, and the
people of
God had done, we find their judgment in 2 Chron. 36:17. This we would
like
to compare with Eze.9:5-7. Therefore he brought upon them the king
of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house
of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old
man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand
(2
Chron. 36:17). The context in 2 Chron. 36 clearly shows that the "He"
who
brings this to pass in verse 17 is God! ...Go ye after him through
the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay
utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women
(Eze. 9:5 and 6).
We can take a look through the Kings and Chronicles and see the line of one evil king after another (with just a few exceptions here and there). Almost all of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah had names that mentioned the Lord therein. For example, Zedekiah's name meant justice of the Lord. It seems like an awfully irreverent mockery to consider the names of these evil kings in light of their actions. One may ask, "What does all of this history have to do with anything? What does this have to do with us?" In light of the fact that we are called to be a nation of kings and priest (see Rev. 1:6), and that there are those of us who proudly announce themselves as manifested sons of God (while redefining such things as "the justice of God"), it has a lot to do with a lot of things! This, too, is some what of a mockery, when the claims of who we are totally contradict the life that we lead. By this, we are not talking about those who have made mistakes, and have learned from them. We are talking about the proud hearted ones, who can tell you all about what they are in Christ, while blindly expressing self. We are talking about the type of heart which redefines the things pertaining to the Lord, in order to suit its own lifestyle. Indeed, the justice of the Lord has been redefined in these so called "deeper camps" to mean that God does not see sin, that God is not concerned with our walk, that we just need to know the deeper truths, that we need only to claim perfection, and so on.
Ironically enough, Nebuchadnezzar, the vessel God used to judge king Zedikiah, has some significance in the meaning of his name. His name means Nebo is the god of fire. Nebo was an idol god that the Assyrians and Babylonians considered to be "the ruler of heaven and earth." Although Nebo was just an idol based on pagan sun worship, the Lord, who is the true ruler of heaven and earth, chose the human agency of Nebuchadnezzar and of the Babylonians to be the vehicle of His judgment. We can read about Jerusalem's burning in 2 Kings 25.Today, there is also a Babylonian spirit of religious confusion that God will use which takes the proud hearted into captivity. So let us learn from the king called "the justice of God", who waxed proud and met the true justice of God in fiery judgment. Let us now consider that the true God who rules the affairs of both heaven and earth, will judge those called to be kings and priests to Him with His purging fire!
This is not some hell fire and brimstone message; it is a
sobering exhortation
to face the music. Let us not think for one second that God's purging
fire
is an option. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto
you
(1 Pet. 4:12). We can either be partakers of the baptism of
fire, or we
can
suffer loss in the lake of fire. For every one shall be salted with
fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt
(Mark 9:49).
God
will have no problem in accomplishing His purification process. We
might
add that it is also a perversion of His judgments, whenever we say that
they are endless. God's fire is used for one thing, and that is to
consume
the impurities, rather than to torment endlessly. A careful look into
the
original Hebrew and Greek language used in the scriptures confirms
this.
All the passages in the scripture dealing with judgment denote a period
of time according to the original language and the context of the
passage.
Getting back to the main point, we might do well to consider that THOSE WHO TAKE THE LIBERTY TO REDEFINE THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD WILL GO ON TO BE REFINED BY THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD! We would like to share a timely quote on this subject. "If God has called you, giving you a portion of truth, and His Spirit, and you resist His inworkings and will not submit to His processings now, then there is but 'a certain fearful looking for judgment and FIERY indignation, which shall devour the adversaries, (contrariness, rebelliousness).' [Hebrews 10:27]. It didn't say we would be 'burned up,' or that we would be 'tormented forever in the fire,' but that it would require the severity of a fiery process until we are purged of all that which is contrary to Him. As we yield and are cleansed, then His mercy will bring us into His life" (Whispers of His Redemption, by Ray Prinzing, p.134).
A. W. Pink once wrote, "Heresies are necessary that lovers of
truth
may be made manifest" (see 1 Cor. 11:19). This is a very relevant
statement, in light of all the conflicting voices that are sounding off
under the banner of "The Kingdom Message" these days. The Lord
brings to surface what lies hidden in the heart of man. We often think
of light simply swallowing up darkness; but actually, it does more than
that. You see, when the light comes, it makes manifest what was taking
place in the dark. For there is nothing hid, which shall not be
manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come
abroad
(Mark 4:22).
When God brings such things to the surface, He also has a people prepared to confront these things. For example, He put His words in the mouth of Jeremiah (Jer. 1:9). The Lord is kindling His fire in a humbled and contrite-hearted people who know that they are absolutely hopeless without the guidance of the Spirit. The reason why God chooses to use these people is because they still have a teachable spirit. Their attitude will greatly contrast with those who pride themselves on having the latest revelation. The result that will come from this proud state of affairs is nothing short of brokeness. Interestingly enough, in Ezekiel 9:2, where it speaks of the six men with their slaughter weapon, the marginal notes reads: "a weapon of his breaking in pieces."
We read in 2 Chron. 36:17 that the Lord sent messengers to the
rebellious
house of Israel; but in verse 18, we read that these messengers were
mocked,
that Israel despised God's word, and that they misused His prophets.
What
will be the reaction today to those who are used instrumentally to
speak
a word of clarity in the midst of confusion? What will be the reaction
of the high minded, whenever they are faced with a word that does not
stroke
their ego, and which requires something they were not expecting? What
will
the reaction be, when doctrines that deny the Lord are challenged and
called
into question, rather than just being accepted because they sound deep,
or because all the right phrases are used therein? What should we
expect,
if the word of the Lord comes only to be rejected? Who among us will
cleanse
themselves from the spiritual idolatry of worshiping a measure of
truth?
