THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT

                                                                 Part Twelve                                       June 1998

The present work of the Spirit is to bring the Lord's elect to greater maturity in Christ, and then to establish the new order of the kingdom of God within us. As the new order of the kingdom of God is being established within us, we are making the transition from the old church order of the past to the new and greater kingdom order. All this is fulfilled in our lives by growing to new spiritual heights in God. Our spiritual growth gives us greater access to the benefits of the kingdom of God and establishes a new kingdom pathway for many others.

Those who have grown spiritually have learned many important lessons of truth. Among those new spiritual realities is the wonderful truth that all is well in the world according to Father's purposes for each age or time period, because we know He reigns. During meetings we had about thirty years ago, we sang a beautiful chorus with this message:

            All is well, all is well,

            I can say, Hallelujah, all is well.

            When I look at things unseen,

            And behold the mighty King,

            I can say, Hallelujah, all is well.

When we look at the world around us and see the abounding corruption of man through our natural, physical eyes, everything we see will be nothing but darkness and more corruption. The natural eyes of the physical, carnal person cannot possibly see anything but the darkness of this world. There are many Christians who never rise out of that realm of darkness and man's inherent corruption and abounding iniquities. But the Lord's elect and chosen ones of this hour have greater spiritual perception and insight. Because of our spiritual walk in the high places in Christ, we should be able to see into that realm of light and glory to behold His work in the earth. May it never be said of us that all we will see wherever we look is more darkness.

There are enough carnal-minded people in the world, including most Christians, who only see doom, gloom, and darkness everywhere they look, that we need not add to their negative messages. Our high calling in God requires that we negate their carnal-minded darkness with the glorious light of Christ, by which all spiritual darkness everywhere shall eventually be dispelled and transformed into the glorious Light that He is. If we did not do that, who then would do it? If we, as the Lord's elect, fail to let our lights shine in the Spirit after beholding the glory of Christ, what hope would there be for a world steeped in such gross, spiritual darkness?

The Lord's elect are looking and seeing with the eyes of the Spirit. Everywhere they look, they see that all is well. They can look beyond the corruption of the world to see the glory of the Lord filling the whole earth. During the reign of King Uzziah, the prophet Isaiah observed a wonderful truth. He saw and understood that if a person looked "unto the land," they would see only "darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof (or in the heavens of their minds)" (Is. 5:30).  Then King Uzziah died, and perhaps his death shook Isaiah's confidence and faith in God. The king's death obviously was purposed of God to turn His prophet's eyes off the world, causing him to see in the Spirit as it really was. This brings up another important truth we should all know by now. And that is the wonderful truth that true reality, that which is real, genuine, and true, exists in the realm of the Spirit and no where else. What we see in the world around us with our natural eyes is false and temporary, for it was all built and established by man. True reality is in the unseen realm of the Spirit, and only in that realm, for everything there is created by God. All else is fraudulent, fleeting and fictitious.

This truth was clearly stated by the Apostle Paul. He advised believers who were going through the trials and afflictions of this life to look beyond the present to the glory ahead. Paul acknowledged that our outer man is perishing while the inner man of spirit is being renewed day by day. He said that our "light afflictions" were momentary, but were working "FOR US a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Co. 4:16-18). Therefore, everything that is spiritual and of the kingdom of God are the only eternal realities to be found anywhere. These eternal realities are the things that are not seen; all else is temporary and unreal.

It may be necessary for us to experience a crisis, as Isaiah did, to enable us turn our attention away from the unreal things of this world to the greater realities of the Spirit of God and His kingdom. It was when King Uzziah died that Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, and that His train filled the temple. He saw the many seraphim! He also saw their wings, their work, and he heard their cry, which was clearly heard by entering into the Spirit. The prophet heard one crying to another, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: THE WHOLE EARTH IS FULL OF HIS GLORY" (Is. 6: 1-3). So mighty and powerful was the voice of the one who cried in the midst of heaven that "the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke" (vs. 4). The voice of God, and of the heavenly hosts, has the power of God to shake both the heavens and the earth. The smoke that filled the house then was the result of the mighty fire of the presence of God. His presence was so great and mighty that the house was filled with the smoke, or with the after-effects, of His awesome presence and power.

