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 INTERNAL TRIUMPH

 "And having done all (the crisis demands), to stand (firmly in your place)." Ephesians 6:13, Amplified].
"For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." [Luke 17:21].

            The victory of Calvary begins within, and our real  standing is first realized this inner sphere. To be sure, there have been many shakings of our earth, turbulent conflicts, internal crisis again and again, but all of this has been a part of God's process of cleansing our temple. He has had to shake and move and throw out and tear down many things, but praise His name, a greater and more perfect tabernacle, to far exceed the building that now stands, shall become our new habitation in Him. This is the transition from the natural into the spiritual, and the end results will be glorious, and to HIS praise.
            But there has been much internal crisis as God exposes our inner nature and deals with it fragment by fragment, that all might be changed into the image of Himself. Then, that which is first being accomplished in the midst of our own being, shall also be wrought out in the midst of the earth. And that which is being wrought out in the midst of the earth shall also be fully wrought out in all the universe for HE shall "gather together in one all things in Christ." [Ephesians1:10]. Having reconciled into Himself all things, "whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." [Col. 1:20].
            He begins in our own little earthen vessel, to subdue every part of our ntellect, will, and emotions, and bring forth the manifestation of His nature in every part of our being, and then shall it expand until the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall  over ALL THE EARTH. But it doesn't stop there, for it reaches out until all the heavenly realms are fully one in this great HARMONY OF DIVINE LIFE, and so shall our God be ALL and in all.
            Now the admonition of the scripture is very clear, "the husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits." [2 Timothy 2:6]. We must have this internal triumph, and stand all-victorious within our own being, before we'll ever be able to stand victorious in the midst of all the other conflicts in the earth, and that which shall erupt in the future. We must first be personal partakers of the fruits of this way of victory, lest we would inject our own personal internal conflict into others, and by that increase their tension and distress. For you might try to assume an appearance that everything within is under control, and yet the "spirit" of your own conflicts will reach out to affect all your surroundings. Or, if others who are in distress come into your presence, and though they insist that everything is peaceful and lovely, if they have an agitated spirit, before long you will sense it, and if you already have enough trouble of your own, that additional strain can be almost too much to bear .
            Therefore, it is our desire to come into a place of perfect peace in Christ,  so that we do not add to the care and burden of others, but rather will be able to help share their load and bring them deliverance. It is a fact, however, that whatever is within you will eventually be revealed. Our words and actions might cover up for a time, but it is difficult to hide the "spirit" of what we are within. That is why God has been dealing with His called out, to take heed to their spirit, that they might be joined unto Him in ONE SPIRIT, then all emanations will be to His glory.
            Israel was greatly challenged by the Lord's message through the prophet, "How long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee?" [Jeremiah 4:14]. It wasn't just what they were speaking outwardly, for they would honour the Lord with their lips, but their heart was far from Him. It wasn't just the ritual and observance which God was taking note of, for He saw their ceremonies and sacrifices, as a form, but the real question remained, how long would vain thoughts remain within?
            "Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the  midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands." [Micah 5:13]. Thank God, this is also being wrought out in the lives of His people today. He has been cutting off, casting down, rooting out all the false imagery which we have contained within. You say, what do you mean by "false imagery" ? An image is but a replica, it is not the real thing in this sense of the word. A statue is but the likeness of something. And when we come to the word "instead of," taken from the Greek it means "anti," or that which is anti-Christ. Anything that is placed there IN-STEAD OF Christ, is literally anti-Christ. We have contained a lot of ideas and concepts, Babylonish traditions, which has been false imagery, it wasn't the real truth. It might have had bits and shades of truth in it, but it wasn't the real truth at all. Praise God, the travail of this life is being used to remove all this falseness and bring us down to the reality of the true life found in Christ.
            All of our mental concepts and vain thoughts which the spirit of this world as caused to become lodged within us, God is taking dominion over it. You cannot have inner peace as long as you have all of these suggestions and vain imaginations warring within. But when God has purged them all out, then His true tranquility and peace abide. One cannot maintain a solid stand of victory within and still lodge all of this false imagery which has cluttered up our inner chambers. For those very images will rise to mock us, they will torment us, and destroy our peace, and must be thrown out.
