A PREPARED PEOPLE WITH A HOLY PURPOSE

Part Eight August 1999

A prepared people with a holy purpose in the kingdom of God are growing spiritually to become the living, prophetic word of God in the earth. While events in our lives and in the world at large may divert our attention at times, our real focus should be on the work of the Spirit in our lives and in the lives of all His elect. To look outwardly at things in the world around us will only cloud our vision of our Father and His ongoing purposes. But when we behold the Christ of glory, we will then see clearly to fully realize the glorious work He is doing within us to fulfill all His holy purposes for His suffering creation, which is groaning and travailing for deliverance.

Our Father is showing His wrath and making His power known in the world around us and outside us, to show that He is willing to "endure with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction" (Ro. 9:22). Some people are manifesting the darkness of their troubled souls or minds. These are "the vessels of wrath" that our Father has "fitted to destruction" at this time. They show His wrath and make His power known in His kingdom process of the judgment of the nations. They must do their thing, for our Father prepared those vessels of wrath for this very purpose. This is the hour for the manifestation of that darkness! The vessels of wrath are only doing what they were created to do. But this is not the end of the matter.

Our Father created vessels of wrath that He has fitted and prepared for destruction. So also has He brought forth "vessels of mercy, which he had AFORE prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles" (Ro. 9:23-24). The word "afore" in the above verse of scripture is a very interesting word in this passage. It is a word that we should learn more about. Strong's Concordance shows that the word "afore" comes from the Greek word "proetoimazo," meaning, "to fit up in advance." This Greek word is also translated as, "ordain before" and "prepare afore." Therefore, God wanted us to know that He made provision for us to become those "vessels of mercy" from the very beginning, when He first set forth His eternal purposes along with all the fullness of the Godhead, before the world began.

We were not called and chosen of God in a hap-hazard, indifferent, or random way, nor did Father allow us to choose of ourselves to take this path to sonship. But we were called and chosen BY God "with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" (2 Tim. 1:9). Those who are walking the straight and narrow path to the fullness of the kingdom of God were not chosen of God because they desired this walk. Nor were they chosen of God because of their devotion to the Lord, or for their love of Him. Those who are following hard after the Lamb were chosen by their Father "according to His own purpose and grace," and for no other reason. Because we were chosen according to His eternal purpose, and called and prepared beforehand, we know we shall make it to the end, to become fully manifest sons of God just like Christ.

We are those "vessels of mercy, which he had AFORE prepared unto glory." We were also chosen of our Father "according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." Thus, our calling and preparation all took place and was fulfilled in God, before the world began. When Jesus said, "It is finished," as He hung on the cross and then gave up the ghost (Jo. 19:30), our full salvation was truly and thoroughly finished then. We are complete in Christ! Nothing more of God's work in the realm of Spirit need be added to complete our salvation! But the work of God in our lives is not yet finished, nor will it be until we come forth in His full image and likeness. God has already done all He needs to do to complete our salvation. But we must yet receive all the fullness of God that is already provided for us in the realm of the Spirit!

In the Spirit and from God's viewpoint, we were fully prepared and saved "before the world began." But how can this be? How is it possible for our Father to prepare us for that glory to come in the beginning, before the world began and before we were ever born? The truth of it is simple enough! All the provisions and preparations of God for His elect are reserved for us in the realm of Spirit. Every spiritual aspect of our full salvation is already finished in the Spirit. When Father selects a person to become a son of God, He gives that person "the adoption of sons." By this sovereign act, our Father sends "forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father" (Gal. 4:5-6). "Abba" is an Aramaic word, meaning, father. Therefore, all true sons, who have been called and chosen of their Father, continually cry, Father, Father, for the Spirit of the Son is within them.

