A KINGDOM HEART XXXVI

WBS.066

FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

A KINGDOM HEART – XXXVI

Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 4:1 If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith IAUE, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove.
2 And thou shalt swear, IAUE liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

3 For thus saith IAUE to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
4  Circumcise yourselves to IAUE, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

Last week’s post ended with this comment:  

The will of IAUE is not an option to be considered.  This can serve as a litmus test for the growth and development of our discipleship. When we hear the Spirit tell us what to say or do, do we say or do it precisely as instructed and at the time we are told to do it?  Or do we contemplate the consequences of such words or actions before deciding to do His will?  The answer, if we are honest with ourselves, will tell us much about who we really are, and to whom we really belong.

The ministry of the Old Testament prophets was fourfold.

1. Attempt to turn the people of IAUE from their sins.
2. To announce coming judgment (having failed to accomplish Purpose #1).
3. Assuring the people that IAUE will not destroy them all.  He will retain a remnant.
4. Proclaiming that one would come from among the remnant who would draw all nations to IAUE unto a glorious future.

Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) was a particularly unpopular prophet because his ministry focused on a last desperate effort to accomplish Purpose #1, accompanied by an absolute certainty of a swift fulfillment of Purpose #2.  Specifically, he was preparing the southern Kingdom of Judah to prepare for the destruction of Jerusalem and the people being taken captive by the Babylonians.

Although we must acknowledge that this is a specific message to the Hebrews just prior to the 606 BC invasion by the Babylonian army, the principles within Yirmeyahu’s prophecy are valid for us, today; for at the heart of it was the prophetic purpose of IAUE for His peoples for all times.  

Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 4:1 If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith IAUE, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove.

“If thou wilt return…return unto Me…then shalt thou not remove” – Repentance, the very foundation of the gospel message.

Luke 24:46  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Messiah to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

47  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

There is no “security of the believer” without genuine repentance.  We must return to IAUE in the correct relationship and attitude of heart.  We cannot “return” to a condition in which we rely on IAUE to give us all good things, while we continue to pursue our own will and life choices.  That isn’t returning at all.  It is remaining right where we have always been.

“put away thine abominations out of my sight” – This is the evidence of repentance.

Matthew 3: 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

There is no “return” to IAUE if we bring our sins along with us.  We must put them away from our lives.  We must look upon them with contempt as things which promise us pleasure and satisfaction; but which have the singular purpose of keeping us from our Elohim.  What are some of these “abominations” specifically?

Proverbs 3:32 For the froward is abomination to IAUE…

Proverbs 6:16 These six things doth IAUE hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Proverbs 11:1  A false balance is abomination to IAUE…

Proverbs 11:20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to IAUE…

Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to IAUE…

Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to IAUE…

Proverbs 15:9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto IAUE…

Proverbs 15:26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to IAUE…

Proverbs 16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to IAUE

Proverbs 17:15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to IAUE.

Proverbs 20:10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to IAUE.

Proverbs 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

These are dead weights, an anchor that pulls us downward, taking our eyes and mind and heart off of IAUE.  With them there is death and the sure promise of judgment.  Without them there is freedom and light and life and joy. 

Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 4:2 And thou shalt swear, IAUE liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

How does one glory in an Elohim in “truth, in judgment, and in righteousness” unless one’s life is in a positive relationship with truth, judgment and righteousness, rather than being the object of their vengeance? 

We who have come to IAUE through the provision of His son, Yahushua our Master and Messiah, know from personal experience that walking free from sin, and not falling prey to some of the items in the above listed abominations to IAUE, isn’t the result of a singular one–time “magic prayer” or decision we have made in the past. Just how do we accomplish this “return” to IAUE and the putting away of the abominations in our life?  We have all attempted to do so; and I would dare say that virtually all of us have been perplexed at our results from time to time.

Yirmeyahu 4:3 For thus saith IAUE to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
4  Circumcise yourselves to IAUE, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

The answer provided by the prophet is four–fold:

1. Break up your fallow ground.
2. Sow not among thorns.
3. Circumcise yourself to IAUE.
4. Take away the foreskin of your heart.
   

