Tabernacle Facts:

1. Three areas:
OUTER COURT = place of SACRIFICE (often the verse 'sacrifice of praise' is used incorrectly here)
HOLY PLACE = place of WORSHIP
HOLY OF HOLIES = place of COMMUNION. Alone with God. Unusual serenity. Remember: Priests were not allowed in the Holy Place on Day of Atonement. Even in the midst of a CROWD or CONGREGATION - praise and worship. In this realm, in the Presence of God you are alone with God. Only 2 persons - lost in God. Inner solitude.

2. Michael Molinos in his book "The Spiritual Guide" shows clearly the difference between the OUTER COURT and the 'tent". The difference between the BRASS and the GOLD - FINE GOLD. Between INWARD and OUTWARD experience. Some can't discern the difference between BRASS and GOLD. Look similar in dull light.

CHILDLIKE FAITH: A simple vision of God. The simpler the better. It is a beholding of Jesus. No strain. Not of the soul. Not to do with imagination. Visualization is of the soul; not of the spirit. Satan's realm is of the SOUL.

3. Jeanne Guyon in "Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ" emphasises the Presence of God more. Knowing Jesus Christ through the Presence of God. Menorah.

4. GOLD-PLATED WOOD: Picture of giant with feet on earth and head in the clouds. True Christianity - humanity remains. Heart of flesh. On the other hand, Word-Faith teaching leads to "feet are no longer on the earth." Altered view of life; different way of thinking.

5. ARK of the Covenant. Golden ark. Innermost room - Most Holy Place. Perfect Cube - 15ft.
MOST IMPORTANT PIECE. The most complete type and figure of the Lord Jesus Christ. Centre of the tabernacle service.

ARK = chest or oblong box. Made of wood (humanity); covered in GOLD (deity). Gold-plated. Ultimate safety and security. Ultimate security of the believer from judgment. A refuge from the storms of life.

Three arks in Bible:
1. ark of Noah
2. ark of Moses
3. ark of the Covenant

Weatherproof and storm proof; secure from judgment. Waterproof - lined with pitch = kaphar - OT word for blood atonement.
Cover = Mercy Seat

Between God (throne of God between wings of cherubim) and sin (broken tablets of the law) there was the Mercy Seat. Ark represented JUDGMENT and DEATH. 1 Samuel 6:19 Lifted the blood stained MERCY SEAT for just a brief moment.

Background of the cross emphasised:
a. awful holiness of God - judgment. God's demand for the blood of a substitute.
b. awful sinfulness of sin. Acts - Ananias & Sapphira. (x lightness)

God hates sin.

x joke about Bible; frothy, light and irreverent handling of the things of God. Services a CARNIVAL or CIRCUS. ENTERTAINMENT prominent. Different from place of deep reverential worship of God. Christian music today. CHRISTIAN ROCK. CHRISTIAN RAP. Some chorusses similar to JUNGLE JAZZ. SHALLOW. NO SPIRITUAL DEPTH.
Lost much of the reverence for holy things because of the introduction of much of this shallow entertainment. Missed the seriousness of the HOLINESS OF GOD and implications of unatoned sin.
Today, there is a SILENCE concerning HOLINESS OF GOD.

SIN is the opposite of the HOLINESS OF GOD. The CROSS OF CALVARY also reveals God's HATRED FOR SIN outside of Christ. CALVARY = judgment upon sin. Terror of hell outside Christ.

In the realm of the Holy of Holies, anything of the FLESH, SIN, etc. GRIEVES the Holy Spirit. The Presence of God can lift. Remember Kathryn Kuhlman - He's all I have. He's all I have got. Why? There is a price to pay = TIME. Not strong in theology, etc. Lose this and you have nothing!

"A SMALL SIN": Emphasises the awefulness of sin. First sin - larceny. (x death penalty today!) Adam did not commit murder.
The world hates the world "SIN".
SIN is the reason for HELL.
SIN is the cause of every SORROW in the world. Greed behind the Great Recession.
SIN leads to HOSPITAL, PRISON and ASYLUM.
The penalty of sin goes beyond the grave. Goes into eternity.
Price of sin = Blood of God's only Son.
Calvary = proof of the GRAVITY of sin.

COMMUNION: When a Christian is still dwelling among the gifts, he has distinct - but only momentary - illumination. Visions, etc. The more advanced the believer becomes, the less DEFINATE will be his illuminations. If the believer reaches the level descibed here, he will only have a GENERAL illumination. That illumination is of God Himself, nothing more. He will not have any specific illuminations.

But out of this very general light, which is God Himself, he will DRAW WHATEVER HE NEEDS. This too is how he will minister to others.

STATE OF GLORY: The methods of transformation are left behind. The soul is LOST IN GOD and is transformed. LIFE OF GOD and LOVE OF GOD is fully experienced here through IMPARTATION. True intimacy with Christ here. That love comes from God. Enveloped in Divine life and love. Such an encounter of love is neither of the emotions nor of the natural man.

6. POT OF MANNA: Just as fresh today as the day it fell from heaven! The manna in the wilderness spoiled after ONE day; this pot of manna remained fresh for thousands of years! Not only provision externally. FEEDING on Jesus Himself. JOHN 6:51. Eating. Drinking deeply of living water. Experience this in the Holy of Holies.

Place where the PROMISES OF GOD are manifest. Most hold fast to these in the Outer Court. One first needs to die to the promises of God.

7. BUDDING ROD: Numbers 17 rebellion. God's choice was one tribe. Rebels wanted to rather rotate between tribes. Test: 12 dry sticks with names of each tribe one on each stick. In morning, one dry stick budded - life out of death.

The Presence of God not only fills you, but also the PLACE where you are! This is why demons are stirred up! Must learn to take authority over demons in this realm!

8. TABLETS: Protection and revelation often go hand in hand. In this place - Holy of Holies - the Lord through His Presence brings a perception of hidden things - hidden things of darkness. This revelation causes one to walk around 'danger'; walk through danger unharmed. Our Lord Jesus lived in this realm! This is how He perceived the very thoughts of the Pharisees; and how He kept out of their traps until His time had come to fulfill His Father's will.

9. PRAYER: In the OUTER COURT - can ASK and sometimes God will grant you it as God granted Israel a king. Can be very dangerous as you miss entering into the tent. Persuaded by the answer that you are IN THE RIGHT PLACE! "What are you doing here, Elijah?"; "Where are are you, Adam?"

The transformation is characterized by prayer that is an ever ascending movement towards SILENCE. That is, the powers of the soul gradually become totally quieted. In the Holy of Holies there is a cessation of every tiny effort.

When a believer has arrived at this point in his pilgrimage, he has actually come to a place wher HE CANNOT LAY HOLD OF PRAYER AT ALL. The ability to pray has been taken away. He cannot even set aside certain times for prayer.

The believer, therefore is led to think that he has lost every kind of devotion to the Lord. He has come to the place where he has nothing at all but naked faith.

There is also a struggle to read books - lose interest in Christian books. Most deal with Outer Court.

Does prayer return? Yes. Resurrection life is central to the Holy of Holies. Characteristics of resurrected prayer: marvelous ease, a devotion which is sweet, gentle and very much in spirit and always IN GOD.

10. TWO DOORS: GATE = death to the WORLD; still much of the flesh present; DOOR OF 'TENT' = death to the FLESH.

We sing "He is Lord". He is Saviour and Lord. However, the fulness of His LORDSHIP occurs only when we experience "The Great Death" and die to the flesh. Later, in the 'tent', He truly has COMPLETE LORDSHIP. "HE IS LORD!"

10. ABIDING IN HIM [KEY 3]: Process of "losing oneself in God".

ORDINARY. Not all these people are unknown. Your Lord draws people to these believers and they are often able to communicate life to others. They naturally win others over to Jesus Christ.

