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by Ray and Doris
Prinzing
No. 39
WHEN THE "CALLED OUT" RETURN
"But
you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet
out of you shall He come forth unto Me that is to be Ruler in Israel; whose
goings forth have been of old, from everlasting. Therefore will He give them
up, until the time that she which travails has brought forth: then the remnant
of His brethren shall return unto the children of Israel." (Micah 5:2).
There is an inworking of God taking place in a people which can rightly be
termed HIS REMNANT— for "AT THIS PRESENT TIME also there is a remnant according
to the election of grace." (Romans 11:5). These are they who have been CALLED
OUT of the world, CALLED OUT of the religious systems of man, and CALLED INTO a
relationship with Christ— to become one in Him. It has been a deep inworking of
His grace as each CALLED ONE then "goes forth therefore unto Him without the
camp, bearing His reproach." (Hebrews 13:13) Not to forever dwell in a
wilderness— not to forever be outside the camp— but once they have been fully
changed into His image, brought to maturity in Christ, "complete and proficient,
well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work," (2 Tim. 3:16,
Amplified), then shall they RETURN TO THE CAMP, for the ministry where unto they
have been called.
However, "That in all things He might have preeminence," (Col. 1:19), we first
turn our attention to our Lord Jesus Christ— for HE is the SEED through whom all
nations will be blessed. He is the PEACE. HE is the Ruler that now rules in us
for the distinct purpose that He might bring us into oneness with Himself, so
that we also IN HIM become a part of that seed to bless all nations, bring-peace
to the nations, and rule with Him. Thus we would EXALT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
and all that is fulfilled IN HIM. He is the Mighty One! He is our Redeemer and
Lord!
"Whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting." GOING FORTH— the
Hebrew verb used here has been applied to the rising of the sun, the flowing of
a fountain, the springing up of plants. "His going forth is prepared as the
morning ..." (Hosea 6:3). His GOING FORTH always bespeaks of the upsurge of
LIFE and LIGHT. LIFE is the CAUSE, LIGHT is the EFFECT. "In Him was life; and
the life was the light of men." (John 1:4). And to see the "light" is proof
enough that there is LIFE behind the manifestation. There can be no light
without His LIFE. Thus every burst of divine revelation within means that HIS
LIFE IS QUICKENING WITHIN YOU to bring forth this new understanding. It is all
a part of "His goings forth," for "HE IS that True Light which lights every man
that comes into the world." (John 1:9). His goings forth— the upsurge of life
and light, is destined for YOU— that He might become the Life and Light of your
life. But His "goings" is in the plural— for personal as it might be in every
individual, it is purposed "for every man." "Who is the SAVIOUR OF ALL MEN,
especially of those that believe." (1 Timothy 4:10). Praise God!
But for all His "GOINGS FORTH" to save, redeem, restore, etc. there is an
outworking of a purpose— and so we read on, "THEREFORE WILL HE GIVE THEM UP,
UNTIL ... " (Micah 5:3). This was not an easy doing! And through a prophet He
asks, "How shall I give you up?" (Hosea 11:8). And yet again, "Therefore thus
says the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I
do for the daughter of My people?" (Jeremiah 9:7).
The "giving up" was to work out a special discipline and correction, "MELT THEM,
AND TRY THEM." Such self-willed rebellion as was in them must be purged out.
They had a propensity for going after other gods. They played the harlot in
spiritual adultery. He had to "put them away" until they could be changed. So
Paul clearly writes in Romans 11:12 about "the fall of them... and the
diminishing of them..." Thus, "For a small moment have I forsaken you— in a
little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment." (Isaiah 54:7-8). But, THANK
GOD, He also said, "But with great mercies will I gather you— with everlasting
kindness will I have mercy on you, says the Lord your Redeemer."
In the outworking of the process, the "fall of them, and the diminishing of
them," is vitally involved in the reconciling of the nations. Even as Paul
writes in Romans 11:15, "For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of
the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?" In the
"giving them up" there was a dispersing of them among all nations. But Israel
was destined for ultimate salvation, "And so all Israel shall be saved," (v.
26). Therefore Paul advances the argument, "If the firstfruit be holy, the lump
is also holy." (v. 16). Israel was called His firstborn. (Exodus 4:22). Set
apart by God to be unto Him a peculiar people. And now, scattered among the
nations, the whole lump (mixed mass) becomes set apart unto salvation, for "a
little leaven leavens the whole lump." So God set apart a people for Himself,
then scattered that people among all nations, and in doing so sanctifies ALL
NATIONS to be gathered unto Him. Everywhere He scattered an Israelite, He
sanctifies (sets apart) that whole community for reconciliation unto Himself.
