THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT 

                                                                        PartTen                                                         April 1998

Our Father is establishing a new order in the earth for this new Day. This new kingdom order is being established within and among the Lord's elect and chosen ones, by the Spirit, as we become the will of God. A new order is a new arrangement of things in the world. It is the way God's plans shall be administered in the earth to fulfill a specific purpose. This new Day is the wonderful age of the kingdom of God on earth. It is that certain period of the reign of Christ over all things to establish His government and peace in all the earth. Our Father's objective for this new Day will be more complete and in greater fullness than was His plan for the church age of the past.

One purpose for the coming and manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ is to have dominion over all things. It is a purpose that is being fulfilled in this new Day. The prophet declared of Christ: "the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Is. 9:6). The governmental power and authority to reign over all things in the earth is given to Christ the head who now rests on the shoulders of this corporate Christ. And Christ shall be all that each of these names represents, not only to His people, but eventually to all mankind everywhere.

The prophet Isaiah also declared of Christ, "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this" (Is. 9:7). The zeal of the Lord of hosts is now performing the wonderful, eternal purpose of our Father, which is to bring the government and the peace of God, in the glory of His kingdom, to all the world. Christ is doing this by taking His seat on the throne of David, which is the spiritual throne where the sons of God reign with Christ over all the earth. The spiritual power and authority of the throne and kingdom of God are being manifest in the earth in a greater way by the zeal of the Lord of hosts. Christ is ordering and establishing His kingdom on earth with judgment and with justice. The fullness of time has come; the six days of man's misrule is coming to an end; and the new Day of the kingdom reign of Christ in all the earth is beginning.

This is the Day of the establishment of the government and the peace of Christ in all the earth. During this Day, Christ must reign over all things, as He is beginning to do now. At the end of this thousand-year Day, the reign of Christ and His peace shall be evident and fully manifest everywhere. The word "peace," as used in verse seven of Isaiah's prophecy, means much more than it does according to our understanding of that word. The word "peace" in that verse is taken from the Hebrew word "shalom," meaning to be safe, well, happy, and friendly; it includes health and prosperity, as well as peace. That heavenly peace of God, which is beginning to be established in the earth now, will be manifest to fulfill all that the Hebrew word "shalom" implies. It is the kind of peace this world has never yet known, but for which the whole creation groans!

The government and peace of the kingdom of God on earth shall increase, and shall continue to increase without end, until the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father on the throne of His kingdom, "to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever." The phrase "to order it," means to make erect, to set up, whether literal or figurative. Since the kingdom of God is the spiritual realm of God, He shall build it and set it up, figuratively and spiritually, by imparting the new principles of His kingdom within the hearts and lives of His elect and chosen ones. Therefore, we need to learn that new spiritual order, which is a new way of doing our Father's work in the earth. But first, we must repent of the works of the church age, turn from them, and open our minds to receive the wisdom of the mind of Christ. Church order, which is the order or the administration of the last age, will not do for this new Day. We must learn our Father's new order for this new Day. Unless we do, we shall remain bound to the past with all its inabilities, inconsistencies, limitations, and the works of the flesh.

Having taken the throne of His kingdom, Christ shall also "establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever." To "establish it" means that the Lord shall support His kingdom with judgment, or with a verdict or a formal decree of His pure and holy law, and with the justice of the righteousness of Christ. Both the righteous judgments of the Lord and the true justice of His righteousness, are now lacking in the affairs of men and nations. But in this new Day, true judgment and justice shall ultimately prevail in all the world, and eventually in the lives of every person of every nation. The principles of the new order of the kingdom of God on earth are already established and set up in the realm of the Spirit. It remains for us to repent of the works of the past age and seek the Lord, that He might order and establish those kingdom principles within us. When the Spirit of the Lord has done that work within us, we will then turn away from the dead past to do only and always the perfect will of our Father in all the earth with faith and obedience.

