The
Garden of God
By
Bill Britton
Facts
are facts. And they are true. But in addition to being true, facts
can be cold, hard, unloving and unkind. It is a fact that the Sons of God will have power. But power in itself can be cold
and hard and
ruthless. There are some who would like to have power over devils and
sickness and afflictions for the express purpose of making them a
great minister, without having any real compassion for the needs of
the people. They are like Simon the sorcerer in Acts Chapter 8 who
was willing to do anything and pay any price to obtain the gift of
God. Not because he loved the people or loved God, but because he
wanted something great for himself.
Truth
will set you free. "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall
make you free." (John 8:32) But being set free is not enough.
Just knowing the truth is not the ultimate of God for you. Some have
become lifted up and exalted because of the abundance of their
knowledge, yea, even their spiritual revelations. But it has become a
cold, hard, dogmatic collection of facts. Sure, the truth brought
them out. They have been separated from the sectarian system that
bound them. But they progressed no further, and their truths created
a sectarian spirit within them that brought greater bondage than
before.
"Coming
out" is not enough. Deuteronomy 6:23 tells us that God "brought
us out from thence (Egypt), that He might bring us in, to give us the
land which He sware unto our fathers." Most of those who "came
out" of Egypt never went in to Canaan. They had what it took to
come out, but they failed the supreme test of coming in to God's
land.
THERE
IS MORE TO IT
Now,
friends, let us realize that those written examples found in the Old
Testament are speaking to us of realities for our own day. I have
many people write to me, hungry for information and truth concerning
end time events, the coming fo the Lord, and the activities of the
Sons of God. They want to know how to get Sonship power and
authority, where we will be during the Tribulation, what kind of
bodies we will have in the Millinium, and what the appearing of Jesus
is going to be like. I have sought God for the answers to these and
other questions, that I might present the truth to the people, but it
has not pleased God to give me full and complete information
concerning these things. And I wondered why. Oh, I could have all the
answers down pat, if I just wanted to make a choice among the more
popular traditional theories figured out by man, and taught to others
in their schools and seminaries. But I can no longer swallow them.
These theological fairy tales have been shattered by the revelation
of Christ which the Holy Spirit has been bringing in these last days
of this age.
I
have seen people get much truth and revelation, their heads so full
of information on how it was all going to happen, that they could
hold you spellbound. Yet their experience with God was cold and dead.
They had no compassion for souls, no more vision for missions, and
not even good Christian warmth and hospitality toward the saints. I
have seen ministers who obtained gifts and ministries, and had real
power in the realm of physical deliverance. But their dedication to
God was slipping, their prayer life sadly lacking, and no real
concern for the needs of a dying world, except as it related to
"their ministry."
INTO
THE PROMISED LAND
So
it is not enough to know about Him. We must partake of Him. It is not
enough to see Him, we must bear His image. Cold, hard facts may wake
us up and make us move out of Babylon, but unless there is more, we
will die in the wilderness as did many of the children of Israel.
Truth can cause a person to become exalted, feel that he is
self-sufficient, make him unteachable. Power can make the carnal mind
dream great dreams, and eventually destroy the very one whom God
would have used for His glory. Even holiness of life, as desirable as
it is, can be a freezing thing unless it has that warmth of a fervent
devotion to God.
Truth
may bring us out, and set us free, but is Love that takes us on in to
the heart of God. Love is the force that carries us into the Promised
Land. When I see folks with much revelation, God's plan and purpose
and divine order all figured out, yet lacking that warmth of true
worship and devotion to Christ, my heart bleeds for them. For I know
that their bones will (spiritually) bleach in the wilderness, just as
those Israelites did literally.
True
worship and real devotion to God is evident in those true Sons of God
who are moving on today. But more than that, there is seen a fervent
love for one another, a fellowship in the Spirit, and a concern for
the welfare of others in the Body that is sadly lacking in many
places. What is happening? The Army of God is on the way back to
Eden, the Garden of God.