Part of being totally abandoned to Him means that one does not evaluate how he is being used by God. As Christ becomes rooted in a believer more deeply, that one is less self-conscious about his relationship to God.

GROWING: Let your spirit be ENLARGED to greater and greater degrees. The process of "losing oneself in God" happens in different degrees in different people. Every person can be completely full. But some have larger capacities than others.

11. COVERINGS: 4 layers of CLOTH and weatherproof LEATHER
a. finest WHITE linen embroided in BLUE, SCARLET and PURPLE. Figures of churubim with outstretched wings.
b. blanket of GOAT'S HAIR
c. blanket of RAM'S SKINS dyed a deep crimson RED colour
d. LEATHER of "porpoise" (sea cow) skins - drab, dull and bluish gray, no colorful beauty

 

 

"The Great Death" [Brazen Altar]

Three stages exist in a Christian's walk with God. Some are more prominent than others in one's life.

The first stage is experiencing the genuine Presence of God. This should occur when you are first born-again. Some struggle with knowing the Presence of Jesus. This can be a difficult stage taking many years. This stage is entering the 'tent' - entering the door of the Holy Place.

The second stage is moving in and out the 'tent'. It is a walk in which there is a mixture between the Outer Court and the Holy Place. One can be living mainly in the Outer Court. As I stated before, the New Testament believer should not be found in the Outer Court at all.

The "shutting of the door" of the 'tent' takes us to the third stage. The third stage is staying in the 'tent' and moving in and out of the Holy of Holies. This is the normal Christian experience and is the Wilderness experience. Apostle Paul sometimes looked like an angel (Holy of Holies); other times like a man (Holy Place). Consider John 10 - finding pasture - in and out.

This "shutting of the door" is a Job-like experience which I call "the Great Death". Many of the classic saints such as Jeanne Guyon spoke of this. Kathryn Kuhlman spoke of the day in which she died, an event after the baptism in the Holy Spirit. This stage usually takes place over many years.

Very few saints allow this work to be done in their lives. Most saints are living in the second stage.

Two clear and simple indicators of saints being in the second stage are :

1. faith

2. praise and worship

The faith that is taught today has a completely different emphasis from true living faith. The death of Oral Roberts is a true indicator here. He symbolised seed faith and the modern faith. Many well-known leaders and prophets of the Prophetic Movement still walk in this faith of the Faith Movement. They readily accept the faith that Oral Roberts symbolised. This clearly indicates that they are living in the first or second stage. The final move of God at the end of the age is of the third stage. One cannot be part of this coming glory and still hold onto the faith of the faith movement!

Those accepting the high praise, shouting to the Lord and charismatic praise which is mainly of the flesh are living in the first or second stage. This can easily be seen in meetings and by what is taught today.

However, not all those who fit the above profile are in the third stage. There is much more to this deeper way. These are merely indicators to show that those who practice the above are clearly not in the third stage. Very few saints throughout the ages have truly walked in this third stage. An example is Kathryn Kuhlman. There are many who THINK that they are living in this third realm but who are clearly not.

Understanding the Stages of "the Great Death"

1. BEGINNINGS

There are many layers of self that need to die. A mixture of alternating dry spells and the Presence of God removes these layers of self. [An "ONION" with many layers]

When one is born again, there is a turning from sin and a turning to Jesus within. Both these take place when one is truly born again. He draws us to Himself, turning us to Him. This is not by our own effort. We, however, co-operate with Him. It is EASY, NATURAL and EFFORTLESS.

There is a magnetic attraction toward the centre. A barrier or obstruction such as an idol can hinder this.

Our main task is to give ALL our attention toward turning inwardly to the Lord. We may find this difficult in the beginning. Don't be discouraged. Soon a grace will come and this will become easy. Withdraw from outward distractions and occupations and turn to Him with tenderness and serenity.

The solid foundation of all spiritual progress is pursuing the inward life.

Also, when your emotions and feelings are TURBULENT with anxiety and anger, a general retreat inward to the Presence of God deadens these turbulent emotions. This is the only way to deaden them. Don't turn to God merely by the mind or the soul. You can't enter into an intimate union with God this way.

A BLIND FAITH

We are speaking of a BLIND FAITH; a blind abandonment. Not led by the mind. Nevertheless, with this BLIND FAITH, they do experience a certain kind of knowledge; a knowledge that is delightful and fruitful. Such a believer NEVER walks by his intellect. He has no clear view of the road; pursues blindly an unknown course; intuition; a way of faith and absolute abandonment.

On the other hand, a believer who walks by his intellect has a very distinct light to guide him. He moves with a sure step. Illumination assisted by reasoning.

BLIND FAITH: In spite of this seeming UNCERTAINTY of his way, this simple and trusting believer makes progress with FAR MORE CERTAINTY than the intellectual believer! Intellectual illuminations subject to misleadings.

A DELICATE SPIRIT

A delicate spirit is one whose emotions are delicate and concealed. They suffer greatly and they suffer more than others do. There spirit is NOT a strongly motivated spirit - full of zeal and ardor; but a delicate one. More indifferent. More insensible. More stable. Does not do things impulsively. Characterized by a greater loyalty than others. Cannot make headway against foes.
Example: Peter (zeal) and John (delicate - faithful to the end)

Enjoyment of the Lord deepens. Becomes less perceptible. More inward. TRIALS at this point consist mainly of alternating periods of dryness (purifies) and enjoyment. Self is still present. A mixture exists. No major testing or trials.

Remember a truth (which is true at every level): At every level of spiritual progress, your natural faults are much more likely to overtake you in dry times than in seasons of inner joy. His anointing protects you from a thousand evils.

Eventually comes to a place where he is NO LONGER GREATLY AFFECTED BY PERIODS OF DRYNESS. One might think he has come to something of a state of death. However, still a long way from the death of self and complete union with God. Victory over OUTWARD DISTRACTIONS here.

Explanation:

Another dry spell leads to discovery of previously unseen faults and old ones reappearing. Why? self-effort is being slowly laid aside. This leads to less strength for resisting.

The power of the soul becomes weaker in combat. God becomes stronger in you, you become weaker.

Remember, if you were STRONG, you still could not conquer the weakness of your outward life. It is the Lord - and He alone - who becomes your purifier.

Be steadfast and let Him do all the work.

OUTWARD development and improvement is totally dependent upon the INWARD. Inward leads to outward. With action there are undesirable habits of the soul. Inward activities of the soul also need to be defeated.

Dry spells make us weaker and weaker. Puts to death internal things.

As soon as you become sufficiently weak that you cease FASHIONING YOUR OWN CONCEPT OF SELF-DENIAL, then your Lord will come, take over, and accomplish THE DEFEAT OF THE FLESH more thoroughly than you ever could do!

2. THE SOVEREIGN CROSS

The cross increases in weight. The cross is dispensed to you according to your measure. The cross you encounter IS NOT A CROSS WHICH YOU WILL CHOOSE, but a cross which you receive by His SOVEREIGNTY over your life. Hence, the sovereign cross. (Remember: the priests do not light the fire for the Brazen Altar; God lights it from heaven)

It encompasses all things - outward and inward - complete desolation. Desert experience. Wilderness experience. Progress takes many years. It results in NAKED FAITH. At some point PROGRESS IS TAKEN AWAY. ALL THE PROGRESS MADE IS LOST. This is the longest stage. It results in the death of the soul.

This death will happen IF THE SOUL IS WILLING to consent to be left in such desolation. This is a desolation SO LONG and SO COMPLETE that the soul finally DIES TO SELF.

MANY Christians never pass the earliest stages toward the deep union with Jesus Christ. Those who reach this plateau are VERY FEW. Fewer and fewer complete this.

