ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND

THE HOUR OF DESTINY
This is the hour of destiny for those seeking the heart of Father. Figuratively, we are entering the promised land and leaving behind the wilderness of preparation. Our inheritance and destiny is not a place in space, it is a Person. It is not found in a title or position; it is a found in relationship. It is not a doctrine; it is grace and truth in communion with Father. Our inheritance as His sons is becoming the very habitation of Father's essence. His essence is who He is in character and authority. Our firstborn brother Jesus Christ is the essence of Father, and fully expresses His nature and authority. Conformity to the image of Jesus Christ is our Land of promise; that is our inheritance and destiny! The purposes of God for mankind and creation are about to be unveiled in this hour as those who have persevered and learned the lessons of the wilderness are entering the promised land of their inheritance and destiny in Christ. Our primary lesson of the wilderness has been childlike trust and dependency upon Father as our all-in-all.

UTTER DEPENDENCY
Truly I say to you, Whoever does not put himself under the kingdom of God like a little child, will not come into it at all. ~Jesus~ We are utterly dependent upon Him for everything and He alone can truly meet our needs. When Father began to use me to touch others lives I asked Him, "Why did you chose me?" His answer was immediate, "Because you are weak!" When we are weak we are incapable of doing it ourselves, we need help. I am so weak that apart from His strength I am ruined. Weakness demands a source of strength to fill the need. It is in recognizing our weakness and our need of His strength we are able to find it in Him. But, I am not the only one who is weak ; ALL of humanity is weak. Many have not recognized their weakness because they have relied on man's strength and are still depending upon themselves, religion, or others. It is when we recognize our weakness and abandon our own feeble attempts that He can be strong. This is the cross at work in us. Entering into our kingdom purpose for life is really about childlike trust and dependency upon Father in everything. While Jesus was not sinful, He was utterly dependent upon Father and did nothing apart from Father doing or saying it. Entering into His promises always take childlike faith that responds readily to the voice of Father.

OUR NEEDS MET IN HIM
The kingdom of God is manifest as men and women express the heart of God out of His fullness and rest; having found their needs met in Father alone. Years ago Father showed me that the church was sent to the wilderness to learn and find all of its needs met in Father alone. Holy Spirit spoke to me one day and told me there were three basic needs that we needed to find met in Father in the wilderness of preparation. These needs are as follows: The need for Knowledge (to know and be known). The need for Love (intimacy, security). The need for Acceptance (approval) Jesus came that we might have these needs met in relationship to Father. Being known, loved, and accepted by Him fulfills all these places of need. Sin is simply fulfilling these needs apart from Father. These unmet needs manifest as wanton desires for worldly wisdom and knowledge, gratification of the flesh, fame, glory, etc. The day of the old is done. Those ready to enter are prepared and Having found in Him all we need frees us to serve others out of the pure motive of love and no other motives that stem from having unmet needs.

VISION OF THE GLORY OF GOD
I rarely have visions. But, one morning I had a vision in which before me in the distance I saw what looked like two long rows of knives were sticking up out of the ground. I was flying, and as I got closer I realized it was not two rows of knives, but the tips of the wings of two long rows of angels lining a valley corridor. I was set down in this corridor and looked down the path lined with angels. At the end of the path was a large wooden door which was open. The atmosphere of the room behind the door was an amber glow and the air itself had a golden shimmer. It was the glory of God, and I was being set on the path to enter into the Glory of God. 

Making the trek to enter our destiny is not dependent upon our ability to get there, it is dependent upon His ability and faithfulness to bring us there. He is looking for our dependency (faith) upon Him to get us there. He is giving us angelic assistance to bring us into the place He has prepared for us in Him. Lets go forward in faith as He moves us to enter into all He has prepared for those that love Him, depend upon Him, look to Him in their need, and are called according to His purposes.

In His Love
Kriston Couchey

EMBRACING OUR TRUE IDENTITY

 Embracing Our True Identity

RESOLVING OUR IDENTITY IN HIM

The time of wilderness preparation and training that many have gone through in the last several years has served many purposes; but none so important as that of resolving of our identity. While we may have titles such as doctor, lawyer, teacher, pastor, politician, etc.; these are identifying titles that describe "function", or what we do rather then who we are. Many choose to base their identity upon what they do, but it falls short of the identity our Father desires us to embrace and live from; that is our identity as His sons.

After Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness of preparation He was tempted with the words, "If you are the Son of God! Tell these stone to be bread!"and, "If you are the Son of God throw yourself down!"  Satan was trying to get Jesus to question His own identity as the Son of God by DOING something to prove it. Jesus had no need to prove His identity and knew full well God met all of His needs. His identity as God's Son was already resolved in intimate relationship to His Father. And out of that relationship came confidence in His identity. As the Son of God He went forth in power in the form of a servant.

FUNCTION AND SONSHIP

The titles and positions of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor/teacher are terms which represent "functions" of service and are positions that are given to perform works of service. For too long men have taken titles that identify their "function" as a servant and made it an identity that gives them worth. If your identity is in your position or title, the changing or ceasing of your function jeopardizes your worth and identity. When function is the basis of your identity and it is threatened or questioned, you must prove your worth by preserving and defending your function. In Christ there is no need to defend your function or your identity as a son; you are secure before your Father.

STAND WITH AND BEFORE ME

In a dream Father spoke to me, "Stand with and before me with confidence!" I was facing condemnation and Father was giving me encouragement. I came to understand that there were two places I must continue to stand in faith. The most important place of standing is before Him as a son. As sons we are called to stand before our loving Father; adoring, obedient, and dependent upon Him for every necessity of life. In the intimate place of a beloved son He calls us to stand before Him in confidence and faith.

Another place of He has called us to stand is with Him before men as His representatives, performing the works of service He calls us to.  We were created to function in this place of serving with Him; expressing His Divine Nature and Divine Authority to others by the work/function He has given us.

The preeminent place we are called to is that of abiding in His presence as a son. There are those who have come to stand before the Lord as a son and have rightly abandoned their past identities found in title and position. It is of the Lord that we have been cleansed of the self serving desire to find our worth in how we function. But even as Jesus the Son of God laid aside His glory to become a servant, so He is calling us to stand with Him as servants with a function of service. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.Those who have found their identity before Him as sons can now without fear confidently stand with Him before men and perform the function of manifesting Him to the world.

In His Love

Kriston Couchey

PRESSING ON TO THE GOAL

The other day Father showed me a place in the realm of the Spirit that He had prepared for me, He asked me, "Do you want to sit there?" My reply was "Yes, more then anything." He said " It will cost you EVERYTHING!" This once again brought me to a surrender of everything and what I thought I knew and understood in order that He would show me His way. He began to reveal to me more places of self serving within me that were hindering me from progressing into the knowledge of Him, His kingdom, and His ways.

Walking in the reality of the kingdom of God goes against the wisdom of the natural mind and the comfort of the flesh. If we are not continually being challenged and stretched by the reality of the kingdom, the revelation of the nature of it, and how it is demonstrated, we might want to question whether we have become sidetracked by a deceptive comfortable substitute.

Brethren, I do not reckon to have laid hold of it yet, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and extending myself unto those things which are ahead, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. ~Paul~ The apostle Paul's constant state of mind was pressing on in His pursuit of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. While he was content in any circumstance of abundance or lack, he was not content in his journey to obtain the high call of God in Christ Jesus. He was continually "pressing" into knowing Him.

COUNTING THE COST, LOSING OUR LIVES
For whoever will save his life shall lose it; but whoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. ~Jesus~ We must continually count the cost and press in, even though we may have come many times to a place of surrender and death to our own ways. No one who retains their right to keep their own life and reputation will walk in the place of kingdom life Father has destined them to walk. We must continually remain in a place where we can do NOTHING but what we see Father doing. What God builds He will defend. We don't have to defend ourselves or present ourselves, our works, and our lives in Him in such a way as to please others. If we must defend it, He didn't build it. This does not mean He does not use us to speak in a situation where He is defending His own. We've simply got no point to prove anymore, no person to impress, no reputation or doctrine to defend.

We must make the transition from being servants that defend truth, to being sons that contain and express it. This is a place of Rest. It increases as we lay down our need to justify or vindicate ourselves in the eyes of men. It is a pressing battle to understand, embrace, and demonstrate the true gospel of the kingdom. What many have called "kingdom" is simply building men's kingdoms and agendas with men's wisdom. The battle is not one of defending or promoting a doctrine, the battle is to enter into being a living demonstration of the kingdom that expresses who He is. It is a battle for sonship.