BACK
TO EDEN
I'm
quite sure that most of you are already aware that Eden, the garden
of God, is not a physical place located on this or any other planet.
It is a state of being. It is a higher existence for man than this
fallen state we find ourselves in at present.
Let
us read what God said through the prophet in Isaiah 51:3.. "For
the Lord shall comfort Zion: He will comfort all her waste places;
and He will make her wwilderness like Eden, and her desert like the
garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein,
thanksgiving, and the voice of melogy."
Of
course you know that apples cannot sing. Grapes cannot show gladness,
nor can peaces rejoice in the Lord. He is talking here about His
people, a people that are bring comforted while in a wilderness state
or waste places, and eventually brought back to a life or existence
known as Eden, the garden of the Lord.
A
GARDEN ENCLOSED
Look
at what the Song of Solomon says about His garden: "My beloved
is gone down into His garden." Yes, it is
Christ in His garden, the hope of glory! And how beautiful the song
writer put it: "Out of Ivory Palaces, into a world of woe; only
His great eternal love, made may Saviour go." Then again in the
Scripture: "I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse."
"A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse, a spring shut up, a
fountain sealed."
Who
is this garden? It is His beloved! And praise God, though this garden
became a howling wilderness, a desert, full of waste places, yet He
saw something precious in it, and gave His all to bring it back to
its original glory and beauty. And even beyond that, He takes it unto
Himself, into the fulness of His glory!
The
mystery of the great price He paid for this garden is revealed in
Matthew 13:44... "Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like unto
treasure hid in a field; toe which when a Man hath found, he hideth,
and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that He hath, and buyeth
that field." Yes, I Corinthians 6:20 says that, "Ye are
bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and
in your spirit, which are God's." What did He buy?
He bought your spirit. And also your body. Your body is included in
the redemption of this garden. It is a purchased possession.
Ephesians 1:14 tells us that the Holy Spirit of promise which we have
received is the "earnest of our inheritance until the redemption
of the purchassed possession." And Romans 8:23 says that we
"which have hte firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves
groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the
redemption of our body."
Ephesians
4:30 reveals that we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day
of redemption. In Chapter 21 of Luke, Jesus is speaking of the last
days, signs in the sun, moon, and stars. He says that the powers of
heaven will be shaken and, "Then shall they see the Son of man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And
when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up
your heads; for your redemption is nigh." Notice that He did not
say to look up and expect a flyaway trip to another planet called
heaven. He said that your redemption is coming to you! Hallelujah!
Your garden shall be fruitful and blossom as the rose! Isaiah 58:11
says, "And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy
thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones; and thou shalt be like a
watered garden." The warning given in Isaiah 1:30 to sinful
humanity that had left their God, was that they would be "as a
garden that hath no water." Now, what a contrast! What a
promise!
ONCE
IN EDEN
"And
the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden: and there He put the
man whom He had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to
grow every tree that is pleasant to the signt, and good for food; the
Tree of Life also in the midst of the garden, and the Tree of
knowledge of good and evil." (Genesis 2:8-9)
It
is evident that this is more than just a physical piece of real
estate somewhere over in the Middle East. No such place has ever been
found, neither the angel with the flaming sword to keep men out. This
is a state of being that man was in when he was first placed here on
this earth. Master and lord over all the earth. Living above
sickness, pain or death. This may be a new thought to you, it may
even come as a shock. But we must wake up, dear ones. We know that
the Tree of Life is not a carnal, physical tree with apples or plums.
Neither the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil.
