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Teminine
Principle of
Salvation
GEM THOUGHTS:
to a degree (this is not to say that pregnant women do not take on another kind of beauty and
radiance, for they certainly do).
"Love must be the principle of action. Love is the underlying principle of God's
government in heaven and earth, and it must be the foundation of the Christian's
character. This alone can make and keep him steadfast. This alone can enable him to
withstand trial and temptation.
"And love will be revealed in sacrifice. The plan ofredemption was laid in sacrifice,-a sacrifice so broad and deep and high that it is immeasurable. Christ gave all for us, and
those who receive Christ will be ready to sacrifice all for the sake of their Redeemer. The
thought of His honor and glory will come before anything else." CS 197
It was in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus began to most fuIIy display the
feminine aspect of the waning moon when He received the cup which would eventuaIIy
take Him into the hands of His enemies where the glory of His person and ministry would
be abused, then to the cross, and finally to the grave where He would be totaIIyhidden from
view as is the moon at the end of its monthly cycle. Even He had to die to self in order to
receive the cup which would bring salvation to the world, just as a woman receives from her
husband in order to bring the glory of new life to the world.
STUDY AIM:
To show that the principle of love has both masculine and feminine qualities, and that
the feminine ones, though of equal importance to our salvation, are usuaIIy the ones least
appreciated and the least put into practice.
Males beget, Females bare
Males give forth, Females receive
"And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, 0 my Father, if
it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I wiII, but as thou wilt. ...
"He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, 0 my Father, if this cup may
not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy wiII be done ....
"And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same
words." Matthew 26:39,42,44.
"... we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of
death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for
everyman.
"For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing
many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."
Hebrews 2:9, 10.
The sun gives forth light,
principle.
Jesus said,
"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in
darkness. I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a
commandment,
what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his
commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said
unto me, so I speak." John 12:46,49,50.
Jesus chose to become as the moon (feminine) and reflect the words of the Father,
rather than speak His own words.
This feminine principle of resting from self, of the hiding of self, is epitomized in the
creation of the Sabbath wherein God rested from all the work that He had done. We are
admonished to enter into that same rest - that same feminine principle. The Jews say that
the Sabbath is God's bride.
"Ifthou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day;
and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not
doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high
places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth ofthe
further demonstrated
Even the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of truth, is come to demonstrate the feminine principle
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he
shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will
shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew
it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of
mine, and shall shew it unto you."
The Holy Ghost, who is Herselffeminine (though this is not fully seen in the English
translations from the Greek), spoke not of Herself, but spoke the words of Jesus, who,
likewise, spoke not of Himself, but spoke the words of the Father.
Thus we see how we, male and female, alike, may fulfill the apostle Paul's desire for
the Church"For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one
husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." 2 Corinthians I 1:2.
"Only like can appreciate like. Unless you accept in your own life the principle of selfsacrificing love, which is the principle of His character, you cannot know God.
"
Maranantha, p. 88.
To "accept in your own life the principle of self-sacrificing love" means to accept the
feminine principle along with the masculine, for God created both to declare His glory, as
he has the sun and the moon.
Those who choose the exalt to masculine principle above the feminine, or to its
exclusion, cannot but suffer loss thereby for they put themselves in a attitude where they will
not be able to receive from the word of God which begets "Of His own will begat he us with the word of truth,
firstfruits of his creatures." James 1:18
Here is where we get into the practical application of these things. For the past few
decades there has been much talk about men "getting in touch with their feminine side."
What this means is that men need to become more "sensitive," less macho -less aggressive
and dominating. But being aggressive and dominating is not limited to men - women can
be just as macho should they choose to do so. Women can be just as "insensitive" as men.
The only difference is how they do it.
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if'I go not
away, the Comforter [the Holy Ghost] wiII not come unto you; but if! depart, I will send
him unto you." John 16:7
He, "the Sun of righteousness,"
may come to the people. This going away was for the good of others, for He could have
stayed on earth and continued His personal work. But that would not have fulfiIIed the real
need of the people - that is, the infiIIing of the Holy Spirit. It is written that after His
resurrection Jesus appeared only to His disciples (Acts 1:2, 3), while those who were
resurrected with Him were seen of many (Acts 13:30,31). He could have showed Himself
openly to those who had crucified Him. Thus even in this He was showing a hiding of self
by refraining from coming face to face with His persecutors and causing them great
embarrassment and fear.