The new order of the kingdom of God on earth shall be fully established, by the Spirit and in the lives of the elect, with the true judgment and the righteous justice of the Lord from now on "even for ever." The term "forever" refers to the vanishing point of time, or time out of mind. In this case, it refers to the future far beyond the time of this prophecy. The reign of Christ in the glory of His kingdom shall continue until all things everywhere shall be gathered into God, and He has become all in all (1 Co. 15:28).  Isaiah's prophecy concludes with this awesome statement, "The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." There is no room in the kingdom of God for any of the works of man. In the incorruptible realm of Christ's dominion, none of the works of the flesh can exist. In the pure realm of our Father's sovereign dominion of Love, only the work of the Spirit of God shall be done. In His kingdom, God shall do His wondrous works with the zeal of the heavenly hosts, who serve and worship Him day and night before the throne of God (Rev. 4:8, 7:15). They are anxiously but patiently waiting for the creation to be delivered of its long and painful slavery to corruption.

The word, "order," has to do with our personal, high calling of God in Christ as well. In our service as priests of God, we are lifted above and beyond the realm of church order priests, to the greater and higher "ORDER of Melchisedec." We then become both "kings and priests unto God and his Father" (Rev. 1:6, 5:10). The "order of Melchisedec" is a new and higher order of service to God in His kingdom. It is a wonderful privilege, granted to the holy remnant of the Lord, to be called to the order of Melchisedec. In the new order of Melchisedec, we become kings and well as priests unto God and His Father. The "order of Melchisedec" also is the order of Christ, for He alone is the "King of righteousness, and King of Peace; without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually" (He. 7:2-3). And it is our blessed privilege to be called to that new and higher "order of Melchisedec."

Only within the order of Melchisedec is the office or the duty of a king joined to and combined with the office and the duty of a priest. Jesus is the only one who has thus far been inducted into that exclusive and royal "order of Melchisedec," to serve as both King and Priest. As the first to enter into the order of Melchisedec, Jesus is our "forerunner" (He. 6:20). That wonderful and prominent spiritual position, which is "the order of Melchisedec," is also called, "IN CHRIST."

That there is a distinct difference between Christ and Jesus is shown throughout the scriptures. Having said this, we should also emphasize the truth that Christ and Jesus became ONE by the Spirit of Life from the Father, which was completely fulfilled when Jesus was raised from the dead. (See Ro. 8:11, notice in this verse that when Jesus was raised from the dead He was immediately called Christ.) Jesus was born as Christ with the full potential of sonship, but He was not fully in Christ until He was raised from the dead. Christ is the preexistent One! He is the Word who was in the beginning with God! Christ not only was God, but He IS God. "All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." (Jo. 1:1-5)

Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem on a certain day, of a virgin named Mary. But Christ was never born of earthly substance, for He has always existed as Spirit! "He is before all things, and by Him all things consist" (Col. 1:17). Jesus was crucified on a rugged cross on Golgotha's hill outside Jerusalem, was buried and then was raised from the dead on the third day. But Christ never died, nor shall He ever die, for He is the eternal Spirit! It was Christ, or the Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead. Now Jesus is fully enChristed, for He is Spirit. That same Spirit, which is Christ, shall also raise us from this death into that incorruptible Life, which HE IS (Ro. 8:11). As wonderful as these truths are, most of Christendom have a very different view of Jesus. But how blessed we are to have the revelation of the Christ, AS HE IS (1 Jo. 3:2), and of His wonderful plan of redemption and restoration! With a revelation of the Christ AS HE IS, we join Paul in saying, "yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more (after the flesh)" (2 Co. 5:16). In due time, all shall come to know Him as we do, by a revelation from God.

Our understanding of Christ cannot be the result of diligent study and carnal thinking. We must have a revelation of this truth by the Spirit. And when we receive a revelation of a truth, it is then ours because of an impartation of that truth to our spirits, by the Spirit of God. Then, no one can take that living, quickened truth from us. Perhaps to probe the depth of Peter's spiritual understanding, Jesus asked him, "whom say ye that I am?" Then, as if with an instantaneous illumination and revelation from God, and as a flash of lightning and truth bursting forth out of the darkness of carnal thinking, Peter said to Him, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Mt. 16:15-16)  What a revelation of truth that was! It is a revelation all the sons of God shall also share, for we are taking a path similar to the path Jesus took to become fully enChristed and manifested.