Sons of God are true sons indeed, for the Spirit of the Son is within them. This also tells us that God has given them the measure or degree of His Spirit that will bring them to sonship fulfilled. All the provisions and preparations of the Spirit necessary to bring anyone to the fullness of sonship are reserved for us all in the realm of Spirit. It makes no difference when we were born, or when we first heard the message of the good news of the kingdom of God. All true sons of God of every age and generation have access to the same Spirit of sonship that shall make all of us sons of God in truth and in fact. The Apostle Paul, and many others also, are sons of God by the same Spirit that makes each of us a son of God. The Lord has called and chosen those who shall become sons. Then, when He determines that we are faithful (Rev. 17:4), He gives us of the abundance of His Spirit that enables us to become full-grown sons of God, who shall be changed into the image and likeness of Christ, the first Son. The Spirit of sonship, which we have received, is that Spirit that will bring us to full maturity in Christ. And the blessed truth is, our preparation and perfection is already accomplished and fulfilled in the Spirit.

Our Father's expressed purpose is to bring forth a remnant in the earth, and then to provide that remnant with the fullness of His salvation. This is what the Lord has been doing and what He is doing even more aggressively now than any time in the past. The Lord has raised up a chosen, faithful remnant, by His Spirit. He is now bringing that chosen remnant to maturity, that His purposes for the creation and for the kingdom of God might be completely fulfilled. Our full salvation is nearer now than when we first believed! Paul revealed Father's purpose in a remnant, when he wrote, "Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth" (Ro. 9:27-28).

Israel has indeed become a multitude of people and nations in the earth. But our Father's purpose does not involve those multitudes! All He wants now is a holy, dedicated remnant, who shall do all His holy will. And He has already called, chosen, and set aside that remnant. Their meat is to do the will of their Father! And now, God is bringing that chosen remnant to sonship fulfilled by the power of the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. Every morsel of spiritual Bread necessary to make us fully matured sons of God is already prepared and waiting for us in the realm of Spirit. A sumptuous feast has been prepared, served, and set forth for us on that spiritual "table" in the heavenlies of Spirit. All we need to do is ascend in the Spirit and reach out and accept that living Bread of God. The carnal mind may try to tell us that this will be a difficult thing to do. But the mind of Christ within us tells us it is an easy and simple thing for us to do, since we are led by His Spirit.

The way has already been opened for us to ascend in the Spirit and receive all God has for us. The windows of heaven are open! We have been given access to the heavenly realm of Spirit! The blood of Jesus has been applied to us, so that all our Father sees when He looks at us is the precious blood. That same precious blood has also been applied to the altar of heaven in the realm of Spirit, thereby giving us immediate and constant access to the heavenly, spiritual sanctuary. The same precious blood that cleanses us, also is our passport to the heavenly realm of Spirit. And Christ is the ladder by which we may readily and continually ascend the spiritual heights in God (see page six of our June 1998 booklet regarding this "ladder"). Every provision has already been made for us to ascend the spiritual heights in God. Therefore, we should ascend to the heavenlies, to commune with Him regularly. In this way, we are replenishing our supply of the oil of His Spirit, as we await the midnight appearing of Christ, the Bridegroom.

To understand the truths of the kingdom and take advantage of the open heavens, we only need to turn our attention away from the weak and beggarly elements of this world, including all that is of the old, dead church order. Then, we will turn our faces heavenward to behold Christ in all His glory. All it takes is just one, brief look at Him, and all that is of this corrupt, worldly order of man will soon dim and fade from view. Once we see Christ in His ascended, heavenly, spiritual glory, nothing of this old, dead, worldly order of man can hold any attraction for us. When we see Christ in His glory, we will then come to know Him, as well as everything else we need to know, to walk with Him unto glory, fullness and perfection. Christ is the Day Star that resides within; He comes to dwell in us in greater fullness. He is the Light that rises within us, the One who changes us from within. This is the fullness of the glory of the kingdom of God that now awaits every called and chosen son of God!

The "Marriage" of Soul and Spirit

In our July 1999 booklet, on page fifteen, I wrote the following, "our feminine souls are being crucified to be renewed and resurrected, then to be married to our masculine spirits, in preparation for our transformation." This was a revelation of the Spirit to me! For some time the Spirit has been dealing with me regarding our souls, which includes our mind, our will, and our emotions. I was made to realize that God must do something more within us to renew our minds or our souls in preparation for our bodily transformation (Ro. 12:2). Although the Lord has been renewing our minds by progressively revealing more truth to us, all that is of our souls must be more thoroughly renewed and transformed to become spirit.

