LIFE COMES THROUGH DEATH

Time with Jesus - Friday, 28 December 2012

Hi all,

Many statements in God’s Word are circular. For example, ⁶ And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. Heb11:6 NLT If you believe He exists He will reward you. This encourages you to seek Him. So He rewards you. Then you seek Him. Do you see this beautiful circular promise? In today’s meditation we look at what it means to be alive to Christ and dead to yourself. Have fun with this delightful paradox.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 28 December 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	LIFE COMES THROUGH DEATH
A year or two ago, Phyllida and I were watching Oprah on TV. She always had a number of guests. Some were well known TV personalities. On many occasions it was Dr Phillip McGraw, better known to us all as Dr Phil. We particularly enjoyed his honesty. He didn’t beat around the bush when dealing with people. He wasn’t particularly “politically correct”. He said what was needed and that was that. Agree with him or not. That was irrelevant. He said what he thought and, presumably, thought what he said. Back in the UK the expression was, “He would call a spade a spade, unless it was a bl…. shovel!” Watching him on TV was always fun. At times I recall saying to myself, “I wish Christians were this honest with people!” Sadly, most of us aren’t. We would rather “die” than be unkind to someone. It’s a wrong attitude and one that was completely foreign to Jesus. Political or Religious correctness does not get sinners into heaven. If anything it prevents them from entering. There is only one way in; and that is through the person of Jesus Christ. Quoting Paul, Christians say 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 ESV Thank God for that. It’s a wonderful relief to know that all my efforts toward trying to please God are as much use as square wheels on a rickshaw. Having stated that, there is a question to ask. Namely, how do I get rid of self-effort? To put this somewhat paradoxically, “What do I not do, so that I’m not doing anything?” Now that really is a “canackler” as my late Dad would have said. What do you do so that you are not doing anything? There is an answer. The answer is you have to be dead. Yes indeed! When you are dead you are not doing anything. But if I’m still alive, what do I do? The answer is, “Die!” No it’s not a trick question. You have to settle this completely in your head or in your mind. If you are dead, that’s it. You cannot be born again unless you are dead! Are you following my logic? It’s only the dead who can be alive in Christ. If you are alive, you are not alive in Christ. You are alive yourself. You have to be like the grain of wheat. You have to fall to the ground and die. I’m not bluffing. Jesus said so. So how can I be dead to self and alive in Christ? You start by denying yourself; plans, ambitions, wants, needs, comfort and all the trimmings that go with being alive. When all that has gone, you are dead. When you are dead. Hey! Stop wriggling! As I was saying. When you are dead, all that stuff is behind you. No temporary resurrections for breakfast! Only then are you truly alive in Christ! So die! Jesus didn’t say it was easy. Just do it. If you don’t, you are not alive in Him! You can’t have it both ways. But can I do it? You mean everything; even prosperity must be behind me? Absolutely. There is no prosperity in the grave. Furthermore, when you are alive in Him, there is no need for prosperity. You will never be more prosperous than the living Lord Jesus Christ. Incidentally if you are dead, you can never be one of the following. 15 Outside are dogs, sorcerers, sexual sinners, murderers, idolaters, and all who lie in what they say and what they do. Rev. 22:15 GW It seems to me, being dead in Christ is the right way to be. Of course if you want to keep your life ------- Jim & Phyllida Strickland			20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." John 12:20-21 ESV 8 LORD, we are living the way your laws command us to live. We are waiting for you to act. Our hearts long for you to be true to your name. That's what you are known for. Isaiah 26:8 NIrV 18 The LORD is ready to help all those who call out to him. He helps those who really mean it when they call out to him. Psalms 145:18 NIrV 20 And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there." Matthew 18:20 MSG 18 "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:18 ESV 20 Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. "And remember that I am always with you until the end of time." Matthew 28:20 GW 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV 23 I find it hard to choose between the two. I would like to leave this life and be with Christ. That's by far the better choice. Philippians 1:23 GW 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3 ESV	“Sir may we see Jesus”. That’s what those Greek men said. Do you think it’s possible? “To Him we have been led. Soon it will be Passover. We saw Him come to town We heard the Hallelujah’s. We thought the crowd would crown, Him as the Great Messiah whom they were waiting for. If it is true, we also want to worship and adore, This Galilean Carpenter Who rode in on a colt. It sounds as if this city, is almost in revolt, Against the Roman army! They’d better all calm down. Or there will be a massacre within this ancient town. We don’t know if He met them. I think He may have done. But there was something critical occurring to God’s Son. The Gentiles of the nations were starting to believe. The glory of the Son of Man by some could be perceived. He said, “Except a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies. There couldn’t be a harvest and all alone it lies.” It’s only by its dying, it’s able to increase. If it doesn’t give it’s life, then life will surely cease. Anyone who loves his life, for him life will be lost. Those who give their lives away, will realise the cost Was truly next to nothing. They’ll grow abundantly, And they’ll bring forth a harvest they thought they’d never see.” To be the Master’s servant, first you have to die. If you will not do it, then wish your life good-bye. Death to self produces a life that multiplies. If you try to keep your life, you and your future dies. Jesus knew instinctively, the time had surely come. For Him to save humanity, His dying must be done! If He dodged or ducked it, no one He could save. If He didn’t give His life, we’d all stay in the grave. And what is true for Jesus, to each of us applies. Entry into heaven is paid when someone dies. It cannot be avoided. If you and I would live, The cost is death to self on earth. It’s what we have to give. If I’m not dead in Jesus and think I will survive, Then I have been deluded; the “dumbest” man alive. The “second birth” is meaningless unless the first has gone. You cannot be alive in Christ, if you just carry on, Living as you want to. First, lie down and die. If you will not do it, your salvation is a lie! Entry into heaven is by the Saviour’s death. If you do not follow Him, you’ve just wasted your breath. So let us learn a lesson from what has gone before. Sacrifice your life on earth and enter heaven’s door. Jim Strickland Written 28th December 2012