If we can understand that Christ is the eternal, preexistent One, the One who holds all things everywhere by the word of His power, then we also may be able to see that Melchisedec and Christ are the same Person. Christ, or Melchisedec, is the possessor of heaven and earth; He is the One who delivered Abraham's enemies into his hands. He also is the beginning and the end of all things (Ge. 14:18-20). Christ appeared to Abraham as Melchizedek when Abraham fought with several kings after they captured his brother, Lot. Abraham (he was called Abram then) returned from that war with Lot, along with the women and children, and the spoils of that war. Christ also appeared to him there as Melchisedec to minister peace and righteousness to him. The name Melchizedek means king of right, from the Hebrew. But He also is declared to be "king of Salem," or King of peace. Christ alone is the King of righteousness and the King of peace! Melchizedek (Christ) then "brought forth bread and wine" and served Abram those elements, which represent blessed communion in the Spirit. Obviously, Abram and Christ had a most glorious time of communion together, by the Spirit, especially since Abram had just returned from a war.

As King of peace and King of righteousness Melchizedek (Christ) ministered peace and righteousness to Abram. The righteousness of Christ, which Abram received then, enabled him to make a righteous decision regarding the spoils of that war. Without any further thought on the matter, Abram knew he could not take anything from the spoils of that war or from those he defeated "lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich" (See Ge. 14:14-24). What a tremendous lesson for us! And it is my firm conviction, or I should say, my strong faith, that only the Lord should decide whether we shall be rich or poor in this world. Riches and wealth gained by the typical conduct of the people of the world today - the way things usually take place in this world - will make a person envious and lustful, perhaps even to the point of being corrupted by the love of money. But riches obtained by serving the Lord and by being obedient to His word is something special indeed. And of course, the true riches are those spiritual treasures in God, such as His truth and His life, and the many benefits of them. (See Lu. 16:11, Ro. 11:33, Eph. 1:18.)

We should now humbly, reverently, and in the fear of the Lord, seek to enter into the new and greater "order of Melchisedec." To do this, we must turn away from the old church order of the past and embrace the new and greater kingdom order. We will have to surrender the old, church-order priesthood with its ideas and doctrines, repent of them, and open our minds and spirits to receive the new and greater Melchisedec order. The world up to this point has never yet witnessed anything as glorious, as awesome, and as remarkable as the new "order of Melchisedec." But the people of the world, along with the whole creation, have been groaning and travailing, waiting for that glory to be revealed and manifest. And perhaps that new order, with all its glory and wonder, will be fully manifest when the new morning of this Day dawns on the whole creation. Until that blessed moment of dawn, we are being prepared of our Father to enter that glory. Those who are led of the Spirit and who are turning away from the dead past, are those who shall inherit the fullness of the kingdom of God and the glory of the new order of Melchisedec.

Although Christ has been seated at Father's right hand in the heavenlies since His resurrection and ascension, His reign over all the earth now takes on new meaning and significance. Christ reigns now in a greater way than He ever has in the past. But let us consider what the reign of Christ is, both as a King and as a Priest of that higher, Melchisedec order, along with the results of His reign. There is a vast wealth of truth packed into these few words of scripture. Paul wrote to the Colossians to tell them, "For by him were ALL THINGS created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: ALL THINGS were created BY him, and FOR him: And he is before all things, and by him ALL THINGS consist" (Col. 1:16-17).

What a word this is! ALL THINGS were made by Him, and those ALL THINGS also consist by Him. He upholds "all things by the word of His power" (He. 1:3). Everything as it is in this present world exists because of Him. It all was created by Him and all of it is set together, formed and united in Him. It all now stands together and was formed by His power. And He has also reconciled those ALL THINGS unto Himself, vs. 20. All of it, not only exists BY HIM, but it all exists FOR HIM. Therefore, all is well everywhere! He has a purpose in all that exists in this world. Since all things consist by Him and for Him, it is evident that our Father holds every star, every planet, including the sun and the moon, by the word of His power. Were it not for the power and authority of Christ as King of the universe after the order of Melchisedec, all the planets and stars would collide with one another, bringing massive destruction  to the whole universe.