In the heavenly realm of Spirit, there are no negative messages to be heard. Neither darkness, nor unbelief, fear, sorrow, or doom and gloom, can exist in that heavenly realm. There in Father's heavenly realm of Spirit, all is love, peace, blessing, harmony, order, and the righteousness of Christ. Spiritual darkness comes from looking at the world and seeing only in that realm. But the true, spiritual Light comes by looking up into the face of Him whose glory fills the earth as well as the heavens. Most certainly the world of Isaiah's time was no better than is our world of today. Isaiah's world was filled with darkness and evil, just as this present world is. To look to the world and see only in that natural realm will bring us darkness, fear, unbelief, hopelessness, and frustration. And to look at the weak and frail state of our bodies and see only what we are now may also bring us down to the depths of despair and hopelessness. The only remedy for all spiritual darkness and that which accompanies it, is to ascend into the hea-venlies of God's presence and see Him in His glorified state. All the darkness everywhere will disappear, along with the many effects of that darkness, which are unbelief, hopelessness, fear, and frustration, when once we see Christ. We must see Him, not as He was but AS HE IS, and all the heavenly hosts with Him, by the Spirit.

No wonder Isaiah could declare, with firm faith and positive assurance, all that he saw in the Spirit. And when we enter the rich and rewarding realm of Spirit, to commune with our Father and hear the constant messages of truth and life that reverberate throughout the corridors of the heavens, we too will declare all that we have seen. No longer will our eyes and ears be clouded with doubts, fears, and unbelief because of the darkness we have seen; but we will join Isaiah in declaring the truth, as it is in the Spirit, to all who have ears to hear. The heavenly hosts proclaimed the truth in Isaiah's day, which was, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: THE WHOLE EARTH IS FULL OF HIS GLORY." So also shall we hear that same message, which has been sounding forth throughout the heavenlies from that day to this. As that word and the appearing of Christ changed Isaiah, so shall we be changed by that heavenly word and His appearings. And that word of truth Isaiah heard when he ascended to the heavenlies is even more true today than it was in his day!

It is by ascending into the realm of the Spirit that we will hear the truth of God for today, and will see the present work of God in the earth. Unless we ascend in the Spirit and see and hear as God does, we will know nothing at all. Some will run from meeting to meeting trying to find out what God is saying and doing. But our visits to the heavenly realm of Spirit will teach us all we need to know. It is by ascending to the heavenly realm of Spirit that we hear and see in the Spirit, to know what God is saying and doing. John heard a voice speak to him, and the voice said, "Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter." As soon as that Voice finished speaking, John said, "And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne" (Rev. 4:1-2).

In that wonderful experience John described, it is important that we understand that John was "in the spirit." He turned his attention from earthly things to that which is of the Spirit. His spirit was raised to the heavenlies to be with the Lord, by the Spirit. His spirit was taken to the heavenlies to see and hear all that God was doing and saying. The voice said, "Come up hither." And that is what we must do also. We must also "Come up hither" into the heavenlies of Spirit to commune with God. Unless we do, we will remain isolated from our true Source of Life. No person in Christ is an island! We are not isolated from Christ the Head or from Christ the body. Through union with Christ we have access to the heavenly realm of Spirit, to commune with our Father. By ascending in the Spirit, we connect to the Source of all truth and life to hear what God is saying and doing. The extreme teaching that everything is "within" us has its limits! Such teaching is the core of most of the cults, and will lead us to a dead end. But to connect to the heavenly realm of Spirit, by the Spirit, brings us to the Source of all truth and that greater Life, which is changing us!

As he came up hither into the heavenly realm of Spirit, John saw the Lord seated on His throne. In the next few verses, John described what he saw while there in that heavenly realm. As overcomers, we are also called to ascend in the Spirit to the high places in God. When Jesus called His disciples, Philip brought Nathanael to Him. Jesus "saw" Nathanael coming, discerned his manner of life, and declared him to be, "an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael then acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God and the King of Israel. "Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." (Jo. 1:50-51)

We are now seeing those "greater things!" This is another period designated as "hereafter!" The heavens of His Spirit are now open, and the angels of God, which we are, are ascending and descending upon the Son of man. The word "angels," is derived from the Greek word, "aggelos," meaning a messenger. We are those messengers who are spiritually ascending and descending upon the Son of man, gaining access, by the Spirit, to the heavenly realm of Spirit. And we shall continue to ascend and descend upon the Son of man until Father's purposes for us and His creation are all fulfilled.

