by bro sam- The Issue of Tithing – Part 5: COME AND DIE! John 12:24; I Cor. 15:35-38; 42-44; Rom. 6:1-11 ‘’Verily, verily, I say unto you, EXCEPT a corn of wheat fall into the ground and DIE, it abideth alone: but if it DIE, it bringeth fort much fruit (Jh. :24)’’. As the Lord began to lay very profoundly before us in our last discuss on the subject of devotion and not dedication and that whatever is devoted unto the Lord MUST be put to DEATH, that weighty declaration became a grave matter in our hearts that what the Lord is demanding from us is more than our initial discussion on the issue of just ‘’tithing’’. I perceived so strongly that God is set out to behold us in His tender mercy for a serious engagement with Him that will set us on course to serving HIM acceptably all the days of our lives in genuine biblical service not just only in the area of giving but in every facets of our service to Him as HIS creatures. The way our Lord Jesus introduced that verse of the scripture in John chapter 12 was very emphatic ‘’Verily, verily”’! That connotes that the issue of death is a serious pre-requisite for any form of fruitfulness. To escape dying is to ever remain ‘’alone’’. As we alluded yesterday, it seemed to me that it is only death that can separates a man from his possession and permanently cause him to lose ownership in total surrenderness to a greater power (in this regard, GOD). The story of Naboth was very profound to me on this subject matter (I King 21). It takes death to gain access unto the inheritance of this valiant soldier keeping his duty post and what belongs to him. Except death occurred, we will forever be handicapped in releasing back to God our ALL that belongs to Him! Dead from what? As clearly highlighted in our previous discussions, immediately after the fall of man, man acquired another nature that is very alien to the divine (original) nature of God in man at creation (Gen. 1:26; 2:7). Man became wise in his consent and loses completely the life (nature) of God. Infact, man became FLESH! (Gen. 6:3) and reproduced in his own likeness (Gen. 4:1-2; 5:3). Thus, man became devoid of the divine nature of God. He carried in him a strange nature (life) very contrary to the life of God originally in him. The imagination of the thoughts of his heart became evil continually and wicked (Gen.6:5). It was from this deceitful heart (Jere.17:9) that man began to give to God part of his allegiance and not ALL as opposed to his practise before the fall. He no longer mind the things of God as his sole responsibility but mind his own business and whatever profits accrued from such a labour belongs to him (himself). He only acknowledges God’s input as a subordinate and gives to Him whatever seems right or appropriate in his volition in form of service. What a depravity! Meanwhile, God’s eternal purpose for man remained uncompromising. God in is His infinite mercy will not give up on man but sought every opportunity to restore man back unto Himself and his early state. Every other remedial arrangements in an attempt to bring man back to God proof abortive and God’s perfect plan was to permanently set man free from that strange nature that invaded and took over man from his maker. What a merciful God! The depraved state of man was corrupt, dishonouring, weak and ‘’natural’’ (I Cor. 15: 42- 44). God knew this battle for His Lordship over man will be endless unless sometime deliberate is done to set man free from this strange nature in man. His perfect option was to PUT TO DEATH this carnal, sensual and alien impostor holding man in captivity. While this study cannot fully deal with this grave matter God is revealing to us, it is quite interesting to see God showing us again that HIS demand for our ALL cannot be achieved until our old man is put to death (Rom. 8:2-3, 5-8). To remain under the grip of the FLESH, is never to be able to please God. The demand of giving ALL to God will never be possible in this depraved state!. It is only death that can set us free from this sinful nature that weakens the Law itself. No matter what we know in the law and wish to keep and obey, it cannot deliver us from this stubborn master called ‘’our sinful nature” (Rom. 8:15-18). At best, we will become ‘’religious sect’’ trying to mimic the genuine life of God our maker! While we cannot elucidate fully in this study this weightier matter of dying to our self life, it is very revealing to see God’s provision for our eternal freedom as documented in the book of Raman chapter 6 in our text. “For in that HE died, HE died unto SIN once: but in that HE liveth, HE liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye ALSO yourselves to be DEAD INDEED unto SIN, but alive unto God through JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD’’ (Rom. 6:10-11). HALLELUYAH!!!!!! What a victory over my sinful nature! The death of Jesus Christ my Lord on the Cross of Calvary paid it ALL. My victory has been accomplished in His death on the Cross. When HE died, I also died with Him (II Cor. 5:21 (Living Bible); Rom. 6:3-6; Colo. 3:3-4). Oh what a joy filled my heart as my Saviour took the road to Calvary to died for my SIN and all it passions, lusts and affections (Gala. 5:24; 6:14)!. I am free and made free indeed! (John 8:32, 36; I John 3:8; I Cor. 15:56-57). I am eternally set free from the strength of SIN in me. The perfect work of redemption was completed on the Cross of Jesus Christ (John. 19:30; Colo. 2:13-15). Dearly beloved, the DEATH of Jesus Christ our Saviour paid it ALL. For anyone to still be held captive under the disguise of practising the law was to make of non effect the great eternal provision which God has provided and fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Our perfect redemption price has been paid in Jesus Christ (I Cor. 6:20) that we may be free to serve God acceptably with our lives and whatever HE places in our custody. Experiencing this DEATH in Christ Jesus is what set us free and gives us the liberty to effortlessly release to HIM our ALL! We lose ownership and God takes His proper and appropriate place in our lives and service. 'The Spirit and the Bride say, COME. And let him that heareth say COME. And WHOSOEVER will, let him take the WATER of LIFE FREELY’’ (Rev. 22:17). This is the solemn call of our maker to this ‘’CUP of DEATH’’ that will set us free from our task master (SIN) (Rom.7:8,11; 6:16-17,20) for His holy use in our generation. The church must arise and respond to this clarion call of HIM who gave HIS life a ransom for HIS church (Rom. 5:8)! May the Spirit of the living God bids your heart to respond to Him this day to this DEATH that produces LIFE! Shall we bow our hearts to ponder and pray on this truth HE has shown us once again today in His mercy. Maranatha.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Jul 2013 09:20:58 +0000
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