THE
HARNESS OF THE LORD
In
the mid-1980’s we had a small fellowship in Northern
Virginia. At that time the Lord impressed upon
us begin to print and distribute for no charge a number of
articles with great spiritual depth and quality of Spirit
to the hungering and thirsty masses in the body of Christ.
This was one of those early tracts.
Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money;
come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy
wine and milk without money and without price.
by
Bill Britton
There is a terrific operation of the Spirit going on today
to bring the Sons of God into an absolute confinement to the
perfect will of God. This is the Day of His Preparation the
day in which He is preparing the channel through which He
shall pour forth His Glory for all the
world to see. This channel is His Body in the earth that glorious
company of people who are being conformed through much tribulation
and fiery tests to the Image of the Son of God. This is His
"battle axe and weapons of war" with which He shall
subdue kingdoms and overcome all His enemies. This is His
"mighty and strong One" to whom He shall commit
the work of judging this world. This is His Overcomer, His
"great army" with which He shall bring the nations
into submission. The weapons of their warfare are not carnal,
natural weapons but they are mighty weapons, mighty through
God to the pulling down of strongholds. These are those who
shall "be strong and do exploits."
But before God can commit this great and tremendous ministry
into their hands they must submit themselves to the discipline
of the Lord letting Him truly be the Lord of their entire
lives. We have long since dealt with the question of open
sin but now God is dealing with the inward rebellion of our
own wills. Some good Christians are not now being so dealt
with for they are not in this Firstfruits
Company but nevertheless there is a real dealing of God going
on within those who are called into the High Calling of God.
This is a very real thing and is the work of the Refiner's
Fire. To those who are going through it some of its aspects
are horrible but very necessary and the end result thereof
is glorious as we are brought into absolute and complete submission
to the will of our Lord.
It was in a minister's conference and convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma
that God gave me a vision which I want to share with you concerning
this harnessing of our own wills. There were more than 30
ministers present in this particular Thursday morning service
and God, the Father of spirits, was present to deal with His
sons, to correct them and discipline them to absolute obedience
to His will. There was such a stern dealing in the Spirit
that no one could go to the pulpit and minister, there was
a reluctance among the ministers to say anything except that
which was directly ordered by the Spirit. And as those men
of God sat there in the awesome presence of Almighty God,
some of them having many years of ministry, some missionaries,
all of them capable of getting up and preaching a powerful
sermon, I was impressed by the way they responded to the discipline
of the Spirit. And in the midst of this terrific dealing of
God with our spirits, the Holy Ghost gave me a vision
...
I SAW THE
KING'S CARRIAGE
On a dirt road in the middle of a wide field stood a beautiful
carriage, something on the order of a stagecoach but all edged
in gold and with beautiful carvings. It was pulled by six
large chestnut horses: two in the lead, two in the middle
and two in the rear. But they were not moving, they were not
pulling the carriage, and I wondered why. Then I saw the driver
underneath the carriage on the ground on his back just behind
the last two horses' heels working on something between the
front wheels on the carriage. I thought, "My, he is in
a dangerous place; for if one of those horses kicked or stepped
back, they could kill him, or if they decided to go forward,
or got frightened somehow, they would pull the carriage right
over him." But he didn't seem afraid for he knew that
those horses were disciplined and would not move till he told
them to move. The horses were not stamping
their feet nor acting restless, and though there were
bells on their feet, the bells were not tinkling. There were
pom-poms on their harness over their heads but the pom-poms
were not moving. They were simply standing still and quiet
waiting for the voice of the Master.
THERE WERE
TWO YOUNG COLTS IN THE FIELD
As I watched the harnessed horses I noticed two young colts
coming out of the open field and they approached the carriage
and seemed to say to the horses: "Come and play with
us, we have many fine games, we will race with you, come catch
us." And with that the colts kicked up their heels flicked
their tails and raced across the open field. But when they
looked back and saw the horses were not following they were
puzzled. They knew nothing of the harnesses and could not
understand why the horses did not want to play. So they called
to them: "Why do you not race with us? Are you tired?
Are you too weak? Do you not have strength to run? You are
much too solemn, you need more joy
in life." But the horses answered not a word nor did
they stamp their feet or toss their heads. But they stood,
quiet and still, waiting for the voice of the Master.
Again the colts called to them: "Why do you stand so
in the hot sun? Come over here in the shade of this nice tree.
See how green the grass is? You must be hungry, come and feed
with us, it is so green and so good.
You look thirsty, come drink of one
of our many streams of cool clear water." But the horses
answered them not so much as a glance but stood still waiting
for the command to go forward with the King.
COLTS IN THE
MASTER'S CORRAL
And then the scene changed and I saw lariat nooses fall around
the necks of the two colts and they were led off to the Master's
corral for training and discipline. How sad they were as the
lovely green fields disappeared and they were put into the
confinement of the corral with its brown dirt and high fence.
