After Pentecost...

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There is no doubt in my mind that we in America are approaching chaos. I do not know the form such chaos will take, whether war, upheavals of nature, or sexual perversions and nakedness far worse than is true at present.

I believe one thing is certain—the current diet of grace, rapture, Heaven will not provide the spiritual maturity that would enable the believers to stand victoriously when all that has been familiar is at risk. Also, that Christ came to give us a happy life in our adamic nature will be seen as a whitewashed wall when disaster strikes America. Divine judgment hovers over us because of our sins.

(7/17/2011). All things of the creation are working together for good. This fact cannot be amended in any manner. God knew that spiritual darkness would fill the earth in our days. Therefore He has reserved the final, climactic work of redemption for the time in which we live.

I have spoken and written numerous times about the three great platforms of redemption. The first platform is that of initial salvation, the forgiveness of our sin. The second platform has to do with the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The third platform is the fullness of God, that Paul mentioned.

And to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19)

I know that some will say, "I have Christ and the Holy Spirit so I already am filled with all the fullness of God." Consider your own life. Are you satisfied with the amount of God you now have? If you are, I have no more to say to you.

The plan of redemption, as illustrated by the teachings of the Old Testament, show us that redemption is in three major acts: the blood of forgiveness; the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and finally the spiritual fulfilment of the Jewish feast of Tabernacles. The fulfilment of the feast of Tabernacles was announced by the Lord Jesus as follows:

Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." (John 14:23)

Now consider: just a few verses before, in the same chapter, Jesus had told us the Holy Spirit would be with us and in us forever. Now, in the 23rd verse, the Lord says that the Father and Jesus will come to us and make Their home with us. This means that we will be filled with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—forever. This is the fullness of God, of which the Apostle Paul spoke. Remember, Paul was praying for Christians who already were saved and filled with the Spirit.

I remember when I first heard someone teach that there was more for us after the baptism with the Holy Spirit. I received this good news with great joy, and I hope you do to. Truly, Jesus has kept the best wine until now! What can we expect as we begin to move from Pentecost to the spiritual fulfilment of Tabernacles?

First of all, the Lord Jesus will come to us in the Spirit and declare war against all that is in us that is not of the image of God: our love of the things of the world; the lusts of our flesh; and our desire to live independently of God, to pursue our own plans and ambitions.

Then we will go through a protracted season of dealing with our sins as they are revealed to us. We make a decision to withdraw from unnecessary involvement in the things of the world. We confess the lusts of our flesh and spirit as they are revealed to us, and pray that Christ will help us to resist them in the future.

Our greatest problem is that of surrendering our will to Christ. The Lord helps us do this by placing us in one or more prisons in which we cannot have what we desire so fervently without breaking God's laws. We are in the Lord's prison and cannot come forth, as one of the Prophets exclaimed.

We have to love not our life to the death if we are to attain to the fullness of God.

As I stated earlier, Divine judgment is hovering over America because of our sins. The only way in which we will be able to stand, and help others to stand, is to "die in the Lord." We simply must learn to live by the Life of Jesus, just as He lives by the Life of the Father.

I cannot emphasize this point too strongly: if we are to stand, we must be living by the Life of the Lord Jesus. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

If we are to stand in Christ throughout the days to come, we absolutely must live by the Life of Jesus. If we are to be filled with all the fullness of God, we absolutely must live by the Life of Jesus.

How do we go about learning to live by the Life of Jesus? I don't know about anyone else, but I keep in His Presence and Life by looking to Him all through the day. I keep talking to Him, asking Him about this and that, seeking His wisdom and help in all matters, great and small.

Also, I obey Him in everything. As soon as I know what He desires, then that is what I do. I am not bragging. I am giving to you the benefit of 65 years of mistakes and successes. If I can learn to live this way, you can too.

I am strongly impressed to persuade everyone I can to learn to live by the Life of Jesus. The standard of discipleship of numerous Americans is way below that which will be required in the near future. We have a brief season at this time during which God expects us to learn to live by the Life of Jesus.

When panic sets in, as we see terror and famine approaching, it may be too late for us to gain the quietness of spirit that is necessary if we are to walk in continual communion with Jesus.

I will tell you this as a certainty: if you are a casual Christian you are not going to be able to stand in the days ahead. But if you will give yourself to the Lord Jesus with a whole heart, you will save yourself, your loved ones, and all who will listen to you.

You will know you are experiencing the spiritual fulfilment of the Jewish feast of Tabernacles when your personal testimony is that of the twelfth chapter of the Book of Isaiah.

In that day you will say: "I will praise you, LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.

The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defence; he has become my salvation." With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: "Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you." (Isaiah 12:1-6)

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