Taking Another Trip

I have at least three new items that I am in the process of developing, but it will be another few weeks before I am comfortable enough with the topics to make an entry here to them. However, I am going to revert to more lighthearted fare for the next few weeks.

It is the start of my travel season. This season kicks itself off at the end of July and will conclude at the beginning of January. This is the time of year that I take all my time off from work, and attend various conferences and family events.

My first event of the season is a quick trip to Bro. Epley's campmeeting in Racine, MO. This will be followed by a trip to Gatlinburg, TN for the WPF Summit and Campmeeting, and Passing the Mantle in Kansas City. I hope to have some pictures from each of these events to post either during or after my trips.

Hopefully, for some of you who read my blog regularly, I may get to meet you soon. God bless and keep you in the name of Jesus.

A Call To Die

John 12:24 reads, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."

While in church tonight, I felt the Spirit speak this thought to me, and He gave me a call saying, "Come and renew your dedication, and deepen your consecration." He then brought the above passage to my memory.

The verse is self explanatory, and we have all seen the pictures of the various stages that a seed passes through to become a mature plant. However, it is much the same for those of us who are called by the name of Jesus, as we begin to seek Him and the moving of His mighty power in our lives.

Jesus is using this example as a means to fortell His own death, burial, and resurrection. However, he also lets it be known that it is also for His church to die as well, so that they may produce fruit in their own turn. He is not meaning their physical death, although that will be looked at in a moment.

Rather the first form of death that we are going to discuss is the death to ourselves and the things of this world. For we are told that we have died to this world, and left its desires and pleasures behind us. (Romans Chapter 6:1-11) Further, if we have been filled with the Holy Ghost, we have at some point died to sin, and ceased to walk in a sinful lifestyle. (Romans 8: 1:11) However, we must return to this point periodically to once again keep our lives separated from sin and dedicated to God. This is why Paul further states in Colossians chapter 3, 

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

It is for these reasons that we are commanded to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. We have died to the flesh, sin, and the world, and baptism is a form of burying ourselves with our Lord. However, as can be seen in the passages that I have referenced, we must also be sure to keep that old man of sin dead. Thus we need to periodically examine ourselves to ensure that we are still living according to the Word of God.

This then leads to the next portion of our study tonight, for we are called to be willing to suffer and die for this very doctrine. In fact, it is my contention that unless one has truly died to the things of this life, we then can not be prepared to give our lives for this doctrine. Jesus stated in Luke 12 that we would be persecuted, tried, and killed for His name. (Luke 12:4-12) Further it stated that those who have overcome Satan did so through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, the word of their testimony, and that they did not love their lives, even unto the death. (Rev. 12:11)

The Bible and Christian history is filled with the names of those men who followed these dictates with their whole heart, to the point that they were willing to have their own blood shed as the final seal of their testimony. Peter, James the brother of John, Steven, James the brother of Jesus, Paul, Priscilla and Aquila, Matthew, Timothy, Antipas, John, and innumerable others counted it nothing to give their lives even under the cruelest tortures devised by men at that time.

The question is now, are we going to be willing to dedicate our lives the the service of the Lord, to such an extent that no portion of ourselves is beyond His control? Are we going to fall into such a love with the truth of the Bible that we will count all suffering but a light affliction compared to the eternal weight of glory that we shall receive? In a day of instant and incessant gratification, will we deny ourselves, and be content, in order that we may receive the fullness of the power of God?

These are questions that must be answered individual by individual, and sadly there will be those who, when they have counted the cost, will turn and reject this blessed doctrine. Let us all be determined that we shall not falter or fail to do our duty, crucify our desires upon the cross of Christ, and earn ourselves the approval of our Lord when He states, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord."