There is a terrific
operation of the Spirit going on today to bring the Sons of God into
an absolute confinement to the perfect will of God. This is the Day
of His Preparation the day in which He is preparing the channel
through which He shall pour forth His Glory for all the world to see.
This channel is His Body in the earth that glorious company of people
who are being conformed through much tribulation and fiery tests to
the Image of the Son of God. This is His "battle ax and weapons
of war" with which He shall subdue kingdoms and overcome all His
enemies. This is His "mighty and strong One" to whom He
shall commit the work of judging this world. This is His Overcomer,
His "great army" with which He shall bring the nations into
submission. The weapons of their warfare are not carnal, natural
weapons but they are mighty weapons, mighty through God to the
pulling down of strongholds. These are those who shall "be
strong and do exploits."
But before God can
commit this great and tremendous ministry into their hands they must
submit themselves to the discipline of the Lord letting Him truly be
the Lord of their entire lives. We have long since dealt with the
question of open sin but now God is dealing with the inward rebellion
of our own wills. Some good Christians are not now being so dealt
with for they are not in this Firstfruits Company but nevertheless
there is a real dealing of God going on within those who are called
into the High Calling of God. This is a very real thing and is the
work of the Refiner's Fire. To those who are going through it some of
its aspects are horrible but very necessary and the end result
thereof is glorious as we are brought into absolute and complete
submission to the will of our Lord.
It was in a minister's
conference and convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma that God gave me a
vision which I want to share with you concerning this harnessing of
our own wills. There were more than 30 ministers present in this
particular Thursday morning service and God, the Father of spirits,
was present to deal with His sons, to correct them and discipline
them to absolute obedience to His will. There was such a stern
dealing in the Spirit that no one could go to the pulpit and
minister, there was a reluctance among the ministers to say anything
except that which was directly ordered by the Spirit. And as those
men of God sat there in the awesome presence of Almighty God, some of
them having many years of ministry, some missionaries, all of them
capable of getting up and preaching a powerful sermon, I was
impressed by the way they responded to the discipline of the Spirit.
And in the midst of this terrific dealing of God with our spirits,
the Holy Ghost gave me a vision.
I SAW THE KING'S CARRIAGE
On a dirt road in the
middle of a wide field stood a beautiful carriage, something on the
order of a stagecoach but all edged in gold and with beautiful
carvings. It was pulled by six large chestnut horses: two in the
lead, two in the middle and two in the rear. But they were not
moving, they were not pulling the carriage, and I wondered why. Then
I saw the driver underneath the carriage on the ground on his back
just behind the last two horses' heels working on something between
the front wheels on the carriage. I thought, "My, he is in a
dangerous place; for if one of those horses kicked or stepped back,
they could kill him, or if they decided to go forward, or got
frightened somehow, they would pull the carriage right over him."
But he didn't seem afraid for he knew that those horses were
disciplined and would not move till he told them to move. The horses
were not stamping their feet nor acting restless, and though there
were bells on their feet, the bells were not tinkling. There were
pom-poms on their harness over their heads but the pom-poms were not
moving. They were simply standing still and quiet waiting for the
voice of the Master.
THERE WERE TWO YOUNG COLTS IN THE FIELD
As I watched the
harnessed horses I noticed two young colts coming out of the open
field and they approached the carriage and seemed to say to the
horses: "Come and play with us, we have many fine games, we will
race with you, come catch us." And with that the colts kicked up
their heels flicked their tails and raced across the open field. But
when they looked back and saw the horses were not following they were
puzzled. They knew nothing of the harnesses and could not understand
why the horses did not want to play. So they called to them: "Why
do you not race with us? Are you tired? Are you too weak? Do you not
have strength to run? You are much too solemn, you need more joy in
life." But the horses answered not a word nor did they stamp
their feet or toss their heads.. But they stood, quiet and still,
waiting for the voice of the Master.
Again the colts called
to them: "Why do you stand so in the hot sun? Come over here in
the shade of this nice tree. See how green the grass is? You must be
hungry, come and feed with us, it is so green and so good. You look
thirsty, come drink of one of our many streams of cool clear water."
But the horses answered them not so much as a glance but stood still
waiting for the command to go forward with the King.
COLTS IN THE MASTER'S CORRAL
And then the scene
changed and I saw lariat nooses fall around the necks of the two
colts and they were led off to the Master's corral for training and
discipline. How sad they were as the lovely green fields disappeared
and they were put into the confinement of the corral with its brown
dirt and high fence. The colts ran from fence to fence seeking
freedom but found that they were confined to this place of training.
