Western theologies of affluent nations have been responsible for teaching that Christ paid such a price in His death that nothing but bliss and blessings await those who are born of His Spirit. We have been inundated with modern-day sermons that would cause one to believe that we have failed as Christians if we suffer adversities in life. Even those who have more understanding may often cringe when they periodically must partake of life's hard bread or drink the bitter waters of affliction. Nevertheless, more than a few are slowly but surely coming to realize the necessity of this portion of the Lord's Passover table.

Through the experience of feeding upon this painful, yet healing, diet we are learning some essential things concerning our relationship with Christ: In order to mount up with wings as eagles, we must wait upon the Lord (Is. 40:31). We must endure the severe pressures of twisting, as the Hebrew word for wait in this verse suggests; even as the strands of a fiber are twisted to form His unbreakable cord -- likewise, we are united to the Lord (cf. Pub. #47). And if our Teacher is to be removed from a corner and clearly seen, we must be seized by the piercing of His painful flesh-hook and dragged into the consuming flames of the brazen altar of God (cf. Pub. #48).

Twisting is the act of two opposing forces upon an object. One force is adverse to the other; hence, the bread of adversity. Piercing is the act of cutting completely through and mortally wounding the thing it has seized. Such is the drink from the water cup of affliction, not unlike the cup Jesus told the sons of Thunder (James and John) that they would drink (Mk. 10:39). Indeed, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." This is what is involved in waiting upon the Lord. It is absolutely necessary in order for one to clearly see their Teacher and to hear His voice that gives them the unwavering direction of a sure destiny.

This is not to say that before such severe twistings and piercings are experienced that we cannot see or hear our Lord, for those are two of the things that have brought us this far. From the day of being born from above, we have had His guiding light within and have heard His voice resounding many times from the heavens. Before waiting upon the Lord, however, our focus and hearing may not have been so fine tuned, and we would find ourselves turning to the right and to the left -- walking in a way not so straight and narrow.

Most of us, at one time or another, have gone through times when we felt as if the Lord was nothing more than a vague point of light on a fading horizon. Being so obscure and far removed, it didn't much matter which direction we walked, we could always glance over our shoulder and see that light to some degree and feel that all was well. Many have walked this meandering path for years, with Christ as a vague Lord of the past or as a Savior of the unseen future. When He is that remote it is very easy to turn and walk not only to the left or to the right, but in the opposite direction entirely and not even know the difference.

Some of this walking in the wrong direction is due to the lack of knowledge, or having little understanding, or perhaps not having a clear vision; while with some it is due to intoxication. A familiar proverb gives some good counsel to those who will hear, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise" (Prov. 20:1). Any reasonable person who has known an individual of much drink, or who has been delivered of the spirit themselves, will be quick to agree with these sure words of wisdom. However, there may be only a few who have seen how this is a shadow of spiritual things.

No doubt, when the book of Isaiah was written, with clouded minds the priests and prophets were given to drunkenness; but in the light of understanding let us see how this is a clear picture in the spirit concerning the elders of the Kingdom today: "But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are OUT OF THE WAY; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are OUT OF THE WAY through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness" (Isa. 28:7). "OUT OF THE WAY" is translated from one Hebrew word, TAAH, which means, "to vacillate, to reel or stray (lit. or fig.)" (Strong's).

Their natural wine and strong drink had caused them to err in vision and in walk. Likewise today, in the spiritual sense, many are erring due to wine and strong drink. I believe verse fifteen of the same chapter gives us much insight on what these two intoxicating drinks are: "Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell we are at agreement...for we have made LIES our refuge, and under FALSEHOOD we have hid ourselves." Or in other words, "You have said...we have been swallowed up of the WINE OF LYING SPIRITS, and through the STRONG DRINK OF HOODWINKING PROPHETS, we have hid ourselves from reality."

