Divided Version - Spirit of the Word - Covenant Eschatology - Introductory Note - New Stuff
Whispers Of the New Covenant by Ray Prinzing Preface
  1 - He Takes Away The First
  2 - God Was In Christ
  3 - Ending The Stone Age
  4 - God's Commandments Are Promises
  5 - Jesus, The New Covenant 'Yes'
  6 - With Shoutings Of Grace
  7 - A New Covenant Spirit
  8 - A New Covenant Generation
  9 - New Covenant Security
10 - A New Covenant Name
11 - Embracing The Choice Vine
12 - New Wine In The Cluster
13 - In That Day
14 - Kingdom Of The New Covenant
15 - Beholding--Near And Afar Off
16 - Summary

  Thank God, we are being "delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." (Romans 7:6).
  Oldness-- from the Greek word "palaiotes" which means: worn out, or anti-quatedness.
  There are some people who have a lot of interest in antiques, while others consider those things as old, to be forgotten. But there is one ANTIQUE that we all need to leave behind, the antiquatedness, the old, the worn out realm of the letter, that we might go on into the NEWNESS and FRESHNESS of the Spirit. Speaking of "THE LETTER" is in direct reference to the law, that first covenant and order which was written in stone. One might quote the literal letter of the law for hours on end, and still minister only condemnation and death, for the power to live out the righteousness of the law is not present in the stone. But in the newness of His Spirit, this vitality of His LIFE, we have the power to live out that which is well-pleasing to God.
  "For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, He said, Behold, The days come, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. -In that He says, A new covenant, He has made the rust old. Now that which decays and waxes old is ready to vanish away." (Hebrews 8:7-8, 13).
  The very moment you say there is a new model of a car on the showroom floor, you have relegated the previous model to being old. You may sell it to a man who has never seen the NEW model, and he will think he has a new car, until the new model comes on the scene, and then he will know that his is not of that new order. So likewise, we have a lot of preachers that keep selling what they call new-- but it is actually of the old order of the first covenant, with just another twist to its works and programs. But when GOD said there was A NEW covenant, He immediately relegated the first one to the realm of being old. The very moment He said, "A NEW," the other one became OLD. So no matter how many try to sell the old covenant as being new, it is still old, because God has already decreed the NEW one which takes its place.
  The writer to the Hebrews realized that the old covenant was still around in his day, though the book of Hebrews was supposedly written at least thirty-five years after Jesus came forth declaring A NEW TESTAMENT. But, he said, the old is decaying, ready to vanish away, because it "waxes old."
  Interesting word, "waxes old," from the Greek "gerasko" which comes from "geras" which literally means: senility.
  There is a realm which has gone into senility! God says, "Leave it, and rise to walk in the newness of the life of the Spirit." HE is truly taking away the first, that He might establish the second. There are those who "turn again to the weak and beggarly elements (rudiments, first steps)-- to observe days, and months, and times, and years." (Galatians 4:9-10). But the challenge is to rise "and walk and live out of the realm of THE SPIRIT, in all of His newness, freshness, and not to return to that which is antiquated and gone into senility.
  The first law was unable to make anyone perfect, it just gave a knowledge of sin, which the flesh could not conquer. The NEW COVENANT, which is so much higher, gives a forgiveness of sin, and then a knowledge of that which is right, plus the inflow of HIS LIFE to live pleasing unto God. Once the fullness of the new birth process is complete in US, so that HIS SEED LIFE remains in us and we cannot sin, then this new, all righteous life shall fulfill all the will of God. The first law, which was without, could not change the nature of that which is within. The new covenant begins inwardly, and then is able to manifest outwardly that which is right.
   First the old, and then the new, but never more the same,
   The Second far excels the First, to glorify His name.
   As He takes away the First, the Second shall become,
   To swallow up the ‘in part,' in true perfection's sum.
   Types and shadows served their place, a sign of what would be,
   Now we long for that rare hour of His reality.
   Yet these words 'to take away' bespeak a process too.
   As we're stripped of all the old, the things flesh did accrue.
   Removal of outward form that once did gender pride,
   In its place the higher realm of 'spirit' doth abide.
   Not as the first, shall be the last, the greater shall abound,
   Glory that shall cover all, wherever man is found. BACK

