Learn Not the Way of the Heathen

I say this humbly and gently: I am so grateful to the Lord that my family and I are free from the 'spirit' of Christmas (and other Roman Catholic liturgical seasons and days). Freedom is available, brothers and sisters. To learn something of our heart and journey on this, you can read, Every Plant Which My Heavenly Father Did Not Plant Shall Be Uprooted, that I posted last year.

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain. Gal 4:9-10

The Christmas season is, without a doubt, one of the world's biggest 'cash cows'. As Christmas looms large again this year, I want to share with you a word from A.W. Pink. Arthur Pink (1886-1952) was a faithful Biblical scholar, in the Puritan tradition. Over the years, I have received comfort and encouragement, particularly from his 1947 work, The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross.

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Christmas

by A.W. Pink

Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen ... for the CUSTOMS of the people are vain. Jer 10:1-3

Christmas is coming! Quite so; but what is "Christmas?" Does not the very term itself denote its source – "Christ-mass." Thus it is of Romish origin, brought over from paganism. But, says someone, Christmas is the time when we commemorate the Saviour's birth. It is? And who authorised such commemoration? Certainly God did not. The Redeemer bade His disciples "remember" Him in His death, but there is not a word in Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, which tells us to celebrate His birth. Moreover, who knows when, in what month, He was born? The Bible is silent thereon. Is it without reason that the only "birthday" commemorations mentioned in God's Word are Pharaoh's (Gen 40:20) and Herod's (Matt 14:6)? Is this recorded for our "learning?" If so, have we prayerfully taken it to heart?

And who is it that celebrates "Christmas?" The whole "civilized world." Millions who make no profession of faith in the blood of the Lamb, who "despise and reject Him," and millions more who while claiming to be His followers yet in works deny Him, join in merrymaking under the pretense of honoring the birth of the Lord Jesus. Putting it on its lowest ground, we would ask, Is it fitting that His friends should unite with His enemies in a worldly round of fleshly gratification? Does any truly born-again soul really think that He whom the world cast out is either pleased or glorified by such participation in the world's joys? Verily, the customs of the people are vain; and it is written, "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil" (Ex 23:2).

Some will argue for the "keeping of Christmas" on the ground of "giving the kiddies a good time." But why do this under the cloak of honouring the Saviour's birth? Why is it necessary to drag in His holy name in connection with what takes place at that season of carnal jollification? Is this taking the little ones with you out of Egypt (Ex 10:9,10) a type of the world, or is it not plainly a mingling with the present-day Egyptians in their "pleasures of sin for a season?" (Heb 11:25). Scripture says, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Prov 22:6). Scripture does command God's people to bring up their children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Eph 6:4), but where does it stipulate that it is our duty to give the little ones a "good time?" Do we ever give the children "a good time" when we engage in anything upon which we cannot fittingly ask the Lord's blessing?

There are those who do abstain from some of the grosser carnalities of the "festive season," yet are they nevertheless in cruel to the prevailing custom of "Christmas" namely that of exchanging "gifts." We say "exchanging" for that is what it really amounts to in many cases. A list is kept, either on paper or in memory, of those from whom gifts were received last year, and that for the purpose of returning the compliment this year. Nor is this all: great care has to be taken that the "gift" made to the friend is worth as much in dollars and cents as the one they expect to receive from him or her. Thus, with many who can ill afford it, a considerable sum has to be set aside each year with which to purchase things simply to send them out in return for others which are likely to be received. Thus a burden has been bound on them which not a few find hard to bear.

But what are we to do? If we fail to send out "gifts" our friends will think hard of us, probably deem us stingy and miserly. The honest course is to go to the trouble of notifying them – by letter if at a distance – that from now on you do not propose to send out any more "Christmas gifts" as such. Give your reasons. State plainly that you have been brought to see that "Christmas merry-making" is entirely a thing of the world, devoid of any Scripture warrant; that it is a Romish institution, and that now you see this, you dare no longer have any fellowship with it (Eph 5:11); that you are the Lord's "free man" (1 Cor 7:22), and therefore you refuse to be in to a costly custom imposed by the world.

What about sending out "Christmas cards" with a text of Scripture on them? That also is an abomination in the sight of God. Why? Because His Word expressly forbids all unholy mixtures; Deut 22:10,11 typified this. What do we mean by an "unholy mixture?" This: the linking together of the pure Word of God with Romish "Christ-mass." By all means send cards, preferably at some other time of the year, to your ungodly friends, and [at] Christmas too, with a verse of Scripture, but not with "Christmas" on it. What would you think of a printed program of a vaudeville having Isaiah 53:5 at the foot of it? Why, that it was altogether out of place, highly incongruous. But in the sight of God the circus and the theatre are far less obnoxious than the "Christmas celebration" of Romish and Protestant "churches." Why? Because the latter are done under the cover of the Holy name of Christ; the former are not. 

"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." (Prov 4:18). Where there is a heart that really desires to please the Lord, He graciously grants increasing knowledge of His will. If He is pleased to use these lines in the opening of the eyes of some of His dear people to recognise what is a growing evil, and to show them that they have been dishonouring Christ by linking the name of the Man of Sorrows (and such He was, when on earth) with a "Merry Christmas," then join the writer in a repentant confessing of this sin to God, seeking His grace for complete deliverance from it, and praise Him for the light which He has granted you concerning it.

