Whispers of Expressing

His Life ⁽¹⁾

by Ray and Doris Prinzing

Chapter 6

 PROCESSING FOR MORE FRUIT

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all judgment (or perception, sense, discernment); that ye may approve things that are excellent (differ); that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the praise and glory of God." [Philippians 1:9-11]. 

            "Every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. ― Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit: so shall ye be My disciples." [John 15:2, 8].
            The GOSPEL is a PROMISE OF GOD, a report concerning a future glory and inheritance. It is the GOOD NEWS of what we are to become IN CHRIST, and then the expression of HIS LIFE through us. The message, and the believer of the message, are to become one ― the gospel personified in a people, till it is not just what you say, but what you ARE; then whatever is said is a confirmation of the state of being that IS. It becomes a life that is lived to the glory and praise of God. Thus to be filled with the future of His righteousness redounds to His glory, and the processings the believer goes through is that there might be MUCH FRUIT, that Christ might be magnified.
            Whether man presently believes, or disbelieves, yet the message remains true, it is HIS WORD which liveth and abideth forever. We are so slow to apprehend this. We want feelings, or works, or something IN US, that we can look upon as the ground of future blessing and salvation. But it is ALL IN HIM, who said, "I WILL dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean: and I will receive you." [2 Corinthians 6:16-17].
            There is a needful inworking of the Cross, "by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." [Galatians 6:14]. There cannot be an expression of His life through us as long as we cling to the world, and try to express its ways, etc. Thus Paul writes, "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed..." [Romans 12:2]. There is a CHANGE taking place within us, a transition is being made, and it requires that we are crucified to the world, and the world to us.
            The Living Letters, in its paraphrasing of this, brings out a vital point: "Because of that cross my interest in all the attractive things of the world has been killed long ago, and the world's interest in me is also long dead."
            Ever wonder why, though you tried so hard to get the world to notice you ― see me, recognize me, pay attention to me ―yet for all apparent workings it seems that the world's interest in you is dead? Praise God, the world was, and is crucified to us by the Cross of Christ. HE DID IT! The world can hold no interest in you, for you do not belong to the world, you are not of its kind, you belong to another realm, your citizenship is of another Kingdom. So you are ignored, passing through unnoticed, as if you did not exist. Why put on a grandstand play for the dead corpse of the world? It will not arise to applaud you! The world is to be crucified to you, and you to the world, so that you might rise into a new creation realm to live and express HIS LIFE. And He clearly said, ((They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." [John 17:16].
            Several translations say "a world" is crucified to me. How often a certain, present arrangement becomes crucified to us; the little circles in which we move, and we find it goes dead on us. We are still alive, but our world was crucified, and now becomes a dead form, and so we have to forsake it, and seek for a new realm of life ― which we find in Christ alone. When that world becomes crucified to you ― it loses its hold over you, its power is gone, its life is gone, its allurement is gone, and a SEPARATION must take place. "Come out from among them, and be ye separate."
           When it becomes our "religious world" that is crucified to us, this can be a very traumatic experience. You try to restore life to the old order, but it remains empty and dead to you. You ask, What did I do wrong? Where have I missed it? Am I now back-slidden? Beloved friend, don't you  know, GOD caused your world to be crucified with Christ, it is dead, now it is time for you to launch out and seek a new world, the full arrangement in Him.
            It is one thing for the world to be crucified to us, and still another for us to be crucified to the world. Many come to realize that their old world, whatever form of arrangement it was, is dead, but strangely enough, they still mourn over the corpse, try to carryon its memory, and will even try to relive its past ― until the Cross becomes applied in such a way that there is nothing left within us which responds to the old. "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now shall it spring forth." [Isaiah 43:18-19].
            It is also needful to remember, "He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second." [Hebrews 10:9]. The crucifixion of the old order is destined to make way for the new, the greater, the fuller, the more abundant life of Christ. It is not a loss, but a gain. It is not just a separation from, but UNTO ― unto Him where fulness dwells.