Then I was given to understand that when our minds or souls are renewed, by the Spirit, there would also be a joining or a "marriage" between our soul and our spirit. Since our spirit is one Spirit with God, our spirits are masculine in type. But our souls, including our mind, our will, and our emotions, are not yet fully of and by the Spirit; the soul is earthly, carnal, and of the flesh, and must be renewed and changed. Therefore, our souls are considered to be feminine. This union between the feminine soul and the masculine spirit within us, or this joining in a "marriage" union within, will eliminate all the duality that is still within us, making us one spirit. God's order for our transformation was simply stated by the Apostle Paul, when he said, "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Ro. 12:2). Then the Lord revealed to me that certain events and experiences in my life were taking place to fulfill Father's purpose of joining my soul to my spirit, resulting in a "marriage" union within.

There are scriptures that speak of a marriage, such as in Rev. 19:7, where it refers to "the marriage of the Lamb." This passage of scripture may very well refer to a greater marriage, such as the union of the masculine company of the body of Christ with the feminine company of the bride of Christ. When I considered this, the Lord gave me to understand that unless there is a marriage union between soul and spirit within us, uniting us within and eliminating all duality within us, there could be no greater marriage union with Christ, as Rev. 19:7 may be interpreted. There can be no duality of soul and spirit within us for us to be more fully joined to Christ. Therefore, a marriage union must take place within us before any other, greater marriage union can take place. And I am being made aware, by the Spirit of God, that this marriage between soul and spirit - this union to eliminate all duality within us - shall take place, to fully prepare us for that greater and more glorious marriage union to come.

Before "the marriage of the Lamb" took place, as seen in the nineteenth chapter of the book of Revelations, we read this, "And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters (or, peoples), and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth" (Rev. 19:6). The one, great unquestionable and undeniable truth of God for this present hour is, "the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." This is the beginning of the Day of the reign of Christ over all the earth. This also is the Day when "the marriage of the Lamb" shall take place, first within us, and then later in greater fullness and in a more complete and universal sense. The next verse states, "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready" (Rev. 19:7).

Why should it be said that "his wife hath made herself ready?" For the simple reason that the feminine part of us, which is our soul, is as an unclean bride that must make herself ready to be joined to the pure, masculine spirit within us. This may be the primary, spiritual interpretation of Rev, 19:7. The masculine spirit, which we are, is already pure and clean, for it has been joined to God's Spirit. Since our spirit is one with the Spirit of God, it is the only part of us that is pure and holy. But the soul is that part of our total being that tends to carnality and unrighteousness. Therefore, our soul, including our mind, our will, and our emotions, must be prepared for this "marriage" by the work of the Spirit within us, as revealed in Rev. 11:7-10. Our impure, feminine soul must be made ready for this marriage union within, and this is what our Father is doing in us!

To understand the need for soul's renewal, through a death and resurrection process patterned after that of Jesus, we should read a few scriptures. In some scriptures, the soul is seen as the guiding force of a person. It is considered the governing area of our entire being (see Ge. 27:31, 34:8, Lev. 4:2, 5:1-4, 15, 23:29-30, Acts 3:23, Ro. 2:9, 13:1). Other scriptures reveal the soul of man as a discouraged and troubled soul at times, including the soul of Jesus (see Nu. 11:1-6, 21:4, Job 10:1, Ps. 88:3, Mt. 26:38, Jo. 12:27). The soul is also the more natural life force of the earthly, fleshly person that we are in this world (see 1 Ki. 17:22, 2 Ki. 2:2-6, Is. 53:10-12, 1 Co. 15:45, Ja. 5:20, Rev. 16:3). The Lord told the Israelites they would find God if they would seek Him with all their heart and soul (see De. 4:29, 10:12-13, 11:13). Long ago, the Lord set forth His purpose to redeem our souls. Elihu, one of Job's "friends," said to him, "Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, to bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living" (Job 33:29-30).

