Prophet Isaiah many centuries ago declared “ Unto us Child is born, unto us us a Son is given” (Isaiah 7:14) making it crystal clear that Children are born and Sons are made and brought to maturity, indeed, as it is in the natural so it is in the spiritual, the new birth is the initiation into a journey towards a lifestyle of continuous growth with a destination in mind which is maturity as a full grown perfect son. At the beginning of the journey, you are initiated into a process of growth and development that takes you from one level of strength to another. The holy writ described the journey in different ways in types and shadows.
Seven Days of Creation- A type and Shadow
The book of genesis opened up with the breaking of a new light as the God of heaven thundered against the darkness that moves upon the faces of the deep “ Let there be light” and it ended with the Seventh day when God finished his work and rested, representing the birth of a new creation man and displaying the growth pattern until maturity when work is done and a full grown son emerges as the noon . No wonder, the writer of the book of the proverb captures the growth process as the path of the righteous that shines brighter and brighter until it becomes a perfect day
Our greatest prayer must be to continually seek to know and understand our destination which is Christ and seek for more grace to understand the way, the process and to submit to this “higher ways and higher thoughts of God’ .
The Destination
The Wisest man on earth, Solomon described the path of the righteous as a shining light that shines brighter and brighter until it becomes a full day when all darkness are gone and the Sun of righteousness is now shining in his full strength in our heart. This was described by Apostle peter as the dawning of the day and the arising of the day star (sun) in our heart. This represents the manifestation of the fullness of Christ in us as we come to the place of comprehension of the length , breadth, height and breadth of the love of God . This is the destination. Here we come to the full stature of Christ and it is can be said of us that he that has seen us has seen ‘ Christ” just like it was said of Christ that “ he that has seen Christ has seen the Father” , This is the “ Mount Zion Position “ Higher than all other mountains, “the throne position”
where authority to rule and govern creation is given which is the inheritance of the saints.
The Process
The process of transformation commences and increases as we pay attention to the light of revelation of Christ released by the Holy Spirit in our hearts. This process of illumination is accompanied by a process of pruning and discipline or Chastisement that cuts our flesh to size and crucified the flesh. Apostle Paul said clearly in Acts 14:22 that we will enter into the Kingdom through many tribulation speaking of experiences that are painful to the flesh. God , like a school master takes us through a divine curriculum targeted at breaking the power of the flesh over us. It may come in a form of disappointment , delay, loss, failure but the ultimate essence is to release the inner man into liberty and dominion
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing
happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are
partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be
revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy, 1 Peter 4;12 & 13.
In going through the process , it is important we maintain a proper attitude and this is possible if we clearly keep our focus on the vision of the destination and we are armed with the understanding of the divine purpose which is to conform us into the image of Christ . A critical aspect of the dealings of God usually come through ‘ Difficult Relationships” and we must confront this with the mind of Christ who through humility despise the shame, endure the challenges of cruel mocking and scourging but offer strong cries and prayer with tears unto him who has the ability to deliver him in the days of his flesh, gazing toward the Joy that was set before him and truly as we partake of his suffering, we will partake of his glory
But the God of all grace, who hath called us
unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have
suffered a while, make you perfect, 1peter 5;10
Written by Ademola Akinyemi
http://www.restorerofzion.com/
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