Kingdom = Inner Government + Indwelling Christ + Holy Spirit + Father = the Fullness of God.

ALL the Fullness Dwelt In Christ Jesus.

The Fullness of Deity Dwells in Bodily Form.

The Real Church IS the Measure of the Stature Which Belongs to the Fullness of Christ.

 

February 20, 2016

In the “normal range of acceptance within Church Doctrine” these statements above are Biblically True but according to many church doctrines the Fullness cannot be true within the individual Christian, during the church age! Why? That simply would be impossible while we are in this body. Still, the Fullness of Deity dwelt in Bodily Form in Jesus!

Nevertheless, it is “widely accepted” to speak of the church as being the “body of Christ.” That “doctrine” is commonly accepted in most all Christian churches. But to think that Christ is the Fullness of the God Head in Bodily Form, but that His Body, the church, cannot be of that same Fullness is rather strange!

COL 1:15] And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. [16] For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created by Him and for Him. [17] And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [18] He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. [19] For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, [20] and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself.

John_1:16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.

Eph 1:22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

COL 2:9] For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,

EPH 3:16] that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Heb 1:1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say, "THOU ART MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN THEE"? And again, "I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME"?

This is, obviously, speaking about Jesus, the Christ of God, begotten by God, through whom God speaks in New Covenant times. Jesus is the One who made purification of sins and then sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High. According to these scriptures, for us to “GROW up in ALL THINGS into Christ Jesus” surely must be possible for each of us, because that, clearly, IS expected of us. If Christ Jesus is the Fullness of God in bodily form and we are to grow up into that same FULLNESS, it appears there is not much restriction to the corporate church becoming the fullness of Him that fills all in all! Of course this is just logical but the revelation of how that happens, experientially, is the problem. Still, we must believe that is possible during the church age or no one will seek for that reality! We first must ask ourselves “IS THAT POSSIBLE?”

Our thesis for this study is this; The Fullness of the Word Of God, which is The Fullness of Christ, who is the Fullness of God must be shared, experientially, with His body, the church!

Our purpose in this study is to reveal a few areas of accepted “church doctrine” that ignores certain areas of growth and development that we see as essential in scriptures! First we should understand that it is NOT the church that modifies the Kingdom but it is the Kingdom that modifies the church! The church does not judge the Kingdom but the Kingdom judges the church. The church is not the Standard for the Kingdom but the Kingdom is the Standard for the church. The Kingdom does not grow up into the church but the church must grow up into the Kingdom. The church does not set the requirements for the Kingdom but the Kingdom sets the requirements for the church. The church is not authorized to reduce the goals and purpose for the Corporate Church. God has already established His Goals and Requirements for the Kingdom and those goals and His purpose are the same for the church that is seeking first the Kingdom.

For example; the anticipated FULLNESS, that God seems to require as the normal Christian Experience, may now have been eliminated from the church’s accepted doctrine, even as distant possibilities, for today. Therefore, their expectation of experiencing these realities of fullness is reduced to a future date. Why? That is because these realms were considered as impossible for human beings! Why? The Spiritual requirements are too far beyond our physical abilities to meet the requirements. Therefore, the “Spiritual Requirements” must be for another time and place! However, none of these scriptures imply, or reference, a future time or place. Then, brother, why are you bringing this up now?

That is because of this dispensation of the Kingdom in which we live in 2016. While it is true that most Christians do not expect to experience this “fullness” during their lifetime, the scriptures still stand as a witness against them. Then what has emerged that makes this “fullness” a current possibility?

Some of us here believe we are on the threshold of the NEXT Restoration. Why? That is because God has been restoring the Church, since the 1400's, exactly according to the Pattern of the Tabernacle. We believe the first seven “restorations” have advanced the “Church He is Building” (not the visible church) to the Second Veil, which was NOT torn when Jesus was crucified. In other words there is no free passage through this veil, so this veil must be submitted to and experienced. It was the Third Veil that was torn to provide access to the Most Holy Place! Revelation chapters 2 and 3 reveal that this “doctrine of free access” to the Throne of God without meeting the requirements of access is really ignorant. We clearly must overcome at the Lampstand Level before we have access to the Most Holy Place.

We believe, and have personally experienced, that God is confronting these believers, who have participated in these first seven restorations, with all the “unreality” and false concepts they have not eliminated from their Christian Experience. God, the Holy Spirit, is confronting us about our phony testimonies, envy of others, boasting about our relationships, our ego-centric life, our arrogance, our knowledge (or ignorance) of the Word and a hundred other things we pretend to have! Why? These things border on lies and hypocrisy! It is by approaching this “second veil,”, that we are confronted with the Ultimate Truth; the Experiential Reality, that reveals the phony and ugly things left in our lives. In our former progress, up until this Veil, we “naturally” think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think. Then God reveals TRUTH / REALITY and we are devastated and ashamed! When we are confronted by Matthew 18 and realize this requirement is for the “church” we MUST face REALITY and acknowledge our own defects!

However, this is just preliminary to the entrance. Even this “Lampstand church” still had fantasy assumptions about their Christian maturity. They obviously thought being part of the pure gold lampstand church was their final perfection. However, we must never forget that we are called to Mount Zion, to the Kingdom, to the transparent city, the New Jerusalem and as the Perfected Bride of Christ! That means “grown up in all things into His Fullness.”

Rev 3:17 'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.

Why is this severe condemnation and confrontation of the pure gold lampstand church important or us? This church has already advanced to this exalted, Lampstand Maturity in the Holy Place. Then why this correction? That is because the Lampstand Church is NOT the goal. It is at this dimension of growth (Lampstand) that “we all must overcome” to be advanced to the next dimension of God’s Eternal Purpose the Most Holy Place.

My statement was this; The Church is not the goal but the Kingdom is the goal! The church does not set its standards for the Kingdom but the Kingdom sets its standards for the church! Revelation 2 and 3 is written to the church that still must advance to the Kingdom.

