“...Let us rejoice and be
glad and give him glory! ...the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright
and clean, was given her to
wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)...” (Revelation 19:7-8 KJV). “...Your new name
will be ...“The Bride of God,” for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his bride...” (Isaiah 62:4
NLT). “...to present her
(the REDEEMED) to himself as a radiant church (BRIDE), without
stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless...” (Ephesian 5:27 KJV). “…And in the PROCESS of time “IT” CAME TO PASS…” (Genesis
4:3 KJV).
*
A sanctifying PROCESS will involve a
sequence of actions or transforming experiences that affect inward changes to the heart. “…And in the PROCESS of time IT (sanctification) CAME TO PASS…”
(Genesis 4:3 KJV).
These inward changes can be a gradual, or
rapid, or extremely slow, or a steady procession of transformation.
Regardless of how fast or how slow the
PROCESS; it is ALWAYS a continuous sequence of actions or transforming
experiences with a definite, God-given, purpose and end result in mind. “…Through this PROCESS the priest will
purify you from your sin, MAKING YOU RIGHT with the Lord, and you will be forgiven.…”
(Leviticus 5:10 NLT).
The sanctifying PROCESS aims to move, the
redeemed, toward holiness and the sequence of actions or the transforming
experiences, used to do it, often seem non-existence or practically invisible. “…walk BY
FAITH...” (2
Corinthians 5:7 KJV).
The sequence of actions or transforming
experiences, in a PROCESS, are individual tasks or steps that ALL link
together to produce holiness. “…Then
he must (FIRST)bathe himself with water in a sacred place, (NEXT)put on his regular garments, and (NEXT)go out to sacrifice a burnt offering for himself and
(NEXT) a burnt offering for the people. Through this PROCESS,
(WHAT WILL HAPPENED?) he will purify himself and the people, making
them right with the Lord….” (Leviticus 16:24
NLT).
PROCESS makes something HAPPEN.
The
sanctifying PROCESS has actions that focuses on the REDEEMED BECOMING altered
through this procession of transforming experiences. “…Through this PROCESS,
HE MADE the altar holy by purifying it…”
(Leviticus 8:5 NLT).
Eventually, the sanctifying PROCESS will
produce holiness after a certain amount of time. “…And in the PROCESS of time “IT”
(sanctification) CAME TO PASS…” (Genesis 4:3 KJV).
Further, the sanctifying PROCESS is a sequence
of actions or transforming experiences that require a certain amount of time, particular
tasks, or steps that work together to produce good (holiness). “...ALL THINGS work (PROCESS) together for good (holiness) to
them (the redeemed) that love God, to them who are the called ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE…”
(ROMANS 8:28 KJV).
In other words, the sanctifying
PROCESS involves TIME and the WORKING together of God-allowed tasks or steps.
When does the
sanctifying PROCESS happen? God allows the sanctifying PROCESS to happen and
become a part of daily life.
The REDEEMED or THE
BRIDE constantly find themselves involved in a sequence of actions or
transforming experiences that heavily IMPACT their lives.
People are always in
some kind of process. They may be in the PROCESS of getting dressed for work,
or the process of cooking breakfast for the family, or in the process of
helping their boss with a project at work, or in the process of checking their social media sights, or in the process of making a cake, or in the process of
having a board meeting.
PROCESS is a daily
experience and usually when you finish the necessary tasks or steps, you will
be done.
Some PROCESSES take
longer than others. If you are in the PROCESS of losing weight or building
muscles; this takes a little more time such as weeks or months.
Why is PROCESS
necessary? Without PROCESS nothing would ever get
done. The priest in the following
scripture had to bathe himself, put on his regular clothes, and go out in order
to do the sacrifices required for himself and the people.
It was the process necessary to make
himself and the people RIGHT with God. “…Then
he must (1st TASK) bathe himself with water in a sacred place, (2nd
TASK) put on his regular garments, and (3rd TASK) go out to sacrifice a burnt offering for himself and (4th TASK) a burnt offering for the
people. Through
this PROCESS, (What will happen
AFTER he finishes his TASKS?) ...he will purify himself and the
people, making them right with the Lord….”