Job also acknowledged that "the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind" is in the hands of the Lord (Job 12:10). The Psalmist said, "my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell" (Ps. 16:9-10). The Psalmist also said of the Lord, "He restoreth my soul" (Ps. 23:3), and "God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me" (Ps. 49:15). And again, "the Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul" (Ps. 121:7, see also Ps. 107:9, 116:4, Is. 55:3). The Psalmist also said, "My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed" (Ps. 71:23, see also Ps. 57:1-6, 84:2, 86:13, Is. 26:8-9, 38:17, 61:10, Jer. 31:12). God has already redeemed our souls, but until that victory is fulfilled in us, we continue to wait and hope for that so great salvation (see Ps. 42:, 103:1-2, 130:5-6).

Regarding the soul, Jesus said, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Mt. 10:28). The word "hell" comes from the Hebrew "geena," or Gehenna, which is a valley in Jerusalem, and represents the state of judgment unto correction. Obviously, the body can be killed. But the soul will live on, either as a fully corrected and redeemed soul joined to our spirit, or as an uncorrected soul to be placed in that state of judgment unto correction, where it will then be corrected and fully redeemed. Jesus is our pattern or example unto Life! His soul was obviously redeemed before He died on the cross. He demonstrated that fact when He was transfigured on the mount (Mt. 17:1-2). Father then said of His Son, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him" (Mt. 17:5). Only a soul redeemed and perfected by the tests and trials of this life could be part of a person who would be transformed without going by way of death. If we would be changed into His image and likeness, our souls must first be renewed and then married to our pure spirits, to become one Spirit with God. May that be our goal in this life!

We see a difference in the expression of soul and spirit in Mary's experience when she realized she would give birth to the Son of God. She said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour" (Lu. 1:46-47). When she heard that which would take place in her life, Mary's spirit rejoiced within her. Then, after her spirit within had rejoiced in God her Savior, her soul began to magnify the Lord. Her soul responded to what had already taken place in her spirit. Another truth we learn regarding the soul was declared by Simeon when the Spirit revealed to him that he would not see death until he saw the Lord's Christ. Simeon then said to Mary, "(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" (Lu. 2:35). This prophecy suggests that the sword of the Spirit would pierce the soul of man, revealing the thoughts, purposes, and intents of all mankind, that they may be brought to judgment unto correction for their carnal, evil motives. This is taking place within the remnant of the Lord now!

We also learn that it is the soul of man that has the potential of laying up for itself, either the things of this worldly life, or that which concerns the kingdom of God (see Lu. 12:18-21). The soul that lays up treasure for himself or herself in this life is the soul of the "fool" (vs. 20). That soul cares only for the things of this life, and disregards the Life to come. Such a soul "is not rich toward God" (vs. 21). The wise attend the heavenly, spiritual sanctuary of the Lord regularly, communing with Him in the Spirit, to receive the fresh oil of His Spirit (Mt. 25:1-13). They are like David, who said, "I foresaw the Lord ALWAYS before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of LIFE; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance" (Acts 2:25-28).

When Paul closed his first letter to the Thessalonians, he said to them, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it" (1 Thess. 5:23-24). Those who are laying up for themselves treasures in heaven, or in the realm of Spirit, have also committed their whole spirit, soul, and body unto the Lord. He shall preserve our whole being unto the appearings of Christ, when we shall be changed into His pure image and likeness.

This "hope we have (is) as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec" (He. 6:19-20). Some may draw back from the faith, "but we are not of them who draw back unto perdition (ruin or loss); but of them that believe to the saving of the soul" (He. 10:38-39). Peter warned us to "abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul," and indeed we shall (1 Pe. 2:11). While we wait for His appearing, our soul is being crucified, to be restored and then brought forth in the glory of the resurrection life of Christ.

Our souls are being brought to a death by a type or a form of crucifixion within us, according to the pattern of Jesus, the first Son. Then, our souls shall be resurrected unto Life, by the Spirit, to be joined to our spirit in a spiritual marriage within. When our souls are joined or married to our spirits, making us one spirit within, all duality shall then be eliminated from within us. Then we shall be transformed by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. When we become aware of the present work of the Spirit within us, which prophetically is called "the marriage of the Lamb," we will indeed be glad, and will rejoice and give honor to our King and Lord of all. Hallelujah!

