RESURRECTION SUNDAY (2019 SERIES) CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Gal. 2:20)
THE CRUCIFIED LIFE AND SPIRITUAL PERFECTION (Part 1)
A heavily booked commercial flight out of Denver was canceled, and a single agent was re-booking a long line of inconvenienced travelers. Suddenly an angry passenger pushed his way to the front and slapped his ticket down on the counter. "I have to be on this flight and it has to be first class!" he insisted. "I’m sorry, sir," the agent replied. "I’ll be happy to help you, but I have to take care of these folks first." The passenger was unimpressed. "Do you have any idea who I am?" he demanded in a voice loud enough for the passengers behind him to hear. Without hesitating, the gate agent smiled and picked up her public-address microphone. "May I have your attention, please?" she broadcast throughout the terminal. "We have a passenger here at the gate who does not know who he is. If anyone can help him find his identity, please come to the gate." As the man retreated, the people in the terminal burst into applause. Do you know who you are? (Illust. Found on Sermoncentral)
Story: Paul Little, an IVF traveling secretary until his death in the early seventies he was once speaking to a University student who asked him a lot of intellectual questions which Paul Little answered. Paul Little then asked him if he would like to invite Christ into his life. The student replied: No. Frankly, acceptance would mess up the way I am living.
The Christian Faith is not a religion it is a way of life. We don’t just put on a Sunday smile and think that is all there is!
What does it mean by the Crucified Life?
Simply, it is the life Christ ransomed on the cross, redeemed from the judgment of sin and made a worthy and acceptable sacrifice unto God.
This way of life is far above what is natural. It is altogether spiritual and is inspired from on high. (A.W Tozer)
Jesus Christ’s death on the cross was more than just to save people from hell; He died on the cross so that all men could become one with Him.
And if there is anything that comes between that unity with Christ, you must be courageous to deal with it no matter the personal cost.
We must desire to have nothing to do with anything that would cause us to stray from biblical authority.
We should desire “Spiritual Perfection.”
Listen to Paul: Philippians 3:12, 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
This should be the passion of our Christian Heart. To press forward toward perfection, just as Paul himself has done.
To the believer this means the absolute death of our ego and a complete revival of our desire to live for Christ in our life.
There is nothing more concerning than seeing churches compromising biblical values and sinking into the muddy waters of liberalism.
Does it not strike you that gospel believing churches are adopting worldly measures to build up church attendance and promote themselves? John 12:32, And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."
The pulpits of America must be set ablaze once again and proclaim the inerrancy of the Bible. It is the living Word of God.
If the preachers are water log by the influence of the world the congregation will be filled with drift wood unable to be set ablaze.
The Christians in the pews must demand for the truth of God’s living Word. They must not let their pulpits to be watered down by compromising biblical truth. They must be willing to remove water logged preachers, and once again set their pulpits ablaze.
We are in a day of “easy believism.” This is the idea that if you say you believe in Jesus everything will be alright. And you don’t have to change anything, for God loves you just the way you were. (Tozer)
That message is not complete. The Gospel tells us that one must hear the Gospel, believe by faith, repent of your sins, confess Christ as Lord and then be immersed to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Those who are crucified with Christ must sound the trumpet call for the church to return to the roots of the Christian Message-
The message of “CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY” Col.1:27, "To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
This is not an easy message to proclaim, but it is a biblical uncompromising call to the righteousness found in the crucified life.
A.W. Tozer once wrote: “It is easy to go alone with the crowd, but the one who is committed to living the crucified life will always lean hard into the wind of opposition and misunderstanding.”
Living the crucified life will be the most challenging and most rewarding thing you will ever face.
The cost is high. The path is extremely rough. And as you go forward it is often lonely.
Even through all this it will be tremendously fulfilling as you gain an incredible intimacy and deeper fellowship with the living Jesus Christ.
The message of living the crucified life is vitally important to the health and real growth of the Church.
The church is filled with individuals and the health of the church will be determined by the spiritual health of each member working together to shine our Christ-likeness into our confused and hurting families and communities.
As we allow ourselves to be crucified with Christ, the more the people will see the Christ of the cross shine through us and into the darkness.
One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I'll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flames, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: "Jump! I will catch you." But the boy protested, Daddy, I can't see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters." (Illust. Found on Sermoncentral)
