True Sonship, 9/15/16

There are a lot of people out there these days talking about sonship to God without mentioning one of its main keys: suffering. But here is no true sonship to God without real suffering for him:

Romans 8:17 New King James Version (NKJV)

17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Hebrews 2:10 New King James Version (NKJV)

Bringing Many Sons to Glory

10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Hebrews 5:8-9 New King James Version (NKJV)

8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,

Jesus said it very succinctly:

Matthew 10:38 New King James Version (NKJV)

38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

Paul understood it:

Philippians 3:10 New King James Version (NKJV)

10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

Likewise a true apostolic walk is one of great humility, brokenness ans suffering:

1 Corinthians 4:9-13 New King James Version (NKJV)

9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

There are a lot of pretenders running around talking about sonship who have never received so much as a slap across the face for the cross. Let's make sure we are not among them. I do not claim to be an apostle for I am not yet that mature but I sure praise God for the beatings I have received for the cross during the years I lived in the only environment in America where believers ever die for our faith. The intimacy with Jesus it has brought me I would not trade for anything.

Steve Pursell, 9/15/16