Suffering. Good Or Bad?

Most of us don't like to suffer. We abhor suffering in us and in others. We want to escape from suffering. Why should we suffer? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do babies suffer? Unfortunate accidents happen. Why do some people suffer more than others? Why did Jesus have to suffer and die? Suffering is part of our life journey. No one is devoid of suffering, some more than others. We cannot avoid suffering. We were born in sin and suffering is part of the sin problem. There was no suffering in the garden of Eden. There is no suffering in heaven. All of creation suffers. The sooner we accept this as part of our journey the easier it becomes to cope with suffering. A theology that does not include suffering is weak and does not do justice to the human dilemma. 

Suffering is the where we grow to face the challenges that come our way. The more mature will cope with it and see it as the way forward rather than backward. Illness, loss and pain come to help us to grow and mature. No one grows without pain. Anything of value comes through hard work and pain. What is of eternal value is built on a strong foundation. Therefore see suffering for what it is rather than deny it or blame it for your condition. There are many who have grown from rags to riches. These never gave up but fought through to break through. 

 Jesus suffered much. He faced the Cross. He said not my will but yours be done. At the Cross He said it is finished. He had run the course and completed His mission. Now we can face suffering with Him as He is with us all the way to give us victory. This suffering will pass and we will be the better for it.

Objectify Your Treasure, Talents, Tongue and Time

The challenge that we face in our journey on earth as spirit filled Christians is to overcome our fleshly desires and distractions. The flesh will always fight your spirit. Your spirit is redeemed but your flesh life needs to be sanctified. Paul exhorts us to renew our mind and be transformed Rom 12:1. This renewal occurs as we are filled in the Spirit and walk according to the Spirit. In this process we have to daily crucify the flesh and reckon it as dead. One way to do so is to distance yourself from its desires for power, fame and lusts. This is not easy to overcome in the flesh. How can flesh overcome flesh? This is why some have resorted to isolate themselves from the world and escape to monasteries. You cannot run away from the flesh. The world and the devil can only overcome you when you give into your desires. One way to deal with the fleshly desires is to make those desires into objects. Once the desire is seen as a object it stands apart from you. Attachment to desires of the flesh keep you bound to it. 

God gave us His Holy Spirit to help us in our weakness. He said my grace is sufficient to overcome your weakness. We must tap into this promise and avail of His strength in our weakness. When we surrender our weakness to Him, He strengthens us to overcome. This is a daily battle which must be fought in our mind. First make that evil desire an object than surrender it to Him. Jesus took all our infirmities upon Himself so we can be healed. As we walk in the light as He is in the light, His blood cleanses us from all sin. Come and be set free in your soul and live in the fullness of the Spirit.

The Meaning Of Life

We were born to live a life of meaning and purpose. However most of us are programmed from early childhood to conform to certain laws and regulations that keep us bound to worldly values and goals. This robs us of really knowing the purpose of living. We go through the motions of doing right but our goals are all earthly for fame and fortune. This drives us to achieve in the material world and reach our goals. Some of us have a better start in life than others and so get ahead in the game faster. Others achieve through blood, sweat and tears. One day we realise that these goals do not satisfy our yearning for meaning and fulfilment. Money and fame don't satisfy our deepest longings for meaning and purpose. We realise we have been trapped in a system to meet our carnal needs and desires. Some are driven to suicide at this point. Others accept that this is all one can do.  Some do change and follow their heart and find the true value of life is a life surrendered to. God.

Jesus came to show us the way to eternal life. We were made for eternity not just for this life. He said I am the way the truth and the life. Either He was deluded or what He said He is. I have found meaning and purpose in following Him. He said those who follow Him will live an abundant life John 10:10. I experience His abundance in down times and up times. He never changes although our circumstances may change. Many can testify with me that He is the way to living an abundant life. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Come and follow Him and live a fulfilled life for eternity.

The Cross And The Resurrection

God planned from the beginning free choice for man to live life on earth as it is in heaven. However Adam chose to eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil and lost his son ship. He became a slave to his affections and was cut off from fellowship with the Father. A curtain was drawn and he was forbidden to eat from the fruit of the tree of life. Thus we too have become bound to the flesh and its desires and find ourselves in a struggle for liberation from the flesh. God provided us with a choice by sending His son Jesus to die for us. He was the sacrificial lamb that was crucified for our sins. This once and for all sacrifice replaced the sacrifice of lambs in the Old Testament. His blood now is available to us much through His resurrection.

