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This is a wonderful
time in history during which God continues to do all that is necessary to bring
his children into absolute conformity to his perfect will. After all, haven’t
his children prayed for centuries for his will to be done on earth as it is in
heaven? Yes, this is a glorious time in which he is working in the Church as
his primary channel through which he is pouring out his glory to draw all
nations to himself.
The glorious Church
“without spot or wrinkle” is being conformed to the image of God through much
tribulation and fiery trials. In biblical apocalyptic imagery, the Church is
his "battle axe and weapons of war” with which he has subdued kingdoms and
overcome all his enemies. This is his "mighty and strong one" in which he has
committed—as the Body of Christ—the work of bringing the entire world into
submission to the will of God. This is his Overcomer, his "great army" with
which he is drawing nations into the Kingdom of God. The weapons of their
warfare are not carnal, natural weapons, but they are mighty weapons with which
God is pulling down strongholds. These are those who are “strong and do
exploits."
But in order for God
to fully commit this great and tremendous ministry into their hands, his
children must first submit themselves to his discipline, letting him truly be
the Lord of their entire lives. We have long since dealt with the question of
open sin, but now God is dealing with the inward rebellion of our wills. Only
those willing to be fully used by God are being dealt with in such a manner.
Yes, there is a real dealing of God going on within those who are called into
the High Calling of God. This is a very real thing, and is the work of the
Refiner's Fire. To those who are going through it, some of its aspects are
excruciatingly painful, but very necessary, and the end result thereof is
glorious as we are brought into absolute and complete submission to the will of
God.
In a minister’s
conference and convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma, God gave me a vision which I want
to share with you concerning this harnessing of our wills. There were more than
30 ministers present in this particular Thursday morning service, and God, the
Father of spirits, was present to deal with his sons, to correct them and
discipline them to absolute obedience to his will. There was such a awesome
awareness of God’s presence that no one could go to the pulpit and minister.
There was a reluctance among the ministers to say anything except that which was
directly ordered by the God’s Spirit.
And as those men of
God sat there in the awesome presence of Almighty God, some of them having many
years of ministry, some missionaries, all of them capable of getting up and
preaching a powerful sermon, I was deeply impressed by the way they responded to
the discipline of God. And in the midst of this terrific dealing of God with
our spirits, God’s Spirit gave me a vision...
THE KING’S CARRIAGE
On a dirt road in the
middle of a wide field stood a beautiful carriage, something on the order of a
stagecoach, but all edged in gold, and with beautiful carvings. It was pulled
by six large chestnut horses, two in the lead, two in the middle, and two in the
rear. But they were not moving; they were not pulling the carriage and I
wondered why not. Then I saw the driver underneath the carriage, on the ground
on his back, just behind the last two horses' heels, working on something
between the front wheels of the carriage.
I thought, "My, he is
in a dangerous place, for if one of those horses kicked or stepped back, they
could kill him; or if they decided to go forward, or got frightened somehow,
they would pull the carriage right over him." But he didn't seem afraid, for he
knew those horses were disciplined and would not move until he told them to
move. The horses were not stamping their feet nor acting restless, and though
there were bells on their feet, the bells were not tinkling. There were
pom-poms on their harnesses over their heads, but the pom-poms were not moving.
They were simply standing still and quiet, waiting for the voice of the Master.
TWO YOUNG COLTS IN THE FIELD
As I watched the
harnessed horses, I noticed two young colts coming out of the open field, and
they approached the carriage and seemed to say to the horses: "Come and play
with us, we have many fine games, we will race with you, come catch us..."
And with that the colts kicked up their heels, flicked their tails and raced
across the open fields. But when they looked back and saw the horses were not
following, they were puzzled. They knew nothing of harnesses, and could not
understand why the horses did not want to play. So they called to them: "Why
do you not race with us? Are you tired? Are you too weak? Do you not have
strength to run? You are much too solemn, you need more joy in life." But the
horses answered not a word, nor did they stomp their feet or toss their heads.
But they stood, quiet and still, waiting for the voice of the Master.
Again the colts
called to them: "Why do you stand so in the hot sun? Come out here in the shade
of this nice tree. See how green the grass is? You must be hungry, come and
feed with us, it is so green and so good. You look thirsty, come drink of one
of our many streams of cool, clear water." But the horses answered them with not
so much as a glance, but stood still, waiting for the command to go forward with
the King.
COLTS IN THE MASTER'S CORRAL
And then the scene
changed, and I saw lariat nooses fall around the necks of the two colts, and
they were led off to the Master's corral for training and discipline. How sad
they were as the lovely green fields disappeared, and they were put into the
confinement of the corral with its brown dirt and high fence. The colts ran
from fence to fence, seeking freedom, but found that they were confined to this
place of training.
