Not only must we be converted to obedience in the inner man but it must be true also that the eternal Life and Presence of Christ are formed and abide in our converted inner man. Victory is gained one step at a time.

The invasion of the land of promise by the tribes of Israel is an excellent type of the invasion of our inner man by the Spirit and Law of God. As the Israelites brought the Law (in the Ark of the Covenant) into Canaan as Divine judgment on the gods of the Canaanites, so the Lord Jesus brings the eternal law of God into our inner man as Divine judgment on the various gods found in our personality.

The afflictions we experience are "hornets" God sends to us to "sting" the evil forces of disobedience hidden in our inner man, forcing them out into the open so they may be judged and slain.

Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the Lord thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible. And the Lord thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee. (Deuteronomy 7:21,22)

The last three of the seven Levitical "feasts" were Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:24,27,34).

The spiritual fulfillment of the blowing of Trumpets is the coming of the Lord Jesus to make war against His enemies, beginning with the inner man of His elect. (Psalms 24).

The spiritual fulfillment of the Day of Atonement is the reconciliation of our inner man to Jesus. There were two goats offered on the Day of Atonement. The blood of the first goat typifies the forgiving of the guilt of our sins. The removing of the second goat into the wilderness portrays the removing of all sin from our personality (Leviticus, Chapter 16).

The spiritual fulfillment of the feast of Tabernacles is the Father and the Son settling down to eternal rest in the saint (John 14:23).

The goal of the Father is to find rest through Christ in all of His creatures. This goal can be attained only when the inner man of each person has been converted by being judged, and then by being transformed by receiving the Life of Christ.

The only persons who will be "lost" are those who refuse the Divine redemption God is offering through Jesus. They will be lost to the Kingdom because they refuse to be reconciled to God through His Son. Like Satan, the father of rebellion, they prefer to rule rather than to be ruled by the Lord Jesus. Therefore they, like Satan, are doomed to eternal bondage.

It is suffering, the bearing of the cross, that assists us in overcoming our love of the world.

It is suffering that keeps us diligent and prayerful so we do not succumb to the enticements of Satan.

It is suffering that gives us the determination to confess the lusts of our flesh so they may be cast out of our personality.

It is suffering that enables us to gain the upper hand over our selfish ambitions, that humbles us, that brings us close to God so we will be able to rule with Him in our land of promise.

To be continued.