Beloved fellow-Christian, "The coming of the Lord draweth nigh" (Jam 5:8). Do we really believe this? Believe it not because the Papacy is regaining its lost temporal power, but because God says so – "for we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor 5:7). If so, what effects does such believing have on our walk? This may be your last Christmas on earth. During it the Lord may descend from heaven with a shout to gather His own to Himself. Would you like to be summoned from a "Christmas party" to meet Him in the air? The call for the moment is, "Go ye out to meet Him" (Matt 25:6) out from a Godless Christendom, out from the Christ-deserted "churches," out from the horrible burlesque of "religion" which now masquerades under His name.

"For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (2 Cor 5:10). How solemn and searching! The Lord Jesus declared that "every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement" (Matt 12:36). If every "idle word" is going to be taken note of, then most assuredly will be every wasted energy, every wasted dollar, every wasted hour! Should we still be on earth when the closing days of this year arrive, let writer and reader earnestly seek grace to live and act with the judgement-seat of Christ before us. His "well done" will be ample compensation for the sneers and taunts which we may now receive from countless souls.

Does any Christian reader imagine for a moment that when he or she shall stand before their holy Lord, that they will regret having lived "too strictly" on earth? Is there the slightest danger of His reproving any of His own because they were "too extreme" in abstaining from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (1 Pet 2:11)? We may gain the good will and good word of worldly religionists today by our compromising on "little (?) points," but shall we receive His smile of approval on that Day? Oh to be more concerned about what He thinks, and less concerned about what perishing mortals think.

"Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil" (Ex 13:22). Ah, it is an easy thing to float with the tide of popular opinion; but it takes much grace, diligently sought from God, to swim against it. Yet this is what the heir of heaven is called on to do: to "Be not conformed to this world" (Rom 12:2), to deny self, take up the cross, and follow a rejected Christ. How sorely does both writer and reader need to heed that word of the Saviour, "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thou crown" (Rev 3:11). Oh that each of us may be able to truthfully say, "I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep Thy Word" (Ps 119:101).

Our final word is to the pastors. To you the Word of the Lord is, "Be thou an example of believers in word, in deportment, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Tim 4:12). Is it not true that most corrupt "churches" you know of, where almost every fundamental of the faith is denied, will have their "Christmas celebrations?" Will you imitate them? Are you consistent to protest against unscriptural methods of "raising money," and then to sanction unscriptural "Christmas services?" Seek grace to firmly but lovingly set God's Truth on this subject before your people, and announce that you can have no part in following Pagan, Romish, and Worldly customs.

Source: www.apuritansmind.com/puritan-worship/christmas-and-the-regulative-principle/christmas-by-a-w-pink

Related writing:
Every Plant Which My Heavenly Father Did Not Plant Shall Be Uprooted

They Desire a Better Country

There is a remnant, within the Body of Christ, enraptured by the vision of a heavenly kingdom. With eyes of faith, these scattered pilgrims see and desire a heavenly homeland. The vision has captured their hearts. They see this heavenly kingdom, even though it is invisible. To the faithful remnant, this heavenly country is infinitely more desirable and real than all the visible splendour of the kingdoms of this world.

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. Heb 11:13-14

When we catch a glimpse of our heavenly homeland, we are enraptured by the vision. The vision is so tangible and so pure. Our heart’s cry is that it will soon be manifest on the earth! “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” This vision of the heavenly kingdom, and the earnest desire for Christ to return and establish it, is an identifying mark of the faithful remnant. These faithful ones will not lose their reward. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt 5:5).

… they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city. Heb 11:16

For the disciple of Christ, this heavenly vision is worthy of our exclusive desire and affection. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness…” (Matt 6:33). It is a grave fall from grace for a bondservant of Christ to lose his kingdom vision and desire. The kingdom vision is exclusive. Truly, we cannot be enamoured with the world and its splendour and, at the same time, possess a true vision of the heavenly kingdom.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. 1 John 2:15-17

Our church gatherings are to provide us with a foretaste of the heavenly country. “Ye have come unto Mount Zion and unto the city of our God, the heavenly Jerusalem…” (Heb 12:22). Our holy church communities are heavenly outposts, commissioned to occupy the earth until our King returns. These outposts are to offer a foretaste of the heavenly kingdom soon to be established on the earth.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession … I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 1 Pet 2:9,11

Inasmuch as modern church meetings have become worldly affairs, they have crowded out this heavenly vision and replaced it with an earthly one. They have taken men’s eyes off the prize. The prize is not worldly success and soulish indulgence and the praise of men – the prize is the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, attained through fellowship in Christ’s sufferings. (Phil 3:10-14). The prize is not about being honoured by men in this age – it is about receiving honour from Christ in the age to come.

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36

The remnant Bride is being prepared for our Lord and will soon be taken from His Body. In the same way that Adam’s wife was taken and formed from his side, as he slept, so also the remnant Bride will be taken from the Body of Christ. In the same way that Woman was given to Man to be a help-meet in stewarding the garden of Eden, so also a beautiful Bride will be presented to our Lord Jesus Christ to reign with Him in His millennial kingdom on the earth. As surely as the five virgins, in Christ’s parable, were chosen from the sleeping company, so also a Bride will be chosen from within the Body of Christ.

This chosen, virgin company will be those who have not been distracted from looking for and hastening the return of Christ, who have remained chaste and pure in a world clamouring for men's affections, and who are clothed with love and good works.

Because you have kept My word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. Rev 3:10-11

The Bride of Christ is marked by her unswerving desire to prepare and be found without spot or blemish at the appearing of the Bridegroom. The Bride of Christ is the gathered company of overcomers called forth in the letters to the churches (Rev 2-3). The Bride of Christ is the glorious, firstfruits company that appears with the Lamb on Mount Zion (Rev 14:1-5). 

