John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
Romans 8:16-17 (Amplified) says, "The Spirit Himself thus testifies together with our own spirit, assuring us that we are children of God. And if we are His children, then we are His Heirs also; heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, sharing His inheritance with Him; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His Glory."
We've been taught that sharing in His suffering, means being sick and diseased. Jesus bore all of that for us, so we don't have to. What then did "His suffering" include? Jesus took a stand against the traditional way things were done and brought forth the Blessing instead of the Curse, so those in charge came against Him. Jesus never suffered anything by the hand of God, except when He did it for us. Jesus's suffering was brought about by His Own people.
You will suffer persecution in this age or any other age, when you step out in your walk with God. The last thing the enemy wants is another Jesus, Paul or Peter on his hands. Jesus didn't come just simply preaching and teaching the Blessing, but He actually walked in the Blessing. Jesus demonstrated what God had said all along, by His actions. Those who were raised and taught at that time, were astonished at the Words of Grace that Jesus taught.
Those who walked under the burden of traditional teachings, began to see the Light in Acts 4:16-17 (Amplified), "Saying, What are we to do with these men? For that an extraordinary miracle has been perform by (through) them, is plain to all the residents of Jerusalem and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may not spread further among the people and the nation, let us warn and forbid them with a stern threat to speak anymore to anyone in this Name or about this Person [Jesus]."
Most Christians aren't experiencing this type of suffering. Most Christians are still on good terms with religious customs and teachings. We have all been Blessed with all the same Blessings of Grace, favor, and Gifts. We are all fellow joint-heirs with Jesus and we're all children of God. Touting traditions, we've denied these things as "Not being for everyone today," excusing ourselves from seeking or receiving from Grace. These things don't come upon you, just because you're a Christian. In order to receive the Blessing that is already yours. you must believe in it. We've seemingly accepted and put faith in everything, except God's Word.
We can only know and understand His Truth, by His Word. John 1:17 tells us that, "Jesus came with Grace and Truth. Sadly, much of what we hear today, is not Truth, but are traditional and religious teachings that stop us from going into Truth. Many Christians believe that we don't need to walk according to and live by, God's Word. Most Christian churches aren't teaching God's children how to walk in the Blessing and refuse the Curse. Redemption is just a word, like any other word, to many.
Jesus spoke about sowing and reaping in the Gospels. He taught that God's Word is Seed and the hearts or spirits of the people, is soil, in Mark 4. Many have had the seed sown that should have been received and have reaped a harvest that God never intended. Seed doesn't care why you plant it, it just grows. Soil has no way of determining whether you truly want to grow the seed you planted or not. It just grows the seed.
Many of us have not only sown, but have allowed others to sow seeds we didn't want, into the soil of our spirit, which produced an unwanted harvest. Some haven't sown at all and then wondered why they didn't receive a harvest, like other have. Then they say, "It must not be God's will for me to have it." It's difficult to reap the Blessing, when we continually sow seeds of the Curse. We don't take the time and make the effort to listen and learn God's Word and instead decide it's unnecessary to do these things as Christians.
Being a farmer, doesn't mean you'll have a crop. Holding a bag of seed, doesn't lead to a harvest. You must plant and watch over that seed, in order to receive a harvest. We've spoken such words that are in complete contrast to God's Word, that only Grace has kept us from reaping only misery. Jesus said in Matthew 12:37 (Amplified), "For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced." In other words, "The words believers speak will either bring God's Plan into play in our lives or the adversary will take the power of our words and use them against us."
We've mostly looked at Spiritual things as being "Super-natural," and they are, however, we mostly think of Super-natural things as being the dumb things we're seeing advertised on TV or the web. The Spiritual things of God aren't spooky, weird, or unknown, because god has made them known to us, by His Spirit. It's not a matter of being unknown, but unlearned. We steer away from the Super-natural, out of fear of the unknown. We're much more aware of the Super-natural work of witchcraft and demonic forces, so we stay away from them. The things God has for us in the Spirit or in the Super-natural, are so much higher than the spooky things that bring fear, so there's no need to fear.
The adversary uses "things that go bump in the night," against the carnal minded people who have no understanding. They are real, but by not understanding these things, we stay away from them in fear. The Super-natural or Spiritual things of God, are where we're called to walk in and be raised up in. We are a Super-natural people, born of a Super-natural Father and are governed by a Super-natural Word.
God isn't a natural Man. His ways are Spirit and Truth. Much of what we see around us, isn't Truth, but a traditional pretext of Truth. Many believers view those who live by faith in God and His Word, as being "foolish." We've come to depend on God's Grace for our lives and should, but Grace doesn't mean we live anyway we want and be alright with God. Romans 5:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing) with God through faith, let us grasp the fact that we have the Peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Through Him also we have our access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this Grace, (state of God's favor) in which we firmly and safely stand. And let us rejoice and exalt in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the Glory of God."
We can rejoice, exalt, and enjoy the Glory of God, when we put faith in His Grace. Grace, to me, means the ability to actually come into the Father's Presence at any time and talk with, learn from and fellowship with the God of all creation! Hebrews 4:16 (Amplified) says, "Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the Throne of Grace (the Throne of God's unmerited favor) that we may receive mercy for our failures and find Grace to help in good time for every need (appropriate help and well-timed help coming just when we need it)."
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