THE KINGDOM IS TAKEN BY FORCE
We are not battling with simply flesh and blood, but principalities, powers, and rulers. The greatest battle for the kingdom is the battle for the kingdom within you. Jesus said, "...for the Prince of this world is coming. And yet in me he has nothing..." There is a spiritual realm within each of us that can still have "places of occupation" for the enemy. When the inward land is taken it takes less effort to take the outward land. The battle is inward but the victory is manifest outward as we simply rest in the Victory of God we have within; doing and saying only what He is doing and saying. The kingdom is not simply in words of doctrine or debate about kingdom understanding; it is in POWER that manifests from WITHIN YOU, and is executed perfectly as by faith we go forward into the places He sends us to "occupy". When we are sent by God to a place to establish His kingdom we can expect Him to move with His kingdom authority. Why? Not becasue we are great, but because He only sends us where we have conquered the INWARD land that correlates to the stronghold of the OUTWARD land He is sending us.

WHAT GOAL ARE WE PRESSING TOWARD?
There is a generation that will inherit all the promises of God and reach the goal. I am pressing to be of that generation and by faith apprehend it. The goal we are pressing toward is conformity as sons to the person of Jesus Christ in our inner being. As the varying colors of the light spectrum come together form bright white. So, together in common unity we are all being individually and corporately transformed into His image. As we collectively press in and are transformed, we will by His grace reach the goal. We are crossing over into the promised land together, not as individuals who have received a portion, but as our portions are freely shared and mingled together in love and relationship we will all come into the fullness that is intended for a people whose greatest kingdom attribute is love, even as Christ loved them.

His Love
Kriston Couchey

A DESPERATE PRAYER OF REPENTANCE by James Jarjou

LORD I know you have called me and chosen me to be servant, not a master to your household of faith. As a servant, I deserve nothing, but like Lazarus the crumbs (figuratively, the rejection, criticism, prejudice, loneliness, shame, belittlement, etc) which fell from the rich man’s table (that which the worldly or selfish nature despises, which is the nature of the Lamb in all purity and holiness).

Lord give me grace like Lazarus, to humbly eat this crumbs of your divine life, with unshakable love; though they be bitter like the cup of vinegar they gave you at Calvary, they will indeed be a partway to your resurrection Life. These Crumbs led Lazarus to the very bosom of Abraham, and I know you have of a long time ago, you gave this very promise to your humble servant Abraham, that you will make out of him mightier heavenly nations, through the faith of obedience, bringing them in that very Bosom (partaking in the promise of the second birth in fullness).

Oh Lord my savior who can hide before you, thou has search me and helped me know a little about what I am without you, but I know because of your love and infinite wisdom, knowing there are yet many things my selfish nature cannot bear, (John 16:12) thou as a wise vinedresser, know very well the time to water and the time to prone, the time to bring the south wind of comfort and the time to bring the north wind of trials, temptations, accusation, reprove etc. Oh God without your timing I will have perish in my affliction, but the morning of divine consolation has driven away many a time the night of sorrow and affliction.

Thou with your infinite kindness and love have helped me know to every tear in sowing through death of my old Life, there is reaping of thy resurrection Life and divine consolation. These leaves me amazed in Godly fear and dread and like the psalmist left me wondering in many a times “what is man that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man that thou visited him? (Psalm 8:4).

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all [men, both] free and bond, both small and great.”(Revelation 19:11-18).

Oh thou Judge of the whole Earth, spare me not, but according to your timing tear me, reprove me, and correct me in your kindness and love, so that I will lose my life to gain your whole Life in fullness. LORD your sword is to make war with the fleshy nations within me in commanding the fouls in the midst of heaven (The message of the holy spirit either directly or through other instruments) to divide that which is of the flesh and that which of the spirit within me. Oh Lord with your infinite mercy command the heavenly birds to eat my fallen fleshy nature, to make me fit to sup with you in eternal union.
by James Jarjou

Judge all the fallen nature within me, either the evil nature within me that will not submit to servant hood , humility, purity, or endure Criticism , accusation, correction, rejection, reprove (this is the figurative nature of kings, captain, mighty men, men on horses) or the fallen nature of a servant which is the fleshy nature of false humility within me which humility is not base on union with the Savior but tradition and the doctrines I inherited from my self Life (the figurative nature of bond or small men ).

Thou are a God that answers the prayer of the contrite heart. As I prayed these, I believe thou will answer me, though with painful trials. Amen.