Our spirit is one Spirit in Christ, allowing us to ascend in the Spirit to commune with Him and see and hear all He is doing and saying to His elect. As sons of God and members of God's Christ, we have been given the authority to ascend and descend upon the Son of man. There, in the Spirit, we commune with God and receive the Truth that He is. This is the fulfillment of He. 10:25! This is "the assembling of ourselves together" that we are not to forsake. When we ascend in the Spirit to commune with God by the Spirit, we are thus fulfilling "the greater things than these," that Jesus promised Nathanael. We are also doing those "greater works" (Jo. 14:12). Our finite minds cannot possibly comprehend the many, spiritual wonders we shall yet see and experience as we continue to ascend and descend upon the Son of man.

Christ is the "ladder" to the realm of the Spirit. It is impossible for any one to come up by any other way. Long centuries ago, God gave the vision of Christ, the ladder, to Jacob. As he laid down to sleep one night, "he dreamed, and behold, a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac." (Ge. 28:12-13)  The Lord then proceeded to make a covenant with Jacob. The heavens were opened for Jacob, and he could "see" the Lord God of his fathers. The ladder was set up on earth to indicate to Jacob that he had access to the heavenlies in and through Christ. And when the Lord finished giving His word and His covenant to him, Jacob knew he had been in the presence of God. When he awoke, he said, "Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven" (vs. 16-17).

Beloved, we are "the house of God!" This is not a house made with hands; nor is this house administered by man, or governed by man's creeds and doctrines. God speaks in this house, not man! This is an eternal house in the heavens, to be seen only in the Spirit. We have found "the gate of heaven!" The gate of heaven is Christ! He is the gate or ladder that brings us to the Father and to His throne in the heavenlies. God is revealed and seen at the top of this ladder! But no man can see Him and live! The old, carnal man of the flesh must die completely so the new man of the spirit can be manifested. This is the path of our transformation! When we ascend in the Spirit, we are using Christ, the ladder, to approach our Father and His throne. And when we ascend in the Spirit to the highest of the heavens, we shall see that we dwell securely in the house of the Lord.

Christ is our access; He is our ladder! Use Him frequently! Call upon Him regularly! Take advantage of the glorious privilege we have in Christ! Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together in the heavenly sanctuary! Gather together in Christ, by the Spirit, with all His saints of both heaven and earth. Vast distances may separate us from a literal gathering, but the Lord is gathering us together by His Spirit. We are one Spirit in Christ! He is molding and shaping us into His image, making us to be of one faith. The open heavens are before us!  The kingdom of God is come!  As we ascend in the Spirit, we are seeing the throne of God and the dominion of His kingdom that is coming to the earth. We shall also hear the new word of the kingdom that He would speak to us, thus establishing the new order of the kingdom of God within us. We are being changed by the glory of His presence that permeates the Holiest of all! And that glory shall fill us to overflowing, transforming us within and without!

There is another, significant truth we should know regarding the use of the word "ascend" in the scriptures. The Hebrew word "alah," that is translated "ascend," is also shown as "the breaking (alah) of the day," or "the day breaketh (alah)" (See Ge. 32:24-28). It is of great interest to see that this scripture records Jacob's transformation as he wrestled with the angel of the Lord. Thus, we read, "And Jacob was left alone (as many of us are in the natural); and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking (alah) of the day."  Jacob continued to wrestle with the angel. When the angel recognized Jacob's persistence and strength, he touched Jacob's thigh so that "the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he (the angel) said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he (Jacob) said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he (the angel) said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he (the angel) said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob (meaning, heel-catcher, or supplanter), but Israel (meaning, prince with God): for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed."

What a wonderful transformation that was for Jacob!  But we shall experience an even greater transformation by the Spirit! Not only was Jacob's name changed from Jacob to Israel, but his nature or character must have been changed as well. Also, his thigh was put out of joint so the man never walked the same again. His new walk was the result of his new spiritual stature in the kingdom of God! He proved to the angel that he now had power with God and with men. Therefore, he became a prince of God, and was given a name (Israel), which signified his new power and authority. We are also being given a new name, a name "which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it" (Rev. 2:17). Our new name shall also signify a change in our character and nature, granting us new, kingdom power and authority.

