THE CRUCIFIED LIFE

We live in a time in which the “spirit of the age” has spiritually, made inroads upon us and in the church. The crucified life Christ talks about in the Gospels seems to be non-existent. The influence of this world colors our mind, our heart, and our spirituality leaving its mark even upon our soul. We (that is me too at times) are slow to learn even the simplest lessons in the school of the Spirit. We should never become involved in doctrinal issues, arguing, or splitting hairs over minor points of no real spiritual significance. In God there are absolutes (the Gospel message which we seem to ignore) and then there are optionals (everything else that has little no bearing on our spiritual growth and development) that we seem to want to die for. Rather it should be we are to respond and move in spiritual quickening and revelation, heeding the words of Christ, “But when you do alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does. That your alms may be in secret; and your Father which sees in secret Himself shall reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:3-4) This concept of secrecy should not to be limited to the act of giving, as the principle holds true in all areas of Christian witness and ministry. It is a fundamental fact that man seeks expression. He should do so to develop a normal personality and character. This places a responsibility upon us as the flesh nature has become so dominant in man’s methods and that we may unconsciously allow its ways to sweep in and rule even in our spiritual life experiences. These experiences and our expressions also are a reflection of how much of our life has been crucified with Christ. We must remember this clear-cut and poignant truth, “Than which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). This is a truth upon which all real Christian life and spirituality is built. It is basic and fundamental, but at the same time spiritual. Now we should not restrict the meaning of this phrase, “that which is born of the flesh is flesh” as referring merely to a function of our physical body. This is a true concept, but far too limited. Whatever has its inception and is birthed from a fleshly origin, forever remains in the realm of the earthly, and fleshly. These cannot under any circumstances become spiritual or bear spiritual fruitage. On the other hand, whatever is “born of the Spirit” (whatever has its inception from and is birthed through the Spirit) is always spiritual in issue and fruition. All the service and work of man (though they may be considered as being “spiritual” by some) are merely a natural and religious expression. They have their origin from within the good, religious nature of man’s being and he gives it free expression in the form of church services, service, and good works. Not being born of the Spirit they can never be spiritual nor can they ever merit a spiritual reward. The ways and methods of man by nature are diametrically opposed to the ways and laws of the Spirit. The question in the last analysis is not, “Is this a true ministry?” It is rather a question of motives and the birthplace of its manifestation; is it of the “spirit,” or of the “flesh?” This is the day of exhibition and exploitation. Many struggle to be seen, heard, and known. This is what man does, but not the Spirit. In John Jesus told the disciples, “He shall not speak of (or from) Himself (that is on His Own initiative) He shall glorify Me, for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it to you.” (John 16:13-14) The Spirit does not detract from, but rather focuses the attention where it belongs - upon the Lord Jesus. If the ministry is truly in the Spirit, the instrument will be hidden. Self-effacement will be the atmosphere. How awkward and reluctant our flesh is when it gets out of hearing and out of sight. When I was pastoring in Germany I was told a mighty man of God was coming from Ghana, well he was a man from Ghana, but he was not a mighty man nor was he a mighty man of God. He started preaching by singing (a typical African tradition) songs to loosen up the crowd, but when he opened up the Bible he spent more time rolling around on the floor like some baby than he did in preaching the word of God. The people loved it! Deceived!! He was a showman he had a great show, but it was nothing of the LORD it was born of the flesh. Most Christians respond to the LORD when given the LORD an opportunity to be expressed, but most Christians are do not give the LORD any opportunity and do not really know how the Spirit of God really moves. They are waiting for some organ roll to thrill them or someone to go up the piano scale effecting our emotions. These ploys are not of the Spirit of the LORD they are cheap parlor tricks to engage our emotion and feelings, a substitute. They are born of the flesh and will never no ever manifest the works of the Spirit and when we separate grace from truth and mix it with theater and showmanship we get a distorted version of God and His precious salvation. Sadly not only men, but most of the church today has lost sight of what it means to be born of the Spirit. You know if we do not have levels of restrictions and limitations operating in our lives we do not have a correct