The world has long seen the results of the exaltation of the masculine principle - the
principle that is at the heart of sun worship. Lucifer is the one who doesn't exhibit any of the
true feminine characteristics, and whose character is worshiped under the guise of the sun
worship. That is, under said garb, wherein the principle of the moon (the principle of
humbly reflecting the light of a greater one - the principle ofthe hiding of one's self) has no
place, Lucifer's (whose name means "shining one") character is exalted. As sun worship had
become well nigh universal, so the macho, ever shining, ever burning, character became the
dominant principle of that world which is often spoken of as "a man's world." In that world
even salvation has come to be thought of as requiring only the masculine aspects of the
Gospel. Thus we see the many churches in that world (the "man's world") which are
dominated by men and exclusive to most anything having to do with women.
Likewise, we also see that it is the outshining of one or more of the leaders that is given
the first place in their services, rather than the workings of the Holy Spirit through
whomever God may choose to impart said blessing. Even among inspired speakers there is
the danger of failing to practice the moon-like hiding of self, as Paul writes"How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath
a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done
unto edifying.
"If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and
that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the
church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
"Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If aDY thing be revealed
to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one,
that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to
the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the
saints." 1 Corinthians 14:26-33.
Yet in many congregations the speaker would consider it a great insult if the Lord was
to inspire someone to speak up, and would not care to "hold his peace" (hide his self) while
the Lord worked through the servants of His choice.
What we are looking at here is the feminine principle of salvation. That is, that part of
the plan of salvation which brings us redemption from the curse of the law. When the Lord
was delivering the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt, He brought many plagues upon
that land and people to bring their minds, and particularly that of their leader, Pharaoh, to
a position of humility so that he would let the Lord's people go. Of that occasion we read,
"And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart,
and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him: ...
And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD
God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people
go, that they may serve me." Exodus 10:1,3.
The word translated "hardened" means to be heavy, be dull, be insensible- insensitive.
It is a masculine word in Hebrew, though its connotation is not always negative, as it is in
this instance. The word "humble," though, isfeminine. The hardening of Pharaoh's heart was
the result of the choices he had been making in rejecting the word of the Lord that was
coming to him though God servants. Pharaoh refuse to be humble (feminine), and receive
God's word. Many of those today who have God's people in bondage through their Pharaohlike dominance need to take these things to heart before they themselves are so hardened that
it will be impossible for them to accept the remedy.
When describing Himself as the" chief corner stone" Jesus said,
"What is this then that is written, 'The stone which the builders rejected, the same is
become the head of the corner?' Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken
[humbled - become receptive of the words of salvation as a female is of her husband]; but
on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." Luke 20: 17, 18.
Before God called Abram out ofUr of the Chaldees almost the whole world was under
the influence of sun worship - that is, the worship of the masculine principle to the
exclusion of the feminine. That which was to become the guiding influence in Israel- the
Holy Spirit, the holy Shekinah (both of which terms are feminine in Hebrew) - was not
given the place nor the respect which God had intended for Her to have. Even Israel failed
to give Her that place of prominence, as we read,
"I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD,
according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the
house of Israel, which He hath bestowed on them according to His mercies, and according
to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses, For He said, Surely they are My people, children
that will not lie: so He was their Saviour.
"In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them: in
His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days
of old.
"But they rebelled, and vexed [grieved] His holy Spirit [feminine]: therefore He was
turned to be their enemy, and He fought against them." Isaiah 63:7-10.
In one prophecy which depicts the church in the latter days, God reveals His hatred for
the principle that underlies sun worship - the principle of self exaltation.
"And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door
of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty
men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and
they worshipped the sun toward the east." Eze 8: 16.
In that chapter of Ezekiel several of the abominations which are committed against the
Lord are brought to light prior to the slaughter of Ezekiel chapter 9. The last, and greatest
abomination is in verse 16 quoted above. It is said that they "worshipped the sun ... " meaning that they worshipped self and the masculine principle, void of, or to the
diminishing of the feminine principle.
The number of men there (25) is significant because it is the number of the leading
priests (the high priest and the heads of the 24 yearly courses - 1 Chronicles 24) - those
representative of the whole body of the priesthood. They being the chosen guardians ofthe
true forms of worship makes their transgression of the greatest of insults to God. Even more
so due to the fact that they were doing such in the very court of the sanctuary - "at the door
of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar."
to be "as a chaste virgin" one must embody the feminine principle, the principle ofreceiving
of heaven and of allowing God into our hearts and minds, to fulfill His good pleasure within
us.