Therefore, in the "giving them up" He is working out a divine purpose, and only
the omnipotent God can sow the seeds of gain in loss itself. What appeared to
be a heart-rending loss and the disgrace of a nation being diminished, has
literally been a part of God's plan for the ultimate gain of bringing the whole
world to Himself. Thus we also read, "For God has concluded them all in
unbelief (Israel, and all other nations), that He might have mercy UPON ALL. (v.
32).
What we see in this marvelous working of grace among all nations, we also see
working in the life of individuals. When God diminishes us, strips us, reduces
us to what seems as "nothingness," know that HE has sown the seeds of GAIN into
that very loss, so that when He has worked all things together into good, it
will redound to the glory of God, and thus the latter end is greater than the
former.
This is a divine working so glorious, that Paul bursts out, "O the depth of the
riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His
judgments, and His ways past finding out." v. 33). Bless His name!
The "giving them up" has a divine time limitation, it is UNTIL— "Until the time
that she which travails have brought forth." (Micah 5:3).
Here we have a twofold application. Mary brought forth her firstborn Son, so
this immediately ties this verse with the preceding one. Jesus Christ is the
One whose goings forth have been of old. "Before Abraham was, I AM." (John
8:58). The "I AM," the Jehovah of the Old Testament is surely to be found in
the Jesus of the New Testament, "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the
world unto Himself." (2 Cor. 5:19). But, while Mary did bring forth "He who is
to be Ruler in Israel," yet it is very evident that Israel still remains "given
up," still scattered among the nations, unidentified, still in disgrace, etc.
BECAUSE there is ANOTHER "she that travails," and is yet in the process of
bringing forth. So while we read this historically, referring to Mary bringing
forth Jesus, and connecting it all to the preceding verses, yet we read it also
with another application of "she that travails" which connects it to all the
following verses, and the birthing of "the remnant of His brethren" which shall
return "to rule (Greek, shepherd) with a rod of iron." (Rev. 2:27), as they
share Christ's throne, in their oneness with Him.
The travailing woman is noted in Revelation 12:2,5, "And she being with child
cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. - And she brought forth
a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was
caught up unto God, and to His throne."
Manchild— the Greek word is "huios" meaning: one strong to bear, a son— not an
infant male, but one who is developed, a mature one. While the word "child"
denotes being newly born, just birthed. It is again a description of the
OVERCOMER of whom it is written, "The Lord shall send the rod of your strength
out of Zion. Rule in the midst of your enemies. Your people shall be willing in
the day of Your power, in the beauties of holiness FROM THE WOMB OF THE
MORNING." (Psalm 110:2-3). These are "caught up unto God, and to His throne."
They are lifted into the realm of power and authority.
What travails have been endured to bring forth this new creation species.
Matthew 24:8, All these things are the beginning of sorrows (birthpangs)." One
can view it all negatively, how that everything that can be shaken is being
shaken, and see it all for pain and sorrow, grief and woe, as death throes; or,
one can view it positively, AS BIRTHPANGS, to bring forth that new life which is
found in His "overcoming remnant."
"For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image
of His Son, that He might be the firstborn of many brethren." (Romans 8:29).
The BRETHREN are of the same quality as the Firstborn, for they are all
CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF THE SON. In all of their development, growth
processings, they are beholding Him, and are being "changed into the same image
from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Cor. 3:18)
There is a rightly "discerning the Lord's body." (1 Cor. 11:29). Our Lord Jesus
Christ is THE HEAD OF THE BODY, while the corporate brethren make up HIS BODY.
"He that is JOINED TO THE LORD is one spirit." (1 Cor. 6:17).
We ought not be so hasty in trying to RETURN to "Your brethren that hated you,
that cast you out for My name's sake," until first "He shall appear to your
joy," (Isaiah 66:5), and given you a message which goes beyond the sorrows of
the ending of this age— giving you a message of the MERCY and the GRACE of the
new age to come, when He shall restore all things to Himself. There is a
MESSAGE OF HOPE, that we can come through the processings, but we need to first
be partakers of its inworkings, and be BIRTHED FROM THE WOMB OF THE MORNING, so
that we as the messenger, and the message, do become one, with a state of being
that verifies what we declare!
We are reminded again of the sequence of His workings. "God at the first did
visit the nations (tribes) to take out of them a people for His name, AFTER THIS
I WILL RETURN, and build again the tabernacle of David." (Acts 15:14, 16).
