part 2
By
Barbara Lynne Norwood
11/21/2024
The Kingdom Grief
“Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” 2 Corinthians 7:9-10
When Paul spoke to the Corinthians, he explained that he did not intend to condemn them for their fellowship with unbelievers. Nor his intention to gain their hearts through corruption. He spoke boldly about achieving holiness by weakening the flesh. The flesh will be the ruler of our lives if we allow it. He wanted them to understand why they needed to repent for living and fellowshipping with unbelievers. Not to condemn them for it.
The same flesh that Father speaks about in the letter, gives Him great grief. Because the flesh is our greatest rival in this realm, He explains, just as Paul instructed, we are to live for the Kingdom in the spirit, not in the flesh.
“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” Romans 8:9-10
Now the Kingdom is grieved because proclaimers live according to their flesh and not according to the Kingdom. The flesh must be weakened for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. It is not an option to reject the fullness of the Holy Spirit. We were given the grace of a Savior that left His Holy Spirit for each of us to live by.
When we receive the Holy Spirit, we can alter the flesh, weaken the flesh, and eventually yield unto the characteristics of the Holy Spirit. Surrendering unto the Holy Spirit brings immense joy to Father and the Kingdom and Peace for us! It is one of the main reasons He sent His son to die for us so we may continue to live in our fleshly bodies in the world yet live by the Holy Spirit not of the world. Peace! The greatest part of the Faith!
Father is also grieved when we do not live according to the Kingdom course because we bear Him no fruits. The fruits of the Holy Spirit helps us live in the world with the fruits that Jesus left for us to live by. Another great defeat for the flesh!
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”.. John 15:1-2
Jesus explains that for a tree to bear more fruit, it must be pruned. Sounds painful! But it is very necessary for growth. He used Himself as the metaphor to explain to how His branches are used to reach the world with His Gospel. The branches are us, the church. If we are not willing to be pruned or remove flesh (the opposition of the fruits of the Holy Spirit) from our lives, there will be no growth.
If there are no fruits to show the world, there will be no love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control for the world. Acquiring ALL the fruits of the Holy Spirit is not an option, but essential for a Faith filled walk with our Savior. It BEARS witness that we are living according to His Holy Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-25
The Kingdom grieves that proclaimers love themselves or others more than Him. When I reflected on my own life, I was too immensely grieved by my past behavior.
I never wanted to hurt or grieve the Kingdom. I wanted to live a life under complete control of the Holy Spirit. When I surrendered, He guided my thoughts, my actions, reactions and more I had not even realized. I bore the fruit of love first. I had to learn to love myself and then how to genuinely love others. His souls are invaluable to Him and now to me.
The other fruits came naturally after that. It has been quite a journey, but well worth it! To acquire ALL the fruits is the goal which can be attained by a constant acceptance of where your life is in alignment with the Holy Spirit. Believe me, He will let you know when you need more pruning. He can use anybody, anything, animate or inanimate to reveal something to you. He loves you so much and must have His way!
If ALL fruits are not acquired, just add more pruning! UGH! 😭😩
Father also grieves that proclaimers do not seek Him for strength. Nor do they seek the Holy Spirit for guidance. He speaks about the POSTS we are to hold to BEAR gifts and talents to be used for the Kingdom. A gift or talent BEARS the post or position in the Kingdom. We see this all throughout the Bible.
“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” Romans 12:6-8
Painful pruning is required to find your post and position in the Kingdom of God. Believe you me. Again, the Holy Spirit is required to find it. Many servants have gifts or talents and do not realize they can be used for the Kingdom. Or many choose not to use the gifts and talents for the Kingdom.
It grieves Father beyond measure that He gave us all so many gifts and talents to be witnesses of the Faith before the world. Now, the world does not believe in the Faith, nor believes in the witnesses. Another grievance. We will go into depth further.
I want to remind my readers that striving for the Faith in everything we do is the greatest reward for your soul! To meet Peace and remain in Peace with the Kingdom
has been the challenge since Jesus departed the earth. So, the challenge is:
“Always allow Father to do the Pruning, Let Jesus Remain the Vine and let the Holy Spirit take You Away!”