All things everywhere - every star within all the many billions of constellations, every planet and moon in the vast and limitless universe, and all that exists in the creation, from the smallest atom of earth to the greatest living thing - all of it must obey the word of our King of kings and Lord of lords, who now reigns in the earth in a greater way. Christ has been holding the universe by the word of His power (He. 1:3), in His wonderful and redemptive way, keeping everything in balance and in harmony with everything else, according to Father's plans and purposes for the ages of this world. Christ has done all this as the King of righteousness and the King of peace after the order of Melchisedec. Christ and His chosen sons shall reign over this corrupted earth, in the power and authority of the new order of Melchisedec. They shall bring everything everywhere into blessed and peaceful harmony with His eternal purposes for the kingdom of God, resulting in the full redemption and restoration of all things. What wonders shall yet take place when this glorious, new, kingdom Day has run its course, and Father's purposes for this great Day have all been fulfilled! The whole creation is waiting to find out!  And we will do our part to fulfill those kingdom purposes!

Furthermore, as King of righteousness and King of peace, Christ has been reigning in the affairs of our nation. While our President was embroiled in allegations of immoral conduct, our country has been in a period of increasing prosperity. The mighty Hand of Him Who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords has been safely guiding the affairs of the ship of state of this nation, but very few have recognized it. There is ONE who has been keeping the "house" of the governmental order of our nation, and it is the Lord, our KING! And except the Lord keep our "house," they labor in vain who try to keep it. A few short months ago, after his "State of the Union" address and midst a barrage of allegations of sexual misconduct, President Clinton's popularity rating increased by over ten points.

There is an apparent positive state of euphoria in our country and among our people that will not be quieted or stilled. Our optimism seems to continue and to increase, in spite of the spiritual darkness in our land. But it is not due to the rulership of a man, or a group of people in Washington, D.C. Man has brought this government and nation down to its lowest level of corruption, morality and despair; and it is certain that man can never get us out of it. Yet many Christians continue to involve themselves in man's corrupt order. But there is ONE Who now reigns supreme in our country, and we should give all the glory and the credit for the wonderful state of our union TO HIM, and not to the carnal, human leaders of our country. Dear friend, it is high time that we, as the Lord's elect, woke up to the reality of the times we are now living in. This is the new Day of the reign of Christ in the earth; it is the new age of the kingdom of God on earth. We are now being called upon to take our seats in heavenly places in Christ and reign with Him! But before we can be seated with Christ to reign with Him in heavenly places, we must turn away from the old, dead church order of the past! And as the Lord's elect, we have no other alternative!

God is calling for His elect remnant to believe Him and trust Him in a greater way, for the government of our country and ultimately the whole world is to be given to this corporate Christ, by the Spirit. This is the hour, the moment, the day, when we must shake off the gloom and darkness of the past, and rise and shine in the Spirit with the greater glory of Christ and His kingdom. Micah prophesied that in the latter days, or in future days, "the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains" (Micah 4:1). This means that the throne or the government of the kingdom of God would be established "in the top of the mountains," or in the Spirit, above all the other governments of this world. And indeed the kingdom of God has been established in the high places of the Spirit, above all the worldly governments of man, where Christ now reigns in the power and glory of His kingdom.

From the high place of His throne in the heavenlies of spirit, Christ is now beginning to rule and reign over all the affairs of our country in righteousness, peace, order and harmony. He is doing all this NOW as King of righteousness and King of peace, after the order of Melchisedec! But many are making the mistake of giving the glory and the praise to President Clinton, Congress, or others in our government. When will God's people wake up? Christ is reigning now, and He alone should receive the credit, the glory, and the praise. May the Spirit of God deal with the blindness of His elect as only He can, for the Lord's elect are now the only hope of the world, according to our Father's plan for the full restoration of all things.

As a Priest after the order of Melchisedec, Christ has effectively and successfully been ministering throughout the earth, by His Spirit. From many nations and peoples, the Lord has been gathering His remnant, calling them out of the religious systems to be a people unto Himself. As a Priest after the order of Melchisedec, Christ has visited the nations, "to take out of them a people for His name" (Acts 15:14). He poured out His blessed holy Spirit in many places and at various times, not to save all mankind during the church age, but only to call out a remnant unto Himself. Now He has that remnant, and we a part of that remnant company. Our High Priest after the order of Melchisedec has triumphantly gathered His remnant, which we are, unto Himself. So also shall He call many peoples to His holy temple in preparation for the great ingathering of all mankind into the kingdom of God.

