There is a River by Duane Stewart
In the very beginning of creation, God purposed from Himself to make a creation in which to fellowship as a family. It is through this creation that God chose to reveal Himself. Thus, when He formed man from the dust of the earth, God breathed into the formed man a part of Himself. This breath of life was God’s Spirit, which He placed into the dustman, and the man became a living soul. Man became a living soul, with a will only desiring to obey God in all His leadership. Man became a living soul, with a mind, to think the thoughts of God. Man became a living soul, with emotions, in which to respond as God Himself would and a living soul, with desires, in which to long for only the purposes of God. In this state of being, God could manifest, from the invisible to the visible, the light and life, which God is. With the soul completely filled with the life of God, the nature of God, both the visible and the invisible realms would begin to know Him. This created man, while manifesting the covering of God’s glory, was able to walk with God without any reservation, being at one with God. God confirms this place of life as written in Genesis. Gen. 3:8-11, “And they heard the sound [God’s voice] of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool [spirit] of the day, [a common meeting place until after the fall], and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God [disobedience brings separation] among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, where are you? So he said, I heard your voice in the garden [God’s place of manifestation], and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself. [Disobedience rejects God’s covering]. And He said, who told you that you were naked? [a question of fact, Adam loosing his covering causes man to fear God’s presence]…” Therefore, man created to manifest God’s glory and nature has fallen. In this fallen separated condition, man separated from God’s presence, is unable to stand in that presence.
With man knowing in his first estate that he was made in the image of God, his purpose was for dominion and man needs to know that God’s plan and purpose has never changed. Man fell but through sacrifice, God continues in His purpose. The sacrifice for fallen man was a Lamb slain before the foundation of God’s purpose for man’s restoration. Restoration is progressively bringing creation back to the place of freedom wherein he could manifest God’s purpose, to return to a place of obedience. Herein, man might again walk with God in the spirit of each day, in fellowship with Him. This process of restoration takes us from fallen man, first through the natural realm and then the spiritual, continuing until the fullness of God comes forth. Through Moses and the wilderness tabernacle, we see the natural law established, to lead, under the mandate of that law to bring forth a natural people, wherein, under obedience to the natural law, they become the people of God. It is here, in a wilderness tabernacle, that God began to restore a people to a place wherein they might again meet with Him. Exodus 25:21-22, “You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat…” This is a new beginning, restoring man to a new place of fellowship in the natural realm where God is available for a relationship. Let us take note of the power of this new covenant that God makes with man. Deliverance from a fallen separated state of existence is now available, a renewing of the ability to meet and fellowship with God.
Exodus 34:10-11, “And He [God] said, Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you. Observe what I command you this day. Behold I am driving out from before you the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite”. God’s promise, to drive out the natural nations from before them, that they might see the glory of God revealed to a natural people, the Israelites. In obedience, God promised continual guidance that the people might follow the progressive presence of God through all their journeys. This guidance will enable them to enter the promise land, a natural place of dwelling. A place of becoming a people, separated from the nations (life-styles) of the world to take on the life-style of the nature of God. Here, God in a place of leadership gives Israel a spirit of direction in stepping towards restoration. Exodus 40:34-38, “Then the cloud covered that tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. When ever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys, But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys”.
Another day has come and God chooses to manifest Himself again. However, this time He does not restrict Himself to the natural realm only, but He is now ready to take His people to a higher realm, which ushers them into the realm of the spiritual guidance vs natural laws. In this, He begins to manifest Himself through Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the head of the church, He begins a move to birth His body, the spiritual household of God. It was now time for the fulfillment of the spiritual. (Read Luke 24:44-53). God, no longer satisfied to be living in tents and tabernacles made by man’s hands is now moving into the soul of man. For what purpose but to fill each called one with the Holy Spirit wherein God could manifest Himself through each new birthed man. Now, instead of a cloud by day and a fire by night over a man made tabernacle, His purpose now was to dwell within man himself. Giving directions to the church, the body of Christ, they were to wait in Jerusalem for the impartation of God’s Holy Spirit. They, man, not a man made tabernacle, was now to manifest, by the power of the Holy Spirit, God’s presence, His power and glory. (Read Acts 2:1-4). Remember, this newborn church, the Body of Christ, was now moving into a new realm of life. A life-style in which the power and authority of God is released to become a mind-set of having all things common. This is speaking of a people relating to God and each other in the power of unity. This relationship is with God, one that manifest towards each other by knowing and living and having a common denominator, the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. (Read Acts 2:41-47 & Acts 4:31-37). This is the Christ, a head and body with one heart.
