Spiritual Travail

Book excerpt: What is spiritual travail? And is it necessary for the believers to enter into it? The Lord Jesus travailed for the souls of men and it took Him to the cross. He is even now travailing as High Priest for the house of God to be built. He travails for His people to know Christ in an intimate relationship. He travails for His children to grow up into sonship. The travail of Jesus meant agony, suffering, the giving up of His life. He humbled Himself and became obedient to the cross. In the same way His followers are called to travail for His full purpose to be fulfilled, His kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. This means burden, agonizing, suffering, and brokenness over His will and purpose. This is spiritual travail. If there is a willingness to give up one's life for God to have full control, the Holy Spirit will do the rest of the work in the vessel to prepare it to carry His burden and travail for it. This is the highest ministry one can have in the kingdom.