Presently He is TAKING UNTO HIMSELF A PEOPLE FOR HIS NAME! it is a remnant— a
firstfruits— an overcoming people. After this, after they have been birthed
into His fulness, there shall be a RETURNING— He shall return, the Head and the
body which are now ONE shall return, and "build again the tabernacle of David."
Why? Because they are BUILDERS! They are truly "laborers together with God."
(I Corinthians 3:9).
Far too many these days are a part of a "destroyer company," that tear down
this, and tear down that— bring an end to this, and an end to that. But the
REMNANT OF THE BRETHREN that return are a BUILDER company. It may well be that
there needs to be a tearing down of the old, but not until we are equipped to
bring forth the new. It was said to Jeremiah, "See, I have set you over the
nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy,
and to throw down, TO BUILD, AND TO PLANT." (Jer. 1:10). When we "come to do
Your will, O God," then "He takes away the first, THAT HE MAY ESTABLISH THE
SECOND." (Heb. 10:9). It is for the JOY set before us of the building, the
planting, the establishing of the new, that sustains us through the removal of
the old order. But tearing down, without the hope of BUILDING the new, would
leave man devastated, condemned to despair.
Jesus said it very plainly, "The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill,
and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it
more abundantly." (John 10:10).
"'And they that shall be of you shall build the old waste places; you shall
raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called, The
repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." (Isaiah 58:12).
This is the ministry of the called out that return!
Yes, all Israel shall be saved, and all nations among whom Israel has been
scattered, but not before the REMNANT BRETHREN are brought forth— a people for
HIS NAME— one in His nature, character, image and likeness. There must needs be
a BRIDEGROOM COMPANY first, before there is the bringing forth of the bride.
The bridegroom has THE NAME, and then gives his name to the one prepared to be
his bride. First He visits the nations to take out a people for HIS NAME, to
become His name, become His own body. Then later it can be said to the bride,
"As a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you: and as the
bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you." (Isaiah
62:5). It is a vital truth, that of the corporate bridegroom, that must come
first, before there is a return to the nation which becomes the bride. He that
has ears, let him hear! Many are confused on this issue, and teach for
brideship, which is fine in its place, but they have not been quickened to see
the manchild, sons, groom company in its distinction from the bride. (Shelve
this, if you must, but precious is this truth when He makes it life within).
Bring forth this REMNANT BRETHREN, this corporate man of which Christ is the
Head, "And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty
of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great
unto the ends of the earth." (Micah 5:4). Praise God, these are they that shall
minister solely in the "strength of the Lord." For they have learned that it is
"Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord." (Zechariah 4:6).
They have been JOINED TO HIM, and receive out from Him all that is needed for
the occasion. Gone will be the days of the works of the flesh, with all its
self-effort. Ended will be the soulish projection of the ego of man, and all
his psychic aberration and psychology. For "by the Spirit of the Lord"
precludes all the soulish schemes and devices of man, when HE becomes our wisdom
and strength.
They stand to FEED— for having brought them "one of a city, and two of a family"
to Zion, He is now able to "give pastors and teachers after Mine own heart WHICH
SHALL FEED with knowledge and understanding." (Jer.3:14-15)
It is true, we have had glimpses of "apostles, prophets, evangelists, and
teaching pastors," but the fulness of these ministries cannot be realized until
first He has BROUGHT HIS REMNANT TO ZION, and then, in full union with Him, they
shall be able to rightly FEED the flock of God. Presently, it must be said,
"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 Cor. 13:9-10). How
we yearn to be brought to Zion, where in the fulness of HIS STRENGTH, we shall
be able to stand and feed. Praise God for that fulness which shall fully meet
every need! We see the goal set before us. Yet "I count not myself to have
apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark
for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.,' (Phil. 3:13-14).
Truly, "His going forth is prepared as the morning: and He shall come unto us as
the rain, as the latter former rain unto the earth." (Hosea 6:3).
"For it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you."
(Hosea 10:12).
Significant that the Hebrew word for "former rain" is "yarah" and literally
means: to TEACH, or, a teacher of righteousness ministry. He will come and
RAIN, HE WILL COME AND TEACH RIGHTEOUSNESS! Desperately we need this rain!
Ethics, morality, integrity, honesty, etc. are at an all-time low in the world
today. Leaders are frustrated, and they try to pass laws which will bear upon
people to clean up their act and be more upright, but righteousness cannot be
legislated. We try ever so hard to "make clean the outside of the cup and of
the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess." (Matt. 23:25).
For "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can
know it?" (Jer. 17:9).