            Traditions of men used to give emphasis on man's renunciation of the world. It was supposed to be the giving up of wealth, friends, positions, to become poor and desolate, to take vows of poverty, and set about to crucify one's self, with hopes of gaining sanctity. The word "renounce" literally means: to take back message. Because we once, by action, declared ourselves for the world, to live after its pleasures, and bear the fruit of its kind, now we repudiate it. Not to be taken out of it, but no more to partake of its evil, nor to love its realm. But it is more than just taking back our allegiance from the world, it implies a complete and deliberate stand for the truth, abandoning all else. It is a withdrawal from yielding to the spirit of the world, to deliberately follow Christ and be filled with His Spirit, renouncing all other rights over you. THUS IT BECOMES AN ACQUISITION, for we lay down the one in order to take up the other.
            In his progressive journey with God, Abraham came to the time when it was necessary to be separated from Lot. This is never easy, to be separated from one's brethren, but do remember we never need be separated from Christ.
          "Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where. ― Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other." [Genesis 13:10-11]. In his selfwill, choosing by the sight of the eye, he SAW ― CHOSE ―PITCHED his tent TOWARD, and finally DWELT IN Sodom. Each would gravitate to his own by a law which none can gainsay, dust to dust, and the spirit to God, Who is Spirit. Lot, being of the earth, earthy in all of his desires and affections, was as dust turning toward the dust.
            But Abraham had a far different drawing, for he would follow the Lord. "And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward." [Genesis 13:14]. How marvellous that God can cause us to see from HIS VIEWPOINT right in the place where we are. God didn't have Abraham first climb a high mountain, and then look around, but He instructed him to LOOK FROM THE PLACE WHERE THOU ART! Right in the midst of this circumstance and situation just look up and see it from My viewpoint. For it must be remembered, divine revelation comes to us, we do not go to divine revelation. GOD SHARES HIS VIEWPOINT WITH US, and the initiative is always His, at His timing, in the place where he would reveal, and it often is in what man would think as a very untimely place.
            As God directed his attention, Abraham was to look NORTHWARD ― from where the cold cometh. SOUTHWARD ―toward the place of heat. EASTWARD ―toward the light of the new day. WESTWARD ―toward the darkness, and setting sun. Even yet we know very little of these, of the depth of God's purpose in the cold, the heat, the light, the darkness, but God went on to promise him, "For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever." Then came the exhortation, "ARISE, WALK through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee." [Genesis 13:15,17].
            Walk through it, learn by experience what it is ― the cold, the heat, the light, the darkness, for it ALL is to become a part of your inheritance.
            Some desire only to walk eastward, into the dawning of the new day, as they desire only light and more light, and God keeps putting a bend in their road until they are plunged into times of  darkness, or else into regions of cold, or else areas of intense heat. But the fact is, ALL are destined for our inheritance, and in due time, finding HIM in every part, we become more comfortable wherever we are, for we are deriving our life from HIM, not from the circumstance.
            God clearly told him to WALK THROUGH it all, and yet "He gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet He promised that He would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child." [Acts 7:5].
            We dare not settle down in anyone area, for they all need to be searched out. Some have been "in the fire" so long that they , have adjusted somewhat to it, until they begin to feel they are "missing God " if they are not in some fiery trial. Ah, there are treasures in the snow as well, and we will never discover them if we remain only in the heat. Our experiences in the dark night of the soul are as essential as our times of precious light and blessing. So we learn to WALK IT OUT ― not building a tabernacle to long dwell in anyone place, but pressing ever onward into His fulness. All of these realms are to be for our possession, not our prison. Nor are we to be possessed by them ― we are to be possessed by Christ. Then it can be said, "For all things are yours; whether ― the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's." [1 Corinthians 3:21-23].
            In due time, when we become His servants to the nations, then shall we be able to draw out of our possessions that which will meet the need of every man -whether it be light, or darkness, or heat, or cold, whatever the treasure needed to work the purposes of God. Having WALKED THROUGH THESE LANDS, we shall be "able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." [2 Corinthians 1:4].
            Our Father is glorified when we shall bring forth MUCH FRUIT. Not just the fruit that is obtained in a sheltered garden where it is never too hot, nor too cold. But the life that has walked through ALL the land, and drawn out the treasures from every mysterious corner, will be an expression of such glory and praise to Him, that he truly shall be well-pleased.