            "Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom." [Psalm 51:6].
            I am sure that most of His called out are quite familiar with the many processes whereby God purges the interior of our being, even as we read, "The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly." [Proverbs 20:30]. Amplified─ "strokes or correction reach to the inmost parts." What love is manifested as GOD applies the needed measures of divine discipline, for thus we are cleansed within.
            "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:   nevertheless afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." [Hebrews 12:11].
            There is a "nevertheless afterward," and it brings us to that place where we are able to say with the Psalmist, "Bless, O my soul, Jehovah, and all my inward parts─ His holy name." [Psalm 103:1, Young's Literal]. When all that is within us is HIS HOLY NAME, all shall indeed bless the Lord, and be to His praise.
            What are the inward parts? When He has fully purged out all of SELF, and the old Adamic nature, then it shall be HIS NATURE, HIS CHARACTER, and when all of our inward parts become "HIM," CHRIST LIVING IN ME, they will bless the Lord. It is this present mixture of flesh and spirit that causes such an internal warfare, for the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other. But when the ways of flesh are dealt with, and only HIS NATURE remains in us, that shall bring us to the point when ALL THAT IS WITHIN shall bless the Lord.
            In many the experiences of Nehemiah, while he was rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, there was an occasion when his adversaries, Sanballat and Tobiah, sent a message unto Nehemiah by a man whom they had hired within the walls, and he said "Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the
doors of the temple: for they  will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee." [Nehemiah 6:10]. But Nehemiah was not deceived by this craftiness, nor was fear instilled in him, and he refused to rendezvous in the temple, hiding as a coward, and thus hindering the purpose God had sent him to accomplish.
            What an application is here for us today. First of all, it has all the soundings of being so religious─ to betake ourselves to the temple, and we'll even shut the doors, and be hidden away in the secret place. But Nehemiah would not yield, he would not give up HIS STAND IN THE LORD, not even to hide behind another religious program, or something that sounds spiritual. Methinks we have had far too many rendezvous in our temple─ and in our secret parts, under the guise of "thinking about" or "defending spiritual things," and we have been weakened by fear and unbelief suggested to us by these unholy influences that beguiled us. Little imaginations of the carnal mind, sowing their distrust,  have crowded their way into our inner temple, and we quietly sat down to think and ponder, and these little mischief makers of unrest interjected themselves in our meditation to bring doubts and fears, until we lost our peace and realized that the enemy was trying to slay us  in the middle of the night.
            Beware what you allow to come into your temple, "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." The first place to resist the enemy is in our thinking, and when it says "give no place to the devil," this is the first area wherein we should not give him any footing. You cannot be GOD-CONSCIOUS and devil-conscious at the same time, so don't even think on him, and he cannot get  is negative actions working within you.
            "Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools (Hebrew, the self-confident) is made known." [Proverbs 14:33].
            Wisdom rests, is at peace, in the heart of him that hath understanding. But ah, that which is in the midst of the self-confident ones is going to be made known, for "the day shall declare it." [1 Cor. 3:13]. Everyone's inner standing is going to be made manifest. If our standing is in the Lord, and wisdom is at rest in us, then we shall be able to walk in the royal dignity of HIS PEACE, untroubled by the atmosphere so rife. But if we have been confident in ourselves, and all of our standing is of our own making and choosing, then that too shall be revealed for what it is.
            God is now working within, not just to expose us, for "love covereth all sin," but there is a purging and purifying going on within so that we shall not be ashamed in the hour of His appearing.
            "And the Lord said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of My people Israel." [Amos 7:8]. Receiving this plumbline, this CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY, this anointing of God, this Spirit which is come to reprove us of sin, righteousness, and of judgment to come, this inworking of the Spirit which corrects us and aligns us to Himself, has been a glorious plumbline in the midst of our earth.
            There are a few special things to note concerning a plumbline, and one of them is the fact that it is placed into position, and then everything else has to measure up to it. God has placed a plumbline in the midst of each one of us, and we have to answer to HIS SPIRIT THAT DWELLS WITHIN. I do not have to measure up to what you think is the standard, nor do you have to measure up to what I think is the right rule. But each of us need to find HIS approval and meet His specifications. Once we have become fully aligned to Him, then this remnant actually becomes God's plumbline in the midst of the whole earth.
