The Chastening of the Lord, and the path to eternal life
Advanced Insights: Greetings fellow believers in Messiah Yahushua!
To those of you who desire to have a more accurate and perfect understanding of the gospel, and of our lord and savior, Yahushua Messiah. This is written to help anchor and strengthen your soul in a more intimate understanding of the operation of grace toward you. I want you to know and understand that without holiness (being separate from the world in thought, word, and deed), no one will see Yahushua Messiah. [Hebrews 12:14].
And that without faith it is impossible to please God [Hebrews 11:6].
And faith without works is dead [James 2:17].
And if these things be true, then what do we need to know, and do? You must understand that no one who was born into this world, and sold under the sinful human nature because of Adam, can become Godly and holy without first going through the purification process of fiery trials, and tribulations. So don't think it strange, or feel forsaken when these trials come upon you. It is your Father Yahweh who is purging and pruning you of your former way of thinking, feeling, and doing things.
[Gal 5:19] Now, the effects of the corrupt nature are obvious: illicit sex, perversion, promiscuity, [20] idolatry, drug use, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambition, conflict, factions, [21] envy, drunkenness, wild partying, and similar things. I’ve told you in the past and I’m telling you again that people who do these kinds of things will not inherit the kingdom of God. You must understand that it is these emotions and desires that has governed your life from birth. The devil has also been programming everyone that is born into this world through the various media outlets that he has control over to become strong in this fallen condition called the human nature, or sin nature.
Now concerning the fallen human nature, Yahushua Messiah said that there will come a time when people will kill you believing that they are actually serving God (religious people), even as our brother Saul did before Yahushua delivered him from his chains of ignorance. This apostasy can only happen because the churches are teaching a false gospel that opposes the sanctification and pruning away of the fallen nature. Therefore these deceived Christians will desire to kill you, because they walk after their own emotions and desires of the human nature that they have exalted and made into their own personal god. [Philippians 3:18-19] I have often told you, and now tell you with tears in my eyes, that many live as the enemies of the cross of Messiah. [19] In the end they will be destroyed. Their own emotions are their god, and they take pride in the shameful things they do. Their minds are set on worldly things.
They put their feelings and emotions above the truth of the gospel, even as they have been taught to do. Within them, their emotions fueled by their lustful desires are their authority above the word of God. Their end will be destruction. Their reward is according to their sinful desires which they chose to keep, and strengthen above Yahushua's nature and character that was offered to them, but they rejected that deliverance. In other words; they chose to stay in Egypt, instead of being delivered to a promised land and given rest (from internal conflicts through temptations).
These creatures of mere instinct will not repent (change their minds), and follow Yahushua Messiah and his true gospel of sanctification, but will instead embrace the coming wicked one who impersonates an angel of light, even as they embrace his ministers and the false doctrines they teach. These impostors outwardly impersonate ministers of righteousness from behind the pulpit, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves who willfully serve the devil. But those of you who desire to do Yahweh's will, even as the lord Messiah Yahushua did, (Who is the perfect example that we should strive to become like in thought, word, and deed.) When we do run the race for the prize of Holiness and Godliness, we are continuously escaping from them and the error of their teachings, and the corruption that is found in the human nature with its various lusts.
As Yahushua (the great I AM) lead the Hebrews out of Egypt, and through the Red Sea (which represents baptism) into death from the former way of life (bondage to the sin nature); he too will lead you out of worldliness, and into his kingdom of Righteousness, Godliness, and Holiness. He will bring you into a deeper relationship with him and free you from those godless human emotions and desires. Through his spirit within you, he will make his holy emotions grow, and the sinful human nature diminish until dead.
It is Yahweh himself that is giving you the grace (desire) to do his will, and be conformed to the image of his son, even as he gave you the desire to seek him from the time he first called you. It is through this amazing 'grace' given to you freely by Yahweh, so that no one can claim that they earned salvation, Righteousness, Godliness, and Holiness in and of themselves. Understand this: No one born into this world seeks after Yahushua Messiah, unless father Yahweh gives them his grace (the desire) to seek him. No one has the ability or power to become born again, unless father Yahweh opens their eyes to Yahushua as the Messiah, and his accurate Gospel message. No one will ever endure until the end unless father Yahweh gives them the grace (desire, and power) to endure the sanctification and purification that will come upon them: To try them, and see if their faith is genuine, and give them the opportunity to lay up treasures in heaven.
