Easter Words - "Death"

“For this perishable part of us must put on the imperishable nature, and this mortal part of us, this nature that is capable of dying, must put on immortality – freedom from death. And when this perishable puts on the imperishable and this that was capable of dying puts on freedom from death, then Death is swallowed up, it is utterly vanquished forever, in and unto victory. O death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting? But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory, making us conquerors through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 15:53-55,57) (Amp.). Jesus Christ’s death on the cross was the most significant death in all of history. There have been more books written about His death, more sermons preached, more songs sung, and more enactments than all commemorations ever given. His death has affected the life and after-life of all mankind, some for good, and some for eternal sorrow and torment (those who refused to believe in His death as payment for their eternal security). This belief in Christ’s shed blood became the crux and the crossroads of the Christian faith, for the Jew and all peoples. Death comes to all, but no king, dictator, deliverer, or no person of a notable life ever rose from the dead. Their death was final. But because Jesus Christ rose from the dead and now lives, to the Christian there is no “grim reaper,” just angels to usher us into the Father’s and the Son’s presence (Colossians 1:22). There is only the hope of all the joys of heaven to come. There is hope in the fact that the tears, sorrows disappointments and sin of this world will be forever gone. There is hope after death of forever living with Jesus, the Son, the Father, and our loved ones and friends who died before us. To a Christian, death, and all that goes with it, is utterly vanquished forever. It is “swallowed up in victory, so there is no sting.” Jesus’ death became the pivotal point from “the Law” to “grace,” from sacrifice of a lamb for our sins, to the eternal sacrifice of “The Lamb” (John 1:29). Jesus’ death meant we are free from the demands of the Law. Jesus’ death meant we can live in the power, gifts, joys and in His spiritual Kingdom NOW. Jesus’ death meant because of His resurrection and ascension to the Father, He sent His Holy Spirit to live with, and in, us forever, to empower, teach and lead us into all righteousness (right living). Believers can shout, “Hallelujah!” for the death of Jesus, His resurrection and that He now sits at the right hand of the Father God to intercede for us! And Can It Be (Charles Wesley) And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that Thou, my God, should die for me? http://lightfrommywindow.blogspot.com

THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP - "INTRODUCTION"

(Updated, September 12, 2014) There was a song back in the 40’s and 50’s which said, “The best things in life are free.” In the lyrics it mentions, “The moon belongs to everyone, The best things in life they're free, Stars belong to everyone, They cling there for you and for me, Flowers in spring, The robins that sings, The sunbeams that shine, They're yours and they're mine, Love can come to everyone, The best things in life, They're free.” These things are free – they are gifts from God for us to greatly enjoy! But nothing in this world we achieve or gain is worth having without great effort by someone. Anything that just cost money is “cheap.” And anything worth doing is worth doing well. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecc.9:10). These are a few statements that focus on the cost of a worthwhile life. Before we undertake a project, set a goal to achieve, spend time and money on something we wish to obtain, we should consider all that it will take to be successful in the final achievement. In Jesus’ teaching in Luke 14:27-30, He says we are to count the cost before our plans begin. He likens it to building any building, we first sit down and calculate the cost to see whether we have sufficient means to finish it. “Means” may include money, time, energy, goal setting, etc. Achievement will cost us something. There is also a cost to the Discipleship of Jesus. A disciple is one who is willing to follow the teaching, training and correction of another. After taking inventory of all it will cost to be “discipled,” we must ask ourselves the question, “Am I willing to pay the price it will cost to achieve that goal – to be like Jesus? Am I willing to lay the old life aside and be changed by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, by whatever it takes?” So the question we need to ask ourselves as we start this study is, “Am I willing to pay the “price” to be “discipled” that I may grow into the perfect image of Jesus Christ?” If we answer this question in the affirmative and are willing to be disciplined (trained) by the Father, then we have begun a wonderfully progressive “journey” to being on “The Way” to a transformation into the likeness of Christ! Webster says to be “transformed” is “to change in character or condition.” When we are born again, as Jesus said in John 3:3, 6 ,“You must be born again of the Spirit,” we receive a new heart and spirit (Eze.36:26); we sing a new song (Rev.14:3); we have a new name (Isa.62:2); we are given a new commandment (John 13:34); we are a new creation in Christ, the old has passed away and behold the fresh and new has come. (II Cor.5:17); and we are to look for a new heaven and a new earth (II Pet.3:13)! Everything becomes new! Just as being “transformed” happens from inside out, being “conformed” happens from outside in. Webster’s says, to be conformed is “to be obedient or compliant.” It is being stuffed into a mold. Paul admonishes us in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world (this age, fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs), but be transformed (changed) by the entire renewal of your mind by its new ideals and its new attitude, so that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect in His sight for you” (Amp.). Being “conformed” is being stuffed into the world’s “mold” by the opinions and pressures of our peers or society in