MOVING FROM AFFLICTION TO GLORY
The Holy Spirit opened up some scriptures recently bringing fresh revelation that can change your focus and bring the Kingdom of God into your situation!
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:17-18)
He emphasized the word “while.” While we keep our eyes on the eternal realm, recognizing God is doing something in our affliction, this affliction will be working for us an exceeding and eternal weight of glory. If we don’t keep our eyes focused on the eternal, on the truth that God is working something in it, we’ll just be miserable and prolong the process – it will not be working for us a weight of glory.
We have to press through the veil of the flesh into the unseen realm, looking for a city with foundations whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:10). He is building something in you! Jesus has given us His glory (Jn. 17:27) but our flesh and soul are shouting loudly to have first place in our focus - how we feel and our personal viewpoint based on past experiences. We have to choose what we focus on. Is our faith in the affliction, or in what God is doing to conform us to the image of Christ? (See Rom. 8:29, 12:2; Phil. 3:10; 1 Pet. 1:14)
The word “affliction” in the Greek (Strong’s Concordance) means a pressing, pressure, anguish, trouble, straits. The root of the word means to crowd, a narrow place. This affliction is intended to crowd out the fleshly and soulish mindsets, pushing them to the surface so you can see them and choose the Spirit of God and mind of Christ, for the glory of God to come forth!
We are being moved through the narrow place for the new to be birthed; it is painful. Olives are pressed for the oil to come forth, grapes are squeezed for new wine, gems are formed in pressure then cut so the light shines through, and plants are pruned to bear more fruit and/or to be trained into another direction. Trust God! He is working in us, always, no matter what it looks like (Phil. 2:13; Heb. 13:20-21). We are called to eternal glory and this process is perfecting us (1 Peter. 5:10). There is a glory in us that needs to come forth! Paul said it well, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18).
There is a grace and peace available to us in this process; in fact, it can be multiplied. How? Through the knowledge of God and our Lord Jesus Christ!
“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” (2 Pet. 1:2-3)
Every time you gain knowledge of HIM you have grace and peace multiplied to you! To know someone in the Bible is often used to describe intimacy. In intimacy you become more aware of His presence and unfailing love, and more grace and peace is multiplied to you. Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6). Prince in the Greek means governor, ruler, administrator. Let Jesus and His peace rule your life rather than your thoughts and emotions.
“Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7)
“Keep” in Strong’s Concordance means to be a watcher, to mount guard as a sentinel. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon states it means to hem in, guard and protect by military guard to prevent hostile invasion or keep from taking flight! The peace of God will be as a military guard over our hearts and minds!
There are two key verses the Holy Spirit highlighted to me as I studied these things; take note on the “let” and “let not!”
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Col. 3:15)
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (Jn. 14:27)
This is where we have to exercise our will – to let the peace of God rule, and let not our hearts be troubled or afraid. Press through the veil of the flesh into the truth that the Holy Spirit of God is in you and let Him rule! He is ready and willing to help you, to illuminate truth to you, and to remind you that Christ Himself is interceding for you (Heb. 7:25)!
Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ! The word “obedience” in the Greek means attentive hearkening. Take every faithless thought captive to what He is saying! Rise up in your thoughts to the truth that you are seated with Him in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6; Col. 3:1). Through His blood we are seated with Him positionally, but we are also still in our bodies here physically. We are vessels filled with the Holy Spirit to bring the Kingdom of God to the earth.
Begin now creating new patterns – rise above and receive the vision, wisdom, strength and joy of the One who has created all things and ordained the works you are to walk in (Eph. 2:10). Fix your mind on the truth that God is right now working in you (Phil. 2:13), that affliction is working for you an exceeding and eternal weight of glory - while you look not on the things you see, but the unseen realm where He is.
There is an abundant supply of the Spirit available for you to receive these truths; let them reverberate throughout your being until they become part of you and transform your life. Let your flesh and soul be pressed until they lose their grip and you can freely walk in the Spirit, being carriers of His glory and releasing His grace and peace to all that you come into contact with. Through you, let His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven!
Alane Haynes
April 16, 2023