The longer I live on earth the more I seem to want to live to see our grand kids have kids and the more my flesh screams to be soothed and satisfied. Now do not get me wrong I do not have some death wish to leave this earth before God’s time and I know God still has much more for Karen and I to do, but I see within me lives a paradox that I battle and even struggle with dying so that I can live. Now you will not hear this spiritual concept taught at most churches (maybe 1 out of 10) most churches teach we are to live in the abundant life of Christ, be blessed in overflow, claim (concept not found in the Bible) it, just tune in to Christian TV and you can pick and choose the lie you wish to follow. But, it is the message of the Gospel (the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ) that is the power of the cross. The power of the cross is not about life it is about death. The power of the cross is not about abundance, but limitations. The power of the cross is not about freedom, but restriction because limitations, restrictions, and death to our flesh bring us to fulfillment and completion in God, not abundance, freedom, and life. Paul shares this stark, hard truth with the Church at Corinth and us, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:17-18) Things have not changed in over 2,000 years, today preaching the preaching of the cross (the Gospel message, death to our carnal selfishness, our self-centered nature, and our religious self-seeking) is still considered foolishness and many still perish. The truth is the more we can die to our intentions, emotions, and desires the more we can live in the God type of life (Zoe) and the more God can use us. But here is the key, we must die. The progression in God is not into greater life, but into greater death. Jesus said, “The thief cometh (not the devil) not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:10-11) Jesus came so that we may have life, but for us to be able to walk in the newness of life in Christ He had to die. The hallmark and crowning glory of Christ’s ministry on earth was not all of His parables, teachings, miracles, and healings, but when He died between two thieves. Jesus came for one reason and only one reason to die on a cross so that we might be able to have His life. Jesus was not talking about going to heaven as most denominations and religious groups teach, oh no Jesus was talking about going to die, “except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die.” The only place we are going to after we accept Jesus as our personal savior is to our cross (our will laid against God’s will for our lives) to suffer (soften our heart towards man and God) and die. Jesus takes us by the hand and leads us to places we do not want to go, but if we do go we can be raised in newest of life, God’s life. This too is a type and shadow of what God expects to happen in our lives. Please notice verse 11 says, “the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” Jesus had to die so that we, “might have life and that they might have it more abundantly” the spiritual principle: life though death and the more death we experience in God the more life in God we can experience. Jesus shared this same spiritual principle (used other words) with the disciples and they scratched their heads again. You know the disciples did not understand what Jesus was saying until the Holy Spirit came and yet many today say we do not need the Holy Spirit. It only shows us just how far we have drifted from the truth of the word of God and of the dark heart of the religious, humanistic, apostate (works focused) church of today. Jesus said in John again, “Verily, verily, (a double negative, strongest use of an imperative to express significance) I say unto you, Except (meaning: the only way there is no other way) a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” (John 12:24-26) So the only way, there is no other way to be fruitful in God is to “fall in to the ground and die,” but no I thought God has called us to “life and it more abundantly?” No my friend God has called us to death not to life, God is calling us to lose our life for if we can lose our life surely we shall find it. Jesus repeats this thought in Matthew and added some other qualifiers, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:37-39) Please notice the losing comes first and the finding is second. Never forget order in God really matters. If we do not allow God to strengthen us with might in the inward man (we cannot do it on our own this is called religion) to be able to lose our life we shall never be able to walk in the life that God has for our life. How could we? It is God’s power, it is God’s life not ours! We have no faith, faith is owned by God He even gives us a measure (Romans 12:3) to be saved and live Godly, everything is owned by God.
Paul knew this spiritual principle and the progression of it all too well, “Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” (2 Corinthians 11:23-27) Remember truth is progressive and the more truth we can allow God to work in our lives the more it will cost us. And to the extent of our death will measure the extent of our life in God. Remember death in God has a purpose. The purpose of death in God is resurrection. No death no resurrection. We all want to experience God’s newness of life, well to experience God’s newness of life we all first must die, we all must lose our life so we can find it. Is our life in God lost? No it is on the other side of death, both spiritually and physically. We see this in Romans when Paul taught the Church at Rome, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” (Romans 6:4-5) Did you get that? “We are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father.” And verse five brings it all home to our heart, “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” Never think God highly exalted His Son Jesus because He was God’s Son, oh no if you do you will be grossly wrong. God, “ . . . hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” not because He was God’s Son, oh no, but because He, “ . . . made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Our way is clear and our path is sure, as Jesus is our example we too must fall into the ground and die so that we will be able to be fruitful and walk in the newness of life God has for us all. But, no death no life it is as simple as that. Written by David Stahl
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