Part Dos - "A Dying Seed"

What’s going on TURN? It’s been a great time being involved with theTURN! God has been stirring things up and there is an expectancy when Thursdays come around that God is going show up at service and change us forever.  I was reading over my last blog post and realized that I made a very common mistake.  People always talk about dying to self like I did, but what does that look like? Lets take a look at three passages of scripture that can help us as we try to die to ourselves so that Christ may be made more complete in our lives.

1^st Corinthians 6:18-20

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

There is something about sexual sin, Paul writes, that is different from all other sins.  As believers, when we indulge our flesh with sexual sin the consequences are very serious because we are sinning against our own body.  How many friends have we known that are caught up in bad relationships or had to deal with serious consequences because of sexual sin?  In order for Christ to be formed completely in our lives we have to avoid sexual sin at any cost.  One way to keep yourself safe is to partner with a friend and help keep each other accountable. 

Mark 1:35

In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

We all know that the worse sound in the world is the alarm clock.  Have you ever been sitting around and the alarm you use on your phone goes off on someone else’s phone? Tell me that you do not instantly feel miserable.  Seriously though, here we see Christ, after ministering to the multitudes the pervious day, rose early and prayed.  If we commit ourselves to waking up early and seeking God our minds will be better focused on him throughout the day.  I am reminded of a quote “He who does not seek God in the morning rarely finds Him in the evening.” Easier said than done I know, but just start simple - wake up 15 minutes earlier or even 10 but give yourself time to work up to longer periods.

Luke 22:41-42

He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

What a influential yet seemingly short scripture.  Odds are we have all read this story of Jesus in the garden hundreds of times but, what a demonstration of giving total control to God.  The death Jesus died in the garden is one that we all must strive for, the total submission of our wills to the will of God.  What if we as a community at theTURN truly prayed this prayer and lived it out.  No matter what the situation or obstacle presented itself we would never compromise what God’s will is for our lives.  Then my thoughts are that things would become much clearer in our lives.  The secret is submitting to God’s will in our day-to-day life.  Why do we say “God if you call me to Africa I will go” but we wont share God’s love with our suitemate or neighbor? 

Let’s be honest here, chances are I didn’t write anything that you haven’t heard a million times, but are you doing it? Now is the time, as theTURN embarks on this incredible adventure, why not start now?  Why not unite as a community and devote ourselves to God during this time in our lives, as we get older it only gets more difficult.  Comments? Tell me what you think I love you all and I will see you at theTURN this Thursday, AND REMEMBER: BRING SOMEBODY.

 

DYING TO SELF
When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take in all in patient, loving silence.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any unpunctuality, or any annoyance; when you stand face-to- face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility-and endure it as Jesus endured.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
When you are content with any food, any offering, any climate, any society, any raiment, and any interruption by the will of God.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendations, when you can truly love to be unknown.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart.
THAT IS DYING TO SELF
Are you dead yet? In these last days, the Spirit would bring us to the cross.

See you soon...

Pastor Jeremy - theNINE Assistant Youth Pastor