Jacob received a new nature with a new name, and became a prince with God, at "the breaking of the day." Earlier in his experience, Jacob saw the ladder between earth and heaven (Ge. 28:12). He saw the angels of God ascending and descending upon that ladder, which is Christ. The Bible does not say so, but I believe Jacob saw himself on that ladder. For what other purpose would the Lord reveal something like that to Jacob, or to anyone else? Father's main purpose in showing us these things is to make us aware of what we have in Christ. The Lord does not show us something, only to tell us it is unattainable! God does not do that! When He reveals something to us, the Lord also makes us know that we are included in that revealed purpose as we continue to be led by His Spirit. So Jacob was given a vision of the ladder between earth and heaven to show that he also could participate in that experience. And when he wrestled with that angel, Jacob was taking advantage of that ladder into the open heavens. He prevailed with God and was given a new nature, a new walk, and a new name, at the breaking of the day.

As we have already pointed out, the same Hebrew word "alah," is also translated "ascend" and "breaking" of the day. It is when the elect ascend in the Spirit to the glorious heights in God that the morning of this new day shall break or dawn (see Ps. 57:8, Amplified). As Jacob ascended in the Spirit to wrestle with the angel of the Lord, he was changed by that experience and given a new name.  He thus broke through the spiritual darkness that held him in limited realms as a "supplanter." Then the new morning dawned! Jacob was changed at the breaking of the day! His transformation occurred at the dawn of the new morning! So also shall our transformation take place at the breaking of the day! The transformation of the saints shall cause the new morning of this blessed age of the kingdom of God on earth to dawn. The new age began at evening time, but not until the morning dawns shall we see the glory of the Lord (Ex. 16:6).

The world today and the people of it, including most Christians, are all deeply mired in the muck of the spiritual darkness of the sins and iniquities of man. They are all depressingly embroiled in the world's confusion, with no way out except for the remnant, who are the hope of the world. Some time ago, we were with some relatives and religious Christians who were discussing the sad state of the world. Their outlook was so depressing that I finally said something general about the work of the Spirit that would eventually change things in the world. I thought I was making a statement that would be acceptable to any believer who trusted in the Lord. But some of them seemed to think that evil and man's darkness is more powerful than God. This further confirmed to me that the kingdom age began at evening time, as all ages have (See Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31), and that there is much spiritual darkness in the hearts of the people yet to overcome (Is. 60:1-2). And the Lord is indeed overcoming it, by His Spirit!

Only in the Lord and His elect remnant is there hope for the full deliverance and salvation of the whole world. To be their saviors in Zion (Obadiah 21), which we are becoming, we must look away to the heavenly realm of Spirit, as Isaiah did, and see and hear as he did the wonderful, heavenly voices proclaiming the good news of Christ's triumph. There is no gloom or darkness there; but all in that heavenly realm of Spirit is light, glory, and life abundant. The message of truth and light that we will hear in Father's kingdom will be one of hope, restoration, reconciliation, and full salvation for all.

The world today needs to hear such a message of hope and promise. They do not need to hear this message with their natural ears, but they must hear it in the Spirit and by the Spirit. And that is where we come in. We must declare and manifest the Light of Christ, by the Spirit and in the realm of the Spirit, ministering Zion's deliverance (Ob. 17), which is transforming them by the Spirit. We do this in the Spirit, by worshiping the Lord and ministering to Him, and by joining the hea-venly hosts in singing His praises. All our works in the kingdom of God will now be mainly spiritual works, which shall be the "greater works" Jesus promised (Jo. 14:12). Our communication now is by the Spirit, for that is God's realm of all power and authority! We are called to minister to the Lord, and to HEAR in the Spirit the wonderful truth of God that is changing us into His likeness. Our message now is the same word Isaiah heard in the heavenlies, which is, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory." When others hear this message of light and truth in the Spirit, the darkness within them will begin to decrease, to be completely dispelled by the glory of Him Who is Light and Life.

