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Letters of Truth - Spirit of the Word - Covenant Eschatology - Introductory Note - New Stuff THINGS THAT REMAIN
by Ray Prinzing"Whose voice then shook the earth: but now He has promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and God's fear. God is a consuming fire."
(Hebrews 12:26-29).How encouraging to know that there are things which are unshakable, which cannot be moved. And now through our many processings God is within that He might have a people who ARE UNSHAKABLE, with whom He share His kingdom-- a kingdom which cannot be moved.
Jesus told His disciples there "Shall be great tribulation, such as
from the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (Matt. 24:21-22).Tribulation-- literally, the Greek word here is "PRESSURE." And Paul states that we all "must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22). The receiving of eternal realities includes a preparation time when everything around us seems to be shaken as we are pressed out of self, and into Him. Long time ago someone coined the phrase, "These are times that try men's souls." And I dare say, there is a fulfillment of this in every generation, as each of us in turn face the processings whereby we are tried-- times when we are "tribulated/pressured." For God has purposed from the beginning that suffering, pressure, affliction, distress, etc. would be portioned out to every man, and "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Matt. 6:34). There is a quota measured out-- whether it be a thimbleful, or a time when "all Your waves and Your billows are gone over me."
(Ps. 42:7), but whatever the measure, it's sufficient for His working.There is an individual inworking, a "MINOR FULFILLMENT," when we go through our tribulation, and know that "except the Lord shorten the days" we would not be able to endure. But, thank God, "HE gives more grace when the burdens grow greater, He adds more strength when the labors increase," as the song so beautifully expresses it, and so we are able to walk it out until we come to the day when things cannot be shaken. It will be found that God does not wait until en-masse we come to the end of the age, and then suddenly we are all transformed-- but "every man in his own order," (1 Cor. 15:23), faces his moment of truth, and God's redemptive processings.
Sufficient for the day, thy strength shall ever be,Whatever the over-all dispensational workings of God, there are INDIVIDUAL inworkings that can make it THE LAST DAYS FOR US-- that is, the ending of self, and the beginning of a new lifestyle-- HIS more abundant life. Let it be the last days of your will, the last days of your ego-trip, the last days of your carnal ambitions, etc. The cross, the death-throes of the old self-life, and all the pressure of our times become the BIRTHPANGS to bring us into the newness of His life, in whatever measure He might ordain. We are His workmanship, and He will complete in us that which He has begun.
His grace aboundeth more, enough for all thy need.
In faithfulness He gives hope for tomorrow,
Beyond all present care, His mercy doth exceed.Sufficient for the day, His life to thee is given,
No need to fear the foe, when He is by thy side,
His power shall conquer all, turn night to dawning,
Beyond earth's dark travail, His glory shall abide.Truly, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING: great is Your faithfulness. THE LORD IS MY PORTION, says my soul; therefore will I hope in Him." (Lamentations 3:22-24). It is interesting that overall God has given a sense of anticipation with the dawning of each new day. The night is long and we draw near to the dawn, and hope that perhaps this day will be a bend in the road, and things will get better. HIS mercies are new every morning.
In every generation God has His people which remain true to Him, even if betimes we feel so all alone. And Paul uses Elijah as an example of this, with God telling Elijah, "I have reserved to Myself seven thousand which have not bowed their knee to the image of Baal." And then Paul goes on to tell us "Even so then AT THIS PRESENT TIME ALSO there is a remnant according to the election of grace." (Rom. 11:4-5). A remnant in Elijah's day, a remnant in Paul's day, and now hundreds of years later, A REMNANT IN OUR DAY. There are some priority words which stand out very special in all of this-- remnant, election, and grace. The same God who RESERVED A REMNANT in Elijah's day, is the God who chose a remnant in Paul's day, and who yet, BY GRACE, in this day is drawing to Himself a people separated unto Him, who will not bow their knee to the religious structures of our day and time. It is a sovereign handiwork of God. Jude warns us to beware of "Those who separate themselves, sensual (soulish), having not the Spirit." (Jude 19). The calling, the setting apart, the sovereign inworking of His Spirit, is all wrought by God, and not something that we do in/of ourselves. We are the work of His hands. You do not separate your self from His Body, and say, "I will feel more spiritual if I sit over in this corner by myself." That would be a very soulish reaction out of your own sentiment and selfwill. But "he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit." (1 Cor. 6:17). And THE MORE WE ARE JOINED TO THE LORD, THE MORE WE WILL BE JOINED TO HIS BODY, even if He has scattered us into the far countries of the earth. A God-appointed physical separation does not hinder a spirit union with Him.
