We see this modeled in how God is working to make known His Son in the earth today. Look at what Paul says in Romans 8:18-19 "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God."
When the sons of God begin to manifest on earth, there will be signs of labor pains. Creation itself will visibly respond to the "age of the sons of God." What we're seeing in the world today in natural disasters, wars and rumors of wars, increased violence, crime and rebellion against authority are nothing less than visible birth pangs that the sons of God are ready to appear to the world.
We have heard more preaching on the subject of "father/son" relationship and order in the past ten years than ever before! There is an increased pressure on the Church to birth sons! This birthing of sons is causing pressure in the form of suffering. This suffering is meant to get the Church ready (mature) to truly reveal Christ to the world. The suffering that the Church is experiencing is God's way of purifying His bride.
The Church must rid itself of its manmade traditions and Bible Belt rules, that have hidden God's glory by casting a dark veil on true relationship, so that the truth of God's Word will be revealed in clarity.
We are witnessing a true move of God as He is purifying His Church from flesh (carnality) and mind traps. Truly, God is desiring sonship (intimate relationship) from His followers so that His personhood is revealed to the world. In essence, we now reflect His personality through our lifestyle and actions.
I was raised in a very strict religious environment. Some circles would refer to this as "old time holiness." To me, that system focused more on rules, regulations, hair length, make up, clothing choice and outward expressions than it did on living in health and inner healing.
By the way...I'm extremely thankful for where I came from but I'm also glad I kept coming.
I've personally met people who "look, according to their own prejudiced standards, the part of a perceived Christian" and yet they have a nasty attitude towards others. They are condescending, arrogant, rude and hateful.
Who are those people winning to Christ? No one. Their focus is more on appearance and trying to impress other Christians than relational representation to a lost world.
Granted, there is something to be said about the inward work of Christ in ones heart. His inward work will produce an outward manifestation. However, it will not only be in your appearance, it will also be in your attitude.
Isn't this what Paul was referring to in Ephesians 4:13 ... "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:"
I speak life to the body of Christ today! I speak life to those who are "dead" in their spiritual hearing, and have like Eli of old received no spiritual word in their ears, to HEAR AGAIN! I speak UNITY again to the body of Christ...such unity that will reveal Christ in strength to this world through the perfection (maturation) of sons.
We do not need another superstar leader in the Church to take us to the next level or for that matter create a way of escape from this present darkness. What we need cannot be contained on the flesh rack of a man's ingenuity and marred perfection. The Church needs to take its rightful position AS THE BODY OF CHRIST! We are a "many membered" body yet we have one head...JESUS.
We are a diverse body. Yet, the world hasn't really taken notice of our "head" (Jesus) because we've focused more on other body parts instead of the head. That's why the spirit of religion has seemingly suffocated a true intimate relationship with Christ out.
The spirit of religion has us focusing on the wrong body part. We've become mentally consumed with rules, regulations, procedures, denominations and superstar personalities! The world can no longer see Christ in the Church because the Church has had the world looking in the wrong place. We've got people focusing on looking for Him in the clouds rather than where the Bible says He resides...in the manifested lifestyles of His sons.
More on this to follow...