Again, we have another day upon us and we have God moving forward again. No longer is God pleased with a church that moves in an in-part order only (read I Cor. Chap. 13 – the limitations of the Holy place, note verse nine). Now God is calling forth a people to come forth in a full measure, to again walk and talk with His creation in the spirit of that full measure. It is in these last days that God has chosen to manifest Himself again and to bring forth the birthing of a kingdom. A birthing accomplished and completed through the changing of man’s nature. Isa. 66:1-2, “Thus says the Lord: Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. Where is the house that you will build me? And where is the place of my rest? For all those things my hand has made, and all those things exist, says the Lord. But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word”. The sound of a blowing trumpet is sounding throughout the land. It is now time for the birthing of a nation, a kingdom of Priest/Kings and the coming forth of the firstfruits remnant. Isa. 66:5-8, “Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word: Your brethren who hated you, who cast you out for My name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy. But they shall be ashamed. The sound of noise from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the Lord, who fully repays His enemies! Before she was in labor she gave birth; before her pain came, she delivered a male child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children”.Yes, there is a rising up of a nation, a nation of Priest/Kings to become the visible body of the Christ in the earth. A people raised up to be sent forth to establish the kingdom of God. Even as declared in John 3:34, “For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him”.
Here we see a people, no longer bound to an in-part order or revelation, but those sent forth in a full measure to manifest the handy-works of God. This is the coming forth of the spirit-filled saints filled with the nature of God. Written within their minds and hearts is God’s nature. These are God’s two witnesses, the spirit and the word in manifesting the nature of God. Rev. 11:3-6, “And I will give power to my two witnesses [the remnant of God, the embodiment of the spirit and the word], and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees [spirit] and the two lampstands [revealed word] standing before the God of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their months and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. These have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire”.
Resurrection time is at hand. The seven-thunders are sounding and revealing the revelation of truth that will usher in the fullness of God. These seven thunders are the seven mysteries of God. These mysteries are the mysteries, which through the seven churches, God progressively revealed Himself until the time of fullness, when the mystery of God is finished. Rev. 10:4 & 7, “Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them…… but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets”. Thus, this trumpet is sounding, a voice declaring God’s total redemption plan that all things might be complete.
Through each order of truth, a trumpet has sounded to open up that mystery. Each mystery being the enlightenment of God made known in its part of the total redemption plan. Remember, God reveals Himself line upon line, precept upon precept, with each truth remaining steadfast as the next truth is added. This addition continues until the seventh order of perfection has come, which trumpet is now beginning to sound. These seven mysteries are:
1. Salvation through the sacrifice accomplished for man.
2. Baptism is the mystery of sanctification and justification through a convent with Christ.
3. Man coming into union with Christ.
4. Feeding or partaking of the Christ through the Christ within, the Christ in His body and the Christ among us.
5. Man, with Christ enabled to sacrifice the carnal soul realm and coming into complete submission to the nature of God.
6. Man birthed into a new nature in Christ through the overshadowing of God’s nature within the man.
7. The appearing of Christ through the man-child wherein the life-giving church is now complete and incorporated into Christ.
Rev, 11:15, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever”. Presenting the consummation of God’s reign when the glory of the Christ reigns on earth. Thus, the river, which came out of God from the beginning, is now flowing back into God, His eternal purpose completely fulfilled.