It is when we look at things unseen and behold the mighty King, as expressed in the chorus on page one, that we then discover the great truth that ALL IS WELL! When our minds are transformed by the glory of the Light of Christ, everything we see and everywhere we look we will realize that ALL IS WELL! There is nothing wrong anywhere in this world at this time. Everything is as it should be according to Father's plans and purposes for this present world and all the people in it. Everything everywhere is as God wants it to be for this present time. If that were not true, He would change it with just one simple flick of His little finger. To declare that things in the world are wrong, is to declare that God made a mistake in ordering the world to be what it is today. But He made no mistakes! This present world, as corrupt as it is, is exactly the way God wants it to be for now. (See Is. 45:5-12, Ac. 15:18 & Ro. 9:20-23.) Of course, His plan for this world and the people of it is vastly different for all the tomorrows. His plan for tomorrow is not the same as it is for today. And because God's plan for tomorrow is different, we have the assurance that He will change it, to cause it all to be conformed to His plans and purposes for man's glorious future in the kingdom of God.

Not only did Isaiah see into the heavenlies, and hear the message of light and truth being proclaimed by the heavenly hosts, but he also said, "mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts" (Is. 6:5). When Isaiah saw the King seated on His throne in the realm of Spirit, he saw the answer to the world's problems. He saw the hope for the restoration of the world and the salvation of all mankind. And when we see our King seated on His glorious throne of all power, we will also see that He reigns in the midst of the world's confusion to bring restoration and reconciliation to all the world. When we see Him, we also see that we are seated there with Him and in Him as the solution to the world's problems. We see that we are reigning in Christ over all things, to bring the blessings and benefits of the kingdom of God to all the world. When we look heavenward into the realm of Spirit, we will see the solution, the answer, the ultimate victory of Christ, which will deliver mankind from this gross, spiritual darkness, and establish the kingdom of God everywhere in all the earth, and in the lives of all.

The kingdom of God, as it is today, is much more advanced than it was in Isaiah's day. His kingdom has been increasing from that day to this (Is. 9:7). And His kingdom shall continue to increase until its glory, peace, justice, righteousness and victory have filled the whole earth. When His kingdom has prevailed in fullness, everything every where will show forth the blessings and benefits of the peaceful and righteous reign of Christ. Present world conditions may not give us evidence to support our faith in God's plan for His kingdom on earth. But by His faith, we stand firm on the blessed truth that His kingdom includes all the power and authority of God by which all this darkness shall be dispelled, and man's sins and iniquities removed from the face of the earth. By His living faith, we now KNOW, with positive assurance, that the grace of God shall reign on earth to replace the long, previous reign of sin and death (Romans 5:17 & 21).

As soon as Isaiah saw the great King and Lord of all, a seraphim came to him with a live coal from off the altar. The seraphim touched Isaiah's lips with the live coal, took away his sins and iniquities, and purged his lips. When his sins and iniquities were taken away and his lips purged, more of God's plan was revealed to the prophet. Isaiah was then able to prophesy the coming of the Lord to save His people from their sins and establish His kingdom on earth (Is. 7:14, 9:6-7). The Lord continues to deal with us in a similar way! The fiery presence of the Lord is purging our lips and all that is within us, that we might reveal Him to the creation, not the carnal flesh or mind of man, including our own. Our Father will continue to deal with us until we are fully fit and finished. Then we shall be anointed to represent Him and His kingdom in all the earth, and then in all the universe.

When King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord as King seated on His heavenly throne. Obviously, as long as Uzziah lived and reigned on the throne of Judah, the prophet could not see the greater King. He could not see the King of kings and the Lord of lords seated on His heavenly throne of all power. His eyes, as well as his hopes and expectations, were fixed on a man seated on an earthly throne. That limited vision prevented Isaiah from seeing the true King and Lord of all. But when that earthly king died, everything changed for the prophet. Isaiah may have been disturbed when he realized there was a vacancy on the throne of Judah and that no earthly king was reigning. But just one glimpse of the great King of heaven and earth, by a revelation from God, and he was convinced that the greater King was ruling and reigning. The throne of Judah was empty and vacant; but Isaiah saw that One was reigning from a higher and more glorious throne, and that His kingdom is invincible, just, righteous, and triumphant. And this is what we also must see in this great Day!