concept of grace thus grace is NOT operating in our lives. Grace does not give us “a get out of jail card” to do whatsoever we want to do, say, or go, but holds us hard and fast to the truth found in the word of God and the word of God spoken to us. In the Old Testament grace (grace is always tied to truth) provided from the truth (by the law) said, “thou shall not kill,” but the grace (tied to truth) found in the New Testament by Jesus said, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matthew 5:21-22) In the Old Testament the truth of the law said, “do not commit adultery,” but in the New Testament of grace tied to truth Jesus said, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28) Did you get that? Not do not do it, but if you think about committing adultery you have already done it. Grace always holds us to a higher standard of righteousness, never forgives laziness and slothfulness and requires discipline and sacrifice in our walk with God and man. In A. W. Tozer’s wrote in his book The Crucified Life he states, “over the last half century a steady decline in the spiritual quality of Christian religion in America, no informed person will attempt to deny. I am not speaking of the liberalism and modernism, but of that evangelical wing of Christianity to which I myself belong by theological conviction and personal choice. I believe the situation has become so serious that the earnest observer is forced to wonder whether our popular evangelical religion today is indeed the true faith of our fathers or simply some form of paganism thinly disguised with a veneer of Christianity to make it acceptable to those who want to call them Christians. Turn to the church page of any city newspaper or leaf through some of the popular magazines today and what you will find there will make you sick at heart. We have come to our present low state as the result of an almost fanatical emphasis on grace to the total exclusion of obedience, self-discipline, patience, personal holiness, cross carrying, discipleship, and other such precious doctrines of the New Testament. These doctrines cannot be made to harmonize with the doctrine of grace taught by most modern church fathers. Certainly, though these teachings are not denied they are either allowed to die from neglect or relegated to a footnote with so many explanations and interpretations as to make them ineffective. The grace that amazed our fathers -- that brought them to their knees in tears and trembling worship has by deadly familiarity become so mundane that it scarcely affects us at all. That which was so wondrous to the Moravians and Methodist and their immediate spiritual descendents had become cheap to a generation of Christians devoted to their own pursuits and engrossed in their own pleasures.” In these days of man’s exhibition we often have become overly suspicious of motives. In some cases one hardly dares to be simply courteous for he will be misunderstood. Someone might think we are attempting to “put something over” if we are polite. But the Word tells us, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2). The disciples on their way to Emmaus, were courteous enough to invite the Stranger to walk with them, and to enter with them into their destination. As the result of a simple act of kindness, a revelation came to hungry hearts. So much of value and real worth often hinges upon a seeming trifle. I cannot begin to tell you how I almost missed God by almost missing the little things He was doing. Remember “little is much, if God is in it.” Do not fear to obey His commands they are not grievous. He is seeking refreshment today. Can you not spread before Him a humble meal in the quiet, hidden place of your heart? But remember, He may not wear the form you are expecting. He often “hungers” in the form of broken humanity. The forms He wears are many. So serve the deep hunger of the needy one and satisfy their need. In so doing you may open the door to a deeper revelation of who He really is. If the words preached do not prick our heart and bring us into a place of reflection and soul searching then what you are listening to is not the Gospel message. If words preached makes us happy and emotional then it is not the Gospel message, it is another message that is anti-Christ or against the message of Christ. The Gospel message must be a mirror to be able to see our heart condition, ourselves, and how much we are NOT like Jesus Christ anything else is a lie and the truth is not in them. My friend there is a cross we are to bear (our crucified life) daily and at the heart of that cross is our will whereby our will to do, say, and go as we will is laid across God’s will for our lives. This cross is the crucified life we must submit to be able to win Christ, to be able to be in Christ, and yes even to be seated with Christ in heavenly places. There is a price we must pay to walk with the LORD, Jesus paid with His life and is the servant greater than the Master? I think not. We too must go to the cross and be crucified on the cross the Father has for us bear. Then and only then will we ever hope to come into the resurrection life of God where we rule and reign with Him in this life and in the next lives to come. Written by David Stahl