Spirit and Truth Ministries

Soon the generation now alive will face the gravest crisis since men and women decided whether or not to board Noah's ark. The choices made will determine eternal destiny.

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. Then the King will say to those on the right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

The King will turn to those on the left and say, "Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his demons!" Matt. 25:31-34, 41.

Note that the entire human race will be divided into two camps; there will be no middle ground. Those on Christ's right hand will be the Body of Christ, together in one place for the first time since eight souls embarked on the ark. Today the Body is shamefully divided, but Jesus is going to have his way.

I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father, that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.

I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are--I in them, and you in me, all being perfected into one. John 17:20-23.

Christ's earnest prayer certainly hasn't been answered up to this point, but it soon will be. How are the sheep and the goats separated? By flipping a coin? By drawing lots? Hardly. The separation that takes place at Christ's return is merely a physical action reflecting previous spiritual choices. Each man and woman will have made up his or her mind whether or not to serve the Lord.

Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live! Choose to love the Lord your God and to obey him and commit yourself to him, for he is your life. Deut. 30:19, 20.

CHRIST YEARNS FOR HIS BRIDE

Jesus is longing for his beautiful Bride, but we have been trying to sell him on the idea of taking a harem instead. One of the most embarrassing spectacles placed before the world today is the hopelessly splintered Christian church. It is riven by hundred and hundreds of vertical walls representing denominations, races, cultures, and even competing ministries. This in spite of the fact that Christ died so there would be no more walls.

You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have been make like him. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians--you are one in Christ Jesus. Gal. 3:26-28.

Our sectarianism has made a mockery of Christ's prayer for unity, but that is about to change.

CHRISTIANITY'S SHAMEFUL DIVORCE

If I were asked to pick three Bible texts that were particularly vital to our time, one of them would have to be the following.

A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4:23,24.

One reason we've been plodding along through an endless desert on the way to Caanan land is that we have divorced that which God intended never should be put asunder. We have, with our divided focus, turned our backs on the very plan God ordained for his service.

Our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. 1 Thess. 1:5

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power. 1 Corin. 2:4

One part of the body says, "We stand by an inerrant and infallible Bible. We cleave to the doctrines; we have "the truth." "We're not into emotionalism." The other camp says, "We have experienced the infilling of the Holy Spirit. We know the gifts, and have seen miracles. We don't need a surplus of doctrinal dry bones." I think God is disgusted with such prideful foolishness, and his message is that neither camp is doing very well.

You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. Matt. 22:29.

Note once again that Jesus identifies a "true worshiper" as one who has a proper balance between the written Word and the power of the Spirit. Those who stand at his right hand at his coming will be those who have accepted this God-ordained balance.

The work of God on earth will never be completed until this thorny problem is resolved. I'm happy to report that the solution is at hand.

A RE-MARRIAGE IS UNDERWAY

The greatest move of the Holy Spirit since Pentecost is now sweeping the world. It has reached millions around the earth, and thousands of pastors have been revitalized. In England, long known as the graveyard of Christianity, more than 7,000 parishes have been brought to vibrant life. Virtually every nation on earth has been touched, and every day sees an increase.

This move often has been referred to as "The Toronto Blessing," because it first broke out in a small congregation in that city. However, I prefer to call it "The Renewal," as it has covered the globe. Some of the major centers where this divine flame has been lit include Seattle, WA, Pasadena, CA, Kansas City, KS, St. Louis, MO, Charlotte, NC, Dallas, TX, Pensacola, FL, Melbourne, FL, along with hundreds of individual congregations. (I cannot take space here to give details concerning this movement, but I have written a small booklet on it called "Fire Now!" For a complimentary copy write Spirit and Truth Ministries, 12308 SE Deerfield Dr, Portland, OR 97236.)

Whenever anything of this magnitude breaks out, we can be certain that a highly nervous devil will mount some kind of attack. This has been the case with Renewal; a number of negative articles and even a book or two have introduced ridicule . Thousands of congregations have been so dry, so devoid of the Spirit, that an outpouring of this nature produces culture shock. Just as it did at Pentecost.

What we cannot afford is merely to shrug off what is taking place. God's admonition in this regard is clear.

Do not put out the Spirit's fire, do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. 1 Thess. 5:19-22.