            This GLORIOUS PLUMBLINE, WHICH IS BECOMING in the midst of the earth, will then stand in their place, "and having done all, to stand." [Eph. 6:13]. A plumbline doesn't move all over, trying to get things to measure up to it, but it remains stedfast, a silent witness of the right, and its very being is a testimony whether things are upright or not.
            God's remnant shall STAND IN HIM─ and their very stand shall be an evidence to all mankind of the way of the Lord. The sun does not wander aimlessly all over God's heaven, but it moves silently in its proper circuit, and its light, emanating forth, penetrates into the far corners of darkness. Coming into the fulness of HIS STATURE, we shall stand in Him, yes, rest in Him, and cease all the frenzied activity of the flesh in trying to make people measure up to this and that creed and standard, but we shall simply point the way to righteousness, which is found in Christ, and HE shall bring each one into the fulness of His life.
            "I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted (Hebrew, HUMBLED) and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid." [Zephaniah 3:12-13].
            Here is a prepared remnant to be placed in the midst of the earth; a humbled people, self has been abased, and they seek only to exalt the Lord their God; they are a poor people, and "blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." [Matthew 5:3]… with no more boasting in self-pride and self-ability. Realizing that in themselves they have no human resource, but being joined to the Lord in His poverty─ "for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, THAT YE THROUGH HIS POVERTY MIGHT BE RICH." [2 Corinthians 8:9]. In this fellowship, of His poverty, while He has stripped us of all our gifts and graces, until we are left utterly dependent upon Him for all things, then are we made rich with the riches of Christ, "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
            Having found their resting place in Christ alone, they have found their position in the center of the will of God, and He has become their all in all, therefore none shall make them afraid.
            They shall not do iniquity, they shall not speak lies, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth. "And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God." [Rev. 14:5].
            "I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou  houldest keep them from the evil. As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world." [John 17:15, 18].
            Jesus never prayed that the Father would snatch us away, to come "beautiful Isle of Somewhere," but that the Father would keep us from the evil. Thus we are to be in the world, but not of it, not deriving our life from its corrupt systems, for our LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD. The righteous shall be recompensed in the earth. The meek shall inherit the earth. God is going to do a tremendous work in the midst of the earth through HIS REMNANT, His sons whom He is placing in their appointed places, to be His plumbline, His standard of righteousness. Don't take them out of the world, send them into it, even as the Father sent our Lord, to reveal the love and mercy and grace of the Father for all mankind.
            Christ came to seek and save that which was lost. He came not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. So also "saviours shall come up on Mount Zion." [Obadiah 21] .Sent as HE was sent, NOT TO CONDEMN, but to save. If, therefore, we come with any message of condemnation, the question is, who sent us? Not the Father, for He does not send to condemn. A plumbline doesn't condemn all those out of line, but sounds the message of uprightness with a positive note so that those who are out of line might straighten up. "Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let "it rather be healed." [Hebrews 12:12-13].
            "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth Thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and Thy right hand shall save me." [Psalm 138:7].
            To walk in the midst of trouble, but to have no trouble in the midst of you! This is internal triumph! Nor will you be able to prove that you have this victory within until you are thrust into the midst of confusion and tension and distress. But He will sustain your life, He will thrust out the enemy before you, He shall undergird you with His mighty Arm. The saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom and possess it for ever.
            If there is nothing within you that responds to the trouble without, there is nothing to be afraid of. Why are we yet so afraid to face trouble today─ because we are not sure we can yet trust our inner condition, there is a bit of fear that maybe in the midst of some hellish circumstance we will find an inside traitor that betrays us and yields to the enemy. But when God has finished His work within, brought it to a successful conclusion, so that everything within us is holy, and can bless the Lord, there will be no inside traitor to cause us grief or distress. Praise God, He is purging His people from everything that would respond to evil or be excited by the negative, or be magnetized by the things without. Thus shall they be able to serenely pass through the midst of trouble and overcome the evil, and deliver those who are bound by evil.
            "But when he seeth his children, the work of Mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify My name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine." [Isaiah 29:23-24].