This, we shall investigate next week.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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A KINGDOM HEART - XXXV

WBS.065

FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

A KINGDOM HEART – XXXV

Luke 9:24  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

Last week’s post ended with this comment: 

Each day we are to recognize Elohim's condemnation upon our human will, and the justness of that condemnation.  Each day we are to acknowledge  the shamefulness of our sinful human flesh.  Each day we are to take up the  purpose to forsake our will and our right to exercise our will apart from its  agreement with the will of Elohim.  This is the stake that our Messiah instructs  us to take up daily.  If we fail or refuse to do this, we cannot be his disciple.

 

Let’s look at some illustrations, today.

1. Elizabeth is having lunch with her boss.  As they sit at the table and their meal is being placed before them, the Holy Spirit reminds Elizabeth to give thanks to IAUE for her food.  She looks across the table at her boss who already has begun eating, so Elizabeth proceeds to eat without giving thanks. 

2. Robert hears his Master’s voice instructing him to hold a weekend luncheon for his neighbors to provide an opportunity to share his testimony with them.  Robert is a student of the Scriptures and has always been focused on teaching believers.  He knows his neighbor Steve is very evangelistic, so he shares the idea with Steve to see if he will hold the luncheon, instead.

3. Frank has been a disciple for many years, and has learned much about the Scripture.  He is lead by the Spirit to start a Bible Study in his fellowship; which is also confirmed by his pastor who has asked him to start a Bible Study.  Frank has always been timid and uncomfortable speaking in front of others, so he turns down his pastor’s invitation.

4. Linda has been involved in ministry for years.  She is highly respected and in much demand as a speaker in conferences around the country.  Linda also has a secret life in which she accommodates certain sins.  No one knows about this; and Linda feels that the good that she does compensates for these lapses in obedience.

Elizabeth may have decided she didn’t want to embarrass her boss by making him/her appear not to be grateful to IAUE; or she may not have wanted her boss to think she was a religious fanatic.  It didn’t matter to Elizabeth what IAUE wanted in that moment.  In her mind, His will did not consider the ramifications of all the facts at that time.

Robert remained within his comfort zone and attempted to pass on to Steve the opportunity to do what IAUE had requested; only IAUE had not requested it of Steve.

Frank’s need to protect his insecurity proved to be more important to him than doing what IAUE had asked him to do.

Linda actually believed her secret life did not contaminate her public life; and that her obedience in one area of her life afforded her the luxury of disobedience in another area of her life.

As you can see from these examples, there are literally hundreds of different ways in which we may shun the will of IAUE.  We rationalize our disobedience by supposing we know a better way of accomplishing His will, or of discrediting His will.  At the root of all such disobedience is pride.  It is always “self” that is important at that moment of disobedience.  Our thinking is so corrupted as to pass judgment on the will of IAUE as though he were somehow lacking in wisdom and insight into each situation and circumstance.  Have you ever considered anything like this:

Ø  Father, if I do what you are asking me to do, I might lose my job.

Ø  Father, if I say that to her, she is going to get really upset with me.

Ø  I need my sleep.  I can’t afford to rise early to spend time with You.

Ø  If I stand up in front of all these people and say what You are asking me to say, I will be terribly embarrassed.

Ø  Father, I can’t help with that project, today. This is the only time in the week that I have to just relax.

Ø  I can’t confess my sin to my Bible study group.  They will never listen to me teach again.

Disobedience to the will of IAUE is so common and habitual in the lives of most believers, they don’t even recognize it as disobedience.  It is seen as wisdom; because it is perceived through the lens of our own selfish value system.  Safeguarding that to which we give value is esteemed as wisdom.  The problem is…we value the wrong things.  Until we come to value the will of IAUE as the preeminent treasure in the entire universe, we are going to compare His will with our will; and our obedience to Him will be based upon our own judgment instead of His. 

The very act of comparing other options with doing the will of IAUE is sin.  If we choose to do His will after we have considered other options, our response will no longer be one of obedience.  Instead, it will be an act borne of the decision of a corrupt human will, for we will have reduced the will of IAUE to become nothing more than one of several options available to us.  Our will, then, has the mastery over the resulting choice.  It is no longer obedience to the Father.  It has become our idea and our choice…an exercise that demonstrates we have retained the mastery over our life and have refused to recognize IAUE’s right to rule our lives completely.

