“The Dark Glass And The Eye Of The Spirit”
(Just as relevant today as it was in March 18, 2013)

The Lord has been downloading incredible revelation during this season of transition. While He’s downloading I confidently say there are few who understand the season we are in.

Those few who are presently seeing through a dark glass dimly (Matt.20:16; 1 Cor.15:12) are walking attentively and carefully through the shadows while yielding to the Lord’s silent leading (Ps.96:7; 1 K.8:12; 2 Chr.6:1). Only those who abide in Christ will have their understanding illuminated by the Divine light through dark sayings (Ps.78:2).

The Bible is written in symbols, types and shadows. It is impossible to properly interpret the symbols and types without Holy Spirit. In Mark 4:11 the Lord says that those who seek after Him and not the traditions of man, to them it has been given the mystery of the Kingdom, but to those who are outside, all things come in parables (Prov.25:2).

Those who are outside only see the surface of Scripture. They remain externally focused. The secret things belong to the Lord and those who seek the Giver rather than the gifts. Yes, that is an old phrase, but it is rich and true.

It is not my intention to insult anyone, though I must say it is of great concern seeing the spiritually immature thumbing their noses at the fathers of faith during one of the most serious and momentous times in Church history.

There are diverse illustrations commonly used throughout the Bible that symbolically use animals when referring to people:

* Sheep are referred to as God’s people, and so are goats. Sheep are gently and easily led; goats are pushy and headstrong. (Matt.9:36; 10:16; Heb.13:20; 1 Pet.2:25).

* Wolf is symbolic of evil and false teachers. (Jn.10:12; Matt.7:15; 10:16; Lk.10:3; Acts. 20:29).

* Lion is symbolic of kingship, royalty, boldness of good or evil. (1 Pet.5:8; Rev.5:5)

* Donkey and Mule is symbolic of stubbornness and rebellion. Jesus made His entry into Jerusalem on a donkey (a un-broke colt) which is symbolic of a stiff neck and stubborn people. (Ps.32:9; Matt.21:5)

* Horse is symbolic of power, strength and conquest. (Job 39:19; Is.14:18; Ps.66:12; Zech.10:3; Rev.19:19).

MULES IN DISGUISE
Years ago while working at a Pack Station in Eastern Oregon I rode my first mule. I fell in love with the breed and purchased one and leased another. Boy, did I have a lot to learn about this headstrong animal. Although we worked through our issues and came to a compromise of the wills, there is still from time to time a battle with who is the master.

Over the years of riding mules there were many times when people thought they were a horse. While admiring they would thoughtfully consider the ears, then they would raise one eyebrow then the other and say, “Is he part donkey?”

The Mule is a cross between a donkey stallion (called a jack) and a horse mare. Both male and female mules have all the “correct parts” but they are sterile and cannot reproduce. A very few (about 1 in 1million) mare mules have had foals, but these are very rare. No male mule has ever sired a foal. So if you cross a mule to a mule you get nothing! Mules must be bred by crossing a donkey and horse every time.

My point here is you can cross stubbornness (donkey), with power, strength and conquest (symbolic of a horse) and come out spiritually sterile and unable to reproduce anything substantial in the sight of God.

In our spiritual walk we can try to mask stubbornness and rebellion with power, strength, conquest and what some consider beauty, but in the end it I still a mule in the eyes of the Lord.

The Lord chose to ride a donkey through the streets of Jerusalem. This prophetic act was powerful as He was demonstrating submission to His Lordship as the only way to navigate into the New Jerusalem. He is not returning on a donkey or a mule, He is returning on an obedient majestic horse.

In Revelation 19:11 we read where the heavens opened up and He who is Faithful, True and in Righteousness, who also judges and makes war is sitting upon a white horse. White is symbolic of purity, righteousness and holiness. The horse is symbolic of power, strength and conquest. He is returning in and through and upon a people who are holy, pure and righteous (in His righteousness). They abide in Him and not themselves. They are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, therefore being conquerors (2 Thess.1:10; Is. 60:1-7; Zec.10:3).

The New Jerusalem which is above and is free (Gal.4:26), and where we come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem…to the general assembly and church of the firstborn (Heb.12:22-23). The first Jerusalem (which is natural) was in bondage, but the second (spiritual Jerusalem) is not – Praise Jesus!

In Song of Solomon 1:9, the Bridegroom says to His bride, “I have compared you to a horse in Pharaoh’s chariot.”

The Holy Spirit presents Himself to His people in the arena of life (Ps.32:8-9). When we come to Him and allow His Spirit to break our independence it is then we begin seeing the true demonstration of a Christ-like nature (Heb.5:7-14). If we constantly fight against His workings and process we will find ourselves continually in the spiritual arena worked in circles.

