STRIPES IN THE KINGDOM
The "stripe" here do not. mean.:.
a) a design on clothes, nor
b) a band of colour differentiating
between colours etc.
It is a blow or stroke received.
Therefore, stripes in the Kingdom means blows or stokes received in the Kingdom.
Let us go to the book of Isaiah 53:1-12.
“WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT? AND TO WHOM IS THE ARM
OF THE LORD REVEALED? FOR HE SHALL GROW BEFORE HIM AS A TENDER PLANT AND AS A ROOT OUT OF A DRY GROUND: HE HATH NO FORM NOR COMELINESS; AND WHEN WE SHALL SEE HIM, THERE IS NO BEAUTY THAT WE SHOULD DESIRE HIM. HE IS DESPISED AND REJECTED OF MEN; A MAN OF SORROWS, AND AQUAINTED WITH GRIEF: AND WE HID AS IT WERE OUR FACES FROM HIM; HE WAS DESPISED AND WE ESTEEMED HIM NOT. SURELY, HE HATH BORNE OUR GRIEFS, AND CARRIED OUR SORROWS : YET WE ESTEEMED HIM STICKEN AND SMITTEN OF GOD AND AFFLICTED. BUT HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, HE WAS BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES: THE CHASTISEMENT OF OUR PEACE WAS UPON HIM; AND WITH HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED.”
As we all know, our best example in everything is our Lord Jesus and not any other "man". To know about the reasons for stripes in the Kingdom, we should first of all look to our Master.
We have all watched the Jesus film many times over. I want you to know that the beatings and all those other horrible things done to the Lord are just caricatures of the real thing. Lets just say it is 10 percent of the real thing. The Bible makes us to understand that His face was marred beyond recognition. The pictures of the Lord we all seen from childhood are those of a handsome man, tall, athletic and nice throughout.
However verse two of this chapter gives us the true picture. It says that:
"He hath NO FORM NOR COMELINESS,and when we shall see Him, THERE IS NO BEAUTY, that we should desire him.”
The true Jesus was not handsome,you would not even greet him passing him on the way. He was not good-looking.
Contrary to the painted pictures HE HATH NO FORM NOR COMELINESS, AND THERE IS NO BEAUTY.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem {the poorest village}in a manger. The King of kings took our infirmities upon Himself. Are you understanding this?
Let me line it out for you.
a) He was unattractive physicaly [contrary to our pictures] ,b) Became poor. [Born poor, lived poor. He was a carpenter] ,c) Took our infirmities[everything].He did all this, for you and me. Though, we did not appreciate Him, He went on ahead allowing Himself to be "bruised for our iniquities"
"We thank God for another opportunity to be a blessing to you; chosen in Christ Jesus. Amen.
2peter 2:21-24. Read it..It says
"CHRIST SUFFERED LEAVING US AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW.......
OF WHO'S STRIPES YE WERE HEALED ....."
How did we receive our healing?
1.) Healing from poverty to riches2.) Healing from eternal damnation to eternal joy.3) .Healing from oppression to dominion! Healing, healing! Healing!! How? By the stripes of our Lord Jesus!
Jesus is the WORD of God.
"Through Him all things were made! "John 1.
Collossians 1.
He made all things beautiful. Because of you and me,He left His beauty in Heaven and came as an ugly-looking man. "The cattle on a thousand hills belong to Him," all the gold, all the diamonds; Yet He came as a poor man. He was sinless; yet He took our sin that we might become righteous. He was all
powerful; yet He was handled as if helpless. Because of this, God,the father, highly exalted Him and gave Him a name that is above every other name! The promotion of Christ came as a result of His suffering for Kingdom purposes.
Do you understand?
The stripes our Lord Jesus Christ received are the MEDALS of honour He carries in Heaven [read Revelation].
HE RECEIVED STRIPES LEAVING US AN EXAMPLE TO RECEIVE STRIPES FOR KINGDOM PURPOSE!!
Know this, you have already received stripes in you.
1.) You have been disappointed many times[stripes]2.) You have been falsely accused[stripes]3.) You have been attacked and taken by the spirit of sexual immorality. [stripes] 4.) You have experienced the pains of Lie [stripes]
You have passed through many things: Horrible, bitter, sour....many uncomfortable things which remained with you.They sometimes come up to you.
God,in His grace and plan, allowed satan to bruise us that He might make us better "Priests". More like Jesus. All you have passed and through and will pass through is for the healing of "your neighbours"
You know the pains and anguish one has at different times.
By this, you will be able to encourage anyone who is: Backslidden, Disappointed, accused falsely, Neglected, and the other things you suffered. "Christ suffered Leaving us an example to follow" Are you getting this? This is the word of God!
By the way, receiving stripes does not mean staying in the same house with a demon. It should be cast out. Suffering as a result of laziness?
I hope you get this? A priest is one who understands the people. A better priest is one who has passed through what the people are passing through.
Our Lord passed through everything to be able to know how to handle us in Love. If you have not passed through anything then you easily judge, kick and man-handle people because you dont know.
Remember you have been called into "Christlikeness".
Let us Pray:
Ancient of Days! We come before you with our weaknesses, our fragility. You are God. The only wise God. We thank you for your Word that Came in due season leading us to be more like your son,our Lord. Father, we pray that you give us deeper insight into your word. We ask for the grace to be better priests in our generation to the glory of you great name in Jesus Christ name we pray..Amen.
Remain Blessed.
Chris.
