DIE TO SELF, LIVE FOR CHRIST

Bible Texts: Jn.12:24-25, Jn.15:5, Gal.5:22-23, 1Cor.15:31, Jn.3:30, Jn.3:16, Philp.3:14, Gal.5:22-23, Exk.2:2, Rom.12:2, Gen.18:19

As the husbandman, the way to grow and bear much fruits of the Spirit as highlighted in Galatians chapter 5 and verses 22 to 23 is to crucify self. And Jesus Christ, who is the perfect example of the good and godly husbandman, made this profound statement in that regards.

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 forth much fruit (Jn.12:24-25)

Until you die to self and to the dictates of the flesh, you will continue to struggle to hold onto your headship as the good and godly husbandman. Your greatest enemy is indeed self-always thinking of yourself and what you will benefit. And this selfishness comes in the way of the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.

As the husbandman, there are two major forces that will always want to get your attention. These are the force of the Spirit of God and the force of darkness. While the force of the Spirit of God wants you to do the perfect will of God, the force of darkness wants you to disobey God and His commandments with the plan to drag you down the path of failure, disgrace and sin (Jn.10:10). But if you and I must bear much fruits, we must allow our lives to be ruled by the force of the Spirit of God which makes us to die to self.

But what does it mean to be crucified or die to self as the husbandman?

It means to bring your thoughts, emotions and will under the control of the word of God by allowing the Person of the Holy Spirit to dictate and influence how you think, act and react. It also means allowing the word of God to be your final authority, regardless of whether you like it or not, popular or unpopular, convenient or not convenient.

And when you die to self and live by the word of God, you bear these fruits of the Spirit of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Gal.5:22-23)

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control are all fruits of the Spirit of God which you bear and enjoy when you live by the word of God.

You can bring your thoughts, actions and emotions under subjection of the word of God. You can overcome the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life by the power in the name and word of God (Pro.4:20-23).

Living for Jesus Christ makes you function like Him as the husbandman. Therefore, decrease so that Jesus Christ can increase in your life as the good and godly man, husband and father. Amen.

SPIRITUAL EXERCISE

• Father, in the Name of Jesus, empower Your word to gain root in my heart and bear fruits in my life.
• Father, in the Name of Jesus, destroy every hold of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life at work in my life.
• Father, in the Name of Jesus, empower me to die daily to self and fill my heart to obey all of Your commandments through and through.

FAITH CONFESSION

I believe the word of God to be the way, the truth and the life and by the power of the word of God, I die daily to self and submit my thoughts, will and emotions to the influences of the word of God because that is what makes me the good and godly husbandman in Jesus name. Amen.

The devotional IN TUNE WITH GOD© is published by The Husbandman Mission International, Headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria.

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Jesus Christ is Lord over all.

Bro. Ebenezer O. Igure

Head of Mission

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