Dying to self.
I have written about this and every time I meditate on this topic I get to learn something new. Two weeks ago, I did a memorial service for a friend that was in a prophetic worship team that we had. He was a prodigy when it came to music and writing songs. I would preach on a Sunday morning and then on Sunday evening he would bring me a song he wrote about what I preached on in the morning service. He really was that good. In spite of his talent he had struggles. Like all of us he was on the mountain top one day and down in the valley the next. I learned a lot from Michael. One thing about him was that he only had two settings as a human being: totally off or totally on. He did not have any “in between” setting.
He taught me about total abandonment and passion. You never had to wonder where Mikey was in his commitment. That was a blessing to all of us that called him a friend.
As I was preparing for his memorial I was reading through 1 Cor 15 again. This is the chapter where Paul argues the reality of Jesus’ death and resurrection. If Christ was not resurrected then our faith is in vain, Paul states. Another thing he states in this chapter is when he concludes: Death where is your sting? The last enemy is death. That statement made me think a lot.
The last enemy is death. Think about that. Once death is conquered then there is no more enemy. Let me put it in another picture for you. When there is flesh that still can die, the enemy is empowered. When the flesh is killed, the enemy has been neutralized. On the other side of death, the enemy is conquered, defeated and overcome. Why is this so important for us?
Paul admonishes us to die to ourselves. As a matter of fact, Paul says: I die daily! Jesus commanded us to take up our cross (instrument of death) and follow him. You see Jesus knows that death is not what kills us, it is the thing that disarms and puts the enemy out of a job.
How do we die to self?
What a great question. Let’s see what the scripture says:
Rom. 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
When we crucify the flesh and the lust of the flesh, we no longer serve sin or the father of sin, satan. Death kills the old man but gives birth to the new man.
Jesus did not die alone. We were crucified with him. He identified with our sin so we can identify with his death. I did not die with him, I am living with him. Death where is your sting? Death lost its power through his death, my death. The principle of John chapter eight is so prevalent. Jesus said: Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies it can not bring forth fruit.
His death brought forth fruit. My death produces fruit for him. I am alive now more than ever because I died and the enemy has been defeated. On the other side of death, the enemy is nullified and neutralized.
Gal. 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.
Do you belong to Christ? If you are you have made a choice. This is not a choice of I am 25% in. No, He requires everything. He wants 100%. Death has that ability.
Will you come and die to self? Will you come and move past what the enemy says you need to fear to a place where death is a rebirth and not something to fear.
Gal. 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.