November 06, 2014
In the Book of Revelation there is
mention made in relationship, particularly, to the four beasts and the four and
twenty elders, that they would be made kings and priests unto God, to rule on
the earth. The terms "kings" and "priests" might well
provide us with a basis for meditation. A king, as we already know, symbolizes
in the Bible the human mind—the king or Pharaoh or Herod, the human mind—usually
in the fallen state. But, seeing as God created the mind of man, we recognize
that there is a correct place for it, and that the king might not necessarily refer
to the fallen human mind. Our Master is referred to as the KING of Kings. We
have here something rather interesting. When He came into the world His
approach in ministry was from the standpoint of the second plane, the mental
plane, the plane of the king. The mind of man, when it was first created by
God, was created to be a king on earth, to rule on earth.
However there is that, of course, which
is higher than the king: the priest. The priest refers to the correct function
from the standpoint of the spiritual expression plane of being. So we have the
mind, symbolized by the king, and the spiritual expression in you, in anyone,
as it comes to focus, symbolized by the priest. And there is that which is
above the priest: the Lord. Insofar as
you as individuals are concerned, that would refer to your own God Being. And
there is, of course, that which is above your God Being. However you do not
need to particularly concern yourself with that, because everything that is
above your God Being is just the way it should be. The pattern is right; it is
all coordinated; it is all integrated; it is all one thing. It is that which is
below that requires attention: the level of the priest and the king.
Now the king must be willing to come
under the control of the priest in you, and the priest of course ministers
before the Lord. The spiritual expression levels of your being constitute the
realm of the priest. Now I suppose we could carry it further, below the level
of the king, and perhaps we would use the term "prophet" in
relationship to the physical aspect: prophet, king, priest, Lord. A "prophet" indicates the form on earth through which the
word of God, or the act of God, finds expression, and could relate to the
physical levels of being. The Old Testament, particularly, gives a record of
many prophets, and we remember that the Old Testament has primary concern with
the First Sacred School, that which was from the standpoint of the physical
approach.
When our Master came, His ministry was
introduced by John the Baptist, who was considered as being the last of the
line of prophets. Our Master indicated at one point that of those who were born
of women he was the greatest, but that the least in the kingdom of heaven was
greater than he. Here we begin to see movement from that level to the next:
from the physical level to the mental level, the kingdom, the place of the
king, the realm of the king. Now that kingdom, insofar as we are concerned now,
is at hand by reason of something else: the level of the priest, the spiritual
expression plane of being, which is the level of our approach. So insofar as
each individual is concerned, then, there are these three aspects. We have
spoken of them as body, mind and spiritual expression, and have coordinated these terms with prophet, king and priest. That is
true of each one. When we consider the whole body of mankind we recognize that
there are those who function from the standpoint of the priesthood, there are
those who function from the standpoint of the king level of being and those who
function from the standpoint of a prophet level of being.
That which is needed on earth in order
to make possible the development of the pattern according to the divine design
is the priesthood, that which provides the connection between God and the king,
between God and the means by which human beings function in a practical and meaningful
sense here on earth. So we are particularly concerned with the development of
the priesthood, because as long as the king of the outer mind tries to function
without the priest, or without regard to the priest, as the case may be, we
have the state of the fallen world: the mind of man separated from God. The
priest provides the connecting link between God and the king, that which
permits the establishment of government on earth.
As we have noted, those who come into
the holy place must come in completely, body, mind and heart. We cannot leave
any parts outside. So the coordinated function of the three levels of being, as
symbolized by prophet, king and priest, is essential to those who share in
establishing the true priesthood on earth in the holy place—body, mind and
heart; all of you—that there may be true men and true women, both serving in
the holy place, together, in oneness, as a part of the body of the priesthood.
This indicates the correct relationship between men, between women and between
men and women—the right pattern, that which is truly fitting, right and proper
in the sight of God.
There have been many concepts developed,
even in the scope of our own ministry, with regard to these things; but there
is that which needs to be seen clearly, with understanding, in relationship to
things as they actually are. We do not wish to hold theories or to maintain
beliefs that do not harmonize with the truth. When we begin to move into a
consideration of proper relationships within the pattern of the body of the
priesthood in the holy place, we necessarily touch the realm that human beings
think of as sex. Actually, of course, all of our considerations in relationship
to the holy place and the things of God are concerned with sex as it actually
is, not, certainly, simply as human beings think it to be, because their view
in the matter tends to limit itself to a certain field in the physical plane of
being.
Now the human viewpoint in regard to
that is very much distorted, of course, very limited, so we could not say that
sex as human beings understand it is included in our consideration; but that
which human beings have misunderstood in relationship to that level of sex is included
in our considerations. Actually, as we have before noted, the One Law, of which
you have some understanding, is very definitely related to sex in the divine
sense, and all function relates to the One Law. When we understand how the One
Law operates, finds its proper application with respect to any field of
function, all fields of function, then we are capable of correct function, and
that is function in sex in the divine sense. Now you can see that that covers a
very much greater scope than what human beings usually think about in
relationship to sex. But we cannot exclude those levels of sex which human
beings have so distorted in their own approach to them, because it is all one
thing, and the One Law finds application all the way through in relationship to
all levels of being, with respect to all function.
