Page 49 - Christ in You - The Hope of Glory

Yahshua was faced with two choices when He saw the cross before Him. He could say,
“Father, save me from this hour,” or He could say, “Father, glorify Thy name.” Yahshua
chose to glorify His Father’s name by going through the trial and manifesting the meek,
humble and loving character of God as He was being subjected to terrible abuse and scorn.
The Father was glorified beyond measure as His Son was being crucified and He declared,
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” This single act was a triumph
over the rebellious and self-centered attitude of Satan. By the righteousness, humility, and
love of the Son of God all sin was shown to be exceedingly sinful. The nature and character
of God was revealed to be infinitely higher and worthy of praise than the fallen nature of
man.
In order for you and I to be made ready to receive the glory, power and authority
reserved for the glorified sons of God, we must first become mature sons in the image and
likeness of our Father. This conformity is proven through many trials that seem grievous
at the moment, but they yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

Hebrews 12:3-12
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that
you may not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of
shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation
which is addressed to you as sons, "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the
Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves He
disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives. " It is for discipline that
you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father
does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become
partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had
earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be
subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as
seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His
holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to
those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of
righteousness.

Our Father will always subject us to the optimum circumstances to produce in us His
righteous character. He rarely chooses to subject His sons in training to ease and comfort,
riches or worldly acclaim. When life is comfortable, the sons of God tend to be at ease.
When men and women have plenty, their tendency is toward pride and careless living.
Yahweh knows our frame, and the waywardness of the flesh. He therefore chooses
circumstances that are humble and which keep us focused on Him.
In 1999 I surrendered to the Lord to follow Him wherever He would lead me. This was
a departure from the manner of my Christian walk prior to that time. I had previously lived
according to the manner of all the other Christians with whom I was familiar. I remained
in control of many of the decisions of my life, fearing that a total surrender to His will might
lead me to experiences my flesh and soul dreaded.
When I crossed through the narrow gate of surrender to His will in all things, I found
myself entering an afflicted path. I had known afflictions in earlier days, but they were
much less, for I was still directing my way in many decisions. My growth in Christ was also
much slower during those former days. When I entered into the path of affliction of God’s