July 30, 2002 (25)
ZION, THE PERFECTION OF BEAUTY. Nothing can compare to the glorious, living city of the Most High. The glory of the Lord will blaze forth from that city of perfection and beauty. Ps. 50:2 So abundant is the glory of the Lord in her, that here is no need of sun or moon. The lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the light of the world is the lamp and light of the City. Rev. 21:23 Night will not exist there. There will be no need of any source of lamp or light. The Lord God is the supply of the illumination for that eternal city. Rev. 22:5 Nothing artificial to be found in it. This is the real thing.
THE HIGH STANDARDS OF THE LORD APPLIED TO THE CITY. The inhabitants to be called Holy. All whose names are recorded are those who have been brought into the life of Christ. Isa. 4:3 The City is to be purged and cleansed by the Spirit of the Lord. The Spirit of judgment. The baptism of the Spirit is one of fire. Fire to purge and burn the dross from the lives of the believer. He is the winnowing fan of the Lord and will separate the chaff from the wheat, that which is superfluous, from the true wheat. The working of the Spirit is very practical and necessary to the cleansing of the church and the preparation of the Bride. Mt. 3:11-12 Consider the purposes for which He came into the world. Rarely are these works of righteousness considered in relationship to the Holy Spirit. He has come to convict the world, and the church, of their sin, convince them of the judgment to come and to show them the way of righteousness. John 16:8 The call of the Spirit to the church is to awake, rouse yourself and realize the time and the season. These are days of preparation, clothe yourself with the strength of the Lord. Put on the garments of beauty and glory. The uncircumcised and unrighteous to be completely cleansed from her midst. Purity and righteousness are to be the order of the day. Isa. 52:1
THE RANSOMED OF THE LORD TO GATHER INTO THE CITY. The City is exclusively reserved for those who have been purchased by the blood of the Lamb. They gather together with songs and the everlasting joy of the Lord as a crown. Here indeed the former things will have all passed away. Isa. 35:10 The Road to the Zion of God is called the <Way of Holiness> the unclean cannot, nor do they desire to walk in that Way. Isa. 35:8 Jesus is that Way. Who walks in that way? They who walk in a blameless manner, in purity and righteousness. Those who embrace the truth and from the heart speak the truth. Ps. 15:2 The call and exhortation of the Word is to fully embrace the NEW MAN, that new creation. It is created in the likeness of the Lord with the intent that it live a life following the pattern that He has established. The righteousness and true holiness of the Lord are to be manifest in that New Man. Eph. 4:24 The high calling of God, in Christ is to walk and live in His holiness. 1 Thes. 4:7 He will enable us, if we will make the commitment that is necessary and seek Him with our whole being.