Posted 13th September 2008 at 09:55 AM by Shachah
Updated 13th September 2008 at 11:35 AM by Shachah

...... I WANT TO SAY that, though there may be no immediately obvious reward in the "going through" of these difficult times for both of you, there IS one thing to be thankful for. Jesus has 'gone through' unfathomable and completely undeserved atrocities against his person, both inner and outer. HE has gone through worse than any of us.

I bet you may find this next bit to be a far fetched thought, but it has been true in my walk... and in the walk of others I've known:

God only entrusts the world's deepest sufferings to His most valued and trusted servants. He KNOWS the fullness of understanding wrought in great pain and suffering, beyond any understanding any of the three of us possess, currently. With such understanding comes great compassion, heightened mercy, incredible insight and priceless opportunity to KNOW THE DEPTHS OF THE KING HIMSELF. Few would knowingly impose the suffering on themselves, well maybe Paul and St. Augustine and rare others. When HE allows our own choices, or those of others, to position us in suffering that we can NOT escape from, HE hasn't left us. This INTIMATE common ground with the Lord creates a bridge of awareness, found no other way, as we plumb the depths of our humanity to come up empty-handed and are pushed to turn instead to the supernatural Spirit of God for resource. We "Tap the Vine" of Christ's passion and learn the Truth in the "Wine of the Spirit," found to intoxicate our sufferings harshest sting with a peace and comfort that can wring even JOY from THE VINE into our being and produce endurance and strength that is of another kind.

These experiences are not offered to the selfish and less fruitful of His children, for they WOULD be squandered on them OR they require greater pruning before they would be sustained in harsh weather. If we do not bear fruit, he prunes us to create fruitfulness. If we do bear fruit, He prunes us for greater fruitfulness. So you're pruned if you do, and your pruned if you don't ! There comes no final arrival at the end of pruning, there comes only an increased ability to steward the sap and it's healing in our lives and those around us.

These understandings and intimacies wrought in great suffering are a responsibilty and a gift to be carried to the Body as compassion, mercy and comfort in days ahead of you, for another, whose life may depend on you ( believe it or not). These understandings are the foundation of the supernaturally BORN clergy of this earth. Your growing ability to shoulder sufferings in these present days WILL minister to another one day and you will know why He allowed your pressing to become so acute. You WILL be amazed what He now renders in you, when that day arrives.

One mistake we all make in prayer, commonly. We pray for deliverance and stop there. We believe that a swift end to the suffering is the goal of all prayers. I pray you BOTH something entirely different:

I pray you BOTH the Drip of the Vine, the sap, the Wine of the Spirit, to sustain you in this present darkness. To fill you, each one, with the Light of His Intimate presence (which is already there with you) and your RECEPTIVITY TO ACCEPT each offering, each drop, with growing awareness of the avenues by which He shares His very Life sustaining Blood with you.... His soothing still steady voice with you... his gentle kind embrace with you... His confident eyes upon you and with you... his delightful small whispers on the wind .. the dance of His children ministering to your needs .. His Army of Heaven with you, ~Psalm91:11~ as He BREATHES new life into your spirits, as they yield to His.

These Treasures of Darkness, they are a gift of invaluable great application to the Body of those lower on the Vine, who will one day need your encouragement to learn to drink of Him. Please, endure in the 'going through' to the finish line. Grab His hand that reaches out to you.... He died to be able to bridge the gap for YOU on this very hour.

He is trying to entrust you to greater calling in His Body, with greater gifting and more power and purpose and understanding, winebearers for the King. Let Him SUSTAIN you. EXPECT His responses to this prayer and seek them in the darkness. They will be very personal and understandable to you. He doesn't want to be vague, He wants to meet you on new depths. Trust what He offers, you WILL recognize it as His alone. His signature is peace. Be delighted in the discovery of His very REALITY and influence. He is offering you both the growth to usher and bear this influence to the lives of those around you. Is that not one of the inverse reasonings overlooked by the many? How few accept the press and seek Him, tapping The Vine with aware and accepting spirits, lapping up Him? The flow increases with acceptance and awareness. You are His child and He LONGS to pour His Favor into you.


Hebrews 4:16 The Message (MSG)
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The High Priest Who Cried Out in Pain
14-16 Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.

Hebrews 4:16 Amplified Bible (AMP)
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16 Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].


For his Glory and YOUR EDIFICATION.

Sha
Winebearer for the King