TOZER PING"Insight for Leaders"
From the writings of A. W. Tozer
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God bless you.
Posted on 12/11/2008 3:47:56 PM PST by Sopater
Trials and Pain: Easter Without Good Friday
For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to
believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.
--Philippians 1:29
...God will crucify without pity those whom He desires to raise
without measure!...
God wants to crucify us from head to foot-making our own powers
ridiculous and useless--in the desire to raise us without measure
for His glory and for our eternal good....
Willingness to suffer for Jesus' sake--this is what we have lost
from the Christian church. We want our Easter to come without the
necessity of a Good Friday. We forget that before the Redeemer
could rise and sing among His brethren He must first bow His head
and suffer among His brethren!
We forget so easily that in the spiritual life there must be the
darkness of the night before there can be the radiance of the
dawn. Before the life of resurrection can be known, there must be
the death that ends the dominion of self. It is a serious but a
blessed decision, this willingness to say, "I will follow Him no
matter what the cost. I will take the cross no matter how it
comes!" I Talk Back to the Devil, 96-99.
"Lord, this morning I come before You on my knees to say, 'I will
follow Him no matter what the cost. I will take the cross no
matter how it comes!' Amen."
This Insight for Leaders devotional is also available in a print-friendly format here on the LMI web site.
TOZER PINGAmen. Rare to see such an unvarnished word.
Before the life of resurrection can be known, there must be the death that ends the dominion of self. God will crucify without pity those whom He desires to raise without measure!...
Father, I am in my garden, give me the strength to choose your will over my own. Help me to drink the cup that you would have me to drink and to walk in complete obedience unto you.
God wants to crucify us from head to foot-making our own powers ridiculous and useless—in the desire to raise us without measure for His glory and for our eternal good....
Thank you Father that you will trade me your beauty for my ashes.
Willingness to suffer for Jesus’ sake.
Dear, precious Lord Jesus you are most worthy for me to suffer for. You are my pearl of great price. Strengthen me, Lord to bear my cross that I may endure the suffering patiently. That I would be willing to suffer for you at any cost and be worthy of you. All Blessing, Glory and Honor be unto your name. Amen.
It is gripping. God’s Spirit is on it. Like a 2 edged sword. cut right to my heart. Can’t stop weeping. Amazing when the Word and truth of God can do that.
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. - Ezekiel 36:26
The suffering that we may do, is that for being a Christian. Specifically anything because we are Christians, Not any suffering because we are in this world and suffering from the consequences or hardships living here.
Suffering because of being persecuted for Christ’s sake as least has a reason.
Suffering because our bodies are broken down through no fault of our own is what’s always given me the greatest difficulty.
The suffering that we may do, is that for being a Christian.
Exactly, the suffering one chooses to go through as a christian,simply because they choose to do what is pleasing and honoring to their God in the face of conflict and adversity. This is the surrendering of our will to do His. Righteous suffering. Obedience to God can be quite painful at times. Have been going through a testing of trials lately and it has been quite painful, yet God is gracious and I look forward to partaking of that resurrection life once my flesh has been crucified. I might say that right now it is very much alive, that is why this word tonight has cut so deep to my heart. Blessings to you.
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