Brothers and sisters, the night is far spent, the day is at hand. Where are you looking? Where is your heart? Even now, many of God’s people are drunk with the cares of this life and have turned back to the weak and beggarly elements of this world and its obsession with days and times and seasons and years. They have become children of sight and not of faith. They have slid back into a life of serving the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life. There are many who name Christ and are travelling on the broad path that leads to destruction. Having treated their inheritance lightly, they are not prepared for the appearing of their Lord. They are not eagerly awaiting their Saviour. Having lost sight of the kingdom, the return of the King will be to them like a thief in the night.

For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ… Phil 3:18-20

The kingdoms of this world will very soon become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. Are you ready for that glorious day? Are you consumed with the vision of the soon-to-be manifested kingdom of Christ? “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved…” (Heb 12:28). Those whom the Lord loves, He reproves and disciplines. If you have left the sure path and lost your heavenly vision, be zealous and repent. 

Brothers and sisters, let us be those who see and yearn for the heavenly country and of whom God is not ashamed. Do not lose heart. Do not grow weary in well doing. The vision is true – though it tarry, wait for it. There is a city – prepared by God Himself – for the strangers and exiles on the earth; for those who seek and desire the better country.

He Has Made Me a Father to Pharaoh

Brothers and sisters, what I have been posting in the Call to Discipleship series is meat for the mature (Heb 5:14). Man doesn’t live by bread alone. We need spiritual meat. Young lions roar after their prey; they lack and suffer hunger. Likewise the people of God hunger for spiritual meat. Lord have mercy on your heritage and satisfy our mouths with good things. The eyes of all wait upon you … who faithfully gives meat in due season (Ps 145:15). Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled (Matt 5:6).

The heart of God is that his people – the body of Christ – come into “mature manhood” (Eph 4:13). Mature fruit is the goal of every farmer. And while the farmer is patient for his harvest, fruit-bearing maturity remains his steadfast goal. “First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear” (Mk 4:28). Jesus' cursing of a promising yet empty fig tree is a confronting reminder of the enduring goal of fruit-bearing maturity. Being hungry and finding only leaves, Jesus pronounced: “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once (Matt 21:19). Perhaps even more confronting than the cursing of the fig tree was the parable Jesus told about the barren fig tree for whom the vinedresser intercedes.

And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit, on this fig tree and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it shall bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.' Luke 13:7-9

Maturity and fruit that accompanies repentance is the heart of God for His people. “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove that you are my disciples” (Jn 15:8). Jesus' precious blood was spilt for nothing less. “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies...” (Jn 12:24). Our heart must be entwined with the Father's heart, in this goal. To come into fruit-bearing maturity, we need solid food. We need the word of righteousness; the full counsel of God. We need fatherly love and discipline. We need, as it were, to be dug around and manured.

Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children... Eph 4:13-14

In the first of his pastoral epistles, John gives us a key to understanding growth and maturity in Christ. I pray that as we receive greater understanding, it inspires greater desire on our part. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...” The key is in whom John addresses his letter. John identifies and addresses little children, young men, and fathers. These are not natural designations related to age, but designations of spiritual maturity.

I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because you have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 1 John 2:12-14

“I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven...” (vs. 12). Sins forgiven is foundational truth. It is the pure milk of the Word – assurance of salvation by grace, through faith, irrespective of kingdom rewards. Little children are familiar with milk and for a time it satisfies. But we don't stay as little children and milk alone will not always satisfy. There comes a time when we must put away childish things, as it were, and become men (1 Cor 13:11). “Everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant” (Heb 5:13). There is a maturing that we should desire and this only happens as we embrace the full counsel of God – the meat of the Word. While sins forgiven is foundational truth, to live in defeat and to accept sin in our lives is to stay as a child, spiritually speaking. What I am talking about here is meat; the word of righteousness. While it is right and proper to cherish the forgiveness we receive for his name’s sake, to accept sin and worldliness in our lives is to treat lightly our ruling and reigning birthright. It is to risk forfeiting the kingdom inheritance promised to overcomers. What I am talking about here is solid food for the mature.

That no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright... Heb 12:16

John continues with the words, “I write to you young men because you have overcome the evil one” (vs. 12). John identifies those who have embraced the word of God (vs. 14) and overcome sin in their lives as young men. As we willingly yield to the grace of God and yoke ourselves with Christ, we mature into young men spiritually. It is the path of sonship. We willingly submit ourselves to the teaching about the crucified life as regards the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life and we become vessels of honour, “set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work” (2 Tim 2:21). We embrace the word of righteousness and we become profitable servants. This path of discipleship has nothing to do with worldly success or the applause of men. Indeed the crucified life and the word of righteousness is rejected even by many who profess Christ. To walk the path of an overcomer is to be misunderstood and excluded even by our own brethren, many of whom prefer to be infants and enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matt 7:14

John also identifies fathers within the church. “I write to you fathers because you have known him who is from the beginning” (vs. 12). He declares fathers to be those who know the Ancient of Days. These disciples have come to know “him who is from the beginning.” John repeats this description of intimacy – word-for-word – in verse 14. Scripture is God-breathed – note carefully that which is repeated verbatim. Fathers are mature sons who have been invited into friendship with Yahweh, as a reward for their chaste conversation coupled with fear. He is a rewarder after all (Heb 11:6). Like Joseph who endured the vindictive wrath of Potiphar’s wife, fathers are those who have fallen foul of the world and its prince, having rejected the many allures and advances. Therefore their boast is not in anything of worldly value or what men esteem highly. Their boast is only that they understand and know the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, judgement and righteousness in the earth (Jer 29:4). They know the heart of Almighty God; they’re after his heart. The love of the world is not in them. Such are fathers. They are sons who have matured into fatherhood. Every father is firstly a son. Not every son, however, has matured into fatherhood.