            When the manifestation of the work of God's hands is revealed in the midst of the earth, the new creation species is brought forth from the womb of the morning to declare the righteousness of God, with their very state of being the witness of His full redemption, then they that erred in spirit shall come to understanding─ shall comprehend the truth which was kept secret during f the ages, wrapped in parables, signs and symbols. And .j those that murmured because they didn't understand  God's great plan of the ages shall learn doctrine, shall be taught of God, and praise His name, "They shall know  the truth, and the truth shall make them free."
            The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into this full victory. Though God has prepared His remnant in the very midst of men, they saw it not, for the HIDDEN MAN OF THE HEART is yet contained in earthen vessels which conceal the true nature being formed within. Nor are we ready to be revealed until IN US there is no internal disturbance, but all is joined unto the Lord IN ONE SPIRIT, and we are totally made one in Him.
            "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 tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men." [Micah 5:7]. An internal triumph so complete that now they are able to stand IN THE MIDST OF PEOPLE and fill their appointed ministry. Now the symbol is changed from a plumbline, to becoming HIS DEW, but the application is much the same. The dew has no control over where it shall fall, but all the weather conditions being met, it simply distills from its more spiritized state, and  is placed upon the thirsty blade of grass. It wasn't perhaps asked to fall there by the blade of grass, maybe the grass didn't feel worthy of a divine touch, but the loving heart of the Father causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. Praise God, He hath promised to pour out of His Spirit upon all flesh. And the prophet waxing bold, under the inspiration of the Almighty, declared, "I am found of them that sought me not." [Isaiah 65 :1] .God's gracious ministry of love shall bring life to the world which He has already reconciled to Himself by the blood of the cross of Jesus Christ.
            "And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver." [Micah 5:8]. Oh, yes, there is the full ministration of the lamb, with its gracious falling of the dew to refresh and give life. But there is also the manifestation of the "lion of the tribe of Judah, which doth prevail." Revelation 5:5-6 links together this completeness of Lion and Lamb, justice and mercy. For the judgments shall be brought forth unto victory, that the inhabitants of the earth might learn righteousness. Yet there shall be no mis-judgment, because having no internal sentiment and  temperament of the carnal nature left to pervert the judgment of God, they shall execute His judgments with equity and uprightness. It is a triumphant way, there is no defeat in this calling, and none shall be able to deliver from their hand, nor resist the purpose of God which shall be fulfilled through them.
            "And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was apiece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. But he (Shammah) stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: AND THE LORD WROUGHT A GREAT VICTORY." [2 Samuel 23:11-12].
            Through one man that stood in the midst of the old bean patch GOD gave a real victory. He was able to stand there because he had an internal triumph, and this soon became manifested outwardly. The others fled in fear, Shammah stood in the strength of the Lord his God.
            "And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan." [Joshua 3:17]. What victory─ a people able to stand in the midst of Jordan, because there is no Jordan in the midst of them. They have opened the way through the gates of death, and they shall keep those gates open until all the captives that have for so long sat in darkness, in the region of the shadow of death, are passed clean over- into the life of Christ. When all death is abolished, then shall only the life of God be abounding, to His glory and praise. God shall have a people able to stand in the midst, and all of the wonders of their own personal internal triumph shall then be revealed outwardly, to produce a victory for the deliverance of men.

  
INTERNAL TRIUMPH
 

Dare to step into the waters
That would overflow their bounds,
Dare to stand amid their surgings
Fearing not their threat'ning sounds.
Knowing that thy God still reigneth
And in Him you, too, shall stand
Undismayed in Jordan's river,
 With thy feet on firm, dry land.
 
In the midst of every conflict
 With the atmosphere so rife,
God's elect shall stand undaunted,
 Undergirded by His life.
For within their bosom nothing
Stirs to join the ranks without,
There is nought in them remaining
That responds to fear and doubt.
 
But the Christ of Calvary's triumph
Dwelling in their midst gives peace,
And where'er HiS presence lingers
Inner conflicts have to cease.
Thus they stand in troubled places,
Each position to fulfill,
 All triumphant, and rejoicing,
Now to manifest His will.
 
Earth shall tremble at their standing,
Evil forces too shall quail,
For their power knows no limit,
God in them shall e'er prevail.
And the day shall soon declare it,
Shall no more its secret hide,
Those in whom there is no conflict
 
Are those who in pure love abide.
 

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(1)  Prinzing, Ray and Doris. THE TRIUMPHANT WAY!. (now out of print), Boise, Idaho 83705}

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