Whispers of Expressing

His Life ⁽¹⁾

by Ray and Doris Prinzing

Chapter 11

LIVING PARABLES

 "And with many such parables spake He the Word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake He not unto them." [Mark 4:33-34].

             "Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life." [2 Corinthians 3:6].
            The word "parable" is made up from two parts in the Greek, para― meaning: alongside; and bole ―meaning: to throw. Thus they combine to mean: a pictorial word thrown alongside the invisible spirit realm, to give you a glimpse of the invisible, while at the same time almost concealing it. Since we cannot see the invisible realms, God graciously throws alongside those pictures which give brief insights, and help us to grasp a measure of what is hidden from view.
            Jesus taught the multitudes by the way of parables, "Behold, there went out a sower to sow..." Some seed fell by the wayside, some on stony ground, some on good soil. It was more than a story, for He was teaching the people vital truths concerning the kingdom of God. Yet those who heard only the story, knew not the deeper meaning behind it all. And even His disciples came unto Him and asked Him to explain to them the meaning of the parable, which He did, when they were alone, and away from the multitudes.
            He spoke of fishing and gathering them in a net. He spoke of a man out buying goodly  pearls, etc. He described the pictures right alongside of the spiritual dimension. Those with eyes (of understanding) prepared to see, were blessed with glimpses into the realm beyond ― precious truths of the Kingdom of God. Those who were blinded, heard only the story, saw only the visible picture, and nothing of its deeper meaning.
            Jesus Christ came forth from the bosom of God to be the visible expression of the invisible God. The Man who walked the shores of Galilee, as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, yet manifest in human flesh, came from the Father to reveal to us more of the Father. "If ye had known Me, ye should have known the Father. ― he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father." [John 1-4:7,9].
            He was a living demonstration, outwardly visible, of the invisible realm of the Father ― to reveal the nature and character of His Father. We could say that He truly was A LIVING PARABLE ― revealing the invisible, and yet concealing it at the same time. One had to know Him by the Spirit in order to see more fully who He really was. "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not." [John 1:10] Yet we have that clear statement in verse 1 of the chapter, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God..." We note that the word "with" is the Greek word "pros" meaning: TOWARD. All that He did, all that He said, all that He was, pointed TOWARD THE FATHER. He was a visible message that directed men toward the invisible. He was a revelation of the Father's heart, will, and purpose. He lived it out as a PICTORIAL WORD, some saw, and understood, and others saw only the man, and understood nothing.
            The PICTURE MANIFESTATION was temporary, yet it  pointed to the Eternal. Thus Paul wrote, "Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a purely human point of view ―in terms of natural standards of value. No, even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a man, yet now we have such knowledge of Him that we know Him no longer in the terms of the flesh." [2 Corinthians 5:16]. Marvellous was the PICTURE, but far, far greater is the REALITY OF THE SPIRIT REALM.
            Yet Christendom knows Him mostly only as the Picture, the Parable, to see Him as the babe in the manger-bed every Christmas. They hang the Man on the cross every Good Friday. And they recount the miracles as He went about doing good, but they see Him far more as THE MAN, than as THE CHRIST. They sing that we are to "Put your hand in the hand of the Man that stilled the waters..." ―"I love that Man of Galilee..." for every view of Him is seen as relating to the picture thrown alongside of the invisible.
            Hebrews 1:3, declares Him to be "The brightness of glory, and the express image of His person." Amplified: "He is the perfect imprint and the very image of God's nature."
            Express image ― the Greek word is "character," and obviously if you change the letter "k" to "c" you have our English word CHARACTER. It comes from the same root as for MARK, or IMPRINT, ENGRAVE. And truly, a man's character is that sharp, visible imprint that reveals his nature, essence, what he really and truly is. It signifies the TRUE MEANING behind the outward expression.
            There might be many forms of facade or masquerade, but if there is enough pressure and testing, then the true character will begin to show itself from behind the masquerade.
            There is another Greek word that is used elsewhere for "image" and it is "eikon", or ICON in our English language. It literally means: a pictorial representation.
            The words and actions of Jesus Christ were the ICON, but the Spirit in which He moved was the real CHARACTER of God, underlying what they heard and saw. That is why He is also referred to as the Word, or LOGOS of God. The Greek word "logos" not only includes the expressed word, but also all of the intent, will, and purpose which is behind that which is spoken. So when He came forth, He was more than just the audible sound, He was a representative of the very intent, will, and purpose of the Father.
            Likewise, when He brings us into oneness with His Word, He is also causing us to partake of the very INTENT AND PURPOSE, to become one in HIS WILL, and thus to become a representative of that will which underlies all of the outward manifestation, or audible sound.