general. But we, as Christ’s disciples, are to be transformed by “renewing our mind by the washing of the Word” (Eph.5:26), and having the “mind of Christ” (Phil.2:5), from the inside out. “Though our outer man is progressively decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being progressively renewed day by day” (II Cor. 4:16b). We are renewed by confessing our sins (I Jn.1:9); by putting on our new self (robe of righteousness), Eph.4:24). Renewing our mind is a choice. Just as when we dress every morning, it is a choice what we put on. We must be intentional in putting on our spiritual clothes. We will learn more completely how to put on Christ in this study. -1- A beautiful analogy of the transformation that takes place in all who are “born again” is the metamorphosis of a butterfly. The beautiful butterfly that we see flitting and fluttering around is the finished version of its complete metamorphosis. This beautiful creature starts as a small, round or oval egg, which the adult butterfly has laid on leaves of plants. When the egg finally hatches, you would expect a butterfly to emerge from this stage of its’ metamorphosis, but the egg is just the first stage. What emerges from the egg is the second stage – larva (caterpillar). Having the same markings as the adult butterfly, without knowing what it was we might think it was just a big worm and we would probably mash it. Caterpillars do not stay in this stage very long, and in this stage all they do is eat, starting on the leaf where it was “born.” It is very important that the mother butterfly lays her eggs on the type of leaf the caterpillar will eat. Caterpillars need to eat and eat so they can grow quickly. Their exoskeleton (skin) does not stretch or grow, so they grow by “molting” (shedding the outgrown skin) several times while it grows. The third stage of a butterfly’s metamorphosis is the chrysalis (cocoon), or pupa. This is one of the “coolest” stages of a butterfly’s life. As soon as a butterfly is done growing and they have reached their full length/weight, they form themselves into a pupa (cacoon), also known as a chrysalis. From the outside of the pupa, it looks as if the caterpillar may just be resting, but the inside is where all of the action is. Inside of the pupa, the caterpillar is rapidly changing. Now, as most people know, caterpillars are short, stubby and have no wings at all. Within the chrysalis the old body parts of the caterpillar are undergoing a remarkable transformation, called “metamorphosis,” to become the beautiful parts that make up the butterfly that will emerge. Tissue, limbs and organs of a caterpillar have all been changed by the time the pupa is finished, and is now ready for the final stage of a butterfly’s life cycle. Finally, when the caterpillar has done all of its forming and changing inside the pupa, you will see an adult butterfly emerge. When the butterfly first emerges from the chrysalis, both of the wings are going to be soft and folded against its body. This is because the butterfly had to fit all its new parts inside of the pupa. As soon as the butterfly has rested after coming out of the chrysalis, it will pump blood into the wings in order to get them working and flapping – then they get to fly. Usually within a three or four-hour period, the butterfly will master flying. When in the fourth and final stage of their lives, adult butterflies are constantly on the look out to reproduce, then the life cycle will start all over. What a perfect analogy of the Christian’s “born again” experience. We are “born again” to a living hope of one day being like our Father – to have His heart of unconditional love; to have the Father’s eyes that find the good in things and full of compassion; to have His lips that always speak Truth in love; to have His hands that serve and stroke the depressed and down trodden and lift them up; to have His feet that are always walking in paths of righteousness. We also are in our early stage of just feeding on the Word so we can grow and be strong in the Lord, throwing off the old habits and actions and putting on the new man created in God’s image in true righteousness and holiness (Eph.4:24). The transformation process can be a painful and costly thing. It is painful to see ourselves as we are with all our sins and warts, but as a Caterpillar Christian we must hide ourselves in the Father’s arms, which enfolds and holds us while we continue to change – throwing off the old, putting on the new and undergoing the Father’s discipline, but then being transformed into the beautiful creature that will come forth looking just like our Father. While we are being transformed our spiritual chrysalis is sometimes ugly but when our “metamorphosis” is complete we will come forth looking like Him. “When He comes we shall see Him as He is and we shall be like Him” (I Jn.3:2). They say the longer people live together they get to look more like each other. Whether that is true or not, the Truth is that the longer we spend time with Jesus and His Word (and obeying it) we become more like -2- Him – “we put on Christ” (Rom.13:14). “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in us.” This transformation begins with “regeneration” – to be “born again.” Some newly “born again” believers remain weak, ineffective and immature because they have not been “discipled” and trained by the Word of God and how to submit to the discipline of the Lord or they have chosen to walk in their “old self” (the flesh) and not to be transformed by His work in them. Knowing God is the most glorious and most precious privilege mankind can personally experience, and “whosoever will” can have this experience. God created us to “know” Him and have a personal, experiential relationship with Him. Oh, the height and breadth of God’s love and mercy toward us, and His creation, is incomprehensible! He knows us completely - our thoughts, our motives, even every word before we speak them (Ps.139). But why does God want us to “know” Him? This is a deeply profound and difficult question to answer because He is so infinite in all His being and we are so finite in our comprehension. But since God created mankind to have a relationship with Him, He