The Marriage Union - at the Midnight Hour

The Lord has also made me aware of the significance of the midnight hour as it pertains to this new Day. Jesus told us that "the master of the house," which is Christ, would appear to His people "at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning" (Mk. 13:35). Each of these periods of this night is important, for they represent times of the appearings of Christ to His elect. By His appearings to us during this night, we shall grow spiritually to be fully changed into His image and likeness, prepared to awaken the dawn of the new morning. The evening hour has passed, when Christ appeared to reveal the coming of His kingdom to the earth in a greater way. Now we await another spiritual appearing of Christ as our Bridegroom at the midnight hour of this new Day, to lead us onward to our full salvation.

The parable of the ten virgins foretells of a people who prepared to meet the Bridegroom when he came to attend this marriage. Five of them were foolish, for they did not bring enough oil of the Spirit with them to await the midnight appearing of the Bridegroom. But five were wise, for they had enough of the oil of the Spirit to keep their lamps burning brightly throughout the night, and unto the midnight hour, when the Bridegroom would appear to attend that marriage. While the five foolish virgins went to buy oil because of their limited and inadequate supply, a cry was heard at midnight, saying, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him" (Mt. 25:6). The Bridegroom came while the foolish virgins went to buy oil to replenish their supply, and they missed Him.

The wise, on the other hand, had sufficient oil to keep their lamps burning brightly unto the midnight appearing of the Bridegroom. They had a good supply of the anointing oil of the Spirit within them, and were fully prepared to attend the marriage with the Bridegroom when he came, that they might participate in that marriage. But the door was shut to all others! When the foolish virgins returned with a fresh supply of oil, they discovered that the Bridegroom had already come at the promised midnight hour. So they asked the Bridegroom to open the door and allow them to attend the marriage. But He answered them, "Verily, I say unto you, I know you not" (see Mt. 25:1-13).

Without a doubt, this parable is now being fulfilled in the lives of all the apprehended ones. In the primary interpretation of this prophecy, our souls are to be present at this midnight marriage, to meet the Bridegroom and be restored. Then our spirit, which is already one Spirit in Christ, shall be married to our newly restored and renewed soul, to become one pure spirit in Him. Then, both our spirits and our souls will be pure, since they were united in that marriage union to become one, eliminating all the duality that was within us. Some will not have enough of the oil of the Spirit to make it to the midnight hour. Others among us will have a sufficient supply of the oil of the Spirit to make it to the midnight appearing of Christ, our Bridegroom.

Those who will have a sufficient supply of the oil of the Spirit within them are communing with God in the Spirit. They have the faith of the Son of God within, and therefore have full assurance of all that God is doing and revealing to them, not only individually but also collectively to the entire body of the sons of this high calling. Because they are becoming His word, they need not that any man should teach them (see 1 Jo. 2:27). These elect ones are hearing His fresh Word of truth directly from the mind of their Father! They are constantly replenishing their supply of His oil by ministering to the Lord, in the Spirit and by the Spirit. It is imperative that the elect be fully prepared to participate in this marriage union between soul and spirit. Unless we participate in this marriage union, we shall have no part in that greater and more glorious marriage union yet to come.

When the Lord said to those foolish virgins, "I know you not," what do you suppose He meant? I suppose He meant that He was not fully acquainted with them. He was not familiar with them, for He seldom saw them in the heavenly realm of Spirit. They rarely attended the heavenly sanctuary (as in He. 10:25), to commune with their Lord in the Spirit! Some spend more time getting to know people than they do their Head, Lord and King. They will run with the crowds, rather than spend time in the silence and solitude of their closets. They reach out to get acquainted with many other people, rather than getting to know their Lord and Master. They have many heads, lords, and kings (Is. 26:13), but they know very little of the one, great Head, Lord, and King of all! No wonder Christ said to them, "I know you not!" This is the sad state of the foolish virgins! They are carnally minded, not spiritually minded. They will be found lacking; they will not have enough of the oil of the Spirit to allow them to attend the marriage union, when Christ, the Bridegroom, appears.