The colts ran from fence to fence seeking freedom but found
that they were confined to this place of training. And then
the Trainer began to work on them with His whip and His bridle.
What a death for those who had been all their lives accustomed
to such a freedom! They could not understand the reason for
this torture, this terrible discipline. What crime had they
done to deserve this? Little did they know of the responsibility
that was to be theirs when they had submitted to the discipline,
learned to perfectly obey the Master and finished their training.
All they knew was that this processing was the most horrible
thing they had ever known.
SUBMISSION
AND REBELLION
One of the colts rebelled under the training and said, "This
is not for me. I like my freedom, my green hills, my
flowing streams of fresh water. I will not take any more of
this confinement, this terrible training." So he found
a way out jumped the fence and ran happily back to the meadows
of grass. I was astonished that the Master let him go and
went not after him. But He devoted His attention to the remaining
colt. This colt though he had the same opportunity to escape
decided to submit his own will and learn the ways of the Master.
The training got harder than ever but he was rapidly learning
more and more how to obey the slightest wish of the Master
and to respond to even the quietness of His voice. And I saw
that had there been no training, no testing,
there would have been neither submission nor rebellion from
either of the colts. For in the field they did not have the
choice to rebel or submit, they were
sinless in their innocence. But when brought to the place
of testing and training and discipline, then was made manifest
the obedience of one and the rebellion of the other. And though
it seemed safer not to come to the place of discipline because
of the risk of being found rebellious, yet I saw that without
this there could be no sharing of His glory, no Sonship.
INTO THE HARNESS
Finally this period of training was over. Was he now rewarded
with his freedom and sent back to the fields? Oh no. But a
greater confinement than ever now took place as a harness
dropped about his shoulders. Now he found there was not even
the freedom to run about the small corral for in the harness
he could only move where and when his Master spoke. And unless
the Master spoke he stood still.
The scene changed and I saw the other colt standing on the
side of a hill nibbling at some grass. Then across the fields,
down the road came the King's carriage drawn by six horses.
With amazement he saw that in the lead, on the right side,
was his brother colt now made strong and mature on the good
corn in the Master's stable. He saw the lovely pom-poms shaking
in the wind, noticed the glittering gold bordered harness
about his brother, heard the beautiful tinkling of the bells
on his feet -- and envy came into his heart. Thus he complained
to himself: "Why has my brother been so honored, and
I am neglected? They have not put bells on MY feet nor
pom-poms on MY head. The Master has not given ME the wonderful
responsibility of pulling His carriage, has not put about
ME the gold harness. Why have they chosen my brother instead
of me?" And by the Spirit the answer came back to me
as I watched: "Because one submitted to the will and
discipline of the Master and one rebelled, thus has one been
chosen and the other set aside."
A FAMINE IN
THE LAND
Then I saw a great drought sweep across the countryside and
the green grass became dead, dry, brown and brittle. The little
streams of water dried up, stopped flowing, and there was
only a small muddy puddle here and there. I saw the little
colt (I was amazed that it never seemed to grow or mature)
as he ran here and there across the fields looking for fresh
streams and green pastures finding none. Still he ran, seemingly
in circles, always looking for something to feed his famished
spirit. But there was a famine in the land and the rich green
pastures and flowing streams of yesterday were not to be had.
And one day the colt stood on the hillside on weak and wobbly
legs wondering where to go next to find food and how to get
strength to go. It seemed like there was no use, for good
food and flowing streams were a thing of the past and all
the efforts to find more only taxed his waning strength. Suddenly
he saw the King's carriage coming down the road pulled by
six great horses. And he saw his brother, fat and strong,
muscles rippling, sleek and beautiful with much grooming.
His heart was amazed and perplexed, and he cried out: "My
brother where do you find the food to keep you strong and
fat in these days of famine? I have run everywhere in my freedom,
searching for food, and I find none. Where do you in your
awful confinement find food in this time of drought? Tell
me, please, for I must know!" And then the answer came
back from a voice filled with victory and praise: "In
my Master's House there is a secret place in the confining
limitations of His stables where He feeds me by His own hand
and His granaries never run empty and His well never runs
dry." And with this the Lord made me to know that in
the day when people are weak and famished in their spirits
in the time of spiritual famine that those who have lost their
own wills and have come into the secret place of the most
High into the utter confinement of His perfect will shall
have plenty of the corn of Heaven and a never ending flow
of fresh streams of revelation by His Spirit. Thus the vision
ended.
INTERPRETATION
OF THE VISION
"Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that
he may run that readeth it," (Habakkuk 2:2). "Harness the horses;
and get up, ye horseman," (Jeremiah 46:4). I am sure
that many of you who can hear what the Spirit saith to the
Church have already seen what God was showing in the vision.