Of John's three spiritual designations, I want to focus on fathers. True fathers in the faith are rare. They are hidden and few and far between. Unlike career sermonisers, fathers are a very rare, hidden company. Even if we were to come across a father in the faith, quite likely we would overlook them. Their humility and meekness and their acceptance that their hiddenness is God-ordained, means they will not spruik themselves. They have learnt to live contentedly by a drying brook and wait patiently for their God.

For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; and labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 1 Cor 4:9-13

Elisha rightly identified his teacher, Elijah, to be a father. “My father, my father,” he exclaimed as Elijah was taken to Heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:12). Indeed Elijah was a father of Israel despite being reviled, persecuted and defamed. He lived during the reign of Ahab and Jezebel, a period of national apostasy where beauty, comfort, and sensuality were valued over truth and holiness. Elijah's consecration to Yahweh and his separation from his people's idolatry cost him everything of worldly value. Likewise Joseph did not become “a father to Pharaoh” (Gen 45:8) without first suffering the loss of all things for the sake of truth and holiness.

Fathers are those who have laid down their lives to obtain pure gold. They have purchased, from Christ Himself, gold “refined as through fire.” (Rev 3:18). And they freely give what has cost them their lives to obtain. “Buy the truth, and sell it not…” (Prov 23:23). For all the talk of sonship, the church of the living God needs fathers. If we are to see a generation of sons birthed in the church – the formation of a mature man – we need fathers who will do the hard work of raising up young men from little children. Paul was a father; a true apostle who followed the example of Christ and laid down his life. Paul suffered the loss of all things to win Christ and to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings (Phil 3:10) ... and then he freely invested all he obtained into those who would be sons. He did the hard things and the thankless things and brought fatherly love and discipline to the church of God. He laboured to see Christ formed in them.

… for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 2 Cor 12:14

Where are the fathers today whom the church so desperately needs? These men to whom the world has been crucified, and they to the world. Men who have gold obtained only through fire and who have been so weakened that they are now useful in the Master's hand? Men who rule with righteousness and judge with equity and who will judge angels in the age to come (1 Cor 6:3). We will not come into maturity without them. Impressive, worldly churches can be produced by clever business minds and trendy marketeers. The pure Bride of Christ, however, can only be brought forth by fathers. Listen to how a father speaks...

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 2 Cor 11:2

Where do we place value? Are we, like the Corinthians of Paul's day, enamoured with the ‘super apostles’ while completely undervaluing the rare, lay-down-your-life fathers? We don't need another top billed conference as much as we need corporate purity and true fathers to lead us. With corporate purity comes other-worldly power and authority and fathers can lead us in this. A desperately hurting world awaits deliverance from harvest labourers – not in love with the world – but rather crucified to it. Fathers can lead us in this. When we're truly desperate for cleansing from the world and its idolatry, the fathers will come forth. When we're truly over slavery to sin and the fleshpots of Egypt, the fathers will lead us into freedom. When we're truly ready for manhood, the fathers will share their pearls. It is not for the children to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. It is for the children to desire and hunger. It is for the parents to provide. In Elijah's day, there were few humble enough to receive what he had laid up by way of treasure and inheritance. It was the same story in Elisha's day. Jesus called it for what it was: “A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house” (Mk 6:4).

Brothers and sisters, we desperately need a discipleship culture in the church of God. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...” (Matt 28:19). A discipleship culture is synonymous with a sonship culture. To be a son is to understand discipline. To willingly endure discipline is to understand that God is treating us as sons. “For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons” (Heb 12:7-8). When we realise our need and are humble enough to receive such discipline, the Lord Himself will send us fathers as I have described. And they will labour with us until we reach fruit-bearing maturity and Christ be formed in us and we again take our place in the world as a peculiar, holy, and powerful people.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 1 Pet 2:9

Valiant for Truth

"Then they went on; and just at the place where Little-Faith formerly was robbed, there stood a man with his sword drawn, and his face all over with blood. 

Then said Mr. Great-Heart, 'Who art thou?'

The man made answer, saying, 'I am one whose name is Valiant-for-truth. I am a pilgrim, and am going to the Celestial City. Now, as I was in my way, there were three men that did beset me, and propounded unto me these three things: 1. Whether I would become one of them; 2. Or go back from whence I came; 3. Or die upon the place. (Prov. 1:11-14). To the first I answered, I had been a true man for a long season, and therefore it could not be expected that I should now cast in my lot with thieves. Then they demanded what I would say to the second. So I told them that the place from whence I came, had I not found incommodity there, I had not forsaken it at all; but finding it altogether unsuitable to me, and very unprofitable for me, I forsook it for this way. Then they asked me what I said to the third. And I told them my life cost far more dear than that I should lightly give it away. Besides, you have nothing to do thus to put things to my choice; wherefore at your peril be it if you meddle. Then these three, to wit, Wild-head, Inconsiderate, and Pragmatic, drew upon me, and I also drew upon them. So we fell to it, one against three, for the space of above three hours. They have left upon me, as you see, some of the marks of their valor, and have also carried away with them some of mine. They are but just now gone; I suppose they might, as the saying is, hear your horse dash, and so they betook themselves to flight.'

Mr. Great-Heart: 'But here was great odds, three against one.'

Valiant-for-Truth: 'Tis true; but little and more are nothing to him that has the truth on his side: "Though an host should encamp against me," said one, "my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident" (Ps 27:3). Besides, said he, I have read in some records, that one man has fought an army: and how many did Samson slay with the jawbone of an ass!'

