1025 Releasing the Life Through Death 10-09-22

John 12:24–25 (NET)

24 I tell you the solemn truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain.25 The one who loves his life destroys it, and the one who hates his life in this world guards it for eternal life.

Matthew 14:18–21 (NET)

18 “Bring them here to me,” he replied. 19 Then he instructed the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.20 They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, twelve baskets full. 21 Not counting women and children, there were about five thousand men who ate.

Genesis 16:9–10 (NET)

9 Then the Lord’s angel said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority. 10 I will greatly multiply your descendants,” the Lord’s angel added, “so that they will be too numerous to count.”

Jesus’ blood dealt with my SINS

Jesus’ cross dealt with my SIN

My cross deals with my SOUL 

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

1. 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. 

Until we lose our natural life, we can release the supernatural life. 

We don’t lose our natural life like we lose our old man. It’s about farming, not funerals. My old man had a funeral. My natural life has to be farmed. Harvest will result. Seeds need to be sown, not saved. We don’t preserve seeds; plant them! 

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, don’t follow Jesus only believe in Jesus! 

Those who LOVE their life, avoid the cross at any cost.

Those who LOVE their life, lose the life they seek to preserve.

Those who LOVE their life, miss out on the life they could of 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

GARAGE: Our will needs to be opened but it feels like it’s being broken! 

I can’t get the car out of the garage without opening the garage door. 

God can’t get the life out of your spirit without you losing your life. 

“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

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

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

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

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

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’s 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. 

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25