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Whispers of
the New Covenant (1)
by Ray and Doris
Prinzing
"And it shall be said IN THAT DAY; Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation. " (Isaiah 25:9).
"Behold, THE DAYS COME, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which My covenant they brake, although I was an Husband unto them, saith the Lord: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; AFTER THOSE DAYS, saith the Lord, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
Meaningful phrases-- "after those days," - "the days come," - bringing
us to this long awaited, yet promised, "IN THAT DAY." Seldom are we interested
in hearing about the need for patience, about "though the vision tarry,
wait for it," nor about the long time of processing which is needed to
bring us to the fulfillment of the promise. It seems that we would just
like to skip "THOSE DAYS," and enter right into that "nevertheless afterwards."
Let us shout about the NEW COVENANT, but ignore the preparations and processings
needed to bring us into its full reality. Yet the fact is you cannot have
"AFTER those days," until first you have had "THOSE DAYS". That is not
a profound truth, it is just a self-evident fact which cannot be ignored.
This particular phrase "in that day" points to realms of glory and victory
which to us are yet unknown. In truth we find that which is past, present,
and future. There is that which is an historical accomplishment. There
is that which is being experienced right now. And there is that which is
yet to be revealed in dimensions of reality which are beyond our present
comprehension. And it is in this regards that we often feel to pray,
"Lord, whatever You mean by the promise, that is what we desire. Fulfill
it, not according to our present understanding, but according to Your own
perfect design."
There are those who claim to NOW be "IN that Day." And perhaps in a measure
for them this is true, for it is "their day." "For what a man seeth, why
doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with
patience wait for it. " (Romans 8:24-25). If you think you see it, and
what you see is all that you have vision and revelation for-- perhaps it
is "your day." But if you confess with Paul, "Not as though I had already
attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may
apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." (Philippians
3:12). Then you also have to say, "IN THAT DAY He will bring these promises
to full expression."
Paul also said, Galatians 2:21, "I do not frustrate the grace of God."
Frustrate-- the Greek word is "atheteo" meaning: to put aside, belittle,
think down. So, although we will freely acknowledge that we have not yet
arrived, therefore we continue to press toward the mark for the prize of
the high calling of God in Christ Jesus," yet at the same time we
will not belittle, nor think down that which God has already wrought in
us. For truly we are what we are by the grace of God. What we have already
experienced what we are enjoying IN HIM right now, is because of His marvelous
grace towards us. But this "in part" possession is not "the whole," and
it is a self-deception to claim otherwise.
The prophet Isaiah gives a very powerful word to those who are in their
own self-delusion programs. "Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass
yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the
sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of Mine hand; ye shall
lie down in sorrow." (Isaiah 50:11).
How many get all excited with some self-inspired plan, ignited by the fire
of their own enthusiasm, and think they are "IN THE LIGHT." They may go
across the land striking their matches and trying to convince others that
"they have it-- glory, glory." But for all the excitement of "the sparks
ye have kindled," God makes it very clear, "This ye shall have of Mine
hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow." For all such man-made works shall come
to nought. Christ alone is that "TRUE LIGHT which lighteth every man that
cometh into the world." (John 1:9).
In the same manner, you might cloth yourself with all the strange apparel
of self-righteousness, with all your works to support your claims, but
the day will come when it shall all be stripped away, for HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
alone is acceptable. Be it trying to "clothe ourselves" or "light our own
fires," all such self-effort shall come to nought.
Nor can we FORCE GOD to move according to our timetable. He will do
what He purposes in His way, in His time, and when He does it, it will
not become a formula that man can use, and say, "this is how we will enter
into a new realm in God." God does not provide men with formulas so that
they can manipulate Him according to their own soulish whim and fancy.
It is needful for us to WAIT BEFORE GOD, ready and yielded to His Spirit,
and just worship Him in our waiting. "For what a man seeth why doth
he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience
wait for it." YES, "having done all, TO STAND." (Ephesians 6:13). Standing
alert, standing attuned to His Voice, knowing that "It is God which worketh
in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." Bless His name!
