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Whispers of ExpressingHis Life (1)
by Ray and Doris Prinzing
Chapter 1
IN COVENANT RELATIONSHIP
"All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies, For Thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity " for it is great, What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall He teach in the way that he shall choose, His soul shall dwell at ease,' and his seed shall inherit the earth, The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will shew them His covenant," [Psalm 25:10-14].
"Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice," [Psalm 50:5].
To walk with God in His path of mercy and truth, to experience the reality of His life being lived through us, is the deep desire of the believer who is progressively following on to know the Lord. Job expressed it well, when he said, "There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen: the lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it." [Job 28:7 -8]. THERE IS A PATH ― but it is hidden from the wise and prudent of this world, for by their own carnal mind and desires they defile and corrupt its way, but those that FEAR THE LORD, such will He teach in the way that they should go. It is a walk of communion and fellowship, a path of life, and it is experienced by those who have come into a covenant relationship with our Lord.
Truly, "The secret (the sweet counsel, intimate sharings) of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will shew them His covenant," The fear of the Lord is not a slavish fear, the product of negative dread, but it bespeaks of that awe and reverence producing worship that flows from the heart, Of this we read, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." [Psalm 111:10]. The more the believer walks with his God, the more this fear of the Lord will be experienced ― for to KNOW HIM is to bow low before Him in that deep awe and reverence that stirs deep within our being. And the more we come to know Him, the more we desire to become ONE IN HIM, to be filled with His life, conformed to His image, being a partaker of His divine nature, that HE might fill us with Himself, and that we might be to His praise.
While in His ultimate plan and purpose His life and redemption shall reach every man, that "In the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him." [Ephesians 1:10]. Yet it is also true that though "In Christ shall all be made alive," it is "every man in his own order." [1 Corinthians 15:22-23]. There are those whom He is apprehending NOW to come into UNION with Him, and our heart cries out to be in "this NOW order." There is a GATHERING UNTO HIM IN THIS DAY!
There are many motives and purposes in gatherings, often quite negative. There are those who will appeal to the baser instincts of the carnal nature, and seek to unite forces and rally a gathering "to fight a given cause." Such as we read in 1 Samuel 28:1, "And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare..."
There is a strong spirit in the world which gathers men and women to rebel, to riot. "Why do the nations assemble with commotion, uproar and confusion of voices, and why do the people imagine, meditate upon and devise, an empty scheme?" [Psalm 2:1, Amplified].
There are those who are gathering to oppose truth and righteousness. 'The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ (anointed ones)." [Acts 4:26].
There are those who gather to feed upon the flesh of man - entertainment, the parade of ego, the personality cult ―a s with wanton eyes to see, and ears to hear, desiring to feed upon the spectacular, fulfilling the words of our Lord, "Wheresoever the corpse shall be, there shall be gathered the vultures." [Matthew 24:28, Rotherham].
But there are also those of whom it is written, "I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion." [Jeremiah 3:14], and, "UNTO HIM shall the gathering of the people be." [Genesis 49:10]. It is in this gathering that we desire to be found. Brought into that relationship where HE is LORD OF ALL in us, and through us, as in a covenant bonding.How strange the gatherings of man,
And stranger yet their motive's plan.
They haste to fight and battle sore,
With scarce a thought of taking score.
How fiendishly their riots scream,
Confusion births an empty scheme;
And for the most part they know not
They're victims of corruption's plot.
The vultures gather yet to feed
Upon the refuse of man's creed.
Lo, here; 10, there; they seek to find
An answer for their troubled mind.
Deceptions lead a merry chase,
Each bursting bubble speeds the race,
But having left the truth behind,
They stumble on, blind leading blind.
But there's another gathering, too,
A sacred, holy rendezvous.
The Spirit leading one by one,
Called out of self ―called to the Son,
As Christ doth gather for His own,
A body His, bone of His bone.
