Dec 24
The Opening of the Veil and the First Step
For thus says the High and Lofty One
Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,
To revive the spirit of the humble,
And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Isaiah 57:15
Trembling, eyes wide open, and struck with Awe you watch as the Veil rises. The Cherubim seem to take flight and the four colors woven in the tapestry before you astonishingly becomes a beautiful swirl portraying Heavenly Royalty.
The smoke rising from the Censor hanging by your side almost seems unnoticeable. Prayer for others seems a little out of reach right now. Yet, prayer for yourself is easily grasped, after all if your sins aren’t covered then this is the last sight you will see on Earth. Waiting is hard, years go by, but in reality only seconds have lapsed.
THE VEIL STOPS
Before the veil fully opens it stops about halfway up the height of the Four Golden Posts. You wonder what to do, do you help lift it? Do you see if there is a snag? Or do you turn and walk away believing God changed His mind and no longer wants to meet with you? Do none of the aforementioned - just wait. You’ll do a lot of this with God. That is why it is written that those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.
Before long you will understand, the Veil will not lift higher - you must humble yourself, and bow to enter this next Room of Mystery.
STANDING TALL
You entered the Outer Court yard standing and full of confidence. You entered the Holy Place, the first Room of Mystery, standing, charged with energy, and eager to fulfill God’s plan for your life. But, to enter this last Room of Mystery you will have to bow.
Before you leave this room you will have added contrition of heart to the humility of spirit you soon will exhibit.
You must now take the next step toward God - He has already taken the first step by lifting the Veil.
THE EXPECTATION OF MORE PAIN
Not quite knowing what to expect, some are scared of experiencing more pain in this room. And you, yourself know you cannot take that. You have a paradox of feelings - you want to run away, yet you want to run to Him. You are flooded with memories. In the Outer Court you remember the physical pain as the evil one tried to discourage you by afflicting you and those you love. In the Holy Place there was emotional, and intellectual pain as the evil one used verbal, and emotional tirades from others to dissuade you. Now you wonder what kind of pain will be experienced in this room? You really don’t know if you can take anymore.
THE JOURNEY OF THE CROSS
What you will find in the next room, the Holy of Holies is far different from anything you have experienced in this journey. You might want to think through this - In the Outer Court you began the journey of the Cross. Your beard was plucked, the Crown of Thorns was jammed down on your head, and your flesh was deeply cut by three hundred and fifty one pieces of steel that hit your back in the thirty-nine stripes you received. In other words, you took up the Cross to follow Jesus. You gave up your life in this world so you might gain life in this world and in the world to come.
In the Mystery of the Holy Place, your garments were gambled for, your friends deserted you, you were taunted and mocked by those around you, and the weight was so heavy you had trouble catching your breath. But, in the Room before you, you will experience pain of a different order. Not the pain caused by others, nor the physical pain of affliction - all that is past. In this room you will learn the pain of your own incapability as you are asked to fulfill a purpose from God, that without His enabling, you will certainly fail - and you will go through it for the sake of others.
TRUSTING GOD
It was in this room that Jesus felt the weight of the sin of the world. It was here He felt forsaken by the Father, it was here that He had to rely on a Father, that He thought had forsaken Him, and who seemed so far away, to resurrect Him from the dead. Jesus was absolutely incapable of resurrecting himself. Without the Spirit of His Father coming to raise Him up, Jesus would have had to stay in the confines of Sheol with all those who died before him and all those who would die after Him.
When Jesus said to the Father, “Into you hands I commit my spirit” He died. The only way He could be raised from the dead was to give up His spirit - only then could the Holy Spirit raise Him up. Jesus had to give up His life essence - the very breath from God the Father that gives man life. Jesus had to trust the Father with His eternal life. Only then would He have the power to over come the authority of Satan and the stench of death found in Sheol. Only then could He, in His rising from Sheol, take all who believed with Him.
Jesus had to give up everything in order to gain everything. It is now time, time for you to take the next step. Lean forward, bow down, take the step. The purpose for which God created you is waiting.
Blessings,
John Paul
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John Paul:
Thank you for reminding me of the true meaning of Christmas. Now all I need to do is bow low in this next room in order to fit inside of it. Oh boy what a challenge, its gonna be a tight squeeze for some of us or maybe all we have to do is castrate our tongue or gouge our eyes out instead so we can see clearer, lol. I was wondering where I was going with the tongue and eye thing, lol. God get me off of this run away train called my own thinking and give me your mind. I will be much better off and the world will be much better off too, lol, whoa where is this coming from. I better quit while I am “A Head” no oun intended, lol. Well anyway, ho, ho, ho and have a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year Full of Great Joy and Peace That Surpasses all Human Understanding”.
Blessings,
Shirley C.
