Dying to self

DYING IN YOUR SIN

May not be an easy topic of discussion, but a necessary one.  We, as believers, are called to save souls for the Kingdom.  We are to activate our faith in prayer on behalf of the lost.  On behalf of the fence sitters.  On behalf of the doubters, unbelievers, waivers (double-minded).  In the word it says pick up your cross and follow me, I do not believe He was speaking only to follow Him about our problems, but to intercede for the many.

Luke 9:23-25 New International Version (NIV)

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

We truly have an obligation and responsibility to pray for others, in fact when we are going through something, the best way to get through it is to focus on someone else.  Meet someone else's need.  Raise them up, lift them up....pray for them, with them, cover them.

We all know someone who could use a little extra prayer, don't be that believer who has no time to worry about the well being of someone else because you are so focused on yourself.  

Matthew 7:21-23 English Standard Version (ESV)

I Never Knew You

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

I think this passage speaks to this as well.  I do not want to risk being told by Jesus, depart from me, for I never knew you. 

 I want to hear as I am sure you do, as well.

Matthew 25:23 (NIV)

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

What does it mean to die in your sin? 

 Here are 3 scriptures that touch on this....

Ezekiel 3:20, "Again, when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I place an obstacle before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand."

John 8:21, "Then He said again to them, “I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come."

John 8:24 Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins.

Dying to sin literally means not allowing your flesh to have its way when it goes against what the bible requires.  Keeping the 10 commandments is a start, however, those commandments were replaced by 2 commandments and when you seek and learn those 2 you will automatically keep the 10.

God does not expect us to be perfect, but he does expect us to make every effort to do what is right and repent when we miss the mark, whether intentionally or unintentionally.  We must be mindful in all that we say, think and do.

In the beginning it is not easy to break behaviors that are habits, but with intention and consistency it can be done.

Remember we are in this world but not of this world.  We have been call to be set apart.

Matthew 22:14 Amplified Bible (AMP)

14 For many are called (invited, summoned), but few are chosen.”