Luke 9:24  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

It is an unnatural act for one to lay down his/her life.  The Master Yahushua understands this; yet this is exactly what he expects of us.  He did it.  We are to follow in his example.

25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

The contemporary “magic prayer” gospel would ignore this verse.  It would make you think that if you pray to accept what Messiah has done for you, that your eternity is secured and determined, making any and all such obedience to his will and the will of IAUE irrelevant.

I listened on television, today, to a portion of the Sunday message being given by an internationally known pastor.  He provided a brilliant illustration of how we have allowed our thinking to be conformed to bad examples in our childhood; but his solution was to instruct us to reprogram our thinking to think of higher goals for our lives, of excellence in all aspects of our life rather than accepting mediocrity, of success rather than just barely surviving.  In essence, he was teaching that we should look to gain the whole world, rather than lose ourselves to the will of IAUE, and allow the direction of His will to bring to us or make of us what He chooses.

26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

This word is not to be ignored.  The will of IAUE is not an option to be considered.  This can serve as a litmus test for the growth and development of our discipleship.  When we hear the Spirit tell us what to say or do, do we say or do it precisely as instructed and at the time we are told to do it?  Or do we contemplate the consequences of such words or actions before deciding to do His will?  The answer, if we are honest with ourselves, will tell us much about who we really are, and to whom we really belong.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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A KINGDOM HEART XXXIV

WBS.064

FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

A KINGDOM HEART – XXXIV

Luke 9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his stake daily, and follow me.

Last week’s post ended with this comment: 

	Despite its unpleasantness, the chastening of IAUE produces righteous behavior in those who allow themselves to be trained by His discipline.

 

By now, there must be readers who are thinking that the kind of life we have been discussing the past few weeks is impossible, or at the least, not really expected of us.  That kind of thinking is due to the doctrinal/mental programming prevalent in the contemporary Christian church model.   A holy life, righteous living, attentiveness to the voice of the Holy Spirit in order to assure moment by moment obedience to the will of IAUE is applauded by believers today; but it is seen as the result of unnecessary sacrifices in life.  We can appreciate the spiritual lives of those who have denied themselves to “take up the cross” and even admire the fruit in their lives; but we do not see them as having any different eternal reward than the masses of believers still living their lives based upon the lusts of their flesh; so why bother with self denial and with momentary obedience to the will of IAUE?  This must be one of Satan’s most effective lies.

Pride is still very much appreciated within the rank and file of Christendom, for it is never fully condemned.  Only in the most egregious manifestations of it is its evil ever perceived. 

Our need for acceptance within the masses is mandated by our prideful need for approval.  The readers of this blog learn from the very start that I do not use the terms, “God,” “Lord,” and “Christ,” because these terms are all derived from the names of pagan deities; and are not faithful English translations of the Hebrew texts. I also do not use the name “Jesus,” because it is not the Master’s name.  There is no “J” in Hebrew; and “Jesus” is actually a from an early English phonetic translation of the Latin “Iesus,” (when the letter “J” in English was pronounced as a “Y”). The Latin was from the Greek “Iesous,” which was a failed phonetic translation of “Yahushua.” The Greek language did not have sufficient alphabetic structure to render his name properly, lacking the letter “Y” as well as the “sh” dipthong. There is also reason to consider that the Greek rendering is actually a compound word connecting the names of two pagan deities, “Ieso” and “Zeus.”  Despite all other considerations, we know that his name was “Yahushua;” so why would we even consider calling him something else?  There is one reason.  If you embrace the correct names and titles of “IAUE,” “Elohim,” “Master,” and especially, “Yahushua,” you will immediately no longer fit in with the masses.  You will be looked upon as weird and unacceptable within the contemporary Christian church setting. You will be looking for new friends and associations within days.  Most peoples’ pride will not allow that to happen.

