Harvest Time?

 “A Voice for the Gathering Saints”
Duane Stewart

 “Harvest Time?”

            Jesus, the Christ, who came from the lineage of King David of Israel, became the fulfiller of all the promises that God had spoken to the children of Israel, the Gentile world and all who are willing to come to Him. Because Jesus fulfilled the articles of the covenant that was made, the door was opened that all who will may come. In the coming unto Him, the Christ who opened for man the windows of heaven, all the types and the shadows shall have and are having there fulfillment. From the birthing of the early church on the day of Pentecost, until today, God has line upon line, precept upon precept, revealed Himself so that the church might walk in the light as He is in the light. The early church, filled with the power that was promised, went forth from the upper room turning the then known world up-side down with the gospel. But, like the children of Israel who, after occupying the land of promise, turned their back upon God by following after the idols, the gods, of the land, the church likewise, after such a glorious beginning, began to incorporate the idols of man’s carnal desire into church order. Herein they replaced God’s glory with the institution called religion. In this place of corruption the church progressively fell into what was to be called the dark ages, a lengthy period of time when murderous, corruptible, immoral men ruled. While moving in the name of God these men were far removed from Him. Thus, the church lost the glory of God as God’s glory was replaced by an order of egotistical minded men who made themselves as God. In this we see a partial fulfillment of that which is declared through Isaiah in Isa. 14:12-14, “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into the heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High”.

            With mankind striving to create their kingdoms, the condition of the world grew steadily darker as spiritual darkness began to cover the earth. But, we must declare that even though darkness prevailed, God has always had for Himself a representing vessel of light in which to manifest Himself through. For this cause restoration had its beginning as line upon line it began to grow. This growth begin as the seed which had been planted by the early church begin to bring forth even as the parable Jesus spoke of in Mark 4:26-29, “And He (Jesus) said, the kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come”. God’s times and seasons have come and gone as the progressive maturing processes of God have continued to increase in the fulfilling of His promises. These promises are the covenant which God made with King David whose desire was to build for God a house, an abiding place for God’s glory. In this same realm of desire, a people, the spiritual offspring of David, are even now seeking the restoration of God’s promised glory. A glory in which God declares that He would dwell and manifest Himself through as His body of people, the true church.

            To understand more fully the restoration of this glory, the harvest of God, let us note that God’s declaration of the method of restoration is likened unto the tabernacle used by David in the return of that glory to Jerusalem. Acts 15:16-17, “After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up; so that the  rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does all these things”. Thus, in our day, we are beginning to see that first-fruits company of people who are manifesting this promised glory. This glory shall so affect the rest of mankind that they likewise might begin to seek after the Lord. How it is that God will restore this tabernacle, this open faced glory revealed to mankind from the mount called Zion? Herein we must observe the period of time when the lost ark, God’s abiding glory, was restored back to David and the children of Israel. We should take note that the church, as seen through the eyes of the world, has likewise lost the glory that was manifested through the early church. But as mentioned, through the dark ages, even until today, the process of restoring is continuing its work of restoration. Therefore, with honest hearts, we should observe the types and shadows of the finished restoration as revealed through these children of Israel.

            In the church today, unto the honest observer, it is apparent that the glory of the Lord is departed from among much of the Christian community because of like sins which existed in the house of Eli, the priest. The corruption, rebellion, immoral and idol worship activity that existed among these Israelites also exist in the church today. But, like in the house of Eli, God is and has raised up the word of the Lord, in like anointed Samuels and King David’s, to restore the word of God and the fear of the Lord back unto God’s people. The ark of God, the place of His glory, had been removed from Shiloh and had been gone for over seventy years. But, the time of restoration had come as God stirred up David’s heart to bring back the ark of God’s glory to Jerusalem, the church. Is there not a like stirring among God’s people, as well as the whole earth, today? There is a godly groaning and travail pouring forth to be released from the consequences of human sin. A sin that is subjecting man to futility and corruption, a process of deterioration which is even now being overcome, as a first-fruits company standing up in the time of their redemption. Rom. 8:23, “Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body”.

            The church, like King David, expressing a desire to see God’s glory restored, has in error, utilized the avenues made available by the worlds systems, in trying for this restoration. But, like David’s cart, any man-made systems used only continue in producing death, just as it did with Uzzah. Many today are likewise building their own carts of religious activities with a desire to make their religious systems a place for their own glory to rest. Many are and have put forth their hand, like Uzzah (strength), to sturdy the shaking of their systems, that by using their own strength, talents, natural abilities, and learned procedures they are seeking to keep the system upright. This is not God’s ordained way. II Sam. 6:6-7, “And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God”. Note that not even the priests were allowed to touch the ark or look into it because of its sacredness. Because the ark was not being handled according to God’s directions, error brought forth judgment and death. Is there not evidence of judgment and spiritual death existing among the Christian community today? Are men ignoring the word of God for their own laws and by-laws? Are they trying to change the word of God that it might support their own carnal ideals and ego’s?

            Meanwhile, God does have a first-fruits remnant, a company of people who willingly are becoming the necessary living sacrifices in whom God’s glory can dwell. Rom. 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”. This word “conformed” speaks of conforming oneself to the outer fashion or outward appearance, accommodating oneself to a model. Apparent or superficial conformity to the present world system or any accommodation to its ways is fatal to the Christian life. Living sacrifices are those who seek God first and continually. They never depend upon self nor self’s ability to do God’s work. These are those who search God out daily to only do or say what God would desire for them. These are willingly learning God’s ways as God moves them into an open heaven relationship; a relationship that responds to God’s way alone. Thus, through sacrifice and praise the glory of God is being restored in them. (Read II Sam. 6:9-23).

            God’s glory, the place of restoration for those who come into God’s presence, is now available to those who, with an honest heart, come before Him in worship and praise. In this presence, this place of glory, God releases from Himself the fullness of who He is. With increasing measures God makes Himself known with the manifestations of His nature. His nature, that which man calls the supernatural, is made known with the miraculous, signs and wonders in the form of healings and physical renewing. Isa. 55:6-9, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts”. In God’s presence the higher ways of God enlarge themselves to encompass and permeate each vessel who abides in that presence. This glory will then affect the environment that each vessel enters into such as home, work, shopping, etc., because higher laws are at work to bring to naught all negative forces of evil as God’s glory manifest itself through each yielded vessel. Thus, God manifest Himself in forms of light that is more powerful than darkness. Truth that is stronger than error. Grace from God’s heart that is greater than the sin in men’s hearts. Know that there is more power in the Holy Spirit to convict men of sin than there is power of the evil forces to tempt men to sin. There is more power in the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse than the stain of any sin. In this place of glory all sin, sickness, corruption and any impairment must flee. Friends, God’s glory is come for the time of harvest is here as the first-fruits are being sent forth to minister unto and gather in the full harvest. Rev. 15:3-4, “…Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship beforeYou, for Your judgments have been manifested”.

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