While all of His abundant mercies have been to us-ward, in turn all of our worship and praise and service needs to be directed GOD-WARD.  Truly "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for You have created all things, and for Your pleasure they are and were created." (Rev. 4:11).  "FOR YOUR PLEASURE ─-" yet God is not self-centered, for so holy and righteous is He, that He receives His pleasure─ delight── satisfaction─ in what He does in us.  His love cannot be satisfied until we are so filled with Him that our love flows back to Him in return.  Love is not a one way street.  It is not just God ever-giving unto us.  For true love must give─ and when we have received and been filled with Him, we must needs return to Him that which He has given to us.  It is in this reciprocal fellowship that God is pleased, because then there is evidence that all that He has done in and for us has been effectual.  The wonder of it all is that He can love us when we are so unlovely, and He continues to love us until this DIVINE LOVE HAS TRANSFORMED US, and brought us into one with its nature, and then joyfully we return that love to Him.  "Created for His pleasure" is actually a promise that embraces us─ because it means that He will not rest until He has brought us into the fulness of this reciprocal free-flowing love, where all He has is ours, and all we are is HIS! Praise God!
        A brief look at the tabernacle gives us a window, an illustration of truth.  The tabernacle measurement was twenty cubits by ten cubits by ten cubits.  Twenty times ten times ten equals two thousand.  With a thousand years as a day, from Christ coming to be THE WAY we have about lived through two thousand years, and have come to the back of the sanctuary.  There has been the blessing of the table of showbread, and the light of the candlestick, and now you come to THE ALTAR OF INCENSE, the place of worship.  More and more the holy Spirit is giving emphasis to our WORSHIP, our PRAISE and DEVOTION TO HIM, preparing for entrance into the holiest of all.
        Coming through the first doorway (hanging, veil), into the courtyard speaks of receiving Him as JESUS, our Saviour.  Progressing on to the Laver for its cleansing, sanctification processes, and then to the brazen altar where the burnt offering was made─ and we partake of the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death, all self to be slain, that it might be "not I, but Christ lives in me."
        At the entrance into the sanctuary there was another veil, and the priest was specially anointed there before he could go in.  This bespeaks of the enchristed realm, where we are anointed by the Spirit and prepared for the deeper participation of that which is in the holy place.  Here we have the golden candlestick prefiguring the seven spirits of God, the table of showbread with its sustenance for the inner man.  And we come to the ALTAR OF INCENSE, to enter into realms of worship hitherto unknown.  It also brings us to the third veil, hanging─ bespeaking of that third dimension of His total LORDSHIP.  Jesus, Christ, our Lord─ every experience into Him brings us into a new realm of relationship and intimacy.  Salvation, then the infilling of the holy Spirit, bringing us into greater WORSHIP WHICH BRINGS US INTO NEW DEPTHS OF HIS LORDSHIP IN OUR LIFE, preparing us for entrance into the holiest of all, where everything is centered in the Spirit.
        Significant that the measurement of the "holiest of all" was ten cubits by ten cubits by ten cubits, which multiplies into the figure, one thousand.  To enter into the next millennium before us, as His overcomers, to partake of the glory of the "Ark of the covenant" which was contained therein-­then we definitely need this altar of incense─WORSHIP to prepare us for all the glory which lies ahead.  Bowing to His sovereignty, His total Lordship, that HIS WILL ALONE might be fulfilled in us.  Overcoming─ to eat of the hidden manna, to become one in His Word, made joyful at the mercyseat, becoming one in Him, and thus able to impart of His mercy and compassion to all men.  So much awaits us!  But first there are depths of worship to be experienced, till our eyes are single to Him─ and we bow low that He might be our all in all.  Centered in the Spirit, then to walk─ to live a spirit-filled life.
        On the Cross, Jesus said, "I THIRST." (John 19:28).  We have come to see that this was more than just thirsting for a drink of water.  HE THIRSTED FOR A PEOPLE! But at that time there was none that could satisfy Him, thus we read, Psalm 69:21, "In my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." There was no PURE DRINK OFFERING ready to be given to Him, only a sour wine, that which had been fermented with the spirit of the world.
        At this point in time it was still a one way street, God giving to man, but man unable to return the giving to Him.  Jesus had asked the woman at the well for a drink, but she had nothing to offer Him.  He must first impart unto her, even as He said, "Whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst:.." (John 4:14), for He promised to BE IN THEM A WELL OF LIVING WATER which would fully satisfy.  Prophetic as all of this was─ for we still thirst after Him, "As the hart pants after the water brooks, so pants my soul after You, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God." (Psalm 42:1-2), yet we know that ultimately we shall be fully satisfied in Him.  But there was none at that time who could make promise to Him that all of His thirst would be quenched─ they could only offer Him a mixed drink.  No wonder He cried out, "I thirst."
        But, after the day of Pentecost, and the outpouring of the Spirit to come and dwell in man, and transform him from glory to glory─ there came a day when Paul was able to say, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand." (2 Timothy 4:6).  This could be paraphrased to read: "I have been poured out, a drink-offering unto God, and the time of my release (loosing up and away) is come." Paul had poured out his life as a drink offering unto the Lord─ a reciprocal sharing, God into Paul, Paul back into God.  Such is the flow of love that He desires from us!
        How beautifully this is portrayed in type and shadow, 1 Chronicles 11:18.  David had longed for a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem.  So three of his mighty men broke through the hosts of the Philistines, and "drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord." He realized the cost, the danger the men had put themselves in, as in essence they had secured the water with their own life, and he would not use the water to satisfy natural desires.  Ah, in reality Jesus Christ did pour out His life for us─ and we dare not use it for our own lust and self desires.  Gladly we receive His life, but in turn we POUR OUT OUR LIFE for Him, surrendering all, "created for His pleasure." Thus, the prayer Jesus prayed must become ours as well.  "Father, the hour is come; glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You." (John 17:1).  We receive of His life, that we in turn might fully give our life to Him.  Praise His name!
        Your vision is prophetic of your destiny.  No wonder the scripture declares, "Where there is no vision, the people perish (literally, are made naked.)" (Prov. 29:18).  For your vision is your covering until you are brought into its reality.  Furthermore, the verse reads on, "But he that keeps the law, happy is he." For every vision has a law for its fulfillment.  There are those who envy another of their vision, but they don't want to pay the price to have such fulfilled in them.  When God imparts a vision of that high and holy realm to which we are called, beloved, there is A WAY─ A LAW to get there, and he that WALKS IN THE SPIRIT shall come into its reality.
        The principle remains, YOU BECOME WHAT YOU SEE.  If you have no vision, there is nought to become.  An unfolding vision bespeaks of a progressive walk in Christ, until we are one in His fulness.
        Psalm 103:7 brings us further insight.  "He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel." Israel saw THE ACTS of the Lord, and as a people they were always wanting God TO DO THINGS for them.  They had a vision of GOD DOING─ and were always clamoring for more of the same.
        Moses saw His ways, he learned God's methods and the secret of His purpose.  "Show me Your way," "Show me Your glory," he prayed, and God imparted vision to him.  For many years I have been challenged by the difference between what Israel saw, and what Moses saw─ and the desire burned within to KNOW HIS WAYS.  But in these more recent years we are stirred to go even farther, beyond just seeing His acts, and even knowing of HIS WAYS, to where we come TO KNOW HIS PERSON─ to see Him "as He is."
        Yes, we thank God for His miracles!  Yes, we praise God for revelation of His Word, His ways, His inworkings.  But how we yearn for HIM─ TO KNOW HIM in the power of His resurrection, and become ONE─ in union with our Lord!  "We don't know what we shall become in the future.  We only know that, IF REALITY WERE TO BREAK THROUGH, we should reflect His likeness, for we should see Him as He really is!" (1 John 3:2, Phillips) Then, and not till then, will 1 John 4:17 be truly fulfilled, "Because as He is, so are we in this world." Some would like to claim it now, but their state of being does not verify their claim.  When we are CHANGED, totally conformed to His image, one in His nature, we will not have to claim it─ we'll BE, and our state of being will be the irrefutable witness of what we have become.