For example; the standards for the Lampstand Church are still short of the Kingdom. Therefore, certain modifications to the church was essential to make that transition to the Kingdom DEMANDS. The church is not the standard but the Kingdom is the standard. The church still had to “overcome all its deficiencies” to qualify for the Eternal Kingdom. Now we are implying “participation” not just a goal.

Rev 3:19 'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in. to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

No one, who has been confronted by the “lies” and hypocrisy in their lives, will take lightly the reality of being a Member of the Body of Our Great High Priest. In Him, can be NO Unreality, Darkness or Lies, or anything opposite of these Kingdom characteristics!

1John 1:5 And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

By now everyone should realize this was written to the church. Lies, darkness and unreality cannot exist within our exalted and perfected Head nor in His Body!

Rev 14:5 And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.

Rev_21:8 "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

Rev 21:27 and nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

It seems obvious that sometime, during the laying of our Christian Foundations, this problem of “unreality, phony testimonies, lying, envying, pretending and all hypocrisy must be eliminated from our lives. Why? Nominal Christianity has become the normal and radical Christianity has become the exception. Even within the later group, none of these persons can be satisfied, comfortable, think they have need of nothing more or remain unchallenged, even those in the “pure Gold” Lampstand church! Why? They still must “overcome” to reach the perfection of the New Jerusalem or participate in the Eternal City of God, NOR are ready to ascend to Mount Zion!

One of the lies promoted by the visible church is that since God loves us, just like we are, that He will accept ANYONE by grace that has accepted Jesus as personal Savior. Even a simple reading of scriptures will reveal that is a lie!

Rev 3:1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 'Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. 3 'Remember therefore what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. If therefore you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you.

The fact that Christ Jesus is confronting “the lampstand church” and rebuking them because their deeds were NOT yet completed in the sight of MY God, should make every believer fearful and frantic to check out every doctrine they believe concerning their preparation to participate in God’s Eternal Purpose. This is also a challenge for “the corporate church” (His body) to confirm that they have completed their calling within God’s Purpose! Also, every “minister” should be frantic to confirm if their ministry has actually produced the results expected by HIS God! Maybe we could define that calling in one word? FULLNESS!

EPH 4:11] And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, [12] for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

It seems practical and logical that every believer should, at very least, seek to grow up in ALL things into Christ, into ONE NEW mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Remember this; If you are satisfied you have met the standards set by the visible church, you may have fallen far short of meeting standards set by the Kingdom requirements.

Jesus Christ was and IS the fullness of God. But now God has also called us to be the "fullness of God" and the "fullness of Christ" the divine Son. Since this is such a radical thought, it is necessary to search out what this means. We might readily accept that Jesus Christ , the Divine Son, was the fullness of God, the Father, but to even suggest that the believer could develop until they could be the "fullness of God" is much too radical to even consider by most churches and by most ministries! What could this possibly mean to us personally and how could we begin to proceed, IF this “Fullness” is a valid and anticipated New Covenant requirement and personal experience?

First we should ask; Why is this even important for us today since few leaders even considered it important in the past, for several hundred years? That is because of (our speculation) the restoration of the Holy Place life and ministry which is directly related to the corporate Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek. We are guessing that this Corporate Priesthood is directly related to the FULLNESS of Christ!

First we need to understand that Jesus Christ didn’t restrict or hinder God, His Father, from being seen and known by expressing the full manifestation of the Father, through Him. The Father could both speak, heal, prophesy and act through Jesus without restriction. I am speculating that when we begin to manifest “this evidence,” we are entering the beginning of “fullness.”

Our thesis for this study is this; The Fullness of Christ, who is the Fullness of God must be shared, experientially, with His body, the church! Not by “some carnal concept of grace” but by a solid requirement. While we can readily accept this fact about Jesus, could this fullness really be a spiritual and experiential possibility for us? In other words, could we also be fullness of Christ here on earth. Several scriptures suggests this not only is possible but that it should be the normal. If we were, experientially, the fullness of Christ, “the greater works,” that Jesus confirmed for us, should be normal. Not that the GREATER works would be “ours” but these WORKS would be the manifestation of Christ in us.

John 14:10] "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. [11] "Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me; otherwise believe on account of the works themselves.

John 14:12] "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father. [13] "And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

John 14:24] "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which

you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me.

Our question concerning these verses is this; Is it possible that this same spiritual reality and

function IS for each of us in whom the Spirit of Christ and the Holy Spirit dwells? If that is possible, does that require “fullness” to function in that realm of reality?

Too much of what we do in our Christian Lives is just an “open formality” that manifests no spiritual reality related to the Fullness of Christ! Maybe, when the Kingdom is fully preached and experienced, it should produce a higher reality that can be manifested by us during the church age. The problem is this; not all that we hear preached or read, that affects us emotionally or intellectually, actually results in a life altering “spiritually reality” that can be manifested. By our past experience we admit that knowing something has done very little to help us manifest ultimate reality. Knowing something REAL is one thing but anticipating it by faith and experiencing it is something much different. This is the great problem with the “hearers of the Word.” There is a “concept” that Hearing the Word preached or memorizing scriptures, consistently, is essential to the Christian Life. However, the DOING of the WORD we memorized, is somehow optional.

Of course, there may be a few of us alive today that cannot be satisfied until Christ is manifested IN THEM and through the “church,” in this stated fullness. But, Brother, we hear that Christ Jesus is ready to return very soon. His return may happen before we can grow up in ALL THINGS into Christ or manifest His fullness.

It has been pointed out that to experience this “fullness and manifestation of Christ” may never happen during the church age. The “proof” given is that in all church history we have not witnessed a corporate group that had manifested the Fullness of Christ. No one is recorded that have done the greater works. Does that mean that these scriptures are not for the church age but are to be fulfilled at another time? Not at all!