This desolation - total desolation - comes in one of two ways: 1. sudden and violent occurrence for many believers (severity of a sudden affliction) or 2. others experience it as SOMETHING ENFEEBLING

The end result of this experience for them is A DISGUST FOR EVERYTHING. Therefore they appear to have an unwillingness to obey the Lord.

First, deprived of WORKS. Unable to do what he could formerly do very easily. Desolation increases. He begins to feel a GENERAL INABILITY IN ALL THINGS. Increases. WEAKNESS and INABILITY takes complete possession until the Christian says,

That which I do, I do not wish to do. But what I do do, I will not. What I have, that is what I do.
[Romans 7:15]

After he is deprived of ALL past progress - both INWARD progress and OUTWARD progress , the Lord begins to work on the ESSENTIALS. [Every Christian virtue disappears. As they depart, there is a sense of inward loss]

There are FOUR OBJECTIVES of this DESOLATION:
1. take you from OUTWARD WAYS to a SINGLENESS of HEART
2. take from you the distinct sensing of the realm of the spirit within you
3. the awareness of the loss of the sense of Presence of God
4. there comes a painful awareness of the loss of everything

One begins in the realm of the SEEN. This "seeing the seen" and "not seeing the unseen" is a state every believer begins in.
You leave the realm of the seen and are introduced to UNSEEN, SPIRITUAL realms where you live by faith and are nourished by love.
Later you leave that spiritual level and enter into NAKED FAITH*. Here you are left dead to all spiritual experiences. It is here that you die to yourself. Having died to self, you pass into God. From this point onwards, one lives from the life of God alone.

The unusual serenity of His Presence now becomes CONTINUAL. However, at times, it becomes deeper and more tangible, especially when coming before Him and waiting before Him.

In other words, the door has been shut, and you remain in the 'tent'; in the light of the Menorah continually. Sometimes, He draws you sovereignly into the Holy of Holies. No longer do we move in and out the tent; but rather we stay continually within the tent and move in and out the Holy of Holies according to His good pleasure.

MOST Christians have not even allowed the first work to be done; to die to self. Most are living in the OUTER COURT.

Does the cross remain in this third realm? Once we have died to self and have said as Kathryn Kuhlman said, on that day I died, does the cross lift? The cross in this realm often changes and is mainly from YOUNG, IMMATURE CHRISTIANS. Remember to correct them in a general way. They often see the mature believer as ORDINARY. Remember the shoe-leather outer covering of the tent. They see it in the light of the outside sun. This brings the cross to the mature believer.

[*Let us consider: NAKED FAITH.]

3. NAKED FAITH

The deeper you become in Him, the more you will find SINGLENESS OF HEART. You will not scatter yourself among a thousand things.

You will find that you have lost the ability to accomplish all those multitude of things; lost the ability to be keenly conscious of them. Entirely stripped. Gradually you lose not only EVERYTHING, but you also lose YOURSELF. Your inward desolation has caused you to lose the ability to even be aware of the things of yourself. Stripped of everything - within and without.

However, you are not yet at THE LOWEST POINT!

The believer is delivered over to temptations and trials. You are at a time when you are at your WEAKEST. You experience all kinds of attacks. The manifest Presence of God departs. The dark night of the soul. The last place of refuge is gone. You are stripped of all things that you desperately need in order to deal with a powerful enemy in hard pursuit.

The longer you fight, the weaker you become. Your enemy, on th other hand, is constantly increasing in strength.

What can you do? Your response is to run to your FORTRESS as fast as possible. However, the keeper has closed the gate! (You find yourself in the OUTER COURT and the door to the 'tent' is shut).

The Christian falls into the hands of his powerful enemy: defenseless, in complete despair and utterly given up. Eventually he recognises his enemy as his best friend!

You have suffered the loss of every blessing, the development of all sorts of weaknesses, experienced the powerlessness to protect yourself, have found no rest or sanctuary in your spirit. God Himself seemed to be angry and you find temptations on every side.

Why does He allow this to happen? High mindedness creeps in because of progress. God seems to resurrect the flesh - your flesh nature - in order to use it as an instrument to expose the exalted position of your soul! God desires to subdue both your flesh and your soul in its totality.

You must allow your life to be spoiled, wrecked and even destroyed to the full extent that God desires it to be. Sacrifice to God ALL your interests - those of time and those of eternity. Do not allow ANYTHING to prevent the death of self from being total. We must let God work until He is absolutely satisfied.

These times are not always constant. In other words, there will be times when His Presence manifests.

Recommended reading:

"Union with God" [Jeanne Guyon] - "The Great Death" in detail.

NUGGETS:

1. WORSHIP LEADER AND TEAM: Need someone to lead who has been through "The Great Death". i.e. NOTHING of the OUTER CORT at all. A worship leader who has not experienced "The Great Death" moves in and out from the Outer Court to the Holy Place. He will bring in the HIGH PRAISE, CHARISMATIC PRAISE, SHOUTING UNTO THE LORD, etc. as the "DOOR HAS NOT YET BEEN SHUT."

2. FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY: Those who have not experienced "The Great Death" will lead you into a LOWER realm. You can only rise as high as they are.

3. Often with the tabernacle and books on the tabernacle, emphasis is on the GATE. Being born-again. Jesus Himself is the Gate. In this teaching, I emphasise the DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE rather than the Gate. Opening the DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE is learning to know Jesus through the PRESENCE OF GOD. "The Great Death" is about "SHUTTING or SEALING" the DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE.

4. YOUNG BELIEVER's CHARACTER: Swings from one extreme to another in his spiritual experience. Has many high places and many low places. Sometimes he is an absolute wonder in his progress; at other times he is very weak. When in a low place, he will fall into DISCOURAGEMENT. He POSSESSES NO DEEP PEACE or CALM in the presence of DISTRACTION or DRY periods. A young believer can be greatly affected by a drought; combats anything that comes his way. He also complains about things that come his way.

He does his seeking after God according to his OWN EFFORTS. Often strong-willed. Has a great capacity to REASON.

5. FIRST STAGE (in detail): Walk mainly in OUTER COURT. His labour is on the OUTSIDE. He is not engaged in an INTERNAL walk. Those of GREAT REASONING AND UNDERSTANDING seem to be unable to maintain EVEN A MOMENT OF SILENCE BEFORE GOD.

Such a Christian brings forth a stream of words, knows how to pray, knows all thekinds of prayer, can speak clearly and exactly on all spiritual subjects and seems to be pleased with himself that he can do all these things.

And yet, ten or twenty years later, that person will be in the same place in his spiritual life that he is today. Very seldom are these believers involved in ministry to others.

6. SECOND STAGE (in detail): There are those who labor for Him yet are DRY and ARID. Some can appear to be passionately in love with the Lord and YET KNOWS LITTLE OF HIM! They feel a sense of loving Him but never become intimately acquainted with the object of their love. They have touched on the INWARD walk.

This type of Christian makes a great deal of progress toward the Lord. He seems to have a wonderful relationship with Him and be in complete agreement with His will. And yet there seems to be something within THAT IS NEVER TRULY DEALT WITH, NEVER ANNIHILATED. They have not passed through "The Great Death." There are visions, revelations. Often they hear the voice of the Lord.

This believer has temptation, yet the temptation is repelled with vigor. The cross is borne with STRENGTH. Such a Christian even wishes there would be more of the cross! Centred in gifts; not the Giver. Resting in his gifts; pondering his gifts; appropriating them to himself. Vanity. Often the ruin of one's inner spiritual life.

This Christian is very STRONG in God. And he sometimes cannot understand the weaknesses of others. A person of this disposition often expects a high degree of PERFECTION from others and cannot lead a believer in the way of "little by little."

Seem to be very advanced in spiritual attainment. The talk is there - cross, death, love. Experienced these in a measure.

A large number of Christians who have been admired throughout the ages are those who have walked in the Lord in this way.