Many long years ago we read a little verse:
"Within this temple there's a crowd, One of us that's humble, one of us that's proud.
 From much corroding care I could be free, If ever I could determine which is me."
     How long we have suffered under duality-- from the day that Adam and Eve partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. How we long for all duality within us to cease, that of the two He would make "ONE NEW MAN" With a nature that is totally divine, and a body "fashioned like unto His glorious body," (Philippians 3:21), so that we could freely express that divine nature.
  Permit us one more illustration: "Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David your son, which is with the sheep. And David came to Saul and stood before him; and he loved him greatly; and he became his armour-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray, stand before me; for he has found favor in my sight." (1 Samuel 16:19, 21-22).
  Saul KNEW that the father was Jesse, the son was David. Saul became well enough acquainted with David that he loved him greatly, and brought him into the close relationship of being his armour-bearer for a time. The wording is clear, Saul KNEW both who Jesse was, and who David was, on a very personal level.
  Then David returned home, and Saul went off to battle the Philistines. Jesse sent his son down to see how his brothers were faring. You remember the record. Goliath gave his challenge to Israel, and when David heard it, he volunteered to go and fight him. Saul KNEW all about this, in fact, "Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with you. And Saul armed David with his armour. --And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them, And David put them off him." (1 Samuel 17:37-39). This is very clear! Saul KNEW David, knew he was willing to fight Goliath, and even tried to provide what he felt would be the best armour, which David rejected.
  David, with a sling and five stones, ran to meet the Philistine, slew him, cut off his head, and Saul, from afar, watched the happening. Now make careful note:  "And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, WHOSE SON IS THIS YOUTH? And Abner said, As your soul lives, O King, I cannot tell." (1 Samuel 17:55).
  Saul knew Jesse the father, he knew David the son, why did he not know this young man? Because on this occasion this young man was not expressing the image and likeness of Jesse! BY FAITH IN JEHOVAH, David was drawing out of the DIVINE REALM, even as he said to the Philistine, "I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled. This day will THE LORD deliver you into mine hand."  At that moment David was not walking "according to men," but according to a higher realm, and so they could not recognize him.
  "David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. And Saul said unto him, Whose son are you, young man? And David answered, I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite." (1 Samuel 17:57-58).
  WHOSE SON ARE YOU? Well could David have answered, "Saul, Saul, you will never comprehend the higher realm, you cannot relate to that identity, so just know me as you always have-- I am David, the son of Jesse."
  David knew, in a measure, of a realm that was far beyond the realm of humanity which he inherited from Jesse and it serves as a glimpse, a parable, of this greater relationship into which we come, as we are indeed BORN AGAIN, born from above, with God as our Father.
  With a father there is a relationship in nature, and in blood, a love which is unchanging, though the son becomes a prodigal. As Jesus gave His parable, the son is still loved, and though he may wander afar off, as he returns, the father will run to him, fall on his neck and kiss him, EVEN WHILE THE RAGS OF THE FAR COUNTRY STILL COVER HIM. For, "God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). Far from our FATHERLAND, we have tasted the dregs of this earth, became impoverished, wasting our substance and ending up destitute. But LOVE reaches out to receive us, and draw us to Himself again.
  Over and over again, with parable after parable, Jesus, THE SON, declared precious truths of THE FATHER-- of His love, His compassion, His mercy, His heart toward us, and His ultimate plans for our good. What revelation He becomes to us, and truly, He is "The true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world." (John 1:9). Saying, "I shall show you plainly of the Father." (John 16:25). And again, "I have declared unto them Your name, and will declare it: that the love where with You have loved Me MAYBE IN THEM, and I in them." (John 17:26).
  Jesus Christ came forth to declare-- to become the LIVING EXPRESSION of the Name of the Father. There is a progressive revelation of the Father in the revelation of His name.
  "And God appeared unto Moses, and said unto him, I AM the Lord (Jehovah): And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by My name Jehovah was I not known to them." (Exodus 6:2-3).
  There are specific revelations for specific dispensations, for  the outworking of God's purpose through the ages. The time of the LAW (first covenant) was at hand, and so there was a specific name of God to be revealed for that law dispensation. It was not revealed unto Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, it was not needed for their time. They knew Him as the ALMIGHTY, as El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One, and that was enough to see them through their days. But now God has a specific time and dealing to be wrought in Israel, and He needed a NAME which would be identified with that era and working, so He revealed a NAME that bespoke of all that would be brought into focus.
  Significant that Abraham, that great patriarch of faith, did not need a particular revelation of this name. "The scripture, foreseeing God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the Gospel unto Abraham, saying, In you shall all nations be blessed." (Galatians 3:8). GOD LEAPED OVER AN AGE, and revealed to Abraham the GOOD NEWS which belonged to an age to come, of the realm of FAITH, and GRACE, and the over-flowing mercy of the NEW COVENANT, and so it was not needed that he be given a revelation of the dispensation and name which preceded that glory. Therefore, "By My name Jehovah (Yahweh) was I not known to them."
Yahweh-- from the tetragram YHWH, meaning, I AM THAT I AM. Let us not become hung up on the "letter" of this name, but receive the Spirit and Reality of its message, and then go on to receive more revelation of the unfolding NAME of God, even that which pertains to this day.
  When the time for the LAW was at hand, the name YAHWEH came into the foreground. It was a time when HE who is righteous must judge evil, wherever it existed, at whatever cost, whether to the creature, or to the Creator. Holiness, and the process of becoming into that realm by means of the law, brought forth this particular revelation of the name and nature of Yahweh. The cold facts were laid out in the law, and it was condemnation unto death if you did not, could not keep that law.
  "The law has dominion over a man as long as he lives." (Then Paul gives a type, an illustration). "For the woman which has an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he lives; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband." (Romans 7:1-2).
  God took Israel to mount Sinai, and there she made her vows to be joined to Yahweh-- He became her husband, "till death do us part." Though the marriage went on the rocks, Israel became an unfaithful wife, seeking out many lovers (strange gods), yet she remained bound to Yahweh until DEATH. God knew when it was time to end that dispensation, and He sent forth His SON, yes, HE INDWELLED THAT SON, "To wit, that GOD WAS IN CHRIST," and then He went to the cross, and DIED. That ended that particular relationship, ended that marriage, and ended that dispensation, and methinks in a sense it ended the usage of the name which was revealed for that time, in this respect-- that when a man dies, the woman is loosed from her husband, and she is free to be married to another, AND RECEIVE A NEW NAME.
  "Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ (the body that died); that you should be married to another, to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." (Romans 7:4).
  Remember, parables, illustrations are given to make a point, not to become definitive theology. Yet show me the man, named Mr. Smith, who marries a woman formerly married to a Mr. Jones, now deceased, who asks his wife to call him by the name of her deceased husband. Nay, she must now use his name, "Mr. Smith," for she is now joined to a new man, with his own name.
  In the death of Jesus Christ, one order ended, and a new order began. HE "took away the first, that He may establish the second." The dispensation of the first covenant was FINISHED IN HIM, and the NEW COVENANT was ratified by His blood. Now we are free to be JOINED UNTO CHRIST, to Him who is RAISED FROM THE DEAD, so that we might bring forth fruit unto God-- THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, of grace, of faith, and not the works of the flesh, as under the old law. Jesus Christ, the expression of Jehovah on earth, filled up in Himself all of the old covenant, brought that era to an end, and DIED. Then out of the tomb came a NEW LIFE, a NEW EXPRESSION, and as  we are joined to Him, we receive of His Spirit-life, that we might bring forth a spirit-fruit which glorifies God.
  As long as we carry the former name we testify that we have not come into the NEW COVENANT, but remain under, to be judged by the old, which is a ministration of condemnation unto death.
  Just as we see in Christ the ending of the adam nature, to bring in the new God-nature; so also we see in Christ the ending of the dispensation of the law, that we might come into the NEW COVENANT, by His Spirit, with the declaration of a new name, even as He said, "Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall no more go out: and I will write upon him the Name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and I will write upon Him My new name." (Rev. 3:12).
  "Saying, I will declare Your name unto My brothers, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto You." (Hebrews 2:12).
  One more special thought concerning the name "Yahweh," which is given in the King James Version by all capital letters, LORD. We have already quoted the verse, God saying unto Moses, "But by My name YHWH was I not known unto them (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob)." Yet we find that this name was in a sense known throughout all the time of the patriarchs, clear back to Eve, where she said, "I have gotten a man from the LORD (YHWH). (Genesis 4:1). How then could it be said that He was not "known" by this name?
  The Hebrew word used here for "known" is "yada" meaning: to be perceived, understood. Thus literally, this name was not known so as to be understood, to be experienced. Abraham did not experience the dispensation of the law, therefore did not intimately understand the meaning of the name YHWH. Yet by the impartation of revelation by the Spirit, he leaped over that whole time period, and as Jesus said, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day; and he saw it, and was glad." (John 8:56).
  When did Abraham see this day? Ah, could it not have been on that mount where he prepared to offer his son, Isaac, according to the commandment of God. When Isaac said to him, "Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the Iamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, GOD WILL PROVIDE HIMSELF a Iamb for a burnt offering" (Genesis 22:7-8). Did he not see much more than the provision of "the ram caught in a thicket by the horns," which he offered in place of Isaac? Truly, he saw that God would PROVIDE HIMSELF. "To wit, that God was in Christ," to become that Lamb which takes away the sins of the world. Abraham saw, and he rejoiced! For to him was declared the good news, long before the Gospel dispensation would come, how, that through this SEED all nations of the earth would be blessed BY FAITH! Yes, he saw beyond the time of the law, into a ministration that exceeds in glory--no wonder he rejoiced!
  So, "By My name YHWH was I not known..." How is such knowledge gained? Psalm 9:16. gives answer. "The LORD (YHWH) is known by the Judgment which He executes." When judgments were predicted against any person or nation, it was always connected with the statement, then "They shall know that I am the LORD (YHWH)." For His judgments were calculated to display His supremacy above all other gods, etc. and they would know that Israel's God alone was GOD.
  Pharaoh says, "Who is the LORD (YHWH), that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD..." (Exodus 5:2). But he surely came to know Him by the JUDGMENTS which He executed!
  Many today would cry for a heavy hand of judgment, with death to all those who oppose righteousness. Since we cannot change men, since we do not have the power to transform their life into a new creature, if they seem to be exceedingly sinful and rebellious, we just say, "Okay, Lord, remove them, wipe them out."
  Even Jeremiah experienced this. "Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead with You: YET LET ME TALK WITH YOU OF YOUR JUDGMENTS: Wherefore does the way of the wicked prosper? Wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?" (Jeremiah 12:1). "Lord, isn't it time that you exercise your judgments, and just wipe them all out?" Perhaps we know the feeling all too well, but is not all of this still under the dispensation of the law, while we want to demand the penalty of the law upon other men?
  The Pharisees were so quick to condemn, and more than once Jesus said unto them, "But go and learn what that means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Matthew 9:13). How little have we learned this, if we are so ready to "sacrifice" anything, or anyone, that does not measure up to our standard, as we set the law, and then become the judge for another. But MERCY, truly-- "blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Jesus demonstrated for us this tremendous expression of God, for He did not condemn, rather, He came TO and FOR the sinner, knowing that they desperately needed His life.
  There is a revelation of ALL THE NAMES OF GOD in Christ Jesus, not just one facet, but all of them, thus unto greater victory-- total redemption!
  First, the name "Elohim," from the Hebrew: EL, meaning: STRONG; and ALAR, meaning: TO SWEAR. Combined they bespeak of GOD IN COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH MAN, ratified by an oath. He gives His own Word, and He has the strength to carry it through to completion. "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him" (Heb. 7:25).
  The name "Elohim" is uni-plural, speaking of more than two who are bound together in a basic unity of strength and faithfulness. "He is the Lord our God (our Elohim): His judgments are in all the earth. He has remembered His covenant for ever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations. Which covenant He made with Abraham, and His oath unto Isaac: and confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant." (Psalm 105:7-10).
  What a fascinating passage of scripture! God made COVENANT with Abraham-- it is still in effect, and it both PRECEDED the dispensation of the law, and it FOLLOWS that dispensation. The law was an interjection for a time. Paul says "it was added" for a time. The promise to Abraham was that ALL NATIONS (that totally includes every creature), was to be blessed BY FAITH-- by the outworking of the covenant through Jesus Christ. This was so great a Word that BY AN OATH God spoke it again to Isaac. But when we come to Jacob-- who stands in figure for all of his seed after the flesh, with the Jacob nature in all of its carnality, then God confirms the promise again, but AS A LAW, with all of its ministration of ceremony and ritual, which held promise in type and shadow, of the GREATER TO COME. For a time the covenant was spelled out as a law, "imposed on them until the time reformation." (Hebrews 9:10). But when God takes away ungodliness from Jacob, and brings forth the new nature, re-names him as Israel, then we see again that it is no more a law, but AN EVERLASTING COVENANT. As long as one deals externally, by works, it comes as A LAW. But as soon as one is lifted to the higher spiritual dimensions, the PROMISE is renewed as an EVERLASTING COVENANT.
  Christ Jesus declared the COVENANT RELATIONSHIP of our Father, whose love never changes, therefore "The blood of the everlasting covenant," witnesses that ALL MEN are loved with God's unchanging love. And He also revealed a NEW DEPTH of the Jehovah (YHWH) nature to judge the wrong, for "God has committed all unto the Son." (John 5:22). And plainly He stated, "For judgment I am come into this world." (John 9:39). HE WAS JUDGMENT! Wherever He went people were brought face to face with the truth, "that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind," and thus their inner state of blindness would be exposed, and could be corrected.
  When the disciples were ready to "command fire to come down from heaven, to consume them... " He said, "The Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save." (Luke 9:54, 56). HE WILL CORRECT, at a great cost to us, and to Himself, but NOT UNTO DEATH, BUT UNTO LIFE. For all His judgments are remedial, revealing His great mercy as they are used to prepare men to receive the fullness of His life.
  Thus He taught, "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." (Luke 6:35-36). THE FATHER IS MERCIFUL, and as His children this is to be our disposition, our nature, our attitude towards all men.
  Abraham did not understand the Jehovah nature part of God, i.e. the LAW, and the JUDGMENT which accompanied the law, with its death penalty-- an interim imposing of an order upon men. But Abraham knew the Most High, and even paid his tithes to Melchizedek who was priest of the Most High God. And he looked forward to the day of the Christ, who is "after the order of Melchizedek."
  They died under the law without mercy. Jesus, who was judgment, came declaring mercy. It was not "judgment, or mercy," for in Christ we have them BOTH, as He brings forth judgment UNTO VICTORY, and covers the whole with His mercy-- for the end of the NEW COVENANT is His MORE ABUNDANT LIFE. No more an incomplete, fragmentary revelation of God. No more one manifestation of Divine character at a time, but in Him, ALL FULLNESS IS PLEASED TO DWELL, and He can reveal the Jehovah nature of God IN LOVE, with abundant mercy, as He reconciles IN HIMSELF, to bring forth ONE NEW MAN-- a new creation species that is truly an expression of the Father, in all of His nature of love and holiness.
God hid Himself within the Form Of Jesus Christ His Son,
And through His Son He gave His life To ransom every one.
'Twas "God in Christ," the Scripture says, For God so loved the world, And He would reconcile us all,---
His covenant unfurled. So long ago Abram had said, "Himself-- God will provide,"
Provide Himself to be the Lamb, And so for us He died. Isaiah said, "God looked, and saw,
Wondered there was no man, No intercessor in the gap." So His own arm did span----
 Did span the gulf from heav'n to earth, To be our righteousness. He interposed Himself to be
The Word, our souls to bless.     Father of mercy, love, and grace,
As God indwelt the Son.  So now His Spirit dwells in us To finish what's begun.
 That we His image truly bear,  His nature be our own. Praise God, the covenant He gave
Unites us with His throne. That, as He is, so we shall be, What wonder of His grace.
Transforming power to make us one, His new creation race. BACK

    Some try to turn stones into bread, And find they feed on grit instead, Because they are not fed thereby--
    They pick up stones and let them fly, A ministration of death!
    In Christ we have the Living Bread, And by His life are richly fed, He is within our righteousness,
    How fully He doth save and bless-- A ministration of life!
    The contrast of the old and new, Two ministrations stand in view, Praise God, the stone age passed away,
    Christ dwells within, has come to stay, A ministration of rest!
    That one in Him we might become, His grace and mercy fill the sum, His holy nature is our law,
    No more from other wells to draw--A ministration of peace! BACK

