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Spirit of the Word - Covenant Eschatology - Introductory Note - New Stuff
DESTINED TO FLY
by Ray Prinzing"And I saw another angel (messenger) FLY in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him..." (Rev.14:6-7).
A messenger with a message - a message based upon revelation and experience which produces a relationship with our Lord. The usual approach is emphasis upon what we get out of the relationship - what God can do for us. And, it is true, we can rightly say with the Psalmist, "The Lord is the portion of MINE inheritance and of MY CUP: You maintain MY LOT." (Ps. 16:5).
Mine inheritance, my cup, my lot - spirit, soul, and body, every need to be met by His bountiful grace. As goes the chorus of a beautiful hymn:
"All that I want is in Jesus, He satisfies, joy He supplies,But the Word also bears out another point, and that is, "The LORD'S PORTION is His people; Jacob is the lot of HIS INHERITANCE." (Deut. 32:9). Yes, we have an inheritance in the Lord, but He also has one in us. No wonder Paul asked in his prayer, that "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS." (Eph.1:18).
Life would be worthless without Him, all things in Jesus I find."The hope of His calling relates to us, and it is a high, holy, heavenly calling that He has given to us. But then there is HIS PART - The Lord has a PORTION, a PEOPLE, an INHERITANCE. And somehow, viewing a people of God, Paul takes the words, "the riches of the glory" and connects them to "HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS." His glory expanded in a people, this is an awesome thing. To say "riches of the glory" and connect it to what we have in Christ would be understandable, for RICHES AND GLORY abound in Him. But to say "riches of the glory" and connect it to a people, something that He has in us, is quite another matter. Yet there are riches that redound to His praise, in a people who have BECOME His inheritance. And we do read, "This people have I formed for Myself; they shall show forth My praise." (Isa. 43:21). God has a vital interest in a people - personally chosen and prepared to show forth HIS praise. In order for God to have this PORTION, He must needs create, form, process - He must BE THE AUTHOR as well as the FINISHER. Yet it shall be said, "Your people also shall be all righteous: ... the work of MY HANDS, that I may be glorified." (Isa. 60:21).
So God goes looking for a people-- "True worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: FOR THE FATHER SEEKS such to worship Him." (John 4:23). Certainly He knows exactly where we are, not a sparrow falls to the ground without His knowing and participation. But God has a DESIRE for true worshippers, and He seeks out those whom He can transform into a people after His own heart. And He knows exactly where to look!
"HE FOUND him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; HE LED him about, HE INSTRUCTED him, HE KEPT him as the apple of His eye." (Deut. 32:10). FOUND... LED... INSTRUCTED ... KEPT... His ways do not change. Man always wants the END/VICTORY without all the processing to get there. But there is no escaping His ways and inworkings, though they certainly do not need to be feared - for His love governs every step. Bless His name!
HE FOUND US! To be found is an acknowledgment that we were LOST. Wandered off in the pursuits of self-will, we lost our way, and knew not where nor how to find our Shepherd again. But "the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10). Praise God, HE FINDS US!
Yet often we think in terms of finding Him. We say with Job, "Oh that I knew where I might find Him! That I might come even to His seat. Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him: On the left hand, where He does work, but I cannot behold Him: He hides Himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him: But He knows the way that I take: when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold." (Job 23:3,8-10). Job could not find God, but God was not lost. He had simply withdrawn a consciousness of His presence, and Job knew not which way to turn to find Him, hence the need to just settle down and let God accomplish what He wills through it all. Yet Job was persuaded that God knew right where he was at - and once he had been fully tried (tested), he would come forth as gold. It is unique that God can continue HIS HANDIWORK IN US even though we are not aware of His being there, and suddenly, when our eyes are opened to see, we know He has been there all the time. How marvelous!
"By night on my bed I sought Him whom my soul loves: I sought Him, but I found Him not. (So she got up, and said) I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek Him whom my soul loves: I sought Him, but I found Him not." (Song of Solomon 3:1-2). Then she met up with the watchmen, so she asked them, "Have you seen Him whom my soul loves?" But they had no answers for her. It was when she had gotten past the watchmen, that we read, "It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found Him whom my soul loves: I held Him, and would not let Him go." But the processing was far from over and a couple of chapters later in the record, she was out looking for Him again. "I sought Him, but I could not find Him; I called Him, but He gave me no answer. The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me." (chapter 5, verses 6-7).