            Marvellous indeed is the gospel of Christ, "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith." [Romans 1:17]. We note the two little words, "from" and "to," being the Greek words: ek ― out of; and eis ― into. "Out of faith into faith." OUT OF FAITH AS A SOURCE leading us INTO EVER INCREASING FAITH. Out of one working of faith into another working of faith. Going "from strength to strength," [Psalm 84:7], and being "changed from glory to glory." [2 Corinthians 3:18].
            "After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram, I AM thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt Thou give me, seeing I go childless... to me Thou hast given no seed." [Genesis 15:1-2].
            Abraham says to the Lord, " All these experiences, and still I have no fruit. I am barren." Walking out all the regions of the land, with the promises confirmed over and over again ― but still only in promise form, Oh, Lord, where is the experiential reality?
            We come to the place where we count all things dross and dung, for Christ. The world is rejected, the "in part" blessings are not enough. We rejoice that Christ is FOR US, and we rejoice that Christ is WITHIN US, but there is an intense heartcry "to be found IN HIM," [Philippians 3:9].
            "And He (God) brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven..." [Genesis 15:5]. First God has to get him out of his tent, out of the man-made confines wherein he was resting. We take our truths and build us little dwelling places, to live in the confines of what we believe to be true -and there are expanses that we know not of. "Look now toward heaven," into the expanse where the breath of heaven may touch our faith anew, and we are enlarged in Him ― to believe for even yet greater things.
            "And he believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness." [Genesis 15:6].
            Certainly in a world where nearly all are doubting God, the sight of this poor barren creature in utter helplessness resting on God's promise, must be a spectacle even to the angels. Likewise, how often we have felt ourselves so stripped of all resources and abilities, so barren, and yet our soul reaches out to firmly rest on the promise of God. No outward sign of fulfillment or fruitage, but the WORD OF THE LORD STANDETH SURE, and upon it we must take our stand.
            But time ticks on and faith is sorely tried, until finally even Sarah (type of grace) begins to reason it out. Sarah's mind, Abram's loins, and an Egyptian handmaid, Hagar, and lo, we have an Ishmael. We speak of death to self. We speak of how the seed must fall into the ground and die, to bring forth fruit. We speak of His strength being made perfect in our weakness, but how hard it is to live out this processing.
            God will allow us to try by flesh energy many a scheme, and we end up with our Ishmael, "a wild man," [Genesis 16:12]. The Hebrew literally gives, "a wild-ass man." The ass was reckoned  as an unclean animal. Israel was to be known as His sheep. And in Ezekiel 36:38, where we read, "flocks of men," the Hebrew text literally gives "sheep-men." And truly, His sheep know His voice, and they will follow Him. But here we have a "wild man" produced by the flesh.
            What brought all this about? Sarah was barren. Grace was not producing, but was being tested with a long time- table, for its full expression could not come until after the Law was given. And with a handmaid, Hagar, available, Law was brought on the scene. The Law was to SERVE, and there is a rightful place for its service, we will not rail against it, for it was given into the house, to serve until THE SEED should come. So many would try and join themselves to a law to see if they can produce something. They will, but it will be a wild man offspring, with the mark of the beast upon it. In their desire to produce fruit, many try this way, and the results are always the same ― a product with the flesh, beast nature, that cannot be tamed even by the restraints of additional laws.
            "When Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect. And I will make My covenant between Me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly." [Genesis 17:1-2].  Once more the promise of fruitfulness is reaffirmed, and this time Abraham had learned how to respond to this promise of God, "And Abram fell on his face ..."lt was time for WORSHIP AND SUBMISSIVENESS, not a time to be up and doing! How we yearn to come into new dimensions of worship, that we might bow self down before Him, and let HIM be exalted before us. HE must increase, we must decrease! Worship exalts Him and causes us to fall before Him, yea, on our faces before Him. We are not trying to gain His attention, to cause Him to look us in the eye. We are not trying to gain His ear with more of our requests. We are not even asking for His mouth to speak to us more of His secrets. But with all our being we bow low in submissiveness, that HIS WILL alone might reign supreme. No jumping up to see how we might go about and fulfill the promise in ourselves, HE is to be both the Alpha and the Omega of our faith ― HE is the FULFILLER, we are the worshippers!