And then the Trainer
began to work with them, with his whip and his bridle. What a fate for those
who had been all their lives accustomed to such freedom! They could not
understand the reason for this torture, this terrible discipline. What great
crime had they done to deserve this? Little did they know of the responsibility
that was to be theirs when they had submitted to the discipline, learned to
perfectly obey the Master, and finished their training. All they knew was that
this processing was the most horrible thing they had ever known.
SUBMISSION AND REBELLION
One of the colts
rebelled under the training, and said, "This is not for me. I like my freedom,
my green hills, my flowing streams of fresh water. I will not take any more of
this confinement, this terrible training." So he found a way out, jumped the
fence and ran happily back to the meadows of grass. And I was astonished that
the Master let him go, and went not after him. But he devoted his attention to
the remaining colt. This colt, though he had the same opportunity to escape,
decided to submit his own will, and learn the ways of the Master. And the
training got harder than ever, but he was rapidly learning more and more how to
obey the slightest wish of the Master, and to respond to even the quietness of
his voice.
And I saw that had
there been no training, no testing, there would have been neither submission nor
rebellion from either of the colts. For in the field they did not have the
choice to rebel or submit, they were “sinless” in their innocence. But when
brought to the place of testing and training and discipline, then was made
manifest the obedience of one and the rebellion that lay hidden in the heart of
the other. And though it seemed safer not to come to the place of discipline
because of the risk of being found rebellious, yet I saw that without this there
could be no sharing of God’s glory.
INTO THE HARNESS
Finally, this period of
training was over. Was he now rewarded with his freedom, and sent back to the
fields? Oh no. But a greater confinement than ever now took place, as a
harness dropped about his shoulders. Now he found there was not even the
freedom to run about the small corral, for in the harness he could only move
where and when his Master spoke. And unless the Master spoke, he stood still.
The scene changed, and I
saw the other colt standing on the side of a hill, nibbling at some grass. Then
across the fields, down the road came the King's carriage, drawn by six horses.
With amazement he saw that in the lead, on the right side, was his brother colt,
now made strong and mature on the good corn in the Master's stable. He saw the
lovely pom-poms shaking in the wind, noticed the glittering gold-bordered
harness about his brother, heard the beautiful tinkling of the bells on his feet
... and envy came into his heart.
Thus he complained to
himself: "Why has my brother been so honored, and I am neglected? They have not
put bells on my feet, nor pom-poms on my head. The Master has not given me the
wonderful responsibility of pulling his carriage, nor put about me the golden
harness. Why have they chosen my brother instead of me?" And by the Spirit the
answer came back to me as I watched. "Because one submitted to the will and
discipline of the Master, and one rebelled; thus has one been chosen and the
other set aside."
FAMINE IN THE LAND
Then I saw a great drought sweep across the countryside, and the green
grass became dead, dry, brown and brittle. The little streams of water dried
up, stopped flowing, and there was only a small muddy puddle here and there. I
saw the little colt (I was amazed that it never seemed to grow or mature) as he
ran here and there, across the fields looking for fresh streams and green
pastures, finding none. Still he ran, seemingly in circles, always looking for
something to feed his famished spirit.
But there was a famine in the land, and the rich green pastures and
flowing streams of yesterday were not to be had. And one day the colt stood on
the hillside on weak and wobbly legs, wondering where to go next to find food,
and how to get strength to go. It seemed like there was no use, for good food
and flowing streams were a thing of the past, and all the efforts to find more
only taxed his waning strength.
Suddenly he saw the King's carriage coming down the road, pulled by six
great horses. And he saw his brother, fat and strong, muscles rippling, sleek
and beautiful with much grooming. His heart was amazed and perplexed, and he
cried out: "My brother, where do you find the food to keep you strong and fat in
these days of famine? I have run everywhere in my freedom, searching for food,
and I find none. Where do you, in your awful confinement, find food in this
time of drought? Tell me, please, for I must know!"
And then the answer came back from a voice filled with victory and
praise: "In my Master's House, there is a secret place in the confining
limitations of his stables where he feeds me by his own hand, and his granaries
never run empty, and his well never runs dry." And with this the Lord made me
to know that in the day when people are weak and famished in their spirits in
the time of spiritual famine, that those who have lost their own wills, and have
come into the secret place of the most High, into the utter confinement of his
perfect will, shall have plenty of the corn of Heaven, and a never-ending flow
of fresh streams of revelation by his Spirit. Thus the vision ended.
INTERPRETATION OF THE VISION
"Write the vision,
and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that reads it." (Habakkuk. 2:2)
"Harness the horses: and get up, you horsemen" (Jeremiah. 46:4). I'm sure that
many of you who can hear what the Spirit says to the Church, have already seen
what God was showing in the vision. But let me make it plain. Being born into
the Family of God, feeding in the green pastures and drinking of the many
streams of the unfolding revelation of his purposes is fine and wonderful. But
it is not enough.