Lies, like too much wine, will give a person a false sense of security, that is, until the impending judgment hits them. The most refined lie will then fail in its pseudo protection. The stupefying swill of lying prophets is akin to strong drink, in that, for a season it will dull the pain and remove one from the real world and the issues of life. It matters not, however, for once the delusions wear off the people will know they have been found out and must pay the piper. Some may have to wake up in the cold jail of the Lord, in the drunk-tank if you please, before their lies and false impressions begin to be seen for what they are. Too much lying wine and strong drink of deception has been a common problem in the ranks of the Church -- second only to the blind leading the blind. There is, however, a wine and strong drink that is good -- the Spirit of the Lord and the rich word of Truth. The wine of the Spirit is good when taken with the meat of the Word, for it helps to balance the meal and aids in digestion. It will also lift one's spirit and strengthens the body. Strong spiritual drink, the Spirit that dulls the senses of great pain and temporarily removes one from the overbearing tragedies of life, is also good -- especially for those who are perishing, as Prov. 31:6 mentions.

Discounting for now the positive aspects of these drinks, without controversy, I believe we can say that many of the princes of the Kingdom, the elders of Sonship, have given themselves to an excess of the bad wine and strong drink (not the good drink of the Spirit and Word of Truth, but of lies and deception). In doing so, not only they, but many of their students have become spiritual drunkards -- staggering on unsure legs in every direction imaginable. They are "out of the way," vacillating to the left, to the right, taking a pace forward every so often, and then three steps backwards.

Those on the front lines of the battlefield are expecting a word from their prophets, and what do they so often get? A bottle of wine to make them shine, a bottle of drink to make them stink, as the old saying goes. This enables them to forget not only their immediate problems but their holy calling as well. Rather than being in the ready position, with eyes straight forward and prepared to advance directly to their given target, many are reeling to and fro in a drunken stupor.

The only thing that keeps some of them going is their favorite teacher's next tape or Bible study, not to mention the big spiritual drinking parties they attend across the country -- Conventions, Conferences, In-Gatherings, Revivals, etc. Incidentally, there is nothing wrong with any of these forms of ministry, it is how they are conducted or received that determines whether they are conducive to Christ and His Kingdom. Often they are intoxicating events that cause spiritual wavering in the walks of some of those attending.

As true as it was in the days of Isaiah, likewise, and maybe more, we see it at the end of the age: "His watchmen are blind (and are leading the blind): they are all ignorant (of the hour and present truth), they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark (seldom will they sound an alarm when true danger is at hand); sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber (in their own theological dream world). Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way (not looking to Jesus who is the Way), every one for his gain, from his quarter (building personal kingdoms at the cost of others). Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine (I will give you tantalizing revelations of life), and we will fill ourselves with strong drink (the spirit of excitement, merrymaking, and recklessness); and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant (believing they must be right because of the present circumstances, and feeling so good that they can't imagine there will ever be a reaping of what is sown)." (Is. 56:10-12). (Parentheses mine.)

In the midst of all this, when you feel all alone in a reeling world and there seems to be little hope of ever being joined together to a body of stable believers of like mind and spirit, remember the promise and rejoice: "...Ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish..." (Is. 27:12-13).

Regardless of how far we may have strayed from our destined course or how isolated we may be, when the waiting period of the Lord is over, things will change! It is then that the trumpet, the voice of our Teacher, is heard, saying, "Now that you have been twisted (having eaten the bread of adversity), and been pierced, (having drank the water of affliction), listen now to the word behind you -- THIS IS THE WAY, WALK YE IN IT. Walk no more in the broad way, turning to the right hand or to the left, which leads to destruction; but walk through the strait gate and continue down the narrowing way that leads to life. Walk ye unto Me, walk ye into Me, walk ye through Me and My cross, and return ye back to the Father from whence you came" (Is. 30:20-21, Mt. 7:13-14 & Rom. 11:36 paraphrased).

This, Brethren, is the day of the Lord and His voice is being heard, 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...." (Is. 2:3). Isn't it tremendous to be hearing, not the roll of distant thunder, but the sweet melody of the Spirit singing as a symphony, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, that descend upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, life for evermore" (Ps. 133:1-3). We would do well to meditate long upon the above verses, for they are unfolding in our lives this very hour.

While a vast number are living recklessly in riotous merrymaking, the reserved 7,000 of the Lord are in waiting, they are coming into unity from being twisted, pierced, and even crushed, becoming His fine oil of anointing. They will not remain forever as individual olives of the tree, but are now being blended together under severe pressures. The elect of God, as they dwell together in unity, is like the flowing of God's blessing -- first to the headship members of the body and then to the rest. Those in Waiting shall be as the dew of Mount Hermon, descending from the head (the tallest mountain in the Zion mountain range). From there, from the heights of the Lofty One (Hermon means Lofty) shall the Sons of God settle as the dew of life upon the other Zion mountains in that same range. It is from there, the great mountain of Hermon that the Lord COMMANDS the blessing of LIFE FOR EVERMORE!

Praise God, all ye saints in waiting, if you have a breath of air in you! For the trumpet is sounding, His voice is being heard saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it," this is the day to ascend from the lower regions of God's Zion Kingdom to the Lofty heights of the head -- which is HERMON! It is upon this year-round, snow-covered mountain that all disease, weakness, fear, even death, is conquered!

Hermon was the Mount of Transfiguration where Jesus glistered with transforming light; and we do not think it is coincidental what the Sidonians and the Amorites called it, complimenting the shining of the Lords body that eventful day. Note the following: "And we took at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites the land that was on this side Jordan, from the river of Arnon unto mount Hermon; (Which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion; and the Amorites call it Shenir;) (Deut. 3:8-9). Sirion means to GLITTER Shenir means to SHINE. Indeed, that day He took Peter, James and John upon that high mountain apart, He GLITTERED with the splendor of a rare jewel, His SHINING came from within and was as the sun when radiating in its full strength. Even the Gentile nations who saw that majestic mountain recognized it as exalted of God. The Arabs also named it accordingly -- Jebel Esh Sheikh, meaning, MOUNTAIN OF THE ANCIENT ONE.

The Hebrew name, Hermon, not only means Lofty, but also carries the thought of BANNED, FORBIDDEN. This mountain, or Kingdom, is set apart, banned and forbidden to not only the world, but to most of the Church as well. Only those who are set apart and led of the Lord Himself can ascend to those three peaks of grand heights, as were Peter, James and John. Some may take it by force, but the time will come when it will be removed out of their hands, as it was taken from the Amorites and Sidonians by Moses and Joshua.

This mountain, which was called Zion in one place (Deut. 4:8), is the birth place of the Jordan river. From the river's place of origin, where it is crystal clear, to its destination of the Dead Sea, there are four realms it passes through: 1) Mount Hermon, 2) the other mountains of Zion, 3) the desert plains of Israel, and 4) the Dead Sea. In typology we can see this is an expanded view of the Tabernacle and the Temple. The Dead Sea is the world where everyone is born. The plains are the outer courts where we see all the outward religious activities performed. We see the mountain range of the Zions as the Holy Place, the many facets of the Kingdom. And of course, HERMON is the most Holy of all, THE HOLY OF HOLIES, where none but the chosen, where only those of the priesthood who are SET APART can enter.

This is one of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God that cannot be partaken of except by His appointment. It is then, as we experientially walk upon the tops of this mountain that we will likewise be transfigured and shine with the glory of the Ancient of Days. From there, from the Hermon of the Zions, will the glory of our inner man transcend the mortal and shine through our frail bodies of clay. Possessing our souls in majesty shall the glory of the Lord be experienced in reality by the redeemed from the earth! Great God Almighty! What a magnificent way to walk! A walk which comes only to Those in Waiting.

Tremendous beyond compare is the light of transfiguration which comes from ascending with our Lord upon this high mountain apart. We know, of course, Jesus is that "true light, which coming into the world lightens every man" (Jn. 1:9, Grk.), and unknown to most of the Church, it does not come the easy way. It comes, as we have mentioned more than once, from being twisted beyond measure. It is not obtained by flying away in Catholicism's devised deception of the Great Escape, commonly known as the Rapture.

No, brethren, it is not obtained in any other way except by being seized by the flesh-hook of the Lord and dragged into the consuming fire of God; while the multitude of illusionists and their students are going into the broad way of destruction. Rather than being blinded by the Light of the Son and consumed in the brightness of His coming, they choose the darker, cooler way to go (temporarily). Although this is true for the majority, it matters not, for we are not of that number; and once the waiting is over and the sure word of the Lord is heard from behind -- we shall indeed be willing in this great day of His power! With joy we hear Him saying, "I AM THE WAY, the truth, and the life: no one cometh to the Father, but BY ME" (Jn. 14:6). This short verse is known by most Christians and is quoted often, but we wonder how many have walked in it. If one is truly walking in the Way, the Truth, and the Life, there would be no reason for their Teacher to say behind them, "This is the Way, walk ye in it." However, from the witness in my spirit, these words are being presently said to a multitude across the globe, and I am persuaded that they shall continue to be spoken until everyone who is called in this late hour hears and turns.