They called it law-- rigid command, And viewed so negative.
    For man could not fulfill its score,  And in its blessing live.
   Then Jesus came in Spirit pow'r, Prophets and law fulfill.
    Became our blessed living hope, Revealed the Father's will.
   That as He is, so we shall be,  In Christ be born anew, And by the power of His life In us, fulfill it too.
   The ministration has been changed, No more to speak of death,
    Its condemnation fades away, He is our righteous breath.
   And now we view God's laws as rare Expressions of His will.
    Commandments all are promises That bode for us no ill.
   For in His life, we too shall live, As grace shall yet abound,
    And ere the ages run their course, We'll all, in Him, be found. BACK

  The witness of man is so earthy, Of feelings, of passion, of pride.
  The physical senses declaring--Yet oft' in confusion mis-guide.
  The witness of Law was against us, Accusing, for we could not do
  The things that its standard required. The law had no power to endue.
  Praise God for His witness, far greater Than anything spoken by man.
 The New Covenant revelation--Good news of His redemption plan.
  For there is a witness of vict'ry, A witness that comes from above.
  Commandment of life and salvation, How precious this word of His love!
  Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Amen, And all that He says He will do.
  The pow'r of His Spirit indwelling, Guarantees the making anew.
  Prophetic-- this word of His promise, He blesses, yea, speaks well of thee,
  A truth He shall bring to fulfillment. Personified reality!
  Our Christ is the YES of the gospel, The Yea and Amen of all time,
  The seal of our vict'ry for ever, The Positive One of our rhyme. BACK

     I marvel at the grace of God Extended to this worthless clod,
     Frail human creature of the sod; I marvel at the grace of God!
     I am amazed to see His love Sent down to us from realms above,
     With wooings like a gentle dove; I am amazed to see His love.
     I look in awe, beholding peace,  That from all strife we'll have release,
     Till every war in us shall cease; I look in awe, beholding peace.
      I stand in rapture 'neath the cross Where I am freed from earthly dross,
     To find it gain, and not a loss; I stand in rapture 'neath the cross.
     I'm overwhelmed, such life divine Is giv'n to me when I align
     My will to His, "forever Thine," I'm overwhelmed, such life divine.
     O wondrous glory of His grace, Appointed for the human race,
     He knows my time, He knows my place. O wondrous glory of His grace.
     These words alone will ne'er express The glory of His righteousness
     That by His grace I now possess. No! Words alone will ne'er express
     Such unspeakable wonders of God! BACK

 Sovereign grace in love divine Doth work in thee His true design, Thy life in mercy to entwine---
Until a new creation's born, Free from every selfhood thorn, A personal resurrection morn.---
The former image to erase, The heavenly to take its place, God's own pure nature to embrace---
While everything that speaks of earth, With all its vanity and mirth, Is done away by this new birth.---
And thou art clothed with garments new, With raiment glistening as the dew, Thine all His love to now imbue.---
God's wisdom in creative power Doth undergird this present hour, Protect from forces which devour---
That all travail shall work His ways, Its end redound unto His praise, And utilize these strife-torn days---
To prove, and test, and find in thee The standard of His quality, From every spot and defect free.---
And thus the first creation's plan Is used to measure every man, Till Calvary doth bridge the span---
From whence God's great creative hand In glorious vict'ry doth expand, Till in His fullness thou shalt stand---
     IN THE IMAGE OF THY CREATOR! BACK

For the ages, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven, For the ages, O Lord, Thy counsels shall stand,"
None shall ever turn back the thing which Thou hast purposed, Let the earth now make hast, fulfilling Thy command.
For the ages, O Lord, Thy throne is founded on mercy, For the ages, O Lord, Thy faithfulness reigns,
By the Word of Thy power Thou shalt subdue all nations, And Thy glory shall shine o'er all Thy vast domain.
For The Kingdom shall come, and His will shall be done, On earth, as in heaven, He's Lord of all,
In love He shall gather the sheep gone astray, With mercy and pardon for all.
   Now, the Psalmist says, "YOUR VOWS are upon me." What God has sworn to do is a promise that is personally mine. It is not a conditional promise, there is no dependency upon my faltering step, but it rests solely upon God-- His Word, His being!
  We know not, and we cannot impute to David whatever thoughts were in him when he uttered this statement. But this we read, "My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp." (Psalm 49:3-4). We can imagine, at least, that as the Psalmist began to play his harp, to sing, to worship his God, that the Spirit of God moved upon him, and he would sing forth these DARK SAYINGS-- truths which reached into the ages beyond him. And now, in this instance, he speaks out, "Your vows are upon me, O God."
  When God quickens to you that THE NEW COVENANT IT'S GOD'S VOW TO YOU, and He has sworn by Himself to fulfill it in you. It will bring a sense of rest, peace, joy, security, which cannot be expressed with words. We bow low before Him, to worship Him, yet are speechless because of such love to us.
  So, it is established, THE WORD IS OF GOD, "working in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."  And what a processing this is, ever He shall bring us to that glorious climax where He shares with us of His glory. "Behold, I have refined you, but not with silver; I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction. For Mine own sake, even for Mine own sake, will I do it: for how should My name be polluted? and I will not give My glory to another." (Isaiah 48:10-11).
  He has promised us a UNION, a oneness with Himself, wherein He will share with us of His glory. "And the glory which You gave Me, I have given them." (John 17:22). But only after He has already fulfilled the qualifying verse, (17), "Sanctify them through Your truth: Your word is truth." It is this SANCTIFYING PROCESS which sets us apart from all that is unholy, inferior, of another state than of Himself. He dare not share His glory with "another," which is of a lesser quality, inferior character, etc. For He will not have His name polluted. For this cause, "Whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives," but He does it 'for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness." (Hebrews 12:6, 10). When we are partakers of His divine nature, conformed to His image, ONE IN HIM, we shall share in His glory-- for we shall be found to His praise!
  It has been stated that in this processing God uses Satan to attack our weak points, while He Himself attacks our strong points. Thus both our weaknesses and our strengths are dealt with, until He has purified unto Himself a people who have no confidence in the flesh, but declare, "IN THE LORD have I righteousness and strength." (Isaiah 45:24).
  Be there a weak point in us, the adversary will seek to find it. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." (I Peter 5:8-9).
  This is not to be feared, nor magnified all out of proportion, it is but a warning for us to be vigilant. Then Peter follows with a beautiful promise, (verse 10), "The God of all grace, who has called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, will make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." THE GOD OF ALL GRACE will do this-- that is our new covenant security. He calls us unto glory, He processes us thoroughly for that realm, He supplies the grace to bring us through, and He makes us perfect-- it is GOD ALL THE WAY!
  Furthermore, there shall come a day when we can say as Jesus did, "The prince of this world comes, and has nothing in me." (John 14:30), because "ALL that is within me, will bless His holy name." (Psalm 103:1). There is only one realm wherein the adversary can never gain a toe-old, finding nothing in us which he can fan into a flame of unholy desire, and that is when we become "the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21).
  We are to resist the adversary "steadfast in the faith." And how do we do this? By learning to keep our eye single to God at all times, and praise Him IN and FOR everything that He allows to touch our life. Total consciousness of God makes no room for the adversary!
"IN EVERYTHING give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).
  "At all times and FOR EVERYTHING giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father." (Ephesians 5:20, Amplified).
  AT ALL TIMES-- IN-- and FOR-- EVERYTHING! Because we know that our Wise and Loving Heavenly Father has chosen the best way to prepare us to become partakers of His glory. "Yes, if we share in His sufferings we shall certainly share in His glory. In my opinion whatever we may have to go through now is less than nothing compared with the magnificent future God has planned for us." (Romans 8:17-18, Phillips).
  Furthermore, let it be clear, man is not suffering in payment for his sin. He often suffers because of his sin, reaping the consequences of what he has sown, and through that reaping becomes chastened until he turns to the Saviour for salvation. But no suffering serves as payment for our sin. Jesus Christ became the SACRIFICE offered for our sin, and it was complete, nothing more need be added, nay, cannot be added thereto. It is a discredit to Calvary's triumph to suggest that any other payment be made for our sin. "He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2).
  Now, while, we say, God uses the negative realm to attack our weak points, He reserves to Himself the right to attack our strong points, until we no longer place any confidence in our own strengths. We come to that point where again we identify with the Psalmist, "He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days. I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days." (Psalm 102:23-24).
  Why did He weaken my strength? So that HE ALONE would be the strength which fulfills the new covenant. "He has said to me, and His declaration still stands, My grace is enough for you, for power is moment by moment coming to its full energy and complete operation in the sphere of weakness. Therefore, most gladly will I the rather boast in my weaknesses in order that the power of Christ may take up its residence in me."
(2 Corinthians 12:9, Wuest).
  Yes, He has chosen the "furnace of affliction" to test and try us. Yes, He has "weakened my strength in the way," while He brings us into union with His strength. But all the moments when we felt so forsaken, moments of His wrath, i.e. of the energy forces of God bringing about His corrective judgments until we are purged from our own ways, all of this, God says, are but "as the waters of Noah unto Me." And then He reminds us, "I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth." There will be a judgment working of God, but not unto total devastation, and utter wipe-out. But He gives a beautiful promise, "So have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, says the Lord that has mercy on you." (Isaiah 54:9-10).
  Furthermore, the promise goes on, because God remembers HIS COVENANT OF PEACE, and because He has such TREMENDOUS MERCY for all His creation, "ALL your children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness shall you be established." (v. 13-14).
  A covenant of peace that is extended to "ALL YOUR CHILDREN," because He has sworn to do so. And in order for all the children to know this peace, they must all "BE TAUGHT OF GOD."  Not just taught about God, through the various traditions and creeds of religious institutions. No, but be taught OF (BY) God Himself. What will He teach them? "I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts." When God Himself illumines the heart of every man, and they all "know Him from the least unto the greatest," then we'll have glorious peace throughout His universe, for He will have fulfilled the new covenant which He swore to do. There is a SECURITY in this which is hard for a carnal mind to grasp, because for so long man has been programmed with the negative doctrines which were founded upon man's own bestiality, and not upon the true nature and character of God.
  Jesus Himself verified this word through the prophet. "No man can come to Me, except the Father which has sent Me draw him. It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every man therefore that has heard, and has learned of the Father, comes unto Me." (John 6:44-45).
  Not until they are TAUGHT OF GOD can they hear-- for He must speak, He must cause His Word to enter into their heart and mind, and as it does they shall learn of Him, and the more they learn of Him, the more they will come unto, yes, into Him!
  While there are heights and depths in His wisdom beyond all our comprehension, there is one specific thing the Word tells us that God teaches. Paul writes of it. "But as touching brotherly love you need not that I write unto you: for you yourselves are TAUGHT OF GOD TO LOVE one another." (1 Thessalonians 4:9). This also is confirmed in the teaching of Jesus to His disciples, "This is My commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you." (John 15:12). Only HE whose nature is LOVE can teach you to love. It is a fruit of HIS SPIRIT, the new covenant Spirit. When we are made partakers of His divine nature, and He writes in us of His laws-- HE WILL INSCRIBE THE PRINCIPLES OF LOVE, so that out of our innermost being shall flow a love which never fails.
  The ministration of the first covenant could never teach, nor impart such love. It did not change the nature of man, only regulated his outward works. The contrast is seen so clearly between John the Baptist, who was the last of the old order of the law, and Jesus Christ, who was the beginning of the new order of love and grace. John came on the scene, saying, "Bring forth fruits meet for repentance." And the people, long used to a regime of works, asked him, "WHAT SHALL WE DO THEN? He answered and said unto them, He that has two coats, let him impart to him that have none; and he that has meat, let him do likewise."
  "Then came also the publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, WHAT SHALL WE DO? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you."
  "And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, WHAT SHALL WE DO? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages."
  All these good deeds were covered by the law of Moses. Commendable as they were, they were not flowing out of a love nature, but as a REQUIRED DOING. But even this forthright teaching on morality put the people in suspense, musing and questioning among themselves, whether John was the Christ, or not. John cleared up this questioning, saying, "I indeed baptize you with water; but ONE MIGHTIER THAN I comes, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the holy Spirit and with fire: Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and will gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will bum with fire unquenchable." (Luke 3:8-17).
  Remember the prophetic word from the Psalm, "I have laid help upon One that is mighty." Now John declares Him, "ONE MIGHTIER THAN I COMES;" and HE SHALL baptize... HE WILL purge... HE WILL gather... HE WILL burn... Thus the emphasis was taken away from "what shall we do?" and placed squarely upon what HE would do, for HE would bring salvation to His people, changing them completely in nature.
  The young man came to Jesus with the same question, "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? Jesus answered, "If you will enter into life, keep the commandments." That was perfectly in line with the realm of the law, "That the man which does those things shall live by them." (Romans 10:5). Then the young man said, "Which?" Every Rabbi had his own list of works to prescribe, placing emphasis on this or that commandment, let's see what this Teacher will say. But Jesus simply quoted six of the ten commandments, which the young man knew well. THE NEW WAY HAD NOT YET BEEN OPENED, so Jesus restated the law given long ago. "The young man said unto Him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?" By his own experience he knew that "the law made nothing perfect." (Hebrews 7:9).
How keenly the young man felt his own imperfection, for his inner nature remained unchanged. Jesus zeroed right in on this, and said to him, "If you will be perfect, go and sell what you have... and come and follow Me." (Matthew 19:16-21).
  Sell what you have-- be willing to be stripped of all. Yes, you have gained some riches, but all of your good works are not enough, be willing to be stripped of all that self has accumulated.
  "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." (Matthew 13:45-46).
  Having surrendered all-- the gifts, the graces, the things you have paid a great price for through the years-- giving them all back to God, because you desire the "Pearl of great price," now, "Come and follow Me." Find in Me all that your heart desires, I WILL BE YOUR PERFECTION! Place your faith in Me, and I will become unto you, "Wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. That, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).
  So accustomed to a dispensation of WORKS, again they came to Jesus, and "Said unto Him, WHAT SHALL WE DO, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, "This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He has sent." (John 6:28-29).
  You really want to do "the works of God?" You want to please God? Then know this, "Without faith it is impossible to please Him." (Hebrews 11:6).  All God asks of you is to BELIEVE on this MIGHTY ONE who comes to BE YOUR ALL!  And knowing that you cannot generate your own faith, Paul writes, "that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8). As HE draws you, as HE imparts the faith, then you can respond in believing, while He fulfills that faith by being your redemption.
  Believing is a response, not the initial action, which is always GOD'S. Faith is produced in you by someone other than yourself. Faith never accrues to the praise of the one who possesses it, but rather, to the glory of the One who evokes it. Faith is a noun, while "believe" (the verb) is what faith does. When God imparts the faith, our response will surely follow.
  If you trust someone, you do not trust them because of what you are in yourself, but because of what that person has revealed himself to be to you. It is the obligation of the one who desires your trust, to prove himself to be trustworthy. Truly our Lord reveals Himself to be totally worthy of our trust. All that He does is FOR US, and "If God be for us, who can be against us.-- Who shall  lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies." (Romans 8:31, 33).
  That is the SECURITY OF THE NEW COVENANT! He is our Justifier! He brings us into union with His righteousness. He draws us, gives us the faith to believe, and then honors that faith by working in us the fullness of our salvation. It is God's working all the way, and that is why the salvation of ALL mankind is secure.
  "I am found of a people that sought me not." (Isaiah 65:1).
   "And all flesh shall see the salvation of God." (Luke 3:6).

