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The Progress of Maturity - part 2 of 2 The Friend of God Ex. 33:11 (KJV) “And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.” James 2:23 (KJV) “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” John 15:14-15 (KJV) “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” The friend of God is one who is called by God. God grants to this believer access to all of the supernatural gifts in purity and holiness. The believer knows the great price that accompanies these gifts. He is willing to pay the great price so that he may go on in the things of God. A new dimension is added to this phase: The Acts of God. The believer now can see the hand of God moving all around him. Never had he thought that God was in so much of his life. It is at this stage that his hunger is satisfied, yet his desire may intensify. It is all up to the individual. The believer knows that he may stay here in this phase on go on deeper. With every phase the price is greater, yet so is the reward. Many are called, but few are chosen. The Appointed Son Rom. 8:29 (KJV) “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Gal. 4:1-2 (KJV) “Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.” The Appointed Sons are the ones whom God has chosen. It is in this phase after surrender that the believer learns of the callings and purposes for his life. Many questions are answered that he has always had about himself. The leadership gifts are now formed in the heart of the son. The apprentice is now ready to take over the business of the Kingdom of God. The son knows the seriousness of his calling and will not let his Father down. He gives the ministry his all. He knows that his life is not his own, but it now belongs to the purposes of the kingdom. The new dimension of this phase is that the ways of God are made manifest. It is now that the son’s eyes are opened to see and understand all that has been taught to him. God’s way is the only way and the son is determined to walk it. The Understanding of the Son John 10:30 (KJV) “I and my Father are one.” John 17:21 (KJV) “That they all may 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 hast sent me.” The understanding of the son is a miracle of transformation. The pure, humble and holy confidence of the believer is strong. The believer knows he has overcome the world. His testimony is astounding to the listeners. The will of God is unquestioned in his life. He knows his success. He has truly become one with Christ. All that he has read about and all that he has ever heard about Christ, he now is living. He has become perfect in the sight of God. The Song of Solomon expresses so well the encounters between Christ and his bride. At times he feels lonely. He sometimes feels that no one understands him but Jesus. It is true. There is a remnant, a very small percentage, of Christians that ever make it to this understanding. But to the son, the grace of God is in his left hand, and the mercy of God is in his right. He has never thought that life could be so rewarding, so fulfilling. He understands true love.
Reader: No matter where you find yourself in maturity, know that life is progressive. You may find yourself strong in one area, but weak in another. As long as you rely on God’s strength and not your own, you will progress. Never doubt. Never question. Just always say, “Yes.” -S. Chad Ross May Newsletter 2003 | Am I Ready to Rule with Christ? | Get It Together part 2 | Present Day Fathers part 2 Pastor's Journal May 2002 | Progress of Maturity part 2 of 2 | Pillars and Posts part 2 of 3 |
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