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 (mortify) 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 Jackson

John McCain -Hospice

Amy Garner

Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad 

Andrew Halevi & Daughter

Ashely Burn’s Sisters 

Brandon’s Dad 

Coly/Connor – Allison’s G’sons 

Dan Haines

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David Burnette  

David Harrison – Riverside

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Doris Loyd

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Eric Ward

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Heather May

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James Garner’s Friend 

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Joanie/Jeanie Mom

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John Austin 

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June Cronan’s Sister 

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Kim McClain’s Mother 

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Lynn Garner

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Michael Stanley 

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Pastor & Mrs. Driskell 

Pat Chupp

Ricky Gipson   

Ricky Stubbs 

Robbie Edwards  

Rose Fuller –  Rehab

Roseleigh Osborn 

Sandra Graham    

Scott Lanier 

Soso Nzolo – 17 Yr. Old South African Pastor’s Daughter                                                         

Susan & Alexis Tesone

Tom Witcher