The Lord of hosts hath purposed, so shall it ever be, His mighty power working, fulfills our destiny.
And nought shall ever alter the counsel of His will, Nor hinder this salvation, the whole of earth to fill.
For when His hand is stretched out, no power can turn it back, And though He is long suffering, His hand is never slack.
The time that He has measured, redemption to complete, Shall see the full fruition, His glory more than meet.
The promise great was given, and by Himself was sworn, Confirmed unto its reaping on vict'ry's harvest morn.
Immutable, unchanging, the whole in peace abides, And nought shall make it differ, when tempests lift their tides.
Each accent, mark, and meaning, shall meet the fullest score, With nothing ever lacking, no balance needing more.
So let thy faith be resting, yea, deep in Him be found, And know that in His fullness doth grace much more abound. BACK

To bear His name! Oh, what a thought, What purgings in me must be wrought,
Yet He has called us for His own, That we might share His glory-throne.
A new name He has given me, It is redemption's mystery,
That He would join His name with mine, Transform the earthy to divine.
He is the Doer of my way, It is His life lived through this day,
Duality slain by His cross, Yet for my gain, it is not loss.
His life and mine becoming one, Just as the Father and the Son,
A union that words fail to tell, He made a heaven out of hell.
To bear Thy name! Lord, I bow low, To worship Thee for loving so--
That You would shew such grace to me, New covenant reality. BACK