Jesus
was speaking of men, of prophetic ministries, when He said in Matthew
7:17 that, "Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a
corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit...wherefore by their fruits ye
shall know them." Yes, even Proverbs 11:30 says that, "The
fruit of righteousness is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls
is wise." Turn we me now to Revelation 22:1-2, and see where
that Tree of Life is located. You will see that in that glorious City
of God, which city ye are, there is a throne, and out of the throne
proceeds a River of Life. The water of that river was as clear as
crystal, no error, no false doctrine, no carnality. Jesus said in
John 7:38-39 that, "He that believeth on me, as the scripture
hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But
this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should
receive." So it is out of you, the city of God -- His Church --
the Lamb's wife, that this crystal clear river flows.
Now
see in verse two that on either side of this river was there the Tree
of Life. Here man has been restored back to an existence where there
is an authority (a throne), and an operation of the Holy Spirit
through him (rivers of living water) that is free from error or
carnal man's inferference. And in the midst of this is the fruit of
the righteous, the Tree of Life.
Quickly
go now to Revelation 2:7 where we find that Jesus says that "To
him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life, which is
in the midst of the Paradise of God." Where does He say this
tree is located? In the midst of the Paradise of God! Remember that
in Luke 23:43 Jesus told a man that he would be with Him there. Now
let us turn to II Corinthians 12:1-4 where Paul gives an account of
having been "caught up" into Paradise, which he calls the
"Third Heaven." He says nothing about being physically
taken or "caught away" to another planet or some other
geographical location. In fact, he cannot tell whether or not his
body had anything to do with the experience. He just knows that he
was caught into a higher dimension or realm of existence where he
heard things he could not speak about when he returned to this lower
realm of earthly, carnal existence.
THREE
HEAVENS
Just
as there are three heavens, so there are three annual Feasts and
three compartments to the Tabernacle of Moses. Just as the outer
court of the Tabernacle and the first feast (Passover) represents to
us the great experience with God which we call "salvation"
or justification, regeneration, forgiveness of sins, etc, just so the
first heaven speaks of that place we come to when God, "When we
were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace
are ye saved); and hath raised us up together and made us sit
together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:5-6)
And just as the sanctuary of the Tabernacle wherein dwelled the
candlestick and the shewbread, and the second Feast (Pentecost)
symbolizes that second great experience with God of the infilling of
the Holy Ghost, so the second heaven is to us the realm in God where
we "walk in the Spirit" in heavenly places. So now we see
there is a third heaven. And a third Feast. And a
third compartment of the Tabernacle. Go with me to the Holy of
Holies, and see that glorious Ark of the Covenant in which dwells the
Rod, the Tables of the Covenant, and the pot of Manna (Hebrews 9:4).
Our space is too limited to speak fully on these subjects here. But
notice that the Manna is that "bread from heaven," which
typifies Jesus our Lord (John 6:32-33). He who comes to this place
and eats of this bread, shall never die! It is here in this "third
heaven." Paul got a glimpse into this place. As have others.
Just a glimpse. But thank God the hour has come when the experiential
reality of the Body of Christ enters in and possesses their
possessions!! Not just believing it because the Word says it and the
Spirit witnesses to it. Not just having faith for it. But bringing it
down into the realm of experience. Here. On earth.
Notice
that the third Feast is the time of Ingathering. In fact, it is
called the "Feast of Ingathering" in the Old Testament
(Exodus 23:16). In the end of the year. No more feasts to follow.
This is it. The third heaven. In the which all the fruit of this Tree
of Life will be brought forth. Part of the side effects will be the
healing of the nations. And how they need [to be] healed! What chaos
the world is in! But thank God, He has a purpose and plan in Christ
Jesus which shall not fail. All creation shall rejoice and bless His
great Name.
So
there is a third heaven. Paul was caught up to it. He says it was in
the Paradise of God. This is where the Tree of Life is located. Which
is in the City of God, by the River of water of life. Which always
ends up being His people. You see, beloved, there is a higher
existence for us, a more glorious way of life than we have ever
known. The life in the Holy Spirit is just a foretaste, a
firstfruits, an earnest. This is God's Garden, watered, and abounding
with much fruit. And he comes into that Garden to dwell, to live.