Watchmen have often prefigured "the clergy," and I dare say, many watchmen have been found smiting and wounding - yet God has often used this smiting to cause people to flee from religious Babylon, and alone in the wilderness they seek after God. It happens so often, we will not try to illustrate or give examples. But here is one out searching for her Beloved. She was not satisfied to be a part of a harem of man's religious system, but she sought for that One her heart responded to. She had been awakened, and now she could sleep no longer, but filled with such longing and desire, she went out to look for Him. Yet when the watchmen found her, they supposed she was but another "street woman of the night," and so they smote her, totally misunderstood why she was out there. And rather than covering her from public exposure, they ripped off her veil, putting her to open shame and chagrin. They heard not the deep cry within her as she would yearn for the reality of her true Lover. She could not find Him, but HE would find her.
Yes, they will smite you! Why don't you belong to some church? Why are you not under some man's covering? The allegations are hurled, and you are labeled a rebel, undisciplined, unsubmissive, etc. They will accuse you of being one of the unclean "street walkers." You tell them you are seeking for reality. You are not a church tramp-- indeed, you are not a tramp at all, but you are in the throes of the dark night of the soul, seeking Him who alone can be your Help. And the watchmen have no satisfying answer - they cannot tell you where to find Him. BUT HE IS NOT LOST, He has but hidden Himself from you for a season, while the fire of desire burns its purifying flame-- and all the debris of self is purged out, so that your union with Him might be pure.
Paul told the Athenians-- GOD "determined the times before appointed, the bounds of their habitation, that they should seek the Lord, IF HAPLY they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us: for IN HIM we live, and move, and have our being." (Acts 17:26-28). To find Him, when He is not lost, it means that we are at His mercy to reveal Himself as He wills. But it WORKS IN US to seek after Him. Thus the Word declares, "You shall seek Me, and find Me, when you have searched for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, says the Lord." (Jer.29:13-14)
This is a very interesting qualifying phrase: "search with all your heart." This is an INWORKING indeed. For it means that all the debris of self must be rooted out, confessed, repented of, and little by little, line upon line, there is an inner cleansing, until it can be said that we desire Him WITH ALL OUR HEART. And then HE will be found of us-- dwelling within us!
Well did the prophet state, "I AM FOUND of them that sought Me not: I said, Behold Me, unto a nation that was not called by My name." (Isa. 65:1). And Paul picks it up, "Esaias is very bold, and says, I WAS FOUND OF THEM THAT SOUGHT ME NOT; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after Me." (Rom. 10:20). This is truly divine grace in action.
Yes, we need to "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near." (Isa. 55:6). When you feel an inner stirring, then give yourself to seeking Him, let it be a "season of refreshing" of the presence of the Lord. You can long for Him, as the hart pants after the water brook, but you cannot force His manifestation. However, you can keep your heart open and prepared for Him when He draws you to Himself. "No man can come to Me, except the Father which has sent Me draw him." (John 6:44)
HE FINDS US, He causes us to become conscious of His presence. And with the Psalmist we pray, "CAUSE me to hear Your loving kindness in the morning, for in You do I trust: CAUSE me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto You." (Ps. 143:8). HE is truly the First Cause of all causes, and it is a sovereign act of His grace that He causes us to draw nigh unto Him, while HE draws nigh unto us-- yes, while HE FINDS US.
Having FOUND us, He then begins to LEAD us, and this is a process indeed, for it is difficult to lead men, they naturally despise leadership, to go their own way. Sometimes He must let us run our own way for a time, until we "see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that you have forsaken the Lord your God..." (Jer. 2:19). But through it all, we shall discover that "HE LED HIM ABOUT." Literally-- to TURN or bring round about, to convert. This is a process, not an instantaneous happening. But He says to Israel, "You shall remember all the way the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you, to prove you, to know what was in your heart." (Deut. 8:2). HIS LEADING is not without purpose, for He takes us through situations which reveal us to ourselves, to know what is in our heart, and to purge and cleanse until all redounds to His praise.
