The courage and strength of the lion, the sacrificial service of the ox, and being a man in Christ's image are all necessary if we would gain the throne of glory. But none of these can attain the required level of acceptability apart from diligent, consistent, faithful waiting on the Lord.

Lord, teach us to pray.

A perfect understanding of the Scriptures will not bring the awe and Presence of Christ into our midst. Tireless service will not do it. All the assertions of "faith" will not do it. Only consistent, intense prayer can enable us to mount up with eagles' wings into the heavenlies and become part of the Life of our Holy God.

We do not pray in order to "get something from God." We pray in order to "seek" the Lord: this is to say, we seek to abide in His Presence, to worship Him and to hear His voice. We crave Him. We hunger and thirst after Him.

God is calling out from the churches holy servants and witnesses, a royal priesthood. Those who respond are the true Christians, the saints, the Body of Christ, the sons of God, the Wife of the Lamb, the new Jerusalem, the Tabernacle of God, the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are not super-Christians, they merely are Christians, disciples of Christ. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes.

The majority of believers are not consecrated to the Lord's purposes. They are filled with unrighteousness and uncleanness. They are careless about service (which is important in the eyes of the Lord). They often are disobedient to the known will of God and will admit it (without trembling!).

In our day the teeth have been removed from the Gospel message. The Christians have been taught they will be saved by grace apart from their behavior, that godly behavior is not required in the Kingdom of God. This is not true. They have been taught that any day now they will be caught away in a "rapture." This is not true either. They are hoping to enter the Kingdom of God when they enter Heaven. Heaven is not the Kingdom of God nor do we enter the Kingdom of God when we go to Heaven. The Kingdom of God is God in Christ in the saints ministering to the nations of saved peoples of the earth.

The teachers and prophets are seeking money from the flock. The pastors, in many instances, are building their own kingdoms, their monuments.

This is no new condition.

But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. (Isaiah 42:22)

The Spirit is calling the Bride out of the churches of today. It primarily is a spiritual exodus, not a physical exodus. Leaving the "big church" does not make us a member of the true Body of Christ. It is the heart that must leave Babylon (man-directed Christianity) and go to Jesus.

To be continued.