Knowledge alone will not bring us into this. It takes Love, a real,
honest, fervent devotion to our Lord Jesus, and to His Body. Some
will come into this place in the Spirit who have little or no
revelation or understanding on the thing I am writing about here. But
because their hearts have been given over completely to the Lord[,
they will enter]. And some who have much revelation and knowledge of
the purposes of God will miss it, because their spirits are not
right. (I Corinthians 9:27)
THE
ARMY OF GOD MOVES IN
Much
has already been said about the great army in Joel Chapter two. But
let me point out just one thing in verse 3: "A fire devoureth
before them; and behind them a flame burneth; the land is as
the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a
desolate wilderness." Yes, they have come through fire. But
there is yet a flaming sword to face before Eden is regained. And
none of Adam shall survive this fire. He shall perish. Only Christ
shall enter into this Garden of God. So they press on in battle,
warring against the flesh. Destroying all of the earthly, carnal man.
For, "As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also
bear the image of the heavenly." (I Corinthians 15:49) He goes
on to say here that corruptible flesh and blood cannot inherit this
Kingdom of which he speaks.
So
we who have been born of flesh, who have lived in a body of flesh and
succumbed to its correction, are to be born of the Spirit. Jesus said
(John 3:6), "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit." And the Apostle tells us
that "The first man Adam was made a living soul, the last Adam
was made aq quickening (live-giving) spirit. The first man is of the
earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the
earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly,
such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image
of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." (I
Corinthians 15:45-49)
This
affects not only our spirits, but also our bodies. And it shall not
only be entered into through a physical resurrection for those who
have gone on before, but it shall be entered right here on this earth
by some who remain until His coming. Their bodies shall be changed
from mortal to immortal, from corruptible to incorruptible. This
shall be witnessed by the people of this world, as well as
principalities and powers in heavenly places. Yea, all of creation
shall witness the victory of the glorious Body of Christ! And though
it is not aware of this truth, all creation goans for this day, this
great day of His glory! Hallelujah! Bless His dear Name!
THE
BATTLE RAGES
However,
this land is not easy to come into. The enemy will not give up
without a struggle. But victory is inevitable. For some. For those
who are sold out to God, who are wholeheartedly devoted to His dear
Son. Glory to God! I can hardly write these truths without going into
a pentecostal spasm! Bless the Lord! So God's Army marches on. The
flesh, the world, and the devil are losing the battle.
But
remember this, beloved... It is not so important that you know all
the details of how these things are going to be worked out. There
were a lot of great men of God, much greater in God than I'll ever
be, who knew far less of the mysteries of God than He is revealing to
babes in this hour. But it pleased God to reveal just as much in
their own day as was necessary to carry the program of God forward.
Of course, there were some prophets in days gone by who lookeld ahead
by the eye of the Spirit and saw the great Day that we are about to
enter. But most of them saw only what we now consider to be simple
truths, as God was pleased to reveal. But these simple truths tore up
their ecclesiastical systems, and called them forth into a new realm
of the Spirit. For those who rejected the Truth of God for their
hour, there waits for them the judgments of God. Whether they
rejected salvation by faith in Luther's day, or the "tongues
movement" as the turn of this century, or the "latter rain"
outpouring of 1948-49, or even the truth of Sonship in these last
days... they must face God with their reasons for resisting the work
of the Spirit.
The
important thing is to keep your spirit right, and your heart open to
the moving of the Spirit of God. And to have a fervent love for God,
and for one another. We are on our way back to the GArden of God,
Paradise, the third heaven, to eat of the Tree of Life. Never to die
again. All enemies under our feet forever. Christ living within us,
yes, and controling us from the throne within, where He sits in
triumphant victory. Glory to God, it's worth it all! Don't begrudge
the cost, the trials, the afflictions, however severe. Our light
afflictions, which are but for a moment, are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us!
Worship Him! Praise Him! Love Him! He is indeed worthy! Hallelujah!