  From the moment that you read, "In the beginning God created... And the Spirit of God moved (fluttered, brooded) upon the face of the waters..." (Genesis 1:1-2), until you read, "Behold, I make all things new..." (Revelation 21:5), God's Spirit has been actively, continuously brooding over His creation to bring forth that which He purposed-- a people in His image, for His pleasure, with whom He shall fellowship in sweet communion. It is toward this goal, that Jesus said, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working." (John 5:17). And though we read that our Lord has "....overcome and sat down with My Father in His throne," (Revelation 3:21), nevertheless it is not an idle waiting-- for "HE MUST REIGN, till He has put all enemies under His feet." (1 Corinthians 15:25). It is IN HIM that we see the GLORIOUS WORKING of the plan of the ages, and the guarantee of total victory as the successive ages run their course.
  And so we understand that God has fitted the ages for an outworking of His purpose. An age is a specific span of time ordained by God for the fulfillment of a specific segment of His purpose. Each age is joined to the following one in succession until the whole is accomplished. We are now in a TRANSITION TIME and the overlap of two ages-- going from the "church" age, with its CALLING OUT from the world, from man's religions, etc. to be joined unto Him who is our Life, and thus going into the "kingdom" age-- with the manifest RULE of God, as His Lordship is realized in our hearts.
  Furthermore, this is not accomplished in one grand sweep over all creation, but it begins with a FIRSTFRUITS and then will expand through the ages to come. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order." (1 Corinthians 15:22-23). The specific purpose of the CHURCH AGE is the calling out of this first fruits. Afterwards the succeeding ages will unfold their workings till in Christ all are made alive.
  Leaving one realm to proceed into another is never easy. It requires the travail of birth pangs, and the leaving of those things which are behind, to press into those things which are before. Therefore Jesus said, "No man also sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up takes away from the old, and the rent is made worse. And no man puts new wine into old bottles: else the new wine bursts the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles." (Mark 2:21-22).
  Many find it very difficult to let go of the old, to embrace the new. So they endeavor to sew their new little piece of revelation into the old cloth of yesteryear's dogma. But all they succeed in doing is causing the rent to become worse, and the pain and suffering is increased, rather than diminished, as they had hoped. Compromise does not bring peace when you try to join the old with the new, it but adds to the confusion.
  Example: The Levitical order of the priesthood must give way to the new order of Melchizedek. Yet it is amazing how many would like to pick and choose little pieces of the new and just work them into the old order-- they desire the life of the new, but they want to cling to the form and ritual of the old. But it never works to pour new wine into old wineskins, they will burst-- break apart under the strain of such duality.
  Jesus beautifully bridged the two ages of His time. He healed the leper, and sent him to the priests, "to offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them." (Matthew 8:4). Imagine! He who came with the GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM, and who so gloriously demonstrated its power and LIFE, healing the leper, yet sent the man to fulfill the old order according to the commandment of Moses. Yet full well He knew the times and seasons which were upon men, and that IN HIM the transition would be made from the old into the new. Before Calvary there would be accommodation for the old order, but after Calvary and the resurrection, it would all be raised to a higher dimension of life. THE CROSS became the bridge-- requiring death to the old, in order to walk in the life of the new."
  "But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you." (Luke 11:20). How near the kingdom of God had come unto them-- for the KING of the kingdom was in their midst. Yet the transition could not be fully made into the new until He had blazed out the way, by His cross, for truly HE IS "The way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6).
  As He FULFILLED THE OLD, He also taught them the new, and we read many times, "It has been said... but I say unto you..." (Matthew 5:31-32). After the old order way it was said like this-- but according to the NEW ORDER WAY it shall be so different-- of a far higher realm. They had long heard the old, as it "has been said." But never a man spoke like this Man when He taught them of the NEW. "And they were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as One that had authority, and not as the scribes." (Mark 1:22).
  The old order was a way of living by exterior commandments. HIS was a way of living out of the heart, of the spirit. One was a way of external observance, the other was a living out of a STATE OF BEING. The religious people hated Him, because He demonstrated anew order-- so OTHER than what the Pharisees taught. It totally upset their self-righteousness.
  Paul was an extension of this new dimension teaching, saying, "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircum- cision; but faith which works by love." And again, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." (Galatians 5:6, and 6:15).
  Only the NEW CREATION REALM knows about the "faith which works by love." For the old order was based not on love, but the works of man wrought by duty, to DO-- or else! Man could rigidly obey the law without love, simply because it was so required in order to obtain its certain blessings. But the new order which flows out of the SPIRIT, in love, in faith, takes no record of its doing, for it is the very nature of love to freely give.
  No wonder it is so difficult for man to make the transition from the old into the new. And THANK GOD He sent His Son to become that way for us. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes unto you: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." (Zechariah 9:9).
  He came, our King, "having salvation." Interesting that the margin reference indicates the Hebrew to read, "saving Himself." It indicates that the PROCESS WAS FIRST WROUGHT IN HIMSELF! "Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared; And being made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation." (Hebrews 5:7,9). Thus we see that in HIS COMING WITH SALVATION He first experienced the outworking IN HIMSELF, and then He became the Author of life for all mankind.
   "And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him. For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon His head; and He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak." (Isaiah 59:16-17).
  There was none else-- no man, no intercessor capable of standing in the gap, bringing salvation to creation. No one else had the power to CHANGE DISPENSATIONS and lead us from the old into the new. Men will try to reform and re-structure the old, make it more eye-pleasing, give it a "new look" but it is always the same underneath.No man is able to institute a totally NEW ORDER, especially one that is dealing with the inner nature of man-- literally introducing a new creation species. So He came, the Son of God, Son of man, and laid out that transition process. SAVING HIMSELF--saved through His awful sufferings, becoming triumphant over all His enemies. "His righteousness, it sustained Him." Holiness personified! Not only did His righteousness bring Him through, but it becomes the FOUNDATION for all of the new creation-- to "Be  holy; for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16).
  No wonder HE is the Mediator of the New Covenant. In Himself He experienced all the throes of transition-- for He "was in all points tempted (tested) like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15). In ways far beyond our understanding, He experienced to the full the depths of sorrow-- "Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5). Thus did He, "by the grace of God taste death for every man." (Hebrews 2:9). And then He was "declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." (Romans 1:4). Rising triumphant, to become the AUTHOR OF SALVATION-- to bring every man into this same glorious dimension of life.
  "Then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over opposite you, and immediately you shall find a donkey tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, The Lord has need of them; and immediately he will send them." (Matthew 21:1-3).
  Find both the mother ass and the colt with her, and say that "The Lord has need of THEM." For there must needs be a fulfillment of that prophetic Word, "Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine." (Genesis 49:11).
  "All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell the daughter of Sion, Behold, your King comes unto you, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass."
(Matthew 21:4-5).
  So the disciples did as they were bidden, "And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set Him thereon." (verse 7). Significant that this word "thereon" is plural, for they spread their garments on them both, and HE RODE THEM BOTH.
  Matthew's Gospel is written from the KINGDOM perspective. And here we have the King of kings riding upon these beasts of burden-- fully identifying Himself with groaning creation. Yet the symbolism is terrific. For we note that these people spread their garments upon the animals-- these who lived under the order of the first covenant, the law-- and all of their covering, i.e. righteousness was defined by the law. And HE SAT DOWN ON IT! He rode out the old covenant, He fulfilled all its type and shadow. He did not fight it, He did not condemn it, He just RODE IT OUT-- brought it to its conclusion IN HIMSELF. But He also placed His feet on the NEW. The foal that was running alongside, not yet ready to bear the full load, for the time of the first covenant had not yet fully ended-- thus Jesus sat on THE OLD, but HIS FEET-- HIS WALK WAS ON-- IN THE NEW that He came to establish. In Him "Shiloh" had come!
  "The sceptre 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." (Genesis 49:10).
  Ferrar Fenton: "till Peace arrive, and the nations obey Him."
  Truly HE IS OUR PEACE, in Him Peace had come to man. Even as the angelic messengers had declared, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth PEACE, good will toward men."
  Young's Literal: "till His SEED come, and His is the obedience of the people."
  He is that SEED through whom "shall all nations be blessed." (Galatians 3:8). He is the SEED of the new creation, into whose image we shall be conformed, and of whose nature we shall be partakers.
  You speak of a new covenant Spirit, "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Corinthians 3:17). You speak of a new covenant generation, He is the Seed of that generation. You speak of new covenant security, He is that security and Peace of that covenant. You speak of a new covenant name, it is because we are joined to Him that we receive such blessings. HE IS THE SHILOH! He is the Center and Focal point of the new life. That is why it is stated, "Unto Him shall the gathering of the people be." For it is ALL IN HIM. "In Him all fullness is pleased to dwell." (Colossians 1:19).
  "Binding His foal unto the Vine, and His ass's colt unto the choice vine;..." Herein we have a beautiful expression for both the First and the Second covenants. And blood covenants they are! In the first covenant we have the blood of the animal sacrifices, but in the second covenant we have the BLOOD OF CHRIST, spoken of in Hebrews 13:20 as "the blood of the everlasting covenant."
  Next we note this word "binding" from the Hebrew "asar" meaning: to yoke, fasten, set in array, and, make ready. Israel was yoked to the first covenant, having taken their vows at Mt. Sinai. "And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord has said will we do." (Exodus 24:3). The vow was made, the commitment to obey, and HIS LAW WAS UPON THEM. It was a covenant that was in force until death. This Paul brings out, using the marriage vow as an illustration. "For the woman which has a husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he lives; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. - Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that you should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." (Romans 7:2,4). God, Jehovah was in Christ, and in that death on the Cross ended the BINDING of the old covenant.
  Herein is a marvelous thing-- for while this DEATH at Calvary ended the old union, it also opened up the way for a NEW UNION, and a NEW COVENANT. "And for this cause He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives." (Hebrews 9: 15-17).
  No wonder it was such a cataclysmic event at Calvary. No wonder hell raged and the earth trembled. HE who came riding on the ass, binding to the vine, became "The end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes." (Romans 10:4). IN HIM we have the conclusion of that whole dispensation. And then by His death He also ratified the NEW TESTAMENT-- placing it in force, and so now IN HIM we see all the love, grace, mercy, victory of the new covenant. And now He BINDS US UNTO THE CHOICE VINE. "For it is in Him that all the fullness of Deity continues to live embodied, and THROUGH UNION WITH HIM you too are filled with it." (Colossians 2:9-10, Williams).
  Thus again we see the WISDOM OF GOD, and the POWER OF GOD, as the death throes of the old, also become the birth-pangs of the new, to the glory and praise of His grace. Thus He said to His disciples. "This cup is the New Testament in My blood, which is shed for you."
(Luke 22:20). For HE IS the CHOICE VINE! Even as He said, "I am the Vine, you are the branches." (John 15:5). And JOINED TO HIM we partake, not of the old vine of the first covenant, but the glorious reality of that CHOICE NEW COVENANT. Bless His holy name!
  Once more ancient Israel becomes an illustrative parable for the truth. Isaiah 5:1-7 gives the record, and we will comment as we go: "Now will I sing to my well-beloved a song of my Beloved touching His vineyard. My well-beloved has a vineyard in a very fruitful hill." (vs.1).
  Interesting phrase-- "a very fruitful hill:" for it comes from the Hebrew wording that literally means: the horn of the son of oil. The "horn" bespoke of that which was higher than any other part of the animal, and thus bespoke of a "raised position." While the words "son of oil" are a Hebraism denoting fertility, olive oil being most esteemed and valuable.
  These "sons of oil" are spoken of in Deuteronomy 7:6. "For you are a holy people unto the Lord your God: the Lord your God has chosen you to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth." Thus they were raised up to be the HORN, a people above all nations. Furthermore, "He suffered no man to do them wrong: yes, He reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not Mine anointed, and do My prophets no harm." (Psalm 105:14-15). Thus qualifying them as sons of oil, His anointed people. Yes, they are only the first covenant vine, but they were His people, and He was in a covenant relationship with them, therefore He carefully watched over them.
  "And He fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and He looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes." (verse 2).
  Such is the record of ancient Israel! WILD GRAPES! Filled with rebellion, going their own way, serving idols, rejecting and stoning the prophets, etc. so when He looked for good fruit, He found it not. So what was He to do?
  "And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah His pleasant plant: and He looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry." (Isaiah 5:5-7).
  So Israel was scattered among the nations, the walls were broken down, the people were trampled underfoot-- discipline and purging were the order of the day. But God had a PLAN that was being fulfilled, "For God has concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all." (Romans 11:33). And having shut them all up in unbelief, (a real death process), then He sent His Son to become the SEED of a new creation order. He "visits the nations, to take out of them a people for His name." (Acts 15:14). He draws to Himself "a remnant according to the election of grace." (Romans 11:5). And HE BINDS THEM UNTO THE CHOICE VINE, into a new covenant relationship with Himself.
  Already mentioned is that one of the meanings for the Hebrew word "asar/binding" is: to yoke. Jesus said, "Take MY YOKE upon you, and learn of Me." (Matthew 11:29). Come and be BOUND UNTO ME, embrace Me, and learn of Me-- of the reality of the new covenant established by My grace!
  Due to the negative programming by religious systems, many have come to view "the yoke" as a burden, and because they already have more cares upon their shoulders than they want, they say "don't yoke me with any more." But actually, a YOKE is just the opposite-- it is not an additional burden, it is GIVEN TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD, making it far easier to pull, than any other way. His yoke is AN INSTRUMENT OF MERCY.
  The general burden of natural life itself all must carry. To some it is weariness, failures, tragedies, struggle, pain. But HIS SOLUTION IS-- "carry it as I do! Take My yoke, Learn of Me, and you will find it easy, fits right upon the shoulder, therefore My burden is light."
  We have freely ridden the first ass, i.e. the first covenant, with all of its works, labors, wearisome toil. We have followed all the rituals and ceremonies, but we have not been able to produce that "peaceable fruit of righteousness" which He desired. Indeed, we have seen far more "wild grapes" than "good grapes." Now we desire to be BOUND TO THE CHOICE VINE, to walk out-- to have our feet IN THE NEW. "Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4).
  "He washed His garments in wine and His clothes in the blood of grapes."  (Genesis 49:11). "Wherefore are you red in Your apparel, and Your garments like him that treads in the wine vat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with Me." (Isaiah 63:2-3).
  Yes, in the initial outworking HE WAS ALONE, blazing out the path wherein we could follow. But now He calls us to Himself, that we might "know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death." (Philippians 3:10).
  There is an essential identification with HIS CROSS and His death, wherein we experientially share with Him a "dying out" to the old, that we might embrace the new. No more to "fight" the old order, no more to rail upon it, condemn it, etc. but we come to TERMS OF PEACE, and with Him, able to RIDE OUT THE OLD, while we place out feet upon (INTO) the new. There are those who have become utterly weary of the old order, but they continue to fight it, resist it, or, as in the case of some, to heal it if they could. But there is an inworking of His cross which frees us from all the bondages of the old, and we are able to let it go its way as Father ordained it to go, while our heart, and vision are placed upon that new CHOICE VINE of His fullness of life...
  "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" (1 Corinthians 10:16).
  What communion, what sharing together, what participation to be realized as we enter into "the fellowship of His sufferings, and are made conformable to His death." And yet this was the very route that the Father ordained for the Son, to bring an end to the old order, and to birth the new. And likewise shall it so work IN US-- suffering, and death to self, etc. will certainly bring an end to all of our self-righteousness of the old covenant. It brings an end to the works of the flesh, and the struggle to be like Him. Now, having died to the old, we realize there is nothing that we can do to rise up in the life of the new-- it will be totally the outflow of HIS LIFE.
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives 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." (Galatians 2:20).
   What love is revealed when HE came to dwell among men, and RIDE OUT the old covenant to its conclusion, fulfilling all of the righteousness of the Law. But then He went on to promise, "I say unto you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." (Matthew 26:29). Truly, He drank (shared) with us, that we might now DRINK WITH HIM-- share in the glorious reality of the NEW VINE, the CHOICE VINE of the new covenant.
  Yes, we desire to DRINK THE NEW now, and many have taken their first sip, and been richly blessed, but when they could not walk in its fullness, they have returned to the old order and tried by works to bring the new into manifestation. Ah, the method and system of the old will never serve to produce the new. It is totally GOD ALL THE WAY! It is IN CHRIST, our Shiloh, our Peace, our Seed, that we find blessed reality.
  Praise God, HE has bound us unto the choice vine, and no more shall we be satisfied with anything less than its fullness. With all our heart we reach out to EMBRACE HIM, even though it means embracing His cross, before we enjoy the power of His resurrection. We welcome HIS YOKE UPON US, for it is away of life, of peace, of joy, and yes, of REST. We can cease from our own works, and enter into His rest, because HE is the CHOICE VINE of the new covenant, and He is the Finisher of our faith!

