My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me ~ Galatians 2:20 NLT
Has "old self" been crucified and remains crucified? It's time for a self examination!
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! ~ 2 Corinthians 15:5 ESV
Consider when you first came to the LORD:
- there was passion
- spent time in prayer and intercession
- immersed in worship
- attended services and prayer meetings
- read the bible daily
- read books pertaining to Christian Living
- zeal to evangelize
- sought opportunities to serve and fellowship
- fasted
- there was transformation
- new creation in Christ
- no longer conformed to this world; mind of Christ; renewed
- flesh crucified - no longer walking in the flesh (indulging) but in the Spirit
- motives: love driven and Christ centered
- actions: denied self and followed after righteousness
- surrendered life
- sought godly counsel for direction, guidance, wisdom and understanding
- teachable
- submitted to leadership
- there was fruits
- love
- peace
- faithfulness
- joy
- goodness
- gentleness
- patience
- self-control
- kindness
- there was....
- fear of the LORD; reverence - godly fear
- repentance
- humility
- genuine love
- radical faith
- holy living
- no compromising His Word of self
- a desire to die to our will
- a longing for more of His Presence
- a hunger for His Word
- a passion to fulfill purpose and destiny in Him
Most importantly there was a "FIRST LOVE" in which was the driving force of our passion - the object of our affection: Jesus Christ - LORD and Savior!
Rest assure that I partook of this self-examination first! I asked Holy Spirit to search my heart because the heart is deceitful above all things and can cause our true condition to be hidden from us.
Believe me, I've cried through, I've fought through, pressed through, been taken through and came through only to come to an end to my "self". Many things I experienced was to bring me to this place.
If we are honest with ourselves, we will come to realize that we have somewhat strayed from the LORD maybe not in word (speaking the word) or in action (ministry) but in our hearts: we honor with our lips but our heart is far away from Him.
Nothing is more important, not even ministry or your purpose if you have strayed from your first love: Jesus! It may have started to be all about HIM and somehow we have made it all about us! This may not be so for everyone but you know who you are.
If you are desperate as I am to come to a place of total commitment, abandonment and obedience of all that He ask despite the cost to fulfill His will that will bring HIM GLORY - then you must come to an end of your "self"!
In all, there is no power to do all that He says we can do if we don't come to the end of our "self"! I don't know about you but I am ready to be that vessel in which He can utilize to bring a people, a city, and a Nation into His Kingdom. I'm believing in the power that resides in me because I came to the end of me! Therefore signs, wonders, miracles shall follow because it is not by my might or power BUT the spirit of the LORD and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me!
In all, there is no power to do all that He says we can do if we don't come to the end of our "self"! I don't know about you but I am ready to be that vessel in which He can utilize to bring a people, a city, and a Nation into His Kingdom. I'm believing in the power that resides in me because I came to the end of me! Therefore signs, wonders, miracles shall follow because it is not by my might or power BUT the spirit of the LORD and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me!
How about you?
Lamentations 3:40 Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.
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