TOPIC: The way to life is death
TEXT: Isaiah 58:6-12; 1Jn3:18; John12:24
INTRODUCTION: I woke up to 2 terrible dreams in which I was on a journey and found I had to get to the other side of a two-way highway to go the right way. I was warned not to go through people’s property to get to the other side, but to use the public throughway available. I eventually saw a gas station and used it. I was going to get kidnapped and consumed. I cried out for help because I was told if I trespassed, the people of the place would cannibalize me. May we not be consumed in our journey in life by the enemies in Jesus name. Jesus body was broken so that we might be healed. Those that gather against us to eat up our flesh shall be scattered; they shall eat their own flesh and drink their own blood as wine in Jesus name. The second was finding myself in my town of origin at first in a white regalia and later as I journeyed through the town trying to find direction and bearing, saw myself only in underwear and the fellow with me started talking about the food we would find in one of the locations we were trying to reach. I told him bluntly that I was interested in covering my half nakedness. May our nakedness in any form be covered by the blood of Jesus as we follow Him in the work of spreading the gospel. He was de-robed so we can be clothed. Part of suffering with Christ are attacks from the realm of darkness, and we must not give up hope but look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.
1.SELFLESSNESS: Part of suffering with Christ include attacks from the realm of darkness, and we must not give up hope, but look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. One of the hallmarks of Jesus is His love for mankind, for He gave up His life for us so that we might have life. As people who have given our lives to Him, we would be acting out of sync if we are selfish. Our calling in Christ includes not only benefits, but also sufferings such as the attacks we have mentioned. The bible enjoins us to endure such sufferings as good soldiers. It is part of our restoration and reawakening. “ and if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs of Christ. If we indeed suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him” We may think when we have such terrible dreams, it applies only to us. I want to tell you a secret this day; the dreaming of a dream or seeing a revelation is a grace for you to pray and intercede not only for yourself , but for others. For where there is a revelation, there is redemption. The bible declares that people perish where there is no vision. They don’t know what will come on them. If God takes time to reveal something to you, take time to address it with Him in Prayer and fasting. It is the death you will have to die for life to be established. Jesus said except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
2.OBEDIENCE : Talk is cheap. The actual meat of talking is doing. How od you respond to God’s word. Talk or doing. A believer’s strength comes from the time they invest in hearing, reading, studying, meditating on, obeying, and practicing the word of God. Hearing provokes faith (Rom.10:17), but it is whole hearted obedience and practice that define our response to what we hear on a daily basis. God told Joshua to observe and to do according to all that is written in the word. Doing therefore is the actual response to the word. Obedience is the dying, suffering you have to endure. It is not about you , it is about what God says. It is what provokes the turn around in lives of those that have genuine encounter with the word of God. Doing was what would make Joshua to have prosperity and good success. It was what Josiah did after hearing the word (2Ki. 22:11; 2Ki.23:1-8), that got the kingdom right with God and with it the godly sorrow and repentance needed for blessings. May we respond with heart obedience to God’s word in our lives.
- 3. GIVING: The bible talks about casting bread on the waters and many days hence, you will find it. One of the principles of the kingdom is giving and receiving. Good measure gives good returns that spills over. In Jn. 12:25; Jesus said whoever love this physical life will lose it , because all must die, but the most important is the eternal life one attains by giving up the physical life to follow Him. It entails not laying claim or giving preference to material things over our Christian life. This is the death to material things and it brings endless life in the spirit. May we in this years of reawakening surrender the love of materialism to the love of God and His work.