This is what grace truly is: It is Yahweh's spirit touching your spirit, who convicts you, and comforts you, and gives you the most holy desires to seek him, and do his will. And no one has the power to reach into heaven, and pull down this grace, or any heavenly wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. All these amazing, supernatural gifts and power are given to those who are humble enough to receive them as gifts. The scriptures tell us that those who have faith receive the promises of Yahweh. The faith and trust in Yahushua Messiah, and the justification, Holiness, and Godliness it brings is not of any work that you have done. In other words, you are not receiving the wages due to you from any work you did to gain acceptance and approval from father Yahweh. Salvation is a gift that is only given through faith in Yahushua Messiah, and the accurate, precise knowledge of him.
Now if salvation starts out as a free gift (Grace) from Yahweh, does the sanctification process (purging of ungodly thoughts, feelings, and emotions) we all go through, which makes us more and more complete in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in thought, word, and deed suddenly come from us? No, that would be absurd! It is the work of Yahweh's spirit (His grace) within you that convicts you of wrong, and guides you into what is right. Yahushua is the vine and you are the branches. It is Father Yahweh that prunes every branch so that it bears more and more healthy, good fruit (of His spirit).
Do we suddenly know everything, and begin to walk perfectly at birth? You know you don't! Then how can anyone possibly believe that they suddenly become perfect at their new birth from above? The teachings of those false preachers that you are already perfected and need nothing more when you first believe is a fake counterfeit gospel. It is designed to promote you and your feelings above God and his sanctification. It indoctrinates you into thinking that you are already complete, and that you are in need of nothing more. It leads to spiritual apathy, and the heretical doctrine of once saved, always saved. The scriptures do not teach that apathetic doctrine!
Being born again allows you to SEE the kingdom of Yahweh. It is a journey to get too, and enter the kingdom of God!
Some will endure for a while, and then fall along the wayside, and others will wither under the pressure from trials, tribulations, and cares of this life. But we who are growing more and more powerful in Holiness, and Godliness through His grace, and in understanding the complete, accurate truth of the Gospel, and knowledge of Yahushua Messiah, do endure and enter His kingdom.
As a child, does not our parents teach us what is acceptable to them, and what is not? In the same way when we are born again, we know little to nothing about the ways of father Yahweh. He is the one who gives us every desire we have to know him, and do his will. He is the one that raises us into a spiritual temple where his attributes continue to grow and dwell.
We cannot boast, or be prideful in any work that sanctifies, and justifies us before father Yahweh. It is all a gift from above that we have not earned.
Our sanctification and perfection is a testimony of Yahweh's love and kindness to all those who believe! We are HIS workmanship alone! We love him, because he first loved us!
[Romans 3:22-28] Everyone who believes has Yahweh’s approval through faith in Yahushua Messiah.
There is no difference between people. [23] Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of Yahweh’s glory. [24] They receive Yahweh’s approval freely by an act of his grace, through the price Messiah Yahushua paid to set us free from sin. [25] Yahweh showed that Messiah is the throne of mercy where Yahweh’s approval is given through faith in Messiah’s blood. In his patience Yahweh waited to deal with sins committed in the past. [26] He waited so that he could display his approval at the present time. This shows that he is a God of justice, a God who approves of people who believe in Yahushua.
[27] So, do we have anything to brag about? Bragging has been eliminated. On what basis was it eliminated? On the basis of our own efforts? No, indeed! Rather, it is eliminated on the basis of faith. [28] We conclude that a person has Yahweh’s approval by faith, not by his own efforts.
And we must also remember that if everything concerning our salvation and sanctification has been given to us, then we should not judge anyone else; even the unsaved. Yahushua himself did not come to judge and condemn. He came to save that which was lost. The only thing we are required to judge is doctrine!
We are to be of one mind, one heart, and one doctrine! [1 Corinthians 1:10]
It is so important to be scripturally accurate that Paul stated: "If anyone teaches any other gospel, whether it's an angel, apostle, believer, or non believer, they should be condemned to hell!" [Galatians 1:8-9] But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to and different from that which we preached to you, let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)! [9] As we said before, so I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from or contrary to that which you received [from us], let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)!
The entire purpose and plan of Yahweh as he portrayed it within his Gospel, which he displayed throughout the ages, and consummating it all with Yahushua Messiah shedding his blood in sacrifice for sin to redeem us from death, was not so we could believe anything we wanted or feel.
If we have any other understanding of this, then Father Yahweh will make sure we are corrected.