            Then God talks with Abraham, and seven times repeats "I will" do this, or that. Having revealed Himself as the "ALMIGHTY," the El Shaddai, the all sufficient One, the Nourisher, the bountiful supply. HE IS THE MEANS, and HE IS THE DOER!
            Then comes the name change, verse 5, "Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee." A name stands for character, and a new character must be inwrought, and it is all of GOD'S DOING. Even beyond all that he had already experienced, there were new dimensions, new horizons be fore him, and a new name, with its full character expression. Every time God re-affirmed His covenant with him, God enlarged it, made it broader, deeper, extensive. When faith could believe the first promise, even before it was fulfilled God enlarged it, and when he was able to believe that, and his faith was tested on that new outreach, before it was fulfilled God increased the promise some more ― for the fulfillment was secure, GOD KNEW HE WOULD ULTIMATELY HAVE TO DO IT ALL, man would never accomplish it anyway, but the process of taking him from faith to faith was amazing indeed. And more changes were needed in Abraham, so he would finally be prepared for that day of fulfillment.
            Surely it is written, "I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, ― and I will write upon him My new name." [Revelation 3:12]. Great changes of nature, of character, until we bear HIS IMAGE, His likeness, and are partakers of His divine nature, so that the fruit we manifest will be glorious expressions of HIS LIFE! Yea, there is a name, and a change, yet to be revealed and inwrought, which will far exceed anything that has been experienced to this time.
            God covenanted with Abraham, and God would bring us into that covenant relationship with Himself, to where we live and breathe as one. Changed into the image of our Saviour, for all our fruit must be of HIS QUALITY!
            Then Abraham must needs suffer in his flesh, testifying that his hope was not in his flesh, nor in its energy-force. God said, "This is MY COVENANT, which ye shall. keep...circumcise the flesh of your foreskin ..." [Genesis 17:10-11]. It was time for the mortification of all fleshliness, and "the filth of the flesh was put away." [1 Peter 3:21]. There was no circumcision in evidence in the producing of Ishmael. Flesh joined to the law had produced a wild man, with the nature and mark of the beast upon it. But now that he was to be joined to GRACE (Sarah), the flesh must be removed, for it would bring about a defilement, if it were allowed to remain.
            Romans 2:29, "Circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter,. whose praise is not of men, but of God."
            The action of self-judgment, of which circumcision is a type, is not the basis for, but the result of the promise. God said, "I WILL... therefore thou shalt circumcise."
            "I WILL be their God... wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate." ― "YE ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE, therefore glorify God in your body." [1 Corinthians 6:20]. All of our separations, etc. are a resultant action of, not a condition to receive. We love Him BECAUSE He first loved us. It is not a doing to obtain, but a doing BECAUSE of what HE has done, in us, for us, and now through us. HE is always the First Cause of all our doing, living. For we live out what He works in, to His glory and praise.
            Abraham was now ninety-nine years old when God requested this of him. He earnestly desired to be fruitful all these years. His prayer was always before God that he might have a seed. Now God gives him a covenant, joined to the request of this circumcision. To the eye of sense, such an operation would not only be dangerous to his life, but one which, when performed at such years, even if the patient survived, would preclude all fruitfulness. Here was an act seemingly opposed to the fulfillment of the promise. But it testified that there was no confidence left in the flesh, it would be GOD'S GLORIOUS VICTORY. Out of  death and stripping comes the ultimate fruitfulness of HIS LIFE.
           "Every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." [John  5:2].
           There has been a limited fruit expressed, "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." [1 Corinthians 13:9-10].
           There is a deep cry in the heart of God's apprehended ones that they might come into the realm of HIS PERFECTIONS, to bear much fruit of His Spirit. To bring forth after His kind, no more after the flesh, with a wild nature, but that which is SPIRIT AND LIFE. This obviously requires that stripping away of the last vestige of flesh, and a full purging of soul and spirit, until we are one in His holiness, filled with His fulness, to become expressions of Him who saves us with so great a salvation.

 

  

Not I, but Christ! We speak these words,

But little do we comprehend
How deep the Cross much reach within,
Or ways of self that He would rend.

 

The circumcision knife ― The Word ―
He speaks to cut away the flesh,
Remove the gains of yesteryear,
And earthly things that would enmesh.

 
The branch that now is bearing fruit,
He purgeth it to bear much more,
The Life that's flowing through the vine
Shall penetrate to inmost core.
 

It is His nature men shall see,
The fruit of righteousness abound.
The Father shall be glorified,
How blessed is this gospel sound.