Let the aspirations and the prayers of all the elect at this strange, wonderful, awesome, and near-midnight hour now be, "THAT I MAY KNOW HIM, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:10-12). The one supreme goal we all should have, one that transcends all creeds and doctrines, is to know Christ in all His fullness, and the power of His resurrection. We are not to know Him in our minds only, but by our experiences with Him in the Spirit.

Our experiences with our Father in the Spirit are what counts as we progress and grow spiritually to become fully manifest sons of God. That which is in our minds, whether doctrines, creeds, or teachings, matters little. Our relationship with our Father in the Spirit is what matters most. Furthermore, we are to seek the resurrection Life of Christ as if we had not yet attained and were not yet perfect. Father's work concerning us was finished ages ago! But His work in our lives is not yet finished! We will all know for sure and without a doubt that we are totally finished, in truth, and in fact, when we stand complete, perfect, and in His likeness. Then we shall BE the full image and likeness of our glorified and resurrected Christ. Then, the whole creation also shall be delivered of the curse of sin and death!

Wonderful promises have been given to those who will hold out to the end. Although the vision tarries, we will wait for it, for it will surely come to pass. Our total and complete transformation will take place in Father's time and according to His eternal purposes, which He purposed in Christ before the world began. We are on the verge of possessing our full inheritance in Christ, and we will not be coerced into taking the carnal, intellectual path to sonship fulfilled. We long for the real thing, and will not accept some cheap, false substitute.

The wonderful and glorious appearings of Christ are vital and necessary for us to attain to full sonship, which includes our bodily transformation. Before Jesus told the parable of the ten virgins, He spoke of the appearing of "the Son of man." He compared His coming to the day of Noah in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew. Actually, chapter twenty-four of Matthew should be read along with chapter twenty-five. Jesus said the people outside the ark "were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them (those outside the ark) all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then two shall be in the field; the one (carnal man) shall be taken, and the other (the spiritual man) left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one (carnal woman) shall be taken, and the other (the spiritual man) left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come" (Mt. 24:37-42).

When our soul, including our mind, our will, and our emotions, is joined or married to our spirit, making us one spirit within, there will be no duality within us. Then the only part of us not yet fully redeemed will be our bodies. By the appearing of Christ within us, the carnal, Adamic man, which is the man of the flesh, shall be taken from us, leaving us fully redeemed, spiritual beings. Then we shall be given a body like unto His, to manifest the full glory, power, and authority of the kingdom of God in all the earth, and then in all the universe. By the appearings of Christ within us, we shall be fully perfected and transformed. Therefore, we should make sure our Lord knows us and that we know Him, by attending His heavenly, spiritual sanctuary regularly, especially before and during the midnight hour, to worship Him in Spirit and in truth (see Ps. 119:62 & Acts 16:25).

The Characteristics of our New Mind, which is the Mind of Christ

As we progressively receive new truth, by the Spirit, we are also gradually receiving the fullness of His mind. This is a spiritual work that is taking place within us, by the Spirit of God. This is not merely a mind game! We do not receive the mind of Christ by changing our minds and then taking on a new set of positive beliefs and optimistic statements of faith. If receiving the mind of Christ was only a mind game - if it only involved changing our minds or our opinions by some carnal, mental procedure or exercise - then the worldly religions such as Christian science, new age, and other science of the mind religions, would be the way to go. But God is not in those mind games!

Father's work concerning us involves changing our souls and our minds through deep repentance, by the work of the Spirit within us, and not by some intellectual religious practice, or carnal mind game. To think positively is much better than thinking negatively! But all the positive thinking we can muster will not change us like the Spirit of God will. We desperately need Christ in all His fullness within us. The more He dwells within; the more He will change us! Paul described this work of the Spirit within us, when he wrote, "And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight" (Col. 1:21-22). It is God Who set the standard of righteousness, and it is only God Who shall reconcile us and all mankind to Himself, changing our minds so we are no longer enemies in our minds.

