Death, Burial, & Resurrection - Pt.2

Continuing my notes from Pastor Tracy's Easter Sermon @ Little Church in the Pines ...

John 12:23-26 “Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, 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; The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.” There is a daily battle between the desires of our flesh and the Holy Spirit which indwells the Believer, but we are called to walk in the Spirit rather than fight the things that we choose to die to and not bury, when we say no to this sinful world, the flesh and the devil, and yes to Jesus. We lay sin aside and bury the ax. Not leaving the ax handle sticking out of the ground, so we can easily pull it back out later. Put them away, physically, mentally and spiritually, so that we cannot get to them. We are dead and buried, because (figuratively) we roll the stone over the tomb opening to our old dead life, so that the stone can then be rolled back away, open by God in the resurrection of our life in Christ.

Philippians 2:5-15 tells us, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing , taking the very mature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaint or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.” Death, burial & resurrection of self daily from the flesh, born again/ born from above, to newness of life, showing forth the forgiveness and good fruit of sanctification, growing in grace. With humility, giving out the blessings of Christ, and over-flowing with the light of righteousness into the darkness of this sinful & lost world.

With denial of self and trust in God, dying to the flesh and walking in step with the Spirit in obedience to the holy Word, the reconciliation of our soul in salvation and the knowledge of our eternal destiny in the kingdom of heaven produces "good" and "godly" fruit. Jesus said, “It is finished!”, and we can do nothing to add to the work of the cross for our salvation, but we can allow the cross to transform our lives more into the likeness of Jesus Christ, our Lord & Savior in new life daily. Head-knowledge misses the heart by 18 inches. Know, live and experience Easter by taking up your cross every day. Hallelujah, He is Risen!

In Christ, Brian