It's joined to Him we now would be,
To share His life ― reality!"Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice." [Psalm 50:5]. The first qualification mentioned here is found in the word "saints." While most often the Hebrew word translated as "saint" is "qadosh," corresponding to the Greek word "hagios" and means: to be set apart, separate; and this bespeaks both a setting apart from the world, and being separated UNTO HIM; yet here we have a different Hebrew word that has been translated as "saint," and it is "chasid," meaning: good, godly, holy, merciful, and saint.
"But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is GODLY ( chasid) for Himself." [Psalm 4:3]. It is an action that is totally of God. God chooses and processes and fully sets apart from the world, from self, and works into them of His own character and nature that He might receive them unto (into) Himself. "For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren." [Hebrews 2:11].
Furthermore, we read, "With the merciful (chasid) Thou wilt shew Thyself merciful." [Psalm 18:25]. This is a quality of His nature which definitely must be wrought in us, if ever we are to be gathered unto Him. "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." [Luke 6:36]. HE who so loved the world that He gave His Son to bring life to the world, never sent to condemn, but only to save, cannot share His throne with a people who are any less merciful than He is merciful. How little do we yet know of true love and compassion, and the shewing of genuine mercy ― to those who do not deserve mercy. But this covenant is truly one of GRACE, and grace requires no merit. Indeed, it flourishes best where there is nothing that man can offer, save his utter need, his emptiness, his worthlessness. And then grace and mercy freely give until the empty is made full with life more abundant.
"Gather My saints together unto Me,” and then we come to the next, and all-essential requirement, "THOSE that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice." We shall return to the word "covenant" shortly, but first make note of the "by sacrifice." Young's Literal translation gives, "over a sacrifice." Nor is it just any kind of a sacrifice. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise." [Psalm 51:17]. Yes, we see a vision of a broken alabaster box, with its perfume prevading the atmosphere, for there are those who have now fallen upon The Stone and been broken, and there they have made a covenant with God to manifest only the CHRIST-LIFE.
The word "sacrifice" means: a slaughter, a piercing through. It has the meaning of bringing death to something. There is a piercing through of our own self-will, with all its ramifications, until we lay surrendered and fully yielded upon the altar. usually people begin by the offering up of things, for we are so materially minded and concerned with things. But as the Spirit moves deeper and deeper into our life, there comes a time when all of "self' is laid open before the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do. Broken upon the Stone, we are merged into one with our Rock.
Now we return to the word "covenant." The Hebrew word is "briyth" and means: a cutting, a compact. Because the covenant was made by passing between pieces of flesh, of the animal that was sacrificed. (I realize that there are other expressions of covenant making, in lesser degree, but this was the ultimate expression.) As the covenant was made, two were JOINED IN COMPACT UNION, bound together by the sacrifice, TO LIVE AND BREATHE AS ONE. It required that the animal sacrifice would be cut asunder, and the two men entering into the covenant would take their place together, standing in the midst, between these two pieces, signifying that as it required both halves of the sacrifice to make a whole, so also their two lives were now becoming as ONE, to live and breathe as one ― same will, same desire, same purpose, A UNION, a oneness, brought together by the CUTTING of the sacrifice that lay on either side of them.
All of this is beautifully illustrated in Genesis 15. God had just spoken some beautiful promises to Abraham of his seed, and the land which his seed would inherit. And while we read, "And he believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness." verse 6),yet Abraham also went on to ask: "Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?" (verse 8). How shall my believing become a KNOWING. And so God entered into a covenant with Abraham, after this manner:
"And He said unto him, Take Me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon. And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds he divided not." (verses 9-10).
Some very beautiful symbols involved with all of this. We note that there were five distinct things which are named - heifer, goat, ram, turtledove, and pigeon. Five is the number of GRACE, and we find that this covenant was totally UNCONDITIONAL, made by God Himself, not dependent upon one thing which man would do. Surely all of this prefigures that blessed NEW COVENANT which was ratified by the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, and is to be an outworking that is TOTALLY OF GRACE. The number three is also given, as the animals were all "three years old." No doubt many other applications could be made, but for one: we are a tri-part being, spirit, soul, and body, and truly God's covenant of grace will fully cover every part, so that "The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." [1 Thessalonians 5:23].