(Leviticus 16:24 NLT).
How was, the priest’s, PROCESS
accomplished? His PROCESS was accomplished by following the sequence of tasks
required to purify himself and the people.
If
you want to make a specific cake; you will follow a sequence of instructions
(actions) in order to make it. If you don’t follow the sequence of instructions
(actions) the cake won’t get done.
Some daily PROCESSES are routine: getting
dressed, going to work, taking care of yourself and family, grocery shopping,
driving to appointments, and/or exercising. Normal, daily PROCESS has a start
and an end. We can pretty much control or get a grip on daily, routine PROCESSES.
What about those abnormal, rare,
uninvited, and uncontrollable PROCESSES? Those PROCESSES that have a start and
end too, but you don’t know how long it will take, or when it will be over, or
everything you need to do to get it completed?
Those unexpected PROCESSES can often cause
you to trust in, depend upon, and cooperate with Romans 8:29: “...ALL THINGS work (PROCESS) together for good to them that love
God, to them who are the called ACCORDING
TO HIS PURPOSE…” (ROMANS 8:28 KJV). “…And in the PROCESS of time “IT”
CAME TO PASS…” (Genesis 4:3 KJV).
However, when it comes to Romans 8:29, you
don’t usually know what “things” are actually working together for YOUR good. “...ALL “THINGS” work (PROCESS) together …”
(ROMANS 8:28 KJV).
You also don’t know the
time factor. “…And in
the PROCESS of “TIME”…” (Genesis 4:3 KJV).
In addition, you don’t even know WHICH actions,
tasks, or experiences are necessary to complete the PROCESS or make it move
forward like you would prefer.
“…walk BY FAITH...” (2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV).
This
is the challenge of any, unforeseen, PROCESS.
Most people get tired of routine or mundane PROCESSES –normal or abnormal- and
look for more convenient ways to get through them or short-cut the sequence of
actions, tasks, and experiences it takes to GET FINISHED.
For
instance, when the PROCESS of cooking dinner every day became inconvenient FAST
foods or pre-cooked meals gained popularity. When the old-fashion way of
calling people or visiting them became inconvenient social media gained
popularity.
Making
PROCESS convenient eliminates many of the routine and mundane sequences of
actions, tasks, and experiences in hope that it will also reduce the time allotted
to “those” CHORES.
However,
God has NOT changed his method of PROCESS. “…I
am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”
(Hebrews 13:8 NIV).
God does NOT reduce the
time or eliminate the sequence of actions, tasks, or experiences necessary to
complete the WORK of sanctification in your life. “…And in the PROCESS of time
“IT” (sanctification) CAME TO PASS…”
(Genesis 4:3 KJV).
The sanctifying PROCESS of God, the Holy Spirit, HAS A PURPOSE. “...ALL THINGS work (PROCESS) together for GOOD to
them (the redeemed) that love God, to them who are the called
ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE…” (ROMANS
8:28 KJV).
Without going through the sequence of
actions, steps, and experiences to become sanctified, the REDEEMED will NEVER see the
end results of what God has in mind for them, which is HOLINESS/more BLESSINGS.
“…Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them
that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV).
The part you don’t like the most in the
sanctifying PROCESS has the most IMPACT on your transformation. Routine, mundane, and allotted time are
the most important part of the sanctifying PROCESS.
Routine
or repetitiveness gives the REDEEMED security in their ROLE as HIS BRIDE where spiritual
skills, abilities, and faith can develop in a SAFE place with the GROOM.
Mundane
or ordinary circumstances gives the BRIDE consistency,
predictability, and normality where a sense of their “new creation” self is
developed without chaos or confusion.
Allotted
time, or seasons, or phases gives the BRIDE a sense of calmness where
the “new creation” self can progressively develop without rushing or hurrying
through tasks or procedures.
Routine,
mundane, and allotted time are the most important part of the
sanctifying PROCESS, because they are the components God uses to DEVELOP his
BRIDE. Develop means to grow and transform.