But let me make it plain. Being born into the Family of God
feeding in the green pastures and drinking of the many streams
of the unfolding revelation of His purposes is fine and wonderful.
But it is not enough. While we were children, young and undisciplined,
limited only by the outer fence of the Law that ran around
the limits of the pastures (that kept us from getting into
the dark pastures of poison weeds) He was content to watch
us develop and grow into young manhood, spiritually speaking.
But the time came to those who fed in His pastures and drank
at His streams, when they were to be brought into discipline
or "child-training" for the purpose of making them
mature Sons. Many of the children today cannot understand
why some of those who have put on the harness of God cannot
get excited by the many religious games and the playful antics
of the immature. They wonder why the disciplined ones run
not after every new revelation or feed on every opportunity
to engage in seemingly "good and profitable" religious
activities. They wonder why some will not race with them in
their frantic efforts to build great works and great and notable
ministries. They cannot understand the simple fact that this
Company of saints is waiting for the voice of the Master and
they do not hear God in all this outward activity. They will
move in their time when the Master speaks. But not before,
though many temptations come from the playful colts. And the
colts cannot understand why those who seemingly appear to
have great abilities and strength are not putting it to good
use. "Get the carriage on the road," they say, but
the disciplined ones, those in God's harness, know better
than to move before they hear the voice of the Master. They
will move in their time with purpose and great responsibility.
And the Lord made me to know that there were many whom He
had brought into training who had rebelled against the discipline,
the chastising of the Father. They could not be trusted with
the great responsibility of mature Sonship so He let them go back to their freedom, back to their
religious activities and revelations and gifts. They are still
His people, still feeding in His pastures, but He has set
them aside from the great purposes for this end of the age.
So they revel in their freedom feeling that they were the
Chosen Ones with the many streams of living water not knowing
that they have been set aside as unfit for His great work
in this end of the age.
He showed me that though the chastising seemeth
grievous for the time and the discipline hard to endure yet
the result with all the glory of Sonship
is worth it all and the glory to
follow far exceeds the suffering we endure. And though some
lose even their lives in this training yet they will share
alike in the glory of His eternal purposes. So faint not saints
of God for it is the Lord that doth bring thee into confinement
and not thine enemy. It is for thy
good and for His glory so endure all things with praises and
thanksgiving that He hath counted thee worthy to share His
glory! Fear thou not the whip in His hand for it is not to
punish thee but to correct and train thee that thou mightest
come into submission to His will and be found in His likeness
in that hour. Rejoice thou in thy trials in all thy tribulations
and glory thou in His cross and in the confining limitations
of His harness for He hath chosen thee and He hath taken upon
Himself the responsibility of keeping thee strong and well
fed. So lean thou upon Him and trust not in thine
own ability and thine own understanding. So shalt
thou be fed and His hand shall be upon thee and His glory
shall overshadow thee and shall flow through thee as it goes
forth to cover the earth. Glory to God! Bless the Lord! He's
wonderful! Let Him be Lord of your life, friends, and complain
not at that which He bringeth to
pass in your life.
PLENTY IN
THE TIME OF FAMINE
For in the hour when famine sweeps the land He shall feed
by His own hand those who are submitted to His perfect will
and who dwell in the secret place of the Most High. When terror
stalks the land those in His harness shall not be afraid for
they shall feel His bit and bridle and know the guidance of
His Spirit. When others are weak and frail and fearful there
shall be those who shall be strong in the power of His might
and shall lack for no good thing. In the hour when the traditions
of the religious systems have proven false and their streams
have dried up, then His Chosen Ones shall speak forth with
the true Word of the Lord. So rejoice, Sons of God,
that you have been chosen by His grace for this great
work in this last hour.
The fence which kept the colts in their own meadows and their
own pastures mean nothing to the team in the harness for the
gates open to them and they go forth pulling the King's carriage
into many strange and wonderful places. They do not stop to
eat the poison weeds of sin for they feed only in the Master's
stable. These fields they trample under their feet as they
go forth on the King's business. And so to those who are brought
into absolute subjection to His will there is no Law. For
they move in the Grace of God led only by His Spirit where
all things are lawful but not all things are expedient. This
is a dangerous realm for the undisciplined and many have perished
in sin as they leaped over the fence without His harness and
His bridle. Some have thought of themselves as being completely
harnessed and submissive to Him only to find that in some
avenue of their life there dwelled rebellion and self-will.
Let us wait before Him until He puts His noose around us and
draws us to His place of training. And let us learn of the
dealings of God and the movings of His Spirit until at last
we feel His harness drop about us and hear His voice guiding
us. Then there is safety from the traps and pitfalls of sin
and then shall we abide in His House forever!
Bill Britton served as Vice President of Pinecrest Bible
Training Center for the first three years of its existence
and was a great blessing in helping to establish the work
at Pinecrest.