Who among us will humbly hold their measure of truth before the Lord,
and
trust Him for the increase, rather than mingling what He has given with
eastern and other views which are not centered in
Christ?
Who
among us will continue to look toward other world views, turning their
backs upon the Lord? And he brought me into the inner court of the
Lord's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord,
between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with
their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the
east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east
(Eze. 8:16).
These questions concerning the confrontation of the proud hearted who fail to consider the messengers through whom God speaks His word take us back to the river Chebar. They take us back to the temple where Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord depart, thereby leaving the city desolate. Beloved, what Ezekiel beheld was the only solution given to the problem of pride and idolatry confronting those who have received even a glimpse of Sonship. By looking at the symbolism given in the vision, we get an idea of what the people through whom God has chosen to speak look like. It gives us a picture of those ripe attributes of maturity God has been raising in His garden. It gives us a clear-cut vision of those whom God will use to minister His fiery words.
We acknowledge that the four living creatures in Ezekiel (which
are
much like the four living creatures in Revelation) represent four
important
aspects of Christ (Eze. 1:10), for they are the Revelation of Jesus
Christ
(Rev. 4:7). As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the
face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four
had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of
an eagle
(Eze. 1:10). The face of the man is portrayed in
the
Gospel
of Luke. We see that Christ born of a woman comes as the son of man, in
order that we might become the sons of God. We see the face of the lion
portrayed in the Gospel of Matthew. Here, we see that Christ came from
the kingly line and triumphs over sin and death as the lion of the
tribe
of Judah. The face of the ox is portrayed in the Gospel of Mark. In
this,
we see Christ, the greatest of all, humbling Himself as the servant of
all. We see the face of the eagle in the Gospel of John. Here, we see
Christ
presented as the One who was in the higher heavenly dimension that far
surpassed that life which is strictly limited to the earthy man.
There is another attribute found in the vision, which speaks of
the
mature sons who will be used to manifest God's Kingdom in the earth. And
as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had
been in the midst of a wheel. When they went, they went upon their four
sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head
looked they followed it; they turned not as they went
(Eze. 10:10
and 11). Do take note of verse 11, ...to the place whither the head
went they followed...
This speaks of the obedience of the
body in relation to the Head! It clearly speaks of the leading
of
the Spirit. It speaks of the Lordship of Christ being dominant in all
areas
of the lives of those who shall be used to minister righteous judgment
in the earth. It speaks of a people that have had every last weed of
pride,
compromise, indifference, and everything else contrary to Christ
uprooted.
And it speaks of a people who have been sealed with the nature of
Christ,
which is the very thing that brings glory to God. This is not unlike
what
John saw in Rev. 14. And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the
mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his
Father's name written in their foreheads... These are they which follow
the Lamb withersoever he goeth... to the place whither the head looked
they followed
(Rev. 14:1 and 4, and Eze. 10:11).
This fiery infolding vision that comes out of the north brings
not with
it the judgment of Church councils, round table talks, board meetings,
or any kind of judgment after man's order. It brings the judgment of
God.
Without such divine dealings, the essence of the truth is absorbed into
a pool of mixture, while the weeds of spiritual idolatry flourish. This
mixture may fill to the brim before the north wind blows, but, in the
Lord's
time, the wind will indeed blow! In the course of all the magnificent
symbolic
language that flows out of Ezekiel, he begins to describe a voice. ...I
heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the
voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host
(Eze. 1:24). This same voice is described in the Revelation of Jesus
Christ. Rev. 1:15 tells us that His voice is as the sound of many
waters.
Although it is as the voice of "many waters", it is
but One
Spirit.
This is far different from the waters today, which carry the voices of
many proud spirits, along with all of their impurities clouding the
waters
with confusion. This speaks of that clear, liberating word of life
which
flows out of the throne of God! However, this word will not flow in a
life-changing
capacity until judgment has been first executed in the inner court of
the
Lord's house, and the proud hearted are broken.
In Ezekiel 10:5, the voice is described again in the context of
judgment.
His voice of judgment cannot flow out of just any of the circles of
waters
which claim the name of Christ! We see a clear connection in Rev.1:15
between
the voice and the feet (which speaks to us in symbolic language of
those
who will carry this fiery word.) Their inner chamber has already
yielded
to God's judgment, for they (the feet) are like unto fine brass, as
if they burned in a furnace.
These same feet are found in
Ezekiel's
vision. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their
feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the
colour of burnished brass
(Eze. 1:7). The Concordant version
renders the word straight as upright. This speaks of a
walk... not of a philosophy, not of a doctrine, not of another
gospel (which redefines scripture to justify soulish desires.) The
sole of the calf's foot speaks of a people who chew the cud (that is,
who prayerfully ponder and meditate on the things of God.) The divided
hoof tells us that everything they minister shall stand on two
witnesses (see Lev. 11:3). They will not simply scarf down information
left and right and call it truth. They will not call everything that
sounds deep a revelation from God! Popular opinion will not define the
truth for them. They will grow in discernment. They will operate in
wisdom, and speak the word of God in clarity, rather than confuse the
listener by perpetuating mixture. This clear word comes from the throne
of God to execute righteous judgment and that is precisely what the
sparkling burnished brass represents.
Let us not kid ourselves by simply assuming the position
described in
Eze. 1:7. Those who have held fast to their God-birthed convictions
will
go on to walk upright in Christ, for such a walk shall be the
expression
of their nature. To walk otherwise would grieve their spirit. This walk
can only be cultivated through the prayerful pondering and constant
communion
with the Spirit. Oh, Lord, may our convictions grow and grow, until we
are at one with the fire which you use to kindle them. May we humbly
acknowledge
your divine enablement to become one with such a fire. May we soberly
realize For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much
required
(Luke 12:48), lest we suffer loss for taking such a high
calling for granted.