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Posted 20th November 2008

TRAINED FOR ULTIMATE OBEDIENCE

David Weber
19th Nov 2008

Beloved, in the past I have discussed some of the ways and means that God might bring pain or suffering into our lives, and the predominant reason for that; to bring complete and utter death to our self-life. I have no doubt that God is soon going to bring forth a remnant of overcomers in Christ of the same extreme character of obedience to the Father as was demonstrated by Jesus Christ Himself, but some questions that immediately come to mind are; just what exactly must come to prepare a people for such a ministry of this extreme and radical kind? Just what kind of tearing of self and what kind of anguish and cries in the dark night of the soul must come to one who is to be prepared for a such an extraordinary ministry, and just who is actually willing to go through the intense process of God's judgment upon their self-life so that utter and absolute death to self might be attained?

Dearest friends in Jesus, this topic is not something that I choose to dwell on, nor is it something that I particularly like to share with others, but if I don't share on it when I‘m called to do that, then it becomes like a fire shut up in my bones. I know that this type of word is difficult for some people, and that is because this is a word that "self" flees from, for it is a word of self's demise and destruction.

Beloved, everything that I have been reading lately, every tape that I have listened to lately, and almost every gentle whisper that I have heard from the Holy Spirit in the quiet times alone with my Father lately, have all been related to the absolute and utter destruction of the self-life. I was listening to a tape last night, and some words from the speaker were coming alive like fireworks thrown into in the fire of my heart. Let me share with you some of these words, as best that I can recall them …

"How many of you have ever noticed or experienced the particular paradox; when in the midst of God's greatest use of you, in the moment when His very glory is being revealed through you, there is even in that moment the subtlest emanations of your own soul, of your own self-life, your own flesh intermingled with God's glory? How many of you pastors and preachers out there can stand before a packed auditorium or sanctuary and not (even in the most subtle way) be somewhat impressed by the number of people who have come to hear you speak? How many of you writers or orators of the word out there can bring forth a powerfully anointed word from God to His people and not (even in the most minuscule sense) be somewhat impressed by its impact on the people? Do you understand what I am saying here?

There is something that haunts us, saints, something that shadows us in our ministry that seems like it cannot be removed, but I know at the same time the Spirit is revealing that in the holy end of the age works of God which is soon approaching, there shall not be this subtle corruption of self. The Spirit is revealing that wherever there is humanity, wherever there is a semblance of self, wherever there is the faintest iota of vanity, ego, or pride, IT HAS GOT TO GO!! I believe that every ministry and minister of God that is to be used in the awesome end of the age works of God, must in some way, shape, or form, pass through an intense process of death. All works, no matter how grandiose, sublime, or effective, must pass (somehow in the course of time) though an almost incomprehensible process of death, to be rid of every last vestige of self and its need for recognition."

Brothers and sisters, what I'm about to say now might seem like somewhat of a digression from the topic discussed here, but in the light of many of the things that I have shared just recently, I feel the need to now share here something of a much more personal note …

First, I want to let you all know that I love my God and Father with everything that is within me, so much so that it seems as though every fiber of my being is continually crying out for more and more of Him through absolutely every moment of every day without end. I also want to let you know, my brethren, that I love you also very dearly, more than you can possibly know, and because of this my heart also cries that we all might come to know the Lord in the power of His Resurrection Life together. For this reason, I will share with you whatever the Father puts on my heart to share with you, in whatever form that He leads me to share it with you, and I will do it without any fear whatsoever of you having any ill thoughts toward my person because I have offended you in some way.

I have been accused of many things over the years, but no one can accuse me of being a man-pleaser, or a crowd-pleaser, or one who is afraid of bringing offense to someone because of my obedience to God. Yet at the same time, I am also willing to acknowledge that there are still some defects and shortcomings within my character, and that others have been victims of these shortcomings (and to those people I apologize), but I can say with a clear heart that whatever the ill consequences of my zeal, everything that comes out of my life, so well as I understand myself, is to honor God, to promote His glory, and to benefit His people.

I will also say that I wholeheartedly welcome whatever my Father desires to bring my way (no matter how severe that might be) to see that all of my shortcomings are OVERCOME and that Christ is fully formed in me. I also pray for you that you will become progressively more intimate with the Father, and that you will come to know the out-flowing power of Christ's resurrection through the fellowship of His sufferings also, and that great grace will be given to you so that you might bear whatever sufferings might come your way - in your training for ultimate obedience to the Father through the crucifixion of all self.

With this, I bid you all much peace, and love...

In Christ Jesus,
David