MINISTRY MEETING IN PLAINFIELD - 1
G.D.Pfingst
I suppose the writer here is the same as the writer of John's gospel; he is given great things to see and to understand. Our brother who spoke earlier said the disciples did not understand everything; we will never understand everything, God knows everything. The hymn at the beginning impressed me, 'Thou art, O Lord, the centre of that vast world of bliss, where nought of sin can enter, where joy eternal is;' (hymn 259). I suppose that is hard to conceive, a place where no sin can enter and where there is uninterrupted joy. "The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit", Rom 14: 17, and one thing it says about the kingdom of God is that it is not in word only, but in power (1 Cor 4: 20). We know this section is future; it is a picture, I think, a little of the present time. We are praying about the authorities, "the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ". We are thankful for the authorities and they are ordained of God, that is fine, but at the same time there is weakness, tremendous weakness in authority, a lack of power. Here it says, a great voice, and it has salvation and power - pretty fine I would say, just to anticipate these things and have something of the good of them in our heart. It is difficult for me to enter upon these things, I am so used to what is changing, what is subject to change, what is weakening all around. We mentioned last night in prayer the deterioration in government. Why is it? Well, it is a wonderful thing here that these persons have overcome him, the enemy, by reason of the blood of the Lamb, and by reason of the word of their testimony. I wish I could put myself in that, "by reason of the blood of the Lamb, and by reason of the word of their testimony". It is fine to have that power in the word and to think of the precious blood of Jesus as a Lamb without spot or blemish. It does not talk about nuclear wars and all those kinds of things, and these kinds of weapons that are being built up and used in various ways to intimidate persons and governments.
In any case this is the time of victory, they have overcome the enemy. "Therefore be full of delight, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them". It is quite a thing even at the present time with these forebodings of what is soon to come in and which we see every day around us. You think of that image in Daniel, a mighty thing and Nebuchadnezzar the head of gold, and then it comes down to the iron and the clay. Well, I think anybody with eyes who wants to see, can see it is the iron and the clay at the present time and they will not mix. Men can do what they like to, amalgamate all these different factions, and they talk about living together in a beautiful way. It never works until that stone not cut out with hands comes in and destroys the whole thing and sets up a kingdom that cannot be destroyed. It is wonderful to take account of that kingdom. Our brother spoke about behaviour in the kingdom, a kingdom that cannot be destroyed. I think that is fine to have that in our hearts now at the present time. The kingdom of God is amongst you and the Spirit here. We have been speaking about making more room for the Spirit, I am sure that is what we have to experience in our own individual histories, that these things while future have a present application, that is just my point and I hope, therefore, we will be encouraged, because it is full of delight. We have been speaking about fullness, ''full of delight, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them." Of course we are not in heaven yet but we are talking about heavenly people, a heavenly company and they are full of delight. Think of being full of delight to see this victory that overcomes" and they have overcome him by reason of the blood of the Lamb, and by reason of the word of their testimony". How wonderful to think of this kingdom that is being established that cannot be destroyed. I think that is a fine thought to hold to and look forward to. The time will come, the time at the end when He delivers up the kingdom that God may be all in all. I think it is the kingdom and the kingdom conditions that bring about order, and that is all based on this wonderful power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. We see how things are decaying in the world around us, and the lack of moral power. Well, there is no lack here, ''the authority of His Christ". As we have been saying, it is sad to see that brethren are scattered and divided and not able to work together, it is a sorrowful kind of condition, but you just hold fast to what the Lord is able to do and bring about in His own time. In the meantime by the Spirit we can have some anticipation of these wonderful conditions which are soon to be introduced because of the faithfulness of these overcomers. May we be faithful too at the present time. For His Name's sake.
PLAINFIELD
7 April 1995