From “Feast of Tabernacles,” Chapter 13- Tabernacles – The Feast of Restoration, continued
WHY THE REJOICING?
“And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.” (Ezra 3:11).
The present work of the Holy Spirit in re-establishing the Temple of God and its spiritual order of worship, has really just started. But we can thank God, nevertheless, that the pattern has been revealed, and that the foundation has been laid. Perhaps it is not too evident to some, because the building is just under construction. It is not our purpose to try to prove that the foundation of apostles and prophets has been relaid. Nor is it really the minister’s responsibility to prove any doctrine to anybody. His duty is to minister the Bread of Life to the hungry. If they can receive it, they will be nourished: if they cannot, then perhaps we could administer the sincere milk of the Word that they might grow thereby. According to every man’s ability to receive, and their stature in Christ–so may God enable us to minister the words of life. And let us realize that we are sent to feed Christ’s sheep, and nourish His people–and not to fill them with doctrines and theories which will not profit. These things, therefore, are written only for those who can receive them; and for none others.
We realize, therefore, that perhaps there are very, very few who can discern the foundation of the temple being relaid in this day. And of course it is most difficult to see a newly laid foundation, for it is usually almost obscured amidst the concrete forms and the supports and the heaps of broken stones and boards that cover the ground. But the Choir of Praise continues to exalt the Lord, and the saints continue to sing one to another in prophecy, because they can see that the foundation has been laid, and the temple is beginning to take shape.
“Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built (literally, are being built) upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” (Eph. 2:19, 20).
“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles (1 Cor. 12:28).
The time is at hand when God will vindicate who His ministers are, and what their place is in this new Temple. For these ministries are not by human-appointment, nor by self-appointment, but by Divine appointment. Until now perhaps there has not been any great need for recognized leadership. We have been in the wilderness; and you really do not need a guide until you start travelling through strange territory. But those days are about to end. We stand on the brink of Jordan, Before us lies a good land, a great land, a rich heritage in the Spirit. But it is strange territory, As of old, therefore, God is establishing ministries which shall lead the way across Jordan; and the people must be prepared to follow.
“And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host, and they commanded the people, saying, when ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.” (Josh. 3:2, 3). This is a new way. We have not passed this way heretofore. And with this new way, there shall arise new dangers, new problems, new perplexities. Such terrible days are ahead, and such deception shall be manifest by the adversary, that the saints must know who God’s ministers are that they might follow them into this good land. Said Paul, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1). GHW
In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus tells us, “15Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16“You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18“A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19” Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20“So then, you will know them by their fruits.”
One of the problems we have in discerning the false from the true is that we look at the fruit which is hanging from the tree (outward appearance) and fail to taste the fruit to see if it is truly firm, ripe fruit, sweet to the taste (inward reality).
Looks can be deceiving. Remember when Samuel went to Jesse’s house to anoint a new king to replace Saul, He at first looked on the outward appearance of Jesse’s sons, but hearing the Lord reject each one. “Have you another?” Samuel asked. “Yes, my youngest, but he is with the sheep.” “Go get him,” commanded Samuel. “We shall not sit and feast until he arrives.” And when David came, God told Samuel, “This is the one. Anoint him.”
Jesus continues in Matthew 7, “21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22” Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’”
Late Harvest Wesleyan Ministries 