WOULD YOU DIE FOR JESUS?
WOULD YOU DIE FOR JESUS?
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
October 6, 2015, the Year of Our Lord
As ministers of the gospel, we have been calling people to live for Christ, now we must ask Christians if they are willing to die for Christ. “Do I want to go on with Jesus wherever He may lead, however He may lead? Am I truly serious in wanting not only His best for me, but in turn also to do and to give my best for Him?”
Remember before our move the Lord asked me, “Carolyn do you love me as much as you loved Don when you left everything and followed him?” I could only answer, “Lord I hope so, if I don’t help me to love you that much.”
I pray I have followed him in love through this transition these past two years. He has not asked me the question, “Do you love me enough to die for me?”
Do I love him enough to die for him? Christians all over the world including the United States are facing that question.
Do you feel such love for our Savior that you would die for Him? Anyone of us would die for our children. Who would you die for?
The call of the ministry is to give of our selves for His people. 1 John 3:16: “Hereby we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren”.
Because He died for us, “we perceive the love of God”.
“Do we really perceive the love of God? It is time to search our hearts and determine our purpose in following Jesus. Are we following Jesus for the “fish and loaves”? Is our motive for following Jesus for profit as it was for those involved with the damsel possessed with a spirit of divination in Acts 16: 16-22? Is our motive recognition to be seated in places of honor?
“We see many people today growing tired of their newfound relationship with Jesus (if indeed they really had one). They have become disillusioned because He did not meet their every expectation on their time schedule. They much prefer the social gatherings and pomp and circumstance of the mediocre, watered down, form of serving God. ‘Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth’ (11 Timothy 3: 5-7).
We have come through a time when the Holy Spirit was generously poured out upon us. Neighbors, business acquaintances, and relatives received the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. Sinners, as well as the “religious,” received blessings untold at the hand of God. He made available every tool possible to learn and grow in His Word. The bible was recorded on tape; there were printed materials on every subject imaginable. There were teaching aids, reference books, testimonies of people delivered from every type of sin, and an unlimited supply of musical recordings for praise and encouragement.
Because so much of the literature was geared to supplying for the flesh, or the soulish nature of man, it was difficult for many of God’s people to discern between that which ministered to the greed of the flesh and that which ministered to them in the Spirit. It is time to prayerfully discern that which was received from the Father and realize the purpose for such an outpouring. It is time to search our hearts and determine our purpose in following Jesus.
During this time of outpouring, we have seen the blessings of God used and misused. The blessings were turned self-ward rather than outward to others.
The evidence of faith was not the good works seen of the Father, as it should have been according to the Word, but faith was measured by the abundance of temporal possessions one could accumulate.: (Joyce Rankin)
The time has come, however, for God’s people to stand up and be counted. Jesus is impressing upon His people to get serious, dig in, know Him---who He is in reality, His divine will for this day, and His purpose for our individual lives as we take our respective places in the Body.”
Many people are not even willing to live for Christ, much less die for Him.
Jesus is the “I am that I am.” He is what He is. He is not obligated to be what we want Him to be nor what we think He should be. He is not obligated to be flashy and spectacular to keep the crowd coming. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” We must believe that He is, “But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6).
Our rewards for living for Jesus are innumerable when we give ourselves completely to Him. John 8:31-32: “Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him, if you continue in my word then you are my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”
Condition: “If you continue in my word.” There is a going-on, a being faithful to the Word that is required. Next we hear the result of fulfilling that condition. “Then you are my disciples indeed.”
After fulfilling that condition and receiving a position of responsibility of which is definitely a part of being a follower of Christ, then you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.
The “going-on” is always a prerequisite for the next step. In all that Jesus does for us, in all that Jesus reveals to us, let us go on.
John 14:6: “…I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes unto the Father, but by me.”
Heb. 2:15: speaks of people “who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Many of God’s people today are fearful of death. There are many kinds of death that man fears. Fear of the death of the esteem of friends and family. Fear of losing power or position in business if they serve God with all their heart. Many people fear a social death so they compromise truths and stay with socially accepted crowds. Many today fear losing their jobs because of political correctness due to the standards of government versus the standard of God.
If they are afraid of death of position, popularity, power, prestige, etc. they do not have the love of God to live for Jesus. These certainly would not be willing to die for him.
All of these people become subject to bondage all their lives because of fear. If they would follow the One who can deliver them from fear they would be totally free from any fear and the bondage thereof.
Once we are free from fear, we can truly know life. We breathe cleaner air in a higher realm. We experience the power and abilities of God.
It is time to press in and learn of Jesus in a greater way than ever before! It is time to see Him, to experience Him, and to know Him in the truth that will cleanse our inward parts.
Our hour has come. We must decide what we will do with it.
“The Spirit of God has been revealing many beautiful truths in His Word to each one of you through the years. As you invest these truths, your time, and the fruits he has developed in you, into the hearts of those around you, you will be blessed and increased. It is this investment in God’s word that will bring forth 30, 60 and 100 fold blessings. Our “talents” today is the currency of faith in God’s Word which results in the fruits of the Spirit, the gifts of the spirit, and a life lived in Christ Jesus.” (Joyce Rankin)
On Tuesday mornings, we have had several sessions on the Kingdom within us. When the Holy Ghost came in, he brought a prophet, a priest, and a king. He brought righteousness, peace and joy. He brought a Kingdom for He brought the King, even the Spirit of the Son (Gal. 4:6).