Mr. Great-Heart: 'Why did you not cry out, that some might have come in for your succour?'

Valiant-for-Truth: 'So I did to my King, who I knew could hear me, and afford invisible help, and that was sufficient for me.'

Then said Great-Heart to Mr. Valiant-for-truth, 'Thou hast worthily behaved thyself; let me see thy sword.' So he showed it him. When he had taken it in his hand, and looked thereon awhile, he said, 'Ha, it is a right Jerusalem blade.'

Valiant-for-Truth: 'It is so. Let a man have one of these blades, with a hand to wield it, and skill to use it, and he may venture upon an angel with it. He need not fear its holding, if he can but tell how to lay on. Its edge will never blunt. It will cut flesh and bones, and soul, and spirit, and all.' (Heb. 4:12).

Mr. Great-Heart: 'But you fought a great while; I wonder you was not weary.'

Valiant-for-Truth: 'I fought till my sword did cleave to my hand; and then they were joined together as if a sword grew out of my arm; and when the blood ran through my fingers, then I fought with most courage.'

Mr. Great-Heart: 'Thou hast done well; thou hast resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Thou shalt abide by us, come in and go out with us; for we are thy companions.'

Then they took him and washed his wounds, and gave him of what they had, to refresh him: and so they went together. Now, as they went on, because Mr. Great-Heart was delighted in him, (for he loved one greatly that he found to be a man of his hands,) and because there were in company those that were feeble and weak, therefore he questioned with him about many things..." 

Excerpt from: Bunyan, J. (1678) Pilgrims Progress, Michigan: Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) Web Edition, pgs. 207-208

The Main Features of a Holy Man

J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)

My heart was 'strangely warmed' as I read the following description of holiness by J.C. Ryle. What a vision for us individually and corporately. We need such vision. Without it, we dwell carelessly (Prov 29:18). 

Ryle certainly felt the weight of responsibility as he drew a picture of holiness and conceded that his finished work was "but a poor imperfect outline at the best." Ryle was a humble man – there is much gold in what he wrote.

My heart is that those who read this description of holiness will be warmed, as I was, in their inner man. Let us pursue after such holiness, without which no one will see the Lord (Heb 12:14). John the Baptist pursued holiness and Jesus called him a "burning lamp". Truly, holiness and fire dwell together. 

"I am baptizing you in water for repentance, but He who comes after me is mightier than I, for I am not worthy to pick up His sandals; He is to baptize you in The Spirit of Holiness and in fire." Matt 3:11

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"What then is true practical holiness? It is a hard question to answer. I do not mean that there is any want of scriptural matter on the subject. But I fear lest I should give a defective view of holiness, and not say all that ought to be said; or lest I should say things about it that ought not be said, and so do harm. Let me, however, try to draw a picture of holiness, that we may see it clearly before the eyes of our minds. Only let it never be forgotten, when I have said all, that my account is but a poor imperfect outline at best.

a. Holiness is the habit of being one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture. It is the habit of agreeing in God's judgement, hating what He hates, loving what He loves, and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word. He who most entirely agrees with God, he is the most holy man.

b. A holy man will endeavour to shun every known sin, and to keep every known commandment. He will have a decided bent of mind towards God, a hearty desire to do His will, a greater fear of displeasing Him than of displeasing the world, and a love to all His ways. He will feel what Paul felt when he said, "I delight in the law of God after the inward man' (Rom. 7:22), and what David felt when he said, 'I esteem all Thy precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way' (Ps. 119:128).

c. A holy man will strive to be like our Lord Jesus Christ. He will not only live the life of faith in Him, and draw from Him all his daily peace and strength, but he will also labour to have the mind that was in Him, and to be conformed to His image (Rom. 8:29). It will be his aim to bear with and forgive others, even as Christ forgave us; to be unselfish, even as Christ pleased not Himself; to walk in love, even as Christ loved us; to be lowly-minded and humble, even as Christ made Himself of no reputation and humbled Himself. He will remember that Christ was a faithful witness for the truth; that He came not to do His own will; that it was His meat and drink to do His Father's will; that He would continually deny Himself in order to minister to others; that He was meek and patient under undeserved insults; that He thought more of godly poor men than of kings; that He was full of love and compassion to sinners; that He was bold and uncompromising in denouncing sin; that He sought not the praise of men, when He might have had it; that He went about doing good; that He was separate from worldly people; that He continued instant in prayer; that He would not let even His nearest relations stand in His way when God's work was to be done. These things a holy man will try to remember. By them he will endeavour to shape his course in life. He will lay to heart the saying of John: 'He that saith he abideth in [Christ] ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked' (1 John 2:6), and the saying of Peter, that 'Christ ... suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow His steps' (1 Peter 2:21). Happy is he who has learned to make Christ his 'all', both for salvation and example! Much time would be saved, and much sin prevented, if men would oftener ask themselves the question: 'What would Christ have said and done, if He were in my place?'

d. A holy man will follow after meekness, longsuffering, gentleness, patience, kind tempers, government of his tongue. He will bear much, forbear much, overlook much and be slow to talk of standing on his rights. We see a bright example of this in the behaviour of David when Shimei cursed him, and of Moses when Aaron and Miriam spake against him (2 Sam 16:10; Num 12:3).