The same is true for embracing doctrines that contradict what the masses believe. I was raised in the Baptist church.  Shortly after I received the Holy Spirit, I was no longer welcome in the Baptist church.  (Actually, I was ASKED to leave my church; but it was not because I was speaking in tongues or healing the sick or prophesying; it was because all I wanted to talk about was the Master.  I didn’t want to talk about church socials, and picnics and the last football game.  I did not want to waste a moment’s time within the Body discussing anything that was not immediately relevant to our walk with Messiah.  That made them so terribly uncomfortable that they actually asked me to leave.) The security of being one of the masses over being the “odd one out” is compelling and overwhelming until the root of pride is addressed.  Elohim resists the proud.  He gives grace to the humble.  Before whom will we stand in the day of judgment?  Will it be 6 million Baptists; or will it be IAUE?  Will the masses protect you then?  No; and neither will they protect you, now.

Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his stake, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

What is this stake that Yahushua instructs His disciples to take up daily? If we do not know, then we cannot take it up and we are daily in disobedience to the one we call our Master. (Note: the Romans did not use a cross bar when they executed criminals by impaling.  Like the Hebrews always did, the Romans used a stake, a tree trunk.  The cross was imagery taken much later from the Roman letter “Tau” which letter was used to represent one of the Roman pagan deities.) 

Deuteronomy 21:23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of Elohim;) that thy land be not defiled, which IAUE thy Elohim giveth thee for an inheritance.

To the Jews, the most significant aspect of death by impaling was that the condemned man was "accursed of Elohim."  He was not simply convicted of crimes worthy of death in man's eyes; he was deserving of Elohim's contempt.  His death was a matter of divine judgment.

Hebrews 13:12 Wherefore Yahushua also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

On the night of Messiah’s betrayal and trial, in great agony He besought His Father for any other option than the stake; but He was resigned to do the will of His Father regardless the cost.  When the Scripture says that Yahushua "suffered without the gate," it implies that He was accursed of Elohim, for the sentence of impaling could not be carried out within the city of Jerusalem.  The condemned had to hang upon a tree outside of the gates of the city.

It was upon the stake that Yahushua received in His body the sentence of death upon man's sins.  It was there that Elohim demonstrated His condemnation of fallen man, and His justice in delivering death to the Lawbreaker.  Though Yahushua was pure and innocent, He bore the shame of Elohim's curse and the sentence of death on our behalf.  His identification with the stake demonstrated his agreement with the justness of Elohim's condemnation upon all disobedience to His will.

Hebrews 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

The Hebrews author invites the disciple to obey the words of Yahushua as set forth in our verse for today.  The words are different, but the message is the same.  "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp.”   This first element of the stake means that we, too, are to go outside of the gates of the city and identify with Elohim's curse upon man's fallen nature.  Though we are not physically impaled, we are identifying with the purpose and meaning of impaling.  This identification is what Yahushua expects of us.  We are to regard our human will as under the curse of Elohim, not to be trusted for wisdom any more than a vial of poison should be trusted for a beverage.

The second element of the stake is "bearing his reproach."  This is the death blow to pride. It was humiliating to be thought to be accursed of Elohim, to be regarded as under Elohim's judgment.  We should feel this reproach and humiliation every time we regard our own will over Elohim's will.

What is our motivation to take up this stake every day?  "For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come."  Just as the father of our faith, Abraham, was called to go unto a place he knew not, unto a city whose builder and maker is Elohim (Hebrews 11:8-10); we are united with him in that promise.  We are children of a kingdom whose day of revelation is yet to come.

Luke 9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his stake daily, and follow me.

Each day we are to recognize Elohim's condemnation upon our human will, and the justness of that condemnation.  Each day we are to acknowledge the shamefulness of our sinful human flesh.  Each day we are to take up the purpose to forsake our will and our right to exercise our will apart from its agreement with the will of Elohim.  This is the stake that our Messiah instructs us to take up daily.  If we fail or refuse to do this, we cannot be his disciple.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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A KINGDOM HEART XXXIII

WBS.063

FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

A KINGDOM HEART – XXXIII

1 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through Elohim to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of IAUE, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Messiah;

6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Messiah’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Messiah’s, even so are we Messiah’s.

Last week’s post ended with this comment: 

We should be conscious throughout our waking hours of any thoughts or contemplated actions that we feel like we would need to keep secret from anyone else.  This is the litmus test to identify both present darkness and potential darkness.  Anything we feel like we need to hide or would want to hide is something we should avoid.  Anything we would not want to admit to another is not something that can be done in the light.