            "They brought unto Him a penny. And He saith unto them, hose is this image and superscription? They say unto Him, Caesar's." [Matthew 22:19-21].
            Whose ICON is this? Whose pictorial representation is this?  It was clear enough, distinct enough, they recognized it as belonging to Caesar. So He said to them, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things which are God's." (verse 21).
            2 Corinthians 4:4 uses the same word "icon" when it speaks of "Christ who is the IMAGE of God." He was the pictorial representation of God! Then Romans 8:29 tells us that we are to be "conformed to the IMAGE of the Son," so that all of our outward  manifestation, in word and action, shall be a representation of  Him.
            While many can become "icons" to a degree, yet it is much more to be both ICON and CHARACTER ―to have both the outer image and the inner character so fused into one, that we have a true expression of our Lord. Truly we are called to "SHEW FORTH the praises of.Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light." [1 Peter 2:9]. ,
            Certainly much of the processing which believers go through is to bring about a unification in them, so that the outward image and the inner character are one. Or, as we have often said, "The message and the messenger become one." When the outward expression is a revelation of the inner character, and that character is an expression of the NATURE of God, then we shall truly have a LIVING MESSAGE for the world. Our entire state of being is to be in harmony with our outward words and actions.
            Furthermore, when the world is able to see the ICON which is the true representation of your inner being, then it will no longer have to contend with the shallowness of that old saying, "Do as I say, not as I do," because all of our saying and doing will spring forth from the inner nature which is HIS.
            Therefore we perceive that God will "Write (imprint) the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." [Habakkuk 2:2]. So clear shall the message BECOME IN A PEOPLE that others beholding it, shall be able to read it and run to Him who shall meet their every need.
            Moffatt translation gives: "That one may read it at a glance." So clear and distinct shall be the IMPRINT OF HIS IMAGE that men shall readily discern it. They will not have to examine, and ponder, and try to figure it all out, but the clarity of HIS IMAGE IN A PEOPLE will be such, they will know it.
            We have a preview glimpse of this, when we read, "When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." [Acts 4:13]. The human vessel part was still there, the clear marks of their being fisherman, etc. yet there was something else that was beginning to come through in this PICTURE ―they began to recognize that these men "had been with Jesus." How we desire to become such a CLEAR PICTURE that they will not only see that we represent Him, but it will be a glorious message that will urge them onward to partake of His reality.
            Prophetic, both of our Lord, and of His many brethren, is that word through Isaiah [8:18], "Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for SIGNS and WONDERS in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in Zion." God is bringing forth a WONDER-PEOPLE. Indeed, earth shall look with wonder rare at the sons He doth prepare, and in them they shall see HIM. Beholding the outworking of salvation, the finished product of redemption, they shall see it, and desire it ― for it shall be a CLEAR PICTURE of the glory of God.
            It will no longer be a witness of some organization, of a church group, of a doctrine, but a revelation of His reality. Men use to read our "signs" and come to our "church" and receive of our "doctrine" and we would birth more after our own kind ― more babes in Babylon. But the more we become the SIGN of our Lord, a pictorial representation of Him, they shall be drawn TO HIM, and HE will birth them after HIS OWN KIND.
            Sometimes a person will be trying to convey an idea or message to another, and they are having difficulty comprehending it, and finally the person will ask, "Do I have to draw you a picture?" For the other person needed something that would convey the idea to them ―a representative of that thought, to them a clue as to what was behind it. Thus we often THROW ALONGSIDE a little illustration, to serve as a window into the deeper thought, forming a mental picture so as to grasp the message presented.
            God is truly preparing those who will become A LIVING PICTURE, His own personified parables to the world ―living demonstrations of His redemption. But not just with an image, as a masquerade of spirituality, they will be a genuine expression of the character, the nature, the INNER IMPRINT that can be outwardly revealed ill words and actions ― in a life-style that glorifies God.
            The world knew not God, they could not comprehend His power and glory, and so God THREW ALONGSIDE THE INVISIBLE realm of the Father, that visible manifestation of the Son of God, with the message that whatever we behold in the Son is actually an expression of the Father. The Invisible made plainly visible ― and even then, He was as much a mystery as he was a revelation. HE was a LIVING PARABLE, understood only by those to whom the Spirit imparted the revelation to see.
            "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some saith thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias, and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven." [Matthew 16:13-17].
