IT IS FINISHED
… HE HOPES TO FINISH YOU+++ (Part 2)
‘Our Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit knowing and seeing all things, are not surprised that in our day and time, we would look around and see a culture, that is absorbing Christians into it, instead of the Christians transforming the culture into a culture of His Kingdom. Subtly and gradually even our very cultural foundations are shifting, redefining what is evil and wicked into what is now ‘called’ normal and good; redefining foundational pillars of the Bible and of society, such as Love, Marriage and Family by simply attempting to change the very wording of the original definitions of these God Ordained institutions into something that kicks out God, thru legislation even. Our Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit knew that in our day…… even governments would begin to use their resources and even their forces to try to decree and insist that “the Bible is archaic, outdated, and is an impediment to progress, and it is time for Christians to get out of the way and let the enlightened thinkers lead the way, so that we can solve the problems of this world, and We don't need or want God, especially Jesus, to do that.”’
The Apostle Paul declared,
“I want to Know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death…” Philippians 3:10 NLT
Yes, in spite of the years of his many exploits of spiritual and holy power and prowess assigned to him by the LORD, the Apostle Paul’s heart cry and prayers during the final years of his earthly ministry and life was still humbly and sincerely,
“… That I may Know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11 KJV
In order to come to know our LORD in the true sense and definition of the word ‘Know’, we must as Apostle Paul did throughout his earthly life, continue to earnestly look unto, look up to, and look into, the Word, the Eyes and the Heart of Jesus Christ as the Author and the Finisher, the Developer, the Furnisher, and the Completer of our Faith. Hebrews 12:2 KJV
Why? Because, it is only as we ‘grow’ in God, can we truly begin and continue to ‘Know’ our God. Again, I must emphasize, as a born again believer and child of the Living God, our LORD is after more than my status as a mere complacent citizen in His Kingdom by virtue of my new birth. I concluded last month’s article by stating the following which is worthy of repetition because it is so important to understanding the priority and Heart of our Father…
“Our LORD hopes to eventually gain a mature man or woman, a mature son or daughter, in this life, whom He can entrust to operate and function with vast authority in His Kingdom Administration, and in His character and holiness. Galatians 4:19 KJV
We must pay a price called ‘Choosing to Cooperate with Him’ in the process of our maturing through submissive obedience to His Word(s), His Will and His Way(s). We do this primarily by looking unto Jesus regularly and consistently, as we die daily to our words, our will and our ways. This is the only way the seed of Jesus Christ deposited in us at the new birth, can be formed (developed) into and unto a mature fully grown stature, the hope of glory…. His hope of Glory. Colossians 1:27
Now for the rest of, “It Is Finished …. He Hopes To Finish You”
Although we must choose to cooperate with Him in the maturing process He has ordained for each of us by primarily looking unto and up to Jesus regularly and consistently as we die daily to our own words, our own will and our own ways, this is only Vertical submission. This must be the primary position of our mind, will, emotions, intellect and conscience, the ‘soul’, but it is not the only position of submission. Complete submissive obedience according to His Word(s), His Will and His Way(s) requires a much needed Horizontal submission as well.
What do I mean? Well, as I continue to look up to Jesus (Vertical submission) and learn of His Word(s), His Will and His Way(s), I will discover from the Father, Son and Holy Spirit that He desires to assign and use men and/or women of God, in my life at all seasons of my maturing process (Horizontal submission), for the duration of my earthly life.
I emphasize, He ‘desires to assign and use them’…. but we must choose to submit to them and embrace them and the process of maturing fully (as unto the LORD) if we are to grow into a mature son or daughter of the Most High and Living God. It is His Word, His Will and His Way. In this principle and process, He does not change, has not changed and will not change. This aspect of His processing us for use in His Kingdom Administration is absolutely critical and mandatory in order for Him to get all that He is after from you and me after our new birth salvation.
I strongly encourage you to study the lives of ones such as Abram/Abraham, Jacob/Israel, Samuel, Saul, David, Elisha, Esther, Nehemiah, Apostle Paul, and most importantly even Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of man, to name a few. Throughout all of scriptural history you will see this mandatory pattern of God. Those whom He eventually trusted greatly were those persons having a strong and consistent sprit and attitude of Godly Vertical-Horizontal submission to the authority of God and the authority of man placed in their lives by the divine arrangements of God. Those who obediently continued in His process, completed their God ordained earthly assignments and purposes while pleasing God. Those who did not eventually failed in their God ordained assignments and purposes, and displeased God and those they were suppose to love and lead.
Therefore, we each must by His Grace always continue to Look Unto and Look Up to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. As a great example to us, the adolescent Jesus, stayed behind without His earthly parents even knowing where He was for three (3) days. Finally Mary and Joseph’s fearful search for Jesus ended when they found Him in the temple sitting with the men of God listening to them and asking questions and conversing with them concerning the things of the scriptures. It was there that Jesus the son of man had also gotten the revelation of who His true Father was. ‘When they saw him they were amazed and his mother said unto him, Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.’ Jesus replied, “Why did you need to search? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Vertical submission to God) Luke 2:45-49 NLT
Jesus actually declared to them in that moment… ‘I now know who my real Father is.. the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, not Joseph your husband.’ But nonetheless, “He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was {habitually} obedient to them…” (Horizontal submission to man) Luke 2:51 AMP
Thereafter, from the age of twelve (12) years old until he was about thirty (30) years of age, the bible speaks virtually nothing of him. But because he humbly spent these eighteen (18) years of his life in Vertical (God) and Horizontal (man) submission to the Word(s), Will and Way(s) of our Father, “…. Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and years, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52 AMP Also, closely consider Jesus’ submission to John the Baptist the man of God (Horizontal-Vertical submission) before he ever even began His earthly ministry and performed his first miracle. This should speak volumes to each of us as well and settle this issue once and for all. Matthew 3:13-17 NLT, AMP, NKJV
In closing, I can hear our Father asking and beseeching us… “Will you allow Me to complete My process of maturing You?
To Help us continue to Help many others, we humbly request that you commit a small monthly love seed/donation of not more than $25.00 to POPAPIC through our secure GIVE link on the website or by mailing it each month to P.O. Box 776, Baker, La. 70704.
Bro'Ken Fabre'
www.POPAPIC.org
