Well I have reached the limit on this subject of Divine Guidance with today's post with this sub subject Spiritual Receptivity. But before looking into it Pastor Hoekstra and his writing on GODS Grace as received in the face of the Resurrected and Ascended LORD Christ. The very One Who brought about the Transition and mans Transformation from darkness to Light. As has become my habit I will make use of the ESV translation and edit all things as the LORD directs.
"Even More on the Resurrection and Sanctification"
"That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death." (Philippians 3:10)
"Paul's all-consuming passion was "That I may know Him." The hidden answer to the hidden question of Matthew 11:29 where the Lord Jesus states this, beginning at Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Paraphrased: Are you ready to take My Yoke upon you and learn of (from) Me? This verse does not list four matters for which Paul sought an acquaintanceship (a Knowledge of GOD, Resurrection power, a Fellowship in Christ's sufferings, and Conformity to His death). Rather, it points out one great quest (a Knowledge of GOD) and three different arenas in which that knowledge could grow (Resurrection power, a Fellowship in Christ's sufferings, and Conformity to His death). We saw in our last meditation how resurrection power and suffering can increase our knowing of the LORD. Now, we add another amazing aspect to a Growing acquaintanceship with Jesus: "being conformed to His death."
There are some unique aspects to the death of Christ upon the cross (for example, His atonement for sins). However, there were other aspects of His death that GOD wants to repeat in our lives. As Jesus was placed upon the cross, it looked like defeat. It seemed to be the greatest wrong that man could ever do. Yet, GOD, making use of a negative turned it to a positive, was working out His sovereign purposes. "Him, being delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of GOD, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death" (Acts 2:23). At times, we are placed in situations that seem certain to lead to a deadly defeat. Yet, the LORD is unfolding His sovereign plan for us. In taking us through such impossibilities (and turning apparent defeat into victory), the LORD is allowing us to become more acquainted with Him and His ways.
When Jesus was dying, He hung helpless upon the tree. He entrusted Himself into the hands of His Father. "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit" (Luke 23:46). The Father would have to prove faithful, if Jesus were to come forth from the grave. "Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father" (Romans 6:4). At times, we are in circumstances that are personally crucifying. We are in situations where everything so obviously requires a mighty work of GOD. If He does not prove faithful on our behalf, there will be no way out of the agonizing dilemma, a real life crisis. When our LORD is so clearly our only hope (and then He comes through faithfully), we again grow in a deeper knowledge of Him and His ways."
Receptivity of GOD and Truth:
Matthew 13:18-23 (Jesus is speaking) "Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
Luke 10:38-42 "Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." The Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
Acts 2:37-42 "Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the LORD our GOD calls to Himself." And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who received His word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."
Acts 17:10-15 "The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Hebrews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. (we know these those gathered here were not part of the elitists group that hounded Jesus or Paul and put Jesus to death because they has to search the scriptures for themselves.) Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. But when the Jews (the elitists of the religious politically correct establishment) from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there, agitating and stirring up the crowds. Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed."
1Thessalonians 2:13-16 "We also thank GOD constantly for this, that when you received the word of GOD, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of GOD, which is at work in you believers. For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches (assembles) of GOD in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the (elitist religious politicians) Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease GOD and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!"
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