There is a problem. What is going to release the ministry of the Kingdom from with each one of us?
The ministry of the Kingdom and power of His Christ will be realized and flow from us when the church stops committing the abomination of condemnation!
The “church at large” has become a clique of elitism and separation.
Matthew 6: 12-13: Jesus said, “…They that are whole do not need a physician, but they that are sick. Go and learn what that means. I will have mercy, and not sacrifice; for I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners to repentance.”
With these eyes and ears, I have heard and seen that the pride of the righteous did not want to hold up the arms of the crippled and weak.
The Church is a garden enclosed, a spring shut up, and a fountain that is sealed. (So. 4: 12-16).
A blow is going to release a flow. The north wind (conviction of the Holy Spirit as in John 16: 8-11:) “When he comes he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness and of judgment. Of sin, because they do not believe on Me.”
The church will stop condemning our own flesh---our brother or sister in Christ, and especially ourselves! We only condemn others because condemnation is in our own eye. (Mt. 7: 1-5). To condemn the just is to condemn anyone who is justified by faith.
Prov. 17:15: “He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just, even they both are an abomination to the Lord.”
Gov. Chris Christie said Monday night on the O’Reilly Factor that Obama is an abomination. If we take that charge to this scripture, then Christie’s word (which he would not back off) stands.
- The President has justified the wicked.
- The President has condemned the just.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. When we learn to take the Word of God and cast down the accuser of our brethren, then shall be released from us this great ministry of the Kingdom…of the Christ from within…of the prophet, the priest, and the king…producing the righteousness, peace and joy of the king.
Then shall come salvation, strength, and the Kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ.
On Sunday evening, we are “overcoming” the stumbling blocks of the soul that keep people from experiencing this great anointing of Christ within. Can you sense the magnitude of this anointing when men do not impute the trespasses of other men unto them? (11 Cor. 5: 17-21) We have been given this word and ministry of reconciliation. There is not one person that Jesus ever condemned. To balance this, he does not tolerate sin, but he came not into the world to condemn the world, but rather to deliver it.
You and I are not sent by the lord to condemn the world, but rather to deliver it by the ministry of the Kingdom! (John 20:21). When we see pain manifest in snarky remarks, cruelty, criticism, rejection, etc. (even when it is manifest toward us), we should run toward the pain, not from it.
“The Holy Spirit is speaking to His people in this day. We are being urged in this hour to draw near unto our God. He wants us to come closer, press in, get to know Him, and know His ways.”
BUT DO WE WANT TO KNOW HIM?
DO WE WANT TO LIVE FOR HIM?
DO WE LOVE HIM ENOUGH TO LEAVE EVERY THING AND FOLLOW HIM?
Now in this nation, we must face the question, ARE YOU WILLING TO DIE FOR HIM?
Many in the church serve him for recognition, prestige and pre-eminence. When a crowd comes together, people want to be in charge of something.
“There is an important part that you and I have in the eternal life that lies before us. We have a responsibility to stand faithful to the Lord Jesus in our day. This is our day to live before Him on this earth.” No longer, should the Word of God be preached to just persuade Christians to follow after the Lord. No! Preachers, we should expect Christians to arise “passionately in love with Jesus” and “willing to lay down our lives for our brethren.” We must be so “in love with Jesus” that we are willing to die for Him.
Yet, none of us should be a self-proclaimed martyr by volunteering. If that time should every come, the Lord will ask us, “Are you willing to die for me?”
Our message must become stronger, bolder, and with conviction. Young adults and teenagers just died for their faith. No more games. No more fence straddling. We must either be hot or get out if we are lukewarm.
“The people that come tomorrow will be influenced by what we do today. Despise not the day of small things for it takes you on to the next day. The people of yesteryear stood through many hardships. Many suffered persecution and had to stand when it was not popular to be a Christian. Many Christians suffered physical abuse, some unto death; in order that we might have the truths we are so thankful for today.
Down through the ages, people have stood for the Lord Jesus Christ that we might come in today and enter into many truths of the Lord without even sweating. But there is not a going-on. Now it is our turn to pioneer our day and forge ahead for the ones that will come after us. We must stand true for the ones coming in tomorrow. We have our place in eternity. We are a part of an eternal chain of Christians, believers in the “I AM” that will span across the ages. We can hold our heads high in that many saints stood true and strong for us, and now we can carry the baton and run our course.
We have a chance to stand faithful, run a good race, do our part, and enhance even what was done yesterday by the quality of love and purity of the gospel we share with those around us. We can further the gospel today by pressing into the truths of God, walking them out, and paving the way for the next runners.” (Joyce Rankin)
Shame on you ministers who are arguing and holding your revelations up in division and contention.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V. – I entered into the labors of Pastor Joyce Rankin of The Revivist Page and Sermon on the Mount by: Kelly Varner. Comments and Conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those who I entered into their labors.