Commanded to Die!

CALL TO PRAYER 

Date: 13.03.2024

Title: Commanded to Die!

By: Daniel Peter

Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:  (Deu 32:49-50 KJV)

Reading through the above scriptural verses, you will notice that Moses received His death as an instruction; He was commanded to die by God, and he did in obedience. The case is also true for our Lord Jesus, He received the commandment from the Father to lay down His life (to die) for humanity (John 10:18). This was also an act of obedience from Jesus, as the prayer He made at Gethsemane suggests He could say no to it (Luke 22:42). However, the commandment to die wasn’t just for Moses and Jesus Christ, it’s a commandment every Christian has received; we’ve all been commanded to die.

How do we see this commandment in scripture? Jesus told us His disciples to take up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). This is an indication of the commandment to die, as following Jesus with our cross means that He will lead us to Golgotha, where we will be crucified with Him. We need to know that the suffering and death of Jesus Christ wasn’t just for an exchange, our sins for His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21), it was also to empower us to be able to endure the same (1 Peter 2: 21-23 & Heb. 12: 1-4). For Moses, He died once just at the end of His life, but for us Christians, we are expected to die daily (1 Cor. 15:31).  

What’s the need for this death? The newness of life that Christ brought for humanity is resident in our Spirit (Romans 6:4, 7:6). For this life to express itself, the flesh, where sin resides, must give way. Though all that is required for the redemption of our bodies has been fulfilled, the reality of it will be attained at the coming of Christ, when our mortal bodies will be clothed with immortality (1 Cor. 15:53, 54). Until then, we must live by faith and by the Holy Spirit put to death the flesh (Romans 8:13). This will enable us to walk in the glory available in the newness of life we have received (Romans 8:17). Again, this death to the flesh helps us to be fruitful (John 12: 24).

How is this death attained in us? There are two ways: Either we die ourselves with the help of the Holy Spirit, or He kills us by the same Holy Spirit (lol). We give ourselves to death willingly when we obey His instructions, even when it is not convenient. He kills us when we experience chastening as a result of our disobedience. Read Matthew 10:39 to see this.

Those who are considered matured sons in the kingdom of God are those, who by practice and experience, have learnt to always say yes to the Spirit’s instructions (Romans 8:14). That is, they die daily.

Prayer Point:

Let’s take time today to ask God to enable members of the body of Christ to die to our selves, so we can yield to the Holy Spirit.

If this has blessed you, please share this Call to Prayer with your friends and family so they will be blessed too. 

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God Bless you all

Repost: 03.04.2021