Resurrection makes it possible for the blood to continuously cleanse us from all sin and the power of sin. Now we can live a life free from the desires of the flesh. However we have to make a daily choice to avail of the power of the blood. We have to walk in the Spirit and not according to the flesh. The Cross was necessary for the resurrection. No Cross, no resurrection. We too must carry the cross daily to avail of the resurrection power. This power is available now for all who will call on His Name. Here lies the key to abundant living. We have access to a supernatural power that only the saints before the Cross could hope for. God led Israel to Canaan, the promised land. We now are in the land of milk and honey for eternity. Praise God for His salvation that sets us free from sin and death.

Kingdom Mindset

We all have different mindsets. Our mindset determines our outlook. A worldly mindset results in worldly goals. All our goals in life are to attain wealth and fame. A heavenly mindset is set in kingdom values and purpose. Who is king? If Jesus is King than He will be the one you serve. It is His Kingdom that is being established on earth as it is in heaven. We don't see it all at present because He has not returned yet. However we are to prepare for His soon coming return. We prepare just like John the Baptist prepared for the first coming of Christ. Repentance is key to this preparation. Repentance calls for a change in mindset from a worldly mindset to a heavenly mindset. What does this look like?

A heavenly or kingdom mindset is fixed on Jesus and His will. Just as Jesus sought to do His Fathers will on earth so also we must seek His will. Jesus spent much time in prayer to hear what His Father was up to. We too must spend time in prayer and do what we have been instructed to do. The disciples waited and did as the Holy Spirit led them. We have the same Holy Spirit within us to lead us. Fellowship with the Holy Spirit enables us to know His mind. We than can do as He leads us. Much fruit will be seen for we are led by Him and not the agenda of man. Till the church comes to the place of being led by the Holy Spirit nothing will change. Intimacy with the Holy Spirit is the key to a heavenly mindset. God help us to live in this kingdom mindset so that we hasten the coming of the Lord.

The Kingdom Of God And The Church

The church is a body of people under God that functions as the body of Christ of which He is the head. This was the original intent. However when we look at the church today we see a divided body  of believers who are not functioning as His body on earth. How did we get to this state? As it was in the early church divisions arose due to differences of opinion. The church had to contend with these divisions and most coped by separation into denominations based on interpretations and egocentric persuasions. We today are faced with the same dilemma and Satan is having a field day with the church. Divisions continue to abound and CHRIST is so divided that He is missing in most churches. There is a replacement church that looks nothing like what it is supposed to be. Many are confused by this and wonder if the church has any place in the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God is alive and well. This Kingdom is non denominational and consists of believers who recognise Jesus as King and follow Him. The King resides in our heart and this is where His Kingdom is. Each believer is a temple of the living God. It is not a kingdom built with hands. It is a supernatural kingdom ordained by God and cared for by Him. This kingdom is eternal and nothing can overcome it. There is no disease or disorder in His Kingdom. As long as we are in the flesh we will only see partly but one day we will be whole when we see Him as He is. This is a shift in vision. We need to get out of our churches and begin to think like Kingdom people. Let us pray His Kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

Social Isolation And The Toll On Mental Health Of The Nation.

We are in imposed self isolation now to cope with the COVID 19 assault. This strategy appears to have had an effect in controlling the spread of the virus. However there is a secondary harmful effect on the mental health of the nation. Isolation is never good for mental health. Many withdraw in times of illness but sometimes isolation is also the cause of mental disorder. We as humans are social beings and need to be part of a community to feel loved and cared for. Isolation breaks this vital connection down and secondary effects kick in. We are unable to touch each other and touch is a powerful form of communication and bonding behaviour. A baby needs cuddles and this enhances bonding and attachment. Once this is broken trust becomes a major issue in development. Adults also need to be connected through touch. Isolation leads to a different life style which breeds disconnectedness. We need community and virtual communication and contact is insufficient to meet this human need for connection. If isolation becomes a pattern for long periods of time than this is difficult to repair. One adjusts to the new normal and remain isolated.

