Being Conformed to His Image
                                                                          
 
                                     

Uniquely written for those willing to become true disciples of Jesus Christ... those running the race to win. Within its pages, you are challenged to run for the prize, to go for the gold…
and exhorted not to be satisfied with anything less than the fulfillment of your destiny.

To do this, however, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow the Master. “Where?” you ask - to Calvary, of course! Where else would someone carrying a cross go? Dear saint, know that there is a Calvary in your future (or perhaps you are experiencing it now). There is also a glorious resurrection! Please don’t focus on Good Friday; concentrate on Easter morning.

You must die; your self-life must be crushed. But, you will rise again in the power of the Holy Spirit! There lies in store for you abundant blessing… here in this life, and extraordinary reward in heaven. “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1Cor. 2:9). How the Church needs to learn about death to self, crucifixion of the flesh, as it were, and yet so many Christians despise this type of teaching, calling it legalistic and religious. The soulish man vehemently resists death. So many failings would be overcome; so many obstacles hurdled, if we could simply learn to die to self. Therein lies joy and true freedom!

As we gaze upon His beauty, the multifaceted splendor, we can see so many of His attributes, so many aspects of divine love: His kindness, gentleness, mercy, compassion… Make no mistake about it: God is love! Everything He says and does is motivated by love. Nonetheless, beloved, like a diamond viewed from different angles, revealing its depth, brilliance and color, there are other perceptions of a life in Christ that you need to be aware of: Your loving God desires to ‘kill’ you!

If you have chosen to go all the way with Jesus you have probably already learned that He leads you far beyond the "righteous, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost" that you thought you signed-up for. You have embarked on a perilous journey that is oftentimes very demanding. It can be absolutely painful to experience the transforming work of the Lord, especially if you resist.  ‘His pruning hand,’ ‘the Refiner’s fire,’ ‘the winepress of the Lord,’ ‘the wilderness experience,’ ‘the dark night of the soul,’ there is no pleasant name for the dealings of our God.  His motivation is always love, but His methods are not always gentle. And these are the days, dear disciple, when everything that can be shaken will be shaken. You can be certain that everything means EVERYTHING! Only those who are willing to forsake all can follow Him this far. Only those who are willing to ‘die’ will press on… for many are called but few are chosen. Will you persevere?

This book is not about ecclesiastical exercises or methodical self-effort, but surrender, and trust, and the recognition that your gracious heavenly Father is in control of all things… adversity included. The omniscient Omnipotent even allows the malevolent strategies of the devil into His divine plan for you, working them for your good. He has predestined you to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29).

Within these pages, you are challenged to run for the prize, to go for the gold… and exhorted not to be satisfied with anything less than the fulfillment of your destiny. To do this, however, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow the Master. “Where?” you ask - to Calvary, of course! Where else would someone carrying a cross go? Dear saint, know that there is a Calvary in your future (or perhaps you are experiencing it now). There is also a glorious resurrection! Please don’t focus on Good Friday; concentrate on Easter morning. You must die; your self-life must be crushed; but you will rise again in the power of the Holy Spirit. There lies in store for you abundant blessing… here in this life, and extraordinary reward in heaven. “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1Cor. 2:9). How the Church needs to learn about death to self, crucifixion of the flesh, as it were, and yet so many Christians despise this type of teaching, calling it legalistic and religious. The soulish man vehemently resists death. So many failings would be overcome; so many obstacles hurdled, if we could simply learn to die to self. Therein lies true freedom!

Beloved, consider this: There is only one thing that stands between the all-powerful Holy Spirit who dwells within you, and the world that so desperately needs Him… and that is you, dear Christian, your flesh. Why aren’t you a witness for Christ? For the same reason you won’t twirl in circles and shout for joy when praising the Lord: because you are self-conscience and afraid of what others will think of you. You are afraid of embarrassment.

Why don’t you forgive those who have offended you or ask for forgiveness when you are the offender? Because you are too proud, pride stands in the way of obedience. Why won’t you tithe and give sacrificially to the poor… because you simply don’t trust God to provide your needs. Why do you disobey…  usually because ‘self’ must be gratified. You love yourself more than you love God! Dear servant of the Most High, your self-life must be crucified if you are to apprehend that for which you were apprehended. But there is even a greater reason for your crucifixion: that you would come to the deepest levels of intimacy with the Lover of your soul…unencumbered by the distractions of self-life.

Others have written about these things: Guyon, Melinos and Fenelon, to name a few, but their manuscripts, for the most part, were rejected and have now been buried in the annals of Church history. Thanks to the efforts of Gene Edwards, a present day ‘mystic,’ these writings are once again available in modern translation. It is time to revisit these monumental works.

Intense trials and seasons of testing lie ahead, beloved. Hopefully, as you read on, you will gain a measure of understanding and be encouraged to continue moving forward. Sometimes you will cry … and no comfort will seem adequate. You will probably become angry with God for allowing such hardships to besiege you… and angry with those around you. You may feel that God has abandoned you. (He has never been closer.) The Lord will give you encouragement at times, but just enough to keep you going… and then He seems to remove it. You may experience miserable failures and could be tempted to justify yourself when you stumble… shifting the blame to others. You may loose interest in, and stop doing all of the spiritual things that you once did... and Church people will surmise that you have backslidden.  You may experience rejection, even from those closest to you. Most likely, time and again, you will experience a strong temptation to turn back, to quit; you may despair of life itself. At the deepest levels, you will think that you are loosing your mind.

Those around you, as well intentioned as they may be, will not understand what is happening to you, including those with spiritual authority. Some will offer religious solutions and empty clichés. Your world will be turned upside down and the heavens turned to brass, your prayers seemingly impotent. Disappointments will abound…each one striking another blow to your already hope-deferred heart. You may loose all hope and, if possible, even your faith, for a season. But self-life will eventually die… and you will begin to make the transition from being a ‘do-er’ to simply being His.

And then, you will live your life in Him! “It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me.” At this point wisdom begins to flow through you, many are blessed simply by being in the presence of the Lord (His Spirit streaming from you, unhindered by the usual carnal resistance). Power issues forth from His presence; the anointing that breaks the yoke of bondage sets the captives free.  You come, and go, and give, and receive as the Lord wills.“ Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved” (SOS 8:5)? It is you, dear one! You are His and He is yours. Having been crucified, you are abandoned to His purposes and totally dependant upon Him. You can minister to one or to ten thousand; it makes no difference; you rely upon Him. No longer called servant, but friend, you are trusted with the secret things. 

You will pay a great price to enter there… more than you can now imagine; and perhaps it is better that way. But know this: it is His work, not yours! Trust Him, please trust Him and be grateful. The glorious Creator of the Universe has chosen you! His wonderful and unique plan for your life is blossoming forth in the perfection of time. The Vinedresser can already appreciate your sweet-smelling fragrance, the juice from your crushing, a sweet tasting wine. You will soon come through this dark night and enter into the joyful mysteries of a crucified life.  (This place is also known as: Freedom, Normal Christianity and the Kingdom of God!)

“Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.’”  Luke 9:23-24

 We worship Jesus with joy and proclaim His love in power. There is no legalism found here...
only complete abandonment and sweet surrender.
The object: agape, self- sacrificing love.
Want to learn more?

We offer training seminars and worship conferences... and a discipleship school called Destiny.

For information:

The Capital Region Prayer and Healing Center
553 Clinton Avenue
Albany, New York  12206

(518) 432-7100
(518) 441-4891

journal@prayerandhealingcenter.org

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