 

 I have heard believers say, “Nothing is going to happen to me when I commit sin, when I do something I know I should not do, because I am already forgiven of my sins, past, present and future.”  They genuinely believe there is no consequence to their rebellion against the authority of IAUE; and they have their own personal experience to back it up.  Well, there is a reason why they appear to be without correction in their lives.

Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of IAUE, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

6 For whom IAUE loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening, Elohim dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Disciples understand that they are held accountable by IAUE for their actions, and for their refusals to act.  Just as they know they are going to chastise their children when they are disobedient, they fully expect correction at the hand of the Father when they behave as disobedient children.  The ones who do not expect such correction being brought to their lives are not true children at all, but bastards.

Paul put it another way.  He said, “…having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”  There is a transition phase between infants and children in the natural world.  Infants are brand new to the world.  They have not yet learned what their parents want them to do; nor have they learned what their parents do not want them to do. They have not learned what is acceptable in public or social settings, and what is not acceptable. During this infancy stage, parents generally do not discipline their children; they use the occasion to instruct them.  They are waiting for that time when the infant becomes a child that understands that there are consequences for breaking things, throwing balls inside the house, touching the lamp, using mom’s or dad’s personal things, screaming in restaurants or grabbing things off of store shelves.  When the child reaches this stage, the parents begin to chasten them at every single act of disobedience.  Why do they do this?  It is because the immediate disciplinary action reinforces the intended behavior.  It works; and children learn to conduct themselves with increasing maturity; and parents are delighted when they see the progress their child makes.

So, too, does IAUE wait for his infant ones to reach that place where they know what He expects, and what He does not desire.  He waits for them to arrive at that place where they know to do good.  James, the brother of Yahushua and first pastor of the church of Jerusalem, said:

James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Why have you not experienced the chastening of IAUE?  It can only be for one of two reasons:

1.  I am not of His family.

2.  I am still an infant who has not grown up enough even to know what is the right way to behave as a member of the family of IAUE.

Last week we discussed walking in the Light as He is in the light; and that anything that we do or think that we want to keep secret or unknown to others is darkness in our life.  We know that the one who walks in darkness cannot be in fellowship with IAUE; so that leaves us with the need to bring things to the light that are desperate to remain in the dark.  That also means that we must establish a relationship with someone who will walk with us and hold us accountable in order to protect our steadfast walk in the Light.  For those who are married, ideally that would be your spouse.  For those who are single, it should be someone who is equally desirous of walking in the Light with the same sense of purpose; someone that you can trust with knowing the worst about you. 

The first agonizing logistic of this kind of relationship is the painful injury it will inflict upon your pride.  The reason you have kept anything in your life in the dark in the first place is first and foremost to protect your pride.  Pride, however, is one of the chiefest enemies of the disciple and the greatest tool of the devil to insure that you have no fellowship with IAUE.  To learn that reality early is to gain a significant advantage.   The more we begin to realize that life is all about IAUE, that it is not about “me,” the less pride will be welcome in our life.  Pride revives and surfaces only when we forget this fact. 

Now, there is a key that I want you to understand.  We have an option.  When we allow darkness into our life, we can do one of two things.

1.  We can confess our darkness to another in order to maintain a high level of accountability in our lives; expose the darkness to the light; and be freed of its power over us; or    

2.   We can keep the thought, or action in the dark…keep it secret from all others in order to protect our pride; refusing to recognize the danger it is to our spiritual health…and subject ourselves to the disciplinary action of IAUE.

Be not deceived, IAUE is not mocked.  If you are a child and you are not dealing with your mistakes and disobediences correctly, IAUE will spank you…and you really don’t want Him to do that.  I would encourage you to reread the very 3rd post in this blog dealing with the topic of “the fear of IAUE.”  By the fear of IAUE, men depart from evil.  Once you are being dealt with by IAUE as one of His children, you have every reason to fear His chastening.

Despite its unpleasantness, the chastening of IAUE produces righteous behavior in those who allow themselves to be trained by His discipline.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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