You will never see a mule hitched to the chariot of the King no matter how beautiful, powerful or smart they are.

Galatians 4:1-7- No longer a servant but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ…

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Apostles, apostles’ teaching, and apostolic companies of sons and daughters should reflect the glory of the LORD! They should reflect and reverberate with the Sound of the LORD, and His Voice shall be glorious in all the earth!!!

Arise, shine; for thy light is come and the glory of the LORD will be seen upon You. Isa. 60:1

Isa. 60:13,14- The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, The cypress, the pine, and the box tree together, To beautify the place of My sanctuary; And I will make the place of My feet glorious. Also the sons of those who afflicted you Shall come bowing (bending) to you. And all those who despised you shall fall prostrate at the soles of your feet; And they shall call you, The City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

J.B.

A “kingdom Ekklesia” is a mobile, Holy Spirit-led people whose mandate is for aligned relationships to be established, in spirit and in truth! The saints of God who are born and formed in Zion will be maturing as sons of the kingdom and be of “like precious faith!” We are established in present truth and have an abundant entrance into the “everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!” (I. Peter 1:11,12)
Since this people are rightly aligned for kingdom purposes, they are flexible and fluid, as “citizens of the kingdom”, a family of God, and built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. They are not held together by rules and regulations, buildings and organizations, or cultures and creeds, but by the love of God, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the communion (fellowship) of the Holy Spirit!
THIS IS THE CULTURE OF THE KINGDOM!
THE KINGDOM HAS: AN 1) ATMOSPHERE, 2) A CLIMATE, 3) AN ENVIRONMENT, 4) A LANGUAGE, AND 5) A GOVERNMENT!! (These things are discussed individually and come together corporately by facilitating and employing ministry in the kingdom.) 

(Acts 1:7,8; 2:42; 6:3,4; 8:12; 19:7-10; 20:28-32; 28:31).
These things are emerging around regions in hubs, or pockets of disciples/leaders in the kingdom whose primary vision is to equip and empower the saints and the sons of God to know who they are and to whom they belong! Their identity, vision, purpose, inheritance, and Blessing can be established through “fathering leadership” and discipleship-making! The Mission is for kingdom equipping and assembling, as the body of Christ becomes the ARMY OF THE LORD!
DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU BELONG IN THE EKKLESIA AND ARE YOU “KINGDOM-MINDED?” We are making the TRANSITION into the “chosen generation, a holy nation or a kingdom of priests unto our God and His Christ, to rule and reign upon the earth.” (I. Pe. 2:9) (Rev. 1:6; 5:10)
WHOSE REPORT DO YOU BELIEVE? WE SHALL BELIEVE THE REPORT OF THE LORD!
St. John 12:38- …that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which He spoke: 
“Lord, who has believed our report? And, to whom has the ARM OF THE LORD been revealed?”

J.B.

Sunday’s should not be the most segregated day of the week! No, we do not all have to come together under “one roof” but we should not be divided by color or creed! Every local assembly should acknowledge every brother and sister in Christ and that they are not independent of the body of Christ. There is no white church or black church, there is only the Ekklesia of Jesus Christ in the earth! 
How do we do this? By quitting the “racial tension” of making excuses or a difference with the color of our skin by holding on to the past! Today’s division does not come from God, but from the “denominationalism” (to divide and number) of our religious institutions. Many allow their cultural heritage to dictate their decisions and actions but in the culture of the kingdom there is no division!!
It is a shame that after more than 50 years since Dr. Martin Luther Kings great message “Free at last, Free at last”, we are more in bondage than ever before. Year’s back most of it was out of sheer ignorance and old cultural thinking. Today, with all the laws to protect and all the modern technology, to intentionally make every action and word by someone racial discrimination, oh, how deceived we are!
Yet in the kingdom, it ought not to be! I’ll say it over and over and over and continue to say it: If you are walking in the kingdom and present truth and have been delivered from the domain of darkness, and you perpetuate hate and division and separation among the brethren because of old issues and mindsets, then you have NOT been delivered and you bring a great disservice to the name of Jesus Christ!! 
Come on, quit believing THE LIE, and man’s word but believe the word of the Lord! Numbers 23:19,20- “God is not a man, that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless; and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.”
We are a blessed people and cannot be cursed! We are a “chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, who He has called out of darkness into the marvellous light.” I. Pe. 2:9. The unity of the Spirit is found in those who come up to mount Zion and have received the “commanded blessing, even LIFE EVERMORE!! LET’S LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT, AND THE SIN THAT SO EASILY BESETS US, AND LET US RUN WITH ENDURANCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US,  

LOOKING UNTO JESUS…. (HEBREWS 1:1,2)

J.B.