As King-Priest after the order of Melchisedec in this new Day, Christ will eventually draw all mankind to Himself. Now, our Father is uncovering and revealing the iniquities of man, that He might apply His grace to man's uncontrolled passions, granting forgiveness and an open door of salvation. The wonderful truth the Spirit has recently quickened and made alive to me is the great truth that "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace REIGN through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Ro. 5:20-21). We are now entering the Day of the glorious and mighty reign of grace "through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." When it seems that the corruption, wickedness, and iniquities of man might overwhelm all mankind and spread its evil everywhere, we have the assurance that where sin abounds, the grace of God does much more abound. The grace of our Lord is so mighty, powerful, and overwhelming, that it/He shall overrule man's sins and iniquities with His super-abounding grace, bringing an end to man's evil and corruption. Then the mighty, overpowering grace of our Lord shall "reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."  Amen!

We need to understand the new order of the kingdom of God, as well as the new order of Melchisedec, or the order of the kings and priests who serve in His kingdom. And to understand the new order of Melchisedec, we need only to look to Christ Jesus, the true Melchisedec High Priest. David said of Christ, "The Lord (the Father) said unto my Lord (Christ Jesus), Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool" (Ps. 110:1). To "sit," from the original Hebrew, means to sit down and be quiet, to dwell, to settle down. For Christ to be told of the Father to "sit thou" suggests that He should sit down, be quiet, and do nothing. Christ Jesus finished His work by which all His enemies shall be put under His feet. It remains now for the Father to bring that work to completion, by subduing every enemy of Christ, and putting them all under His feet. And God will do that wonderful work by His Spirit, without any of the carnal efforts of man or the worthless works of the flesh.

The writer to the Hebrews confirmed these truths, when he wrote, "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." (He. 10:12-13) To sit at the right hand of His Father, as Christ did, tells us that He was in a spiritual state or condition of absolute  rest and undisturbed relaxation. Having finished the work Father gave Him to do (Jo. 4:34 & 5:36), Christ Jesus sat down at the right hand of His Father, from then on "expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." The word "expecting" as used here, comes from the Greek word "ekdechomai," meaning to expect from some source other than Himself, to anticipate that His enemies shall be put under His feet, and then to wait for that plan and purpose to be fulfilled. It is the Father's work to complete that which the corporate Christ began. The sons of God, or the entire body of Christ, have done all they need to do to make their enemies His footstool. From now on, or "from henceforth," it is God's responsibility to complete His work and put all our enemies under His feet. And only God can do it!

Christ is seated at the right hand of His Father, from henceforth EXPECTING. So also should we take our seat in Christ at Father's right hand, with the same spirit of expectation. During the transition from the age of the law and the prophets to the church age, the people were filled with expectation. When John the Baptist came out of the wilderness preaching repentance and baptizing all Judea in the Jordan, he thus signified the end of the old age and the beginning of the new. He also was preparing the way of the Lord. His work among the people was so dynamic and influential that the people thought he might have been the Christ. The people were so filled with expectation (Greek #4328) at the coming of Christ, that they looked for Him everywhere and expected Him be among them soon (Lu. 3:15). The Greek word, "prosdokao" (#4328), means to watch, to anticipate, and to wait for that which we anticipate shall take place.

Later, John was put in prison. And when John heard in prison of the ministry of Jesus, he sent his disciples to find out if this Jesus was really the Son of God, their long-awaited Messiah. They asked Jesus, "Art thou he that should come? or look we (#4328) for another?" (Lu. 7:19). And when devils were cast out of a man, that man returned to his home and told the whole city what Jesus had done for him. The result of his testimony caused the people of that city to want to see Jesus. And so we read, "when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting (#4328) for him" (Lu. 8:40). How important it is for us to be "waiting for him!" But unless we are watching and waiting for the appearing of Christ, trusting and believing all that He will do in this new Day with faith and confidence, "the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not (#4328) for him." (Lu. 12:46) To those who are looking for Him today, Christ shall appear without sin unto salvation.

The same Greek word, "prosdokao," is found in Peter's admonition. He tells us that we should be "Looking for (Greek, "prosdokao") and hasting unto the coming of the day of God (this thousand-year Day), wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for (prosdokao) new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for (prosdokao) such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless" (2 Pe. 3:12-14). The heavens of God's Spirit are now alive and astir with the work of God for this new Day. Therefore, we have every reason to be a hopeful, expectant, and believing people.

