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."
We all come into the family of God (the Body of Christ), on equal terms. None were given more and none were given less than others. Romans 8:17 (Amplified) says, "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." Most of us seem to focus on the last part of this scripture which says, "Only we must share His suffering if we are to share His Glory."
His suffering wasn't what Jesus did on the cross. Jesus did this for us, so that we might be reconciled back to the Father, through His Own suffering. Jesus did what no one else could do, which was to buy us back into the family of God. Don't mistake the suffering that Jesus did for us, thinking that we must suffer this, in order to stay in the family of God. God never birthed a family, to see how much pain and suffering it could endure. He did so, that He could have a companion and loving family for Himself. Satan has been lying to God's children from the beginning and today is no different. The enemy tries convincing the Church that, "God made a family, in order to provoke and torment them with all sorts of trials and testing."
As God's heirs and part of His family, we were to live, walk and enjoy His Own Presence in all of Eternity. This is where Jesus has delivered us back to, through His suffering and Resurrection. We've learned to live in this world only by the flesh and senses, and we have very little concept of the Spirit world that created us. Those around us have misunderstood that we're God's direct descendants, and because this seems so contrary to them, they reject us and turn away from us.
Jesus was reviled and rejected by many of the people who witnessed His earthly ministry, but we fail to see His heart of compassion for them. Jesus prayed in John 17:14 (Amplified), "I have given and delivered to them Your Word (Message) and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world (do not belong to the world), just as I am not of the world." The suffering that Jesus bore during His ministry on earth, was the rejection, insults and being put aside by the very ones He Loved and came to set free.
Don't think that because you're born of God and walk in Love, that everyone will love you. Everyone hasn't been commanded to love you, but you've been commanded to love them. If you don't think this will cause suffering in your life, then simply walk in love. Jesus was called, "Illegitimate." The people said He had a demon spirit and unclean devil. They ridiculed Jesus, because He didn't follow tradition. These were just some of the sufferings Jesus endured, in order to send forth a Message of Love to the people.
If the people treated Jesus that way, then do you think the enemy would allow you to be treated any other way? We seem to believe that everyone wants to hear what we have to say, but that's not so. Not everyone wishes to hear what you have to say about Jesus, anymore than they wanted to hear Jesus, during His earthly ministry. Many of those steeped in the traditions of men and religious bondage, will still fight for what they believe, even against the Truth.
Have you ever wondered why some of us receive different results, even though we've all been given the same standing with the Father when we were born-again and have all become joint heirs with Him? We've made up excuses like, "God doesn't do that for everyone," when we don't have our prayers answered. The Truth is, we have all received and have all been given the same amount of Blessing. The problem is that not all will accept what has been given. They hold onto what they already had, thinking it's better. You cannot inherit what God has given, without first turning loose of what you think is better.
It requires time and faith in God's Word, to learn how to let go of some of the things the Church has heard for two-thousand years and take hold of Truth. Trusting in God, the way His Word says to, doesn't come without spending time with Him. God tells us in Isaiah 55:8 (Amplified), "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways." This wasn't a statement of arrogance, but one of understanding. Learning His ways, requires time in His Word and listening to His Spirit.
The Spirit is the higher ways and is far more powerful than anything in our ways. His thoughts are much higher for us, than our own thoughts. We've been told to accept things on our own thoughts and ways, thinking this was "right." We've accepted the world's way of living and doing, believing that we'll receive the benefit of God after we die and leave this earth. God is still God, while we're here on this earth too, whether or not we realize it.
Jesus tried to teach those of the old covenant, who were set in their ways and traditions, that many of them rejected what He had to say. They witnessed the things Jesus did, but still would not believe. Many in today's Church, have become so dogmatic in tradition, that we refuse to change, even when it's revealed to our own eyes.
Did you ever wonder about the people God speaks so highly about, in Hebrews 11? These people went beyond man's idea of God and trusted Him beyond what everyone else had to say. Noah could have rejected what God said, like everyone else did, but Noah believed in faith and spent 120 years building the Ark. All the while, Noah preached Grace, for those who would believe, but none did. Joshua and Caleb could have gone along with the majority and died with the others. They are exalted in Hebrews 11 "Believer's Hall of Fame," because they had faith in what God said and suffered the reproach of being "fools" in the eyes of those around them.
If you're waiting for approval from the majority, before trusting God for deliverance, then you'll probably die in the Wilderness. There have always been a few, who will go on with God. Smith Wigglesworth was ridiculed by many and rejected by many more. Most of those people who fought him, were from the Church.
Are you willing to suffer like Jesus suffered, standing in the ridicule of others? Do you believe to yourself, what others have rejected? I preached a message called, "How far is too far," years ago. Ever since being born-again, others have called me, "too far out." Some told this former alcoholic, "Jim, you're going too far, by not drinking at all. You can be a Christian and still drink." This might be true for some, but it's not too bright for a former alcoholic to continue drinking. It seemed like, the further I went with God, the more I lost fellowship with others.
We are called to a place of walking, that not everyone will agree with. This doesn't mean that you're "more saved" than anyone else in Christ, but that you experience more understanding than some have. John 1:16 tells us that, 'We have all received." Just because it's ours, doesn't mean we're walking in all of our inheritance. Most of what we've received, isn't for Heaven, but for here. Healing, deliverance, peace, and many other Spiritual Gifts we've received, are for here. We won't need them in Heaven. If we don't use them in this life, then we're turning down the inheritance and not enjoying what Jesus left us, in His Last Will and Testament.
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