The Fourth Stage - The Stage of Authority

After God has stripped us bare and cleansed us, He leads us by His light into the fourth stage. At this point the mist has cleared; the wine is no longer cloudy, but clear. Now we have been instructed about ourselves, namely, that we must no longer cling to something outside of God. The soul’s rapturous elements have come to rest. Yet we must be purified even more. We are still not finished. At every stage He purifies us more and prepares us for further progress. The goal of God’s dealings with us is a life in progress. Each inward treatment is a rung on which we can put our feet to advance further, and all experiences constitute a stairway on which we can climb higher. Therefore we must not stop at experiences, but with our feet planted on our last experience, we shall reach out for that which we have not yet experienced. By doing this, experiences will not become something to be rejected; but since they are experiences in Christ, they become a foundation in Him on which we always build further. Therefore we praise God for both old and new.

Now God binds us to Himself in a new way. Now we are poor, but God makes us rich—no longer in ourselves, but we become rich in God. Now God’s Spirit—the hidden teacher in the depths of the heart—leads us into a deeper life. We have come to rest in our poverty and we are led into a marvelous quietness before God’s face. God’s voice can be heard most clearly in this quietness. Moreover, this voice is so still that it communicates itself to us even without words. Our spiritual eyes are opened to the deep mysteries in Christ before God’s face in the secret chambers of the heart. There we learn to know Jesus’ greatness just as it is. The relationship is deepened even more, too delicate for words, and a sincere, intimate fellowship is established between Jesus and the soul. Jesus entrusts the soul with His most secret thoughts, intentions, and plans, and the soul receives grace to enter into an inner, personal work together with his Savior, which is a comprehensive work so that Jesus’ bride, the church, can arise in all her beauty.

There, in the heart’s secret chamber, Jesus and the soul present themselves with one heart before the Father’s face in fervent prayer for God’s people, the warring bride. This is where we become partakers of the intense sufferings that are the fruit of Jesus’ pure love. We are filled with love and sufferings paired with the sweet, joyous hope of being Jesus’ co-worker. Jesus prays to the Father, and the Spirit sighs the same prayer through the soul. This prayer reaches the ear that is quietly attuned to the Spirit’s voice. This prayer permeates the soul to the point where it is no longer like the inward prayer in the third stage, but it takes each thought captive to the utmost limit. It becomes a clear-sighted and purposeful as well as an intense work together with Jesus Christ. At this point it is no longer a question of seeking God from a defined spiritual position or from a certain spiritual, emotional state, because we no longer have ourselves or our state in mind. We forget to look at ourselves because of the abundance of sufferings that come over us in our battle for our brothers and sisters. Our work is unlimited within the scope of God’s plan. Now we can entreat God to pour out His riches over the church, and now we can intercede for the transgressors. Our work is not limited by time or place, for wherever we are we can faithfully stand by Jesus’ side—alone with Him in the heart’s secret chamber before God’s face.

You can take this secret chamber with you wherever you go.

Besides this inward co-operation with Jesus, we also have an outward work with Him who says, “The Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness . . . .” John 15:26-27. The Spirit testifies directly of the truth to the hearts of men, and we shall, as Paul did, exhort and teach every man with all wisdom, to present every man perfect in Christ. The Spirit testifies of the truth directly as well as through us. Thus we have the Spirit as an ally in the hearts of men, for a matter must always be confirmed by the statements of two witnesses. Thus it is an inward co-operation with our great High Priest in prayer before the Father’s face, as well as an outward co-operation by “commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” (The conscience is molded by the acknowledged amount of light we have received.)

God cleanses us in the midst of this work. He does this as we reflect on it. When we have done a work for God, we do what Jesus did so many times: He went up on a mountain to pray by Himself. When we have completed a work, we are inclined to enjoy the fruits and admiringly show them to others. But when we reflect on the work by devoting ourselves to prayer before God’s face, we can suddenly see our action very clearly. We can see the mistakes we have made in the work that was done. Instead of admiring the fruits, we are sincerely grieved that we were unable to do the work more perfectly before God. We discover that the root cause of the work not being fully acceptable in God’s sight is in our own life. So we judge ourselves in God’s light and die to everything that hinders us. Then we continue to walk in God’s works while reflection preserves us. What we learn by reflecting on our works increases our spiritual understanding, which is why we read, “Understanding will keep you.” This is how God cleanses the soul that bears fruit so that he might bear more fruit.

Reigning With Jesus in His Judgments

Our entire walk with God is a passive way of faith. It is God’s hand that leads and guides and is the driving force; we are His workmanship, which He molds into a fruitful tree. As we consciously enter into the inner labor of being co-workers together with the Savior, we will become active on this passive way of faith. We receive each new light with expectation. When it judges a folly in us, we quickly agree. We act in concert with the light of Jesus Christ in its judgments. We even delight in the judgments of the light, eagerly awaiting new light. When we face the new light in order to work together with it, we enter into total darkness where God is, for in God’s presence light is as darkness because our eyes are blinded by the brightness of the light. From this darkness God speaks to our innermost soul as light. Now we are being apprehended by God’s zeal. Together with God’s dawning light we judge all remnants of uncleanness. Righteousness is being executed more and more in this light. We realize that the sting of God’s love is the consuming fire of righteousness. God’s righteousness consumes our self-life like a fire. Therefore we love God’s cleansing fire in the depths of our heart. Now we learn that the sting of love is righteousness, that its substance is glory, and that the end result of its work is transformation according to its own nature. The active power of love, which zealously executes righteousness, makes room for its own nature in the depths of our heart. This work continues without ceasing, and it feels like an all-consuming desire that surpasses all previous intimate cravings and longings for the full power of love. Love’s instrument for preparing a way is righteousness, and its power is a persistent zeal for God that requires our own life as an offering of faith. Zeal is released through sacrifice by faith. Zeal makes faith daring, and a tested faith increases zeal. It becomes a flame of the Lord, and its fire is righteousness. What a marvelous fire whose purpose is revealed only after it has produced results. It becomes a joy to dwell by this consuming fire, for the fire’s purity is beautiful. The strength of the fire increases when it is fed by sacrifice. Love has clothed herself in fire. Its aim is the annihilation of the sacrifice. When the annihilation is complete, the fire dies out. When its purpose has been obtained, the means fall away. In each area in which we are being purified we are confronted by God’s love with its peculiarly expressive way; yet personal attributes are not evident in perfection, for everything dissolves in life.

Sacrifice is based on righteousness. Where sacrifice is required there is some unrighteousness, because no sacrifice is required of righteousness. Nevertheless, righteousness requires that we shall sacrifice whatever is not in harmony with itself, meaning that which transgresses its laws. Only the one who obeys the requirements of righteousness will understand its meaning. Fully executed righteousness is the great, solid foundation of truth—the ultimate goal of wisdom. This is when a holy simplicity impresses itself on one’s heart. This is when we acquire a deep, basic understanding of life, because we have seen our own life.

We have simplified our life by sacrificing it. Our rest in God depends on the protective power of the cross, for the cross covers all that is restless in us. Death enters in between us and everything that disturbs so that we can always be at rest in God—in quietness. Sacrifice reduces multiplicity, and at the same time we press deeper into the very center of wisdom. We know that this is more useful than losing ourselves in its multiple effects, for the great, fundamental truth holds the solution to life’s many twists and turns. It gives everything its true worth. Therefore the simple, exalted simplicity will be established more and more in us, and we sink deeper and deeper into God. The depths are no longer something that is deep, for we feel at home in the depths of God. Profound thoughts become straightforward and simple. We discover that the most profound matters are the simplest, and the simplest are the most perfect because they are the purest. If we should by chance come close to the surface again, we will immediately seek to go down, for it has become absolutely vital for us to abide in the depths. In the depths we live our life with God in an open simplicity. The depths are the source of a simple openness, for openness is established in the mind that is constantly open before the Father’s face so we appear open. Openness is perfection; the hidden things cover folly. Purity does not need a cover. Godly purity forms the foundation for an open simplicity. Open simplicity is the external revelation of the highest truth in the simplest life and its manifestation. The movements of such a soul are not momentous, but the effects of his movements are far-reaching, for they touch the foundation where the soul’s content is found. It is as it was with David; he was the equivalent of ten thousand men.