   Men spread their garments on the donkey, and upon her foal,
   And then they set our Lord thereon, 'tis written In the Scroll.
   Triumphantly the march was made, let the Hosannas ring,
   Blessed is He who comes to reign, this One who is our King.
   It was a parable that day-- expressed in word and deed,
   The deeper message was concealed, to which we would give heed.
   Binding the donkey to the vine, the foal unto the Choice,
   Bespeaks of covenants these two, to which we would give voice.
   Israel was bound unto the vine, to God they made their vow,
   That His commandments they'd obey, before Him they would bow.
   A covenant they often broke, its works they could not keep,
   And yet there seemed to be no "out" until in death they sleep.
   So Christ did come, fulfilled the law, and ended it in death,
   That He might also give A NEW-- in resurrection's breath.
   For by His death the old was gone, yet birthing us the new,
   He was the One who rode them both-- His cross between the two.
   This is the way transition's made, the fellowship we share,
   Conformable unto His death, as we His sorrows bear.
   Until we cease the works of flesh, and enter into rest,
   To find in Christ our righteousness, and by His grace are blest.
   Death-throes, birth-pangs, in this we see the wisdom of our God,
   Out of the old, into the new, to share His Staff and Rod.
   Unto the Choice Vine we are yoked, to in His fullness dwell,
   This covenant eternal made, is more than words can tell. BACK

  "Lo, I cannot find a man, nay who has walked this way before,
   For the path is newly opened by a recent swinging door,
  And the predecessors vanish with the dawning of the day,
  While the hidden ones are stirring, for the past has passed away.
   Now the lame shall rise to victory and the legs of faith be strong,
   For the cause results in triumph and results to LIFE belong.
   From the precious vintage rip'ning is the first fruits cluster rare,
   And the blessing bides within it of the changing blood and air.
   O, you cannot find a vessel that has held what's now in view,
   For the perfects' surely birthing in which makes all things new.
   So no seeking unto others of a fleeting day and age
   Will upturn a single leader whence to look for wisdom sage.
   Be it known, it's you God's calling to announce in golden tone
   That the Day of Christ is bursting in the minds of men, alone.
   Yea, alone and separated have they waited through the night,
   Knowing well the death of spirit, till returned it bursts the light.
   Few the shackles still abiding, but they're those of iron worth
   And must break in final loos'ning by the shaking of your earth.
   Do not fear the crucial crisis in the spirit, body, mind,
   For your God leads onward surely where His fullness is defined."
                                                                                                            (Author unknown)

  THERE IS A CHOICE VINE! The New Covenant, of which Jesus Christ is the Mediator, yes, the Guarantee. Of Him it is written, "He takes away the first, that He may establish the second." (Hebrews 10:9). He truly RODE OUT THE OLD, fulfilled it, and then HIS WALK was in the new, of which we also read that HE IS "The Way, The Truth, and The Life." And then we have the glorious promise that "As in (Greek, in, with, by) Adam all die, even so in (in, with, by) Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order."
(1 Corinthians 15:22-23).
  The totality of victory is secure. "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." (Habakkuk 2:14).
  Indeed, "Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God."
(Luke 3:5-6).
  BUT, for the outworking of this glorious purpose and triumph, it remains, "EVERY MAN IN HIS OWN ORDER." For wide sweeping as it all is, all-inclusive, all-victorious, yet it is being wrought in us individually, by the sovereign handiwork of God. So the truth of a FIRSTFRUITS becomes essential to our understanding, as the Spirit draws to Himself one by one a people that shall become ONE IN HIM! Jesus combined both the individuality of this working, and its totality, when He said, "No man can come to Me, except the Father which has sent Me draw him: - It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that has heard, and has learned of the Father, comes unto Me." (John 6:44-45).
  Thus we find in our text passage five very special words: cluster, servant, seed, elect, inheritor. None of these give reference to massive numbers for a beginning-- but are in line with Luke 12:32, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." A LITTLE FLOCK, indeed, just a SEED! For, "I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob." (Isaiah 65:9).
  "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He says not, and to seeds, as of many; but as of one, and to your seed, which is Christ." (Galatians 3:16).
  "Your seed, which is Christ." There is a rule to be followed in studying the Greek text, that, where the identifying article "the" is given, so as to read "the Christ," it is speaking of identity, but where that article is missing, it is speaking of quality. In this verse the identifying article is not there, so it is not referring solely to the identity of our Lord Jesus Christ, but rather it speaks of the quality of the ANOINTING, and thus speaks of that whole enchristed (anointed) first fruits body of which He is the Head. So when we have reference to the SEED, it is not only speaking of our Lord, who truly is THE SEED, but it includes all of those who are now becoming ONE IN HIM-- a corporate body of first fruits who are all anointed with the same QUALITY of anointing that abode upon Him. It is His anointing, for He is the Anointer, and "God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts." (Galatians 4:6).
  The SAME SPIRIT which abode in The Son in fullness, is now to abide in us. Of Jesus it is written, "God gives not the Spirit by measure unto Him." (John 3:34). Of us it is written that we have this "Spirit of promise" as an earnest, but we are also to come into His fullness, as "through union with Him, you, too, are filled with it."
(Colossians 2: 10, Williams).
  As we already have observed in the previous chapter, our UNION with Him, our taking HIS YOKE upon us, to be joined into one with Him, requires that we share in the "fellowship of His suffering, being made conformable unto His death." Yet it is this IMMERSING INTO CHRIST which makes us a part of the SEED company of the new creation order which live by the new covenant. "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. - And if you be Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:27,29).
  Truly, this is the SEED through whom "shall all nations be blessed." Spoken of also in Psalm 22:30-31. "A seed shall serve Him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that He has done this."
  Obviously this is speaking of that new covenant generation, because they "declare His righteousness," which is the result of His grace. They will not glory in any self-righteousness which is the result of self-works, as under the first covenant. It cannot be emphasized too often, it is totally HIS SOVEREIGN GRACE, and they declare "that HE has done this." Not that He is someday going to do it, but rather THAT IT IS DONE, wrought in a people who become a manifestation of His grace, of His righteousness. LIVING EXPRESSIONS of His handiwork. It is a state of being which verifies the message they speak.
  Currently we are in a process of BECOMING. "For as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." (John 1:12).
  "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). How wonderful shall be the seed of the new covenant species that He is bringing forth. They are a first fruits of all the harvest which is to follow, "every man in his own order."
  Not only is He bringing forth a CORPORATE SEED after His own kind, but they are a SERVANT-seed. There must always be a balance in our thinking on these things. It is true, we are to be "kings and priests unto God," (Revelation 1:6), but we are also called TO SERVE. As we come to know His total Lordship in our life, and our relationship to Him as His servants, then we are privileged, as overcomers, to share His throne. We will not be haughty and high-minded over our kingship, but we will share in the humility of our Lord, who truly was SERVANT OF ALL. For He "made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2:7). He truly revealed unto us the blessedness of subjection to the Father, in away that only HE could reveal how marvelous it is to be a servant. "I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which has sent Me." (John 5:30).
  There is a reason why the Spirit has so often richly anointed the chorus which we have sung these past few years---
                         "You are Lord, You are Lord, You have risen from the dead, and You are Lord,
                          Now my knee shall bow, and my tongue confess, That You, O Christ, are Lord."