Not to Strive, but Overcome by Suffering - James Nayler

Children of God, seek a kingdom in you, that flesh and blood strive not for, nor cannot enter therein, a kingdom undefiled, and that fades not away, hid from that which feeds on earthly things, a heavenly kingdom, bearing heavenly fruits, and where heavenly things abound; wherein the heavenly Spirit rules, guides, and brings forth fruits of itself, heavenly fruits, the fruits of grace and meekness, and of a lowly mind, the fruits of peace and gentleness, and forbearance among yourselves. These are heavenly fruits and the virtues of the tree of life, and that which the loftiness of flesh and blood looks not for, nor does esteem, which loves the praise of men, and to be known in that which this world can see into with the outward understanding: But wait with patience to feel that quickened, which is sown in tears, and springs up with joy, out of the sight of the natural understanding, that that alone may bear you, and therein all your fruit may be found, and so come to the knowledge of the tree by its fruits; and let the life open the understanding (and not the notion, or the sight) that is the heavenly learning of Christ Jesus the Righteous, full of grace and truth; but striving to get up to the knowledge of heavenly things in notion and form, before the thing itself be born and brought forth, this is the wrong way to learn Christ, and the way of the world, that vails the life; for this knowledge stands in the sensual part, to exalt and puff up the mind above the meekness and lowliness that is in the Spirit of Christ Jesus, and beguiles the soul of the simplicity in which it should feed; and so a tree may grow high, and hard, and strong, yet fruitless and out of the power, got above the Poor, above the Innocent, out of the feeling of the Sufferer and Man of sorrows where He is; and the end of this growth is not in the pure rest, for the higher anyone grows here, the more does that wither and die in them, which is soft, and tender and melting, which makes one, and is the true Fold for lambs, where the lions must lie down in the end, if they come to rest, and that eye put out which looks to be great among men, that comes not into the rest, but has strife in the mind, strife in words and secret smitings, which defile the rest, and lead into the division and separation; but the little Child leads into the rest, and that which is lowly gives the entrance.

So feel that which is lowly and meek to arise above self, that which stills all strife at home in your minds, and gives peace in temptation and tribulation; that's a soft and tender thing in you, that is the Peace-maker, that's blessed of God. And this is first felt under the world, under the strife, suffering by the strife in patience, to bring to the end of the strife and the world, and in the end of it, and all exaltation, He comes to arise over the world and the enmity, who is not of a striving nature, but lives by hope, and believes to see to the end of all things under which He suffers, and to out-live every temptation by suffering. And so by an everlasting life comes over the world, and to reign over all things that are not of that eternal nature; but not to join with the evil.

And he that in the particular is born of this, has overcome the world in himself, and knows how to walk towards his brother in that which has power over the world and out-lives all, whereby he can suffer therein, and brings forth its own undefiled into one to rest, ever aiming in the ministrations at the kingdom of truth, peace and holiness, which is the end of all gifts and callings among the brethren, and is only obtained as that arises in all which suffers by the world, but is not of the world, which he that is Christ's minister comes to turn men to.

And this Seed all should know, which is beloved of the Father and Heir of the everlasting kingdom, who strives not by violence, but entreats; who seeks not revenge, but endures all contradictions from all against Himself, to the end He may obtain mercy for all from the Father. And this is the Seed of eternal peace, and the eternal Peace-maker, which was fore-ordained of the Father, and has power to endure all things, and subdue all things by overcoming.

So this seek in yourselves and all men, and in it seek one another as brethren. This is that which is perfect, and is never to be done away, neither can it be overcome of the world; wrath cannot enter it; it strives for nothing but to live its own life, which the world strives not for; nor can any that are of it strive with it; the worldly spirit seeks not that crown, whose life is to suffer all things, to be meek, and low, and poor, and rejected; reviled, contemned of the world, bearing the reproach of all that's above God in all. And little striving in the will of man is there for this kingdom, or the cross that belongs thereto, which no exalted mind can bear nor glory in.

And this is the righteousness that exceeds the Scribes and Pharisees, and Professors, and that wherein they cannot enter; nor can any reign in this kingdom, but who can bear the cross which leads to the crown, and has a habitation in that which cannot be moved with change nor kindled with wrath.

This the heritage of the meek, and the kingdom which only belongs to the poor in spirit and pure in heart, where the hardness of heart is broken, and melted, and self dead, many spirits desire to look into it; but few to live the life of it; It's only for the Heirs who are born through sorrow, and slain with ease; to whom flesh and blood is an enemy, and with the eye that looks out lightly esteemed among men.