In the depths of the heart before God’s face the truth flows in with such purity and clarity that a particular expression of each truth is almost unnoticeable, for everything dissolves in life, and life itself will express the truth as God needs it for His plans. We simplify our lives through sacrifice and enter into that great fundamental truth where we are no longer aware of each expression of the truth as it is granted to us, but everything comes to us as life, with the result that there is a deep well within us from which the fullness of God’s riches in thought, word, and deed flow out quite naturally. Thus equipped from the eternal treasure chambers, we enter into the great and active ministry for Jesus Christ in which like Paul we preach Christ the Lord, and ourselves as His servants. 2 Cor. 4:5. Now our goal is to present the church perfect. We enter into the same work as Jesus Christ. Serving and giving our lives is a law of life for us. We surrender everything of our own into the Master’s hands for the furtherance of His work. Possessions, income, body, soul, and spirit—everything is given. This is an essential desire of love. We are chained to love’s driving, compelling power, and each new chain is a joy, that is, each new advance of the truth in our life. Such chained individuals are led away as captives by the amazing love of Jesus Christ; they are taken from the lower parts of the earth. He gives these captives as gifts to the church. They have been put there so that Jesus Christ, through them, can manifest His life in the form of a servant. They have been put there as servants so that the saints might be made perfect in the work of ministry. In the world servants are taught by being commanded, but in God’s kingdom we teach the saints to serve by being an example of a life of service. Therefore Paul also writes to Timothy: “But be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Tim. 4:12. The aim of it is the edification of the body of Christ until they all come to the unity of the Spirit through faith in the Son of God. In a place where people want to rule, the result is division and upheaval; but where everyone wants to serve, the result is an inward as well as an outward co-operation for the common goal. In God’s kingdom there is no other oneness than life. The sword has to be used where oneness is not the result of life. But the sword must be used in love—with zeal. Love, coupled with zeal, must use the sword of righteousness so that the truth can rule in a peaceful atmosphere.

God is full of zeal to reach His goal, and a soul in co-operation with Christ is imbued with the zeal of God just as Phinehas was. God established a covenant of peace with him and his descendants.

This is a law in God’s kingdom. Such people have no time to become intoxicated with a feeling of spiritual well-being. In the previous stages it was often the highest goal of spiritual bliss when God satisfied them so that they felt content to have His pleasure over their lives. However, now the relationship is such that they forget themselves in order to do God’s will so that He can be satisfied with them and have His pleasure in them, just as He was pleased with His Son, calling out, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” This call is still reverberating in God’s heart over those who manifest Jesus’ life of service in this world. A servant does not get intoxicated with joy because he has received an order, for that would hinder him from carrying out his master’s will; however, his joy is complete when he can give joy to his Lord through his obedience. It is also the food and the highest spiritual contentment for those who do the Father’s will, whether it is through joy or through sufferings, whether it is on Mount Tabor or on Calvary. There is nothing greater than satisfying God in the present moment by doing His will, and thus contributing to the completion of His loving plans. In this regard God makes use of His willing disciples, those who do not love their lives unto death, those who overcome in the power of the blood of the Lamb and the words they have heard. They are like Mary who anointed the Lord’s body for His burial. Mary understood Jesus’ ways and His goal. With this full understanding she crushed her most precious possession, a flask filled with aromatic oil of spikenard, and anointed Jesus’ body. These souls crush the most precious possession they have to anoint Jesus’ body, which is the church.

Jesus was made perfect through sufferings, and having conquered death, He now sits at the Father’s right hand, far above all powers and principalities. Now Jesus’ bride, His church—which is His body—shall go the same way. The one who understands the way of the bride—the church—will break the most precious thing he has in order to anoint the body of Christ so it can be united on the consecrated way through death with the Resurrected One, the Exalted Head. Our goal is not enjoyment. Our great goal is to accomplish God’s plan with the church. Therefore we now live in that inner, conscious co-operation with the Exalted One. There we are filled with love and sufferings. The results in God’s kingdom were born of love with pain. The aim of love is truth; thus truth is our joy. Therefore John could write the following words with deep understanding and with love: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” The fathers are to raise the children so that they can comfort and provide for them in their old age; for by walking in the truth, the children are meant to satisfy the fathers with joy in their old age.

