Releasing the Life Through Death (Notes)

Jesus’ blood dealt with my SINS.

Jesus’ cross dealt with my SIN.

My cross deals with my SOUL.

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and 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 eternal life. John 12:24-25

WE IDENTIFY WITH HIS CROSS, BUT WE ARE ALSO INVITED TO IMITATE HIS CROSS!

1. Until we lose our natural life, we can’t release the resurrected life.

Natural life is able to enclose the life of God to the extent of preventing it from being released.

Natural life is given by parents. Resurrection life comes after the cross.

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” Luke 9:23-24

Those who LOVE their life more than the LORD:

Don’t follow Jesus; only believe in Jesus!

Avoid the cross at any cost.

Lose the life they seek to preserve.

Missing out on the life they could have had.

2. That which is blessed must be broken if it’s to become a blessing.

He said, “Bring them here to Me.” Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Matthew 14:18-21

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Matthew 7:21

Move from professing to possessing submission to the Lordship of Christ!

Saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42

“Not My will be done” is how Jesus prayed. “My will be done with Your help, God” is how we live.

I don’t want God to bless what I am doing; I want to do what God is a blessing.

3. If you don’t carry your cross, you will miscarry your calling.

The Angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.” Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” Genesis 16:9-10

And the Angel of the LORD said to her: “Behold, you are with child, and you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has heard your affliction.” Genesis 16:11

“I DON’T NEED ANYONE!” It might be true, but what you’re carrying does!

God doesn’t deal with us on the level of where we are at but on the level of where we are going!

FOMO (fear of missing out) has to be greater than the fear of losing.

Jesus is worthy of everything you’re afraid of losing.

It’s time to grow out of diapers into discipleship.

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. Matthew 16:24

Discipleship is not about forgiveness of sins but about forsaking of self.

Don’t conform to culture, or you will miss being transformed by God.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2

Self-discovery is the goal of culture; the kingdom is about self-denial.