But there is a RAIN that is coming that is unlike all other rains, for it is a
TEACHING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS that changes the INSIDE of the cup. "I will put My
laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts ..." (Heb. 8:13)
Herein is a ministry that shall "Teach (yarah) My people the difference between
the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the
clean." (Ezekiel 44:23). Then, "My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech
shall distill as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the
showers upon the grass: because I will publish the name of the Lord and ascribe
greatness unto our God." (Deut. 32:2-3). All this has nothing to do with a
carnal creed of how to dress (a clothesline religion), nor of all the religious
works we have known— for such dogmas have only produced a self-righteousness
which is as filthy rags. But when it is OF and BY the Spirit, "He, the Spirit
of truth ... will guide you into all truth: ... He will reprove the world of
sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." (John 16:13, 8). How effective
shall be that TEACHING-RAIN.
Furthermore it is enduring, for "They shall abide: for now shall He be great
unto the ends of the earth." (Micah 5:4). Again the thought is twofold: first
of all, it is a ministry that shall abide— not come and go, rise and fall— but
steadfastly abide, until they have seen every man fully reconciled to God. The
Levitical priesthood was temporary— for the priest would serve for a time, and
die; and another would arise to take his place. But when we are ONE IN CHRIST,
we become part of the Melchizedek order, to minister out of "the power of an
endless life." An abiding priesthood!
Secondly, the inworking salvation shall produce a change that shall last. Jesus
said, "I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth
fruit, and THAT YOUR FRUIT SHOULD REMAIN." (John 15:16). No more falling away,
no more back-sliding. No more "going out from us, because they were not of us."
When it is done IN THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD it will produce an abiding fruit!
Thank God for such glorious victory!
Then "He shall speak peace unto the heathen: and His dominion shall be from sea
to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth." (Zech. 9:10)
"And this shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and
when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven
shepherds, and eight principal men." (Micah 5:5).
Seven is the number of perfection and completeness, and thus it is promised that
there shall be a perfect shepherd, TEACHING PASTOR ministry, that in love and
compassion will build— feed— nurture the flock of God.
Eight is the number of new beginning, or resurrection life. While the Hebrew
word here for "principal" literally means: anointed. A company that is anointed
with resurrection life to see the new beginning— establishment of HIS KINGDOM in
all the earth. God shall RAISE THESE UP!
In conjunction with these "seven shepherds, and eight principal men," we read,
"Seek Him that makes SEVEN STARS and ORION, and turns the shadow of death into
the morning." (Amos 5:8). Seven stars refers to Pleiades, while Orion is made
up of eight principal stars called THE MIGHTY HUNTER. Significant that "written
in the stars" is this promise of this ministry of the REMNANT BRETHREN that
return to bring life to mankind, TURNING THE SHADOW OF DEATH INTO THE MORNING.
"Can you bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?"
(Job 38:31). SWEET INFLUENCES— not to condemn, not to impute sin, but to show
mercy, reconciliation. There is no power that will be able to BIND, resist
these sweet influences, for HIS LOVE never fails. Nor shall any be able to
loose the bands— i.e. the drawing together that which the anointed ministry
unites. Who can tear apart that which the mighty hunter has drawn together?
Truly, when He opens the door, no man can shut it. And "whatsoever you shall
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven." (Matt. 16:19). This is the ANOINTED ministry of the
new covenant, of resurrection, which shall "gather together in one all things in
Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in Him." (Eph.
1:10)
How gloriously effective these brethren will be— for "They shall waste the land
of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus
shall He (this corporate anointed man) deliver us from the Assyrian, when he
comes into our land, and when he treads within our borders." (Micah 5:6). Going
forth "conquering and to conquer," there will be a subjugation of all evil, all
negativity, to the kingdom of God.
Furthermore, the next verse goes on to state, "And the REMNANT of Jacob shall be
in the midst of many people AS A DEW FROM THE LORD, as the showers upon the
grass, that tarries not for man, nor waits for the sons of men." (verse 7).
What a ministry of LOVE, GRACE, REFRESHING— gentle as the dew, tender as the
showers— freely giving to all. When the dew is distilled is makes no preference
whether it falls upon the lovely rose, or upon the weed— it is freely given
everywhere. Such is the mercy of our God, that "He makes His sun to rise on the
evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust." (Matt. 5:45). In
fact, He says, "I am found of them that sought Me not." (Isa. 65:1). The
outflow of His love and grace shall reach to every man, sweet influences that
change the heart, bringing forth a deliverance that no man can disannul. Yes,
every one that has been CALLED OUT from the religious systems of man, purified
and made one in Christ, shall then RETURN with His life to bless all nations.
Amen!
_________________________________________________
(1) Prinzing, Ray and Doris "Letters of Truth"
Boise, Idaho 83705, P.O. Box 5822
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