 

THE HARNESS OF THE LORD - BILL BRINTON

There is a terrific operation of the Spirit going on today to bring the Sons of God into an absolute confinement to the perfect will of God. This is the Day of His Preparation the day in which He is preparing the channel through which He shall pour forth His Glory for all the world to see. This channel is His Body in the earth that glorious company of people who are being conformed through much tribulation and fiery tests to the Image of the Son of God. This is His "battle axe and weapons of war" with which He shall subdue kingdoms and overcome all His enemies. This is His "mighty and strong One" to whom He shall commit the work of judging this world. This is His Overcomer, His "great army" with which He shall bring the nations into submission. The weapons of their warfare are not carnal, natural weapons but they are mighty weapons, mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. These are those who shall "be strong and do exploits."

But before God can commit this great and tremendous ministry into their hands they must submit themselves to the discipline of the Lord letting Him truly be the Lord of their entire lives. We have long since dealt with the question of open sin but now God is dealing with the inward rebellion of our own wills. Some good Christians are not now being so dealt with for they are not in this Firstfruits Company but nevertheless there is a real dealing of God going on within those who are called into the High Calling of God. This is a very real thing and is the work of the Refiner's Fire. To those who are going through it some of its aspects are horrible but very necessary and the end result thereof is glorious as we are brought into absolute and complete submission to the will of our Lord.

It was in a minister's conference and convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma that God gave me a vision which I want to share with you concerning this harnessing of our own wills. There were more than 30 ministers present in this particular Thursday morning service and God, the Father of spirits, was present to deal with His sons, to correct them and discipline them to absolute obedience to His will. There was such a stern dealing in the Spirit that no one could go to the pulpit and minister, there was a reluctance among the ministers to say anything except that which was directly ordered by the Spirit. And as those men of God sat there in the awesome presence of Almighty God, some of them having many years of ministry, some missionaries, all of them capable of getting up and preaching a powerful sermon, I was impressed by the way they responded to the discipline of the Spirit. And in the midst of this terrific dealing of God with our spirits, the Holy Ghost gave me a vision ...

I SAW THE KING'S CARRIAGE

On a dirt road in the middle of a wide field stood a beautiful carriage, something on the order of a stagecoach but all edged in gold and with beautiful carvings. It was pulled by six large chestnut horses: two in the lead, two in the middle and two in the rear. But they were not moving, they were not pulling the carriage, and I wondered why. Then I saw the driver underneath the carriage on the ground on his back just behind the last two horses' heels working on something between the front wheels on the carriage. I thought, "My, he is in a dangerous place; for if one of those horses kicked or stepped back, they could kill him, or if they decided to go forward, or got frightened somehow, they would pull the carriage right over him." But he didn't seem afraid for he knew that those horses were disciplined and would not move till he told them to move. The horses were not stamping their feet nor acting restless, and though there were bells on their feet, the bells were not tinkling. There were pom-poms on their harness over their heads but the pom-poms were not moving. They were simply standing still and quiet waiting for the voice of the Master.

THERE WERE TWO YOUNG COLTS IN THE FIELD

As I watched the harnessed horses I noticed two young colts coming out of the open field and they approached the carriage and seemed to say to the horses: "Come and play with us, we have many fine games, we will race with you, come catch us." And with that the colts kicked up their heels flicked their tails and raced across the open field. But when they looked back and saw the horses were not following they were puzzled. They knew nothing of the harnesses and could not understand why the horses did not want to play. So they called to them: "Why do you not race with us? Are you tired? Are you too weak? Do you not have strength to run? You are much too solemn, you need more joy in life." But the horses answered not a word nor did they stamp their feet or toss their heads. But they stood, quiet and still, waiting for the voice of the Master.

Again the colts called to them: "Why do you stand so in the hot sun? Come over here in the shade of this nice tree. See how green the grass is? You must be hungry, come and feed with us, it is so green and so good. You look thirsty, come drink of one of our many streams of cool clear water." But the horses answered them not so much as a glance but stood still waiting for the command to go forward with the King.

COLTS IN THE MASTER'S CORRAL

And then the scene changed and I saw lariat nooses fall around the necks of the two colts and they were led off to the Master's corral for training and discipline. How sad they were as the lovely green fields disappeared and they were put into the confinement of the corral with its brown dirt and high fence. The colts ran from fence to fence seeking freedom but found that they were confined to this place of training. And then the Trainer began to work on them with His whip and His bridle. What a death for those who had been all their lives accustomed to such a freedom! They could not understand the reason for this torture, this terrible discipline. What crime had they done to deserve this? Little did they know of the responsibility that was to be theirs when they had submitted to the discipline, learned to perfectly obey the Master and finished their training. All they knew was that this processing was the most horrible thing they had ever known.