There is no penalty for where we live-- no need of missing God because we are not a part of some big city gathering. I know there are those lonely hearts, daily seeking God, who wonder if per chance they will miss the move of God because they are isolated today, through circumstances not of their choosing, but because of obedience to Him who orders their steps. We hear of great things supposedly happening here or there, while in our own little corner we often do not even feel religious, let alone feel spiritual, and we wonder if God might even pass us by. Ah, we repeat, there is no penalty because of where we live. HIS SPIRIT IS OMNIPRESENT, and when the Son rises with healing in His wings, the LIGHT will penetrate into every obscure corner, and He will minister to you the same as He does in every place. HE COMES TO US, and He knows exactly where we are at. Just keep your eyes single unto Him, prepared to hear every whisper, and you will also be ready to hear Him when "the Lord shall roar out of Zion." (Joel 3:16). Worship Him through all the mundane duties of the day, and He will fulfill all that He has purposed and promised for you.
Now let's note the Old Testament passage from whence the writer of Hebrews took his quote. "For thus says the Lord of hosts, Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts." And then we read on, "I will shake the heavens and the earth; and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen." (Haggai 2:6-7, 21-22).
Such a positive purpose is being wrought out through all the shaking, that when we see these things happening, in our own life, or in others, we ought to bow low in worship and praise to our God. EVIL SHALL HAVE AN END, as "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever." (Rev. 11:15). He is only shaking out those things that need to be removed, while that which cannot be shaken might remain, to His glory and praise.
Through all the shaking-- heavens, earth, sea, dry land-- it is all a part of the birthing. "THE DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS SHALL COME." One can only begin to imagine, by the severity of the birthpangs, of the tremendous value and glory of that which is now to be brought forth. This is just the opposite of what we read concerning man's efforts: "We have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen." (Isaiah 26:18). But now GOD'S SHAKING IS PRODUCING SOME GLORIOUS RESULTS. The kingdoms of the heathen are being destroyed, the kingdom of God is being established in the earth, and in His time the glory of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea. Truly, the travail will be forgotten as a dream in the night, when His awesome glory is revealed. When the DESIRE of all nations comes, the pain of the shaking will be turned into joy.
Interesting word, "desire," from the Hebrew "chemdah" meaning: delight, goodly, precious, desire. The Amplified gives a footnote: "With great reluctance we refrain from capitalizing the word "desire," and making the phrase point directly to the Messiah. But the verb "shall come" is plural." So they took this to mean reference to the many treasures brought into the temple, not understanding that it was THE MESSIAH'S BODY, PLURAL. Somehow they sensed that DESIRE should be capitalized and thus signify the Messiah, but they didn't know how to handle the plurality of the word. Jude knew how, and stated, "Lo, comes the Lord in holy myriads of Himself." (Jude 14, Literal trans.). While Obadiah 21 tells us, "And saviours shall come upon mount Zion..." Jesus Christ, the Head of the body, is the DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS that shall come, and with Him is that plurality of saints who are ONE IN/WITH HIM. "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory." (Col. 3:4). Praise His wonderful name.
Rotherham's footnote bears out that Fuerst's Hebrew Lexicon gives, "THE NOBLEST OF ALL PEOPLE SHALL COME." Singularly Christ is The Noble One, but in plurality it includes His whole body. He is now birthing His nobility with some shakings, and at the same time using those shakings to remove everything that is not of that nobility. Thus this becomes a very vital purging, cleansing time, when God begins to move in our lives with shaking processings, to loose us from the trappings of self-will, carnality, and anything that does not measure up to the image and standard of Christ.
Septuagint version uses the Greek word "ta eklekt", meaning: the choice things. But it is to be noted that "eklekta" comes from the same root as "eklektos" which means: chosen, ELECT. There is an election of grace-- a people that have been chosen out to become part of the firstfruits of the new creation species. THEY ARE HIS TREASURE HID IN THE FIELD, and He is shaking the nations to dislodge His treasure, and gather them to become HIS LIVING TEMPLE, in whom He shall dwell. And having overthrown and destroyed all other kingdoms then shall He fill this house with His glory.
"Behold the name of the Lord comes from far, burning with His anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: His lips are full of indignation, and His tongue as a devouring fire: and His breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, TO SIFT THE NATIONS WITH THE SIEVE OF VANITY..." (Isaiah 30:27-28).