Father Yahweh resists the proud, and no amount of time studying will be able to take those gifts by will or force. [John 3:27] John answered, “People cannot receive anything unless it has been given to them from above." Know this: Father Yahweh does not put new wine into old wine skins. He does not put his precious truths into the proud of heart. If you want his blessings and to know him... humble yourself under his mighty hand (discipline), and let it take its coarse by enduring it. Those he loves he chastens. Afterwards it yields a great harvest of stronger faith, and deeper wisdom and insights into the heart and mind of Messiah Yahushua, who also suffered in every way that we do, so that he can be a great and merciful comforter in our times of need. In him are all the treasures of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding that remain hidden to the unbelieving, and unfaithful. Yet are being revealed to you who believe and trust in him! To those who yield themselves to the power of his sanctification process, which is the operation and working of his spirit within. Knowing that nothing concerning Yahushua Messiah has been hidden that shall not be revealed to those who seek it as silver, and desire it like it was hidden treasures. He did not light his candle to be put under a basket. He did not try to hide his city by putting it on a hill. By giving us his spirit, he has given us his mind, and heart, so that we can know the things that are freely given to us by him.
So that we can know Yahushua Messiah, and the glorious good news of the true gospel, and the power of a resurrected life.
He does not change like shifting shadows. He is fixed and immovable like his word, so we can know him, and never be deceived by any new age so-called gospel.
But understand this: The amount of desire you apply yourself to understanding the deep and intimate things of Yahushua Messiah, is directly proportionate to the revelations you'll be given.
[Proverbs 2-9] My son, if you will receive my words, and hide my commandments within you; [2] So that you incline your ear unto wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; [3] Yea, if you cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding; [4] If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures; [5] Then shall you understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. [6] For the Lord gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. [7] He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a shield to them that walk uprightly. [8] He keeps the paths of judgment, and preserves the way of his saints. [9] Then shall you understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. In these last days the power of the devil is growing stronger, and so are his deceptions. But where sin and the workings of Satan abound abundantly, the grace of Yahweh abounds even more! So be on your guard always! Be vigilant in seeking the truth, and cling to it! Despise what is false and flee from it. For your bodies are the temple of Yahweh, and the spirit of Yahweh lives within you. [1 Corinthians 3:17] (Amplified) If anyone does hurt to Yahweh’s temple or corrupts it with (false doctrines) or destroys it, Yahweh will do hurt to him and bring him to the corruption of death and destroy him. For the temple of Yahweh is holy (sacred to Him) and that [temple] you the believing church and its individual believers are.
Don't you know that a little leaven will leaven the whole lump of dough? Even so, a little false doctrine will corrupt the entire gospel, and Yahweh's temple which is YOU! Therefore fear being found with any false doctrines (idols) you might be holding on too. Pray that you'll be pruned of anything contrary to the sound doctrine of the true gospel. Yahushua Messiah is faithful, and will bring you to father Yahweh, and his kingdom spotless and without blame, if you continue in the faith, and not turn back.
The understanding concerning faith without works, is quite simple. You are born from above if you are born again. The spirit of Yahushua, and his nature will rule in your heart. His heavenly emotions will dictate the kind of person you were recreated to be. You will grow in, and show the fruits of his spirit...
[Gal 5:22] But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, and self-control. There are no laws against things like that. [24] Those who belong to Messiah Yahushua have crucified their corrupt nature along with its passions and desires. [25] If we live by our spiritual nature, then our lives need to conform to our spiritual nature.
Those who are truly born again cannot help but be kind, compassionate, considerate, forgiving and merciful. You're a city that is set on a hill. A candle that father Yahweh lit to light the way for all when they see the good fruit that you possess within, and display from your heart like an open book. And he will continue to make those holy emotions grow within you, until we all reach the full measure of maturity even as our God and king, Yahushua Messiah. Who is our example in everything!
[Philippians 1:6] I’m convinced that Yahweh, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion on the day of Messiah Yahushua.
So keep your precious faith, confidence, and trust in Yahushua Messiah. He will never leave you, or forsake you. The fire you go through is for your benefit, even though at the time it don't feel like it. He will make sure that his nature and character will grow strong within you, as your old nature becomes less and less, until it is withered and dead.
[John 4:23-24] Indeed, the time is coming, and it is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. The Father is looking for people like that to worship him. [24] Yahweh is a spirit. Those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” May the grace and truth of father Yahweh be with your spirit always!
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