(Fifth part)
Memory verse (Heb12: 7) “ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? ”
The Greek translation of the word son is “huios”. Sons are those believers whose character is as a loving Father, shapes by chastisement (Heb12: 7). It again means those believers whose character and life resemble God’s. God’s will for every born again believer is to grow until he/she is transformed to become like his son Jesus Christ (Eph4: 11-13), (Rom8: 29-30). Our highest call is to manifest God’s glory to the whole earth, which is Christ his son and his glory. Sons are mature believers who have come to level of maturity where they resemble the lord Jesus in their speech, thought and actions. Jesus said to Philip that he who has seen him has seen his Father. Christlikeness is the goal of our spiritual development. Paul said: imitate me as I imitate Christ.
At that level of son, we begin to be led by the Holy Spirit no longer by our feelings or the worldly deceptions (Rom 8; 14). At the level of son, we can do what the Father is doing. Jesus said: my food is to do the will of the one who sent me (Jn4: 34). Again he said: what I see the Father do that I do. Sons are mature enough to receive their inheritance in Christ (Gal 4:1-7). At this level of maturity when we resemble Christ, God’s power begins to work through us without limit.
Christlikeness is the key to doing the works of God. Christlikeness is the key to power. This should be the commitment of every believer, to become like Christ. Those who lead should know where to lead God’s children. All our ministering, our teaching, our discipleship program, all our praying, our entire fasting etc should be for this one heavenly purpose to bring people to Christlikeness. Begin to change your vision, your motives in life. Begin to seek to become like Christ. Today’s church have shifted our focus from Jesus and we are putting all energy and resources in seeking all other things in the kingdom more than this one eternal purpose of God. We are busy teaching the church to seek the perishable instead of the imperishable. All we need is Jesus and a meaningful and fulfilling relationship with him that will transform our lives to be like him and all he has shall flow freely in our lives, bless God.
Tomorrow’s subject: “Spiritual fathers”