So Abraham did as he was told, laid out all the pieces, and then waited for the next move on God's part. "And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away." (verse 11). Beating off the birds at twilight, that they would not devour nor defile the sacrifice. It was an exercise that beautifully typifies much of our "demon exorcism" of these days. Jesus gave the parable of the sower, and how some seed "fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. ― Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved." [Luke 8:5,12]. It is a needful exercise, when kept in its proper sphere and working. And so Abraham found it necessary to beat off the birds ― but not always and always. It was, and often is, a necessary part of our development and spiritual growth, but it is not an exercise wherein we derive our life, nor is it the outworking of the covenant ― it was on Abraham's part, until GOD CAME ON THE SCENE. Then Abram quit beating the birds, for an higher order took over.
Indeed, the more we come into an understanding of God's sovereignty, and His total control over all that touches our life, the more we keep our eyes single to Him. If there be a demon in the way, we'll discern it, take dominion over it, as the Spirit directs, and then go on our way with God, and continuing our communion with Him not conscious of negative realms.
"And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him." (verse 12). Full well God knew that if Abram had any input into this covenant at all, it would not work, therefore God took Abram completely out of it. Man, and his works, would never fulfill this UNCONDITION-AL COVENANT OF GRACE. How beautifully Jesus said it, "The night cometh, when no man can work." [John 9:4].
In respect to His own working, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." [John 9:5], and in perfect harmony with that character, He proceeded to give sight to the poor man that was born blind. Yet he knew that His time was short for the close of the day would also bring the close of his earth ministry, his death. There was a time for His work, and there was a time when it would cease in that dimension. Likewise we have had our many works, but the night is coming, yea, now is, when we can no more work the works of man.
But there is A NEW DAY ON THE HORIZON, it will not be filled with works of man, works of the flesh, programs of man, etc., but it will be a glorious manifestation of HIS LIFE and reality. We do not fear this ending of man's day, nor of the night that is upon us. The principle remains, "And the evening and the morning were the first day." [Genesis 1:5]. However severe and dark the night may be, it signals that it is actually the beginning of a NEW DAY IN GOD. Indeed, even individually, these dark periods that engulf us betimes only indicate that God has ended one era, and has now brought us to the threshhold of a new working in our life ―
a working that is ordained of Him. Amazing as it is, God incorporates the dark of the night with the light of the morning, and calls this full outworking a DAY. How wonderful!
The dark night of the soul is not an easy experience to go through. Nor was this "horror of great darkness" that fell upon Abram a joyful time. Yet, dark as it was in the natural, it became a time of spiritual revelation ― as God proceeded to speak more to him, of the CROSS that would be laid upon his seed, four hundred years of affliction in Egypt, and then their deliverance. Abram's own moment of darkness prefigured that which would come upon his seed, Egyptian affliction in the natural, and THE WAY OF THE CROSS for all of his spiritual seed ― the "followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." [Hebrews 6:12].
Though dark the night as we are faced with the inworkings of the CROSS, and it does bespeak of the end of our own self-will and way, so that we are cancelled out by the cross ― no more "man's day or works," yet it is while we pass through those DARK TIMES that we also learn of the NEW LIFE, HIS, and of that glorious victory to come. Whatever our subjection to vanity, emptiness, darkness, etc. it has been "by reason of Him who hath subjected the same IN HOPE." [Romans 8:20]. And as sure as the darkness ended for Abraham, as sure as the sojourn in Egypt ended for Israel, just as sure our own times of darkness, emptiness, death ― all shall end as we are brought into the fullness of HIS MORE ABUNDANT LIFE.
