Dying to Self - Life from Death

^{John 12:20} Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. ²¹ They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” ²² Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

²³ Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

v23 - What do you think of when you hear that someone is about to receive "glory"? Praise in any fashion... applause... everyone knows about it.

v24 - Jesus indicates that the way he will find his glory is by becoming that seed that falls to the ground and dies. What does he say will be the impact of the seed that dies? If the seed dies, it will produce many more seeds. Jesus died for us (as did the kernel of wheat) he became that seed and produced many more seeds.

v26- why is this exciting? God is going to honor us that follows Jesus! How could that not be exciting?

Just the thought itself of God wanting to honor me is unfathomable. Just because I decided to follow Jesus, God want's to make sure I'm taken care of in many ways.

Honestly, this week has been a good week for me. I'm doing what I can to focus on God and the kingdom instead of the issues going on in my life. There are many things that I can get wrapped up in worry over, however, I'm choosing to allow God to take control of these things. I still need to be praying more, even though I have now gotten my quiet times moving in the right direction. I currently have a head cold which has made me even spacier than usual, so I will still have to work on my prayer time. Right now, when I close my eyes, I feel like falling asleep.

I would really like to wake up feeling refreshed and energetic. One day this will happen! I know I need to loose weight, big time, between that and exercising better I'm sure that I'll sleep a little better. I'm also sure that when God puts a job infront of Will, the financial worries will disappear from my list. So, if you pray, pray for that... for Will to find a job. I haven't decided what I'm going to fast from yet for this, but I will find something to fast from until he's working again. Suggestions are welcome.

Dying to Self - New Attitude

What do I think when I read these passages:

Phil 2:¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky

This one is well used with us parents, we just need to use it ourselves. Stop complaining so you can be blameless in God's sight and SHINE like the stars.

Phil 3: ⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in^[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Everything is garbage if it's not Jesus!

Phil 4:⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

This says it all alone... rejoice in the Lord! Be happy and glad no matter what comes your way.

PHil 4:¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

This is one of the most difficult things to do... be content no matter what. I have to respond to this! I need to be content with the way God has put my life together. He has given me so much wonderful things in my life... there's no reason to feel low about anything.


Phil 4:⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

In Jesus Christ we have all we need to maintain a great attitude. True or false? reason?
This is so true. When we are saved, that's the best thing ever! This is the reason for Jesus. So, with Him we can be happy no matter what. Besides, if you're saved and going to heaven the little things of the earth are just that... of the earth... not of heaven. It is really hard to remember this, especially for those of us who suffer with depression naturally, but we can do it. No matter what our hurdles are, as long as Jesus is in our lives we can survive it with a good attitude. He will sit by us every day. He will shove us in the right direction when we need it. It's up to us whether we are going to follow that thin path He's made for us. It's the hardest path to follow, but we can do it.

John 16:³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Peace, what a concept! See! Even Jesus says we'll have trouble in our lives. It's not that being saved makes your life trouble free, not one bit, it's just that with Him you can have peace. You can overcome the world as He did. You no longer need to live like those around you... greedy, envious, angry, bitter, etc.

Romans 8: ²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Wow! God works for those who love him.

James 1:² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

This is so hard to do while you're in the middle of trials... be happy about it. You'll have trials, problems in your life, this will not change. Following God does not mean they will go away, only that God is always with you and will help you find the right answers. It will help you grow and mature in your life as you face these trials and problems.

Now to remember each day to put these into practice! I need to remember these scriptures. God wants me to continue growing stronger and lean on Him when I need some help. I will do this. Praying will help as well. Specific prayers, not just for others, but for the needs of myself and my family. Everyone needs to do this as well.

Dying to Self - Taking Correction

Proverbs 2: ¹ My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
² turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
³ indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
⁵ then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
⁷ He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
⁸ for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.

Proverbs 12: ¹⁵ The way of fools seems right to them,
but the wise listen to advice.

Proverbs 10: ¹⁷ Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

We all need correction. What is the message in these scriptures? God will give us the answers to our questions, even if we don't like the answer. Sometimes we just need to look into His word to learn our lessons in life. He will always be there, but we need to learn from others as well. This is the reason there are other Christians in our lives... to help us learn.

My attitude about being corrected: I honestly don't mind it most of the time. Sometimes I will have an attitude toward whomever is correcting me. There are specific people that can cause a negative reaction from me when they correct me or my actions. I know that if someone is going out and correcting me about something than I need to make a change.

Proverbs 15: ⁹ The LORD detests the way of the wicked,

but he loves those who pursue righteousness.

¹⁰ Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
the one who hates correction will die.

Proverbs 12:¹ Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but whoever hates correction is stupid.

2 Timothy 3:¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God^[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

If someone is going to help me learn and teach me thru God's word... awesome. This can equip me with the power to overcome the issue. When it is brought to me in a worldly manner, good cannot always come from it. No matter what if I remember to keep God's word on my heart, I can learn and become a better Christian.

Personal note:

I have seen recently one person that has shown an amazing repentance of heart. This person asked for help, God's word was put into place and amazing things can now happen in this person's life. I can't wait to witness it.

I need to make many changes in myself. If anyone who reads these blogs knows of scriptures that can help me, that would be wonderful. I need to change my eating habits and make sure that I treat my body as God wants me to; as his temple. I know what I need to do, the actual doing is the hard part. Chocolate and pop are the downfall for me. I need to make a major effort to change something and become a healthier me, for God, not just for weight loss and control. I need to treat my life as He sees it, special and a gift.

