The fathers time element
Some time ago, a believer came
to me with the dilemma of wait-
ing for a visible sign of spiritual
growth. Desiring to be a spiritual
being more than anything, this be-
liever was caught in the throes of
God’s time element. The flesh was
seeking to find the deliverance so
needed at this time, but it was obvi-
ous that God was dealing with him
on an entirely different level of un-
derstanding. This unknown factor
of God’s dealings in a believer’s life
is controlled by times and a calen-
dar known only to God. I explained
to this hungry heart that the receiv-
ing of free gifts (salvation, healing,
baptism in the Holy Ghost, the
nine gifts of the Spirit, etc.) could
be received at any time by meeting
God’s conditions, but the growth in
our oneness with Christ was totally
controlled by the Father’s time ele-
ment.
The World Is A Schoolhouse:
Paul says, in Galatians 4:2, that
the son is under tutors and gov-
ernors until the time appointed of
the Father. The son, growing into
this knowledge of sonship, is totally
dependent on the Father for the
conclusion of the schooling. This
schooling is severe, often painful,
and greatly misunderstood by the
believer. This misunderstanding of
God’s dealings, or ignorance of His
eternal plan, only tends to prolong
the time element. Many believers
quit God during this time, feeling
that the Lord has forsaken them.
Oh, the great need for the ministry
to have a revelation of these deal-
ings in the believer’s life, so that
men today might have a Gospel
conducive to the workings of God
in individual lives! The believer I
was dealing with seemed to be en-
couraged that, in His time, God
would bring about His own will.
We are living in an era when men
are specializing in demanding God
to do things. Many programs of
man-made religion are in opera-
tion today, premised on the theory
that spiritual life can be received by
“following these simple rules,” or by
“reading this book,” or by “coming
to this meeting.” Such mortal ad-
vice gratifies the flesh but eventu-
ally ends in frustration because, in
the spiritual life, the Father reserves
the right to determine the school-
ing and time of graduation. Thus,
the time element becomes of great
significance. Carnal people always
resist God’s time element because
they want to get eternity and its
questions settled so they can enjoy
earthly life.
Levels of Growth:
God is not just interested in His
sons settling down to earthly living.
A babe might have a degree of such
motivation, but the Father will fill
the lacking knowledge with grace.
A son will be expected to be less
earthly, and God will give less grace.
Mature believers (those who have
crucified the flesh and brought its
motivations under subjection to the
spiritual man) will know they are
pilgrims, strangers, and sojourners
on earth. No spiritual believer will
question the time element of God’s
dealings in his life, because he does not analyze time according to the
earthly.
Some time ago, a believer came
to me with the dilemma of wait-
ing for a visible sign of spiritual
growth. Desiring to be a spiritual
being more than anything, this be-
liever was caught in the throes of
God’s time element. The flesh was
seeking to find the deliverance so
needed at this time, but it was obvi-
ous that God was dealing with him
on an entirely different level of un-
derstanding. This unknown factor
of God’s dealings in a believer’s life
is controlled by times and a calen-
dar known only to God. I explained
to this hungry heart that the receiv-
ing of free gifts (salvation, healing,
baptism in the Holy Ghost, the
nine gifts of the Spirit, etc.) could
be received at any time by meeting
God’s conditions, but the growth in
our oneness with Christ was totally
controlled by the Father’s time ele-
ment.
The World Is A Schoolhouse:
Paul says, in Galatians 4:2, that
the son is under tutors and gov-
ernors until the time appointed of
the Father. The son, growing into
this knowledge of sonship, is totally
dependent on the Father for the
conclusion of the schooling. This
schooling is severe, often painful,
and greatly misunderstood by the
believer. This misunderstanding of
God’s dealings, or ignorance of His
eternal plan, only tends to prolong
the time element. Many believers
quit God during this time, feeling
that the Lord has forsaken them.
Oh, the great need for the ministry
to have a revelation of these deal-
ings in the believer’s life, so that
men today might have a Gospel
conducive to the workings of God
in individual lives! The believer I
was dealing with seemed to be en-
couraged that, in His time, God
would bring about His own will.
We are living in an era when men
are specializing in demanding God
to do things. Many programs of
man-made religion are in opera-
tion today, premised on the theory
that spiritual life can be received by
“following these simple rules,” or by
“reading this book,” or by “coming
to this meeting.” Such mortal ad-
vice gratifies the flesh but eventu-
ally ends in frustration because, in
the spiritual life, the Father reserves
the right to determine the school-
ing and time of graduation. Thus,
the time element becomes of great
significance. Carnal people always
resist God’s time element because
they want to get eternity and its
questions settled so they can enjoy
earthly life.
Levels of Growth:
God is not just interested in His
sons settling down to earthly living.
A babe might have a degree of such
motivation, but the Father will fill
the lacking knowledge with grace.
A son will be expected to be less
earthly, and God will give less grace.
Mature believers (those who have
crucified the flesh and brought its
motivations under subjection to the
spiritual man) will know they are
pilgrims, strangers, and sojourners
on earth. No spiritual believer will
question the time element of God’s
dealings in his life, because he does not analyze time according to the
earthly.