The work of the Spirit of God is to change is so drastically that we will repent of the errors of man's religion and will open our minds to hear and receive His pure truth, by the operation of the Spirit of God within us. When our feminine soul is transformed and renewed, and then joined to our pure, masculine spirit, we shall have the mind of Christ in fullness. Then there will be no duality within us, nor will we ever again express anything less than the pure, righteous, and perfect wisdom of our Father. Paul wrote to say that he delighted in the law of God after the inward man of the spirit. But he also saw another law operating in his members that was warring against the law of his mind, bringing him into captivity to the law of sin that was in his members (Ro. 7:22-23). This was not only true of Paul; it is also true of every one of us. But the Lord is moving in our lives to deliver us of this duality, and give us the fullness of the mind of Christ.

A man, who was both a lawyer and a Pharisee, came to Jesus to tempt Him by asking Him questions. So he asked Jesus, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment" (Mt. 22:36-37). To love the Lord our God with our whole heart, soul, and mind is a large order. It may be difficult, if not impossible, for us to do while we are still in this imperfect and in-part state. But with His help, we know we shall attain to all that Father has set before us. First, we are to love the Lord, "with ALL thy heart, and with ALL thy soul, and with ALL thy mind."

The word "heart" is from the Greek word, "kardia," and means the heart, figuratively, including the thoughts and feelings. The word "soul" comes from the Greek word, "psuche," meaning breath, implying also the spirit. And the word "mind," comes from the Greek word "dianoia," meaning deep thought, properly, the faculty of the mind, implying its exercise. By using these three words, heart, soul, and mind, Jesus included every minute portion of the total expression of our beings, including our soul, our mind, our will, our every thought and feeling, and all our emotions.

Every expression of the human being that we are was included in that "first and great commandment," as given by Jesus. When we fully understand all that is included in the total expression of our being in these words of Jesus, we will then realize how much we lack to attain to His standard of perfection. While the words of Jesus might appear to condemn us, we know He had no such intention. He set forth the standard of righteousness, which is beyond our limited, human ability to achieve. Then He provided the spiritual means by which we shall attain to His righteous and holy standard of perfection.

The righteous perfection that Jesus set before us is fully attainable through Him. Father has already made provision for our ultimate, total and complete perfection, and that abundant, spiritual provision is reserved for us in the realm of Spirit. All we need do to achieve it is ascend to the heavenly, spiritual sanctuary of God, worship Him in Spirit and in truth, and minister to Him, thereby receiving all the spiritual resources we need to make us perfect. But I must emphasize again that this is a spiritual exercise, or experience, not a mind game! Having achieved perfection in Christ, by experiencing Him in the Spirit, we shall then truly "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."

The Lord promised in His word that He would make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. That new covenant would be nothing like the old covenant He made with them when He led them out of Egypt. Of this new covenant, the Lord said, "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; 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: and they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest" (He. 8:8-11).

Obviously, there is a lot more to truly knowing the Lord than merely being assured of our salvation, having the baptism of the holy Spirit, and functioning in the Pentecostal realm of gifts and ministries. Paul was an anointed and Spirit-filled apostle, chosen of the Lord to serve Him and His kingdom purposes in the beginning of the church age. Yet, the cry of his heart was, "THAT I MAY KNOW HIM." Paul knew there was much more of God and of His Spirit for him than what he had already experienced. So he earnestly and fervently expressed his desire to know his Lord and Master in a greater way. If all the elect of the Lord, or all the sons of God, truly knew the Lord in fullness today, they would then enter into that new realm in God, which is the realm of Tabernacles. They would then cease the old, Pentecostal procedure of teaching, preaching and prophesying to their neighbors and to their brethren, saying, "know the Lord," for they would all know Him in fullness. There would then be no need for any of man's instructions, or their in-part teaching and preaching, for all the elect would then know the Lord in the absolute sense of the word.

That which our Father intends to do with all mankind, He shall first accomplish in the lives of His chosen and set-apart remnant. If the remnant of the Lord cannot receive the new covenant and walk in the light of its principles and purposes, how can we expect the masses of the world to receive it? Beloved, it is impossible! As our Father's chosen remnant in the earth today, we must grow in the Spirit to know our Lord in greater fullness. Then we will gladly, and with renewed hope and expectancy, lay aside the old, dead works of the past age! Then every person among us will cease teaching and preaching, for all the elect will know Him in Spirit and in truth, whom to know is Life eternal. And this is just the basic principle of the new covenant!