SUBMISSION AND REBELLION

One of the colts rebelled under the training and said, "This is not for me. I like my freedom, my green hills, my flowing streams of fresh water. I will not take any more of this confinement, this terrible training." So he found a way out jumped the fence and ran happily back to the meadows of grass. I was astonished that the Master let him go and went not after him. But He devoted His attention to the remaining colt. This colt though he had the same opportunity to escape decided to submit his own will and learn the ways of the Master. The training got harder than ever but he was rapidly learning more and more how to obey the slightest wish of the Master and to respond to even the quietness of His voice. And I saw that had there been no training, no testing, there would have been neither submission nor rebellion from either of the colts. For in the field they did not have the choice to rebel or submit, they were sinless in their innocence. But when brought to the place of testing and training and discipline, then was made manifest the obedience of one and the rebellion of the other. And though it seemed safer not to come to the place of discipline because of the risk of being found rebellious, yet I saw that without this there could be no sharing of His glory, no Sonship.

INTO THE HARNESS

Finally this period of training was over. Was he now rewarded with his freedom and sent back to the fields? Oh no. But a greater confinement than ever now took place as a harness dropped about his shoulders. Now he found there was not even the freedom to run about the small corral for in the harness he could only move where and when his Master spoke. And unless the Master spoke he stood still.

The scene changed and I saw the other colt standing on the side of a hill nibbling at some grass. Then across the fields, down the road came the King's carriage drawn by six horses. With amazement he saw that in the lead, on the right side, was his brother colt now made strong and mature on the good corn in the Master's stable. He saw the lovely pom-poms shaking in the wind, noticed the glittering gold bordered harness about his brother, heard the beautiful tinkling of the bells on his feet -- and envy came into his heart. Thus he complained to himself: "Why has my brother been so honored, and I am neglected? They have not put bells on MY feet nor pom-poms on MY head. The Master has not given ME the wonderful responsibility of pulling His carriage, has not put about ME the gold harness. Why have they chosen my brother instead of me?" And by the Spirit the answer came back to me as I watched: "Because one submitted to the will and discipline of the Master and one rebelled, thus has one been chosen and the other set aside."

A FAMINE IN THE LAND

Then I saw a great drought sweep across the countryside and the green grass became dead, dry, brown and brittle. The little streams of water dried up, stopped flowing, and there was only a small muddy puddle here and there. I saw the little colt (I was amazed that it never seemed to grow or mature) as he ran here and there across the fields looking for fresh streams and green pastures finding none. Still he ran, seemingly in circles, always looking for something to feed his famished spirit. But there was a famine in the land and the rich green pastures and flowing streams of yesterday were not to be had. And one day the colt stood on the hillside on weak and wobbly legs wondering where to go next to find food and how to get strength to go. It seemed like there was no use, for good food and flowing streams were a thing of the past and all the efforts to find more only taxed his waning strength. Suddenly he saw the King's carriage coming down the road pulled by six great horses. And he saw his brother, fat and strong, muscles rippling, sleek and beautiful with much grooming. His heart was amazed and perplexed, and he cried out: "My brother where do you find the food to keep you strong and fat in these days of famine? I have run everywhere in my freedom, searching for food, and I find none. Where do you in your awful confinement find food in this time of drought? Tell me, please, for I must know!" And then the answer came back from a voice filled with victory and praise: "In my Master's House there is a secret place in the confining limitations of His stables where He feeds me by His own hand and His granaries never run empty and His well never runs dry." And with this the Lord made me to know that in the day when people are weak and famished in their spirits in the time of spiritual famine that those who have lost their own wills and have come into the secret place of the most High into the utter confinement of His perfect will shall have plenty of the corn of Heaven and a never ending flow of fresh streams of revelation by His Spirit. Thus the vision ended.