If we read these scriptures carefully, we should understand THAT this fullness is part of God’s Purpose for the church, during the church age! The fact that this has NOT happened yet, indicates this lack of fullness is a great failure in the “ministries.” Of course, another explanation is that “fullness” is just a metaphor referring to Jesus!

My explanation is this; we are just now approaching the “fullness” and the restoration of these next (Holy Place) experiences for the Lampstand church. Why? This “restoration of all things spoken by the prophets” has been following exactly the pattern of the Tabernacle since the late 1400's. Martin Luther restored Justification by Faith at the bronze altar in 1517 and since that time the restorations have followed the progression of the preparations for the Priesthood in the Tabernacle.

The Tabernacle is a copy and shadow of eternal and heavenly things. The last restoration from 1906 to 1985 dealt with the anointing, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit and the restoration of the teaching ministry during the Charismatic movement. Since that restoration ended in 1985, we see no reason that the next restoration of the Consecration Offering and the Second Veil should not follow SOON.

However, since 1985 there has been no major restoration take place. At the present time we, ALL the church in general, are being confronted by the Consecration Offering, ( the total giving of ourselves to God as His sole possession) which is NEXT according to the pattern! This total surrender is essential for the Kingdom Experience! Why? No individualism nor anarchy can exist there!

However, a widespread decision, by individuals or by a corporate response to this “Consecration Experience” through a “Personal Sacrifice,” has been forth coming! The lack of response to this “next” requirement has caused a great delay in the church advancing beyond its current experience. Why? That is because no casual, lukewarm, half-saved believer can ascend further until they fully submit to the Consecration Offering! The natural light minister must FIRST fully consecrate himself to do the whole will of God or he cannot advance beyond this status quo point. Therefore, he cannot preach, teach or lead effectively, any other persons into the Purpose of God. Why? He cannot lead beyond his own experience. His lack of personal experience of the Consecration Offering restricts his growth so he cannot attain “fullness.” Without “fullness” he is severely limited in his effectiveness in ministering further or higher Truth. Why?

That is because this “fullness” will be restored beyond the Second Veil and in the Holy Place. How do you know that? That is where the Lampstand Church exists and where the Priesthood functions. My current speculation is that we will surely see a greater dimension of the manifestation of “Christian fullness” and these scriptural realities in the fullness of the next restoration.

Nevertheless, our personal assumption is that Jesus will not return for a defeated, lukewarm or undeveloped church, or a baby group of outer court believers. He surely will NOT return until there is, at least, a Lampstand Church made of pure Gold.

However, if the popular theory that the “believers” are going to be perfected AFTER they get to heaven, (or on the way up) then none of this “preparation we are preaching” is even relevant! Our “doctrine” will need to be modified so that “experiencing the Fullness of Christ” will have wait until we leave these bodies behind. It is obvious to me that “foolish ministries,” that promote these ridiculous ideas, are just making up excuses to hide their failures.

At least to me, the Gospel of the Kingdom and its demands and requirements and its call to an ASCENDING LIFE, confirms that the “fullness of Christ” is synonymous with the High Calling of Zion.

Our call to preach the “Gospel of the Kingdom” in every nation requires that we preach spiritual reality and NOT some preconceived gospel of the half-priced sale! What makes this “gospel” real is when the listener touches “the Christ who speaks in us and to them.” That means IF Christ, the living and abiding word of God, is actually speaking in us and through us!

Still, if we just “minister” the black words on white paper, will we ever observe “fullness in the believers?” The “rule” is this; If the Kingdom is NOT a true government and spiritual reality in us, there is no power to preach the Kingdom with full conviction! Then people will receive the words as just another message!

2 Cor 13:3] since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.

2 Cor 13:5] Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?

Some of us here in Ohio believe that in this next restoration, the “New Covenant Ministry” will require nothing less than “Christ, the living and abiding Word of God, is truly speaking in us and through us.” My theory is that this “New Covenant Ministry” must soon be experiencing to the “FULLNESS OF CHRIST! Why? That is because the “next restoration” will require a higher level of ministry.

We are anticipating that If this is time now for that “spiritual reality” to appear, that at least some persons, somewhere, are being presently prepared and developed to participate in this higher “Holy Place” Life and Ministry? Several of us here think that will be possible soon, among those who have made the transition to the Holy Place Life and Ministry!

I will try to define “spiritual reality” with a simple example of water baptism. Is Romans 6 just an act of getting wet where the emphasis is upon the water or the words spoken, or the person who does the Baptism? Is it a physical act that we accept mentally as obedience? Is the “power” in the words or in the water or in the person doing the baptism? Of course not! Is water baptism a genuine New Covenant experience or is it, as some say, just a “holdover” of an Old Covenant act of “washing hands and feet for purification.” In that case, Baptism would be irrelevant today, as some say.

Paul saw baptism as a “spiritual reality” where we are dead with Christ, therefore buried with Christ but he doesn’t stop there. He saw that there must also be a resurrection with Christ and a participation in a whole new life. Is it possible to get wet but then experience very little or nothing at all in the Eternal Reality associated with Biblical Baptism?

Sadly, it appears that this is exactly what happens when no faith is exercised to follow scriptures or experience the Truth / Reality that was intended. Some actually teach that nothing will happen in water baptism because Baptism is only a public testimony.

Obviously Paul saw and experienced and taught that water baptism is a spiritual reality that had a direct impact upon his life and upon others who believed. He also saw baptism as a genuine foundational experience for the Christian Life and not just as a Christian ritual of getting wet. To understand baptism to be a death and burial today but that resurrection and new life as being something else or something future, has missed the reality of a solid New Covenant Water Baptism experience.

This may be an elusive example but it may demonstrate the point that to fix our eyes and thoughts on the mechanics of things rather than the spiritual reality behind the action is to try to comprehend spiritual reality simply with the intellect.