I decided to do just that, and spent a week in Toronto, Canada, participating as well as observing. Before the first evening was over I knew that God was in charge of the meeting, and I was greatly blessed. Now my wife and I have been involved in renewal for nearly two years, and have attended conferences all across the country. A loving God has provided all the safeguards a sincere seeker for truth needs.

You fathers--if your children ask for a fish, do you give them as snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. Luke 11:11-13

A tree is identified by its fruit. Make a tree good, and its fruit will be good. Make a tree bad, and its fruit will be bad. Matt. 12:33

We have tasted the fruit of renewal, and it is very, very good. Some of our children are in renewal, and it would be difficult to find any Christians more passionately in love with Jesus Christ. What more can a parent ask?

IS GOD REALLY IN A BOX?

Denominationalism is geared to finishing God's work on earth with money, men, and methods. Obviously, the system hasn't worked very well. Some denominations even claim that Christ will not return until their organization has done its special thing. Has God really gotten himself into a trap? Are his hands really tied until denominations get around to emancipating him? I don't think so.

He [God] will finish the work. Rom. 9:28.

Did you catch that? The day is coming, and I think it is very near, when the sovereign God of the universe will decide that denominations have been playing church long enough. He will put into action his own plan for ending the great controversy between good and evil, and nothing will interfere--not even church committees.

We need to be sensitive to what God is doing, and understand his thinking.

I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, "I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!" And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. Rev. 3:15-17.

Not very complimentary. In fact God is thoroughly disgusted with our self-satisfaction. So many are riding the Laodicean fence, planning to fall off on the right side just before closing time. But God says it's time to get hot or cold--now! Move! Do something!

Actually, it's about to become a "ready or not" situation. Soon God will shake the fence of indifference so hard that everyone will come off on one side or the other--even the politicians. How will this come about?

GOD WILL DRAW A LINE IN THE SANDS OF TIME

We've been talking about the Second Coming so long that to many it's more myth than reality. But one day, tomorrow will become today. I believe that this present generation is the one that will actually see Christ coming in clouds of glory. And that will make it unique among all the generations since the Garden of Eden.

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. Acts 7:30, 31.

The "winking" time is almost over. Since at his coming Christ will divide the human race into two camps for eternity, God must allow us to decide which group we wish to join. I have mentioned the hundreds of vertical lines or walls that now divide Christendom, but a crisis is impending. God is about to draw a single horizontal line that will cut across all those that are man-made, and his wall of separation will stand forever.

THE ETERNAL CHOICE

Although the Trinity has been working together from eternity, each member has played a unique role in human history. From creation to the anointing of Christ at the Jordon might be seen as the dispensation of the Father, and from that time until Pentecost that of the Son. We would do well to recall what Jesus said about the next, and final, period of earth history.

It is actually best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Counselor won't come. If I do go away he will come because I will send him to you. John 16:7.

The "Counselor" of course, is the Holy Spirit, but many of us act as though he never made the journey to earth. Although this is his dispensation, his welcome has been as tepid as was that for the Babe in Bethlehem. We admit to his being "the third person of the Godhead," but accord him little adoration. The Holy Spirit has been ignored or insulted by much of Christendom. Many have taken the view that some of his wonderful gifts for blessing the church "ceased after the death of the last Apostle." He has been welcomed in our midst only if we can write his agenda for him. Even though he is sovereign God, he must behave himself according to our traditional ways. If he ever does show up in power, we are apt to attribute his working to the devil. That is very scary.

I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. Matt. 12:31, 32.

The Comforter came to "guide us into all truth," but few have accepted his lead. In the first century, Christ was the "stone of stumbling." In our day it is the Holy Spirit.

POWER FOR MINISTRY

Perhaps we should note the promise the Holy Spirit brought with him at Pentecost. Christ told his apostles:

Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you what he promised. Remember, I have told you about this before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

When the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere. Acts 1:4, 5, 8.

This supernatural empowerment resulted in the great move of God recorded in the Book of Acts. Could we use a bit of that power in our own day? Are we really so sharp that we don't need the Spirit's help? Will our "modern technology" really do the job? We've been wandering around in the desert for 2,000 years, now let's try God plan.

I believe the horizontal line God is drawing across all manmade barriers will separate the human race into two groups, those who move with the Spirit and those who resist him. But a loving Father will make the issue so clear that none need be confused. He will confront every person with his Spirit in such clarity and power that no distractions can interfere. And how long will that take?