However, often heavy laden and slow. Need to go beyond gifts. Often gifts fall apart in "The Great Death." A miracle of providence or teaching is needed here.

7. "SHUTTING OF THE DOOR" (of the Holy Place) takes place TWICE. First time in "The Great Death" when you are SHUT OUT from the 'tent.' Second time in being SHUT IN (sealed in) the 'tent' by "The Great Death."

8. ENTERING the THIRD STAGE (in detail): Begins with the "The Great Death" before resurrection life comes. Seems to have extraordinary relationships with providence. The events that fall into his life are EXTREME and VIOLENT. He is IRREGULAR in his path. Eventually pruduces the most fruit and can minister powerfully. However, he cannot minister during "The Great Death" as ministry is one of the things that needs to die.

Be careful that you do not love your own righteousness. It is an obstacle that is more difficult to get around than the greatest of sins. You will never know the centre of God by an exalted view of self. You must have neither strong attachment to SIN nor to your OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Pursuit after THE PLACE OF REST. Song of Solomon 1:7. Not satisfied with status quo. Something more. Song of Solomon 3: 1-5.
One of the first things the Lord does to you is make you sense that you are ESTRANGED from the Lord. This causes you to search out your innermost being for sin in your life. Increases your desire to seek after that REST.

Needs to find a Christian who can help him along further. One way or another, God will show him the way through providence.
The Christian here is dealing with something he is not well acquainted.

This state is delightful. He feels that he is in paradise. He has found within the Lord something sweeter than all the pleasures of the world.
Relationship with the Lord is fragile. Afraid of conversation with other people. Fears that this relationship can be broken very easily.
They are like people possessed with wine. Reading a single line is illumination enough; it would take a whole day to read a page.
Vocal and objective prayer is distasteful. Some are confused why they can no longer pray. This one knows he cannot pray with his mouth. Something sweet and loving has kept him in silence.

Weakness: If you were to take that state away from the believer he would feel he had fallen into irreparable misfortune. He is on the mountain top. Never a thought of falling. However, there is a TUMULT ahead. "The Great Death" lies ahead. He has tasted of the sweetness of the Presence of Jesus. He has drunk of the true wine of God.

As he experiences "The Great Death" there will be times of rest. There will be times of rest when the wine of God is once again drunk. During those times, the Christian can truly believe that his time of suffering has ended. However, there is much more suffering ahead.

He falls down the mountain, like flood waters. He falls from rock to rock. Others hear the noise and are afraid to approach.
He alone is the strength of the Christian. Begins to lean no longer on himself; but upon his Beloved.
Prayer, devotion, conversation, everything has the taste of death upon it. Everything seems to have lost meaning.
The Christian is beginning to learn to let the Lord come and go as He wills, and to learn that it is not necessary to be possessed with the Lord's Presence.

There will be a recovery, but it may not last for a long time. "Thou, O Lord, with less pity, take life from us A THOUSAND TIMES, and then give it back anew." Kathryn Kuhlman also spoke of dying a thousand deaths.

A situation that has astounded many a Christian. To look at a friend who has lived a holy life and then see him go through unending distress. This is not according to their theology.

Do not seek to strip your soul of ALL THINGS except the Lord. That must be left to God alone to do. To try to do so yourself is dangerous. But this is a lesson quite difficult to learn. The Lord will take away from you exactly what He wishes to take. And He will do it in a perfect way. To seek to do this on your own is to spoil the divine work.

The person who seeks this on his own gains nothing. This is a bad mistake that speaks of much self-life and much blindness!

If when the Lord's stripping comes to you, you seek to make the suffering more comfotable, you are wasting time, and you are wasting the Lord's work on your life. You are postponing a death. You are putting off an inevitable funeral. Are you one of those who fight to his uttermost that you may not perish?

Drowning. Sinking to the bottom. Pearl Harbor Prophecy.

The Christian settles down to become accustomed to his pain, his impotence and his uselessness. He is despair itself. That which I feared the most has come upon me [Job]. "To lose God fovever without hope of ever finding Him again"

The BRIDE must learn: when the beauty which is Christ is gone, whatever beauty is left to her is frightful indeed. He takes away that beauty. He takes away that beauty either suddenly or little by little. The problem is that we turn our attention away from the Lord to the GIFTS. From Giver to the gifts.

We are stripped: 1. loss of the gifts of God (He does not care for his losses because serving the Lord is no longer one of His great priorities. He will seek to be pleasing to the Lord without ornaments, gifts and service); 2. loss of the garments (peaceful state of afffairs goes); 3. loss of Your sweet love.

The Christian may find himself now no longer interested in anything. There is no interest in WORKS and certainly no strength to do them. Only IMPOTENCE.

Before there was DISGUST and PAIN. Now there is IMPOTENCE. Love of self is dying. Once believed himself far advanced in the maturity of things spiritual. Now there is nothing.

The testimony that he is a child of God. Even this must be given up. Naked that the Lord Himself might be his clothing. "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ." "If we have died with Christ, we shall rise with Him."

Prayer seems to be lost. He feels the pain of the loss. The Lord has taken away even the element of internal sense. Outward senses may awaken here.

"Do not look upon me for reasons that I am black, for it is the SUN (outside the tent) that has made me so unsightly."

This person simply and very subtly loses all desire, inclination and choices. This person becomes weaker and weaker. Weaker as he moves closer to death. NO HOPE. There was hope when life was there.

BURIED: A certainty that he has lost his Lord, not for a period of time, but forever. No hope of deliverance. The soul begins to become accostomed to this situation. It stays quiet without hope with no thought of escaping.

Previously this Christian was HORIFIED at his nature. Now there is no reaction to it. There is no sense of pain or pleasure. Nothing within or without affects it any longer. Reduced to a NON-ENTITY. From these ashes is born a new life. The Great Death has been completed. Now one enters fully into the THIRD STAGE.

As one dies, he does not lose all the UNIQUENESS that makes him who he is. Actually it is quite the opposite. Only through the death process will you be truly set free to be who you really are.

In other words, "WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST" comes from "The Great Death." Not from confessing Scriptures of who we are "in Christ", "in Him", etc.

However, there is a oneness with God. As the flood waters reach the sea, the flood waters is distinguished from the sea for some time. Gradually the waters mix completely, little by little. This is the oneness of the Holy of Holies. Union with God.

9. THE CROSS AND TRANSFORMATION:

In Malachi 3:2, we see two methods of transformation mentioned:
1. SOAP = meditating in the Word
2. REFINER'S FIRE = the cross.
Soap is effective for removing suface defects. However, the cross - "The Great Death" - is needed for a deep inward transformation.

Often today, Christians are mostly living in the Outer Court and are Philistines in nature. Philistines have the nature of the world - cynicism, outward, talkative, etc. Tranformation will conform us to the image of Jesus Christ. Christlike is a childlike faith: pure, simple, abiding in Jesus, discerning, peace.

One of the main reasons for this is that today only the first method is taught extensively. The second method - taking up His cross - is largely ignored or misunderstood. This is a serious flaw of the modern church as it results in Philistines being present in the church. Transformation is very important. This is why "The Geat Death" is so important.

These two methods are symbolised by 2 pieces of tabernacle furniture - the furniture of the Outer Court: the Brazen Altar and the Brazen Laver. Remember the 'washing of the Word' and that the Laver was made of polished brass mirrors of the women of Israel. They tranform us from the world, conforming us to the image of Jesus Christ, becoming Christlike. The Brazen Altar - taking up His cross - deals with the deeper inner transformation of our natures.

