THE HARNESS of THE LORD

THE HARNESS of THE LORD
-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 perfection, 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... 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 and
discipline them in 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 this 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. He was 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 would 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 the horses were
disciplined and would not move until he told them to move. The
horses were not stomping 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 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 harness, 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 to 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 stomp
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 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. 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
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 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. This
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 Kings 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 brothers, 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, nor 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 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." (Hab.2:2). "Harness the horses: and get up, ye
horseman." (Jer.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 purpose 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 and 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
into young manhood, spiritually speaking. But the time came to
those who fed in His pastures, and drank from His streams, when
they were to be brought into the 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 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 effort 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 His 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 through the chastising seems 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 stables.
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 themselves as
being completely harnessed and submissive to Him, only to find
that in some avenue of their lives 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 we shall abide in His
House forever!   

-SOURCE: 'The Church in Action',
                  PO Box 707,
                 Springfield, MO. 65801