If ever there was an agonizing process, it is to be sifted in the sieve of vanity, to bring the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen to nothing. It is easy to relegate this to all the ungodly, but we find it personalized in our own experience-- He subjects us to the bondage of vanity to sift us until all the kings within us are sifted out, and HE ALONE is King within.
We sing, "Jesus, Jesus, Lord to me, Master, Saviour, Prince of Peace, Ruler of my heart today, Jesus, Lord to me."
It is the establishment of His kingdom within, that is of vital importance today. "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed." (Daniel 2:44). Thank God, while the old adamic realm is being overthrown and cast out, the new order of His kingdom is gradually filling the whole. While being sifted with the sieve of vanity is no joy, there is a "nevertheless afterwards" which yields the peaceable fruit of His righteousness.
"The Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold Satan has desired to have you, that he may SIFT you as wheat: BUT I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU, that your faith fail not: and when you are converted, strengthen the brethren." (Luke 22:31-32).
Jesus said He had prayed for Peter, "that your faith fail not." The Greek word is "ekleipo" meaning: to leave out, go into an eclipse. The sifting was on, for a while Peter didn't know if he was upside down or downside up, but JESUS HAD PRAYED FOR HIM, and his faith had not left him, it only took the crowing of a rooster to remind him where he was, and Who he was denying. The sifting was not meant to destroy the wheat, only to remove the chaff. "Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner." (Matt. 3:12). Gone was Peter's arrogant self-sufficiency-- and he went out and wept bitterly. When (not if), but WHEN you are converted (turned around, to find your life in Me) then strengthen the brethren, comfort them with the same comfort whereby you have been comforted. Let them know that being sifted in the sieve of vanity will result in a positive victory, because HE HAS PRAYED FOR YOU!
Herein is our security-- even though we pass through all the shaking and sifting, and wonder if anything will be left. Oh, yes, BECAUSE HE PRAYED FOR US. Change the metaphor for a moment, "When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold." (Job 23:10). How do you know you will? Because HE has prayed for me that my faith fails not-- it will not go into an eclipse but it will shine brighter than ever because of the dark of the night. This is the handiwork of God in the midst of everything being shaken. There is a realm that shall remain-- its victory is secure in Christ.
In speaking of the present earth and heavens, the writer of Hebrews states, "They shall perish; but You remain; and they all shall wax old as does a garment; and as a vesture shall You fold them up, and they shall be changed: BUT YOU ARE THE SAME, and Your years shall not fail (shall not go into an eclipse)." (Heb. 1:11-12).
HE IS THE SAME-- "With Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:17). In the eternalness of the "I AM," He is not diminished, nor do His years fail, wane, go into an eclipse. Neither does He allow anything to separate us from His love-- "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 8:38-39). Not even our unbelief can hinder His ultimate purpose for us. "If we believe not, yet HE ABIDES FAITHFUL: He cannot deny Himself." (2 Tim. 2:13).
Herein we begin to find our STABILITY, that while all else is being shaken, worn out, tossed about, HE REMAINS, "working all things after the counsel of His own will: that we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ." (Eph. 1:11-12). He is not shaken, HE IS THE SHAKER. Just because we pass through times of being shaken, does not mean that God is shaken. We are shaken because God is the Shaker-- shaking us for the purpose of REMOVING things wherein the flesh has become entrenched, so that in His time new dimensions of His purpose can be revealed/fulfilled in us.
I repeat, GOD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR SHAKING. The devil is not responsible for this shaking/removal process. The devil cannot do anything outside of God's control. The adversary is no more than a dog on a leash, with GOD holding the leash, controlling the interplay of good and evil. When God says, "Thus far, and no farther," the boundary is made that none can pass over. Be careful that in all your commanding/rebuking of the adversary, you also come against the handiwork of God, who says, "Behold, I have created the smith that blows the coals in the fire, and that brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy." (Isa. 54:16). "The Lord has made all things for Himself; yes, even the wicked for the day of evil." (Prov. 16:4). God knows exactly how much negativity we need mixed into our life, and these vessels of wrath will always catch you at your most vulnerable moment, as God shakes everything that can be shaken. But HE REMAINS, and HIS HANDIWORK ALSO SHALL REMAIN. He shall have "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
(1 Pet. 2:9). So it is-- if there be something in us that can be shaken, HE HAS A SHAKER READY TO DO THE SHAKING, and if it cannot be shaken, then we shall come through all the process "more than conquerors through Him that loved us."Of all the THINGS THAT SHALL REMAIN, start with GOD, HE EVER IS, He never goes into an eclipse, He never fails. "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing HE EVER LIVES to make intercession for them." (Heb. 7:25).