Nor is it an easy route, verse 15 says, "Who led you through that great
and terrible wilderness, fiery serpents, scorpions, and drought." All the
difficulties, obstacles, adversaries to deal with, have been arranged by
Divine purpose, to prove us, as He gradually transforms us into His image.Again, in another place, He says to His people, "I will bring the blind ny
a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them." (Isa. 42:16). How often have we heard people quote Joshua 3:4, "You have not passed this way heretofore." And this is very true-- for it is a route determined by God Himself, a way we know not, in paths that are newly marked out. Often we would like to escape from the wilderness, and from the dark. Yet we note that before we have the miracle of darkness turned to light, there has to be a time of darkness, when reality of His life/light is hidden from us. Nor is there any indication of how long the darkness prevails. Likewise, it does not elaborate on how crooked the path may be, nor how long it remains crooked. While this is true for all of us, yet HE WALKS WITH US TO BRING US ROUND ABOUT, and His purpose in us shall be fulfilled. We will not concentrate on the darkness, nor how crooked things are-- negatives that they be-- but we will focus our eyes upon Him who is with us, and wait for the infusion of His light, and the crooked to be made straight, bless His name.It is also said of His people, "So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him." (Deut. 32:12). What strange gods we have lugged around through the years. No doubt this is why He needed to lead us via crooked paths, so that some of the strange gods get scraped off as we go around corners, some are disposed of as we squeeze through tight places. Others are cast aside when we find they are a burden, and no help. But when HE has finished-- there will be no strange gods among us. Even Peter needed a bit of help along this line, when on the mount of transfiguration, as he saw Moses and Elijah appear, he was ready to build three tabernacles, and God had to speak, "This is My beloved Son: hear Him. And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves." (Mark 9:7-8). Even "saints" are not to be given prominence when Christ alone is to be seen. THE LORD ALONE IS LEADING US-- follow Him.
Not only is it GOD ALONE, no other gods included, but also it is ALONE WITH GOD, because it is an INTERNAL LEADING. Were there any outward attractions, a pillar of fire to be seen for miles around, we'd have a crowd right soon, with fun, food, and fellowship to celebrate this togetherness with a pillar of fire. But because it is so personal, so intimate-- with Christ dwelling in you, there is an aloneness, even though you are a member of His precious CORPORATE BODY. He is working out the same principles, speaking the same truths in each of us, but doing it, ALTOGETHER, one at a time.
More and more we find the prayer of the Psalmist echoed in our own prayer, "LEAD me in Your truth." (Ps. 25:5). "LEAD ME in a plain path." (Ps. 27:11). Led in truth-- this goes far beyond the commandments of men, with all their doubts and fantasies. But in the simplicity of the Gospel, we surrender to our Lord, and daily find that HE leads. A plain path-- literally, a level place. The heights and depths are all in Christ, and He can set us "upon my high places." (Ps. 18:33). But the promise is also given, "Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God" (Luke 3:5-6). A plain path speaks of excellent visibility-- no obstacles to distort the vision, every flesh-built kingdom removed, the exalted will of man dealt with by Hi cross, and the rough ways made smooth. Surely this fulfills the word of the prophet, "And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The Holy Way; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for the redeemed; the wayfaring men, yes, the simple ones and fools, shall not err in it and lose their way." (Isa. 35:8, Amplified).
Rotherham translation includes the statement, "But He Himself shall be one of them, traveling the road." "For the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward." (Isa. 52:12). The margin gives, "He will gather you up." What leading! When we become weary with the way, He not only goes before us, but He comes behind us to gather us up and help us with our going. And it is written, "He will gather together in one all things in Christ." (Eph. 1:10). When He leads there are no loose ends dragging around-- HE GATHERS UP ALL THE FRAGMENTS. (see Mark 8:19-20).
He found us, He leads us, HE INSTRUCTS US! The Hebrew word is "bin" and means: to cause to understand.
Understanding-- the Hebrew sense of the word bespeaks of comprehension and agreement, resulting in harmony of purpose.
"I will instruct you and teach the in the way which you shall go." (Psalm 32:8). Here the word for "instruct" is "sakal" and means: to cause to act wisely. How we need HIS INSTRUCTION until we are able to understand His ways and workings, and can act wisely in our going.
"Be not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle." (Ps.32:9). A horse requires bit and bridle, because, while it has intelligence, it does not have understanding-- where we are going, why we are going, what the time frame is, what speed is required to get there, etc. So we have to constantly give signals to keep the horse on course.
Hence Paul's prayer, "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened..." How desperately we need TO UNDERSTAND. "He made known His ways unto Moses," (Ps. 103:7). That is more than just passing along the information that we are taking such and such a route, but it includes the intricate details of where to go, what to do, and how to respond to all the happenings along the way. We want more than just to see His acts-- manifestations-- but we want to know the power behind the explosion, the purpose and plan, and where we fit into that glorious plan. Instruction makes clear GOD'S WAY, and it requires a submissive hearkening-- a yielding to His will and way. "Take fast hold on instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is your life." (Prov. 4:14). Thank God, "It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God." (John 6:45). DIVINE INSTRUCTION that leads into life!