The principle of heaven is that of receiving and passing along. The testimony against
Laodicea is that she won't receive, won't open the door, won't hear, and won't buy. The
Father gives His commandments to the Son, and the Son to the Holy Ghost. who passes
them along to the heavenly angels, who, in turn, pass them along to those on earth who have
ears to hear, and who, in turn, pass along the good words from the Father to a world lying
in darkness.
What does God do with the Laodiceans who are acting as sun worshippers?
them "the branch."
He offers
"Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, 0 son of man? Is it a light thing to the
house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have
filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, 10, they put the
branch to their nose." Eze. 8:17
However, when they don't accept the fmal remedy ("the branch" - the last thing the
Lord can offer them), indeed putting it "to their nose," they are left to bear the consequences
as depicted in Ezekiel chapter 9.
This same number of men (25) is again brought to Ezekiel's view in chapter I I, where
we read"Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD'S
house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men;
among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son ofBenaiah, princes of
the people." (verse I)
In chapter 8 this number of men (25) were themselves engaged in an abominable form
of worship in the court of the temple with their backs to the Lord's temple. In this chapter
they are seen at "the east gate of the LORD'S house, which looketh eastward [towards the
sun]: and ... at the door 0 f the gate." So we see that those men are standing in the entrance
to the Lord's house which faces Babylon, which is to the east of Jerusalem. Thus those who
would be leaving Babylon and coming to worship the Lord in truth and righteousness would
have to pass by these leading men who were standing by the "door" of this "east gate."
But is says of those 25 men,
"these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city: Which
say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh." (verses
2-3)
The description of Laodicea and its "abominations" perfectly reflects that which
Ezekiel saw in Chapter 8, where the inner court of the Lord's house contained 25 men all
worshipping the sun (the lone masculine principle) with their backs to the sanctuary were
the Lord's sanctifying sacrifice was to take place. But those who choose to do such cannot
also be depicted by true femininity - as the woman of Rev. 12 or as a chaste virgin. In order
Thus we see that not only were those 25 men previously engaging in the forbidden
practice of sun worship (exalting the masculine principle) among themselves, but now they
are subjecting the whole of the city to their beclouded thinking, as the Lord reveals to them
10
Why does God hate sun worship? Imagine if there were two suns in the heavens in such
a position as to constantly enlighten the earth, rather than a sun and a moon. We'd all be
burned to a crisp in no time. The delicate beauties and glorious wonders that God created
during the week of creation would all be destroyed.
Being as the sun as Jesus showed in His going away that the Holy Spirit may come is
a godly principle. But Lucifer aspired to what he thought was a better principle - that being
that he would be as a sun which would not yield his glory to any other, not even his
Creators. This led him to think and speak according to his own thoughts, and not according
to that which is "given him from heaven" (John. 3:27). Rather than to receive and pass along
the light of heaven, he desired to generate his own light to shine upon others. Of him and
those who chose to follow in his ways of attempting to be an unyielding sun in the heavens
in place of the divinely ordained yielding sun, it is written:
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a
murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. " John.
8:44.
God knows how to be like the life providing, life sustaining sun, rising gently in the
morning, shining strongly for a short time in the midday, cooling in the afternoon and
departing for a season every night. Of man's and of Satan's attempt at being their own sun,
we are reminded of the many writers who likened the atomic bomb to the sun ('Dark Sun,"
"Brighter Than a Thousand Suns," "The Day the Sun Rose Twice," to name a few book
titles). The atom bomb explodes in a huge solar-like fireball destroying all in proximity to
it through the uncontrolled fury of its light and heat. It also spreads a poisonous cloud of
fallout bringing disease and a curse upon those in its wake. God's sunlight is the greatest of
blessings. Man's atomic sunlight is the greatest of curses. God's light (His thoughts,
commandments, and judgments) is as far superior to Satan's and man's light (lies,
presumptions, commandments, and traditions of men) as the wisdom that blesses the world
through the sun in the heavens is superior to the folly that curses the world through atomic
explosions.
It is written "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of
God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and
took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found
in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death
of the cross." Philippians 2:3-8.
The general culture today, and the culture that permeates even the religious world,
operates under the idea epitomized by the oft invoked phrase - "be a man about it" suggesting that masculinity is the strong, smart, good and morally right way to be. However,
the invitation of heaven is to behold the feminine principle of salvation, and to "be a woman
about it." (Revelation I 2) As one well known woman put it, "Behold the handmaid of the
Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." Luke 1:38.
So let it be. Amen and Amen.
11
By
Doug Mitchell and Steve Penners
P. O. Box 1004
King~and,Texas
78639
email: info@the-branch.org
http://www .the-branch.org/studyl
08.html