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“With the merciful Thou wilt shew Thyself merciful.” (Psalm 18:25)

One of the precious inworkings of His grace in the lives of those, whom He separates unto Himself, is that they are becoming His merciful ones. Seems that many have walked with God for years without learning what it means to “have mercy”, to become a vessel of mercy through whom His mercy is revealed. There has been far too much fight in us; a demand for justice according to what we think is justice.

Jonah received the word of the Lord – it is a marvelous thing to receive “the Word of the Lord”, but that doesn’t make us a merciful one. It was because Jonah rebelled against the mercy, that he first fled unto “Tarshish: for I knew that Thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness,” (Jonah 4:2). So God had to discipline him in the belly of a great fish, until somewhat subdued he was willing to speak the “Word” which the Lord had given unto him. Then God had to give him another forceful object lesson with a gourd to teach him to have mercy. How hard are the lessons we need to teach us also to be merciful. But in due time we shall be perfected in mercy, for He has a work of mercy to be performed through His people.

“Be ye merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven,” (Luke 6:36-37). Note the word “forgive”, same Greek root used elsewhere as ‘redemption”, meaning TO LOOSE AWAY. We are groaning within ourselves for the fullness of our redemption, that we might be loosed from the very last vestige of this bondage of vanity. But what sayest thou to this statement of our Lord, according as thou forgivest another (loose them from their offences toward you), so shalt thou be forgiven (loosed from all that presently holds you captive)? The more we learn to be merciful unto others, the more we also shall be able to comprehend His mercy for us. “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him”, (Ps. 103:11).

“For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (II Corinthians 6:16)

From the time that Jesus declared “Your house is left unto you desolate”, (Matt. 23:38), and “The veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom”, (Matt. 27:51), since that time our “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands”, (Acts 17:24).

There are two Greek words, which have been translated as ‘temple’, they are: HIERON, meaning a building, and NAOS, referring to the inner sanctuary. When the veil was rent asunder, as far as God was concerned, that building ceased to be a temple, naos, and thereafter was just a building, hieron. Then Paul picks up this word ‘naos’ and uses it exclusively when speaking of THE TEMPLE, INNER SANCTUARY, which is the new, living dwelling place of God. He dwelleth no more in temples, naos, made with hands, such are only building, but He dwelleth in the inner sanctuary of your heart and mine.

“But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building (making),” (Heb. 9:11). He is forming HIS TEMPLE with the “LIVING STONES” whom He is processing and preparing through the nitty-gritty of every day living. Renewed into the mind of Christ, for His dwelling shall be all of one mind, HIS! Brought to that place where from every avenue of our being we cry out, “not my will, but Thine be done”, His will is supreme in His entire house – supreme, yes, it is also the sole delight of all who are His temple. This living temple fulfills Haggai 2:9, “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts; and in this place will I give peace”.

“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.  Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine, he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes.” (Genesis 49:10-11)

In fulfilling this scripture, significant that Jesus did not ride just one, but two.  “Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass,” (Mt. 21:5).

What meaneth the symbolism of all this?  Jesus sat upon the ass, and placed His feet upon the colt, and rode them both into Jerusalem.  Binding together the vine and the choice vine.  Jesus Christ was both the connecting link and the transition from both the vine of the first covenant and the choice vine of the new covenant.   He rode out the law, fulfilled it, and He placed His feet firmly upon the new covenant with a full arrangement unto life and victory.

Those apprehended to become a part of the enchristed company have likewise often been placed in that position of riding both the old and the new.  Brought up under the law with all its commandments, forms, ceremonies, yet receiving a vision of the glory of the NEW, so that they can no longer stay within the confines of the old, but now would “go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach.  For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come,” (Heb. 13:13-14)

Surely as He leads from the old into the new, we also “wash our garments in wine…” “The fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death,” (Phil. 3:10).   There can be no union with Him without treading this same path which He trod.  But there is a going from glory to glory, until we partake of the fruit of that CHOICE VINE, the new wine of the kingdom.