The sanctifying PROCESS serves God’s main goal
of making his BRIDE holy and READY for the WEDDING. “... his bride has made herself ready....” (Revelation
19:7-8 KJV). “… GROW (develop, transform) in the GRACE and
knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” (2 Timothy 3:18
NIV). “…Be conformed to the image of his Son...” (ROMANS 8:29 KJV). “…until we …become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ…” (Ephesians 4:14 NIV). “… [Therefore]… we all … are
changed (developed) into the same image [of
Christ] from glory to glory …” (2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV).
The sanctifying PROCESS includes the
development of Christlikeness. The sanctifying PROCESS involves a sequence of
actions and experiences that require tasks and steps that result in the
redeemed being HOLY just like Christ. “…In this world we are
LIKE JESUS…” (1
John 4:17 NIV). “… GROW (develop,
transform) in the GRACE and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…”
(2 Timothy 3:18 NIV). “… [change,
transform]… into the SAME IMAGE …” (2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV).) “…[the]…image of HIS SON...”
(ROMANS 8:29 KJV). “…[into
the]…fullness of CHRIST…” (Ephesians
4:14 NIV).
How does the sanctifying PROCESS begin?
First, “...if any man
(woman) be in Christ, he (she) is a new creature: old things are passed
away; behold, all
things are become new...” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
The REDEEMED or the
BRIDE has CHANGED, which means there is something DIFFERENT about them.
Thus they have changed,
but the sanctifying process transforms them, which means that what is DIFFERENT
about the redeemed or the BRIDE has BEGUN to VISIBLY ALTER their character.
The sanctifying process
began when the indwelling Holy Spirit
took residence in the heart of the BRIDE where the WORD was planted there like
a seed within the earth.
The BRIDE changes because
the indwelling Holy Spirit, in seed
form, was SENT to dwell within their HEART. “…If
any man (woman) be in Christ, he(she) is a NEW creature …” (2
Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “... The old life is gone...” (2 Corinthians 5:14-18 NLT).
“…God
has sent forth the Spirit of His Son “INTO” [the HEART of the redeemed]…”
(Galatians 4:6 NASB). “…I will put a new spirit in [the redeemed[…”
(Ezekiel 36:26 NLT). “…The Lord (JESUS) is that [indwelling]
...Spirit…” (2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV). “…Jesus Christ is IN [the redeemed]…”
(2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV).
The BRIDE has CHANGED,
but they will TRANSFORM, if they CHOOSE, because the indwelling Holy Spirit was planted, within their hearts, like a
seed. During the sanctifying process, the seed will start to GROW. “… …The seed is the
WORD OF GOD
….. THE WORD …was
sown in THEIR HEARTS…” (Mark 4:14-15 & Luke 8:11 KJV). “…The
seed that fell on good soil ... [will]... produce ” (Matthew 13: 18-23 NLT).
When the WORD/SEED
grows it will PRODUCE spiritual FRUIT that works “IN” and “through” the
REDEEMED. “…The seed that fell on good soil ... [will]... produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had
been planted... ” (Matthew 13: 18-23 NLT). "....The Holy Spirit
produces this kind of fruit in
[y]our lives …”
(Galatians 5 NLT). “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…”
(Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).“…God ...does the work IN AND THROUGH all of us who are his
(the REDEEMED)… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
“…The Holy Spirit gives birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE
(TRANSFORMATION)…”
(John 3:6 NLT).
“…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV). “…The Spirit of God dwell[s]… in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV). “…The Lord (the Word, the SEED) is that Spirit
(too)…” (2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV). “…Jesus Christ (the
Word and the SEED) is IN YOU…” (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…[You] CAN DO all
things (TRANSFORM) THROUGH Christ which strengtheneth [or EMPOWERS you]…”
(Philippians 4:13 KJV).
“…the Father that dwelleth in … [you through the
SEED], he doeth the works (of TRANSFORMING you)…” (John 14:10 KJV). “…God
…works in you … TO ACT (TO actually become TRANSFORMED) in order to fulfill
his good purpose…”
(Philippians 2:13 NIV). “ … God … equip you (with the indwelling Holy
Spirit or) with everything good for doing his will
(transforming you into the image of Christ) …” (Hebrews 13:20-21
NIV). “…Apart from [the indwelling Holy Spirit]… [you cannot]... do nothing
[you cannot be TRANSFORMED]…” (John 15:5
NIV).