You can recognize that when you carry on
a conversation with a person there is actually function in sex in the divine
sense; the positive and the negative are in operation. I don't care if the
conversation is between men or between women, or between a man and a woman,
there will be that which finds positive expression through one, and if it is to
be a true conversation there must be response on the part of the other, and
then the pattern may shift around so that the positive is on the other side. We have in relationship to all things this function between the positive
and the negative. Now to imagine that physical sex is involved in all these
patterns of association is ridiculous! There are those who have attempted to
make it relate to everything. It doesn't! Sex relates to everything, yes, but
not simply that particular level of function in sex.
So there is a proper pattern of
relationship within the body of the priesthood which is contained within what
we call sex, or we can use that word to describe it; but the pattern of oneness
which is essential relates to the spiritual expression level of being. Those of
you who have attended the Class on Sunrise Ranch may recall Uranda emphasizing
the necessity for a server to establish a pattern of spiritual intimacy with
the servee. Now that is exactly what it should be, spiritual intimacy. There are those who have not understood how to
let it be maintained under proper control at the right level of being, and it
has tended at times to move to levels where it should not be.
If we are to function together in oneness
in the body of the priesthood there must be that spiritual intimacy. But let us
not imagine because there must be that spiritual intimacy that that somehow
opens the way for intimacy to appear at the other levels of being, and
particularly from the standpoint of the physical level of being. There is a
divine design. It comes down from God out of heaven, and our concern in the
matter is to receive it at the spiritual expression level of being, that we may
establish a spiritual intimacy that does not cause anyone to imagine that
somehow there will follow a pattern of intimacy which extends to the other
levels of being.
There is nothing indiscriminate insofar
as the function of the priesthood in the holy place is concerned. There is an
absolute control there. Those who serve in the holy place are of course
servers, and there is the necessity of developing patterns of spiritual
intimacy with those whom we serve, otherwise we cannot serve them in any
effective sense. But the absolute control from the standpoint of that which is
coming down from God out of heaven must be established and maintained.
As I pointed out, as we move into the
holy place, going on through the cloud of glory, there is an intensification of
the light and of the fire. It becomes possible to see more, to understand more,
to comprehend more in the light, and there is an intensification in the feeling
realm, in the heart. That is what happens as we move on through. Now, I pointed
out the dangers of losing centering, because the intensification of wrong
feeling can come just as violently, as strongly, as the intensification of
right feelings, should the centering be lost. But I want to make very sure that
you are going to let things be under control as we move into the Shekinah
pattern of being.
There are many things in relationship to
the patterns of sex in the physical sense which are fitting and right from the
divine standpoint which might not be considered so from the standpoint of fallen
human beings. But I would not wish anyone to jump to the conclusion that they
know exactly what those patterns would be and that therefore they are capable
of functioning in them, because that is not so. There are many things in the
divine design that, because man has distorted them and established them on the
wrong basis, are considered to be evil by man. They are not evil at all insofar
as the divine design is concerned. But remember that the truth contains both
the elements of design and of control. There is an absolute control. There is a
right function. It is not an indiscriminate thing. That needs to be recognized
most clearly as we move into the cloud of glory, so that you let the control be
maintained where it should be, in the recognition that there will be and should
be an increase of spiritual intimacy, which of course provides the basis for
the pattern in form of the body of the priesthood. I do not want anyone jumping
to conclusions! There is the need for control and for right function according
to a sense of the fitness of things, on the part of both men and women.
Our field of consideration is a
difficult one to approach because of the tendencies of human beings to misinterpret
what is said. Nevertheless it is necessary to say something and begin to
develop some understanding with respect to these things. Above all, I am
concerned that there should be control as we let the intensification come, for
it will move through you, if you share in it, in body and mind and heart. Human
beings so easily clothe what they feel with bodies of their own devising. An
intensification of feeling in body and mind and heart so often causes the
individual to indulge in vain imaginings. He interprets that feeling in
relationship to this one or that one, instead of just letting it be what it is
and let the Lord give it form in His season. There is a need for patience.
Patience is one of the outstanding
qualities or characteristics required by those who would function in the holy
place; patience with yourselves and with each other, patience without judgment.
Let each one come into the holy place in his or her own way. You all are
coming. No one is excluded. Do not judge each other, but help each other. Be
patient with each other. Be understanding with each other. As the natural
increase of spiritual intimacy comes, let it be held under firm control, so
that you do not start misinterpreting it. Even with the little intensifications
we have had in times past there has been enough misinterpretation, and enough
problems consequent upon it.
As members of the priesthood, serving in
the holy place, it is natural that we should have spiritual intimacy. We are
functioning in the holy place, the spiritual expression plane of being. Let us
let it be right at that level, held under firm control, so that you may
participate in allowing the body of the priesthood to take its proper form in
season. Do not indulge in daydreaming or in vain imaginings!
I thank God that I have been able to
touch on these things with you to this extent at least, that you may remember
my words, that everything may be right and accomplished decently and in order,
to the glory of God, that we may share together in allowing the body of the
priesthood to appear on earth with that effectiveness which will allow the
control from God to begin to be extended to the king, the mind of man. That
control cannot come for the mind of man until there is established the
connecting link, the means, the machinery, in the holy place.
You may begin to see, as you meditate
upon these things, that the way by which the purposes of God are achieved on
earth is really rather simple, and absolutely certain. Let us share in giving the Lord the
opportunity for the accomplishment of His purposes, as we stand together in
close oneness in the holy place.
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