If we are to see our triumphant King, Who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, then all our earthly rulers, kings, presidents, governors, and prime ministers must be removed from our vision and understanding. To see the present reign of Christ as it really is, all our king Uzziahs must die. It will help us greatly if we would see that all the thrones of man's governments and kingdoms are vacant and empty. There is no true, just, and righteous leadership any where on earth. They are all corrupted by old Adam's many iniquities and transgressions. What despair and hopelessness this understanding would bring to the people of the world! Let them have their kings, presidents and rulers! We have seen the King of glory! And they shall eventually see Him too! He is seated on His throne of all power and authority, and is reigning over all the affairs of men and nations. And His reign is peaceful, just, invincible, triumphant, and righteous!

When I look at things unseen, and behold the mighty King, I can say, Hallelujah, ALL IS WELL. If we are looking at the things that are unseen, or the things of the Spirit, we will be able to repeat the words of this chorus with faith and understanding. To know that all is well in this world is to know that our mighty King is seated on His throne of all power. He is reigning over every circumstance, problem, affliction and difficulty, changing those problems and afflictions into that which brings glory to His name. As King, He is using all those negative things to process and prepare us. He is establishing His kingdom within us in greater fullness, turning all that darkness into the glorious Light of Christ, both within and without. While negative things are used of God to process us outwardly, the inward result is that the kingdom of God is growing and increasing within us unto full stature and maturity. When we have reached the realm of His fullness, His Life shall burst forth out of us in glory abundant.

Another positive benefit of looking at things unseen and beholding our mighty, triumphant and reigning King is in seeing that He is beginning to establish the new order of His kingdom in the earth. Our reigning Lord and King is doing a wonderful work within us. He is bringing us to full maturity and is establishing the new order of His kingdom within us. And He also is beginning to change things for the better in the world around us. But unless we look at things unseen, or at that which is of the Spirit, and behold our mighty King as HE IS in the heavenly realm, we will never see any changes anywhere in the world. As long as God's people persist in looking "unto the land," as revealed in Isaiah's prophecy, all they will see in the world around them, according to the anointed prophet of the Lord, will be "darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof."

We must first see into the realm of Spirit - we must first look at things unseen and behold our mighty King. Then, having seen in the Spirit the mighty work of our all-glorious King of kings and Lord of lords, Who reigns from His all-powerful, heavenly throne, we will then see wonderful changes taking place in the world all around us. Isaiah's experience is a perfect example of this truth for our understanding and edification. The spiritual growth Isaiah experienced when King Uzziah died is typical of what we also shall experience. When our earthly kings and rulers "die" in our consciousness, we will then see things as they really are in the Spirit, as Isaiah did. We will then see and know that our King reigns in victory to triumph over every enemy, and that His kingdom has come to earth in a greater way to begin to change things! To see anything less than this in this new Day is not to see our King at all, or to see Him dimly and veiled as we have in the past. Many of us now know that all is well in every area of His dominion!

Only as we look at things unseen, or at things in the Spirit, can we see our reigning King and Lord of all. Paul saw Him in the Spirit, and then described what he saw. "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, INVISIBLE, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen" (1 Tim. 1:17). Christ, the King, is eternal, immortal, and invisible. Therefore, we will never see Him seated somewhere on an earthly throne. The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom. So also must the King of that kingdom be a spiritual King. He is seen at the right hand of His Father in the heavenly realm of Spirit, where He reigns in power and glory over all things. Paul also described our King as "the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen" (1 Tim. 6:15).

When we see Him AS HE IS, we will also see Him as Paul saw Him. Christ is a spiritual King! He is seated at the right hand of His Father in the realm of the Spirit! And we are seated there with Him in the Spirit. He also is "the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords." When we see Him in the Spirit and by the Spirit, all other earthly kings and rulers will fade from view. Our spiritual King is now the "only Potentate." All other potentates are of inferior quality, lacking the wisdom, knowledge and understanding of the mind of Christ. They are all poor performers. While they promise the people peace, prosperity and a good life, they can deliver none of it. Only Christ, our King, can make promises and keep them. He is the only Potentate worthy of any one's trust, confidence and selection. While the majority of the people are voting for their carnal leaders, I cast my vote for my sovereign King; I regard Him as my only Potentate! He alone is my reigning King of kings and Lord of lords!

