Current Message

We were buried with Him (Jesus) through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4)

 The death and resurrection of Jesus are the greatest events in history. For millions of Christians remembering these events continues to be an important part of every day life. Resurrection power is promised to every believer in Christ and we receive it in the same way that Jesus did. That is through the sacrifice of love, giving up our life, and receiving His life. God gives us both the ability and the power to accomplish this through His Holy Spirit.

 The word newness in the scripture above means renewal, to be renewed. Notice that, we should walk in newness of life. Renewal is to be a way of life; not a one time, or once in a while, event. The resurrection power of Jesus is given through the Holy Spirit. As we allow, it flows through us as a river of life bringing constant revival. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:11) The same form of life that raised Jesus from the dead is in all believers.

 The main ways that we give up our life and receive the life of Christ are by directing our love toward Him, moving with Him in obedience to His voice, and clinging to Him,. This kind of relationship with God brings constant renewal and revival in a person’s life; and will bear much spiritual fruit as God is glorified. Many of the choices we make daily are life or death decisions, even though we may be unaware of how important each one is. "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; "that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days;… (Deuteronomy 30:19-20) 

 We are often faced with decisions, the consequences of which, may lead to more or less of the life of Jesus in us. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (Galatians 6:8) How we think is very important because what we think leads to actions and words. Actions and words sow to the flesh or to the spirit.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name (Philippians 2:5-9)

 Jesus gave up His life twice. First, even though He was in the form of God He humbled Himself by giving up His life as God to become a man. When the Bible says that He made Himself of no reputation it means that He completely emptied Himself of His life. He then received life as a man and once again He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death. On the cross He emptied himself of life as a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus gave up all of His man-life and died on the cross. Three days later He was raised from the dead. The resurrection happened when Jesus received God-life and once again the fullness of God filled Him.

 Notice also that humbling yourself begins with an attitude, a thought process, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Choosing life is an ongoing process. It is what allows the process of sanctification in our lives. Sanctification is the process of becoming holy before God. Sanctification is a work of God in us through the Holy Spirit. The right to be sanctified was given through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross. The power to accomplish sanctification is given through the Holy Spirit.

 As we humble ourselves before God to the point of obedience we cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification in us. Notice that obedience follows humility, “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death” We also must empty ourselves through humility to the point of obedience; even when the cost is high, because the greater the sacrifice the greater the reward.

 Obedience to the voice of God is in itself a form of dying to yourself; it is giving up your life with the result of experiencing God’s life. Every time we deny ourselves, which is giving up our life, we receive more of His life in us. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it (Matthew 16:24 – 25).

 For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah 57:15) Revive means to give life. Revival begins with humility. Pride rejects God but humility makes a home for God. As we empty ourselves we are able to receive the life of God in us. The things that we hold in our heart which we love more than God are idols and they take up space in our heart. As we remove the things that separate us from God then He is able to occupy more of our heart. This is the process of giving up our life to receive His life.

 Love and life go together, where there is life there is love and where there is love there is life. The opposite is also true, where there is hatred there is death. Being vitally connected to Jesus as our source of life is also our connection with love. "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.”If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.” You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. (John 15:9-14)

In this holy connection of life and love we see that obedience and sacrifice must be motivated by love. Sacrifice without love is works and will ultimately fail. Sacrifice and obedience which are motivated by love are a work of God’s grace in us. The difference is between operating in our strength, which is “works”, and operating in God’s power, which is “grace”. Jesus desires us to be His friend not His slave.

 Remember that resurrection power is in you through Jesus the Christ. Jesus is the source of all life. Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26) 

 Jesus is Life

 (John 1:4) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men).

 (John 5:24-25)  "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. "Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.

 (John 6:63)  "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

 (John 10:10)  "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

 (John 14:6)  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 (Colossians 3:1-4)  If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.