Then we will blaze a new trail into the kingdom of God for the multitudes to follow. It will be a new and clear trail or highway into the fullness of the kingdom of God. "It shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those; the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there: but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (Is. 35:8-10).

Other characteristics of our new mind, or of the mind of Christ, includes the peace of God. The anointed word of the prophet has declared, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" (Is. 26:3). The phrase, "in perfect peace," is given in the Hebrew as, "in shalowm shalowm." The Hebrew word, "shalowm" can be translated "perfect," or "peace," for the peace that God gives us is both perfect and complete. Nothing can be added to make the peace of God any better than it is. It is perfect and complete, lacking nothing. When we have that "shalowm shalowm," or "perfect peace," we will have the peace of God multiplied and compounded by His greater fullness.

With that "perfect peace" within, we will never be troubled by circumstances in our lives or in the world around us. With His "perfect peace" within, we will never question the way of the Spirit of God in our lives, for we will have an inner knowing that all is well. With His "perfect peace" within, we will never be in doubt about what God is doing, for we will have that inner knowing that God is doing a mighty and glorious work in the earth, and that we are a part of it all. If we will grow in God and in the greater glory, power, and authority of His kingdom, we will then realize that His "perfect peace" is coming to the earth to overwhelm everything of man's corrupt order, and change it all into the high quality of the peace of God.

Job learned something of God's mind, which is the mind we shall have. He wanted to lodge his complaint with God, but he could not find Him. Job said of God, "He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. But he is in ONE MIND, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me (including all the tests and trials of this life): and many such things are with him" (Job 23:9-14). God is of one mind to do all His will in our lives, including all the tests and trials that are making us perfect. So also shall we be of one mind when our souls are renewed and joined to our spirits, to become one spirit in Christ. Job realized the purpose of his trials, when he said, "For God maketh my heart (or soul) soft, and the Almighty troubleth me." (Vs. 16) God has been softening our souls, by repentance, in preparation for the marriage union between our soul and our spirit, to make us one in Him. All the duality of soul and mind, which is within us now, will be removed to unite us and make us one in mind and spirit. When that takes place within us, we shall be transformed!

Whenever God creates and brings forth something new, the old must be discarded and removed from our minds. The mind of Christ is the mind that receives new things when He reveals it. The word of the Lord has declared, "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind" (Is. 65:17, see also Jer. 3:16). Many of us are familiar with this prophecy, but do we understand the truth of it? The quality of the mind of Christ is such that His mind will always turn away from the old and embrace the new. It is now time for the Lord's elect to turn away from the old church order, which is the order of Pentecost, forget all about it and let none of it come into our minds ever again. Then we will fully embrace and manifest the new order of Tabernacles, and the new principles of the kingdom of God in the earth.

The Lord knows every thought that is in our minds. He knows that our thoughts are generally carnal thoughts, just as it was with the minds of the Israelites of old (see Ez. 11:5). The Lord said to them, "that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone. As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you" (Ez. 20:32-33). The Lord is truly ruling over us! And one of the positive signs of the reign of Christ in our lives is the present judgment unto correction of our souls and minds. When He has fully ruled in our lives, and the marriage of the Lamb has taken place within us, there will be no duality in us. We shall then be one in spirit and in soul, which also includes our mind, our will, and our emotions.

The seed of Christ was planted in our spirits when Christ came to dwell in us. That Christ-seed has been working in us to cleanse us and make us pure within. The Christ within must do the work of changing us within and without. Unless He changes us, we will not be changed. The seed of Christ within us also is the seed of the kingdom of God. He who is within is as the leaven of the kingdom. He works in us until the triune lump that we are is as pure and righteous as the original Seed of Christ (see Mt. 13:33). The leaven of the kingdom is to be placed in three measures of meal, which is, 1) our spirit, 2) our soul, and then 3) our body, to totally transform us, resulting in the manifestation of the sons of God. What a mighty victory that will be!

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