Second, the seed of Christ will duplicate
himself. “…Then God said, “Let the earth
bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing
and beast of the earth, each according to its
kind”; and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth according to its
kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on
the earth according
to its kind. And God saw that
it was good….”
(Genesis 1:24-25 NLT).
The sanctifying PROCESS will often include
routine days mundane activities, long stretches of time, unpleasant
experiences, training, practice, shaping, conditioning, and molding.
Training strengthens the BRIDE’s information
skills (revelation knowledge about God) and abilities (to depend upon the
indwelling Holy Spirit). Training also repairs, or replaces, or develops
weaknesses, informs, and builds strengths. “… GROW (develop) in the GRACE and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ…” (2 Timothy 3:18 NIV).
Practice is work that
is required in order for the BRIDE to sustain or cement those new skills and
strengths. “…Be conformed to the image of his
Son...” (ROMANS 8:29 KJV).
Training for new skills
and abilities and having them practiced is the ideal way to SHAPE the BRIDE’s
new behavior. Shaping (transforming) happens when old sinful thoughts and behaviors
are replaced by holy thoughts and behaviors. “…transformed by the renewing (shaping) of[my] mind….” (Romans 12:2
KJV).
Conditioning is when
training, practice, and shaping becomes a supernatural, habitual response, for
the BRIDE, that continually improves and maintains their new holy skills and
abilities. “…until we …become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the
fullness of Christ…” (Ephesians 4:14 NIV).
Molding, of the BRIDE,
becomes apparent when the sequence of actions and experiences from specific
tasks result in a new holy skill or ability one desires to repeat. “… [Therefore]… we all … are changed
(molded) into the same image [of Christ] from glory to glory …” (2
Corinthians 3:18 KJV).
The sanctifying PROCESS is not pleasant. The
outcome is AWESOME, but the PROCESS is mostly routine, mundane, and
time-consuming. Yet, every BRIDE will benefit from the untold blessings and
miraculously favors that only the sanctifying PROCESS can produce.
I have been through MANY sanctifying
PROCESSES and am still going through the sanctification process. It is life
long process, but the journey becomes easier when God becomes LORD and more
Sovereign in your life.
I
am happy to report, because of the sanctifying PROCESS I am MORE Christ-like. I am what I am. “…by the grace of God I am what I am…” (1
Corinthians 15:10 NIV).
I can also say, I understand why many of
the REDEEMED will abort the sanctifying PROCESS. We live in convenient and short-cut times
where instant results are preferred. God says, “…"This
is the way; walk in it…" Isaiah 30:21 NIV). “…I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye…”
(Psalms 32:8 KJV).
Like it or not, the sanctifying PROCESS is
God’s decision and not man’s to decide. “...The steps of a good man are
ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way” (Psalms
37:23 KJV). “…Thus saith the LORD,
thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am
the LORD thy God ….which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go….” (Isaiah 48:17 KJV).
Unless the BRIDE trust and follows the
GROOM through the sanctifying PROCESS, they won’t finish the journey like God
intended for them to.
God instructed Lot to escape to the
mountains, but it was more convenient to go to the city, Zoar, which means
small, so Lot “choose” to GO there. Eventually, he had to go to the mountain,
but by that time, he had become small-minded, from going to Zoar (small), and
ended up living in a cave once he got to the mountain. “…Escape to
the mountains, lest you be destroyed.” Then Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lords! Indeed now, your
servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which
you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me
and I die. See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape
there (is it not a little
one?) and my soul shall live.” And he said to him, “….Hurry, escape there. For
I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city
was called Zoar. [Eventually]… Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains ….for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. And he and his two daughters dwelt in a cave…” (Genesis 19:18-21, 30).
Lot didn’t trust God’s advice to go to the
mountain. You can make your own choices, but you can choose the consequences.
Lot became small-minded. “...[Eventually]… Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains ….for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. And he and his two daughters dwelt in a cave…” (Genesis 19:18-21, 30).