            All the people SAW THE FORM, and they tried to relate it to their past knowledge ― connecting Him with this or that prophet. Peter also saw the FORM, the outward picture, but the Spirit then gave him INSIGHT into the INNER NATURE, and he knew Him to be the Son of the Living God. ICON and CHARACTER had combined into one glorious revelation for Peter.
            Marvellous is that inworking whereby we are "changed into the same IMAGE (icon) from glory to glory, even as by the spirit of the Lord." [2 Corinthians 3:18].
            For, "As we have borne the IMAGE of the earthy, we shall also bear the IMAGE of the heavenly." [1 Corinthians 15:49].
            Whether He spoke by way of parables, or not, He was still speaking the wisdom of God in a mystery by the actions which He performed out of His INNER STATE OF BEING. Furthermore, He stated that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." No wonder He has been probing so deeply into us, so that whatever comes out of us shall be to His praise ― expressions of His life.
            Furthermore, Jesus said, "The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." [John 14:30]. There wasn't a single particle of carnality in Him that the adversary could lay hold of to express his negativity. All of the outflow of His life was PURE, holy, perfect. Every action was a parable, a pictorial representation of His inner character of holiness. He had no negativity to express!
            The Psalmist caught a glimpse of this when he cried out, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name." [Psalm 103:1]. When everything that is WITHIN US can bless the Lord, then all that comes forth from us will truly glorify our Father.
            Paul extends the challenge to us in this manner, "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." [Colossians 3:17]. Again, "Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." [1 Corinthians 10:31]. For out of the inner SPIRIT OF LIFE comes the expression to glorify our God. Whether we give a cup of cold water to a thirsty soul, or share a truth from the Word, it is all from that same inner Source. The outward deed is THROWN ALONGSIDE, and reveals the inner state of being.
            Those who seek to portray a parable without having the character of the Father behind that parable, are those who are of the "dead letter" which killeth, for it takes His Spirit flowing from us to give life. There are many doctrinal movements that are built on the "dead letter expression." They sought to portray a parable of spirituality ― such as holiness, with certain dress codes, certain forms of speech, etc. but there was no life-message in the expression. Those who saw the picture were not enriched with life, but found it unto condemnation and death.
            How many have tried to paint a picture with their actions that would cause people to think they were very spiritual ― as they busily taught Sunday School classes, sang in the choir, carried their Bible, shouted "amen," and yet it was a "dead letter" message" because it came not from HIS INNER LIFE, it was a masquerade on the outside. Later in the day all the rest of the family saw the inner character revealed through the tension, ― cross words, as that inner state of being peeked out through the masquerade.
            The Pharisee expressed his personal icon this way ― "I am not as other men are... I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of  that I possess" [Luke 18:11-12], and he felt that he had presented a very good image to his fellowmen ― but there was no inner life to back up that image, and thus it was only a "dead letter" expression.
            There may be a "word" in their parable, but its meaning is not the same as that conveyed by one who becomes THE LIVING WORD. It is the "spirit" in which a thing is performed that makes the difference!
            If it is the will of man that is being lived out, it will not produce life in another. But when it is the WILL OF GOD continually revealed in our "word and deed" then HE will infuse it with His life, and it will bring glory to His name.
            There has been so much RELIGIOUS DEAD LETTER, the world with great longing awaits the coming forth of the sons of God who will express HIS LIFE in glorious reality. Indeed, "The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own." [Romans 8:19, Phillips]. We rejoice to know that God is preparing to unveil HIS LIVING PARABLES ― outward manifestations of true spiritual reality. When that which is now concealed within us, buried deep in our spirit, can come forth to declare the wonders of His life and grace. Then men shall see the visible, and desire the invisible, i.e. the fulness of His SPIRIT-LIFE.
            Sometimes the true nature is so concealed, that it appears to be the opposite, and we have what is called A PARADOX ― an alongside glory. The law was this alongside glory. Glory that was later to be swallowed up into the reality of His life. Much of the negative is an "alongside glory," and you have to turn it around to see the real glory. It may look right, sound right, and have a certain glow about it, and yet lack that true INNER LIFE which produces the reality of the glory of God.
            The Spirit of God imparts a revelation that we are to become partakers of His fulness. Our spirit has caught a glimpse of the invisible reality and we rejoice. Suddenly we become aware that we are being stripped and emptied out more and more ― we're rejoicing in fulness, and experiencing emptiness. That is a PARADOX ― an alongside of glory. A condition that is contrary to all our expectation, and thus seemingly very contradictory. Yet it is TRUE IN FACT, for His fulness becomes operative in our arena of nothingness.