"And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp passed between those pieces." [Genesis 15:17]. A smoking furnace ― bespeaking the PRESENCE OF GOD, for "Our God is a consuming fire." [Hebrews 12:29]. And a burning lamp ―our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son, for "HE was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." [John 1:9]. The Father, and the Son, "To wit, that GOD WAS IN CHRIST, reconciling the world unto Himself." [2 Corinthians 5:19]. The SMOKING FURNACE and BURNING LAMP moved between those pieces of sacrifice and nobody else was there in the midst. GOD WAS THERE, and He was making the covenant. But Abram was out of it, for no man would participate in the responsibility of this covenant. It was GOD'S OWN SON, as the BURNING LAMP, that came and stood in the midst ― to represent all of creation. "That He by the grace of God should taste death for every man," [Hebrews 2:9].
God freely entered into the covenant, and there is no doubt as to His ability to fulfill His part therein. There was tremendous doubt as to man's ability ― indeed, it was a foregone conclusion man would fail. But this covenant must be secure ― So God sent His own SON, not as a substitute for man, but as the GUARANTEE that ultimately every man would be brought into the full realization of the blessings of His covenant.
"In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram...." [Genesis 15:18]. The promise was clearly given, and repeatedly confirmed, "I WILL... and thou shalt..." As God specifically makes promise both for Himself, and for man. With Abraham we are "fully persuaded that, what He has promised, He was able also to perform," [Romans 4:21]. But were man obligated in any way to hold up part of the covenant, then we know it would fail. The whole ministration of the first covenant demonstrates the inability of man to do his part. The covenant was, "That the man which doeth those things shall live by them." [Romans 10:5]. This do, and thou shalt live! But man could not do, and so the end result was that ALL ISRAEL DIED, for there was none righteous, no not one. Therefore, Christ Jesus "took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." [Philippians 2:7-8]. And this One, this SON OF GOD, became THE MAN participator in the covenant ― FOR US ALL, HE WAS THERE! The covenant was secure, because, as Hebrews 6:13 tells us, "He swear by Himself." Literally, GOD INTERPOSED HIMSELF as He "confirmed by an oath." And it became "GOD IN CHRIST" to be both "The Author and the Finisher."
He made promise for Himself, and He made promise for us, and then to make sure that we would make it, HE PERSONALLY COMES TO DWELL WITHIN US to live out the fulfillment. It is because God purposes to dwell within us by His Spirit that He fulfills in us all the righteousness of that covenant.
Highly significant that it is GOD ALL THE WAY, and it is by His grace that we believe into Him. No wonder Paul cried out, "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death." [Philippians 3:10].
Our Lord Jesus Christ was BOTH the sacrifice, and the Burning Lamp in the midst thereof. And it is imperative that we enter into the fellowship of His suffering, and be made conformable to His death ― believing into Him, and becoming a participant in HIS OPERATION, until we can say, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." [Galatians 2:20].
His death does not absolve us from dying! Rather, "we thus judge, that if one died for all, they were all dead:" [2 Corinthians 5:14]. He did, by the grace of God, taste, experience death for every man, with the guarantee that ultimately every man would share in HIS CROSS, and then share in the resurrection ― into the fullness of His life, AFTER THE CROSS, after the time of darkness. It is all there in the enactment of that sacrifice-covenant which God made with Abraham. The signs, symbols, types and shadows are all there ― bespeaking of this greater reality now being fulfilled in the NEW COVENANT which we have in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jeremiah 34:18, speaks of "The covenant which they had made before Me, when they CUT THE CALF IN TWAIN, and passed between the parts thereof." And the context signified that while these men made their covenant with God, and they themselves passed between the pieces, they failed, transgressed the covenant and could not perform the words which they made before God.
But now we read, Hebrews 13:20-21, "Now the GOD OF PEACE, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the BLOOD OF THE EVERLAST ING COVEN ANT, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom, be glory for everand ever, Amen."
The "GOD OF PEACE..." Significant that the Hebrew word for "peace" is "shalom," which is also given for "COMPLETENESS." There cannot be total peace until there is total completeness. But HE is the GOD of peace ― He is the God that shall complete all that He has begun in us. "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]. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." [Philippians 2:13].