For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. Rom. 9:28.

When man says he is going to do something "shortly," don't count on it. But when God says he is going to cut something "short" I believe he means just that. How short? If God wanted to, he could by this time tomorrow rivet the attention of every soul on earth with a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit. Let's toss out our neat little four-color charts that tell in detail what will transpire between now and our Lord's appearing. I don't know what God will do, but I think whatever it is will leave us gasping with surprise. Our God is bigger than we have suspected.

CHRIST'S PRAYER WILL BE ANSWERED

Christ prayed that his true worshipers might be one, and he will have his way. In fact, that move of God is well underway. Some year's ago denominations tried what was called the "Ecumenical Movement." It didn't really work because the sought-for unity was based on the lowest common denominator. "You lay aside some of the doctrines you have always considered important, and I will do the same. Then when what's left isn't worth arguing about, we can join in Christian fellowship."

The Renewal taking place today is bringing Christians together in real unity because it is based on the highest common denominator--unity in the Spirit. When I walk into a large Renewal gathering I immediately sense this is the family of God, the Body of Christ. People are there from all over the world, and from every race. I know that almost every denomination is represented, but that is immaterial. The Renewal movement simply transcends the matter of denominationalism. All are sharing a pure Gospel under the blessing of the Holy Spirit.

AND THAT MEANS WAR

All our sectarian bickering doesn't phase the devil; it plays right into his hand. However, when he sees large numbers of people moving in the Spirit, he has no choice but to assemble his troops. He knows that the final battle is shaping up, and apparently he hasn't read the end of the Book. He still thinks he has a chance of defeating Almighty God.

I'm not talking merely about Armageddon, I'm talking about civil war! War within the Christian camp. Not every professed Christian is willing to move with the Spirit. And unfortunately, as was true in the time of Christ, the main opposition will come from Christian leaders. They are the ones who have the most to gain from maintaining the status quo.

I must speak frankly here. There are, of course, many godly, dedicated Christian leaders. We must respect them, support them, and look to them for guidance. But the majority are not in that category. The key operative word in a denominational hierarchy is "power." Those who rise to prestigious positions usually are not outstanding theologians or spiritual giants, but those with political expertise. They tend to be self-serving, as were the shepherds described by Ezekiel.

Then this message came to me from the Lord. "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds, the leaders of Israel. Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: Destruction is certain for you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn't shepherds feed their sheep? You drink the milk, wear the wool, and butcher the best animals, but you let your flocks starve. . . . "

Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: "As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, you abandoned my flock and left them to be attacked by every wild animal. Though you were my shepherds, you didn't search for my sheep when they were lost. You took care of yourselves and left the sheep to starve. Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I now consider these shepherds my enemies, and I will hold them responsible for what has happened to my flock. I will take away their right to feed the flock, along with their right to feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths; the sheep will no longer be their prey."

For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations . . . I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. But I will destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes, feed them justice!"
Ez. 34:1-3, 7-13, 16.

As it was in Ezekiel's time concerning shepherds, so was it also in the time of our Lord. Jesus spoke tenderly to the sheep, even the tax collectors and the harlots, but both he and his forerunner had surprisingly harsh words for the leaders.

When he [John the Baptist] saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he denounced them. "You brood of snakes!" he exclaimed, "Who warned you to flee God's coming judgment? Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God."
Matt. 3:7, 8.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, "The teachers of religious laws and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the Scriptures. So practice and obey whatever they say to you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they teach. They crush you with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to help ease the burden. Everything they do is for show . . ."

"Hypocrites! For you won't let others enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and you won't go in yourselves. Yes, how terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn him into twice the son of hell as you yourselves are.

"Blind guides! Blind fools!

"You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy--full of greed and self-indulgence!

"You are like whitewashed tombs--beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity.

"Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell? . . I assure you, all the accumulated judgment of the centuries will break upon the heads of this very generation." Matt. 23:1-5, 14-17, 25, 27, 34, 36.

Harsh words, but they came from the lips of a loving Savior. Apparently he felt the situation was so bad that only shock treatment had a chance of breaking through. And even that didn't work.

I know I will be criticized for even suggesting that such a situation might pertain in our own day. Members of denominations are taught early on not to criticize leadership, but to render quiet obedience. The key operative word in a denominational hierarchy is "power," and those who are entrenched in authoritative positions are not happy when their leadership is questioned. Jesus died on a cross because he was a threat to the hierarchy of his day.

Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said, "How can you be so stupid? Why should the whole nation be destroyed? Let this one man die for the people." John 11:49, 50.

If reform ever comes to hierarchical denominations, it will come from the grassroots up--not from the top down. An entrenched bureaucracy is not going to give up its special perks to become servant leaders.

WHAT SHALL WE DO?

First of all, recognize the fact that since the rending of the temple veil there has been a priesthood of the believers--even though to date it has received only lip service. Technically, there is no such thing as a "layman;" only members of the priesthood who are paid and those who are not paid. The church of God is your church, not the private property of leadership.

With that in mind you have two choices:

1. If you feel the denomination can never be reformed, stand up with courage and ask that your name be removed from the rolls.

2. If you think the denomination can be reformed, stand up with courage and demand that such reform take place now.

I chose the first option. Since Jesus Christ himself labored faithfully for more than three years to change the system and failed, I can't imagine mere men succeeding today. In 1991 I asked that, after a lifetime of service in a particular denomination, my name be dropped from membership.

I do not have time to elaborate on the motivation for my departure (See "Why I Left Seventh-day Adventism" elsewhere on this web site.), but a couple of prime reasons come to mind. First of all, I finally discovered the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and realized I had been duped into denying the blood of Jesus by embracing legalism. This is the most serious charge that can be leveled at any supposedly Christian organization.

Secondly, I read the book Toxic Faith by Felton and Arterburn. After studying its pages carefully I realized that with my tithes, offerings and presence, I was an enabler for a toxic system that did not deserve enabling. I challenge every denominational member to read Toxic Faith to see how your organization scores. If you are afraid to read this volume, the score is probably quite clear already.

BUT WHERE SHALL WE WORSHIP?

Some denominations have a stranglehold on the local congregation because they hold title to the church building. If members get too serious about reform, leaders can warn that they had better shape up or plan to hold future meetings on the sidewalk. This is not mere theory; it's already been done. Such a threat is usually all it takes to whip membership into line, even though such considerations should never deter us from doing the right thing regardless of cost.

I'd like to suggest that if your congregation ever faces such a standoff, you should fight for your building--even if it means a court case. Inevitably it is the members who have sacrificed and labored to make the building a reality, and I doubt a responsible judge would take it away from them. Even money denomination headquarters "put into" the building originally came from the pockets of the members.

But there is another way of looking at this problem. We usually assume the small home churches of the first century were a stop-gap measure until the Body of Christ could get its act together and build some representative edifices. I'd like to suggest an entirely different viewpoint.

The small home churches established by the apostles were God's plan, and that plan never has been improved on. In 1 Corinthians 12 and 13, Paul discusses the various spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit has placed in the Body for blessing and nurturing the people. He explains that anyone should be able to exercise such gifts on a weekly basis, something impossible in our larger congregations. Now the professionals perform up front, while the rest of the members are mere spectators. (The book The Open Church by James Rutz discusses this problem in some depth.) Most large congregations have come to realize that this situation demands attention, and thus the proliferation of smaller "cell groups" or "home groups." That's a good start, but may I offer a more radical solution?

Let's begin with the assumption that small home churches still constitute God's ideal. Presently, the big congregation is considered "the church," while home groups are mere appendages. Why not think of home groups as "the church," and have them unite periodically for the joys of corporate worship? The larger assembly could be in a rented facility, and we could free billions of dollars now tied up in ornate buildings to promote the Gospel.

Just recently I visited a congregation meeting in a very large and attractive facility. However, they are experiencing growing pains, and in the foyer I saw a depiction of the next great structure they plan to erect--as soon as they collect the necessary millions. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw they had named their dream edifice "The Promised Land." That's not the "promised land" I'm looking for. With Abraham I'm looking for "a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God." In this present world, it doesn't make much difference where we meet. A church is people, not a pile of brick.

STAYING BY FOR REFORM

The other option--beside leaving--is to stay within the organization with the hope it will one day be reformed. That admittedly is a noble attitude, but if that is your response I challenge you to do something beside sit passively hoping for the best. Otherwise you may be still sitting on your hands when the Lord arrives. Stand up! Speak out! Actively oppose the forces holding God's people in bondage! Gather a Gideon's band and move ahead!