knew He must become “known” to us. He wanted us to know Him as our Heavenly Father, as our Redeemer and Savior, as our Provider, as our Protector, as our Friend and confidant, as our Comforter, as our Advocate and Defender, as our Righteousness, as our Peace that passes all understanding, and as our shelter in the storms of life. God wants us to know Him as our All in All! He knew that our knowing Him would be our greatest fulfillment, and our mutual fellowship would be His greatest enjoyment! There are steps and seasons in this journey of getting to “know” this God of the Universe – YHWY! To begin this journey of discipline, we must first of all come into a relationship with Jesus Christ by believing that He is Who He says He is (the Son of God and Savior of the world), and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit Who lives in us. By this life-changing event, of coming into a personal relationship with the living God, we come to know Him as “Savior” – this is the beginning of a learning process of getting to “Know” the everlasting God – the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)! God the Father has a special “filial” (offspring) relationship with those who have been born into His family through faith in Christ Jesus (the “Anointed Messiah”). In Romans 8:15 Paul encourages us to develop intimacy with our Heaven Father, “For the Spirit which you have now received is not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption (the Spirit producing sonship) in which we cry, Abba (Father!)”(Amp.) Because of this “adoption” we are freed from this “fear” of damnation, but now we are free to walk in the knowledge of God’s love, and that the Son has paid the price to save us from the judgment of damnation for our sins, and the Holy Spirit lives within us to empower and teach us everything that pertains to life and godliness” (II Pet.1:2-8). God is the only god who has a personal, intimate relationship with His children (disciples, followers, devotees). As a result of that relationship with God the Father, there comes a love for Him, just as a naturally born child loves his father, good or bad. A former pastor said, “To know Him is to love Him!” To love Him is to have a desire to serve and obey His every Word (I Jn.5:3; Jn.14:21, 23). As we obey Him we get to know and experience His “faithfulness” in all of His attributes. We get to know that He is our “Refuge and Strength (mighty and impenetrable to temptation), a very present help in trouble (Ps.46:1).” As Paul so beautifully put it, “My determined purpose should be to know Him, become progressively more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly, and come to know the power out-flowing from His resurrection (which it exerts over believers), and to so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed (in spirit into His likeness) even to His death, and (in the hope) that if possible I may attain to the spiritual and moral resurrection that lifts me out from among the dead, even while in the body” (Phil.3:10). Charles Stanley has written, “One of Christianity’s basic principles is that the more we know of the Lord, the more we want to learn of Him. When we receive new knowledge of God, our desire for Him will be kindled like dry twigs touched by a flame. And the more we seek to learn about Him, the more we will want to know.” -3- God in His unfathomable love for us, His children, “has shone in our hearts so as to beam forth the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed in the face of Jesus Christ the Messiah (II Cor. 4:6). In Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians he says, “I always pray to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom, and revelation into the mysteries of the deep and intimate knowledge of Him, by having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints. And so you can know what is the immeasurable greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, authority, power, dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come. And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all, for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself (Ephesians 1:17-23 Amp.). That we, mere humans, could “know” our Creator in such depth, height and width is just incomprehensible! To truly “see” Jesus Christ, our Savior, is to be illuminated with the knowledge of His majesty and glory, and we can do nothing but to fall at His feet in humility and worship. (Read my blog written on February 28, 2008, entitled, “Have You Looked Into His Face.” (http://lightfrommywindow.blogspot.com). By looking into His face by the illumination of the knowledge of Him, as seen in God’s Word, we will be transformed (Rom.12:1), by presenting all our members and faculties as a living sacrifice, holy (consecrated) and well pleasing to God. Dying to self in order to be “transformed” is costly – it costs us everything, all that we are and all we ever hope to be. Remember, “The Spirit within gives us love, power and self discipline” (II Tim.1:7). The knowledge of Him gives us power for life and godliness” (II Pet.1:3). The knowledge of Him gives us power to overcome sin in this life (Rom.8:1-16). The knowledge of Him gives us power to become like Jesus (to become godlike). Is that your desire and purpose? If so, you will learn self discipline (II Tim.1:7), and welcome the Father’s discipline (Heb.12:10-11). He disciplines us with His Word (II Tim. 3:16). Back to the initial question – “Are you willing to pay the cost to be transformed?” Do you want to know God personally, become His disciple, and learn of Him. If you do, accept Him and trust Him as your only Savior and way to eternal life, the rest of your life will become a marvelous and adventurous journey! This is your choice. The cost of being a disciple of Jesus is the continual “putting off the old self” and “putting on the new self” (Eph.4:22-24), this takes a disciplined life. It is like changing your clothes – you take off the old, soiled and ragged clothes of the old self and put on the new beautiful “robe of righteousness” of the new self. Just like the butterfly, you will emerge with your new beautiful clothes - looking like your Father. -4-