The fourth stage is a stage of authority. Those who are in this stage exercise authority in complete harmony with the Savior. They enter into the spiritual battle against powers and principalities, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. They join together with Christ against Satan and his power and methods. In this battle they are clothed with God’s full armor by always praying in the Spirit, etc. Eph. 6:18. They have the persistence of the widow, and like the widow, want justice done to their adversary, the devil. Should God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him? Luke 18:1-8. They have the boldness of the friend. Luke 11:2-8. They do not hesitate to get up in the middle of the night to knock at the door of their Heavenly Friend to ask for three loaves of bread so that the church may have sufficient food. Where there is little food, the situation is unsettled and riddled with discord, but where there is abundant food everyone is content. May all the shepherds in God’s church knock on the door of their Heavenly Friend and ask for bread for hungry souls.

Spiritual authority is followed by victory after victory. As you go on the attack, you will receive power to overcome. Your life is defined by victory, and it can truly be said that you are led in triumph in Christ. 2 Cor. 2:14.

We are to be cleansed further. It is evident that we relish our authority. God does not tolerate it if we hang on to anything outside of Him. In due course we will lose all external supports; we become weaker and weaker. Nevertheless, we are sufficiently strong to be able to defend ourselves. Since everything that is born of God overcomes what is not born of Him, it becomes evident that we overcome all our enemies with our defense—we can even overcome with our silence. God leads us into an even greater weakness. We can no longer defend ourselves. Now the form of a lamb comes into view; we are reckoned as nothing. Now we are the picture of the utmost poverty, the utmost weakness, and the utmost wretchedness. Like Jesus, we are esteemed as nothing, stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God. It is as Paul says, “For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death . . . .” 1 Cor. 4:9. What an amazing depth of God’s wisdom; it will become evident that you are highly exalted above people; you will be who you are, and you will show people what they are.

You will be victorious in the midst of your deepest weakness and infirmity. God will demonstrate that His weakness is stronger than men and that His foolishness is wiser than men. 1 Cor. 1:25. The Lord also says to Paul, “My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:9. As a result Paul was also of good courage in his infirmities, and he would rather boast of them so that the power of Christ could rest on him. And so he could say, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” V. 10. This is where our impotence and God’s omnipotence meet; our weakness and God’s strength; our immaturity and God’s wisdom.

Jesus could have overcome all the enemy’s might by His strength and glory as the Lion of Judah. However, it was God’s plan to make it an even more resounding victory. It was not God’s strength that was to crush Satan’s head, but rather the Lamb that was to be victorious, in order to show that the greatest “weakness” of God is stronger than man. The Lamb overcame in weakness and darkness, being forsaken by God and man and in the midst of the enemy’s howls of triumph, by shedding His blood. On Calvary, outside the city’s gray walls, love celebrated its greatest triumph through a Lamb in the midst of weakness and infirmity. Love’s greatest triumph did not depend on a state of spiritual well-being. It broke through the enemy’s ranks and the darkness of death. Jesus had such power in the midst of His weakness that He could call out, “Father forgive them!” These words echoed around the entire world. On the cross He received strength to forgive. He suffered, the just for the unjust, in order to lead us to God. Now He binds souls to Himself through the mighty power of forgiveness in order to lead them to eternal glory. You have power over someone whom you can forgive. Satan managed to get mankind to commit the worst sin by crucifying the Lord of glory, which is precisely why Jesus received power to forgive the worst sin. The Lamb became the righteous sacrifice for sin. Therefore each soul is in the power of the Lamb. The weakest shall be the most exalted. Phil. 2:5-14. In heaven we will call out, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power.” Rev. 5:12.

The Lamb has made one sacrifice, and now He sits at the Father’s right hand waiting for all His enemies to be laid at His feet as a footstool. All His opposers will one day call out to the rocks and the mountains: Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb! But today the call goes out: Be reconciled to God!

The Lamb shall rule. The form of a lamb is a picture of the utmost weakness, but also of the utmost strength.

Jesus Christ has left us an example so that we can walk in His steps. The bride of the Lamb must have the form of the Lamb as well as His attitude of mind. The bride must follow the Lamb on the way of the cross so that she can also overcome as a lamb. Then she will be exalted together with Him. Then you will one day hear this shout in heaven: “‘The marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.’ And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Rev. 19:7-8. The bride is preparing herself now by following in the steps of the Lamb, and her garment is woven by the righteous acts of the saints.

To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, belong honor and praise and strength for all eternity.

AMEN