Christ, our King, alone has immortality. And because He is immortal, Christ is a King-Priest after the order of Melchisedec. He is the only one thus far who is immortal, and who has the kingdom authority granted Him by virtue of the order of Melchisedec. He also dwells in the light, even the spiritual light of the kingdom of God, to which no earthly man can approach. His light is the glorious light that shall dispel all the darkness in the world, and turn this long, dark night into endless Day. No earthly, natural, carnal person can ever approach unto the Light that He is. Such a natural, carnal, physical person cannot see Him as he is, for He is the eternal Spirit. Only those who are truly spiritual shall see Him as He is, to become what He is. They are the elect who are chosen of the Father to approach unto the Light that He is. And when they behold the Light that He is, they shall manifest Him as Light to the waiting, groaning, and travailing creation.

Examples are given in scripture to help us understand how and when the reign of Christ comes to the earth in a greater way. In one of his Psalms, David says that the wicked presume that God does not care about the abounding evil among mankind in the world. "He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it" (Ps. 10:11). But while the wicked assume that God has forgotten the evil, and hides Himself from it so He will never see it, David's prayer is, "Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble. Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand. Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness TILL THOU FIND NONE. The Lord is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of the land" (Ps. 10:12-16). The Lord is now seeking out the wickedness and the evil of man, and He will continue to do so until none of it shall be found anywhere.

If you want to know where we are in time as it relates to the plans and purposes of our God for His kingdom, ask the Lord to give you under-standing of this scripture. Then, with the enlightenment of the Spirit on that passage, look and see what is taking place now in our own government and nation. When Christ reigns in the earth, as He is doing now, He will break the arm of the wicked and the evil people. He will seek out the wickedness of man until He finds none, to confirm that He is "King for ever and ever." Is the Lord doing this today? Yes, He is! Is Christ our King seeking out the wickedness and the evil of people? Yes, He surely is! God is exposing every evil, wicked thing that people are doing, from our President to all the rest of mankind regardless of their social standing. Whether rich or poor, famous or unknown, all mankind are subject to the probing, revealing light of Christ, who is searching out all of man's wickedness (see Lu. 12:2). And our sovereign, reigning King of kings and Lord of lords will continue to seek out the wickedness of man until it can be said, with absolute and undeniable truth, "the heathen (the carnal, sinful, Adamic nature in mankind) are perished out of the land."  Amen!

David also said, "The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever. The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless his people with peace" (Ps. 29:10-11). According to some trans-lations, the flood mentioned in verse ten refers to the great flood of Noah's day. The Lord was King then, sitting upon the flood, control-ling its power and duration, and its effects, to fulfill His purposes. He was King then, and He also is King forever! By the authority of His eternal ministry as King-Priest after the order of Melchisedec, the Lord will give strength to His people, enabling them to make it through every test and trial. He also declared, "the Lord will bless his people with peace." And indeed He shall! The peace with which our King shall bless us will be His "shalom" peace, which is true peace, including safety, wellness, happiness, friendship, health and prosperity.

"O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the Lord most high is terrible (or, to be reverently feared and honored); he is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet" (Ps. 47:1-3). The Lord is a great King over all the earth. He reigns now in a greater way than He ever has before. When we realize this awesome truth, by a revelation from God, we will "shout unto God with the voice of triumph." The voice of triumph is a voice of shouts of gladness and joy, proclaiming the triumphant victory of Christ over all things. This is an expression of the attitude we will have when we understand that our God reigns, and that He shall put the heathen nations, as well as every enemy everywhere, under our feet. That victory has not yet been fully achieved - "now we see not yet all things put under Him. But we see Jesus." And in seeing Him, we see that He is well able to conquer every enemy, especially and including those within us, until He is ultimately and totally Lord of all.

"He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah" (vs. 4). Those who love and honor the Lord as their Head, Lord and King, will let Him choose their inheritance for them. In the realm of Father's kingdom, there is only one will: the will of God. There is not your will or my will; there is only the pure, holy, just, and righteous will of God. All who reign with Christ have submitted their own wills to Him, so that His is the only will to be expressed in the kingdom of God. We have cast our "crowns" before Him, thus indicating our total surrender to His will (Rev. 4:10-11). Father knows what our inheritance should be, and He is wisely preparing us for that inheritance, according to our calling in Him.