Herein is another expression of His grace-- "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, TEACHING US that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." (Titus 2:11-12). I dare say, what grace will teach will be far different than what is learned from the traditions of men. It is a standard of perfection and holiness that far exceeds anything man can prescribe-- but in the INSTRUCTION comes the enablement. And so we find, as already noted in Isaiah 35:8, that it shall be called THE WAY OF HOLINESS. Who can walk it? The holy ones! Everyone that is taught by God, led by God, and yes, who are KEPT BY GOD to be "holy; for I am holy." (1 Pet. 1:16). HE WALKS THE HOLY WAY with all His travelers!
Found-- led-- instructed-- AND KEPT. The Hebrew word is "natsar" meaning: to keep, watch, reserve, preserve. Truly, we are "KEPT by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Pet. 1:5). Not only does GRACE TEACH US, but GRACE ALSO KEEPS US until the day of full redemption and change. Indeed, "He is able to KEEP you from fall-ing, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." (Jude 24). And we can say with assurance, "The Lord is your Keeper." (Ps. 121:5)
Why this four-fold process-- found, led, instructed, and kept? Because our God is preparing us to be able to carry the everlasting gospel-- to declare it IN PURITY. A pure messenger with a pure message!
Then comes an interesting analogy. For after it is stated that, "He kept him as the apple of His eye." (Deut. 32:10), then there is inserted this very illustrative verse-- "As an eagle stirs up her nest, flutters over her young, spreads abroad her wings, takes them, bearing them on her wings: so the Lord did lead..." (verse 11-12).
Consider the eagle's nest-- sticks and thorns are the basic material; then it is covered with dry grass and down. It is a solid, comfortable place for the new eaglets. But when they have grown and it is time to learn to fly, changes are in order. As with the parent eagle, so also GOD STIRS UP THE NEST. Little do we know what forms our own nest till He begins to pull out the padding of our comfort zone. You were born to fly, not just to remain snuggled in a nest. The parent eagle would flutter its wings, creating a wind to cause the down and grass to be blown away-- and the eaglet sits on sticks and thorns. The eagle spreads her wings, and the eaglet says "that looks better than the sticks," and climbs aboard. As it was growing, how often did the eaglet stand on the edge of the nest and flap its little wings, proud of its growth, and the appearance of its feathers. But little does the eaglet know what now lies ahead, for the parent begins to fly, and the eaglet hangs on for dear life. Suddenly the eagle does a maneuver that causes the eaglet to be shaken loose, and out there in the vast sky it begins to fall-- and begins to flap its own wings, desperately trying to keep from being dashed on the rocks below. In mercy the parent swoops down and comes under the eaglet, and once more it is safe on the eagle. Mounting high, again the eaglet is shaken loose, the whole process is repeated, while the bird learns to fly. It has to learn to fly, that is it's destiny.
"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." (Deut. 33:27). How often, when we felt we were free-falling to a certain destruction, have we suddenly found His strong arm underneath to bear us up. "They shall mount up with wings as eagles." (Isa. 40:31). And in due time we will FLY WITH A MESSAGE, not repeated by rote as a parrot, but out of a state of being, that which we have experienced IN HIM, we share truth.
Back to our opening text verse-- we declare, "FEAR GOD." He finds us, and we would give Him reverence. Give glory, respect, honor, for HE IS LEADING ON. The HOUR OF JUDGMENT is come-- it is INSTRUCTION time, with all of the necessary corrections, as men learn to walk His way. And they all will be KEPT, to become His worshippers. Thus we find a parallel between our own time of processing and development, and the message that we will declare to all mankind. Experiencing Him, and receiving divine revelation, there shall be an outworking of His purpose which shall redound to His praise.
What a contrast between messengers that fly through the midst of heaven, and these earth-self-centered ministries that abound around us. Man wants to be seen, but GOD'S MESSENGERS will continually cry out, "FEAR GOD, give glory to Him." With all of our heart we would exalt Him, for as HE is lifted up, He will draw all men unto Himself. (see John 12:32). And we will recognize that the hour of judgment is instruction time, positive and purposeful, "When His judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will LEARN righteousness." (Isa. 26:9). And then shall we all, fro the depths of our being, WORSHIP God-- kept, sustained by His eternal life.