Something Unusual Is Happening In Sunday School!
Lives Are Being Radically Changed.
It Is Beginning To Spread.
9:30 AM
Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart:
Colossians 3:4-5, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:”
Apart from our experiencing the cross and denying the self, the soul-life will be preserved.
The way for the self to be terminated is by denying it and taking up the cross.
To deny the self is to disregard it as your source.
Do not interact with it.
Do not consult with it.
We are not qualified to handle the self with the self.
Indeed, in Christ, we are no longer obligated to it (Rom. 8:12).
Instead, touch the source of the Spirit.
It is the Spirit that supplies self-denying power (Gal. 5:24-25).
In order to take up the cross, first discover the willingness for the cross in your spirit by crying, “Abba, Father!” (Mark 14:36, 38; Phil. 2:13).
Second, learn how to merge with the inclinations of the cross that are intrinsic to the leading of the Spirit (Rom. 8:13-14).
Third, obey the supplied impulse of life to interrupt the activity of the self.
Do not wait for the self to be agreeable to die.
Let the cross operate on it in the midst of its struggle to live.
The experience of the cross is not a long, drawn-out process.
The cross in the Spirit today is already an accomplished fact and reality.
It just needs to be executed by our touching the Spirit.
This is why Paul speaks in the imperative mood in Colossians 3:5: “Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth.”
This is execution.
The “therefore” in this verse is based upon the crucifying activity that is integral to the “Christ who is our life.”
That is, the nature of the life mentioned in verse 4 is crucifying life in verse 5.
In other words, life supplies death–death to the self!
Until Tomorrow,
With A Shepherd’s Love
Pastor
TODAY’S PRAYER LIST
Rodney Wiggins – Darlene’s Husband – Passed Away
Jim Mabe – Cancer
Ashton Bateman & Family
Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad
Brandon’s Dad
Dan Haines
Darlene Thaxton – Breast Cancer
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’Mother
Dr. Don Davis
Freddie May’s Mom
George Alexander
Jane Hick’s Mom
Joan Cronan’s Sister
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Michael Stanley
John McClain
Ronnie Palmer
Ricky Gipson – Ashley’s Brother
Tom Witcher
Ann Sullivan – Paula’s Friend
Bentley Smith
James Garner’s Friend
Kim McClain’s Mother
Lonzo Christian
Ashley Burn’s Sisters
Bill Moody
Colby/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Greg Payne – Lisa’s Brother
Hanna Hall – Pray for Grace
Kenny & Nora Allison
Kimberly – Dustin’s Sister
Larry Barker
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford
Pastor & Mrs. Driskell
Paula Ferus’ Missionary Friend
Ricky Stubbs
Roseleigh Osborn
Scott Lanier – Linda’s Son
Shaelyn – Jill’s Friend
Sheila Simmon’s Cousin
Tammy Shellnut’s Mother/Dad