Shimei curses David (2 Sam 16:5-13)

e. A holy man will follow after temperance and self-denial. He will labour to mortify the desires of his body, to crucify his flesh with his affections and lusts, to curb his passions, to restrain his carnal inclinations, lest at any time they break loose. Oh, what is that of the Lord Jesus to the apostles: 'Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life' (Luke 21:34), and that of the apostle Paul: 'I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway' (1 Cor. 9:27).

f. A holy man will follow after charity and brotherly kindness. He will endeavour to observe the golden rule of doing as he would have men do to him, and speaking as he would have men speak to him. He will be full of affection towards his brethren, towards their bodies, their property, their characters, their feelings, their souls. 'He that loveth another,' says Paul, 'hath fulfilled the law' (Rom. 13:8). He will abhor all lying, slandering, backbiting, cheating, dishonesty and unfair dealing, even in the least things. The shekel and cubit of the sanctuary were larger than those in common use. He will strive to adorn his religion by all his outward demeanour, and to make it lovely and beautiful in the eyes of all around him. Alas, what condemning words are the thirteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians, and the sermon on the mount, when laid alongside the conduct of many professing Christians!

g. A holy man will follow after a spirit of mercy and benevolence towards others. He will not stand all the day idle. He will not be content with doing no harm; he will try to do good. He will strive to be useful in his day and generation and to lessen the spiritual wants and misery around him as far as he can. Such was Dorcas: 'full of good works and almsdeeds, which she did' -- not merely purposed and talked about, but did. Such an one was Paul: 'I will very gladly spend and be spent for you,' he says, 'though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved' (Acts 9:36; 2 Cor. 12:15).

Dorcas' almsdeeds (Acts 9:36)

h. A holy man will follow after purity of heart. He will dread all filthiness and uncleanness of spirit, and seek to avoid all things that might draw him into it. He knows his own heart is like tinder, and will diligently keep clear of the sparks of temptation. Who shall dare to talk of strength when David can fall? There is many a hint to be gleaned from the ceremonial law. Under it a man who only touched a bone or a dead body or a grave or a diseased person became at once unclean in the sight of God. And these things were emblems and figures. Few Christians are ever too watchful and too particular about this point.

i. A holy man will follow after the fear of God. I do not mean the fear of a slave, who only works because he is afraid of punishment and would be idle if he did not dread discovery. I mean rather the fear of a child, who wishes to live and move as if he was always before his father's face, because he loves him. What a noble example Nehemiah gives us of this! When he became governor at Jerusalem he might have been chargeable to the Jews, and required of them money for his support. The former governors had done so. There was none to blame him if he did. But he says, 'So did not I, because of the fear of God' (Neh 5:15).

j. A holy man will follow after humility. He will desire, in lowliness of mind, to esteem all others better than himself. He will see more evil in his own heart than in any other in the world. He will understand something of Abraham's feeling, when he says, 'I am dust and ashes,' and Jacob's, when he says, 'I am least than the least of all Thy mercies,' and Job's, when he says, 'I am vile,' and Paul's, when he says, 'I am chief of sinners.' Holy Bradford, that faithful martyr of Christ, would sometimes finish his letters with these words: 'A most miserable sinner, John Bradford.' Good old Mr Grimshaw's last words, when he lay on his deathbed, were these: 'Here goes an unprofitable servant.'

k. A holy man will follow after faithfulness in all the duties and relations in life. He will try, not merely to fill his place as well as others who take no thought for their souls, but even better, because he has higher motives and more help than they. Those words of Paul should never be forgotten: 'Whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord': 'Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord' (Col. 3:23; Rom 12:11). Holy persons should aim at doing everything well, and should be ashamed of allowing themselves to do anything ill if they can help it. Like Daniel, they should seek to give no 'occasion' against themselves, except concerning the law of their God (Dan. 6:5). They should strive to be good husbands and good wives, good parents and good children, good masters and good servants, good neighbours, good friends, good subjects, good in private and good in public, good in the place of business and good by their firesides. Holiness is worth little indeed, if it does not bear this kind of fruit. The Lord Jesus puts a searching question to His people, when he says, 'What do ye more than others?' (Matt. 5:47).

l. Last, but not least, a holy man will follow after spiritual-mindedness. He will endeavour to set his affections entirely on things above, and to hold things on earth with a very loose hand. He will not neglect the business of the life that now is; but the first place in his mind and thoughts will be given to the life to come. He will aim to live like one whose treasure is in heaven, and to pass through this world like a stranger and pilgrim travelling to his home. To commune with God in prayer, in the Bible, and in the assembly of His people -- these things will be the holy man's chiefest enjoyments. He will value every thing and place and company, just in proportion as it draws him nearer to God. He will enter into something of David's feeling, when he says, 'My soul followeth hard after Thee'; 'Thou art my portion' (Ps. 63:8; 119:57).

Such is the outline of holiness which I venture to sketch out. Such is the character which those who are called 'holy' follow after. Such are the main features of a holy man."

Excerpt from: Ryle, J.C. (1879) Holiness., Pennsylvania: Evangelical Press 1979, pgs. 34-37.

Let No Man Take Your Crown

Behold I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Rev 3:11

In previous writings I have observed that, as a people, we have lost sight of the hope contained in the Gospel. We have misplaced the energising hope that leads to personal and corporate purity and Zion is desolate. What I have written is solid food for the mature. Receiving the whole counsel of God has the potential to set us ablaze as a people, as surely as the recovery of truth sparked a national revival in the days of King Josiah (2 Kings 22-23).

The Gospel is power to those who believe. “These signs shall follow those who believe...” (Mk 16:17). To walk in Heavenly power and authority, we must believe the Gospel in its entirety. Those who possess a complete Gospel hope are men and women of purity and power. Those who possess it not, dwell carelessly and perish through lack of knowledge.