“For God speaketh once, yea, twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; then He openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction.” (Job 33:14-16)

What a marvelous token of His love to us-ward. Caught up with the cares of the day, holding our mind to the job that we might do it right, and we bemoan the fact that we do not have enough time to “study” and wait upon the Lord for the answers to our problems. Weary and exhausted we retire to our bed, and find that GOD BEGINS TO IMPART. Well He knows, that if we were conscious of all the instruction we received, we would tell His secrets prematurely to others, or miss-use that knowledge for the building up of the flesh, and the kingdoms of men. So He sealeth up their instruction. But in due time the need arises, and our heart cries out to God for help, and the holy Spirit, who was sent to bring all things to our remembrance, whatsoever He had told us, brings forth to our conscious mind that instruction which the Lord sealed up during the “night seasons”.

Many have grappled with a problem all day, unable to find an answer, so they prayed, committed it to the Lord, and went to bed to sleep. Yet in the morning as they arose and their mind turned again to the problem, they found they knew the answer. Where did it come from? Ah, out of the thoughts of the night, God has implanted that needed fragment of knowledge.

The Psalmist must have experienced this also. “I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.” (Psalm 16:70). How wonderful to know that GOD IS THERE, through the night seasons, to impart of His wisdom and understanding, to quiet our hearts, speak peace to the inner man, and to give courage to face a new day with positive attitudes. Blessed is the one who finds “his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night”, (Psalm 1:2).

Then out of the night shall come a song,
His truth prevails over every wrong.

“Looking unto Jesus the Author and the Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

This word “despising” from a Greek word that means, “to think down”, which is just the opposite of mushrooming it out of proportion. He did not dwell on the shame of the cross and how awful the dying process, but He had respect unto the joy, which was set before Him. He was joy-conscious!

We read, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I life; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God”, (Galatians 2:20-21).

There has been much needed teaching on the death to self process, for without it there can be no resurrection into His more abundant life. But there comes a time when we need to become more LIFE-CONSCIOUS. Phillips gives, “My present life is not that of the old ‘I; but the LIVING CHRIST WITHIN ME”. In whatever measures of this new life we have our portion, let us rejoice. As we daily commit our way unto the Lord, He is going to bring about a certain amount of the death process during that day, but at the same time He is also going to LIVE HIS LIFE THROUGH US, as it is needed. You will not have to worry about “dying’ during the day, He will see to it that this is accomplished. But it will certainly bring a new manifestation of victory if we become more LIFE-CONSCIOUS, and begin to see the Hand of God working in us to bring forth the expressions of His life.

Betimes, when going through a trial and inner death to self, one would ask, “how are things going?” and I would answer, “just fine”. Then wonder if I was being hypocritical. Then He said to me, “When thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto Thy Father which is in heaven”. And the principle was clear – rejoice in His joy and life, regardless of the temporary conditions. Confess His victory!

“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out.”     (Revelation 3:12)

A pillar is one who supports, bears the load without wavering, always stedfast, faithful.  There is a place in God where we are “stedfast, unmoveable”, (I Corinthians 15:58), “being rooted and grounded in love”, (Ephesians 3:17).

God is establishing His pillars, and upon them He shall build His kingdom in the days ahead.  The process of producing OVERCOMERS results in receiving those who do gain the victory, and thus qualify for becoming His “pillar and ground of the truth”, (I Tim. 3:15), from whence the kingdom shall arise.  Settled in Christ they are not blown about by every wind of doctrine.  Founded upon the Rock they need not run to and fro, to seek Christ in the desert or in the far city.  He dwells within them, and they dwell in Him.

“All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when He lifteth up an ensign on the mountains,” (Isa. 18:3).  God’s ensign, His pillar and ground of the truth, shall not be pointing in first one direction, and then with a change of mind point in another direction.  These shall KNOW THEIR GOD, and they shall consistently point men to HIM.  Their lives shall be a solid, living declaration of truth.  Their state of being shall challenge men and women to right-ness.

The opposite of this elect company is found in Proverbs 5:6, which well describes the religious harlot systems of Babylon, “Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them”.  Moveable ways!  Nothing stable.  As the waves of the sea, driven and tossed, double minded in all their ways.  Trying to serve God and the flesh at the same time, it is utter con-fusion.

But the “pillars” whom the Lord is preparing “know in Whom they have believed”, thus changing circumstances do not alter their standing.  Trials and testings do not dim their vision.  HE IS, and they are IN HIM.

