Pastor A

All else pales beside knowing and doing His bidding. This was Paul’s testimony even as he neared the end of his life and ministry. Consider Acts 20:24, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.“

In 1956, five young missionaries journeyed deep into the Amazon jungles to tell the good news of Jesus Christ to a tribe known as the Aucas. After just a few days, the primitive Aucas unexpectedly attacked and killed the missionaries. A search party eventually recovered their bodies and returned them to the United States for burial. Then, much to the surprise of many people, the wives and a sister of the slain men went back into the jungle to reach the same tribe responsible for killing their loved ones.

This time, however, the Aucas received Jesus Christ. In reporting on the deaths of the missionaries, Life magazine branded them “fools.” What makes this so interesting is that one of the five wrote in his diary a short time before his death: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

This is what death to self is all about… giving up a life you cannot keep  {no matter how hard you try, or how well you plan it, or how much you achieve in it}  to gain the eternal reward of those who do the will of God regardless of the cost.

Jesus Himself stated this as the turning point of true discipleship in Mark 8:34-35, “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.“

Death to self is an important qualification for discipleship or for real spiritual victory. But what is it we are to die to, specifically? We must die to selfishness or the seeking of glory or security in this life. We must die to all the things that would keep us from following Christ unhindered… even good things. We must forsake our possessions if need be. Luke 14:33, “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.“

We must place our love for Christ and our desire to follow Him above our earthly relationships if need be. Mark 10:29-30, “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.“

And we must die to our own strength, our own plans, ambitions, and schemes. God does not want us to work for Him; He wants to work in us. He does not want us to build great things for Him or accomplish mighty deeds; He wants to fill us with Himself and do the work through us.

God reminds us over and over in His Word that our natural abilities and strengths are just channels through which His power can flow; they are not the tools we use, but the tools He uses. We must die to every thought of self-concern. Our lives become swallowed up in Christ, in loving and serving Him, no matter what the cost. God’s will becomes our meat and drink, as it was with Jesus in John 4:34, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.“

If you are a Christian, you are dead; dead to sin. Already. It is a fact established in the courts of heaven. You died with Jesus at Calvary. Sin’s power over you has been broken. You are just like a dead man when it comes to sin; you feel nothing and do nothing in response.

Romans 6:11, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.“

That may be true in heaven, but what about here on earth? How can you really live like that? Paul adds this in Romans 6:12-13, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.“

Your death to sin becomes true in your life when you act on it; when you believe it enough to refuse to yield to temptation and actively yield yourself to God for His purposes. You do not have to give in to your temptations, because in Jesus Christ you have the power to refuse sin. And the only way you can begin to experience spiritual victory is to begin to do this.

Act like the dead man you are when it comes to sin, and yield yourself to God as the living man you are in Jesus Christ.

The blood of Christ; that is how much it cost to purchase redemption and make eternal life available. Ephesians 1:7 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” The tremendous realization which overwhelmed Paul was expressed so well when he wrote in Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Paul went on to say in Philippians 3:10, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;“

Every moment of Paul’s suffering was a moment of identification with Jesus’ suffering. Paul got into the habit of picturing himself crucified on the cross with Jesus Christ. He identified with that event because Jesus’ death on the cross made possible Paul’s spiritual life.

The Bible says that death cannot eternally imprison any believer. Why? Because on that first Easter morning, Jesus Christ defeated death. you can identify with what He did that day, because He did it for you. I Corinthians 15:12-34 states, “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? 30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. 33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.“

Jesus Christ is the only person that has ever defeated death. We should be willing to identify with Him, no matter what the cost!

Revival: Death Notice - Sister Old Time Prayer Meeting died recently at the First Neglected Church on Worldly Avenue. Born many years ago in the midst of great revivals, she was a strong healthy child, fed largely on testimony and scriptural holiness, soon growing into world-wide prominence. She was one of the most influential members of the famous Church family. She was a great influence for good, gathering the multitude of mankind to her bosom to hear the story of Him who wore the seamless garment; a story of never failing interest to all.

For the past several years Sister Prayer Meeting has been failing in health, gradually wasting away until rendered helpless by stiffness of knees, coldness of heart, inactivity, and weakness of purpose and will power. At the last she was but a shadow of her former self. Her last whispered words were inquiries concerning the strange absence of her loved ones, now absent from her presence, busy in the ply of trade and places of worldly amusements. Her older brother, Sunday School, has been dead for many years.

Experts, including Dr. Works, Dr. Reform, and Dr. Joiner, disagreed as to the cause of her illness, administering large doses of organization, socials, contests, drives, and religious education; but to no avail. A post mortem showed a deficiency of spiritual food coupled with a lack of fasting, faith, prayer, and change of heart. Shameless desertion and non-support were contributing causes.

Only a few were present at her death, sobbing over memories of her past beauty and power. Carefully selected pallbearers were urged to tenderly bear her remains away but failed to appear. There were no flowers. Her favorite hymns, “Amazing Grace” and “Rock of Ages” were not sung. Miss Ima Modern rendered “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere,” but none had any idea where this fancied isle might be. The body rests in the beautiful cemetery of Bygone Glories, awaiting the summons from above which shall bring her, with her blood-washed garments, into the presence of the God of Glory.

In honor of her going, the church doors will be closed on Wednesday evenings, save on the third Wednesday of each month, when the Ladies’ Pink Lemonade Society serves refreshments to the members of the men’s softball team.

I remind of all us of the words of our Lord Jesus… “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth… As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:15-16, 19