"God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness" (Ps. 47:5-8). That God is gone up with a shout and with the sound of a trumpet indicates that He has ascended to a higher place of power on His throne, and that He did it with a shout as of the sound of a trumpet. The original word translated "trumpet" suggests a horn that gives a clear sound. If we can hear in the Spirit, we will hear that clear, certain, prophetic trumpet sound, telling us that Christ has taken His seat of greater power and authority in the kingdom of God, to reign over all men and all nations. He has now become "the King of all the earth." Therefore, we are called to sing praises to Him "with understanding," or with the proper instruction, which gives us wisdom, knowledge and understanding. The throne realm of the kingdom of God is a joyous realm of complete faith and trust in God. It also is a realm occupied by those who have been instructed in the ways of the Lord, and who possess the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the mind of Christ.

The Psalmist also said of those who have spiritual eyes to see His present, kingdom work: "They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary" (Ps. 68:24). The "goings" of God are His movements, or His activities, in His holy temple. Those who have spiritual insight can see His activity in the realm of Spirit. They are not looking to the world to see what is going on in that realm of sin and death, but they are beholding Christ in the Spirit. He is marching around Zion with the heavenly hosts marching behind Him as if in a procession, accompanying Him in His present ministry as a King-Priest after the order of Melchisedec. And we are there with Him and in Him, by the Spirit. As the Lord walks around Zion, He is declaring His Headship, His Lordship, and His Kingship. He also is fulfilling His eternal purposes for the kingdom of God in all the earth, causing all in Zion's realm to rejoice and be glad because of His reign, and because His judgments are now in the earth.

That God is marching around Zion, causing great joy among all who minister to Him in that heavenly realm of Spirit, is confirmed by the Psalmist. "Let mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of Your righteous judgments! Walk about Zion, and go round about her, number her towers [her lofty and noble deeds of past days]; Consider well her ramparts, go through her palaces and citadels; that you may tell the next generation [and cease recalling disappointments]. For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even until death" (Ps. 48:11-12, Amplified). What a wonderful word for all the elect of the Lord! When we hear in the Spirit His anointed Word of truth going forth, and see the gladness and joy in Zion, we will indeed "cease recalling disappointments." Our focus now is no longer on the negative things of this world or in our lives, but on the glorious work of the Lord to bring judgment upon all unrighteousness, and establish the fullness of His kingdom in all the earth. Now we see the "lofty and noble deeds of past days," and the many experiences of God's power and glory, which increases our faith and keeps us growing in God. As we see those past glories and concentrate on each of yesterday's victories, we are empowered to take our seat in Christ at the right hand of our Father, causing the many disappointments of the past to fade from view.

And what is our God and our King doing? The Psalmist tells us He is "working salvation in the midst of the earth" (Ps. 74:12). No matter how bad we may think things are in the world around us, our God and our King is "working salvation in the midst of the earth." Do you suppose God must cease His mighty work of salvation in the earth because of all this spiritual darkness? Will man's darkness, unbelief and abounding sin and death discourage our God, and cause Him concern? Never! He is the sovereign God and Lord of all, and can never be subject to the effects of sin and death, no matter how bad we may think it is. And all the elect of the Lord have the same faith and positive view of things! God is "working salvation in the midst of the earth," not to see most of the people burn forever in some "hell," but to bring all mankind into the kingdom of God where they shall find His life, and find it to be that more abundant life (1 Co. 15:22, Jo. 10:10). The real truth is, ALL IS WELL in the world, because He reigns. Because the kingdom of God is constantly and continually increasing, the blessings of His kingdom will be more evident, not only in our own lives but also in the lives of all those around us.

God is raising up an elect people today, a people who dwell safely and securely in His house. In spite of the chaos and spiritual darkness in the world, and the continuing tests and trials in their lives, those elect are seen in the heavenlies constantly praising Him. Their strength in the Lord is increasing, as they go from strength to strength in Zion. The highway to Zion and to the kingdom of God is being established within them, causing them to walk out that new, kingdom pathway. When they pass through valleys of weeping, they turn those valleys into places of springs of living waters. They regularly appear before the Lord in Zion, or in heavenly places in the Spirit. They also know that "a day in thy courts is better than a thousand" days spent in this worldly realm of sin and darkness. They would "rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give (them) grace and glory: no good thing (including their transformation) will He withhold from them that walk uprightly."  (See Ps. 84:4-11.)

                                                             Paul and Emily Mueller

                                        P O BOX 25055, PORTLAND, OR 97298-0055

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