10. THIRD STAGE: RESURRECTION

The "PLEDGE OF ASSURANCE" of Divine Union, Divine Marriage. It is so real that the believer can no longer have any doubt of it. This union is: so spiritual, so refined, so intimate, so much in the Presence of Jesus that it is equally impossible to either IMAGINE this union or DOUBT it! Remember, imagination is of the soul. The whole way of life is FAR from ANY IMAGINATION. Such a believer is not even imaginative. Hence he is perfectlt protected from being deceived by illusions. Everything is FAR DEEPER than the soul - the spirit.

He moves from FAITH to CLARITY. In "The Great Death" there was 'dark', 'blind' faith. Here there is 'living faith.' The soul is neither 'passive', 'barren,' nor 'unfruitful'. It is now infused with divine activity. Illuminated. Simple and natural.
The Lord gives him ILLUMINATION but he will not be aware of it. Given for the benefit of others. There is a change from a "general sensing" when the foundation was being laid (the believer cannot enjoy any assurance at all) to "illumination". Clarity. Certainty. SImple and natural.There is a change - transformation - from PAIN to that which is PLEASANT.

When DEATH has COMPLETED ITS WORK, "the most terrible conditions (circumstances) that could ever exist can cause no further pain or trouble."
How do you recognise death? Or 'workings of death'?

SIGNS of DEATH:
1. Inability to feel pain or to have any care or any thought of self
2. A permanent indifference and by remaining in that state of indifference forever... and that without making that slightest protest.

SIGNS of LIFE (self-life):
1. Having a WILL ... a will that is FOR something or AGAINST something.

To a soul touched by DEATH, there are no such things. ALL THINGS ARE ALIKE AND THE SAME TO HIM.
The soul touched by death remains DEAD, no matter what is present before it.
Death is an INSENSITIVE state, insensitive to everything that concerns itself. Let God reduce that soul to any extremity; ad the soul knows no distaste.

Death is SLOW throughout our lives. We move between life and death throughout our lives. However, after experiencing "The Great Death", there is a tendency toward death being a settled and established experience. Kathryn Kuhlman also spoke of a day of which she could say "I died".

FAITH of the Word-Faith Movement is focussed on the written Word. FAITH (classical faith) moves from a 'BLIND' faith (the Cross; receiving all things from His hand; a faith that leads to "The Great Death") to a 'LIVING' faith ('tent').

The transformation is like the merging of metals. Unity. This TRANSFORMATION takes place without the believer losing his DISTINCT, INDIVIDUAL EXISTENCE. In other words, it differs from Eastern Meditation).

In the Holy of Holies, the love of God is manifested fully.

FINAL STAGES OF TRANSFORMATION:

Many of the saints He covers with an outer covering that looks VERY ORDINARY (like the SHOE-LEATHER covered 'tent') and VERY FEEBLE.

He will live in God without interuption, just as a fish lives in the sea and is never out of the sea for even a moment.

He has inexpressible happiness (may occur in the midst of suffering for the benefit of others).

He will become so simple that he will live perpetually WITHOUT A THOUGHT FOR HIMSELF and surprizingly WITHOUT A THOUGHT FOR OTHERS. He will have one objective: to do the will of God.

Suffering comes from young, immature believers who will try to compel him to CARE FOR HIMSELF, TAKE PRECAUTIONS. Why? They are OUT OF LINE WITH THE WILL OF GOD.
Also pastors who do not understand the deeper things of God (most of them - almost ALL of them!) - don't listen to theit advice or counsel!
His cross is most severe. Appear very feeble. Very ordinary. Under the most severe HUMILIATION.
At this point, receives within himself ALL THE EXPERIENCEOF JESUS CHRIST. Clothed with His disposition, His inclinations and His sufferings. This leads him to understand what the redemption of Jesus Christ really is (what man cost Him) and how He births His children.

There is little or no distinction between the Lord and the internal soul which He haS OVERCOME. Union with God.
The Lord has moved OUTWARD , out of the human spirit and gradually reached forth until the SOUL has become like the SPIRIT. Therefore it seems that EVERYTHING NOW IS GOD. The soul is under the INFLUENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
This is such a natural thing that the believer will not be able to tell whether his own will is doing the will of God or that the will of God is becoming the will of the believer.
When He has FINISHED HIS WORK in that soul, He becomes the eternal PRIEST who unceasingly fulills His priestly office within that soul.

Anxious about NOTHING for He has nothing to lose.

[versus MIXTURE - mixes the Lord's will with his own reasoning]

The matue Christian - truly transformed - will speak in GENERAL TERMS when helping others. Otherwise damage will be done. GENERAL PRINCIPLES.

 

 

Hanukkah Kislev 24th until Tevet 2nd.

This year Hanukkah begins the night of December 11th.

The Feast of Dedication” or Hanukkah, -- you will not find this Holiday in Lev. 23 with the seven Feasts of the Lord. But we find it in John 10:22 and other places as well. I think it may be necessary to do a little history here before going on; this will not be a history lesson, just a little background.

The time was around 167 BC or, if you’re Jewish--BCE. Prior to this date a young ruler named Alexander the Great, ruled the entire ancient world. This period of time is referred to as “the Hellenistic period” (Greeks). His untimely death caused a power struggle and four of his generals split up the kingdom. The one that ended up with Israel was Antiochus IV. This new Ruler of Israel commanded everyone to convert to Hellenism (Greek Metrology) and the Greek values that he held. Many did, even many of the Jews of the land because they found it to be a very civilized way of life.

But, there were those Jews who held close to the Torah and God’s way of worship and refused to embrace Hellenism. In fact, Antiochus gave the Jews an ultimatum, to either give up their distinctive customs, such as worshipping on the Sabbath (Saturday), Circumcision, and Kosher Laws, or die.

One of the first things Antiochus did was to desecrate the Holy Temple. He ordered the utensils, such as the Menorah, Altar, and Table to be defiled and torn down. Then to be certain that he had accomplished his job, he ordered a pig to be sacrificed on the holy altar [Brazen Altar]. After doing all of that, he order that a Greek god Zeus be worshiped in the Temple.

When Antiochus heard that the people were murmuring and talking about revolt against him, he marched his troops to a town in the foothills called Modi’in. His plan was to erect a false god in the city and force the people to worship it. Modi’in was the home of a priest named Mattathias who had five sons. He and his sons revolted and killed the soldiers and began the revolt against this evil ruler. One of Mattathias’s sons was Judah, and he became the new leader and was quickly nicknamed “Maccabee” (the Hammer in Hebrew). To bring this piece of history to a close we will just report that Maccabee and his men defeated the Greek armies and got rid of Antiochus.

The Maccabees now faced the task of restoring the Temple for Jewish worship to their Holy God. They cleansed the Temple and restored the furnishings. There was special attention given to the Menorah, for it symbolized the Light of God. They restored it and when they went to light it, they found there was a problem. This Menorah could only be used with special oil, and it took eight days to prepare such oil. They found enough of this special oil to burn only one day. To celebrate the victory of the battle fought for their religious liberty, they decided to light the Menorah anyway and allow the light of God to shine forth with its glory, even if but for a day. But God gave them a miracle, and the oil lasted eight days, until the new oil was made ready. So today we have the eight days of the Feast of Dedication “Hanukkah.” It is also why you will see a nine branch Menorah instead of seven in most Jewish homes. It represents the miracle of the eight days the oil burned; the ninth branch (in the center) is the Shamash (Servant Lamp), which represents the Messiah.

There are many customs and traditions that brings one closer to God and understanding of His greatness associated with this holiday, but I want to keep this as short as possible. Each night for eight nights a candle is lighted. The Shamash (the center) is always lit first, for it is from the Messiah that all light flows. It is then used to light each candle for the eight nights. Blessing is said and songs about Hanukkah sung. Gifts are given to the children each of the eight nights. During the lighting of the Shamash and the other candles are lit with the Shamash, the following blessings are said. I will try to write the Hebrew in English letters for you, I hope I do it correctly.

A little advice in lighting the candles, you place them in the Menorah from right to left, but you light them with the Shamash from left to right.