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10)

The negative forces would daily affirm that this cannot be, and with the constant crisis and turmoil in the world, the present rule of corruption and evil, until “he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey”, (Isa. 59:15), it does seem to be an almost impossible dream.  But Jesus clearly taught that when the situation was so bad that men’s hearts would fail them for fear, and “for looking after those things which are coming on the earth”, then we are to take courage.  “For when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh”.  Furthermore, “when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand”. (Luke 21:26,28,31).

But even before the full kingdom age is manifested, the scriptures also teach that there are those who “have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the world (age) to come”, (Heb. 6:5).  Surely even now the firstfruits are tasting of this power, authority of the age to come, and they are learning to bow in submission to pray from their innermost being, “not my will, but Thine, be done”.  And HIS KINGDOM is beginning to reign in the hearts of men.

Surely “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation”, (Luke 17:20), so that men may say, “Lo, here; or, Lo, there”.  For His kingdom is among us, yes, within us, as daily we learn to submit to His sovereign rule.  The Son, Jesus Christ, must rule until all enemies – all self-will, rebellion, lust, strife, within has been brought into His control.  Then will He deliver the kingdom up to the Father, that God might be all in all.  It is an everlasting kingdom, but in ascending degrees its glory expands.  When all is delivered up, given over to the Father, it is that greater revelations might be realized than those confined to the “Son realm”, for the lesser is swallowed up into the greater, and the “in part” into the whole, glorious kingdom of God!

“I am this day weak, though anointed king…”   (II Samuel 3:39)

Much teaching in charismatic circles emphasizes the verse, “ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:8), and they stop right there, thrilled with the thought that if you want power, get anointed.  But it is needful that we understand the purpose of these present day anointings, which literally become our “anointing for burial”.  The rest of the verse reads, “Ye shall be witnesses unto Me…” The anointing is to enable us to lay down our own self-life, so that henceforth we become a manifestation of HIS LIFE.  But it requires power to be able to face this death-to-self-process, and that is why the anointing of the Holy Spirit is given unto us.  It is for our burial.  Then comes the resurrection life, His life rising out of our earthen vessel, “that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us”, (II Corinthians 4:7).

It is a fact, the more we walk by His anointing, the weaker our flesh will become, and He will subdue us; crucify every form of resistance of the carnal nature.  Nothing like the glorious anointing of the holy Spirit to make us weak – weak, and yet so very strong, for there is a power released of which few know anything about, because they refuse to accept the sphere of weakness wherein HE IS MADE STRONG.

Again we say with the Psalmist, “He weakened my strength in the way”, (Ps. 102:23).  HE diminished me, brought me to nothing, until we had nothing left herein to boast, nor in which we could glory in ourselves.    But then is when we truly find that “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will we glory in our weaknesses, that the power of Christ might rest upon me – for when I am weak, then am I strong”,  (II Cor. 12:9-10).

And when my weakness I can give

To Him, He takes this negative

And births a strength so positive.

O new creation, rise and live.

“And thou, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion.” (Micah 4:8)

Obviously, this is a work of sovereign grace in the hearts of His apprehended ones. “What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that Thou visitest him? For Thou has made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands: Thou hast put all under his feet,” (Psalm 8:4-6).

Made to have dominion – over all the works of His hands. This is hard to comprehend. “For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him,” (Hebrews 2:8).

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“Gather ye to Me My saints, making covenant with Me over a sacrifice.” (Psalm 50:6, Young’s Literal)

Covenant – a Hebrew word that means – a league, an eating.  It speaks of partaking together, that vital COMMUNION, “He that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood”, so partaking of Him that our life is changed and merged into one with His life.  Such a covenant can only be made over a sacrifice.  Many have made their vows, their covenants with God, only to break them in due time.  He had blessed them and they rejoiced and made their vows, but as time passes the world draws them into its mesh, and they forget the vow they made unto the Lord.

Therefore, this covenant is made OVER A SACRIFICE.  It is painful, it goes deep into the marrow of our being, and it costs us everything.  Just as that merchant went seeking goodly pearls, and finding that pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had to buy that pearl, so also it will cost us everything of self; our ego, our own will, ambitions, plans, wishes.  All is laid out before Him, consumed upon the altar of sacrifice.  Indeed, we come to know what it means to offer ourselves “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, your reasonable service,” (Romans 12:1).

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