“My little children, of whom I travail in
birth again until Christ be formed in you” – Galatians 4:19.
In the book of Galatians St. Paul speaks about Abraham’s
two sons; Isaac and Ishmael. Isaac was
the promised son, but Ishmael son of a slave woman. Family of Abraham can be divided into three;
children of Sarah, children of Hagar and children of Kethura. If children, then heirs of God and
joint-heirs with Christ (Rom.8:17). If
we are children there should be a spiritual growth in our life. St. Paul calls the believers of the Church of
Galatia as “my little children” or babes.
With a great lamenting he says, they started in spirit and ended up in
the flesh. There are stages of sonship;
babes, sons, children, man, perfect man etc.
When we accept Jesus Christ and receive the born again experiences we
are known as “babes”, but after we receive the Holy Spirit we are known as
“children”. Babes will take only milk,
but as we grow step by step we take milk and strong meat too. “For
every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is
a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason
of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil”
(Heb.5:13-14). We will not give the car
key to a small baby but when he is grown up and matured, we will give the key
and will say you drive. After the
spiritual birth we should grow to the stature and fullness of our heavenly father
(Mat.5:48; Eph.4:12-13). You may have
different weaknesses and failures in your life, but a glorious experience is in
you, which you may not know. St. Paul
says, to attain the growth in us he travail in prayer. In order to have an overcoming life, New
Testament church is travailing (Rev.12:3-4).
Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac but to others some
gifts. To Ishmael he gave a piece of
bread and water. In those days usually
give wine but Abraham gave only water to his son. This is the difference between the
understanding of our church and other churches.
It is the common mockery saying by other church people about TPM that
“they (TPM) says they are the Bridal group”.
We are not claiming but travailing for that. New Testament Church or Bride got many nick
names like dove, first fruits, enclosed garden, house of God, Lamb’s wife,
man-child, Sun-clad woman, body of Christ, etc.
We are travailing to become the heirs of New Jerusalem and Zion, as
joint-heirs with Christ. Until we attain
the perfection of Christ, He is waiting.
To Ishmael God gave a piece of bread and water but to Isaac
he gave all that he had. What you want
from God? Some people follow Him for the
earthly needs (I Cor.15:19). We have to
become the man-child and that is our only goal (Rev.12:5). Some people are like “dead-mobile” and they
must activate themselves. Isaac means
“he laughs” but Ishmael means “he make others laughs or mocker”. When people of God fill in the Spirit and rejoice
in His presence one group like Ishmael sit and mock at them. They are like “temple-cat”, no fear of
God.
We are born to win –
Formula of ABC is that
A = attitude to win (change)
B = born to win
C = condition to win
In boxing / wrestling the condition to win is that if they
fall, they will count 1 to 10 and within that period if he get up he can
continue the game. There may be fracture
and other problem, but he should get up within that period. Find out your falling and get up before God’s
count finishes. When a person commit any
robbery or murder police take finger print and other such things and they are
unique. Nobody’s finger print will be
like yours because you are unique.
Solomon says, you are unique among all other brides (SS 6:9,10). We have this message from God to the last
generation.
Birth of Isaac is unique in four ways, which are just
opposite of the birth of Ishmael.
Ø Isaac was born by faith through a free woman, whereas
Ishmael through unbelief by a bond woman.
Ø Isaac was born out of prayer, faith, waiting and
promise. Time comes Ishmael and Hagar
was to be separated through fiery trials (Gen.21:8,9).
Ø Isaac was a weaned child whereas Ishmael a mocker.
Ø Isaac born after the spirit but Ishmael born after
the flesh.
These are the conditions to win. Are you becoming like
Isaac or Ishmael in the house of God? On
the day of His coming, if we are seen like Ishmael we will be left behind and
face the persecution of Antichrist. You
change your attitude. You are born to
become the heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. You are born to practice
and win Christ. God’s count for you to get up from your falling will be over
very soon.
There are four aspects of faith –
- faith by hearing (Romans
10:17)
- faith worketh by love
(Gal. 5:6)
- faith kept in good
conscience (1 Tim.1:19)
- faith grows through
sufferings (Lk.17:5; Rom.5:1-5)
But Ishmael took a short-cut to get the inheritance. He was not willing to wait patiently for
God’s time. When you go for doctors and
medicines for your healing, you take a short cut but it is not the will of
God. You may receive a bulky strong body
but your body will always resist the spiritual things and the truth of divine
healing. Let us decide to go through the
sufferings and do the will of God because we are unique.
Isaac is born from a free woman. We should enjoy this freeness in our
spiritual life. Because our mother New
Jerusalem which is above is free (Gal.4:30,31).
Eagles fly in high and it will move freely without any struggle. Rest in the Lord and go forward is the
experience of Isaac.
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