Written by Major W. Ian Thomas
Life in the Kingdom of God is diametrically opposed to the way people live in this world. In the world people need to look out for themselves and strive to achieve the goals they have set for themselves. Only the strongest, or the most talented, or the most assertive, or the most educated rise to the top. In contrast, the people who are willing to become the most dependent on God become the greatest in His Kingdom. It is not that they are placed in elevated seats of prominence, but they become the most useful servants. It is those who are willing to become the most childlike in their dependency on God who will become the most valuable servants in the Kingdom-Life of God.
Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God as a {helpless and dependent} little child will by no means enter it. (Mark. 10:15)
---What is highly valued among men {the independent and self-exalting ways of the world} is detestable in God’s sight. (Luke 16:15)
The first disciples, while they were being tossed by the storm, did all they could to escape from their situation. With their backs bent to the oars, and with perspiration pouring down their faces from their great struggle, they tried to save themselves from their situation. Eventually, however, they recognized their helpless condition. It was not until they had considered themselves “as good as dead” that we find Christ coming to them in Divine power.
Paul tells us that Abraham had to reach this same state of helplessness, where he had lost all hope in human effort, before he possessed the kind of pure faith that enabled him to receive the “Life of promise” through the power of God. (Rom. 4:19) The only thing he produced through his human efforts to help God was a flesh-life, which was represented by Ishmael.
In a similar sense, God will only use His power to lift His children into His Kingdom-Life when they are “as good as dead.” Every Christian must come to this point where they die to the ways of the flesh before they can begin living wholly by faith in God. Until they are brought to this state of helplessness, they will naturally try to produce the “life of promise” through their own human efforts. Those who lose their flesh-life will find Christ’s Kingdom-Life.
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death {Christ’s death to the flesh-life}, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection {His Kingdom-Life}… For he who has died has been freed from sin {the old life of self-sufficiency and self-will}. (Rom. 6:5, 7)
Again, as the Scriptures have so clearly revealed, there needs to be a real dying out to the old self-sufficient way of life before the promised Kingdom-Life can be fully established within the soul and new spirit of regenerate man. This lesson comes directly from our Lord: “Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
(Matt. 16:25)
God takes away our self-sufficient spirit by exposing us to difficult situations. These difficulties are intended to cause us to lose hope in our own fleshly strength. And, because these lessons are so hard for self-sufficient people to learn, it typically involves a lengthy and painful process. A process that no one wants to hear about and at times refuse to accept, the easy way or the broad way that leads to destruction seem the only way to many choose to accept and thereby take.
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God…But may the God of all Grace, who called us to His eternal Glory through Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while {in dying to your own independence and self-sufficient way of life}, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. (1 Pet. 5:6, 10 Emphasis added)
...We must through many tribulations enter the Kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22)
“Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.” (Matt. 14:25) Jesus came to His helpless disciples walking in a supernatural life. He was demonstrating a simple fact: The very sea that threatened to overwhelm and destroy them had been placed under His feet! He always has everything under His control! There is nothing impossible for God!
Have you come to that point when you have been overwhelmed by the sea? Here is good news for you! You are being prepared to meet the Lord in a New and Supernatural Way. When you lose hope in yourself and enter His Rest, He will come to you as the One who walks over everything that threatens your spiritual life.
God has been gracious to us and has directed us to resources such as Ian Thomas to help me express in words what I'm at a lost for. It is through the writings of people like Ian Thomas that we are able to share what God has been doing in us and through us for over fifty years. Many don't or wont accept what we write in our own words so with God's Blessing we share through others His Revelation of Christ' Spirit restored within us.
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