When visiting Midwest slaughter houses as a young man, I observed how meekly the sheep followed a "Judas goat" to their death. Sheep tend to be like that, even human sheep. They meekly follow shepherds, good or bad. What we need now are faithful pastors, and a few laypeople with vision, to provide dynamic leadership at this crisis hour.

It's too late to sit quietly waiting for an evolutionary process; end time events have caught up with us. This is the day for revolution! Not worldly conflict, but an upholding of truth without fear. In the proper sense, Jesus Christ was the greatest revolutionary that ever lived. Nothing intimidated him, or caused him to swerve from his ordained path.

Some enlightened pastors would like to move out with the Spirit, but are intimidated by the thought of losing their income. Now is the time for such pastors to exhibit the kind of faith they have admonished the members of their flocks to display. If our God isn't able to keep us from starving, then he is no god at all. The future holds danger and difficulty for all, but it is best we do our suffering for the Lord's sake. If a cause isn't worth dying for, then it isn't worth living for. Few of us will end up martyred like the apostles, but being faithful to our Lord most certainly will cost us something.

In some cases, pastors need to lead their flock into congregationalism. If they have been faithfully feeding their flock and leading them to green pastures, the sheep will not let them suffer deprivation.

The denominational cry ever is, "Don't rock the boat!," but my Savior was a boat rocker par excellence. Everywhere he went boats rocked violently. Our Lord didn't act just for the sake of being a trouble maker; he spoke the truth forcefully, and that always created waves. After 2,000 years those waves are still lapping on the shores of complacency. Jesus died because he rocked the boat; can we afford to sit idly by nursing our timidity? The devil rampages around the earth as a "roaring lion," it is time for the righteous to be "bold as a lion." This is no time to be crying , "Peace, peace; when there is no peace." The Body of Christ is supposed to be at war.

TIME TO OUTDO THE DEVIL

Often I hear the admonition that only large organizations can finish God's work. We've already pointed out that God himself is going to finish his work, but don't we need complex organizational structuring to help him out? Let me ask a question. How is the New Age doing? Any knowledgeable person knows it is doing amazingly well. The New Age has successfully infiltrated the government, the military, the corporate world, the educational system, and even the churches. And yet this highly effective entity has no president, no world headquarters. The New Age is not an organization; it is a network!

Obviously this network is masterfully orchestrated by some power, and the one in charge is the devil himself. Just so, the Body of Christ is supposed to be a network under the direction of the Holy Spirit! That is why he came, but we have pushed him aside and leaned on the arm of flesh instead. We need to confess that the Holy Spirit is able to lead, and then trust him to do so.

IT IS HARVEST TIME

We would have questions about a farmer who year after year sows seed, but never reaps a harvest. Well, Christians have been sowing seed for 2,000 years now; isn't it about time for the harvest?

First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it to my barn. Matt. 13:30.

There has been a harvest, but not the real thing. We have gathered people into denominations instead of into the Body of Christ. Our goal should be to prepare people for the heavenly granary, not just gather them into bundles for burning.

In Palestine there was an early rain to germinate the seed sown, and a later rain to ripen the harvest. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit came in "early rain" power to water the newly planted Christian church. Now the Holy Spirit is coming in "latter rain" power to bring in the final harvest. It was exciting to live in the time of the early rain, but what will it be to experience the fullness of the latter rain! How the apostles would love to be here now.

It is harvest time. I believe that in the great Renewal now sweeping the earth we see the first drops of the Latter Rain. I also believe this refreshing is about to escalate beyond our imagination, and that it will culminate in the second coming of Jesus Christ as King of Kings. The work of God is not going to close with less power than that with which it began. Those who are frightened by the supernatural had better put on their seat belts, because we serve a supernatural God and he is about to show his power as never before.

THE CLOUD IS MOVING

When God's people were traveling through the wilderness toward the Promised Land, they had a portable Tabernacle. Above the Most Holy Place was the visible presence of Almighty God; a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. When the cloud moved, the people moved too.

We have settled comfortably in the desert, but we need to keep our eyes fixed on the cloud. If it moves, we had better move as well. Some question, "But where is this Renewal going?" Frankly, I don't know, but I know Who is in the cloud and I'm going wherever it goes. If we lag behind we will be slain by the Amalekites of our day.

The cloud is moving. Will you move with it?

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