The fact is this; the church has modified the “experience of Baptism” down to a ritual, which it was not authorized to do. Why? That is because New Covenant “birth” in Baptism is related to the Kingdom and the Kingdom has NOT modified its meaning nor the experience of Baptism.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Baptism is NOT a baptism into the Church but provides a birth into the Kingdom. This birth is into Christ Jesus and the time when we are clothed with Christ! .

Gal 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

If we use another example of the Lord’s Table it may be clearer. Is the Lord’s Table just a

physical action of taking the cup and the bread or is this a spiritual reality that can only be perceived in the spiritual realm of the New Man? Is the Lord’s Table a “carryover” from the feast of Passover? No. This cup is fully related to the New Covenant and is experienced within a new dimension of Spirit. Is the bread “the body of Christ” to us and is the cup of blessing the “blood of Christ” to us?

Without revelation all we see and experience are the physical elements. Is the reality even connected to the natural concept that the bread “turns into the body of Christ” or that “the wine turns into the blood of Christ?” Of course not! The Lord’s Table is experienced in a higher realm and directly related to the New Covenant!

1 Cor 10:16] Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? [17] Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.

The question is this: Is the reality just in the elements or in that which the elements represent? Is it possible to take the bread and the cup and have no revelation of the body that was given or of the body in which we are participating? Of course, the average concept of the Lord’s Table is something natural with natural elements and promotes a common and an universal mistake about THE CHRIST OF GOD! To Paul, we who are many are one loaf is symbolic and speaks of a genuine spiritual reality. This is not just a matter of elocution or theology or grammar or intellect but Paul is touching a spiritual reality within the Lord’s Table.

In discussing this matter of “the church,” in its relationship to the Kingdom, the same principle applies. Jesus said the church He is building will kick in the gates of hell. In His mind there are not several churches with different doctrines, values and theology. There is only one “church” and that is the one He is building. Obviously this has nothing to do with buildings, traditions or culture but is certainly a spiritual reality. The real Church may have nothing to do with a gathering of people in a building on Sunday.

We might ask ; What about all these different denominations and the various traditions? Are they valid? Jesus most likely only sees that which has attained “a clear spiritual reality” as His church and all this other stuff is the irrelevant and personal work of man.

That means that the “life, spirit, truth and growth” of the church ( a corporate group) must be a spiritual reality associated with the eternal purpose of God rather than a certain form of holding church or even of worship. Whatever does not have His life is not even associated with the Church He is building. Without first death and then New Life there can be no church. Whatever church is not directly related to the Kingdom of God and functioning under its Government, may exist, but is irrelevant! That Church which He is Building will certainly have a revelation of the Builder, Himself, and a functioning Kingdom, with an experiential Government.

As another example; Should we even consider the concept of multiple leadership as a source of protection for the assembly in the council of many voices? The fact is this; Even if 10 people agree that an idea is good or something is correct, if they haven’t touched the spiritual reality of the Kingdom or have true Holy Spirit guidance, the decision is still in the flesh and offensive. Whether one man makes the decision or 20 people make the decision, the fact is that decision is still just human if they haven’t yet touched the reality of Holy Spirit guidance and have their lives in full submission to the Kingdom Government of God!

This is the danger of both one man ministries, multiple leaders, or board decisions. Multiple leadership doesn’t eliminate the decisions being made in the flesh. The group, in which I was Pastor for 30 years, is a good example but NOT one to follow. Most decisions that WE MADE, over many years, were outside the Kingdom realm of Spirit or from an inner government! Therefore, they were decisions made in the flesh.

The “life and function of the body of Christ,” the true church in preparation, can only be experienced in the degree that we can enter into that spiritual reality associated with the Eternal Church! Why? That is because the Church He is Building is not a mechanical system or natural group of people assembling together in a building on Sunday morning.

Maybe now we can see the problems that true ministers encounter when they try to “minister to the church.” If they are just ministering “words” rather than spiritual reality, very little is accomplished in relation to God’s Eternal Purpose or to a lasting and experiential reality. The God who sits on Mount Zion functions 100% in the Ultimate Spiritual Reality. If we engage Him, experientially, we engage the Ultimate Spiritual Reality. If we receive from Him this intangible but Eternal Quality, this is what we are calling “spiritual reality.” It is THIS Reality that we must learn to minister. I know the term “spiritual reality” is rather abstract but even the term must be discerned in the spirit rather than by some idealistic concept without substance, or by a fantasy idea conceived in the intellect.

This confusion created by the “carnal, man-centered ministries” over past years makes any

clear explanation of next dimension of Kingdom ministry very difficult. Why? No foundation for the Kingdom has been laid. Why? The Kingdom itself is elusive and difficult to define. Why? That is because there is NO DEFINITION of the Kingdom given in the scripture except “A GOVERNMENT.” All other facts speak about its characteristics but no specific definition is given. Then “what do we preach?” This touches the inadequacies of preaching from the intellect!

Another example of our limitations is in originating a definition of God. Some say well, God is Love. However, that is NOT a definition but is a characteristic of God. Then, brother, what phrase can define God? THERE IS NONE! Most of the things related to God have NO DEFINITION and the Kingdom is included.

Let us make another application before we move on! The Word of God is more than an assortment of natural words that tell a story. The Word of God, the Rhema, is a Spiritual Reality with Eternal values, which we must fully embrace if the words are to become spirit and life in us. If the Living Word is not in us (by birth) can we really “minister” spiritual reality. It is only when the source of these Words is coming from the Living and Abiding Word of God IN US that Spiritual Truth / Reality” can be ministered! This lack of inner reality limits the effectiveness of most pulpits to preach spiritual reality and to experience next dimension of Truth. This, in turn, limits our ability to present Spiritual Truth by means of another “message.”