JPJ–Not quite knowing what to expect, some are scared of experiencing more pain in this room. And you, yourself know you cannot take that. You have a paradox of feelings - you want to run away, yet you want to run to Him. You are flooded with memories. In the Outer Court you remember the physical pain as the evil one tried to discourage you by afflicting you and those you love. In the Holy Place there was emotional, and intellectual pain as the evil one used verbal, and emotional tirades from others to dissuade you. Now you wonder what kind of pain will be experienced in this room? You really don’t know if you can take anymore.
This answered a question that has been bothering me, will I go through more pain? It has been a stretching two years. I have seen things in people, and had things said to me, all from those I thought I could trust, it has been very very hard, but now I fully understand why, even though it was very painful, and down right heart ripping, I can say through it all it was worth it, Why? because the maker of heaven and earth speaks to me, and I know I am His daughter.
Merry Christmas
“When Jesus said to the Father, “Into you hands I commit my spirit” He died. The only way He could be raised from the dead was to give up His spirit - only then could the Holy Spirit raise Him up. Jesus had to give up His life essence - the very breath from God the Father that gives man life. Jesus had to trust the Father with His eternal life. Only then would He have the power to over come the authority of Satan and the stench of death found in Sheol. Only then could He, in His rising from Sheol, take all who believed with Him.
Jesus had to give up everything in order to gain everything. It is now time, time for you to take the next step. Lean forward, bow down, take the step. The purpose for which God created you is waiting.” John 16-21 chapter 17 and Psalm 91, Revelation 5_12-14, many blessings to you, family, all your household, and staff, Amen…
Seeing issues in my life that I once could not see, has released into me a new “awareness” that I did not have prior to the journey through “the dark night of the soul”
Q: What role will this new awareness play on the journey ahead, and how much emphasis should be placed on cultivating this new awareness through prayer and the spiritual disciplines? Or, will the experience of the journey itself bring this new awareness into a heightened place of sensitivity and/or usefulness? As someone once said; “the essence of awareness is learning to notice – learning to pay attention”
Hopefully, I would like to learn some of the more important lessons, sooner rather than later.
As you have mentioned – just wait.
As I was reading this post– Esther came to me.
Two verse came to my mind:
“…yet who know whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” Esther 4:14
and
“…if I perish–I perish.” Esther 4:16
I believe Esther, as a queen, as a wife, as an ambassador for her people had to bow her way in her approach to the throne–the king’s presence.
She had no idea what the “royal one’s” reaction would be as she made her approach. She just knew that a force–greater than her fear–was leading her to cross that point of no return–that threshold– that veil– into the presence of his highness.
As a Christian, we share intimacy with the LORD from time to time. HE gifts us and clothes us and we take on HIS name. But this does not mean we are ruling fully beside HIM as HE desires for us to be.
Esther’s approach to the throne–to the ark–is what was to define her as queen. I don’t think she entertained any thoughts that the king would offer to share half of his kingdom with her…
There is a kingdom rule that is available to us–not just in name–but in acts…We have to come to that point that we must further the cause of JESUS CHRIST–and count it more important than even the air we breathe or food we eat—even our very life…
LORD, we want to behold YOU in YOUR KINGLY splendor. Teach us to bow from a heart of humility so we can please YOU and gladly make our death to self and personal agenda– an offering to YOU.
Love,
Linda
Is it here that you feel the weight of the pain of others, seeing them, knowing that just as you cannot help yourself, you cannot help others. Unless God comes through, it cannot be conjured up, it is divine intervention. The Spirit that Raised Him from the dead dwells in you, He (must) quicken us.
There is pain in the wait, deep groanings…
God help us..
Lord, it is amazing to me how You - through John Paul and others - bring understanding so deep, revelation so clear with regard to what this experience is about. You apply Your very Words through others to make sense of what this journey is about! I am leaning, bending under and looking to You, my King. Thank You for your grace. Thank you for your mercy and love. Thank you for your invitation to enter. There are no words…just a grateful heart of Your ‘lady in wating’. Selah
JPJ,
Thanks so much. I look forward to the Hearing God class in Jan at the Metrowest church. Thank you, you have helped me understand where God has me spiritually. Amen.
This is the last day of ‘09.
I always think of the last day of each year, as a day of retrospect.
Did I fulfill what YOU asked of me this past year? Did I grow and mature this year?
Am I free to enter into this new season and year? YOU don/t want me to carry weight and baggage from the old year into the new year.
Do I have fresh vision from YOU to know where my next step is?
I want a new wineskin for 2010. Pour fresh wine into me and let me, through YOU, quench the thirsty and parched ones that you put into my path.
I need fresh bread from YOUR oven so I can feed and spread YOUR aroma to the hungry that I come across.
I want to be pleasing to YOU and go into the new year
following in YOUR path that You have called me to walk in. Hallelujah!
I love YOU, my LORD, my KING and my SAVIOR!!!
<3
Linda