The BRIDE, through human will, chooses to TRUST God’s sanctifying PROCESS
and their TRANSFORMATION will come in TIME. “…And
in the PROCESS of TIME “IT”
CAME TO PASS…” (Genesis 4:3 KJV).
Job
said:“….All the days of my appointed
TIME WILL
I WAIT, till my change come…”
(Job 14:14 KJV). Therefore, “…WAIT ON
the LORD: …WAIT, I say, on the
LORD…” (Psalms 27:14 KJV). “…THOUGH IT TARRY, WAIT FOR IT….”
(Habakkuk 2:3 KJV).
The BRIDE is
being developed spiritually. It doesn’t matter how many days, weeks, months, or
years it’s been or what it has cost the BRIDE…in the END, all the redeem’s HOPES,
will come to PASS!!! “…And in
the PROCESS of time IT CAME TO
PASS…” (Genesis 4:3 KJV).
God is GROWING
HIS BRIDE INTO spiritually MATURITY. “….[the BRIDE must choose to] ...PRESS
toward the mark for the prize of the HIGH CALLING of
God in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 3:14 KJV). “Therefore, [redeemed ones], be all the more
diligent to make
certain about HIS CALLING and choosing you; for as long as you PRACTICE these things, you will never
stumble…” (2 Peter 1:10 NASB).
SO, “…GROW to maturity…” (2 Corinthians 13:11 NLT). “…until Christ be formed in you…”
(Galatians 4:19 KJV). “….I
pray …that you will keep on GROWING
in KNOWLEDGE and understanding…” (Philippians 1:19 NLT).
THUS, “Let us (the redeemed) NOT become
weary in doing good, for at the PROPER TIME
WE WILL REAP A HARVEST if we do not
give up” (Galatians 6:9 NIV).
“...[Therefore,
God’s BRIDE, if]... you suffer for doing
good and you endure it, this is
commendable before God. To this you were called, because
Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, HE DID
NOT RETALIATE; when he suffered, HE MADE NO THREAT. “INSTEAD,” he
entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1
Peter 2:19-23 NIV).
“…[Keep your eyes]... on Jesus, the champion
who initiates and perfects [y]our faith. Because of the JOY awaiting him, HE ENDURED THE CROSS, disregarding its shame…”
(Hebrews 12:2 NLT).
“…AT
the PROPER TIME
[the BRIDE]... WILL REAP A HARVEST
if [they]... do not give up” (Galatians 6:9 NIV).
“…What we do see is Jesus, who for a little
while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered
death (death to SELF and death on the CROSS) for us, he is NOW “crowned with
glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted DEATH for everyone…”
(Hebrews 2:9 NLT). “…Therefore, God
ELEVATED him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name
above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the
earth…” (Philippians 2:9-10 NLT).
Thus, “…And in the PROCESS of time IT
(the WEDDING) …[WILL COME]… TO PASS…” (Genesis 4:3 KJV).
The bride’s ROLE is to
TRUST God, through everything and to accept the sanctifying PROCESS - no matter
how routine, time-consuming or HARD - HAS A PURPOSE. “God has chosen you from the beginning for SALVATION through SANCTIFICATION
by the Spirit and faith in the truth…” (2 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB).
God’s MADE a suitable help-met for man and
he is MAKING a suitable BRIDE for himself. “…It is not good that the man
should be alone; I will make …a
helpmeet for him”…”
(Genesis 2:18 KJV). “...“The Bride of God,” for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his bride...” (Isaiah 62:4
NLT). “...[He will] ...
present her (the REDEEMED) to himself as a radiant church (BRIDE), without
stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless...” (Ephesian 5:27 KJV). “......the wedding of the
Lamb has come,...”
(Revelation 19:7-8 KJV).
“......his bride has made
herself ready. Fine linen, bright
and clean, was given her to
wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)...” (Revelation 19:7-8 KJV). “…And in the PROCESS of time “IT”
(the WEDDING) CAME TO PASS…” (Genesis 4:3 KJV).
No comments:
Post a Comment