Churches, pubs and other social groups provide a setting for social engagement. Families sometimes are too fractious and may be explosive if no outlets are provided. This is a receipt for disaster. Governments have the responsibility to balance the strategy imposed to ensure that extreme actions do not lead to long term harm. Churches can provide for emotional and spiritual support during these times of stress. People turn to God for help during crises. It is important that churches and other places of worship are kept open during these times to provide comfort and support. Human contact is important just as air is vital for life. Prayer is a vital strategy to employ to defeat the curse of disease and evil. God always responds to repentant hearts and cries for help.

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How Big Is Your God?

Your image of God determines what you can achieve. Jesus had a big vision of His Father and was totally surrendered to do His will on earth as it was in heaven. He was in close communion with His Father and nothing could distract him from this. His Father and He are one. We need to have this same vision of our Father in heaven. We are one in Jesus. We abide in Him and He abides in us. How big is our image of God our Father? When we come to the place where we see God is beyond measure, we come to a place of awe and wonder. God lives in us. How incomprehensible and awesome is that! He lives and moves in us. He abides in us. We abide in Him. Only a revelation of the Father can take us from the place of poverty to abundance.

How do we move from a poverty mentality to an abundance mentality. This shift occurs when we take our eyes off ourselves and what we see with our physical eyes to what we see with our spiritual eyes. The spirit within us can see and feel. All the senses of the spirit are awakened when we see in the spirit. The difference is that those sense experiences are enhanced and heavenly. Jesus lived on earth and saw His Father doing and did accordingly. We too must see what the Father is doing and follow Him. This is to do His will. We cannot do His will if we don't know what His will is. Come today to the place where you see Him with your spiritual eyes. This is possible when we walk in the light as He is in the light.

Break Free

Many of our battles are in the area of our soul, thoughts, feelings and will. Relationships are the main battle ground where our thoughts and feelings conflict with each other and the other person’s thoughts and feelings. This can sometimes lead to a break down in the relationship unless the relationship is strong enough to withstand these challenges. These battles of the flesh are common to all. Some are able to manage this better than others. Lots of regressive behaviours are stirred up and sometimes violent thoughts and feelings lead to violence towards the other. How to be in a relationship and not allow these thoughts and feelings to dominate you is a challenge. Jesus came to show us the way out of this dilemma.

He came to show us the way out of this dilemma by sending the Holy Spirit to help us. His Spirit is able to give us His thoughts and feelings in a situation. His thoughts and feelings are positive and bring healing and light. We don’t get consumed by our thoughts and feelings. We take the position of being dead in Him and alive in Him. We were crucified with Christ to those fleshly thoughts and feelings. Our will becomes His will. His will is to submit all to His Father in heaven. His peace and joy and love will keep you strong and steady in the midst of the storms. This is why you need to be filled in His Spirit and overflow in Him. Praying in tongues will help to stir up the spirit within you. The battle is His now and you can sit back and watch Him deal with people and situations. What a Saviour we have in Jesus who took our place to save us from our destructive selves. Be free today in Jesus Name and live an abundant life.

Spirit And Soul

The spirit of man is separate from his soul. The soul of man is being redeemed while the spirit is already redeemed. The spirit of man houses the Holy Spirit this is why we are called the temple of God. Now it is the spirit that needs to be enlarged as the soul is redeemed. The soul life is what keeps us from leading a full life in the spirit. The soul is being sanctified. The spirit of man connects with each other. The soul of man also connects with each other. Demons get attached to the soul and block the reception of the spirit. Demons have to be expelled from the soul so that the spirit can operate freely. As the soul is renewed through the transformation of the mind so the spirit becomes free to minister. Praying in tongues charges your spirit. It is the Holy Spirit within you that is charging your spirit as you pray in tongues. When your spirit is charged than you receive revelations that transform your mind. This transformation results in transforming your emotions and will. This is why you need to be always filled in the spirit so that you don’t walk according to the flesh. Transformation of the soul leads to freedom in the spirit. When you speak you release His Spirit that speaks to other spirits and eyes get opened. Only the Spirit can open blind eyes. Soul ministry only ministers to the soul and not the spirit. This is why the Word of God needs to be preached as it is spirit and life.Minister in the spirit and receive the fruits of the Spirit. Much will be revealed to you in the days to come as the Spirit opens up new realms of the Spirit to you. God’s Spirit reveals more as we walk in the Spirit and not after the flesh.

