FATHER-SON-SONS

Hebrews 2:10-11 says "for it became Him (Jesus), for whom all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons into glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all one; for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren." (italics mine)


This says we are sanctified through suffering. It puts us into a class where we become the brothers and sisters of Christ. The One who was present at the creation of the world is bringing many sons into glory; through suffering. For this cause He is not ashamed to call us brethren.


Toward the end of His ministry on earth before His crucifixion, which glorified Him for eternity, Jesus said in John 17:11 "And now I am no more in the world but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own Name these whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as we are."


Christ's desire before leaving this earth was that Believers be made one with Him and God; as son's of the Father. The same family line; the same family traits. The same DNA.


Do I feel like a son of God? Can I say that I know the Father, for I am from Him, and He has sent me (John 7:29)? Or He that sent me is with me; the Father has not left me alone (John 8:29)?


Do some around me seek to kill me, not only because I have broken their understanding of the Sabbath but because I have also said that God is my Father, making myself equal with God? Am I that far removed from holiness that I am not distingishable from those around me?


Should I, or will I ever reach a point where Christ says to me that from now on He will not call me a servant, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but from now on He will call me His friend; that all things He hears from the Father (and my Father also) He makes known to me?


Am I there yet? If not now, when?


I do not want to give a self fullfilling prophecy but I am honest enough to say that I do not feel that confidence most of the time. Why? Could it be that I am not following His commandment that I have love one for another, just as He loved me? That by this all men will know that I am His disciple, that I have love one for another.


I long to confidently say that I KNOW HIM, FOR I AM FROM HIM, AND HE SENT ME!


But, the process, the ordeals, the pain, the suffering is the cornerstone of that confidence. The human side of me does not want to go through the pain. Why can't I just read a few chapters a day, prayer for a few people I know, and go about my daily business showing up at work and worrying about the balance of my retirement account, a new car next year, and the sun room I want to add to my house? BINGO! I have answered my question of why I am not there yet.


I have placed gods before God. They are not little clay moldings and I do not have a stone altar in my yard. The gods of the 21st Century are more civilized; not as obvious. In this context, I read the heart cry of Jesus to the Father in John 17 - the entire chapter is worth typing because it expresses the pain that Christ felt as He looked into the 21st Century and saw the desire of those who want to serve Him in the midst of this very dark Age in which we live.

JOHN 17
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said,


"Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son may glorify Thee:
as Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him.


And this is life eternal that they might know Thee,
the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.
I have glorified Thee on the earth;
I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.


And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the world;


Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me;
and they have kept Thy word.
Now they have known that all things whatsoever Thou hast given Me are of Thee
For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me;
and they have received them,
and have known surely that I came out of Thee,
and they have believed that Thou didst send Me.


I pray for them;
I pray not for the world,
but for them which Thou hast given Me;
for they are Thine.


And all Mine are Thine
and Thine are Mine;
and I am glorified in them.


And now I am no more in the world,
but these are in the world,
and I come to Thee.


Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me,
that they may be one, as we are.
While I was with them in the world,
I kept them in Thy name;
those that Thou gavest Me I have kept,
and noe of them is lost,
but the son of perdition;
that the scripture might be fulfilled.


And now come I to Thee;
and these things I speak in the world,
that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves.


I have given them Thy word;
and the world hath hated them because they are not of the world,
even as I am not of the world.


I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world,
but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world,
even as I am not of the world.


Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy word is truth.
As Thou hast sent Me into the world,
even so have I sent them into the world.


And for their sakes, I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word:


That they may all be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me,
and I in Thee,
that they also may be one in Us:
that the world may believe that Thou has sent me.


And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given them,
that they may be one,
even as We are one.
I in them and Thou in Me,
that they may be made perfect in one;
and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me,
and hast loved them,
as Thou has loved Me.


Father, I will that they also
whom Thou hast given Me,
be with Me where I am;
That they may behold My glory,
which Thou hast given Me;
For Thou lovest Me before the foundation of the world.


O righteous Father,
the world hath not known Thee;
but I have known Thee,
and these have known that Thou hast sent Me.


And I have declared unto them Thy name,
and will declare it;
that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them,
and I in them."

THE HEART CRY OF MESSIAH!
THE LOVE OF GOD. THE LOVE OF CHRIST. THAT WE MAY BE ONE.