God chastens, refines and purifies everyone whom He receives as Sons. Yes, He wants us to partake of His divine nature, but He also wants to make us like Him and to even represent Him. He wants the fullness of the Godhead to dwell on us bodily, as He did in the firstborn, Jesus. This is not completed with simple disciplines and corrections. It takes more faith and trust to walk through the refining fire that burns up all that is not of Him. It takes His Spirit working in us, taking what was given The Son and giving it to us. Faith itself is a gift. We have to believe and know that He is a loving Father that is after more than our temporary comfort. Anything we go through here on earth cannot even be compared to the glory that He wants to bestow on us for eternity. Only He can bring us through the fire, and it is like a baptism that changes us forever, but we always have the choice to willingly submit to Him and to His process for us. It is not forced upon those who are not willing to receive it. May God grant us the willingness and grace to do so for His glory. And may we receive all that Jesus bought for us. Hebrews 12:5-6 NIV [5] And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, [6] because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” (Added) These things are deserving of deep contemplation, and I appreciate the inclusion of more Bible verses for context for us to consider and meditate on. Philippians 1:6 NLT [6] And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Much of spiritual life seems a contradiction, because we are in a process of receiving and believing more and more until we manifest what He completed in our spirits into our souls and then our bodies in this physical dimension. The finished work was completed on the cross, and yet, he says, "take up your cross and follow me." We all bare a cross as we submit to the Father, and Holy Spirit leads us through the process of sanctification and purification, even though that process is completed in our spirits upon belief. Still, we have to believe the truth and speak the truth even before we see it manifested in our lower dimensions of life. This is done through complete dependence on Him. It is a humbling process, and sometimes we have to say, "I believe, but help my unbelief." Here are a couple of more verses that come to mind about this deep, wonderful truth that we need to get into our bones. John 14:20 NLT [20] When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. The perfection of God and Jesus Christ is in us via Holy Spirit, yet we do not believe fully. We are in the process of believing as we are in a process of salvation, and we have to ask for help. Thankfully, the Helper is in us, as well as the Son and the Father. This is the fullness of the Godhead, and I have to speak this truth until it is manifested in me. It is a contradiction to the chronic illness that I have experienced for over six years, but if I wait to see it manifested before I speak it, then I would not be speaking in faith. We please God through faith, and the work has called us to is to believe on the One whom He sent. I lack an understanding of many things, but I would rather err on the side of faith then to draw back into a religious (unbelieving) spirit that is not receptive to all that He has for me. I know that Paul used this phrase (fullness of the Godhead) to acknowledge a special designation given to Jesus as the one who was with the Father before creation, and even the One through whom all creation was made, but the whole of scripture indicates that He is dwelling in my body, His temple. And again, I feel compelled to speak the same truth that paul spoke: 1 John 4:15-17 ESV [15] Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. [16] So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. [17] By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. I would rather be in presumption under the blood of Jesus, then withhold speaking the truth to myself and others that He has revealed through His Holy Spirit. He knows that, in this life, we will see in part and know in part, but He will bring us to completion. My desire is that the Son of God is manifest in me, and even in my body before He comes. Even so, my faith remains in the blood of Jesus and what He did more than what I see manifested in me or how perfectly I can communicate these deep truths that I have not fully grasped. They seem preposterous, yet that is what He has said. In any case, may He be glorified as the sons of God are made manifest in this world. Romans 8:18-30 ESV [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. [19] For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. [20] For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope [21] that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. [23] And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. [24] For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? [25] But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. [26] Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. [27] And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. [28] And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. [29] For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. [30] And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Luke 18:7-8 ESV [7] And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? [8] I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” My prayer is that He find faith in me and that He find faith in you.

Posted by michaelambrosia at 2024-11-26 19:52:11 UTC