Buy Gold

“I counsel you to buy of Me gold tried in the fire….” Revelation 3:18

This “counsel” is given by Jesus to the Laodicean Church, who said that they were “rich and increased in goods” (Revelation 3:17). Their emphasis was on the external blessing and provision of the Lord, rather than upon their being changed “within.”


This “gold” that is to be refined in fire, is the “divine nature” of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is our lives purified - with all the dross and sediments removed in the “refiners fire” so that His life might be revealed through our lives – our being transparent in His presence, as a “sea of glass.”

“And before the throne there was a sea of glass like to crystal.” Revelation 4:6

Another purpose in our being “tried in the fire” is to prepare us to be a container of “His glory.”

“Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon you. And the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” Isaiah 60:1-3

Jesus ascended in glory, and He is increasingly releasing and imparting that glory, in these last days.


“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” II Corinthians 3:18


This “open face” is the result of the “veil” having been “rent” when Jesus died on the cross, so we can again enter into the manifest presence of the Lord. The reason why we behold “as in a glass” the glory of the Lord is that this “glass” acts as a “shield” which allows us to experience as much glory as we can handle. As our capacity increases, the level of glory that we experience will also increase.


The Apostle Paul was on his way to persecute the Church when the Lord suddenly appeared in such glory that he fell from his horse and was blinded. The manifestation of glory was so great, that he had to be prayed for to restore his sight. Much of what Paul said of his “pressing toward the mark” was that he never forgot the manifestation of glory that he experienced, and he contended to again experience this level of glory.


One of the many “facets” of the glory of the Lord is that it has an effect which is like our looking into a “mirror.” When the glory appears, we see the reflection of ourselves as we presently are, in contrast to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. We see how far we are from what we should be. We need to experience the glory, not because we have prayed enough or that we have done all the right things, but rather so we can truly repent.

What's Happening

Eph 4:16 (wnt) "For it is under His direction that the whole body is perfectly
adjusted and united by every joint that furnishes its supplies; and by the

proper functioning of each particular part there is brought about the

growing of the body for its building up in love."

As we grow spiritually, the Lord may use us in some special way or ministry.
When this happens, we tend to place an emphasis upon this particular aspect of
our experience, and neglect other areas of our spiritual growth. This may cause
us loss, as it is necessary that “each particular part” of our spiritual experience
furnishes its supply, so we will be balanced in our spiritual growth.


On the surface, these different areas of our spiritual experience may appear to
be contrary to each other. Each of us is called to some aspect of ministry, or
witness. We are also called to a life of devotion and prayer in which we come
apart to be alone with the Lord, and to wait upon Him. Along with these two
aspects of our spiritual development, our Adamic nature is to go through a
process of crucifixion and die, that we might experience resurrection life.

Present Truth

Today also, there are those within the Church who have fully committed the totality of their being to the Lord, and are being called apart to receive a fresh word from the Lord.  This speaks of the absolute necessity of our receiving a “present word” concerning preparation (our being an end-time corporate John the Baptist), to become a witness of the Lord’s manifest presence in these last days.  Therefore, we must make the right choices to bring this witness into its full expression, first within and then through us.

 This religious system, which the Lord by-passed, had experienced the glory of God and had received much by direct revelation from the Lord.  However, they became dependent upon past experiences for their present standing with the Lord.  The fact that the Lord had moved through them in the past was not enough to equip them for the present need.  They were incapable of hearing a present word concerning the soon to appear “Lamb of God.”

 During this present time, there are those who are being called apart concerning the soon to appear “Lion of the tribe of Judah.”  Therefore, there must be within each of us a present seeking of the Lord, even though we may have received much revelation from Him.  Yesterday’s revelation is not enough to prepare us to face today’s problems and pressures.

The Greater Work

The "One lit match will make some light,
but multiplied thousands of matches together
will make a brilliant light. Though each one of
us is insignificant within ourselves, there is a greater work,
because now all that Jesus did during His time on earth
will again be done corporately, through a people who
satan thought he had defeated, but now have become
the present day expression of the life of Jesus.
"Greater work" then, is the corporate expression of His
 will being done. Jesus, "the light of the world," will
increasingly light the entire atmosphere of the world as
His resurrection glory begins to shine out through the corporate Body of Christ.

Consecration

Revelation is the first step to holiness, and consecration is the second. A day must come in our lives, as definite as the day of our conversion, when we give up all right to ourselves and submit to the absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ. Consecration will not silence the accusing monitor; its voice must be followed; that and nothing else can ever please God. Conscience simply demands our obedience; it does not require us to serve God in any spectacular way. Only an unconditional and unrestricted acceptance of the reproach of conscience with a corresponding willingness to do what is revealed can show how perfect is our consecration, how truly we hate sin how sincerely we desire to do God's will. A forgiven sinner is quite different from an ordinary sinner, and a consecrated Christian is quite  different from an ordinary Christian.