The writer to the Hebrews wrote more about the attitude of Christ as He is seated on the throne of His Father. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and IS SET DOWN at the right hand of the throne of God" (He. 12:2). That He "IS SET DOWN" shows that Christ has taken His seat in the heavenlies, where He WAITS for His Father to complete the work He began. He endured the cross and despised the shame. Now He has every right to just sit at His Father's right hand. He is at PEACE with the world and with the whole creation. Now He is doing what His Father told Him to do, which is to SIT, REST and WAIT. The original Greek word suggests that the action ended with Christ, and now He is set down at His Father's right hand, waiting for the conclusion of the matter. Implied in the original meaning is the thought that Christ has taken a sedentary, immovable position. Now that He is sitting and waiting in the heavenlies, the rest is up to the Father. It is clearly the Father's work and the Father's work alone, to put every enemy under His feet.

This tells us that the mode, the custom, or the manner of the throne of the kingdom of God is that of QUIETLY AND PEACEFULLY RESTING AND WAITING, while the Father completes His work in all the earth. All who have been set aside of the Father to sit on His throne and reign with Him will obediently and faithfully observe the spiritual principles of that throne, which is to sit quietly and peacefully, RESTING AND WAITING for the new order of the kingdom of God to prevail in all the earth. All who sit on our Father's throne must have been cleansed and freed of all the works of the church age of the past, and of the works of the flesh. To sit on the Father's throne IN CHRIST, shows that we have come to His throne with none of the works of the past. Like Christ, we shall sit at our Father's right hand in the heavenlies, or in the Spirit, quietly and peacefully resting and waiting, while our Father completes His work in the earth. The only "work" Christ shall do is to intercede for His people (He. 7:25). And the only "work" we shall do while we sit with Him on His throne is to minister to the Lord (Ez. 44:15-16).

By observing the attitude and behavior of Christ, as He sits at Father's right hand in the heavenlies, we are able to determine the will of God for all who shall sit on that throne and reign with Him. Christ the Head is sitting at Father's right hand on His throne quietly and peacefully resting and waiting. That is what our Father told Christ the Head to do, and that is what this entire body of Christ shall also do if we are in blessed union and harmony with Him (Ez. 10:11).  We committed ourselves to do only and always the perfect will of our Father. And the will of God for all who reign with Him requires that we sit quietly and rest, waiting with faith and assurance while our Father defeats every enemy and puts them all under the feet of Christ.

One of the principles of the kingdom of God is stated in Isaiah's prophecy. It also is the principle of Zion's precious and tried corner Stone, or that sure foundation, which Christ is. And it is this: "he that believeth shall not make haste" (see Is. 28:16). Haste is a problem of the flesh, not of the spirit! If we really believe the pure, unadulterated word of God, we will never make haste to try to fulfill that word. The same omnipotent power that spoke forth the pure word of the Lord is well able to fulfill that anointed word. When it appears the world is misaligned and out of control, those who believe will not make haste to try to correct it by carnal means, such as by getting involved in the futile political process of man's corrupt order. The world's corruption can never be cured by using man's corrupt methods! Those who truly believe God's word will know that God has everything under His control. They faithfully affirm that everything in the world is going the way Father wants it to, including in our own lives. If this were not true, God would change it. And unless God changes this world and everyone in it, it shall all remain forever the same!

When the Lord establishes a new order in the earth, as He is doing now, His true work is raised to a higher level and fulfilled in a greater way, by the Spirit. During His earthly ministry, Jesus set forth the new principles for the new age of the church, which was just beginning. The old order of the law and the prophets was being replaced by something new and much better. The old sacrifices, ceremonies and temple worship were abolished, and the people were awaiting the new thing. During that transition time, some of them even tried to take Jesus by force and make Him their King. They thought He came then to establish an external kingdom. Others followed Jesus merely for the loaves and the fishes. But they were all steeped in the external religious practices of the former order.

The people of that era found it very difficult to make the transition from the earthly forms of worship to the greater spiritual realities. This left the people of that day wondering what the work of God really was. So they asked Jesus, "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 ye believe on him whom he hath sent" (Jo. 6:28-29). The Lord may have something more wonderful for us to do sometime in the future, but for now, as with every transition time, His present work for His elect is to "believe on him whom he hath sent." By the Spirit, Christ is that sent One! Believe Him! He is the One whom the Father is sending at this time, in the Spirit and by the Spirit. He comes by the Spirit to bring us the new message of the kingdom of God for this new Day, and to establish the new, kingdom order.

