Page 32 - The Gate and the Way

Father’s are at times extreme.

Matthew 26:38-39
Then He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here
and keep watch with Me." And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and
prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible’, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I
will, but as You will."

There are times when the Father reveals some trial ahead of us, and everything within
our natural being recoils in horror, fear and loathing at what is before us. To be numbered
among the overcomers in Christ we must not shrink back at such moments. We must press
forward. There are great consequences riding upon our decisions, even as there were for the
Son of God in that moment portrayed above.

Hebrews 10:32-39
But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great
conflict of sufferings, partly, by being made a public spectacle through reproaches
and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. For
you showed sympathy to the prisoners, and accepted joyfully the seizure of your
property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding
one. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For
you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may
receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come,
and will not delay. But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back,
My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back to
destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

Here are described some of the sufferings of Christ. Those who come to Christ, and
become partakers of His Spirit, are to surrender their lives to be led of the Spirit in all
things. This surrender will result in conflict with the world, and the religious spirits in this
fallen world system.
The Hebrew saints addressed in these words experienced “a great conflict of
sufferings.” These were truly the sufferings of Christ. The Jewish religious leaders
persecuted them, and Roman society also did the same. The disciples of Christ were
subjected to public reproach. They were made spectacles before their neighbors. They had
to accept scorn, shame, and many evil accusations. We read that some were imprisoned.
Others had their property seized.
Do not be deceived in thinking such things could not happen to those who walk
faithfully with Christ today. I can tell you truly, from my own experience, that such
tribulations are as likely today as they were 2,000 years ago. This must be so, for Christ’s
body has always been perfected through suffering. Let us remember again the words of
Paul:

the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance...

This testimony occurs frequently in the Bible.