How clearly Jesus stated the warning: "Take heed that no man deceive you.
For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive
many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not
troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and
there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
All
these are the beginning of sorrows." (Matthew 24:4-8).
Now we have a description of "THOSE DAYS." Of the appearance of those who
say, "I am christ, " literally, "I am an anointed one." The man of the
hour-- God's man of faith and power. Announcing themselves! Jesus
said, "I am come in My Father's name, and ye receive Me not: if another
shall come in his own name, him ye will receive." (John 5:43). And again,
"He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory." (John 7:18). Yet men
keep coming, announcing themselves, seeking glory for themselves, yes,
building personal kingdoms, while people continue to flock unto them, and
even help spread their name abroad.
Then there are wars and rumors of wars-- splits, factions, among nations,
in politics, in religions, in every segment of society, for the motivation
of greed and self -interest is constantly setting man against man. But
for all this, "THE END IS NOT YET." And so He went on to speak
of famines, pestilence, earthquakes, and said, "All these are the BEGINNING
of SORROWS."
Rotherham translation: "All these things are merely a beginning of BIRTH
PANGS."
If you are viewing them negatively, all these things are sorrows, death-throes
of an old order. But if viewed positively, these are the BIRTH PANGS of
a new order on the horizon. Thank God, there is a glorious victory that
is being birthed. A firstfruits of a new creation order is being brought
forth. A seed, an elect, an inheritor of His kingdom-- a people through
whom He shall reveal the glory of the NEW COVENANT ORDER.
"For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a
thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden
destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they
shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day
should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the
children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." (1 Thessalonians
5:2-5).
"Immediately AFTER the tribulation (pressure) of THOSE DAYS... they shall
see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great
glory." (Matthew 24:29-30).
AFTER THE PRESSURE-- AFTER THOSE DAYS-- not preceding them, not in the
middle of them, but AFTER. God has perfect control of the times and the
seasons, and we need to keep our eyes single unto Him, "The Author and
the Finisher of our faith." We do not belong to THOSE DAYS. We do not belong
to the night. We are not children of darkness. We belong to THE DAY, for
we are children of the Light-- therefore our vision is focused on "THAT
DAY" wherein shall be the glorious manifestation of His righteousness.
As best as our research was able to determine, the first time the phrase
"IN THAT DAY" occurs in the scriptures, is in Exodus 8:22-23. "And I will
sever IN THAT DAY the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no
swarm of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the
Lord in the midst of the earth. And I will put a division between My people
and thy people: tomorrow shall this sign be."
Obviously this is now a record of an historical event, yet with overtures
of more fulfillment to come. The holy Spirit is well able to take a "word"
and lift it out of the historical, into the present, or project it into
the future, and cause it to become LIFE within, and a bright promise for
our tomorrow. For "all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and
they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are
come."
God gave promise to Israel of a deliverance from Egypt, and spoke of a
certain DAY wherein He would SEVER where His people are, and where the
world is dwelling. The Hebrew word for "sever" is "palah" and means: to
separate, make wonderful, to show marvelous; literally, to distinguish.
God is placing a MARK OF DISTINGUISHMENT upon a people-- they are "a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that
ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness
into His marvelous light." ( 1 Peter 2:9). This is a sovereign inworking
of God in His first fruits. He is separating them unto His NEW COVENANT
ORDER, and He is truly showing Himself marvelous in the process. "But
know that the Lord hath SET APART (severed, make wonderful) him that is
godly for Himself" (Psalm 4:3).
Also, He said, "I will put a division between My people and thy people."
Significant that this word "peduth " given as "division" is translated
elsewhere as "redemption." It includes the thought of separation, but it
is separation as a result of the inworking process of redemption. "He
sent redemption ( or division) unto His people." (Psalm 111:9).
Sometimes we are not aware of the fact that the separating, dividing
work that God is doing IN US, is actually a vital part of our redemption.