Our responsibility in this new Day is to grow spiritually to become kings and priests of God after the order of Melchisedec, and to minister to the Lord from our place in the holiest of all. (Ez. 44:15-16). That is the highest, most glorious  ministry anyone can be called on to perform. Most anyone else, with a small amount of truth and knowledge of the ways of the Lord, can and will run all over the world, preaching to the lost and needy, ministering to their needs. There are many who have done that work in the past and many others who shall continue to do it. But only those who are chosen and appointed of their Father to the Melchisedec king-priest ministry and to the higher ways of the new order of the kingdom of God on earth can minister to the Lord. And we have been uniquely disciplined, trained, and groomed for this new kingdom ministry by our Father.

By ministering to the Lord from the high place of His throne of power and glory in the heavenlies, the sons of God of this hour thus complete the company of those who are called and chosen of the Father to that ministry. Our high calling of God in Christ also completes the circle of the flow of His Spirit, from us in Christ, to His heavenly altar. From there, our prayers and praises ascend to the Father, thus causing the fire of His presence to be cast to the earth, bringing deliverance and salvation to the needy of this world (Rev. 8:1-5).

We should also see, by the Spirit of revelation from God, that our spiritual growth and ascent to the high places of God in the Spirit, will begin the fulfillment of Father's purposes for the new order of the kingdom of God on earth. One example of this truth is found in the life of Jesus, who is our "forerunner" and the pattern Son. When Jesus was raised from the dead, was glorified, and then took His seat at His Father's right hand in the heavenlies, the work of God for the church age then began in earnest. The church age began with the ministry of John the Baptist (Lu. 16:16). But not until Christ ascended on high did the Father's work for the church age begin in fullness. Christ had to return to the heavenlies and take His seat at Father's right hand before the disciples could be filled with the power of the Spirit. (See John 16:7-8.) The union of Christ with His Father had to be complete. Not until the holy Spirit, or the Comforter, was sent into the world to fill the lives of the disciples could the world be reproved "of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" John 16:8. Therefore, when Christ returned to the heavenlies in resurrection life, glory and power - when His union with the Father was complete - the work of the Father for the new age of the church began in a positive way, and in fullness.

This is an example for us in this new Day. When the union of the entire body of Christ is complete - when every true, called and chosen son of God has taken his or her place on the throne of God by the Spirit - the positive and more glorious work of God for this new Day will then begin. The ascension of Christ began Father's work for the church age; so shall our spiritual ascension to the throne of Christ in the Spirit begin the glorious work of God for this wonderful age of the kingdom of God on earth. Thus, our spiritual growth, or our union with Christ and the Father, is of utmost importance at this time! It is by our spiritual growth that we attain to the high places in God, not by the carnal strivings of man. It is also by our union with Christ - when we become fully enChristed - that our function as kings and priests after the order of Melchisedec will begin in earnest in a positive way.

Be assured of this one great truth: the creation is not waiting for God alone to do something. They are all waiting for us (Ro. 8:22-23); they are waiting for you and for me to grow and ascend the high places of God in the Spirit, and to take our seat on His throne. When we understand this great truth, we will cease trying to persuade God to get His program going. The prophet spoke to us in this regard, saying, "Woe unto them that say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it" (Is. 5:19). Instead of trying to hasten God's program, we will speak to our own spirits, urging OURSELVES onward and upward in Him. The carnal, church works of the past are finished. This is now the time for us to cease all those religious works of the past age and concentrate on our spiritual growth. Only as we ascend the high places in God and take our seat in Christ will the new order of the kingdom of God be fully established, and the creation delivered of its bondage to sin and death.