Our Spirit Is Omniscient

Our spirit is part of our triune being of spirit, soul and body. Our spirit is born again when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. His Spirit than comes to dwell in our spirit and we become one. His Spirit is the resurrected Spirit of Jesus Christ. We are now seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. We have therefore ascended with Him. This means that we rule with Christ from heavenly places. Our body is still on earth but our spirit is with Christ who sits on the right hand of the Father. This is mind blowing to us carnal beings but this is what Jesus accomplished for us through his death, resurrection and ascension. Now we can operate in His resurrection power here on earth through His Spirit who dwells in us. If this is so why are we not seeing more of the miraculous in our midst as when Jesus walked on earth? The only impediment is our self. Self must identify with His death before resurrection life can be manifested in our life. This means that most of us are still bound in our flesh life and so we only experience some of His life. The more we surrender to Him the less of self will interfere with His presence.

In the spirit we can prevail over situations, disease, disorder and calamity. Jesus was always above His circumstances. When the storm came, He slept. He was in complete control over the storms in life. He could be in more than one place at any time. We too can be in different places in our spirit. We can be present when we pray for others in remotest parts of the world. How powerful will our intercessory prayers be when we can be present in situations far from us. In the spirit we can rule and reign because we exercise His authority on earth from heaven. There is evidence of translocation when saints are transported from one place to another in body and spirit. What a limitless scope we have in Him if only we would surrender and operate in His Spirit.

Defensive State Or Christ State

A crisis always puts us on guard. It could be a personal crisis or a societal crisis. We all go into defensive mode. Our defensive system is internal or psychological. This is the way we cope with insults from without or within. Our defensive capability is tested as we overcome challenges through the stages and ages of development. Some defences are primitive like avoidance and denial.Others are more mature like sublimation and rationalisation. This is the way we cope in crisis and the outcome is determined by our defensive posture. This drama is acted out in our soul and we manage our emotions and thoughts and behaviour in this area. This is our self survival kit. When our defensive system is overwhelmed than we have a mental break down. We than enter another state where we become vulnerable to external and internal stimuli. We withdraw into our shell and become closed off. These varied responses differ from individual to individual. Psychological therapies aid in strengthening our defensive system. We become more resilient to face future threats. Jesus came to show us another way.

He said cast your burdens on me and let me carry it for you. This is a challenge for us as we want to be in control of ourselves. Jesus said take up your cross, that is, die to your self and follow me. We have to make the choice daily to carry our cross or not. Jesus is our defence. He has promised to care for us when we commit all to Him. Letting go and letting God is easier said than done. God is calling us to let Him be our defence. He says leave judgement to me. A life of surrender believes that God is able to defend us and keep us at peace. When the whole world is in chaos we can find a resting place in Him. In these days God is calling us to allow Him to be our defence against all our enemies. Surrender to Him today and experience His peace that passes all understanding.

It Is Who You See Within You That Matters- Victor Or Victim?

Our senses determine how we see ourselves and the world around us. This is a learning process developed over the years as we grow up to full manhood. In this process we learn a lot about ourselves and the world around us. Our parents are key influencers during our early life. Disruption in this period of development does have an impact on how we see ourselves and the world around us. Many of us tend to spend a lot of our waking hours accumulating material things to fill our lives. Silence is anathema. In silence we are confronted by our emptiness and this can be scary. Often times a crisis or life event will wake us up to the reality of life. Death stares us in our face and confronts us on the fragility of life. Yet we try and forget about this and continue to pursue our man made goals to achieve peace and contentment. We operate in an illusion that things will be alright. Death keeps knocking at our door till one day we wake up to the reality of it as a permanent event.

How do we overcome this state of affairs. We are constantly running away from death that pursues us till we finally die. We are a victim to death. Jesus came to bring us good news that He has conquered death.He did this by rising from the dead after 3 days of being in the tomb. He said He has finally conquered the final enemy of our soul. He now offers this same resurrection life to us. We can continue to operate as a victim or a victor. He brought us the solution and now offers this hope to us who believe in Him. Romans 10:9 says that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that He is risen from the dead, we shall be saved. Be a victor and overcome.