  Why has He blessed this chorus so often? Because it both exalts Him in His Lordship, and it brings us into acknowledgment of our relationship and position of being the servant. Self cannot glory, so long as we are proclaiming HIS Lordship. And how we need to be cognizant of this fact. For, "The disciple is not above his Master, nor the servant above his Lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master, and the servants his Lord." (Matthew 10:24-25).
In all things HE will always have the pre-eminence. He is the Head of the body. Yet there is a "growing up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ." (Ephesians 4:15). There is a "headship" position which shall be shared by all those who OVERCOME-- for "To him that overcome I will grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." (Revelation 3:21).
  Long ago Jesus said, as He walked among men, "The foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head." (Luke 9:58). This means a lot more than that He had no home, no bed and pillow upon which to place His head. Indeed, we see it as a comment upon the fact that at that time there was no corporate body with whom to share His headship realm, for He was yet in the process of preparing a people in whom He could dwell, and with whom He could share this position.
  The Psalmist in a measure saw this need, and said, "I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob." (Psalm 132:4-5). But it was not a building that God desired to dwell in, it was a PEOPLE, and in due time God told David that rather than David building God an house, God would BUILD HIM-- God wanted him to become His dwelling place-- A ZION PEOPLE. "For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. This is My rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it." (verses 13-14). Praise His name!
  One with our Master, sharing His throne, yet this is not a place to be selfishly grasped. "But whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:26-28).
  Jesus gave the most marvelous illustration for the proper attitude of His servants, in Luke 22:27. "For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he that sits at table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves." Ah, consider this the next time that God provides you with an opportunity to share of the living Word. Perhaps with your neighbor as you visit out in the yard-- you are the servant, they are as the guest sitting at meat (the table), you have the lowly position, they are the honored ones. That is the balancing attitude for our servant ship, even though we are to reign as kings and priests unto our God. That is new covenant humility!
  "His servants shall serve Him: And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads." (Revelation 22:3-4).
  There will be no divided allegiance. There will be no divided interests-- His, and theirs. For His name, His character, all that He is shall be fully written in their foreheads. "I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people." (Hebrews 8:10).
  Not only are the first fruits of the new covenant generation called a SEED, and called a SERVANT, but they are also referred to as "Mine elect." The word literally means: to be chosen. And never is the operation of NEW COVENANT GRACE seen more clearly, than when it comes to God's choosing a people for Himself. "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy." (Romans 9:15-16).
   We are chosen-- not because of anything in us, no merit, no desirableness, for we all have "sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Nevertheless, in mercy He says, "You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain." (John 15:16). He blinds whom He blinds, and He chooses whom He wills, not on a whim, nor with caprice, but in infinite wisdom, as He works all things together after the counsel of His own will, and with a view towards the goal when ultimately "in Christ shall ALL be made alive." Praise His name!
  Called a seed, called a servant, called His chosen, they are also spoken of as "an INHERITOR of My mountains." The Hebrew word for "inheritor" is "yarash" meaning: to occupy, be in possession; and holds within it the thought of driving out any previous tenants, so as to possess their place.
  How clearly this new covenant inheritor is seen fulfilling this role, in Revelation 12:7-8, 10. "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. - And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ (His anointed ones)..."
  The Lord has His ANOINTED ONES who are ascending! And there is a realm that is descending, for verse 9 reads, "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." God shall have an INHERITOR of His mountains, driving out any previous usurper of that domain. Thus, "The saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever." (Daniel 7:18). Praise God!
  These "inheritors" are not like that one who said, "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;  I will be like the most High." (Isaiah 14:13-14).
  Such self-aspiration, self-exaltation, self-promotion will never be found in God's NEW COVENANT PEOPLE. They will never be driven by feverish acts of their own will to try and raise themselves to a more rarified atmosphere. They will never be motivated by the competitive drive of this world, dragging another down as they seek to elevate themselves. They will never desire the chief seats to be recognized and admired by others. They will never seek to escape the issues at hand, and drift away in fantasy on a pink cloud, nor seek to dull their senses with even a religious ecstasy of soulish emotion. Nor will they try to be "god" and always have the last word, etc. for this whole spirit of "I WILL" shall be thoroughly purged out, and their one all-consuming prayer, from every fiber of their being, remains, "not my will, but Yours, be done." Amen!
  But while there is no SELFISH GRASPING, there is a mountain to be inherited. "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." (Psalm 48:2). Will mount Zion be inherited? YES! For, "I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father's name written in their foreheads." (Revelation 14:1). They have not arrived here through self-effort, but through HIS GRACE. For He "has raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ." (Ephesians 2:6).
  It is true, "The good news of the kingdom is being preached, and every one strives violently to go in - would force his own way, rather than God's way into it." (Luke 16:16, Amplified). Many see the blessings of the new covenant, and the kingdom of God, and they would try and FORCE THEIR OWN WAY into it. They become violent to fulfill their self-motivated desires. However, every usurper will be cast out. "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted, shall be rooted up." (Matthew 15:13).
  Yet how beautifully Jesus stated it: "Blessed are the meek: for they shall INHERIT the earth." (Matthew 5:5). There is a meekness which is essential in all of our inheriting-- for the gifts are freely given by God, through His grace, and to be received with a grateful heart, and thanksgiving unto Him.
  So we have-- a seed, a servant, a chosen, an inheritor. But there is one more word which deserves our attention, THE CLUSTER. This is not the whole harvest, this is but that first-ripe cluster of grapes that belongs to the CHOICE VINE. He is that Vine, the new covenant belongs to that vine, and there is a cluster which is also identified with that choice vine. Praise God!
     "From the precious vintage rip'ning is the first fruits cluster rare.
      And the blessing bides within it of the changing blood and air."
  "As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one says, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it." (Isaiah 65:8).
  The first time the word "cluster" is used in the Scripture is in Genesis 40:10, at the time Joseph was in prison, and the butler told Joseph a dream, for him to interpret. In the dream was a cluster of grapes, "and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup." The point we are after is this illustration of a cluster of grapes-- not a great amount, just enough to be pressed into a cup. But it also betokens the glory of the NEW WINE that shall be forthcoming in all its reality.
   We also notice that it was PRESSED into the cup. God's first fruits company of the new covenant order are truly being---
   "Pressed out of measure, and pressed to all lengths;  Pressed so intensely it seems, beyond strength;
    Pressed in the body and pressed in the soul; Pressed in the mind till the dark surges roll.
    Pressure by foes, and a pressure from friends; Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends.
    Pressed into knowing no helper but God; Pressed into loving the staff and the rod.
    Pressed into liberty where nothing clings; Pressed into faith for impossible things.
    Pressed into living a life in the Lord, Pressed into living a Christ-life outpoured."
              (Louise S. Pridgeon)
  A CUP to drink! Jesus asked them, "Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto Him, We are able." And then He said, "You shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with..." (Matthew 20:22-23). But it is one thing to talk about "drinking the cup" and quite another thing in the actual experience, as we share "the fellowship of His sufferings." Yet we read that "He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink all of it." Did you notice that wording? He took it, AND GAVE THANKS! Can we also GIVE THANKS while we share with Him the cup, and give our life as an offering of the choice vine cluster.
       "Will you be poured out as wine upon the altar to Me? Will you be broken as bread to feed the hungry?
       Will you be so one in Me that I may do just as I will  To make you life, and light, and love, My Word fulfill?"
 "But I say unto you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." (Matthew 26:29). He drank a cup with man, and promised there would be a day when man would drink WITH HIM, of that NEW WINE, in His kingdom, sharing the New covenant. Then all the former things will have passed away. "He takes away the first, that He may establish the second." Amen!
  Though there is a drinking of the "cup of suffering" now, we rejoice to know that we shall yet drink of that NEW WINE of His kingdom, to share with Him all of its glorious reality. We now belong to the CHOICE VINE, and though at this time there is but a CLUSTER-- in due time there shall be a full harvest.

         There's new wine in the cluster, and we have caught the scent,
         A first fruit generation that's onward, upward bent.
         With man He was partaker, He shared with us the cup,
          A painful, blest communion. In suff'ring yet we sup.
          But He has promised new wine, to in His kingdom share,
          A holy generation that shall His image bear.
          Yet first we are His servants, acknowledge Him as Lord,
          Our will in His becoming, obed'ent to His Word.
          A seed, yea, His anointed, to by His Spirit live,
          That out of His great blessing to others we can give.
          Elect, fully His choosing, an act of sovereign grace,
          Laid hold of for becoming anew creation race.
          All that we are, and shall be, past ages have concealed,
          But look we for the dawning when all shall be revealed.
          Redeemed from earth's corruption, loosed from its vanity,
          To find our satisfaction in His reality. BACK

The eagle "Dwelleth and abideth on the rock."
"My hope is built on nothing less  Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,  But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
His oath, His covenant, His blood  Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,  He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand,   All other ground is sinking sand." (Edward Mote)