When we lose sight of the Gospel hope, we lose our motivation to purify (1 Jn 3:3). And without purity, we have no Heavenly power. It’s that simple. We may have 'progressed' past Peter and John to the place where we possess silver and gold. We may boast institutional weight and fashionable worship centres and favourable bank relationships. But who amongst us can say, as Peter did, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” (Acts 3:6). Who amongst us can say, as Jesus did, “Stretch forth thy hand!” Brother and sisters, it doesn't matter how impressive and fashionable the visible church may appear from a worldly standpoint – without the authority of Christ, we are impoverished. Truly I say to you, where our hearts are located (Matt 6:19-21) and how we have been built (1 Cor 3:11-13) are about to be revealed … as through fire. “There arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph...” (Ex 1:8). The source of the church's power is about to be tested. Such power that is earthly and draws from institutional standing, technological prowess, clever marketing, and providential bank relationships ... will not stand.

Brothers and sisters, the high point of the Gospel hope is our glorification at the appearing of Christ. If we possess a complete Gospel hope, we are a people who eagerly look for the full manifestation of a kingdom not of this world. We are a people who purify ourselves in preparation for Christ's appearing and the glorification of our bodies. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor 15:50), so we strain forward and suffer the loss of all things that we might be glorified, in order to reign with Christ.

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are the children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs of Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we also may be glorified with Him. Rom 8:16-17

The hope of the glory of God exploding forth out of our physical bodies and transfiguring us into the very likeness of the glorified Christ is a powerful motivator to holiness. This appointed event will happen in the twinkling of an eye and will catch many unprepared.

… when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure. 1 Jn 3:2-3

If we have only believed for sins forgiven and not bodily glorification, then we have not embraced the entire Gospel message. The Gospel, in its entirety, offers: forgiveness of sin; power over sin; and the removal of sin at the glorification of our bodies. The Gospel offers, in this age, justification and the power to overcome. In the age to come, the Gospel offers the reward of glorification. Jesus preached the Gospel of the kingdom. In this age, the Gospel offers kingdom entry and kingdom training. In the age to come, the Gospel offers kingdom reigning. In this age, the Gospel offers the gift of new birth and the opportunity to overcome. In the age to come, the Gospel offers the reward of a crown and an iron sceptre to those who have overcome and reached fruit-bearing maturity. Entry to the kingdom and training for reigning belong to this age. The reward belongs to the age to come.

Jesus said, “...those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.” Luke 20:34-36

Dear brothers and sisters, here is solid food … if we can receive it. Glorification unto ruling and reigning in the age to come is a reward for those who have overcome the wicked one and who have become intimate with their Lord in this age.

Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matt 7:21-23

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from inquity. 2 Tim 2:19

Are you grasping afresh the hope that leads to purity? “Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, even as He is pure.” What an energising hope! And yet the church has shied away from any talk of overcoming the wicked one, of cleansing ourselves, of departing from iniquity, of suffering, of labouring to enter the rest of God. The Gospel has been stripped of personal cost – including the cost of one's life – and accordingly it has been stripped of its power.

Such a Gospel – that is reduced to justification alone and stripped of the hope of overcoming and the reward of glorification and kingdom authority – is a powerless gospel.

To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Rev 3:21

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. 2 Cor 7:1

The apostle, Paul, had absolute assurance of his salvation as gifted in the Gospel and yet he laboured abundantly and lay down his life in pursuit of a reward, also offered in the Gospel. There was something in the Gospel that motivated him to labour abundantly (1 Cor 15:10), to suffer the loss of all things (Phil 3:8), to discipline and subdue his body (1 Cor 9:27), and to press onwards (Phil 3:14). There was a hope in Paul that inspired him to cleanse and purify and eagerly look for the second appearing of Jesus Christ (Heb 9:28). Paul possessed the hope of beholding Christ at His appearing and of joining Him in glory – a hope that motivated him to purify himself. While he knew that he had received the priceless gift of sins forgiven, Paul embraced the Gospel hope that he might overcome sin and the wicked one in order to receive the reward of the kingdom. This hope in him motivated him to labour abundantly, suffer the loss of all things, discipline and subdue his body, and strain forward. “Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, even as He is pure.”

Hear Paul’s insights. Paul does not teach the uncertainty of our salvation gift, as many have erroneously taught. He does, however, teach the elusiveness of the kingdom reward. Paul was granted to steward and teach the mystery of the Gospel – a Gospel that includes the hope of overcoming sin in this age and ruling in glorified bodies in the age to come. 

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it … I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Cor 9:24, 27

Brothers I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way... Phil 3:13-15

If we suffer we shall also reign with him... 2 Tim 2:12

Brothers and sisters, let us cooperate with the grace of God and labour to present ourselves approved for kingdom responsibility. It is all of grace – even our labour is not us, it is the grace of God in us (1 Cor 15:10). And yet there is discipline and decisions and a straining forward required of us. There is a dying – a crucified life to embrace. Let us not be like Esau and disregard our birthright and squander it for fleshly gratification (Heb 12:16). Let us not be presumptuous about our inheritance, like the idolatrous and sexually immoral people of Ezekiel's day. They arrogantly reasoned, “Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of the land; but we are many; the land is surely given us to possess” (Ezek 33:24). Brothers and sisters, we risk forfeiting our crown (Rev 3:11), if we do not value and hold fast what we have received in the Gospel – that when Christ who is our life appears, we too shall appear with Him in glory (Col 3:4). 

Our gift of salvation is assured. Our kingdom reward, however, depends on our loving His appearing and our being found worthy at His coming. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matt 5:8). Without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Heb 12:14).