What we see today is multitudes of people, who are seeking that elusive Spiritual Reality, are not finding it in the visible church functions. Therefore, they travel from one group to another looking for “reality,” even though they don’t know what they seek. When the typical shallow and ineffective ministry is accepted as normal, most people who are seeking Truth and Reality will soon depart. It is amazing that most unsatisfied people in the visible church do not know exactly what they are looking for! Some say “We will know it when we find it.”

The shallowness and ineffectiveness of too much “ministry” can be seen graphically in the difference between the Outer Court Light and the Light of the Seven Spirits of God on the Lampstand in the Holy Place. The confusion begins when Outer Court ministries appear to be valid and fruitful in winning souls and getting them baptized. Others are excited when they can see changed lives and people receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and accept the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. In these primary experiences they assume they are very effective. While these things are good, God’s Purpose requires the believers to advance far beyond these primary experiences. However, these natural light ministers CANNOT help the believers to ascend to the next dimension of “fullness” nor participate in God’s Purpose or in the “Church He is Building.” Why? That is because the ministers themselves have NOT advanced beyond these primary stages of the beginnings!

Our purpose in these studies is to investigate the next dimension of the Restoration of all things spoken by the prophets, which IS the Holy Place Life and Ministry! This next level of light, the Seven Spirits of God, the Fullness, illuminates the entire Holy Place! Opposite the Lampstand we observe the Showbread in which is found the “Word of Spiritual Reality.” We might call it the “Word” behind the word that is eaten by the Priests to become an integral part of them. This strengthens and supports their inner Life when they eat it.

In this next restoration the “persons responsible for ministry” (priesthood) must be developed to include “the revelation of and to minister, objectively, this NEXT realm of “spiritual reality.”

I am well aware that this is an abstract term that is difficult to define! We might call this objective ministry “the Spirit, Truth and Life” ministry. First, there must be an inner revelation and the experience of this elusive “spiritual reality” in the minister before He can share that “spiritual reality” with others. This “spiritual reality” is concealed within the Living and Abiding Word of God. (Type; the Showbread) There seems to be an elusive experience of sharing “the written Word” by speaking out from the Living and Abiding Word of God, by using His Words! This is the key to ministering or conveying the “spiritual reality” to the New Covenant congregation. I am using “Spiritual Reality” to define an INNER Kingdom Government creating a genuine Christian Experience compatible with God’s Eternal Purpose! Why?

That is to prepare a “Priesthood ministry” to become capable of functioning in the pure Spiritual Light of the Seven Spirts of God in the Holy Place ministry! Why is this kind of Priesthood ministry so revolutionary? That is because in the Holy Place dimension 3/4 of the ministry is toward God and 1/4 is toward believers.

In the NEXT restoration, all ministry will be originated by our Great High Priest, and will function under the full illumination of the Seven Spirits of God, which will eliminate the intellectual kind of ministry so popular today. Why?

Some person standing in a pulpit, expressing more irrelevant human opinions or traditions or culture or mere doctrine or telling nice stories, mixing Christian philosophy with bits of truth is totally unacceptable. Why? In the next restoration, none of those things have any value nor are they permitted in the Holy Place Ministry of Spiritual Reality. Why? All ministry must be from the Living and Abiding Word of God and by the inner illumination of the Seven Spirits of God. Why?

The Holy Place, in the New Covenant, begins as an inner Life Experience in the current Temple, the Tent where God dwells! ( in US) In the Next restoration, all objective ministry in the Outer Court originates in the Holy Place! This New Covenant Ministry will fulfill the type of the Priesthood after the Order of Aaron.

I will give one last example to clarify the principle of acceptable function in the Holy Place Life and Ministry. This is related to worship!

John 4:23] "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. [24] "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

This realm of function is what I am referring to as an example of “spiritual reality.” While this is rather abstract, mystical and elusive and requires a different level of understanding, this term “Spiritual Reality” identifies a “State of Higher Being. This “state of inner being” is beyond physical worship, good music, dancing, waving flags or anything we are accustomed to or presently called worship. Why? That is because worshiping in Spirit and Truth is FAR beyond the physical realms and physical sounds and outside and beyond the physical life of human existence! If God was a “physical being” then He could be worshiped by physical means like flags, songs, running, falling down, laying prostrate, raising hands or most all other methods devised by man. However, in the New Covenant NONE of these things impress Him nor are they acceptable by Him. Why? His New Covenant man is of a new species that is not physical and unrelated to natural identity like Jew or Greek or ven rich or poor.

Some will ask; Well, should we kneel down or raise our hands and should we have music or be quiet? This question misses the whole point because true worship is in the Spirit, out of a higher Life and within experiential Truth which touches the Eternal Realms of God, Himself. Worship in the next dimension is not dependent upon some custom, design, action, form or procedure. Worshiping in spirit and in truth is within the “spiritual substance” compatible with the realm called “True Worship.” We could say “the reality of the Holy Place function” demands its participants to offer a higher degree of SPIRITUAL WORSHIP that we know nothing about at this time. There must be another realm of True Worship for the real Kingdom Worshiper. We might call this “priesthood worship” which is related to the 3/4 of the ministry that is only toward God.

If we can discern these points we should understand the problems that we will encounter in ministering the Holy Place Experience where “Life, Spirit and Truth” is the Eternal Substance, WORD, being ministered. It is at the Altar of Incense that we encounter and experience the “Ultimate Reality Himself”, at the torn Third Veil. The Torn Veil is directly behind the Alter of Incense and is the Opening to the Most Holy Place where Christ Is, at the right hand of God!

In other words, it is at the Alter of Incense that we encounter Ultimate Reality, on the other side of the torn (open) Veil, in the Most Holy Place. Experiencing the fullness of “Christ, our Great High Priest, is the Ultimate Reality.” This “confrontation” is requisite to equip the New Covenant Minister to share this ultimate “spiritual substance”(CHRIST) with others. However, To learn about objective reality or to know the doctrine of “spiritual reality” will NOT help us minister that reality!