Dying to Self - Life in the Spirit

Before starting today's study, ask yourself a very important question: "Am I making every effort to be in close contact with other Christians?" This is crucial, and in future studies we will focus on the importance of relationships. Most of us have some tendency from tie to time for various reasons to pull back from others. Spiritually, this can be FATAL! Even when you don't "feel like it," stay in touch.

Romans 7: ¹⁴ We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

We are powerless to live this life without God's help. It is clear why we must "disown" the sinful nature. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

Romans 8: ¹ Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you^[a] free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,^[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.^[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

¹² Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Well, looking at this is amazing. What am I doing to stay in contact with other disciples of Christ? This is one way. Unfortunately, I am in a prediciment that causes being together difficult for me. I think that the internet was a great invention and God has blessed it so much. I can keep in contact with other Christians this way. When I was first a baby Christian I didn't have the internet. I could only stay in contact by phone and once in a while being with others. I truly believe that this can be used for God. I have learned that I need to make sure I stay in contact with others, I cannot depend on others to keep in touch with me. God wants me to stay in contact with Him, I should expect the same of myself... stay in contact with other people as well.

I know how important it is to be around the body of Christ. To me it's a difference of spending a full 7 days at camp then coming home. Life in my home is not the Christian lifestyle, in my beliefs. When I am away from the body my faith can become shaky. Other Christians can help keep up that zeal for God.

Dying to Self - From Old to New

Romans 6:¹ What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? ² By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? ³ Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Read and study this carefully. Each time you come to the word "we" or "us" substitute your own name.

¹ What shall we say, then? Shall I go on sinning so that grace may increase? ² By no means! I have died to sin; how can I live in it any longer? ³ Or don’t you know that you who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ I was therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, I too may live a new life.

What a way to look at this passage! I caused it... I need to get out of it!

Getting rid of your old self and putting on the new. What do I need to do to stay in my new self? I need to stay focused on Jesus! That's a start. Think before I react or speak. Love everyone. Stop judging others. No more getting angry, whether it's with myself or someone else. I need to be just and calm, no matter what happens.

What's the plan of attack? This is the first step. Staying with the word every day. This will help me stayed focused on all that God has done for me.

Romans 6:¹⁵ What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! ¹⁶ Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. ¹⁸ You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

¹⁹ I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. ²⁰ When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. ²¹ What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! ²² But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I need to stay as far away from sin as possible. There is much I need to learn about this still.

Dying to Self - Co-Crucified with Christ

Gal 2:²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

The word in Greek in this verse actually means "I have been co-crucified with Christ." How do we use the prefix "co"? What is a "co-worker" or "co- leader"? And so what is the message for Christians?

This to me means that even though it is Christ who was crucified physically, I was there as well. My sins were crucified. Now I'm in the body of Christ, so I can live by my faith in Him.

Mat 7?¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

How do I make this part of me? Do I treat others the way God wants me to? I'm trying to. I do need to work on this however. I know that sometimes I'm not as nice as I should be, or as considerate as I can be. I will have to do some praying on this issue. Praying that God will give me the opportunities to make the changes He sees that I need. With Him I can make the changes I want to in me, I just need to make sure it's with Him and not against Him.

Dying to Self - The Power of Dying

What a difficult concept. These studies are to show us clearly that the real problem in life is. The problem is the "old self" that lives for itself. Jesus Christ calls for the old self to be crucified, and he promises to raise up a new and very different "self." It is in dying that we find life.

The studies I will be blogging about Dying to Self is from "The Disciple's Handbook" published by DPI. These are important studies for myself and many others. I really need to make some changes in my life... on of which is "dying to self". Quotes from the book I'm using will be in blue, verses from the bible in red and my own thoughts in green. I pray that this will help me build a stronger relationship with God.

Luke 9:¹⁸ Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

¹⁹ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”

²⁰ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

Jesus Predicts His Death

²¹ Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. ²² And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

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? ²⁶ Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Well, who do you think Jesus really is? Is he the son of God or just a prophet? Is he just a man from the past that did really cool things? Me, I totally believe that Jesus is the son of God. He is my savior.

vs23 - denying yourself. What is it when you deny yourself? Absolutely nothing in the negative. Jesus is telling us that we need to deny the sinful nature we have. Don't allow ourselves to do the things that the world wants us to do.

vs24 - loosing your life but saving it? This can be so confusing. We look at loosing life as in physically dying. It's not in this point. We need to leave the sinful life we are leading behind us. If we can do this... we gain our salvation.

vs25 - gaining the whole world... what is in the world that you can take with you when you die? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. So, why do we want to have better things than everyone else? We need to give up the worldly life and live for God... not ourselves.

Luke 18: ²⁸ Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” ²⁹ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God ³⁰ will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

How do you expect this to work out in your life? Such a difficult concept. Leaving your family (whether is wife, husband, brother, sister, mom or day) is actually leaving the way they are living if they are living a life other than for God. It's all about getting to heaven. That's the goal of a Christian. Live your life as God tells us to in the Bible. Do not do as your family in the world does.

This aspect is very important to me. Studying out this again is necessary. I do not know how many times I've ready or studied out dying to oneself. It's an ongoing process. Sin will always creep up on you. It's how you handle it that's important. I've been learning more about myself and what God is wanting me to do in my life. I know I'm living as far away from His kingdom for some reason, He's not going to share that reason with me right now, but I know one day He will.

Giving up the worldly aspects and wants is what God wants us to give up. Live for HIM not for oneself.