        It is a progressive inworking─ past, present, and future.  As Paul wrote, "Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver: in whom we trust that He will yet deliver us." (2 Cor. 1:10).  Has, does, and will yet.  And just because He once delivered us does not mean that we have arrived.  Nor does the fact that you are currently being blessed mean that you have it all.  But praise God every new deliverance propels us onward towards the goal─ and we are assured that HE who has begun in us this good work, will also bring it to a successful conclusion, for we are His workmanship, and our security is in His hand.  Bless His holy name!
        In Psalm 22 we see Him as SAVIOUR.  All the prophetic record of His crucifixion, and then of man's cry for His help.  "When he cried unto Him, He heard." In Psalm 23 we see Him as the CHRIST, "You anointed my head with oil." And then in Psalm 24 we see Him as LORD, "The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof." And then that triumphant Word, "Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be lifted up, you everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in." With joy we welcome Him in─ LORD OF ALL WITHIN US.
        As Saviour it was His ministry to us-ward.  As the Christ it furthers His work in us.  But when He comes in AS LORD, it is HIS TURN TO RECEIVE FROM US. He begins to receive a return from His investment in mankind.  But of His COMING IN, be assured, it will an awesome experience.  Such was the vision of Isaiah, "I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple. - And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried..." (Isaiah 6:1,4).
        We long for Him, we yearn to be FILLED WITH HIM, though methinks that our earthen vessels will also quake before Him.  The earthquakes without in the world about us, are nothing compared to the INTERNAL QUAKE as the last part of our flesh bows low before Him, and His glory fills our temple.  But with all our being we shall cry out, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory." Oh, hallelujah, may He who imparts this vision also fulfill it in glorious reality.
        Much of Christendom says, in effect, "God is for your pleasure." It is all centered in you─ your needs to be met, your body to be healed, finances to be prospered, the showers of blessing are to fall on you.  And we thank the Lord for all that He does on every level.  But such teaching has it all backwards.  WE ARE FOR HIS PLEASURE.  He draws whom He wills.  We might be instrumental in drawing people into man's kingdom, but HE DRAWS INTO HIS OWN, and if we are privileged to be a part of that working─ it is because Of His grace and love that He uses us as "laborers together with God." can only share with others of what He has first given to us, thus it is all GOD'S DOING, and not out of ourselves.
        All of our outward expression comes from inward possession─ "Christ in you the hope of glory." If He dwells not within, we have nought to offer.  So the command, "Be filled with the Spirit," (Ephesians 5:18), is not just the experience of a moment of crisis, but to be A CONTINUED STATE, ever filled with Him.  It is not just an external or surface experience, as if the oil of anointing was poured on the outside, to drip off the hem of our garment.  But it is INWARDLY─ an anointing that ABIDES.  Our life is to be CENTERED IN THE SPIRIT, and then out of this spirit realm we walk─ daily live.
        It is not a question of gifts and graces, manifestations, precious as these might be, but it is the PERSONAL, INDWELLING PRESENCE of the holy Spirit, working in us to present us perfect unto Him.  God is apprehending a people for this NOW.  "As God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (2 Cor. 6:16).
        The difference between "firstfruits" and the "full harvest" is not one of quality but of TIME, some reaching maturity before others.  "In Christ shall all be made alive.  But every man in his own order." (1 Cor. 15:22-23).  If you are made alive in Christ, you are brought to the standard of His divine perfection─ such is the quality.  But the TIMING of our participation in His ingathering is according to His own will and purpose.  When He does draw us, however, may we be swift to run after Him in joyful obedience.
        It is also written, "For He will finish the work (Greek, logos, word) and cut it short in righteousness." (Rom. 9:28).  God has spoken─ and it shall come to pass─ every word He utters is guaranteed of fulfillment.  "The Word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness." (Isaiah 45:23).  Now there is a truth hidden in this, which thrills our being through and through.  For we perceive that HIS WORD becomes PERSONIFIED IN A PEOPLE.  He is producing A WORD COMPANY, a creative word, a living word, the message and the messenger become one─ A CREATIVE WORD PEOPLE.  In turn they shall declare His Word, and it shall come to pass─ "He sent His Word and healed them." "speak the word only and my child shall be healed." Oh, the power of the LIVING WORD as it flows through those vessels whose lives are CENTERED IN THE SPIRIT!