The “term” Spiritual Substance (Christ) seems to offend some who are not familiar with this term I made up.

substance >noun 1 a particular kind of matter with uniform properties. 2 the real basis of which a person or thing consists. 3 solid basis in reality or fact: (as; the claim has no substance.) 4 the quality of being significant. 5 the most important or essential part or meaning. ORIGIN Latin', from substare 'stand firm'

To encounter Christ, who is the fullness of God, is to be confronted by “spiritual reality” as well as “eternal reality.” For the church to then become the “fullness of Christ” on earth means they must encounter and experience the “spiritual reality or Substance” of Christ in them, the hope of glory. Many know, or are familiar with, the doctrine but the real body of Christ on earth must experience the reality of His fullness in order to manifest His fullness. Too many persons that I have met, find Colossians 3:1 much too radical for the church age or that this is even relevant for the church today. They can freely understand how this could be a reality for another time or that this might be possible later.

Colossians 3:1 If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

My theory simply stated is this; in next restoration, which we are calling, the Holy Place life and Ministry, we must each experience the “Spiritual reality or Living Substance” of Colossians 3. This Scripture surely represents some degree of “fullness.” My theory is this; If Christ is in us in THIS measure, then Christ in us could be speaking and ministering His Words through us. In other words the church, which no longer lives by a lessor life, must have Christ living His Life in them and through them to manifest HIS fullness.

From the viewpoint of the New Jerusalem, the City has become so “transparent” that it doesn’t hinder the glory of God from shining through the Perfect Church to illuminate the nations of the New Earth. To manifest the “fullness of Christ” in that degree, the church must never accept a lessor manifestation of Christ as normal. The church must insist upon keeping the IMAGE of Christ completely pure, as she ministers Christ.

While this sounds like hyperbole, those who will function in the Holy Place Priesthood Ministry will have the revelation of Christ, our great High Priest. This revelation will surpasses knowledge and human opinion and they will see things “as they really are.” That means, NOT as various ministers, teachers, pastors or theologians think they are.

With the revelation of the Showbread bringing a clarity of the rhema of God, it will enable us to burn incense in harmony with the will of God and purpose f God. This “ministry” will require a spiritual correctness, discipline, sincerity and clarity that we know nothing about at the present time.

Well, brother, if that realm is not for now, why speak of such a thing now and bring confusion to the congregation? That is because we are AT THAT PLACE in the restoration, even though we have not yet experienced that reality.

But, Brother, our church is certainly unconcerned about such high and lofty things. We only want to go to heaven when we die! Why are you confusing us and wasting our time with impossible things? That is because it is very important to announce these things, now. Why now? That is because the Scriptural announcement precedes, the experience of that reality! For example; The Gospel of the Kingdom must be clearly preached BEFORE there can be the actual experience of the Kingdom Government by a personal and subjective obedience. But, if we preach the Kingdom today won’t some good believers be offended? They certainly will! However, some of those who have ears to hear will consecrate themselves to seeking God for a genuine subjective experience. Of course some will not want to be challenged or bothered by any interruption in the status quo.

Since there is “spirit,” “truth,” “reality,” and “life” in God’s Living Word, we must discern these things in our Inner Man with a confirmation by the Holy Spirit. Of course these things cannot be taught by human wisdom but only by the Holy Spirit who must give spiritual words that convey spiritual thoughts that have been given by the Spirit. Also, no one can come or understand unless the Father draw them! This is primary! Therefore, most all of the Outer Court Ministries, today, are only preaching “truth” as facts, knowledge and information. Since the Outer Court has NO spiritual light but ONLY natural light, the ministries functioning in the Outer Court Realms operate on the basis by logic and natural understanding. This may even be adequate for laying foundations but totally inadequate for the next restoration.

To be “a minister of the Living Word” will require that we understand what HE, the Living and Abiding Word of God, is currently saying. This IS the Key to understand that which is written down for us in the Bible.

It is by “beginning ministry” by the Outer Court Method, in natural light or by reading other books and attempting to understand the black words, written on white paper, in the Bible, and then attempting to “enter the ministry” that the natural minister has caused all this confusion. That,”ministry,” is the source of all these different denominations. Of course it seems that everybody begins that way, in the flesh! However, the New Covenant ministry begins in an entirely different way. How? By beginning ALL ministry in the Holy Place and according to God’s pattern for the priesthood!

To minister in that dimension we must first discern the Spiritual Thoughts, by understanding the Spiritual Words, that were given by the Holy Spirit, to be able to complete any Spiritual Ministry! Otherwise the hears will not be able to follow the Spiritual Ministry into a genuine personal and Spiritual Reality of what is being said. Then what is the difference from what we are doing today?

1Cor 2:6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man.

2Cor 3:5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

While ministering the Letter, (facts, information and knowledge) is such a common practice today, without some revelation, we really do not discern the difference between Spirit and letter or even realize that very little “word” is being spoken. The result has been disastrous for the growth and maturity of the congregations. Why? It has promoted death instead of Life! But, how did that happen?

To just read a verse and try to explain it by logic and with reference to other scriptures is not the same thing as SPIRIT. Even though this has been a popular way of preaching by those who have been taught by intellectual means or by natural understanding, this “error” has severely damaged the believers to receive further truth! For the past hundreds of years very few “ministers” ever touched the spiritual reality (the life, truth, reality and spirit) of the scriptures by first receiving and developing a truly Spiritual Life and a greater dimension of inner Life! Therefore, the spirit, the life and the truth contained in the Living and Abiding Word of God was lost to the church. Why? That was because “ministry” was by just sharing a carnal understanding of certain verses and by explaining certain Bible words. The result was sharing the “letter” that kills.

