Here is a word that we would like to share with you.


Let us Go on to Perfection
In the book of Rev chapters 1,2,3 we see that John was in the Spirit, (It was a picture of the Holy Place, and John saw the High Priest ministering in the Holy Place of the church. But in Revelation 4, once again he is "in the Spirit" in a Most Holy Place, as the Voice said unto him: "Come up hither". There is a still higher realm in the Spirit that he must see. . .and in seeing it, minister the same to those who are "companions in tribulation and in the kingdom and in the patience of Jesus".

The whole purpose of the ministry that God has set before us is to bring us into the Holy Place—and from there into the Most Holy Place. We have heard being taught that we are already in the Most Holy Place, because the veil has been torn asunder. Yes, the way is open for us to enter, but we are not in there just because the veil has been torn apart:  "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having a High Priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water"
(Heb. 10:19-22).

In 2011,The door will be open for us to enter! But we are not there just because the door is open. Rather, He is biding  us to draw near, with a true heart, and in full assurance of faith. The reason we draw back must be because the veil is now over our eyes, so that we do not see Him in His glory. Do you remember reading about, When Moses came down from the mount, having been in the presence of the Shekinah glory for 40 days—his face radiated that glory to the people in the camp. They were afraid to come near him at first, but he beckoned to them and they drew near, and he gave them the words that God had given him. But as the Glory began to fade away, Moses put a veil over his face, until he went in to speak to the Lord again. The apostle Paul interprets this as meaning that the veil on Moses’ face really signified that the veil was on the hearts of the people, for he said: "When Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart, nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away". The veil on Moses’ face was really a veil over their hearts and minds when he talked to them. But when he went in to speak to the Lord, he took the veil away (see 2 Cor. 3:14-18; Ex. 34:33, 34). The type is very clear: the veil into the Most Holy Place has been torn asunder. But as it was with Israel, the veil is upon our hearts if we are not abiding in His Presence. But when we turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. We need to ponder this. . .and seek the Lord very earnestly for the eyesalve of His Spirit, that we might  move beyond the veil, and be transfigured by the glory of His face.

So here we are in the Holy Place. There is light from the lamp stand, holy bread from the table of showbread, and incense that we offer at the golden altar of incense. We have all the gifts and ministrations of the Spirit. But somehow there is not that faith, that confidence, that assurance that there is something more; because the thought is—we have all the gifts of the Spirit, what more do we need? But the word is very clear: the gifts and ministries that God has placed in the body, are for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,—Till.. . .we come to something higher. Ministry is not the ultimate end—it is rather intended to prepare us, nurture us, teach us, strengthen us, edify us "till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ". And the apostle continues to expound on this, showing us that the ultimate end of ministry is to lead the people of God into perfect love (see Eph. 4:11-16).

We have had some very powerful ministrations of gifts and ministries throughout church history—but rarely have God’s people gone beyond the Holy Place of ministry, and into the Most Holy Place of constant and abiding union with Him who is enthroned upon the mercy seat. God forbid we should in any way minimize the effectual functioning of true ministry in the body of Christ. But I know the springs of blessing are drying up, and many of God’s people are feeling the famine—with much church attendance, and much religious activity—but not too much of that mighty Presence of God in our midst. We need to be encouraged! God is more concerned about it than we are. And He is going to give more grace (perhaps in the midst of more suffering and tribulation)—to move His people forward into the Most Holy Place of His Shekinah glory and presence.

We must not think we can trust in the knowledge we have of the Kingdom of God. . .nor consider we are closer to the Kingdom because of that knowledge. For if our knowledge of the Kingdom does not produce the fear of God in our hearts, and lead to repentance, to poverty of spirit, to meekness, and to humility—we are still far from the Kingdom—because these virtues are the very essence of the Kingdom of God. We are solemnly reminded of what Paul said of the children of Israel: that most of those who crossed the Red Sea, and ate of the bread from Heaven, and drank of the water out of the rock—and came to the very door of Canaan—their hearts were hardened, and they did not enter the Land, including most of those who had searched it out. And they died in the wilderness.

The Psalmist also gives a solemn warning to those who know how to praise God, and those who know how to worship God—but have no intention of going any further:  "O come, let us sing unto the LORD: Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation". (see vs. 1-5).

Then we come to worship— "O come, let us worship and bow dow n: Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker". (see vs. 6-7).

All this is good, commendable, and the Lord delights in the praises of His people, and in true worship. But then he gives this solemn word of counsel:  "Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the  provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: when your  fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My work. . ." (vs. 7-11).

Much as He may delight in the praise and worship of His people—there is much more. He is looking for the right heart, the tender heart, a heart that does not get offended at God, nor does it test Him and try Him. He looks for the heart that is fashioned after the heart of God, because He is looking for a Habitation for Himself.