Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25-27
How is Jesus loving the Church today? Does He still love His Bride? What exactly is the process involved to become ‘without stain or wrinkle and become holy and blameless’? Then this scripture comes to mind…
Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?
Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.
Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Hebrews 12:7-13
Are you enduring through bouts of suffering knowing that the Holy Spirit is building discipline in you? Are you aware of His counsel to your soul? Or are you just complaining? The Church … especially in America is still too comfortable and satisfied with it’s current …state. Do you see your Church as without ‘spot or wrinkle’ now? Is it holy and blameless? What is your responsibility to the health of your church or group that is in your influence? Are you being ‘refined’ by the Holy Spirit? Are your deep hidden character flaws being exposed by the Holy Spirit? Is He revealing your ‘cracks’? The holiness of the Church must always begin with us personally, individually. We MUST be in intimate relationship with Him, and extremely sensitive to His Holy Spirit who indwells us. And then … we MUST be about discipling others as well! Humbly, honestly, encouragingly, prayerfully, always pointing others to Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Unfortunately, we’ve allowed evil to ‘rule’ over us, especially in Government over the past century. I see evidence of this all over this world. Sure… the pendulum has been swinging back and forth — but the slide away from God always takes another step down with each cycle. Too many now are just saying the ‘words’, rather than actually living out the intimate ‘relationship’ with Him. Christianity has become more of a religion now than a deep abiding ‘marriage’ with Jesus, in America. What will be the process He uses to bring us ‘back to Him’? Will He allow our ‘wishes’ to come true, allowing our wants to override His plan for us? There are massive consequences for getting what we want rather than submitting to His plan for us. Are you willing to give up your ‘wants’ for His plan for you? Do you ask Him how you need to change? Do you have any remorse, or sorrow, for your shortcomings in your own spiritual day to day engagement with Him? Is your soul actually engaged with Him every day? Do you feel or experience the ‘Holy light’ of the Holy Spirit? We NEED Jesus to wash us!
Father YOU are always … good. Jesus, please wash me with YOUR Word! Holy Spirit come and shine YOUR light on my soul! I surrender to YOUR plan and will for me. Come and cleanse me!
Who actually is your King? What is He asking you to pray?