The principle we have seen in the Bible is this; When the Eternal Living Word of God, CHRIST, becomes the Living Word of God dwelling in us and HE is given the freedom to SPEAK, the ministry then raises to the New Covenant dimension of ministry. However, this requires that we have first been disciplined by God so that we can release the “word” to others without it being diluted or modified by our thoughts, opinions and doctrinal correctness. This “purity of Word” is called New Covenant Ministry!

Romans 8:9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.

1Peter 1:10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

The Eternal Spirit of Christ is obviously the Living Word of God who was always with the father as we see in John 1. Since the Spirit of Christ, in the Old Covenant prophets was speaking “the Word of God” it seems obvious that the Spirit of Christ IS the Living and abiding Word of God by which we are Born Again.

Therefore, even as the Spirit of Christ could speak the Word of God through men during the Old Covenant, He can certainly speak the Word of God through men today in New Covenant times. Even though this “ability” to speak the Word of God is NOT new, this is what we are calling the New Covenant Ministry, today. Our theory is that any ministry that cannot function within this measure of speaking the Living Word of God, is far short of being a New Covenant ministry.

Therefore, I conclude, that when “the ministry” is just words and sentences spoken one after another but no life and spirit is ministered, NO New Covenant ministry has taken place. Therefore, it is irrelevant in the next restoration. The problem has always been when the ineffective “minister” is speaking out from the flesh, no ministry happens. He is “ministering” his own ideas, what he has read or been taught, concepts or human opinions, irrelevant stories or homilies, (a tedious moralizing talk) but no ministry has taken place. The now word, “or the rhema”, might be on the inside of the minister but if it remains concealed there, even after a hour of talking, no ministry has taken place. While this is common among Outer Court ministries, the Life and Ministry of the Holy Place must be entirely different.

Therefore, AFTER the church has become the fullness of Christ, it must, then, learn how to release “the Spirit of Christ” (the Word of God) through ministry.” In other words, what purpose could it serve to becoming His fullness if His fullness in us has no manifestation? The goal, it seems to me, is to remove whatever restrictions there are in us so the fullness of Christ can be manifested and ministered. The point I am making is that the “ministry of the Spirit of Christ” is much different than ministering verses about Christ. Even if we are carnal and full of self-serving and flesh, we may still minister Bible verses about Christ Jesus. This might even be very acceptable to new believers. Even this low level of “ministry” might gain a following of believers who are “saved.” Nevertheless, these “believers” may never touch the reality of Christ, Himself, even if good and accurate things are spoken about Christ.

Maybe we could use a more practical example. I may preach wonderful and anointed messages against pride, arrogance and criticism of others and not even recognize the same problem in me. Are the words accurate and the scriptures used valid in these Outer Court ministries? Of course! Then what could be wrong?

We can speak from personal experience! The spiritual defects in the “minister” can easily hinder the reality of Christ from being manifested! Therefore, only powerless words come forth in the message. Therefore, the Holy Spirit brings no conviction so little eternal Truth is received. If the removal of these “defects” had been experienced in the ”minister” then life could have worked in the hearers.

I know some think I am putting too much responsibility to deliver Truth upon the “minister” and not enough upon the believers. Still, Paul said that;

Cor 4:10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you.

I think this is precisely why the Consecration Offering ( death works in me) precedes the Holy Place life and ministry. The Consecration Offering is giving our permission for God to personally deal severely with all the fallen attributes of Adam that are remaining in us so that the reality of Christ can be released in “ministry.” I put quotation marks around “ministry” to indicate that what we have generally thought was “acceptable ministry” in the past will no longer be acceptable now. All human concepts, opinions and ideas must change with the transition from the Outer Court to the Holy Place.

Someday the Outer Court preaching that, is so popular today, will grieve those who have made the transition to the ministry of “spiritual reality.” This fact, in no way criticizes these ministries that have been successful in the past by preaching Christ. This is just an announcement that these methods are quickly becoming obsolete.

The question for today is this; Are we expressing and manifesting Christ through ministry or are we restricting Christ, the Living and Abiding Word of God, from being manifested in our realms of responsibility. If we have no idea of what God’s ultimate purpose is for the church, how can we lead the church into this next restoration? If we are honest and conclude that the church is not yet the “fullness of Christ,” how do we proceed from here? We could pray like Paul did for the Ephesians or we could seek out these ministries that are able to build up the church until she grows up into the fullness of Christ!

I will suggest that these “5 fold ministries” must first be filled to all the fullness of Christ before they can help us reach that same fullness. Of course this has been the glaring lack of “ministry” up to now. Carnal ministers, manifesting flesh and promoting themselves and ministering for an offering, has produced very little except a disappointment in and a distrust of the “five fold ministries.” Promising freedom while they are slaves of the same things they are trying to release us from.

Therefore, Paul’s example of praying for the believers seems to be proper at this time.

Ephesians 3:14 For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, [15] from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, [16] that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Obviously, certain revelation and Consecration is necessary before we can be filled up to all the fullness of God. In verse 15 we see that we need to experience “the reality of the Holy Spirit in our inner man.” This is a step beyond the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues and involves a comprehension of the breadth and length, the height and the depth and to know the spiritual reality of the agape of Christ. Fullness seems to follow that “reality.”

Ministering out of fullness has got to be quite different than ministering out of spiritual poverty. Even after “fullness” we must be transparent to not hinder or restrict His fullness from touching the lives of those to whom we minister. This is a tremendous challenge to each of us and specifically to the modern day “minister.”

This hard shell of flesh, that restricts our inner man from manifesting the reality of Christ, must be severely dealt with if we are going to participate in this next restoration. Death must really work in us so that life can work in others! This is basic preparation for next level of ministry and for the next restoration of the Holy Place Life and Ministry. Knowing the doctrine of the crucifixion of the old man is of little benefit unless we have the experience and know the reality of carrying about in our body the dying of Jesus so that the life of Jesus can be manifest.