INTERPRETATION OF THE VISION

"Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it," (Habakkuk 2:2). "Harness the horses; and get up, ye horseman," (Jeremiah 46:4). I am sure that many of you who can hear what the Spirit saith to the Church have already seen what God was showing in the vision. But let me make it plain. Being born into the Family of God feeding in the green pastures and drinking of the many streams of the unfolding revelation of His purposes is fine and wonderful. But it is not enough. While we were children, young and undisciplined, limited only by the outer fence of the Law that ran around the limits of the pastures (that kept us from getting into the dark pastures of poison weeds) He was content to watch us develop and grow into young manhood, spiritually speaking. But the time came to those who fed in His pastures and drank at His streams, when they were to be brought into discipline or "child-training" for the purpose of making them mature Sons. Many of the children today cannot understand why some of those who have put on the harness of God cannot get excited by the many religious games and the playful antics of the immature. They wonder why the disciplined ones run not after every new revelation or feed on every opportunity to engage in seemingly "good and profitable" religious activities. They wonder why some will not race with them in their frantic efforts to build great works and great and notable ministries. They cannot understand the simple fact that this Company of saints is waiting for the voice of the Master and they do not hear God in all this outward activity. They will move in their time when the Master speaks. But not before, though many temptations come from the playful colts. And the colts cannot understand why those who seemingly appear to have great abilities and strength are not putting it to good use. "Get the carriage on the road," they say, but the disciplined ones, those in God's harness, know better than to move before they hear the voice of the Master. They will move in their time with purpose and great responsibility.

And the Lord made me to know that there were many whom He had brought into training who had rebelled against the discipline, the chastising of the Father. They could not be trusted with the great responsibility of mature Sonship so He let them go back to their freedom, back to their religious activities and revelations and gifts. They are still His people, still feeding in His pastures, but He has set them aside from the great purposes for this end of the age. So they revel in their freedom feeling that they were the Chosen Ones with the many streams of living water not knowing that they have been set aside as unfit for His great work in this end of the age.

He showed me that though the chastising seemeth grievous for the time and the discipline hard to endure yet the result with all the glory of Sonship is worth it all and the glory to follow far exceeds the suffering we endure. And though some lose even their lives in this training yet they will share alike in the glory of His eternal purposes. So faint not saints of God for it is the Lord that doth bring thee into confinement and not thine enemy. It is for thy good and for His glory so endure all things with praises and thanksgiving that He hath counted thee worthy to share His glory! Fear thou not the whip in His hand for it is not to punish thee but to correct and train thee that thou mightest come into submission to His will and be found in His likeness in that hour. Rejoice thou in thy trials in all thy tribulations and glory thou in His cross and in the confining limitations of His harness for He hath chosen thee and He hath taken upon Himself the responsibility of keeping thee strong and well fed. So lean thou upon Him and trust not in thine own ability and thine own understanding. So shalt thou be fed and His hand shall be upon thee and His glory shall overshadow thee and shall flow through thee as it goes forth to cover the earth. Glory to God! Bless the Lord! He's wonderful! Let Him be Lord of your life, friends, and complain not at that which He bringeth to pass in your life.

PLENTY IN THE TIME OF FAMINE

For in the hour when famine sweeps the land He shall feed by His own hand those who are submitted to His perfect will and who dwell in the secret place of the Most High. When terror stalks the land those in His harness shall not be afraid for they shall feel His bit and bridle and know the guidance of His Spirit. When others are weak and frail and fearful there shall be those who shall be strong in the power of His might and shall lack for no good thing. In the hour when the traditions of the religious systems have proven false and their streams have dried up, then His Chosen Ones shall speak forth with the true Word of the Lord. So rejoice, Sons of God, that you have been chosen by His grace for this great work in this last hour.

The fence which kept the colts in their own meadows and their own pastures mean nothing to the team in the harness for the gates open to them and they go forth pulling the King's carriage into many strange and wonderful places. They do not stop to eat the poison weeds of sin for they feed only in the Master's stable. These fields they trample under their feet as they go forth on the King's business. And so to those who are brought into absolute subjection to His will there is no Law. For they move in the Grace of God led only by His Spirit where all things are lawful but not all things are expedient. This is a dangerous realm for the undisciplined and many have perished in sin as they leaped over the fence without His harness and His bridle. Some have thought of themselves as being completely harnessed and submissive to Him only to find that in some avenue of their life there dwelled rebellion and self-will. Let us wait before Him until He puts His noose around us and draws us to His place of training. And let us learn of the dealings of God and the movings of His Spirit until at last we feel His harness drop about us and hear His voice guiding us. Then there is safety from the traps and pitfalls of sin and then shall we abide in His House forever!