BARUKH ATAH ADONAI ELOHENU MELEKH HA-OLAM, ASHER KIDSHANU B’MITZVOHTAV L’HADLEEK NER, SHEL HANUKKAH.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has set us apart by your commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of Hanukkah.

So after lighting the candles and singing the Hanukkah songs, you set down for a festive meal, each night for eight nights.

[Jerry Golden Extract]

 

EARTHQUAKE in THE CHURCH - a Word -by Phil Buck. January 27, 2010 - Prayer time for the Church, at our home.

I heard a word in my mind saying, There’s coming an earthquake of the magnitude 7.0 that was experienced in Haiti, only it is coming to the Church. I have sent many warnings down through the portals of time, that this day was coming, and now is here, even at the door. The earthquake will start from outside the Church, and then will permeate the Church from within. Prepare, prepare, there will be destruction as would never have been imagined. The rubble of the buildings of man will crumble to the ground. The teachings of man will have come full circle. There will be people that have bought into the man system and will be destroyed in the rubble of the collapse, some spiritually and others both spiritually and physically. For they have believed a lie and will suffer the consequences of their doing. Of those that have escaped, I see a long line extending beyond my vision to see. They are the walking wounded from all religious persuasions, that were not caught up totally in the man-centered religious system of beliefs. But being exposed to the system has left its mark in various forms on each one. I see this line in my minds eye, people lined up at the entrance to a white tent.

This is where they are coming to receive life spiritual life from inside the tent. Those inside the tent are like doctors and nurses, ministering to the wounded, hurting spirits of each one. As they help them heal, with the proper perspective and focus of the gifts they have to offer, then they are sent from the tent whole and ready to minister to others as they were ministered to. "Now behold the ones on the inside of the tent, before they stepped inside the tent they had nothing to offer in and of themselves, but as they stepped in they received the power to work the works for which I have call them to. This is a special people that have closed themselves up with me. Yes, and some have been in preparation all their lives for this time and this mission". "I want you to see those in the tent, for they are those that have given everything to Me. These are they that this day I’m calling my people to come out of the religious systems of man and into the marvelous light of my Son Jesus. Will you be counted as numbered among those in the tent? Or will you be one of the many in the long line?" "Come away with me this day and give your all to me for the line is long and is now just beginning to form. They need your gifts, your love & your sacrifice of service. Will you be there for them? Or will you be among them?"

-Phil Buck, Indiana, USA.

"Understanding Liberty"

Liberty does not simply come from losing "religious inhibitions." Stage diving and charismatic praise and dancing and shouting is not Christian liberty! This may come as a surprise to many.

Liberty comes through "The Great Death." Today, many in the church go to lengths trying to explain away the Book of Job. Job is an embarrasment to them and does not fit in with their theology. They maintain that Job confessed negatively and brought the trouble upon himself. Yet the Book of Job is the key to the deeper life in Jesus. It is the way toward maturity in Christ.

Job portrays "The Great Death" - the shutting of the door of the tent. God stripped Job of everything - his worldly goods, his wealth, his children, his health. This represents the stripping of of his gifts, his works, his ministry, etc. Then God restored Job. Resurrection. Resurrection means that one has the ability to do that which he was able to do before he died. However, Job was different afterwards. How was Job different?

Differences were seen in his disposition toward THINGS, WORKS and a new found JOY.

No longer was he attached to THINGS. Remember that the Outer Court is concerned with things. The tent is all about Jesus. He does not use things as he once did. Everything now is done in God. He uses things as he needs to. However, he will not possess things as he formerly did.

Concerning WORKS, one will find it difficult to do the works that one did before. Some works will remain but will be done in a different way. No longer in the flesh but in God. What men see as the work of God is very different from what God sees as the work of God. He will see see things from a different point of view. Works will be easily - almost naturally - done through the Presence of God. Liberty will be there.

A JOY will be present. A great joy that goes beyond the strange fire of the Toronto movement. This is a joy that is almost imperceptible. It is constant as a state rather than an experience. Fear is no longer present. One does not fear the cross anymore. Driving desires are not there anymore. Craving for things have largely gone.

(No longer - bound, cannot pray, deep fears, deep struggles of guilt - removed through "The Great Death.")

THE MARK OF THE CROSS [GAL 6:17]

Today, most Christians know not the cross at all. They see transformation into the image of Christ as simply conforming their lives to the Word of God. In other words, they ignore the deeper work and transformation. They are on the surface spiritual people, but no deep work has been done in their lives. They are not truly spiritual. They only appear to men to be spiritual.

Remember, I mentioned before that Malachi speaks of the soap and the refining fire as the two methods of purifying His children. Taking up His cross allows the deep work of God to begin taking place. It is a life long transformation beginning when one first begins to yield to the Lord.

The cross is more on the surface - very important, take great delight in - for quite some time in the believer's journey. The desire for the cross can be rather strong. Later it becomes deeper and more hidden. It becomes the almost unconscious principle of your soul. All your hidden thoughts and innermost actions are under the cross's work. Transformation takes place from internal to external.

Taking up His cross implies that he sees God in ALL of his circumstances. In other works, he sees that the cross comes from the hand of the Lord; and not from the hand of man nor circumstances. Each moment - no matter what it holds - is from His hand. The sacrament of the present moment. The realm of eternity. The God who IS.

A Christian who has progressed this far no longer speaks much of visions, prophecies and revelations. This is more the realm of the Prophetic Movement today, always seeking the word of the Lord. The Christian who has known the cross fully and understands what it means that the cross has become Christ* does not speak much of visions, prophecies and revelations.

He has a pure and simple childlike faith. He sees Jesus and Him alone. He also sees everything differently ... as through the eyes of God! He appears ordinary to a casual observer; but under closer inspection he is very different from other mortals. He is just like the shoe-leather exterior of the tent; but has treasures within.

*The cross will work the work of God in you. But now the work of God will bring the cross to you, and the cross will bring the Lord Himself to you [Guyon].

REMAINING FAITHFUL - WHAT IS REQUIRED?

Live in the present moment and let each event unfold without adding of subtracting from it. i.e. let the cross have its full work done in your life

Only allow God to move you. What must you DO? Nothing. Nothing of self or own effort. Nothing in the flesh or in faith.

[Quotations from Guyon]

 

The WASHTUB VISION
-Hollie L. Moody.

The Background
Several months ago, I felt impressed of the Lord to read repeatedly
1 Kings 17:1 and 18:1, 41-45. As I wondered and pondered why these verses of Scripture seemed so compelling to me, my attention was once again drawn to 1 Kings 18:1; in particular, where it reads: "And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah..."

As I finished reading this verse of Scripture, the Lord began to speak to my heart.

"Did Elijah stop being a prophet when My word wasn't coming to him?" The Lord asked me.

This question from the Lord struck my heart and took my breath away. I myself had been enduring a time of great silence from the Lord. Yet even though the silence from the Lord was distressing in many ways, I continued to feel the Lord's presence with me.

 

Over the past several months, it was as if one tragedy after another was striking my family and loved ones. There were numerous stressful situations occurring at the same time.
A spirit of intense weariness settled upon my heart. I usually felt as if I were bracing myself for the next blow to strike.

As I continued to seek the Lord for answers and direction, I had a very strange vision. This vision was so strange to me that I almost dismissed it as silly and unimportant. Yet, it haunted my thoughts. After some time, I felt clarity from the Lord in regard to this simple, "silly" vision.

I would like to share this vision, and what the Lord spoke to me in regard to this vision, with others; especially those prophets of the Most High God who also may be enduring tragedies and/or a time of silence from the Lord.