We thought He was just leaving us out on the backside of the desert
alone-- denying us fellowship. But actually it is a part of His redemptive
process that we might be loosed from the things of the earth, that we might
experientially rise up and sit with Him in the heavenlies.
"Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with
Him is plenteous redemption." (Psalm 130:7).
PLENTEOUS SEPARATION, yes, plenteous inworking of the cross, until we
say with Paul, "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of
our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto
the world." (Galatians 6:14). Yet the very purpose of the cross was to
bring forth redemption. And it is not just a meager supply, for a rescued
few-- but He has purposed to reach out His arms of love to embrace the
whole world, reconciling every creature unto Himself.
Again, we find the phrase "IN THAT DAY" used in 1 Samuel 3:11-12.
"And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which
both the ears of everyone that heareth it shall tingle. IN THAT DAY I will
perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house:
when I begin, I will also make an end."
Eli was the Priest, symbol of the religious order of the day. His godless
sons bespeak of the realm of carnality that gripped the ministry of that
time-- and certainly symbolic of much that transpires in this our day.
God declared He was going to deal with it, and right suddenly. Judgment
beginning at the house of God. We have just begun to hear the cry that
is going to increase as God brings down "the house of Eli." Eli had been
appointed to the office of priest, he was in rightful succession of the
system that had been in proper order in its time. He did not lightly become
a priest. But all of the tremendous moving of God that had been passed
on down from generation to generation through the Levitical priesthood
was rapidly falling into disrepute, until his sons were doing things which
were so abominable that it had become a reproach in all Israel, and it
was time for correction, a working that would cause the ears to tingle
of every one that heard it. Furthermore, He promised, "When I begin, I
will also make an end. " God's Word stands-- it shall be fulfilled!
Death-throes of the old order-- taking away of the first covenant order,
YES, but it is also the BIRTH-PANGS of the new order coming into view--
a full outworking of the new covenant. That which we have but tasted,
received as an earnest of our inheritance, shall be experienced to the
full. When God begins a work within us, He will also make an end. "Being
confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you
will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6).
We freely recognize that "Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord's
hand." (Jeremiah 51:7). We will not rail against Babylon, but we do see
her as a sign of the times, to know that IN THAT DAY when Babylon is fallen,
God has brought an end to that era, and the dawning of the new has come.
Then shall we say, "The Lord hath brought forth our righteousness: come,
and let us declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God." (verse 10). Amen!
Truly God is placing A DIVISION between those who are godly, apprehended
to be first fruits of the new, and those who yet remain as apart of the
old order being brought down. And "Woe be to the shepherds of Israel
that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat
the fat (God's portion), and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them
that are fed: but ye feed not the flock." (Ezekiel 34:2-3). But God also
went on to promise, verse 12, "As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the
day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out My
sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered
in the cloudy and dark day. " Praise His name!
Therefore we are admonished by the holy Spirit, "Enter into the rock, and
hide thee in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty.
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall
be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted IN THAT DAY." (Isaiah
2:10-11).
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled-- everyone that has been motivated
by that spirit of "I will" which declared, "I will ascend... I will exalt...
I will sit... I will be like the most High," yet it is written, "thou shalt
be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." (Isaiah 14:13-15). Truly
the haughtiness of man shall be dealt with, purged by the fires of His
correction. It is the GLORY OF HIS MAJESTY that is to be seen. HE ALONE
SHALL BE EXALTED! When? "IN THAT DAY."
Under the ministration of the first covenant, when men fulfilled their
duties for the time being, they grew self-righteous, as the Pharisee, who
"stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as
other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." (Luke 18:11-12).
I... I... I... all the emphasis is upon what "I" am doing. But in sharp
contrast to this, in the out-living of the new covenant, we say with Paul,
"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves;
but our sufficiency is of God." (2 Corinthians 3:5). It is GOD all the
way, for He made promise both for Himself, and for us, saying, "I will,
and thou shalt." Bless His holy name!
"And it shall come to pass IN THAT DAY; that his burden shall be
taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the
yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing." (Isaiah 10:27).