We would be hard-pressed to name one professing Kingdom Christian who will say that they are not walking in the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Jesus Christ, but the authenticity of their confessions may be lacking. For instance, let us get serious and ask ourselves: 1) Can we only receive from one or two ministries? If so, we may not be discerning the Lord's body. 2) Are we continuously discontented because of not being able to be in the presence of and sit under a certain person's preaching, thinking they alone can give us life? If the answer is yes, we could be suspect. 3) Do we perhaps have an overpowering obsession to be anywhere we are not, and are we not content in whatever state we are in, whether it is our state of being or the state of our residence (New Mexico, California, Indiana, Wisconsin, etc)? 4) Or must we be living in the overshadowing light of our favorite prophet, preacher, teacher, etc.? If the answers are again, yes, then we must be truthful with ourselves and confess that we are not walking in the Way of Jesus, in the Truth of Jesus, nor in the Life of Jesus; but we are walking in the Way of a man! This is called worship, or cult of the saints, of which people can be swallowed up of such adoration. Rather than being swallowed up of Christ, as they should be, they become totally consumed by doctrines, men, or ideologies they give themselves to. No longer is that person seen, only that which has swallowed them is apparent. It matters not -- be it man or beast, doctrine or cause, or anything else one bows to -- the only thing remaining is the devourer. Once this happens that person ceases to exist. This is the result when anything is swallowed up, whether it is a bit of food or a human soul. Only that thing which has swallowed it remains.

The cult of saints has been a common practice for centuries in the Church, and is visibly evident unto this day in Roman Catholicism. During Constantine, Augustine, and Jerome's day, the worship of saints became so pronounced that the churches would fight over their bones -- before they died! And things haven't changed much. In the other branches of that infamous tree, men are still being worshiped. The masses are walking in the ways of "great" men, bowing at their feet and giving themselves to them as if they were Jesus Christ Himself. Although these esteemed men, and women, have not died for them, nor will they ever be their resurrection life, these ardent followers persist in walking in the ways of the prophet of their own choosing.

Some of these ministers may be very godly, and the only charge against them might be that they allow such veneration. If they are truly godly, however, we wonder why they permit such worship of themselves. Fortunately, the majority will not encourage this recognition, but this will not always stop such ill-directed idolization; for whether the minister approves or not, some people must have a visible, physical, warmblooded body they can touch, and feel, and hear, and see, who can give them goose-bumps. Since they don't know their Lord in the Spirit, they must have one who is physical to satisfy their lust to worship.

When a minister becomes skilled in inducing flesh tickling things to the souls of people, they will get worshipers flocking around themselves like bar-room jesters in the presence of a painted harlot. This will happen whether they are in approval of this attention or not -- but many like it, some thrive on it, it is the very foundation of their strength. Truthfully speaking, as suave and beautiful as an individual may be, there is very little difference in worshiping him and an idol carved from a pine tree, for neither one can save the people from their sins. The man may have charisma that can charm the shine off of brass, and his eloquent rhetoric might flow like liquid gold, making him a little more exciting than a tree full of sap; but like the tree -- he has no power to raise up and deliver even one soul from death.

There are many warnings in the Bible concerning idol worship, but the one which stands out at this time is Isaiah 2:22: "CEASE YOURSELF FROM MAN, whose breath is in his nostrils: for IN WHAT IS HE TO BE ESTEEMED?" (Heb./Eng. Interlinear). Nevertheless, let the willingly ignorant remain ignorant and therein imagine a vain thing, if they so desire, and even let them worship the inventions of their incessant imaginations, if that is their determination. But THOSE IN WAITING, their voices are lifted up from being twisted out of measure, from being pierced thoroughly through by the flesh-hook of the Lord! We all, as one voice, rejoice exceedingly at the sound of our Teacher's trumpet from behind, saying, "THIS IS THE WAY -- WALK YE IN IT! THIS IS THE WAY TO HERMON, THE MOUNTAIN OF GOD -- WALK YE IN IT! THIS IS THE WAY FROM WHENCE LIFE IS COMMANDED FOR EVERMORE -- WALK YE IN IT!

To be continued...