The Vision
In the vision, I saw a long line of silent men and women.
Each of the men and women had on a brown cape that touched the ground and they were staring ahead intently.
I glanced in the direction the men and women were looking to see what they were staring at. To my surprise, I saw a large washtub such as was used in bygone days to wash clothes. Hovering over the washtub, I saw an immense hand.

I watched as each of the men and women approached the washtub. The large hand plucked up each man and woman one by one, and very deliberately placed that person (still wrapped within their brown cape) inside the washtub. Then began what I can only describe as a "wash cycle."

During this time of being "washed," each of the men and women were being swirled madly around within the washtub.
Soap and water were in their eyes, ears and even in their mouths. The hand also "scrubbed" each of the men and women on a scrubber, then would place them back into the soapy, turbulent water.

As I continued to watch all of this, I became aware of the soft murmuring of a voice. I couldn't make out the words that were being spoken, but the sound of the voice was gentle and soothing. At the end of the wash cycle, the men and women appeared absolutely exhausted.

Then began the "rinse cycle." The wash water was drained from the washtub, and clean water added. A bucket appeared grasped in the large hand. I watched as the large hand repeatedly poured bucketful after bucketful of water over each of the soapy men and women.

The voice continued to murmur gently and soothingly to the men and women, but with the soap and now the water in their ears, they didn't seem able to hear the sound of the voice.

At the end of the "rinse cycle," I watched as the large hand set the bucket aside, grasped each of the men and women one by one, and placed them into an old fashioned wringer.
I gasped with dismay as I saw each of the men and women being completely flattened and having the water pressed from them as they were put through this wringer. Then, the men and women were placed gently into a basket. By the time this entire process was completed, the men and women were totally limp and exhausted.

Then another hand appeared so that there was now a set of large hands. The hands reached into the basket and gently removed the men and women one by one. The set of hands carried each man and woman to a clothesline and began to "hang" the men and women on the clothesline.

As I stared at the men and women hanging on the clothesline, I saw that each of them had their eyes closed; almost as if they had fallen asleep after the ordeal they had just endured.

I then began to faintly hear the sound of a gentle breeze. This breeze seemed to envelope each of the men and women, and they were gently swaying back and forth on the clothesline. As the breeze gently blew on the men and women, the soft voice continued to murmur to them.

Gradually, the men and women seemed to become aware of the sound of the voice. They opened their eyes, began to slowly look around them, and became more alert.

The hands then took each of the men and women down from the clothesline. The men and women stood silently, as if waiting for something to happen. I realized that during this whole process, not one of the men or women had resisted, or even spoken.

As I stared at the men and women, I saw them become quietly animated. I noticed they were each staring off into the distance at something. I turned to see what it was they were gazing at, and saw a small cloud. The small cloud appeared as if from over the horizon. Then, each of the men and women set off towards the small cloud, and the vision ended.

The Interpretation
As I continuously thought upon this vision, the Lord began to speak to me about it.

"Do you know who the men and women are?" The Lord asked me.

"No, Lord," I replied.

"They are My prophets," the Lord replied. "To one degree or another, I have been taking My prophets through a time of being purified and cleansed. For some of them, this process is quite open and apparent. For others, it is hidden and is being accomplished in secret and in isolation. For all of them, though, it is painful; for all within them that is impure or unclean is being laid open and is being dealt with and cleansed."

"Why, Lord?" I asked.

"For the coming days ahead," the Lord replied. "As I have been dealing with My prophets, so will I also be dealing with each of My children. When this cleansing process comes upon each of My children, My prophets will be there to aide in this process."

"What is the purpose of this process, Lord?" I asked.

"I am moving in a different manner than I have before," the Lord answered. "I am speaking differently. Each of My prophets, and also each of My children, must be attuned to the changes in the way I am moving and speaking. If they are not attuned to these changes, they will overlook and miss My purpose and My will, and what it is I desire to see accomplished."

"And what is it that You desire to see accomplished, Lord?"
I asked.

"I desire for My prophets to not only speak My word," the Lord replied. "I desire them to also have a solution to the word I give them to speak, and to know through My Spirit how to apply the interpretation of My word to them."

I felt confused by this answer.

"You do not understand, child?" The Lord asked me. I admitted that I did not.

"When I speak a word of warning or of coming calamity to one of My prophets," the Lord explained, "not only do I desire that prophet to speak forth the word of warning, I desire them to also have a solution to the coming calamity. Speaking forth My word is no longer totally acceptable to Me," the Lord said. "I would also have My prophets to become so mature in Me that they will also have clear direction for others in regard to the word I speak to them. Now do you understand?"

"Yes, Lord," I replied.

"The cleansing process for My prophets and also for My children,"
the Lord continued, "is for them to come to maturity. When they are mature, then will I arise with total strength and glory in the midst of My people.

The danger, though, during this process is that of My prophets and My children becoming dejected and overwhelmed by the situations I will and have been bringing upon them, and for them to quit. Another danger is that of not restoring and strengthening those who I will expose during the cleansing process. Before there is a cleansing of the flesh, there is first a decaying of the flesh. Whenever the flesh is decaying, there is a stench. The stench of the flesh decaying for many of My prophets and My children will be offensive to many others, yet it is not My desire for their backs to be turned upon those who are going through the decaying process.

This is a very delicate time spiritually for My prophets and eventually for My children," the Lord continued. "Souls hang in the balance, and it will be through the maturity of My prophets and then of My children, that the fate of these souls will be
decided."   (-Feb 25th, 2005).

WHY The 'WILDERNESS'?

-Andrew Strom.

The 'wilderness' is not a concept that is understood too well in Christendom, despite the fact that it is all the way through the Bible. From the book of Genesis right through Revelation there are clear references to the 'wilderness' as being something God often employs in His dealings with men. The pattern is undeniable.

When we look through the Scriptures we see that the wilderness is often a place of spiritual "crisis" and also preparation. It is the place God sends us before the "real action" begins - before we enter into the full purposes of God in our lives. There must be 'death' before there can be resurrection. There must be a desert place before the "promised land".

The wilderness is a place of trial and testing, of brokenness and full surrender to God. The props and activities that have kept us continually striving to "make things happen" are stripped away.

Our self-reliance is shattered and replaced with a total reliance on God alone. Every "idol" in our lives (often including our own ministry) is brought under the piercing searchlight of God. Our selfish motives and ambitions are shown for what they are. This process may take years. Finally we emerge broken, chastened and purified. The process has matured and cleansed us in so many ways. We are now ready for the fulfillment of all that God originally called us to do. But our heart-motives are vastly different from what they were before.

We see this pattern all the way through Scripture. Many lessons can be learned from what we read there. Abraham, Joseph, Joshua, Moses, David, Elijah, John the Baptist, Paul the apostle - and even Jesus Himself - all had to go through this "wilderness" experience.

Very often it lasted for years and years. Why then should we be surprised if it happens to us?

Probably the best-known instance of a 'wilderness experience' in the Old Testament is the story of Moses and the children of Israel.

Moses had been raised and trained all his life in the palaces of Egypt. But when he came face-to-face with his heritage as an Israelite, he rose up "in his own strength" and killed an Egyptian slave-driver. He was then forced to flee into the desert, where he was to spend 40 YEARS as a simple shepherd in the wilderness.

What an enormous length of time! Imagine if every Christian leader had to spend that long in the wilderness before God would allow them to lead His people! It is almost impossible to imagine the depths of despair and "death" to all his dreams and hopes that Moses went through during this time. In fact, after 40 years it is hard to imagine anyone being "deader" to the usual ambitions and temptations of leadership than Moses would have been. And what PATIENCE these years of waiting must have produced in him!

We see here the lengths that God will go to in the "preparation"

of a leader "after His own heart." (-Though 40 years is unusually long). The isolation, the chafing, the crying out to God for deliverance

- all play their part. Such an experience is almost irreplaceable.

That is why God uses it so often. The hearts of driven men are so similar in so many ways, that God's "cure" becomes similar also!