God has an "order" and a time for all His wondrous works on earth. An "order," as used in a general way in the New Testament, refers to an orderly arrangement of things; it is a fixed succession of rank or character, such as the rotation of the priest's service at the Temple (Lu. 1:8). All the Lord does in the earth is done in His foreordained time and according to His prearranged order. He has an order for the service of His priests, and also an order, or an orderly arrangement of things, for the establishment of the government of the kingdom of God above all the other governments and kingdoms of man (Micah 4:1). And He also has an order for the salvation of all mankind. Paul clearly tells us, "As in Adam ALL die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive." The same ALL who died Adam's death shall also be raised to new Life IN CHRIST. Then, just as clearly Paul tells us, "but EVERY MAN IN HIS OWN ORDER," or "each in his own rank and turn," as the Amplified Translation gives it (1 Co. 15:22-23, 1 Tim. 2:3-6).

As ALL mankind lived their lives in this world with the flesh and blood bodies of old Adam, resulting in sin and death, so also shall that same ALL mankind be raised from this death to live the fullness of the Life of Christ (Jo. 5:25). God has an order for the salvation of ALL. ALL mankind most certainly did not come to Christ during the church age, for that was not Father's plan for them. How could they come to Him when the Spirit did not draw them? Unless the Spirit draws someone to Christ to be saved, it is impossible for them to come to Him. Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him" (Jo. 6:44). There is not a person living now, or who has ever lived in the past, or who will yet live in the future, who will not come to Christ to be saved. They will ALL come to Christ when Father draws them. And Father will eventually draw each and every person to Christ, according to their own order, rank and time, which is already established in the foreordained purposes of God. What a wonderful plan our Father has for all mankind and the whole creation, according to His predetermined order, rank, and time!

Those who are given those special hearing ears and seeing eyes of the Spirit are now able to hear and see that Father is establishing a new order in the earth. This truth is not declared in the churches of religious Babylon, but it is coming forth from the heavens of God's Spirit. God is speaking to us of a new order, an order that He is establishing within us. And when God speaks of a new order, "He makes the first one obsolete - out of use. And what is obsolete - out of use and annulled because of age - is ripe for disappearance and to be dispensed with altogether" (He. 8:13, Amp.). The church age is over; it has become obsolete and out of use because of age. That old order, as wonderful as it was, is disappearing. It is being dispensed with, to be replaced with an entirely new order in God.

The new highway of the kingdom of God is being created in the Spirit by the life we are living in obedience to that same Spirit. The new order of the kingdom of God and the new order of Melchisedec, is also being established in the hearts and lives of the Lord's faithful elect. As a firstfruits, we are becoming kings and priests of God after the order of Melchisedec. While others may continue to walk in the old, obsolete paths of church ministry and church order, the rest of the true body of Christ will also walk with us on this new kingdom path.

That there is a set time or an acceptable time, when all the purposes of God would be fulfilled, is declared throughout the scriptures. So also did the Lord have a time and a season when the kingdom of God came to the earth, and when His purposes for that kingdom also would be fulfilled. Isaiah prophesied of these times and seasons, saying, "Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages: That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them" (Is. 49:8-10).

Our Father has heard us and is also helping us at this time, which He has called "an acceptable time." He heard the cry of our hearts to be one with Him, and to do His perfect will on earth. And He also initiated "a day of salvation" to help us. The word "acceptable" actually means a desirable time; it is a time that pleases and delights the Lord. This is that "acceptable time"; it is also that "day of salvation." Our Father has preserved us unto this great Day. He has also given us as a covenant of the people, thus assuring us and all who will hear that it is His purpose "to establish the earth, to cause (us) to inherit the desolate heritages." Also on this Day, He shall send the prisoners out of their prison houses of sin and death by the power of the resurrected Christ. To those who dwell in darkness, we shall say, "Shew yourselves."  And when they do show themselves, the Light of Christ shall then dispel all the darkness within them, turning all their darkness into endless Day. In this Day of the Lord's abounding grace and mercy, He will show mercy to the people of the world, leading them to the eternal fountains of the springs of His living waters.

According to the prophecy of Daniel, conditions in the world would continue unchanged "until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom" (Da. 7:22). God has an "acceptable time," and a "time appointed" when the end shall be (Da. 11:27), which is the end of the old age and the beginning of the new. There was "the time appointed of the Father" (Ga. 4:2) when we were called out of the church system, just as there is a time for us to rise and shine in the glory of His kingdom.  And that time is NOW (Is. 60:1-2)!

                                                             Paul and Emily Mueller

                                        P O BOX 25055, PORTLAND, OR 97298-0055

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