  How beautifully Moses said it, when speaking of the gods of the heathen, "For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges." (Deuteronomy 32:31). Our Rock is that High and Holy One. And with the Psalmist we cry out, "Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I." (Psalm 61:2).
  God once spoke to Moses, "There is a place by Me, and you shall stand upon a rock." (Exodus 33:21). There was a cleft in the rock, Moses stood in that place while the glory of the Lord passed by, and God removed His hand from covering Moses long enough for Moses to see the AFTERGLOW of that glory, and even that glory was so tremendous that as Moses absorbed it into Himself, the people could not look upon Moses face for the awesomeness of this glory yet upon him. They placed a veil upon his face, not just to make it possible for the people to look at Moses, but also, "to the end that the sons of Israel should not fix their gaze upon the termination of that which is passing away." (2 Corinthians 3:13, Wuest). Gradually that glory-glow had faded away, just as the glory that once accompanied the giving of the Law also faded away, till the day came when it was abolished.
  But the NEW COVENANT "ministration of righteousness exceeds in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excels. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remains is glorious." (2 Corinthians 3:9-11).
  And so God says to us today, "There is a place BY ME..." And He would prepare us to be in that PLACE. "For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives." (Hebrews 12:6). We note the word "receives" from the Greek word "paradechomai" meaning: to receive beside. For He would receive us INTO HIMSELF-- that we might dwell "in the secret place of the Most High, and abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 91:1). Received INTO THE CLEFT OF THE ROCK, into that cleft in His side, to share in that UNION, "That they all may be one; as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us." (John 17:21). It is IN HIM that the GLORY REMAINS, and our abiding in Him brings us into that ALWAYS. Bless His name!
  Next, we read that the eagle was "upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place." The Hebrew word for "crag" literally means: a sharp point. This is a peak that is not easily accessible. There are heights, rare points of revelation, unique peaks of truth that are not gained by man's climbing efforts, i.e. through all of man's diligent study, using many concordances, commentaries, translations, for they come by the sovereign lifting up by our God. He alone is "The Lifter up of mine head." (Psalm 3:3). It is by Divine Illumination! Even as Paul said, "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1:12).
  You cannot live on a borrowed revelation. It is when HE quickens you by the Spirit, when HE becomes "The Lifter up of my head," lifting you out of the realm of the carnal mind, beyond the creeds and traditions of man, that suddenly you can SEE AFAR OFF into a truth which has been hidden from the unsanctified gaze of religion."Caught up...to hear unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." (2 Corinthians 12:4). Yet in your spirit you KNOW that it is truth which He has quickened to you.
  "For who is God except the Lord? or Who is a Rock, save our God, the God who girds me with strength, and makes my way perfect? He makes my feet like hinds' feet (able to stand firmly or make progress on the dangerous heights of testing and trouble); He sets me securely upon my high places."
(Psalm 18:31-33, Amplified).
  And so the prophet said, "I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what He will say unto me, (literally, Hebrew, SAY IN ME). For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by His faith." (Habakkuk 2:1, 3-4).
   The man that would lift up his own soul is not upright. All of the do-it-yourself efforts of man do not make one spiritual. It is the divine inworking of God that transforms us from glory to glory, and we must needs live by HIS FAITH. "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."(Galatians 2:20).
  Now, assuredly, "the vision is for an APPOINTED TIME." But the eagle SEES AFAR OFF, sees the reality of what it is looking for, and knows that though there be much time and space between it and what it sees, nevertheless the vision is true.
  One of our human characteristics is that when God imparts to us a certain revelation, we are prone to think it is for right NOW. We want God's vision in our now, rather than having our vision elevated to GOD'S NOW-- to His timing and purpose. So there is that inworking of patience as we learn to "wait for it." "For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise." (Hebrews 10:36). And so we learn to yield to the inworking, "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James 1:3-4).
  Thus our prayer remains, "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law." (Psalm 119:18). OPEN-- the Hebrew word here means: to uncover, to remove, to reveal.
  When our eyes are closed, there is a veil of FLESH that covers and it bespeaks of the things of this world that dim our vision to the realities beyond. How we need our eyes UNCOVERED, and all the things of earth REMOVED, so that we can clearly see that which He would REVEAL to us.
  As we noted in the previous chapter, Balaam went through quite an experience with his donkey, until God opened his eyes to see, and then "he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor has said, and the man whose eyes are open has said: He has said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see Him, but not now: I shall behold Him, but not near: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, - Out of Jacob shall come He that shall have dominion,..." (Numbers 24:15-17).
  "I shall see Him, but not now..." He was seeing AFAR OFF. He beheld the coming of the Christ, long before Israel even began to be a nation in their own promised land. They were still going through their wilderness experience. But God opened his eyes, and he saw-- saw that there would arise the One that would have dominion-- the true Kingdom of God. This Scepter would rise out of Israel, out of the people that Balak wanted him to curse, and he dare not curse that which was to become the womb for this Mighty One. For centuries men would look for that Star. Betimes a godly king would come on the scene, and I suspect some people wondered for a moment if this one was the Star, but time soon proved that he wasn't. Yet eagle vision saw afar off, and declared that HE would arise-- not now, not near, but coming nevertheless. Only the Revelator can impart such a revelation!
  We dare not pursue a self-inspired vision. This is not a self-induced vision, which we visualize and claim. Visualization is an INSTEAD OF working, instead of God's Divine Impartation. When GOD imparts the vision, you can cease from your own works, knowing that HE said it, and HE will do it. That is the very foundation of the new covenant, that God makes promise both for Himself, and for us, saying, "I will, and you shall."
  "And the Lord said unto Abram after Lot was separated from him, 'Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward.'"  (Genesis 13:14).
  LOOK FROM THE PLACE WHERE YOU ARE! How often have you felt that if you could just get away, into a certain place, the right atmosphere, a good meeting, whatever, then you might get a hold of a renewed and greater vision. But God told Abram to LOOK right from the place where he was at. God imparts the vision, and He is not restricted to a certain place, certain conditions, certain times, etc. He meets us where we are at, that He might lift our vision to where HE IS. He is the Lifter up of our head!
  So God had Abram look in all four directions, and then said to him, "Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the width of it; for I will give it unto you." (Genesis 13:17). Ah, now finally we are getting somewhere, this is bringing it into our NOW. Now we can start walking through it, claiming it, right? Wrong! He saw the land, he could walk through it, but "He gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet He promised that He would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child." (Acts 7:5). That takes eagle vision, being able to see afar off.
  Look over, and walk through the land, for I will give it to you! But he never received so much as to set his foot on that he could claim was his, title deed and all. Furthermore, God promised that his seed would inherit it after him, and he didn't even have a seed. Yet it is written, "Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall your seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith, giving glory to God." (Romans 4:18-20). But there was much to happen before this vision could be fully realized, including time Israel spent in Egypt for four hundred years. Yet in his NOW, God had him get out of his tent, "And He brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if you are able to number them: and He said unto him, So shall your seed be. And he believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15:5-6).
  Why do we need ANOINTED VISION to see afar off? Because God established a principle, that you see, and then you BECOME WHAT YOU SEE. If you have no vision, you have nothing to become!
  The enticement was before her, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food... she took of the fruit thereof.." (Genesis 3:6). And what she saw she became-- birthing a Cain and an Abel, evil and good. She saw a tree of duality, and she partook and then birthed duality. She passed from one dimension into another, she was changed into an expression of the grossly material realm of this flesh. Then she gave to her husband, and he did eat, "And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons." (Genesis 3:7).
  Now her eyes were opened to see her present state of being, no longer seeing afar off, but now she saw her condition as it had become. She saw because she could not help but see, and she hated herself for seeing, but she could not help it now for she had become what she saw. You can see sin, and become sinful, but you cannot change yourself from that state. No longer could Adam and Eve see as they had before-- beholding things afar off. Now they could only see the things nigh at hand, after the ability of the flesh, and it is brutish.
  Surely much of Christendom "is blind, and cannot see afar  off.."
(2 Peter 1:9). Because they have not yet had the VEIL OF FLESH removed from their eyes. Only the disciplines of God, and the inworking of His cross, can remove the carnality from us. As long as our own self-will clouds our vision, along with the many traditions of men, we cannot see.
  But when God truly opens our eyes, we realize that "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18). And the vision of the glory which shall yet be known, has wiped away the tears and sorrows of the night, as if they were but shadows which are dissipated by the light.
  "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18).
  "When your eye is single, your whole body also is full of light." (Luke 11:34). And when He purges out our old carnal nature, and we are born anew with the bright nature of His light, we begin to see those things which are afar off, and give glory to God, worshiping Him for all His ways.
  "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
  Why can't we look on these light afflictions, if they are working for us? Why can't we see what they are doing? Because you become what you see, and if you see the negative, you become negative; if you see the temporal, the surface, the transitory, you become the same-- shallow and empty, superficial and given over to the immediate season. Certainly television has become a curse for many-- for they view and become. And it follows, you also become what you hear. And as soon as you become part of the worldly realm, you start to judge by the seeing of the natural eye, and by the hearing of the natural ear.
  Thank God, there are those who are able to say, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; --That which we have seen and heard we declare unto you..." (1 John 1:1,3). Thank God, there is a beholding Him who is invisible, and then sharing out of this reality words of comfort and hope for others.
  Like Abraham, we can look UPWARD AND BEYOND. Jesus said, "Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad." (John 8:56). Out of the deepest trial of his life came a revelation that was tremendous. God had put Abraham to the test, asking him to offer up Isaac for a burnt offering. Obedient Abraham gather together some wood, some fire, a knife, and his son, and started off for the mount. "And Isaac spoke unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the Iamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." (Genesis 22:7-8).
  GOD WILL PROVIDE HIMSELF! "..that is, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself..."
(2 Cor. 5:19).
  Abraham, seeing afar off, caught a glimpse of the Lamb of God that would take away the sin of the world. Yes, God also provided "a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him for a burnt offering in the stead of his son."
(Genesis 22:13). But all of this became but a figure of the true.
  Isaac carried the wood. Jesus carried the cross. Abraham "accounted that God was able to rise up, even from the dead; from which also he received him in a figure." (Hebrews 11:19). Thus he saw the RESURRECTION. No wonder Abraham rejoiced to see HIS day-- and he saw it, and was glad.
  Again, "The scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In you shall all nations be blessed." (Galatians 3:8). Long before the gospel came, indeed, even before the law of the first covenant was given, God revealed to Abraham a vision so staggering that the vast majority of Christendom still cannot begin to comprehend it. Namely, that THROUGH CHRIST "shall all nations be blessed." Total blessing, total reconciliation for all nations, because it would be an ACT OF GOD as He provided Himself to be that Lamb which takes away the sin of the world.
  "How often have past prophets prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: (Then) Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reopened unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven."  (1 Peter 1:10-12).
  Little did they know there was such a span of time between the "sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." Two thousand years have now passed, and we still wait for that marvelous manifestation of His glory. But our eyes of faith have caught a glimpse of that glory, and so we repeat, "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
   David was resting from warfare one day, enjoying some peace, and looking around he took note of the palace he lived in, but God was still in a tent. So he decided he must build God a house. But God wanted David to have some eagle vision, and so God said to Nathan, "Go and tell My servant David, Thus says the Lord, Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, Why have you not built Me an house of cedar?"
(2 Samuel 7:5-7). God had never asked anyone to build him an house, this He made very clear. But then comes the startling revelation to David, verse 11, "Also the Lord tells you that He will make you a house."
  You want to build Me an house of cedar, Let Me open your eyes as from an high mountain, to see afar off, that I have ordained THE DAY WHEN YOU WILL HAVE BECOME MY HOUSE. But that was far down the road. So God enabled David to gather all the materials so that his son Solomon could build a temple. Then God allowed time to pass till that temple went into ruins. Later He sent Zerubabbel to restore the temple. And in time that went into ruin. And you keep looking past all of these interim buildings, present arrangements, and see where GOD IS BUILDING YOU-- "For you are the temple of the living God; as