He will even shut us up in a kind-of 'prison' for a time so we cannot escape the process. It is that important. He does not want 'self'- oriented leaders shepherding his precious sheep.

After his 40 years of preparation, Moses returned to Egypt at God's command to lead His people out of bondage. This was the beginning of the entire nation of Israels' wilderness experience. For when they left Egypt the only way to their "Promised Land" was through the desert. Some commentators say that in a straight line, their journey could have taken just a few weeks or less. But because of their disobedience and fear, the vast majority of those who left Egypt were destined to die in the desert, never reaching the Promised Land. In fact, their wilderness journey ended up taking 40 years!

Now we need to take special note of this fact:-  Not everyone who entered the wilderness survived it. In fact, multitudes perished there.

The wilderness tried them and found them wanting. They went to the place of testing and failed the test. This is a pretty crucial fact to realize in our day also. Just because we are "called out" and enter a wilderness time, does not mean that we will embrace the dealings of God and respond appropriately. It is entirely possible to lose everything out there. These people lost out completely.

Only their children came through to inherit the promises of God.

How clearly we see this pattern over and over again - in both the Old Testament and the New:- That many whom God wants to one day use are sent into a place of aloneness and brokenness before being brought into their true destiny. We have not even mentioned heroes of God such as Noah, Jacob, Job and others who all had similar experiences. Part of this process lies in the "waiting" that takes place. Also, the fact that all the supporting 'props' are taken away. The "waiting" alone can be torture.

The wilderness also deals with any fear of man or 'systemized'

way of looking at things. God often uses it to bring a whole fresh perspective, which is very important for leaders who are going to be representing a "new" approach or facing opposition because of the confrontational words that they are bringing. The lonely desert years give them backbone to stand up to the crowd or the powers- that-be, and declare God's truth without compromise. They now truly fear God rather than man. And they think differently from others. The wilderness is vital for anyone who is wanting to bring fresh manna to God's people.

Are you someone who has been going through such a "desert"

experience, my friend? Be encouraged! Look up, for your deliverance draws nigh. God only ever sends His children through such experiences when there is a great purpose to it. Don't give up. Don't be cast down. On the other side lies a 'land of promise' if only you can hang on to Jesus. Be active, be praying, be prepared. Don't become "passive" and let the desert swallow you whole. Use this time to draw closer and closer to Jesus. Dig down and plant your feet firmly on the Rock. Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up in due time - if only you can cling to Him.

TESTIMONIES of THE WILDERNESS - Powerful

WHITEDOVE wrote-

"Very good point about the desert being able to swallow you whole if you aren’t clinging to Jesus. My wilderness is 11 years and counting. The last few months I’ve tried to ‘go to sleep’ and ignore things, be inactive, and just sit down and play in the dirt til Jesus comes because I’m tired and sad. But this has only served to make me more tired and more sad, and very parched.

“She who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives” is what comes to mind. Thank you for this timely word to warn, but also to encourage and show that this pain has a great purpose."

SARAH wrote-

"I have been in extreme darkness and earthly loneliness for 19yrs now. I don`t hope to come out some famous kind of person, but my hope is that the world around me will know and see Christ in me.

My face is set hard towards Him, because He is my only Hope. He has been everything to me over these years. My mother, father, sister,brother, uncle, aunt, grandma, cousin, best friend…..He has been the anchor of my soul and my Rock who causes me to be steadfast. I encourage every child of His to begin every day as if looking from the grave, then we can come to some kind of true eternal perspective. It`s because of Him that I am able to be more than a conqueror in this world. Even in this `desert“ His yoke is easy and His burden is light. It`s the glory and the agony. Amen!"

SIGMUND wrote-

"I was especially encouraged by some of the last words, “hang on to Jesus. Be active, be praying, be prepared. Don’t become “passive” and let the desert swallow you whole… Dig down and plant your feet firmly on the Rock. Humble yourself before the Lord… cling to Him.”

What I felt this winter (just before leaving “the prophetic movement” here in Norway) was that a lot of stuff/material under my feet vanished, and so my feet came to touch the solid ground, the Rock, Jesus Christ, and I got to experience God’s grace. So that’s something I can relate to. “Cling to Him” has been some of the most important Bible words for me even though I can’t seem to fix it. But it’s true what you just wrote, that our self-reliance becomes shattered and is to be replaced by a total reliance in God…"

SERAPHAH wrote-

"While 40 years may be on the long end of the wilderness time scale, it is certain that it is longer than 6 months. It seems so many ‘preachers’ (Todd Bentley comes to mind) were barely ’saved’ before they exploded on the scene with their ‘anointing.’

And when these ‘preachers’ get caught in sin, six months to a year and you can recover from anything from adultery to homosexuality and be back leading the flock. Is it any wonder that they are leading people into deception?? How many cults were started by people who suddenly went from saved to prophet in six months or less?? And hundreds, maybe even thousands of people follow them, because they are not rooted and grounded in the WORD."

THERESE wrote-

"It’s very strengthening to know this is the “normal” experience for any believer wanting to move on from maturity to holiness, God is not picking on any of us – in fact the highway of holiness is found in the wilderness. In answer to the  question, how important is the wilderness, I would say there is no way around it, some kind of wilderness is really the cross whereby we are conformed increasingly into the image of our Saviour as we bear His reproach.

My wilderness began about 23 years ago and seems at different seasons it has had layer upon layer added to it, wish I could say I have suffered nobly, but no, I have just suffered as messily as suffering always is. Lately I’ve been getting somewhat resigned and it’s worrying me a little whether this is a normal phase or if I’m getting passive as you mentioned in the article, or maybe just older! For sure I’m more at rest in the Lord than I’ve ever been, trusting in His sovereignty, but I’ve experienced the death of my dreams and visions and am having to encourage myself that the Lord will resurrect what is of Him. How I pray for all the precious believers here, that the Lord will uphold, encourage and strengthen and be near to all who are suffering according to His perfect will…may the Lord bless you all!"

LUCILLE wrote-

"Yes, 'tis true, when God gives a vision, He will take a saint through the three stages of it: birth, death and supernatural fulfillment. Abram, Joseph, Moses, even the apostles had to go through the stages. To me, the problem seems to be the waiting, not knowing when.

Abram did not know he had to wait 25 years for the son of promise – Isaac; Joseph did not know he would go into a pit, prison, before his dreams realized, let alone see his father again after 22 years in Egypt. Even the apostles did not know if Jesus would resurrect, even though He told them that He would. They could not see the Messiah dying. Most of the O.T. prophets portrayed the Messiah in his glory. They could not see the church. She was hidden.

I guess faith is the key. “Without faith, it is impossible to please him; ..”(Hebrews 11:6) Even the apostle Paul was in the desert/ wilderness of Arabia for 3 years, God straightening out his theology. “…but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.” (Galatians 1:17) Christ was tested in the wilderness.

All the while we are waiting for God, Satan will try to get us to fulfill the vision with human effort. Prime example: Hagar, the Egyptian maid bore Ishmael. But the wilderness is a lonely place. I can attest."

TENNEY wrote-

"In this American culture of youth, the maturation process and the years required for the growth of wisdom is often disparaged.

People do not want to wait, and they fear old age. But God used Moses when he was 80 to lead a congregation of over 3 million; God used Caleb at 80 to conquer the Promised Land. Others were mightily used of God in older ages, so we can see that waiting in the wilderness brings increase in many areas, including patience, wisdom, longsuffering, endurance, and humility. Now that I’m 70, having spent years in the  desert, literally taking care of cows and sheep, God is allowing me to travel and minister in foreign lands, in ways I’d often dreamed about, but was not free to follow. He knows our days, He is our strength, and the time in the wilderness is important for our eventual testimony. Thanks...

for the words of encouragement."