THE ROAD TO GLORY

So, understanding that we are to be a complete revelation of Jesus in the world and that only those who "overcome" in this Age will be ready for the work the Lord has planned for us in the Millennial Age to come, let us now consider the process of preparation. 

Leading up to us ruling with Jesus are twelve steps. These are the twelve basic steps of Christian faith. If we are to be fully prepared for God's Purpose we must go through every one of these steps. There are no short cuts. They are as follows: 

1. "LOST": In the world without Jesus we are in the "kingdom of darkness" and totally lost. "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), and "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Even "if we say that we have not sinned we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8). There is no hope for those who are lost in the kingdom of darkness, and death is all there is. Satan has ensured that no one leaves his kingdom alive.
2. "CALLED": Jesus said, "You have not chosen me but I have chosen you" (John 15:16) and he has sent his faithful disciples out into the kingdom of darkness to "call us to himself" (Matthew 28:19-20).
3. "CONVICTED": Jesus said," When he (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment" (John 16:8-11). Jesus has died to open the way for us to be free from sin. But how do we know that we are sinners? We have no standard to judge by. What is righteousness? God provides an answer through the Holy Spirit. By presenting us with a "standard " to compare ourselves to (the ten commandments), the Spirit shows us that we "have fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) and draws us to God's mercy. Only then can we truly appreciate the work of the Cross. Only from the depth of our wretchedness can we fully appreciate what Jesus went through for us and the wonderful "grace" God has shown to us. The Holy Spirit, by convicting us of our sin, draws us to the cross of Christ.
4. "REPENTANCE": When the Holy Spirit holds up the mirror of perfection to our sin we see ourselves as we truly are, sinners. Then we cry from the heart "Create in me a clean heart, Oh God" (Psalm 51). God's eternal answer is " if the wicked will turn from his sin.... he shall not die. All his sins shall not be mentioned to him" (Ezekiel 18:21-23). God has no desire that sinners should die, but he would rather they repented of their sin and came to a new life in Christ.
5. "NEW BIRTH": "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Those who are called to be a part of the Church are called to be "partakers of the Divine Nature" (2 Peter 1:4). The "new birth" is for the purpose of changing us from the "human nature" to the "Divine Nature". This lines up with other teaching in the New Testament for we are told that "flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 15:50). When we ask Jesus to be our Lord our old human nature is crucified with Him on the cross and God raises up His Divine Nature in us. This is the power of His resurrection working within us.
6. "BAPTISM": 
7. "SPIRIT BAPTISM": John the Baptist said "I truly baptise you in water, but he who comes after me.... will baptise you in the Holy Spirit and with fire" (Matthew 3:11). Jesus said, " When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be anointed with power and you will be my witnesses... throughout the world" (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit is the third member of the God head. He is the same as the Father and the Son. He comes to continue the work that Jesus began. He comes to make God known to us and establish our new relationship with Him as His sons. The baptism in the Spirit is the "anointing" from Jesus which makes us a part of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-14). It is also the impartation of the gifts and power of Christ (John 14:12).
8. "BAPTISM OF FIRE": The baptism of fire is when our lives are immersed into the fire of adversity to test if it is built on the truth of God or our own frail human efforts (1 Corinthians 3:13 - 15).
9. "FRUIT": God is looking for character in us. Everything that we go through is for a purpose. It is so that we might grow in character and stature in the things of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16). God wants to develop "fruit" in our lives. These things grow in us through our experience of the grace of God in ALL circumstances. God is calling a people of character, not a people of "power". God has all the power He needs to do what ever He wants. What He needs are people who will be able to reign with Jesus in His Kingdom. This requires character, drive and a sense of enduring purpose even under the most difficult conditions.
10. "MINISTRY": When Jesus ascended into heaven he cast down the Holy Spirit to his disciples so that they could continue the work he began (Matthew 25:14-30). We are called to do all the things which Jesus did and even greater things (John 14:12). This is our "ministry".
11. "THE RAPTURE": Because we are the "first fruit" of God's purpose, we are special to God. Just as the first fruit of the land was taken into the temple as an offering to the Lord (Deuteronomy 26:2-4), we shall be taken into the heavenly temple (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) as an offering, "acceptable to the Lord" (Romans 12:1).
12. "RULE": This is God's ultimate plan for us, that the saints may judge all things in both heaven and on earth (I Corinthians 6:2-3). Through the saints, God will "gather together in one, all things in Christ, both in heaven and on earth" (Ephesians 1:10).

Created: 23 - Jan - 1997.
Last modified: 18 - Sept - 1998.
Copyright © 1998, Graham Brodie.