March 29
Worthy worthy is the lamb, Worthy worthy is the lamb, worthy worthy is the lamb that was slain, Praise Him alleluia, Praise Him alleluia, Praise Him alleluia, Praise the Lord.
Heavenly Father, hallow be Thy Name, let Thy kingdom come and Your will be done on earth. Send Your power, send Your might and destroy everything in us that do not give You glory. Thank You Jesus.
Beloved, are dead in Christ Jesus? The death of Christ guaranteed our new beginning. Are you willing to go same way? Are you willing to die so that you bring forth much fruit?
There so many things in our lives that we need to put to death so that a new life in Christ will take root in us and make us bring forth fruit that will abide.
What are those things we must die to? Come as we go through the message below and examine our lives also:
Death Brings Much Fruit
“I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop.”—John 12:24
Some things must die in order to be productive. Certain seeds will not germinate into a plant unless they freeze during the winter. Jesus knew that His death would bring salvation to the world.
The moment you became a Christian, your sinful nature died (Rom. 6:6), but there remained sinful aspects of your character that had not gone to their graves willingly. Before you became a Christian were you self-centered? You may discover selfishness lingering in your life when you ought to be freely sharing what you have in the name of Christ (Matt. 10:8). Did you have a volatile temper? Now as a believer, you experience moments when anger wells up within you. Were you driven by ambition? You may still find yourself with the same motivation as you strive for recognition and position in the kingdom of God.
If these sinful attitudes are allowed to remain alive, they will stifle the fruits of the Spirit. Your temper may prevent some from coming to Jesus. Your selfishness will hinder you from being a blessing to those around you. Your ambition could cause you to use others to meet your goals. Your family may be suffering because of some areas of your life that you have never allowed Jesus to put to death. It is futile to say, “But that’s just the way I am!” That is the way you were.
But that person died with Christ; you are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). Allow God to complete His work in you and see what fruit your life produces.
Beloved, Jesus undergo same that is why you same is being recommended to us. let read on:
“Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.” Hebrews 5:8
We are told that the Captain of our salvation was made perfect through suffering, therefore we who are sinful, and who are far from being perfect, must not wonder if we are called to pass through suffering too. Shall the head be crowned with thorns, and shall the other members of the body be rocked upon the dainty lap of ease? Must Christ pass through seas of His own blood to win the crown, and are we to walk to heaven dryshod in silver slippers?
No, our Master’s experience teaches us that suffering is necessary, and the true-born child of God must not, would not, escape it if he might. But there is one very comforting thought in the fact of Christ’s “being made perfect through suffering”—it is, that He can have complete sympathy with us. “He is not an high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” In this sympathy of Christ we find a sustaining power. One of the early martyrs said, “I can bear it all, for Jesus suffered, and He suffers in me now; He sympathizes with me, and this makes me strong.”
Believer, lay hold of this thought in all times of agony. Let the thought of Jesus strengthen you as you follow in His steps. Find a sweet support in His sympathy; and remember that, to suffer is an honourable thing—to suffer for Christ is glory. The apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to do this. Just so far as the Lord shall give us grace to suffer for Christ, to suffer with Christ, just so far does He honour us.
The jewels of a Christian are his afflictions. The regalia of the kings whom God hath anointed are their troubles, their sorrows, and their griefs. Let us not, therefore, shun being honoured. Let us not turn aside from being exalted. Griefs exalt us, and troubles lift us up. “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him.”
Is someone excited? If death will make us dead to all the vises in our lives, I think we ought to be happy. Jesus learnt so much through what He suffered and His sitting at the right hand of God guaranteed, why do you want stay away from the training that heaven is offering you to guarantee your eternal rest.
Beloved, are you willing to die to vices and alive in virtues in Jesus Name.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Evang. Ifeoma Ohondu