And then the Trainer began to work on them with His whip and His
bridle. What a death for those who had been all their lives
accustomed to such a freedom! They could not understand the reason
for this torture, this terrible discipline. What crime had they done
to deserve this? Little did they know of the responsibility that was
to be theirs when they had submitted to the discipline, learned to
perfectly obey the Master and finished their training. All they knew
was that this processing was the most horrible thing they had ever
known.
SUBMISSION AND REBELLION
One of the colts
rebelled under the training and said, "This is not for me. I
like my freedom, my green hills, my flowing streams of fresh water. I
will not take any more of this confinement, this terrible training."
So he found a way out jumped the fence and ran happily back to the
meadows of grass. I was astonished that the Master let him go and
went not after him. But He devoted His attention to the remaining
colt. This colt though he had the same opportunity to escape decided
to submit his own will and learn the ways of the Master. The training
got harder than ever but he was rapidly learning more and more how to
obey the slightest wish of the Master and to respond to even the
quietness of His voice. And I saw that had there been no training, no
testing, there would have been neither submission nor rebellion from
either of the colts. For in the field they did not have the choice to
rebel or submit, they were sinless in their innocence. But when
brought to the place of testing and training and discipline, then was
made manifest the obedience of one and the rebellion of the other.
And though it seemed safer not to come to the place of discipline
because of the risk of being found rebellious, yet I saw that without
this there could be no sharing of His glory, no Sonship.
INTO THE HARNESS
Finally this period of
training was over. Was he now rewarded with his freedom and sent back
to the fields? Oh no. But a greater confinement than ever now took
place as a harness dropped about his shoulders. Now he found there
was not even the freedom to run about the small corral for in the
harness he could only move where and when his Master spoke. And
unless the Master spoke he stood still.
The scene changed and I
saw the other colt standing on the side of a hill nibbling at some
grass. Then across the fields, down the road came the King's carriage
drawn by six horses. With amazement he saw that in the lead, on the
right side, was his brother colt now made strong and mature on the
good corn in the Master's stable. He saw the lovely pom-poms shaking
in the wind, noticed the glittering gold bordered harness about his
brother, heard the beautiful tinkling of the bells on his feet -- and
envy came into his heart. Thus he complained to himself: "Why
has my brother been so honored, and I am neglected? They have not put
bells on MY feet nor pom-poms on MY head. The Master has not given ME
the wonderful responsibility of pulling His carriage, has not put
about ME the gold harness. Why have they chosen my brother instead of
me?" And by the Spirit the answer came back to me as I watched:
"Because one submitted to the will and discipline of the Master
and one rebelled, thus has one been chosen and the other set aside."
A FAMINE IN THE LAND
Then I saw a great
drought sweep across the countryside and the green grass became dead,
dry, brown and brittle. The little streams of water dried up, stopped
flowing, and there was only a small muddy puddle here and there. I
saw the little colt (I was amazed that it never seemed to grow or
mature) as he ran here and there across the fields looking for fresh
streams and green pastures finding none. Still he ran, seemingly in
circles, always looking for something to feed his famished spirit.
But there was a famine in the land and the rich green pastures and
flowing streams of yesterday were not to be had. And one day the colt
stood on the hillside on weak and wobbly legs wondering where to go
next to find food and how to get strength to go. It seemed like there
was no use, for good food and flowing streams were a thing of the
past and all the efforts to find more only taxed his waning strength.
Suddenly he saw the King's carriage coming down the road pulled by
six great horses. And he saw his brother, fat and strong, muscles
rippling, sleek and beautiful with much grooming. His heart was
amazed and perplexed, and he cried out: "My brother where do you
find the food to keep you strong and fat in these days of famine? I
have run everywhere in my freedom, searching for food, and I find
none. Where do you in your awful confinement find food in this time
of drought? Tell me, please, for I must know!" And then the
answer came back from a voice filled with victory and praise: "In
my Master's House there is a secret place in the confining
limitations of His stables where He feeds me by His own hand and His
granaries never run empty and His well never runs dry." And with
this the Lord made me to know that in the day when people are weak
and famished in their spirits in the time of spiritual famine that
those who have lost their own wills and have come into the secret
place of the most High into the utter confinement of His perfect will
shall have plenty of the corn of Heaven and a never ending flow of
fresh streams of revelation by His Spirit. Thus the vision ended.
INTERPRETATION OF THE VISION
"Write the vision,
and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it,"
(Habakkuk 2:2). "Harness the horses; and get up, ye horseman,"
(Jeremiah 46:4). I am sure that many of you who can hear what the
Spirit saith to the Church have already seen what God was showing in
the vision. But let me make it plain. Being born into the Family of
God feeding in the green pastures and drinking of the many streams of
the unfolding revelation of His purposes is fine and wonderful. But
it is not enough. While we were children, young and undisciplined,
limited only by the outer fence of the Law that ran around the limits
of the pastures (that kept us from getting into the dark pastures of
poison weeds) He was content to watch us develop and grow into young
manhood, spiritually speaking. But the time came to those who fed in
His pastures and drank at His streams, when they were to be brought
into discipline or "child-training" for the purpose of
making them mature Sons. Many of the children today cannot understand
why some of those who have put on the harness of God cannot get
excited by the many religious games and the playful antics of the
immature. They wonder why the disciplined ones run not after every
new revelation or feed on every opportunity to engage in seemingly
"good and profitable" religious activities. They wonder why
some will not race with them in their frantic efforts to build great
works and great and notable ministries. They cannot understand the
simple fact that this Company of saints is waiting for the voice of
the Master and they do not hear God in all this outward activity.
They will move in their time when the Master speaks. But not before,
though many temptations come from the playful colts. And the colts
cannot understand why those who seemingly appear to have great
abilities and strength are not putting it to good use. "Get the
carriage on the road," they say, but the disciplined ones, those
in God's harness, know better than to move before they hear the voice
of the Master. They will move in their time with purpose and great
responsibility.
And the Lord made me to
know that there were many whom He had brought into training who had
rebelled against the discipline, the chastising of the Father. They
could not be trusted with the great responsibility of mature Sonship
so He let them go back to their freedom, back to their religious
activities and revelations and gifts. They are still His people,
still feeding in His pastures, but He has set them aside from the
great purposes for this end of the age. So they revel in their
freedom feeling that they were the Chosen Ones with the many streams
of living water not knowing that they have been set aside as unfit
for His great work in this end of the age.
He showed me that though
the chastising seemeth grievous for the time and the discipline hard
to endure yet the result with all the glory of Sonship is worth it
all and the glory to follow far exceeds the suffering we endure. And
though some lose even their lives in this training yet they will
share alike in the glory of His eternal purposes. So faint not saints
of God for it is the Lord that doth bring thee into confinement and
not thine enemy. It is for thy good and for His glory so endure all
things with praises and thanksgiving that He hath counted thee worthy
to share His glory! Fear thou not the whip in His hand for it is not
to punish thee but to correct and train thee that thou mightest come
into submission to His will and be found in His likeness in that
hour. Rejoice thou in thy trials in all thy tribulations and glory
thou in His cross and in the confining limitations of His harness for
He hath chosen thee and He hath taken upon Himself the responsibility
of keeping thee strong and well fed. So lean thou upon Him and trust
not in thine own ability and thine own understanding. So shalt thou
be fed and His hand shall be upon thee and His glory shall overshadow
thee and shall flow through thee as it goes forth to cover the earth.
Glory to God! Bless the Lord! He's wonderful! Let Him be Lord of your
life, friends, and complain not at that which He bringeth to pass in
your life.
PLENTY IN THE TIME OF FAMINE
For in the hour when
famine sweeps the land He shall feed by His own hand those who are
submitted to His perfect will and who dwell in the secret place of
the Most High. When terror stalks the land those in His harness shall
not be afraid for they shall feel His bit and bridle and know the
guidance of His Spirit. When others are weak and frail and fearful
there shall be those who shall be strong in the power of His might
and shall lack for no good thing. In the hour when the traditions of
the religious systems have proven false and their streams have dried
up, then His Chosen Ones shall speak forth with the true Word of the
Lord. So rejoice, Sons of God, that you have been chosen by His grace
for this great work in this last hour.
The fence which kept the
colts in their own meadows and their own pastures mean nothing to the
team in the harness for the gates open to them and they go forth
pulling the King's carriage into many strange and wonderful places.
They do not stop to eat the poison weeds of sin for they feed only in
the Master's stable. These fields they trample under their feet as
they go forth on the King's business. And so to those who are brought
into absolute subjection to His will there is no Law. For they move
in the Grace of God led only by His Spirit where all things are
lawful but not all things are expedient. This is a dangerous realm
for the undisciplined and many have perished in sin as they leaped
over the fence without His harness and His bridle. Some have thought
of themselves as being completely harnessed and submissive to Him
only to find that in some avenue of their life there dwelled
rebellion and self-will. Let us wait before Him until He puts His
noose around us and draws us to His place of training. And let us
learn of the dealings of God and the moving of His Spirit until at
last we feel His harness drop about us and hear His voice guiding us.
Then there is safety from the traps and pitfalls of sin and then
shall we abide in His House forever!
