Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want. (Peter 4:1-2 The Message)
The process in which we must all go through, as the old man (Corrupted sinful nature) dies and the new man (incorruptible – rebirth’d into the Spirit of Christ) takes over can be a painful time – Yet in the wake of such a death lies something beautiful.
Picture for a moment, a caterpillar inside its cocoon, there is a transformation or metamorphosis taking place – a time of stretching, awkwardness as it’s form is being done over – it would almost seem a painful impossibility that this caterpillar could turn into a beautiful butterfly – Yet if this almost violent process does not take place- this caterpillar will die in a state that it was never created for – a lowly insect, crawling about the dust & dirt of plants and trees. Never to experience the heights for which God created it to experience.
But if this little caterpillar will enter into the cocoon, the transformation process after a period of time, of reconstruction – in an almost violent acts it breaks forth from the period of transformation and then stretching its wings start a New Life in the beauty that God created it to become – it’s ultimate purpose stepping into it’s destined beauty and now flying higher and higher over the prison of it’s former state that once bound it to a life of dirt and danger as it now soars in it’s New Reborn Life!
A disciple life is likened to this – at first we come into the kingdom in the form of the Old creation and we start the process of a spiritual metamorphosis – at first we run around telling every one that we have changed then we enter into a season of the spiritual cocoon if we surrender ourselves to the will of the Father. It can be a very painful process because it is a season of painful stretching – it is a period of a down right violent war between the Old mans nature and the New mans claiming his rightful place.
One of the greatest errors in a new Christians life is the unwillingness to submit to this process – Or even worse having those who are not matured in their walk come up and tell you that this process is just an attack of – telling you to rebuke the very situation that God has allowed to come upon you as a refining fire – they lead you to a terrifying position of where your not rebuking the enemy your attempting to rebuke your God!
Another error in our day is that of the half- truth’s being preached – a watered down gospel totally opposite of the Kingdom Message that our Lord and His disciples preached – it paints a picture of how when one comes to the Lord everything will be easy– you’ll never again experience pain, no more storms in life – you can lay hands on the house, the car, the job and even the new spouse and WHAM they will magically appear. But oh how they will soon take a different position when you face a storm or a trial, like Job’s friends they will be at your side telling you its because you have sinned – its because you lack “faith”.
James puts it this way:
Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)
A true disciple who is willing submit to this process will come to that place where the greatest storms of life can blow upon them – yet like the Master than can peacefully be found sleeping, resting in the Fathers love at the bow of the ship. And when the Father bids, they stand up in the authority of He who has been giving all authority, Jesus Christ our Lord and speaking one word the storm dissipates!
Not every storm of life is simply an attack of the enemy, though some maybe – But let us enter every one having the mindset of the Lord walking in the truthful realization that nothing happens that the Father has not seen coming and as a good Father, He has already provided a way of triumph for His Children! If you lack in discernment as to what is of God and what is of hell, ask the Father who will have the Promised One, Holy Spirit teach you how to walk in Spiritual discernment.
Take on the process of transformation friends, with a willingness to lay your lives and your rights down at the foot of the cross – For there you will not only find your calling, you will as well find the hands of the Creator of heaven & earth reaching out, wrapping around you and proclaiming “Welcome my dear Child – I have waited since the world began for this moment when I could wrap my love around – where I could put the robe of courage, of beauty, favor and blessing upon you”.
With courage face these trials , knowing that they will kill the old man – the storms of life will wash away the dirt collected on you from corrupted life replacing the dirt with a robe of righteousness – So enter them will gladness knowing that in this process the chains of sin are being broken – the desires of the sinful life are being destroyed and Praise God, for you will now experience the rights of son-ship.
For indeed we serve an Awesome God!
Radical Disciples - A Remnant Revolution 