Let me deflect criticism by explaining here; The purpose of this exhortation is because we think the Next Restoration is all about functioning out of His Life. Ministering His Spirit and His Life and His Truth will be the number one priority! How? That is by ministering “the Living and Abiding Word of God” directly from the Showbread.

Passing through this Second Veil and leaving behind the natural understanding, opinions, ideas, natural words and cliches may be quite stressful, even painful, but the benefit is eternal. This benefit applies to both the minister AND to those who can hear!

Refusing or ignoring or delaying to pass through this Second Veil because of the extreme confrontation, dealing with of our personal defects, will be a big mistake. Moving from “But I am already Saved” to “I am not yet perfected” to “I am still in the Outer Court Realm of natural Light and to I am still unequipped to function in the 100 % Spiritual Light of the Holy Place” is essential to just approach the Second Veil, REALITY! The “consecration offering” is being extended to defects and to “death works in me so Life can work in you.”

In the Last Study we were pointing out the UNREALITY of insisting that; Yes! I already did that in 1990 (or in my case in 1970) and I have been walking in that reality ever since! That testimony is just another fantasy unless DEATH is actually working in you! How do I know that in happening? That s because Life works in others! Just because no one we know are functioning in that realm, yet, does not nullify that Truth. Of course there may be someone, somewhere that we have not met, that functions out of that death. However, that “death” has not yet been manifested within the Corporate BODY like a Lampstand Church!

Our thesis was that many individual lives, functioning independently, could NEVER qualify as being members of the body of our High Priest! Why? That is because, in His body there can ONLY be One Life. Therefore, only those who have experientially died, been buried and resurrected into HIS LIFE can be part of the Body of our Great High Priest. That means that “they no longer live but that it now is Christ who lives in them.” However, this was not presented as a new and “extreme doctrine” but a literal transition from our life to His Life by “making a covenant with God by sacrifice." The “sacrifice” was identified as the “sacrifice of our individuality, our independence and our own Identity.” That was so we could all participate in His Life! Why? That is because HIS LIFE is the ONLY LIFE COMPATIBLE WITH THE LIFE OF MOUNT ZION!

Psalms 50:2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shone forth. 3 May our God come and not keep silence; Fire devours before Him, And it is very tempestuous around Him. 4 He summons the heavens above, And the earth, to judge His people: 5 "Gather My godly ones to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice."

That “sacrifice” is giving up our personal existence and destiny, that God has given us by the new birth, so we can live exclusively within the Perfect, Corporate and Uncreated Life of Christ!

The question that has arisen is this; But, Brother, didn’t some of that happen when we were baptized? Yes! However, that “death and burial” transition was dealing with the Old Species of Man, after first Adam. However, most of us have already understood that the new life of resurrection IS still functioning as the “big I” or the “Big Me” and doing “My own will” and insisting upon “my Own Way,” demanding “My Opinion” be heard! “My Ideas must be considered” and “My Plans” and “Programs” at least tried. Why? I am the King’s Kid and I am part of Royalty so here “I” come to be recognized and heard! “I am forever Saved and I am the Child of God and He is My Father” and this extravagance is “MY” new birth right identity.

OK, I can still respect you IF that this is “YOUR” “faith reality” but, my point is this; all this fantasy is still just the product of “your life” (the Big I) but these ideas have no basis in reality!

It is now time to enter into “A Covenant by Sacrifice” of that “life, that identify and your independence and individuality” to become ONE with His Life, His Kingdom and His Government and to participate in the ONE LIFE OF ZION! The LIFE of ZION is not a corporate group, consisting of a number of different, individual and distinct, fragmented lives but one Life functioning as ONE Body, which is related to One Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek!

Well, Brother, I feel no need to participate in that Covenant and I am satisfied with where I am at the present time. I feel no desire to ascend to the “Heights of Zion.” Fine, obviously God is not drawing you yet to participate in that Life! Still, you may “store this understanding in your pantry of possibility” to be used at a latter date. Why? Zion may not be for EVERYONE. However, God is calling someone, somewhere, today, to: "Gather My godly ones to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice."

Some will hear and obey and others will pay NO attention simply because they are satisfied with the status quo. We have no quarrel with these. Why? That is because each person must make that decision personally and freely, as they are directed by the Holy Spirit! No pressure to respond is intended and we have NO EXPECTATION of any response! Still, we hope a few will “ask the way to Zion” because we think it is time for THAT ONE LIFE to be manifested in a least some fullness!

However, a large group of individual lives may have some hope they will be welcomed into a lower heaven! It may be possible that at the judgement eat ALL believers can be asked to offer their own opinion and present several better ideas, or offer plans to adjust the system to accommodate them! Some may be arranging for a prayer group to instruct God on what He should be doing now to include and to incorporate them according to their faith and desire. That is NOT LIKELY to be acceptable on Zion!

Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, 2 "Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge? 3 "Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me! 4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, 5 Who set its measurements, since you know? Or who stretched the line on it? 6 "On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 "Or who enclosed the sea with doors, When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb; 9 When I made a cloud its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band, 10 And I placed boundaries on it, And I set a bolt and doors, 11 And I said, 'Thus far you shall come, but no farther; And here shall your proud waves stop'? 12 "Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, And caused the dawn to know its place;

On the other hand, maybe our opinion will not be needed or asked for. Maybe all of God’s Eternal Purpose is already solidly fixed, cut into stone, so it cannot be modified to meet our expectations!

It may just be better to surrender to God’s Plan and enter into Sabbath Rest and merge our fragmented lives into His Life! Then we can seek the way to Zion, out of a Oneness of Life and not just by doctrine or carnal concepts of physical restrictions!

Psalm 50:2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shone forth. 3 May our God come and not keep silence; Fire devours before Him, And it is very tempestuous around Him. 4 He summons the heavens above, And the earth, to judge His people: 5 "Gather My godly ones to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice." 6 And the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is judge. Selah.

Selah; Pause and reflect upon what that means.