God's Got It All In Control Part IV

     Let's now go back to Hebrews 12:6 and go over the second half of this verse.

     Verse 6:  And scourgeth every son whom He receivieth.

     The Dictionary defines the word Scourgeth as:  A lash, whip, a vindictive affliction or to afflict greatly.

     I want you to understand why I am bringing to your attention the meaning of the word "Scourgeth".  Please understand and hear me.  God does not afflict us or bring disease upon us.  He will test us and even sift us if needed.  And then there are times when we bring devastation, sorrow and trauma upon ourselves because of our own rebellion and sin.

     As I was studying and preparing this message, the Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance of how Christ suffered the "Scourging" through the hands of the Roman soldiers.  He reminded me of how the "Scourge" or "Whip" was made of leather thongs that were weighted with sharp pieces of bone or lead which tore the flesh.

     Paul the Apostle and many christian martyrs suffered and some even died as a result of being scourged and whipped until they bled to death.  Our small amount of suffering we have on this earth today is but a fleeting moment compared to what the early Christians had to suffer. We will never fully understand or completely comprehend with our earthly mind the amount of suffering He endured for us.  I am so thankful that He paid the ultimate price and that was that He gave His life for us....He became the lamb of sacrifice for us....He gave us everything He was as a man and everything He is as our Lord.

          Verse 7:  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons.

     The living bible reads:  Let God train you, for He is doing what any loving father does for his children.

     As I sat back and thought about this verse the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said:

     You as a father or a mother. If you knew what lay ahead for your children and you knew  they would have to face difficult situation of trials, testings, discouragement and failures wouldn't you try in every way to help them hear the voice of the Spirit so they could respond to the calling in their life?  And you knew they needed to be taught the word of God and trained to handle the call?  Wouldn't you lovingly take your child and lead them step, by step, by step and do whatever needed to be done to accomplish that training so the end results would be for his good and for My plan and for My purpose?  Of course you would.

          Verse 8:  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

     The Amplified bible says this about this verse 8:   Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all of God;s children share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons at all.

     In Proverbs 3:11 & 12 it tells us:   My son do not despise or shrink from the chastening of the Lord, His correction by punishment or by subjection to suffering or trial, neither be weary of or impatient about or loathe or abhor His reproof.
     For whom the Lord loves, He corrects, even as a Father corrects the son in whom he delights.

     You see, God has taken each of us as a potter takes a lump of clay and painstakingly molds it into a vessel that can be used for His glory and filled with His Spirit.  A vessel that He perfects so when the firing of the kindle is turned up, (the testing as by fire) we won't crack or break under intense heat or pressure.

The Open Vision

     Many, many years ago I had an open vision.  As I opened my eyes that morning I looked up at the ceiling of my room and coming towards me from the right corner of that room was a beautiful long necked vessel that had a handle on it's right side.  It's shape and proportions were pleasing to the eye, but as it got closer I could see the top of the vessel and that it was damaged.  As I continued to study it, I noticed on the top were two indentations, one on the left side of the spout and one on the right. It looked like someone had taken a knife and sliced the top leaving it deeply indented and flawed making it difficult to pour anything from it.

     As I prayed and sought the Lord for the interpretation of this vision He told me that the vessel represented me.  He said that He wasn't finished with me yet and that the flaws represented traumatic trauma I had experienced in my life.  He said that they needed to be healed and dealt with and that He would be working in these areas to reform, shape and mold me into a perfect vessel so He could fill with His glory. 

     Beloved, He isn't finished with you yet!

Blessings,

Elma Garlock