Unbelief Is The Disease Infecting The Church Today

Smith Wigglesworth used a familiar line in his preaching, “Only Believe”. He literally accepted the Bible as the inspired written word of God. God said it and so it is it. He never wavered in his belief and saw heaven manifest on earth in healing and miracles and deliverance. Where does the church stand today? Very few believe in signs and wonders and some displace this to the first century only. However God’s Word is ever present now. It never changes. It is the same yesterday, today and forever. How unbelief has crept into the church over the centuries and now is affecting her presence in the world as a relic of the past. Many have turned away from God. This is the state of the church largely because of unbelief. Yet God has His remnant who continue to believe in signs and wonders. This is the church that will see the next move of God on earth. Are you going to believe His Word?
Believe His Word and be set free from unbelief. Faith comes by hearing His rhema word. His rhema word comes alive when you believe. The enemy of our soul will try and water down His word and compromise the truth. Truth is in a person and His Name is Jesus. When you put your trust in Jesus the scales will fall off your eyes and you will see and believe. Receive His now word to you today when He says now is the day of your salvation. Receive and believe and do not doubt. Signs and wonders will follow when you believe. Sickness will leave and fear will be replaced by faith. Will you believe His word or dispense with it as folk lore? You can choose today to believe and be set free from unbelief.

Stuck In The Letter Of The Word Than LIFE In The Spirit

Many of us are still operating in the letter of the law rather than the Spirit of the law. To operate in the letter of the law is like the Pharisees who were adept at each letter of the law but missed the spirit of the law. To be stuck in the letter of the law is to operate in words rather than in spirit of the law. The letter is just a guide to the deeper things of the Spirit. Many get confused by the letter because the letter is not the end but the way to something more. A child learns the letters and how the letters form a word. When he grows up he understands that the letter has meaning and purpose. It is the same with studying the word and knowing the meaning or spirit in the word. Jesus came to reveal the Father and He used words to illustrate the heart of the Father. However if we do not move on from the word to understand the Spirit behind it, we become like the Pharisee. This is to be stuck in the letter of the word. Many find themselves in this position and argue about the word and what it means rather than to be moved by the spirit of the word. Jesus is the Word and His word cannot be separated from Him. He came as the manifest word and when we receive His Word by faith we become like Him. This is to be filled with His Spirit.
We must read His Word and than meditate on His Word and allow His Spirit to enlighten us. Just like food must be digested before the vital ingredients can be absorbed and become part of the body. The Word must become life by His Spirit taking it up into our spirit and becoming life in us. Otherwise we will read or hear the word and it just remains a letter but no life. When Jesus spoke, His Word was received and faith arose and wonders and signs followed. So also when we speak His Word by faith it goes out and performs it, for which it was sent.

Knowing Him and Knowing About Him

To know Him is to love Him. Knowing about some one is different from Knowing the person. We know a lot about things and can talk about a lot of things. However knowing about someone is different from knowing the person. I may know a lot about the Queen but have never met her or lived with her. One is a knowing through second hand knowledge, the other is a intimate relationship. I can know God through the scriptures but never know Him. The born again experience is a shift from knowing about God to knowing Him as a person. The person of the Holy Spirit now comes to reside within me while previously He was outside me wanting to come in. I could have a palace but never lived in it or a palace where I live in. I could be a man with many properties but never lived in one. The same principle applies to knowing God and knowing Him. This is a big difference. Many people know about God but have never met Him. Jesus came to reveal the Father so that we may get to know Him.
True knowing is a personal and intimate relationship. I have a intimate relationship with Jesus and His Holy Spirit resides in me. Now I live in intimate relationship with Him. He speaks to me and through me. I therefore have the confidence to share His love and life with others. I no longer share about God but share Him with others. This is why Paul in Phillipians 3:10 states that his goal in life was to know Him, His resurrection power and fellowship of His sufferings. You too can know Him in this way and live a life of abundance. Jesus came to give us abundant life through His resurrection power. Let Him live through you His life and be transformed into His image.

Deception

Satan is called the deceiver and father of lies. He can appear as the angel of light and trap you into a form of godliness. We were born as spirit beings and therefore there is a longing in each of us to connect with God. However we are not aware that this spiritual search can take us into dark areas. Satan is also called the god of this world. Deception, lies and false truth is his strategy to fool the masses. We can easily fall into his trap when we seek for spiritual answers. This is why there are so many ways to god. This is a lie of the devil. He will try and question everything that is the truth. In the garden of Eden he tried to question whether God actually say that the fruit was forbidden. He sows doubt in our mind and compromises the truth. There is no such thing as absolute truth and therefore truth can be manipulated. However the God of the Bible proclaims absolute truth. His truth is not compromised. We need to know the God of absolute truth otherwise we will also be deceived like Adam and Eve. God has given us His written Word which we believe is the absolute truth. We can challenge every lie of the devil if we know His truth.
Jesus came to reveal the truth by stating that He is the Truth. When we receive Him who is the Truth than we live in the Truth. Every other way is a deception and a lie. The world will not accept this and will reject it by calling it divisive and heretical. We need to choose. Jesus never compromised on the truth. He came as the Truth to reveal the Truth so that those who believe in Him can have eternal life. This was the life before sin entered the human race. Now you too can have eternal life as you reject the lies and receive the Truth, JESUS.