Furthermore, "He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He has set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for His law." (Isa. 42:4). Why do the people wait for His law? Because deep within is a desire for THE GOSPEL, and they know that HIS WORD IS TRUE. And it rightly follows, "But the WORD OF GOD endures (remains) forever. And THIS is the Word by which the GOSPEL is preached unto you."
(1 Pet. 1:25). THE GOOD NEWS SPRINGS OUT OF HIS WORD. Far too much of what is preached these days does not come out of HIS WORD, but out of the theology of carnal minded men, and there is no good news in what they declare in their doom, gloom, and negative theories. Yet the very angels declared the good news-- "glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." That is truth that abides.There is a little "study thought" to be tucked in here. We often read in the Scripture, "It is written," and we find that this is in the "perfect tense." It speaks of a COMPLETE action HAVING PRESENT RESULTS. Example, in 1 John 1:7 we read that "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." It is in the perfect tense, it has cleansed you, and IT CONTINUES TO CLEANSE YOU. Likewise, when Jesus said, "It is written..." (Mt. 4:4), the Word was spoken by God through Moses 1,500 years before, but the Word was still on record-- they did not grow old, they did not go into an eclipse, it was as much TRUTH then as it was when first uttered-- the Word of God endures forever. When His Spirit quickens it to you today, it is as real and vital and true as it was in the beginning, for it continues on through every generation-- abiding, enduring, EFFECTIVE!
One more brief illustration, Eph. 2:8, "For by grace are you saved through faith..." Being in the perfect tense-- SAVED BY GRACE with the results that are present today and shall continue. Grace is not just a historical happening in your life, it is an on-going work begun and maintained in you, with results that shall present you to Him with exceeding joy. Because it is GRACE ALL THE WAY, you can lay aside all the flesh works you once tried to do to merit His favor, and work your way into salvation. Grace does not need the help of man. Jesus Christ alone is the Author and the Finisher.
Next: "HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS remains for ever." (2 Cor. 9:9). Holiness is not a passing fad, it is HIS STATE OF BEING. Every one that cries for holiness will be thrilled to know that when God has finished the shakings, He will have brought forth a new creation clothed with His righteousness-- holiness that is ABIDING-- eternal in the truest sense of the word. When He said He would fill the house with His glory, "Whose house are we," (Heb. 3:6), then He immediately ordained the times of shaking-- to shake out all that is not to His glory. No self-glory, no self-righteousness. "He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory." (John 7:18). Thus He would shake out the soulish realm of MY, ME, MINE, so that we can rightly worship Him in spirit and in truth. And HE DOES purpose to fill the house (us) with His glory.
Then, speaking of the NEW COVENANT, Paul said, "That which remains is glorious." (2 Cor. 3:11). The former order of the law is being shaken, for the purpose of being removed. Remove the signs and symbols, the traditions, etc. and what is left? THE NEW COVENANT THAT REMAINS! When love covers all sin, the only way you can draw it out, examine it, condemn it, is to remove it from love's covering and take it back to the law, which exposes, "for I had not known lust, except the law had said, You shall not covet." (Rom. 7:7). Such was the order that was done away. In the New Covenant, He says, "NOT IMPUTING THEIR TRESPASSES UNTO THEM." (2 Cor. 5:19). There is a realm of love's reality which far exceeds our present understanding. There is no condemnation, no guilt trip, no shame, no death, in the new covenant, which is a ministration of life-- God's life that endures!
"These things have I spoken unto you, that MY JOY MIGHT REMAIN in you, and that your joy might be full." (John 15:11). Shake out all the false gaiety and His joy remains. This is the "joy of the Lord (that) is your strength." This is the "joy that comes in the morning." This is the proclamation of victory that is birthed out of the reality of CALVARY'S TRIUMPH, and the power of His resurrection. This is enduring joy that overflows!
And so we read, "Knowing in yourselves that you have in heaven a better and an ENDURING SUBSTANCE. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of reward." (Heb. 10:34-35). Yes, there is a removal of all that can be shaken-- of self, of the flesh, etc. but there is also that REALM THAT REMAINS-- "receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken," and IN HIM we are being made partakers. Eternal life--His; Righteousness--His;
The Word--His; JOY--His; and IN HIM we have all that endures! Amen!