Again, this has had its historical fulfillment in Israel long ago. But
there is a present day application for this as well. We have had many a
yoke, a heavy burden placed upon our shoulders-- rules and regulations
of man, laws which men have mis-interpreted and multiplied into a heavy
load. As Peter once said, "Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke
upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able
to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
we shall be saved, even as they." (Acts 15:10-11). And how we rejoice in
the "new testament (which is ); not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for
the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life."
"THE YOKE SHALL BE DESTROYED BECAUSE OF THE ANOINTING!" It is the deep,
penetrating in working of His Spirit that looses us from every bondage,
yoke, and burden. It is a loosing FROM INSIDE OUT, not from outside in.
We thank God for every ministry of helps, of the laying on of hands, of
the prayers offered-- but these are from without. But "IN THAT DAY," "They
shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying,
Know the Lord: for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest."
(Hebrews 8:11). For He hath promised, "Ye are the temple of the Living
God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will
be their God, and they shall be My people." (2 Corinthians 6:16).
When God begins to TAKE A WALK IN YOU, and comes upon any yoke, any
bondage, surely His ANOINTING PRESENCE will dissipate that yoke, deliver
from that bondage, be it from habits, lusts, spirit of this world, or whatever.
For "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. " (2 Corinthians
3:17). Praise God!
Then we note in particular, Paul was writing of the veil that "lies dark
upon their hearts" whenever Moses' Law was read, but, as "soon as their
heart turns to the Lord, that veil is stripped away from it. (Because ),
where the spirit of the Lord is, there too is emancipation from bondage
to that Law." (v. 15-17, Arthur S. Way).
Only the Spirit of God can apply to your heart in a particular situation
the truth of a scripture which He would work into you. We do not go thumbing
through the Bible and suddenly say, "I'll take that verse, Thank You, Lord."
Only as the Spirit of God QUICKENS, anoints, and applies it, does it become
life within. But when His anointing IS THERE, the yokes begin to disappear.
I dare say, when God begins to remove a yoke from you, there are always
those standing by ready to saddle you with anew yoke of some kind. The
only yoke we desire is HIS! "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith
Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
(Galatians 5:1). Yes, we only experience this in limited measures now--
but "IN THAT DAY" we shall know the full blessed reality of His new covenant
victory. "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which
is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
For
now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in
part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (I Corinthians
13:9-10, 12).
"And IN THAT DAY there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand
for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and His rest
shall be glorious." (Isaiah 11:10).
That first and foremost this is fulfilled in Christ our Lord, we know.
He is the Chief Ensign, the Banner of Salvation, and HIS REST is glorious.
We hear Him call, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I
am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For
My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30). Just because
all other yokes of bondage are destroyed by the ANOINTING, does not mean
that we are left lawless. Paul explains this well, "Being not without law
to God, but under the law to Christ." (I Corinthians 9:21). THE LAW
OF THE ANOINTING will certainly keep you in the way of His holiness. But
at the same time it is a YOKE THAT IS EASY, it brings rest to the soul.
It frees us from all the yoke of men, and all the works of self, and the
more we LEARN OF HIM, the lighter our burden becomes. "For he that is called
in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord 's freeman: likewise also he
that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. " (I Corinthians 7:22).
This is precious! What deep servitude we were under when He calls us--
and now we are HIS freeman. But if you once felt you were free to do your
own thing, be assured, YOU ARE NOW HIS SERVANT. Christ covers it all! Slave
and freeman, rich and poor, high or low-- IN THAT DAY WE SHALL FIND THAT
HIS REST IS GLORIOUS.
IN THAT DAY --the day we receive of His fullness,
What liberty, what joy, what praise!
Our "in part" measures shall overflow,
As in His pasture we freely graze.
IN THAT DAY-- we'll know the reality of rest,
And inner turmoils forever cease,
When we drink anew the cup with Him,
Everlasting covenant of peace.
______________________________________________________________
(1) Prinzing,
Ray and Doris. WHISPERS OF THE NEW COVENANT. P.O. Box 5822, Boise,
Idaho 83705
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