The Word for Writers
Since writing my previous article, One With Jesus (F1) based on JESUS’ PRAYER FOR ALL BELIEVERS in John 17:20-26, I have been blessed further by the word of God. The first blessing came when my cell leader shared on John 17:23 about God’s love. It came as a revelation to me that: GOD ACTUALLY LOVES US AS MUCH AS HE LOVES JESUS! Reflect on that for a moment, if you will. Yes, you. God loves you as much as He loves Jesus. Wow! Make it as numerous a “Wow!” as there are stars in the sky and sand on the seashore.
The next blessing came from John Bevere’s book: “Drawing Near”. In Chapter 2, he writes what the Lord has told him: “John, do you know I esteem you more important than Myself?” It was “too extreme” for John to believe and he responded, “The only way I will be able to accept such a thought is if You give me three New Testament Scriptures to prove it.” The Lord does so and the verses [and writings of John Bevere] are as follows:
1. “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind LET EACH ESTEEM OTHERS BETTER THAN HIMSELF.” (Philippians 2:3)
[I countered, “Lord, that is Paul speaking to the Philippian believers telling each to esteem others better than themselves. That is not talking about Your relationship with me.” Immediately I heard, “Son, I never tell My children to do anything I don’t do Myself!” He then showed me this as the problem in many homes. Parents expect behavior of their children they themselves do not observe. The Lord never expects anything from us that He does not model Himself.]
2. “WHO HIMSELF BORE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness --- by whose stripes you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)
[He then spoke words to me in the form of a question that riveted my heart: “John, who hung on the cross, you or Me?” Startled by what I already knew, but now became much more real, my response was sober, “You did, Jesus.” He continued, “It should have been you hanging on that cross, but I bore your sins, judgment, sickness, disease, pain, and poverty. I did it because I esteemed you better than Myself.”]
3. “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, IN HONOR GIVING PREFERENCE TO ONE ANOTHER;” (Romans 12:10)
[I hear Him say, “Am I not the first born of many brethren (Romans 8:29)? I prefer My brothers and sisters and esteem them better than Myself.”]
Now, for the third blessing which came from the article, “Divine Order Brings the Divine” by Hilton Sutton, as contained in Believers’ Voice of Victory (Special Commemorative Issue August 2005). He writes:
[From the time the first Southwest Believers’ Convention was announced in 1981, people began asking how I became one of the speakers. I said, “Because I’m a believer. I preach from the same book. We have the same vision. God has called us all according to His divine plan, and we all fit into it. Aren’t you glad we don’t all sound alike? If we did, some people will never get ministered to. That’s why God raised up such a variety. Together we offer to you the complete ministry of our Lord Jesus. Ephesians 4:11-13 says, And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man….” This scripture lets us know the unity requested in John 17 is on the way in the Body of Christ. It’s beginning to take hold.
:
..… the Holy Spirit wants us to recognize each other as members of the same family. We are all born again and energized of the Spirit of God, under the leadership of Jesus Christ. We are to lift Him up so the world may know that the Father has sent Him (see John 12:32, 17:23). That’s the assignment for the Church!]
We now come to the purpose of this article, “WHEN DID YOU DIE TO “SELF”?" Unity in the body of Christ begins with the individual believer. In our walk with the Lord we carry a great number of certificates such as birth certificate, baptism certificate, confirmation certificate (in more traditional churches) and ministry certificate.
Perhaps it’s time for us to recognize the need for a Dead-to-self certificate, for a start, so that we may live out Matthew 16:24, 25: “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” ” And, how often are we to take up our cross and follow Jesus? Jesus says “daily” in Luke 9:23.
The cross that Jesus bore is a LIFE OF OBEDIENCE TO DO THE WILL OF GOD, the Father of us all (Ephesians 4:6). In John 8:25, the disciples asked Jesus, “Who are You?” It was a hunger to know Jesus deeper; to catch a vision of His mission and purpose. Jesus replies, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him. When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I DO NOTHING OF MYSELF; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I ALWAYS DO THOSE THINGS THAT PLEASE HIM.” (John 8:25-29)
In John 12:24-26, Jesus says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, UNLESS A GRAIN OF WHEAT DIES, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternity. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My father will honor.”
Not all believers are called to martyrdom, but Paul beseeches us in Romans 12:1 to present our bodies as a “living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God”. Paul’s life speaks volumes of such life as he encapsulates for us in Galatians 2:20. We are to go and do likewise. That we may be true worshippers, walking in His love, having the fear of the Lord, living a life worthy of our high calling in Christ Jesus.
As David, a man after God’s own heart, says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5) And, He is worth it! “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.” (Psalm 103:19)
Allow me to share a song, “I Give” by Sun Ho and David Yem, from the music album “Cross” which has blessed me tremendously:
Verse 1:
Come and fill me Holy Spirit
I seek the warmth of Your embrace
Lord I’m longing for Your Presence
Just one touch of Your grace
I’ll keep on waiting, waiting on You
Verse 2:
All my life I’ve searched for heaven
My heart it longs for so much more
A love so true
Now I’ve found it in You
I’ll keep on waiting, waiting on You
Chorus:
Lord I give my life
A living sacrifice I place at Your feet
I offer to You
For only You can satisfy my longing
Jesus You’re all I desire
Lord I give my life
A living sacrifice I place at Your feet
More than what this world offers
You are my only treasure
My world means nothing without You
The title for this article could well have been: “IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS". Jesus is all that we desire. Make that, Jesus is all we’ve got. And, He’s more than enough! Hallelujah! Amen.
- THE END -
(All Scripture quotations used by the writer has been taken with thanks from The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright 1983 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
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Amen, we are here on this earth to Proclaim the Mercy and the Love of God! As we walk in the Power of The Holy Spirit we will walk in His Perfect will for our lives.
God Bless you and your family Always!
In Christ Jesus,Dee
"Numbers 6:24,25,26"