He shall bring us into the perfection of His will, into the fulness of His righteousness. How? THROUGH THE BLOOD OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT. It is a work so thorough, so victorious, so filled with glory, that we cannot find words to speak of the reality thereof. We can only commit ourselves to Him for His marvellous inworking of grace until all is fulfilled. Truly it becomes HIS LIFE FOR OUR LIVING!
We have pointed out that the word "covenant" comes from the Hebrew word "briyth," but now we note that this word comes from "barah," which means: to cut, to choose, to eat.
1) to cut asunder, from the sacrifices being cut in two.
2) to eat. (Even among some Orientals to this day, to eat together is almost the same as to make a covenant of friendship). FOOD IS CUT, so as to be partaken of together. Jacob made a covenant with Laban, offered sacrifice, "and called his brethren TO EAT bread..." [Genesis 31:54].
Jesus said, "Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I WILL raise him up at the last day." [John 6:54].
"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" [1 Corinthians 10:16]. There is a reality of EXPERIENCE which is typified by the cup and the bread, and it is in our PARTAKING OF HIM, which brings us into this covenant relationship with the Almighty!
3) To choose, to CUT OUT FROM THE CROWD, as a selection is made. This is a familiar term on a cattle ranch, as a certain animal is CUT OUT OF THE HERD.) And thus we have the illustration in 1 Samuel 17:8, when Goliath made challenge to Israel, "Choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me." In this action of CHOOSING A MAN they were making a form of covenant, with that one man CUT OUT FROM THE CROWD to then become representative of the whole nation. Significant that one man represented the whole. Goliath for the Philistines, David for Israel. Which ever man lost in the battle, the whole nation was lost in that one man. (The Philistines lost, praise God).
"Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people." [John 18:14]. Jesus was that ONE MAN, chosen out from all men, the one to be CUT OUT, CUT OFF, sacrificed ― for us all. HE stood as that SELECT ONE to represent all of creation. He is God's Covenant with creation, for our total redemption.
Romans 5:12-21 gives us that beautiful record of this principle, of one standing for all. By one man, Adam, death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. So also, BY ONE MAN, JESUS CHRIST, shall the gift of righteousness, unto the fulness of life, come upon all men. He died for all, He rose again for all ― and He shall INDWELL THE ALL, to bring every man into this more abundant life of God.
Now, He would draw us into oneness with that COVENANT, TO LIVE AND BREATHE AS ONE ― in union with Himself. A participation in His suffering, in His death, in His resurrection, in His life ― for what purpose? That we might be an extension of His covenant unto all creation.
"I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and GIVE THEE FOR A COVENANT of the people, for a light of the nations: to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.” [Isaiah 42:6-7].
What a marvellous calling and purpose of God now rests upon those whom HE CUTS ― selects out from the crowd,brings into oneness with His cross, as we fellowship with the cup and the bread, experientially participating in the fellowship of His sufferings ― eating with Him, not only for the death of self, of our "I-will," but also that we might go on to EAT WITH HIM in that new Kingdom order of His life and victory. After death comes the glory of HIS RESURRECTION ―we are to be partakers of that also. Insomuch, that while the fulness of it is yet to come, even now we can begin to share in the earnest of that glory ― and the life which we now live is no more of the old "I", but it is now HIS LIFE being lived through us, by the indwelling of His Spirit, to the glory and praise of our God. Amen!
A covenant relationship, to live and breathe as one.
The glory of the Father revealed within His Son.
And now there is a union ― the fruitage of His Rod,
As man becomes that covenant, sharing with his God
A life that's overflowing, a joy that shall not cease,
For in the true fulfillment we have eternal peace.
A covenant relationship, to live and breathe as one,
To share with Christ our Saviour, and be, in Him, a son.
A son sent to creation, just as The Son was sent,
To bring His deliverance ― an end to banishment.
His grace much more abounding, much more than all earth's sin,
His Covenant assuring that righteousness shall win.
A covenant relationship, to live and breathe as one,
Until the age of jubilee. Praise God, for His Son.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(1) Prinzing,
Ray and Doris. WHISPERS OF EXPRESSING HIS LIFE. (now out of print), Boise,
Idaho 83705
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