            The prophet once spoke of our Lord, "He hath no form nor comeliness, and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him." [Isaiah 53:2]. Yet all that HE WAS EVEN THEN, was an expression of God. It was truly an alongside of glory, a paradox, contrary to all expectation of what would be a revelation of the glory of God. However, in the Father's time, there shall be an overflowing revelation of pure glory ― and "the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall fill the earth, as the waters cover the sea."
            When we experience, or see a friend or loved one go through a deep trial, until we marvel at what appears to be a very negative situation, yet we now see that it is but another EXPRESSION OF GOD ― a living parable, a pictorial representation of His inner workings, and it will ultimately redound to His glory ― become a revelation of His glory.
            HE made Himself of no reputation, to fulfill the will of God. Thus we not only have Jesus as a LIVING PARABLE, but also as a LIVING PARADOX. He was a visible expression of the invisible, but He was so contrary to man's expectation, they could not see the BEAUTY of God.
            Might we also add, concerning ourselves, that the beauty is the CHARACTER OF GOD WITHIN, the ugly is the form we carry it in, to bring it down to an earthly level. "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." [2 Corinthians 4:7]. Yet there shall be an OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF THIS INDWELLING CHRIST, for we are to become His living parables ― a visible portrayal of invisible realities....
            There is another vital point that must be considered. Jesus Christ rocked the world with His Word, and yet He was a Stone of Stumbling and a Rock of Offense. Being the EXPRESSION OF GOD, He was VISIBLE, and so they lashed out at Him, because they could not touch God who is invisible.
            When Samuel the prophet grew old, he made his sons judges over Israel, and they were not upright, but took bribes and perverted Judgment. So the elders of Israel came to Samuel and asked for a king to be over them instead of that present arrangement. Samuel took it as a personal rejection, but God said to him, "They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them." [1 Samuel 8:7]. Their rejection of the visible was but symbolic of their greater rejection of the invisible.
            Jesus understood this working, and said, "He that hateth Me hateth My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they would not have been guilty of sin, now they have both seen and hated both M e and My Father. But this cometh to pass, that the Word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated Me without a cause." [John 15:23-25].
            They saw the LIVING PARABLE ― both in works, and in the words He spake, and they hated Him, and in so doing hated His Father also. To despise the messenger is to despise the One who sent Him. They had no cause to hate Him, He had only done them good. But because of their rejection of God, they immediately lashed out at this visible expression of God.
            This is like when Cain took out his frustration on Abel, because he could not get to God. It was God who had rejected Cain's offering: not Abel. But Abel was right there, visible, within reach, and so Cain took out his anger on his brother, as a defiant action against God. This is a REAL VOODOO! Voodoo is that practice in certain cultures where an assault is made on a doll, but intended for a person. The assault was made on Abel, but it was intended against God Himself. Likewise, they slew HIS SON, but the ultimate rejection was against God their Creator.
            There are times when men have lashed out at their brother, man who is created in the "image of God," because they really are angry at God Himself. And the more we become LIVING PARABLES, HIS PICTORIAL REPRESENTATIVES, thrown alongside the invisible, to reveal God to man, there will be those who will initially reject us, and strike out at us, as they did at HIM who is our Example and Leader. But the Son (and sons) will reign until every enemy is subdued, all resistance is purged out, and love totally conquers every heart, to bring about a restoration to the glory of the Father, that HE may be "ALL IN ALL."
            How great is that calling of God that rests upon those apprehended to become first fruits of His new creation order. Called to become HIS LIVING PARABLES, His expression in the world ― to reveal the character and image of the invisible. In all that we do, in all that we say, may it truly be to His glory! Amen!
 
The things He said, the things He did,
Were never in a corner hid,
For He was sent from God above,
Sent to reveal the Father's love
.
Rulers of men rejected Him,
But nought could e'er the truth bedim,
And in His light they saw their shame,
Without a cause made Him to blame.
 
But love is not a feeble pow'r,
Though God concealed it in that hour,
And though they slew the Son of God,
Yet love retained the Sceptre's Rod.
 
To reign until hate is no more,
And grace doth all the world restore. .
That He might be The All in all,
The end of ev'ry creature's fall.
 
A living parable now be,
To witness that reality.
Invisible brought into sight,
To be for men a guiding light.
 
Till they unto the Father come,
The halt, the lame, the blind, the dumb,
To share in His salvation, too,
As He now maketh all things new.
 
His parable ―His message be,
That truth that sets the captive free,
As out of thee His life shall flow,
And all the world His love shall know.