Fear Free, Faith Filled Living

Victorious living is available to all who are prepared to live a surrendered life with Jesus. Jesus called us to follow Him. He did not leave us alone but sent His Holy Spirit to follow Him. This is a divine exchange that occurred on the Cross when He sacrificed His life so that we could obtain His life in exchange. He proved this by rising to life after 3 days in the grave. Now He has ascended to heaven and wants us to be like Him on earth. His life on earth was fulfilled through his death and resurrection. Now He is able to defeat all His enemies for He defeated death itself. When we receive Him we receive all He has when he walked on earth. He resides in us through His Spirit. What a divine exchange this is. He has baptised us in His Spirit and we can now operate in the nine gifts and fruits of His Spirit. Our flesh was crucified with Him on the Cross. We receive His death and resurrection through faith. All the gifts and fruits of the Spirit are received through faith. He promised to be with us always. Now we need to step out in faith and be transformed into His image. With some it will take years but for others it could happen in a twinkling of an eye. It all depends on our preparedness to surrender daily to Him. Not I but Christ.
1John 2:27 says that He will reveal all things to us because He lives in us. We don’t need to run to this teacher and another for He will be our teacher. Learn to listen to Him. Come into your real identity in Him. You will never be the same again for now you are led by His Spirit. Enjoy fear free living.

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Why Do We Not See More Healing In The West

We hear of signs and wonders in the East but not many stories in the West comparatively. Why is this so? Many have gone on missions to the East and come back with stories of miraculous healing. In the West on the other hand we hear of sporadic healing but very few miracles. God is not limited by time yet miracles appear more in the East. Is this something to do with our mental set? In the East people are more in tune with the spirit world and appear more prepared to expect the miraculous. This is deeply ingrained in their psyche. In the West we tend to rationalise everything and through this process debunk any possibility beyond what we see and hear and touch. Do we need a mental shift to entertain the miraculous? If this is true than we need to set aside our rational mind and simply believe. Smith Wigglesworth used to emphasise the importance of simply believing. He saw many miracles in his day. Believe is trust. Can we trust God to come through for us and not doubt? Maybe this is what is preventing us seeing more miracles in the West. Our mind has interfered with seeing with our spiritual eyes the deep things God has prepared for us.
How do we shift in our thinking to believe rather than doubt? Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten our mind so that we set our rational faculty aside and learn to trust. God says that whoever comes to Him must believe and trust. We must take the risk despite all the objections of our rational mind. Mind interference is the cause for a lot of our problems. When we think critically and objectify happenings we try and understand with our mind. We need to sense and operate from our heart to see miracles. This is what it means to be filled in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit. Do as the Spirit leads and think about it later.

Death Results In Life

This is a contradiction in terms but the truth is that death resulted in life. Jesus died and this resulted in resurrection life. A seed must fall on the ground and die before it can give life. A seed that refuses to die will not give life. Jesus said that I must die to my self, take up my cross and follow Him. There is no life without death. Jesus knew that our major battle is with our flesh. The only answer to victory over the flesh is death. However this is not a one time event. Death to the flesh is a daily walk of crucifixion to the flesh. Death to the flesh is the only way to life in the Spirit. God knew that it was impossible for man to die to his flesh. Therefore He sent Jesus to die for us. His death now makes it easy for us to die to the flesh because He rose again. It is His life that enables us to overcome the flesh. The Cross alone was not sufficient to overcome evil. It is His resurrection from the dead that made it possible for Him to enable us to live. He gave His life that we may come to life.
This is the good news of the gospel. To many it was bad news because they saw Him die. But three days later He overcame death by rising from the grave. Now our hope is not in the Cross but in the resurrection. If Jesus had not risen than our faith is as good as dead. His resurrection is what makes His death meaningful and real. Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him. Only death to self is key to resurrection life. I identify with His death and resurrection by faith. Hallelujah what a salvation.