Brothers and sisters, if we find ourselves today enamoured with the things of this world and lukewarm in our devotion to Christ and His kingdom, we have not held fast the hope of His appearing and our glorification unto ruling and reigning. Indeed, we may not have even heard about this hope. “Everyone who has this hope in him, purifies himself even as He is pure.” Lord willing, I have much more to write on this. This message has the potential to saturate us afresh in the oil of His love and set us ablaze with the fire of His purity. As we walk in light and truth and eagerly look for the appearing of our blessed Lord and Saviour, we will taste of the powers of the age to come. Smith Wigglesworth (1859-1947) walked in fervent love and white-hot purity and he was entrusted with the powers of the age to come, like few others before or after him. In 1914, in Oakland, California, he preached:

Do you believe that the Father in heaven would make you a judge over a kingdom if there was anything crooked in you? Do you believe you will be able to bind unless you are free yourself?

This is solid food for the mature. Let those of us who are mature think this way. Let us recover and embrace the energising hope that leads to purity. Let us do so with the same humility and repentance that King Josiah displayed, when He recovered the book of the covenant. And we too will have the revival that we long for.

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Heb 5:14

Those Who Sow In Tears

There is a remnant today in the church of God that are grieving. They cannot be comforted by shallow sermons and soulish entertainment. These strangers – these pilgrims – are lamenting over the desolation of Zion.

Zion is the right arm of YHWH. "The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion..." (Ps 110:2). The Ancient of days rules from Zion and administers righteousness and justice from this holy hill ... and it is desolate. And we are grieving.

The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning. The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim. Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it. Lam 5:15-18

The grieving remnant finds no home in a worldly church. They are lonely in the crowd. This is a remnant made up of separate ones. They are other-worldly people that dream of the day when purity and power are restored to the church of God. With tears, they long for Zion...

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. Psalm 137:2

Zion is human dominion, executed in perfect submission to the Lord God Almighty. Zion is the Originally-designed, Creation-mandated authority and dominion of man under God. "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion..." (Gen 1:26). Little wonder Satan has lusted for this mountain.

Why do you look with envy O mountains with many peaks, At the mountain which God has desired as His abode? Surely the LORD will dwell there forever. Psalm 68:16

As far back as the first Adam, Satan has envied God's rule through human authority. He has envied it and he has sought it. And tragically, throughout history, the sons of Adam have all too readily relinquished their ruling and reigning birthright to Satan for fleshly gratification. The earth has groaned under the weight of depravity and oppression that follows the surrender of Zion.

It took the last Adam, Christ Jesus our Lord, to redeem mankind from Satan's grip and reclaim Zion. His death, burial, and resurrection opened a new and living way back to the Father and restored our dignity as sons of God. The early church caught this and, from Pentecost, they walked in victory over sin and in authority over all the works of the devil. Like their Lord and Saviour, they went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil because God was with them. The buildings they met in shook with His presence (Acts 4:31) and, while highly esteemed among the people, many feared join them (Acts 5:13). The risen Christ ruled out of their midst inasmuch as the world was crucified to them and they to the world. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shone. (Ps 50:2).

And yet Zion today is desolate. Why? Because a redeemed people play the harlot and every day trade away their ruling and reigning birthright. Far from believing the Gospel and walking in power over sin, the people of God have sold out by embracing the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Spurning the grace on offer, we have refused to humble ourselves and accept a crucified life that we might manifest the resurrection life of Christ. (2 Cor 4:10). We have become lovers of a world system that is about to be judged. We have become deluded into thinking that we are rich and secure when, in reality, we are wretched and miserable, poor, blind and naked. We exist as Covenant people in name only – our trust really is in the shadow of Egypt. As a people, we have become the tail and not the head. We are like sheep without a shepherd. We have lost the energising hope that leads to purity. This is why a remnant grieves and laments...

Brothers and sisters, who mourn for Zion, your cries are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Your travail is accomplishing something! "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandmen waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until He receive the early and latter rain." (Jam 5:7). Even now the Lord is marking those who groan and sigh – those who, like Mordecai, will not receive raiment in exchange for their sackcloth. 

... She sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not. Est 4:4

And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. Ezek 9:4

The Lord God Almighty has made Jesus, the last Adam, both Lord and Christ. And this Lord and Christ is looking for somewhere to rest His head. He is looking for somewhere to install His government. Zion is that somewhere, brothers and sisters. "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him..." (2 Chron 16:9). For all its worldly and political prowess, whorish Babylon will never host the King of glory and His earth-shaking presence. Zion is the mountain of the Lord. And He is about to catch up a remnant of overcomers to rule and reign with Him from that very mountain of Originally-designed, Creation-mandated, human dominion! The exalted Son of man – whose eyes are as a flame of fire and whose countenance is as the sun in full strength – is speaking to those who have ears to hear: "To him that overcomes, will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (Rev 3:21).

And I looked, and, lo a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads ... These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. Rev 14:1,4

Take heart, strangers and pilgrims. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! We are about to return to Zion! "The ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." (Isa 35:10). Those who have consecrated themselves for the Master's use, amidst widespread apostasy and compromise, are about to receive their reward! A manifestation is about to take place. Out of the travail, a company of mature sons is about to be birthed and restored to the very mountain they have wept over.

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. Rev 12:5

Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion ... I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron... Psalm 2:6,8-9

For those found worthy at His coming, great responsibility and authority is about to be bestowed. We are about to witness the fall of Babylon and the full manifestation of Christ's kingdom. We are coming into days of great confrontation. Light will drive away the darkness; righteousness and evil will no longer coexist. "The mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above all the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it" (Isa 2:2).

And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Isa 2:3