While we were
children, young and undisciplined, limited only by the outer fence of the Law
that ran around the limits of the pastures, (that kept us from getting into the
dark pastures of poison weeds), he was content to watch us develop and grow into
young adulthood, spiritually speaking. But the time came to those who fed in
his pastures, and drank at his streams, when they were to be brought into
discipline and training for the purpose of making them mature, adult sons and
daughters.
Many of God’s
children today cannot understand why some of those who have put on the harness
of God cannot get excited by the many religious games and the playful antics of
the immature. They wonder why the disciplined ones run not after every new
revelation or feed on every opportunity to engage in seemingly "good and
profitable" religious activities. They wonder why some will not race with them
in their frantic efforts to build great works and great and notable ministries.
They cannot understand the simple fact that this company of saints is waiting
for the voice of the Master, and they do not hear God in all this outward
activity. They will move in their time, when the Master speaks. But not
before, though many temptations come from the playful colts.
And the colts cannot
understand why those who seemingly appear to have great abilities and strength
are not putting it to good use. “Get the carriage on the road,” they say, but
the disciplined ones, those in God’s harness, know better than to move before
they hear the voice of the Master. They will move in their time, with great
purpose, and great responsibility.
And the Lord made me
to know that there were many whom he had brought into training who had rebelled
against the discipline, the chastising of the Father. And they could not be
trusted with the great responsibility of maturity, so he let them go back to
their freedom, back to their religious activities and revelations and gifts.
They are still his people, still feeding in his pastures, but he has set them
aside from his great purposes at this time in history. So they revel in their
freedom, feeling that they are the chosen ones with the many streams of living
water, not knowing they have been set aside as unfit for the great work he is
doing at this time.
And he showed me that
though the chastising seems grievous for the moment, and the discipline hard to
endure, yet the result with all the glory of being in his perfect will far
exceeds the suffering we endure. And though some lost even their lives in this
training, yet they will share alike in the glory of his eternal purposes. So
faint not, saints of God, for it is the Lord that brings you into the
confinement of his will—and not an enemy. It is for your good, and for his
glory, so endure all things with praises and thanksgiving that he has counted
you worthy to share in his glory! Fear not the whip in his hand, for it is not
to punish you, but to correct and train you that you come into submission to his
will, and be found in his likeness.
Rejoice in your
trials, in all your tribulations, and glory in his cross, and in the confining
limitations of his harness, for he has chosen you, and has taken upon himself
the responsibility of keeping you strong and well fed, so lean upon him, and
trust not in your own ability and understanding. You shall be fed, and his
hand shall be upon you, and his glory shall overshadow you, and flow through you
as it goes forth to cover the earth. Glory to God! Bless the Lord, he's
wonderful! Let him be Lord of your life, friends, and complain not at that
which he brings to pass in your life.
PLENTY IN TIME OF FAMINE
For in the time
when famine sweeps the land, he shall feed by his own hand those submitted to
his perfect will, and who dwell in the secret place of the Most High. When
terror stalks the land, those in his harness shall not be afraid, for they shall
feel his bit and bridle and know the guidance of his Spirit. When others are
weak and frail and fearful, there shall be those who are strong in the power of
his might, and lack for no good thing. In the hour when the traditions of the
religious systems have proven false, and their streams have dried up, then his
Chosen ones shall speak forth with the true Word of the Lord. So rejoice,
children of God, that you have been chosen by his grace for this great work in
this last hour.
The fence which
kept the colts in their own meadows and their own pastures means nothing to the
team in the harness, for the gates open to them, and they go forth pulling the
King's carriage into many delightful and wonderful places. They do not stop to
eat the poison weeds of sin, for they feed only in the Master's stable. These
fields they trample under their feet as they go forth on the King's business.
And so to those who are brought into absolute submission to his will, there is
no Law. For they move in the Grace of God, led only by his Spirit where all
things are lawful but not all things are expedient.
This is a dangerous realm for the undisciplined, and many
have perished in sin as they leaped over the fence without his harness and His
bridle. Some have thought of themselves as being completely harnessed and
submissive to him, only to discover that in some area of their lives rebellion
and self-will continue to reign. Let us wait before him until he puts his noose
around us and draws us to his place of training. And let us learn of the
dealings of God and the movings of his Spirit until at last we feel his harness
drop about us, and hear his voice guiding us. Then there is safety from the
traps and pitfalls of sin, and then shall we abide in his house forever!
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NOTE: Adapted and edited from
a leaflet printed by a dear friend, Bill Britton of Springfield,
Missouri—recently gone on to the next exciting stage of LIFE’s Journey through
time and eternity. |
