What Made You Give Up The Ghost?
Scripture Reference: Mark 15:35-37 (KJV)
Mark 15: 35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. 36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. 37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
First I would like to talk about what a ghost is.
The word web defines a ghost as: A writer who gives the credit to someone else
In other words it is like an actor who wins an academy award for playing a part that was written and directed by someone else so he owes most of the credit to the outside sources. However it takes the skills and dedication of the actor to be able to effectively play the role that is presented.
Easton’s Bible Dictionary defines ghost as: an old Saxon word equivalent to soul or spirit. It is the translation of the Hebrew nephesh and the greek pneuma, both meaning “breath”, “life”, “spirit”, the “living principle”. The expression to give up the ghost means to die.
Saints who gave up the ghost
Abraham - his time had passed (Genesis 25:8 Then Abraham gave up the
ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was
gathered to his people. )
Ishmael - his time had passed (Genesis 25:17 17 And these are the years of the
life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the
ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people. )
Isaac - his time had passed (Genesis 35:29 29 And Isaac gave up the ghost, and
died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons
Esau and Jacob buried him. )
Jacob - his time had passed (Genesis 49:33 33 And when Jacob had made an
end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded
up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people. )
Job - wanted to (Job 3:11 Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the
ghost when I came out of the belly?)
Job felt that his situation was so terrible that he wondered why didn’t he just give up the ghost at birth instead of facing the terrible anguish and pain that he was facing.
Some us feel like we should have given up our ghosts a long time ago and we would probably have never had to go through with many of the different situations that life presents to us.
The widows - because of their seven fold grief (Jeremiah 15:9 She that
hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is
gone down while it was yet day: she hath been ashamed and
confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before
their enemies, saith the LORD.)
God has caused so much death to come to these people that the women were growing weak and weary from the grieving of their lost husbands at the hands of wrath from an angry God. They felt so bad that they wanted to just give up the ghost (Jeremiah 14, 15).
Some of us have been taking death blows from the enemy so long that it seems like the easy thing to do is just give up the ghost instead of seeing more tragedy at the hands of our enemies but hold on saint.
The priest and elders - because of their lack of meat to relieve their
souls. (Lamentations 1:19 I called for my lovers, but
they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the
ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve
their souls.)
This was during a time that Jerusalem was being punished by God for their sins (Lamentations 1:1-19). Because the priest could not find the most important thing that they needed to give them piece within they gave up the ghost.
Why were they in the city seeking for God who they should have held within? They were in the wrong place looking for the wrong thing.
This is like many of us. Our sin is causing us to search for things of God in places that we should never be.
What are we expecting to find there?
Ananias - after he had lied (Acts 5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell
down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard
these things.) .
This is truly an awkward situation. This man of God had just lied to Peter an apostle and caused immediate death upon his body. Since the bible does not say who he gave his ghost to we are left to wonder where did his ghost go?
These are a few examples of saints who gave up the ghost and the situations that they found themselves in.
(Philipians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.) Paul lived a lifestyle with a made up mind that he was going to live for Christ. This way even if he died then it would be gain. Some of us think that we are prepared to die for Christ but we don’t have the living part down yet. We feel comfortable about the fact that if we were to die right now then according to Paul then that would be gain but the challenge lies within the living.
While we are alive we have to make choices and rest assure saints that if you are not deciding to live for Christ then if you die you are subject to be told to depart (Luke 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.) Many of us have the talk and look down to a science and we have fooled many of our brothers and sisters into thinking that we are something that we really have no intention of being but God knows your heart brothers and sisters. He is watching your every move.
Are you prepared to live for Christ to the point where the only thing that could cease your walk with Christ would be death?
Who did you give your ghost to?
Some of us think that when we die God is somehow going to automatically come and assume responsibility of our souls.
But because he gives us the opportunity to give it away then that means that there is more than one place that your soul can go.
When we give something away we have a choice on who gets it.
When Jesus gave up his ghost he made it perfectly clear as to whom he was giving it to (Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.)
On all accounts of the of his temporary death it was pointed out that he cried something out but Luke made it clear. Jesus gave his soul to his Father and he also declares that if your Father is the devil then you will not love him (John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.)
Because the ghost is invisible and intangible it may seem that we can give it away and no one will notice but I am here today to let you know that if you have given up your ghost then your are dead.
There are many people in the church right now that are “ghostless” They have given up their ghost a long time ago.
Although you may not be physically dead you are spiritually dead which may be worse.
This brings me back to my question.
What made you give up your ghost?
CONCLUSION
Clearly there is something within the church that has convinced many of us that holding on to our ghost is not that important but I came by to let you know that you are being robbed by Satan of everything that you have saints.
You can have millions of dollars and still not have peace if you give up your ghost.
You can have the highest degree of education and sound like an idiot when you speak if you give up your ghost.
Your ghost is the thing that is within that is responsible for you. You can’t see it or feel it but it is there hold on to it because you need it.
Without your spirit you are dead (James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.) Jesus declares that a man dead in spirit is no good but a hindrance to the kingdom (Matthew 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.)
Let’s Pray
Thank You Lord for everything that you are doing in my life right now. I realize Lord God that there are many things that I need to give up that your Spirit may have the freedom to do what it needs to do in my life. I also realize that there is one thing in particular that I need to hold on to forever that you be able to abide in me as you should. Lord God the one thing that I need to hold on to is your Spirit. Thank you for this opportunity to hold onto a dear part of you. I love you and need you forever. Amen
Thank You. May God continue to bless you and keep you. Amen
Your Friend
Minister Juan D. Lane Sr.
