6/15/2020
Desk of Dennis Piller
Afraid to be broken before God or anyone?
I’m not completely broken yet. What does that mean? I’m not completely broken. Yet somehow we know down deep, it has to be that way. So how do you do that? How do you fall on the sword knowing God created you to be is on the other side? I don’t believe that we’re so strong to do that by ourselves. That is a drawing by the Holy Spirit into a deeper walk, onto the higher ground then we can conceive by ourselves. Its that think Jesus said, pick up your cross and follow me. It isn’t death by crucifixion. But I think for many its this thing we avoid because it’s too much to ask. It’s too hard.
Jesus described the dying-to-self process as part of following Him: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24,). But dying to self isn’t bleak and terrible. Jesus continued: “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).
* In dying to self, we find genuine life by depending on God, who provides much more than we can imagine. Likewise, Jesus taught in John 12:24: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit”. Part of the life that we find and the fruit we bear is not only living a richer life with God but also becoming more generous to others, reaching out to them with love and joy. (Jan Johnson)
In a world of its “All about me”. (It’s Not!) How can you choose to die by yourself and to yourself without having a vision and motivation of something or someone much greater… that something on the other side?
How can we possibly get to the supernatural from the natural? How do you see something so high unless the Holy Spirit is giving you a glimpse into eternity? Isaiah 55: 8-9 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways.”
As we see more of God, by the reading of His word… as we see more of his face and more of his heart, that dross, that self-centeredness, continues to fall off showing off a purer reflection of Christ in us. We actually find the joy in denying ourselves and living for Him. Denying one’s self is a joy unspeakable when your focus is on the one you love.
Imagine. In your wildest dreams, imagine the God of glory and everlasting light calling your name. Calling you out to come dine with him. Have communion with you. Knowing and really believing your name is forever written in the lamb’s book of life. It isn’t a cliché. It is not a fairytale or a mirage. What in your human reality could prepare you for the truth and light of eternity with a holy, pure, and loving God? That cannot be fathomed in our humble existence. It can only happen as the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see things that in the heavenlies. A glimpse into an eternal dimension so you might know him more deeply and truly and freely. Today!
It’s not about you or I. He shares his glory with no one. It is about relationship – about dying to everything, not of God. But God’s acceptance is not self-rejection. He made you with your personality and expressiveness. We can worship God being ourselves, whiles still putting off the old things for the new as a sacrifice of praise, as a surrender, a denying of self, a change of context from me to a relationship with the God of the universe Himself.
Denying self simply means loving God on another level and loving others where they are, not where you want them to be. To become so lost in the unimaginable that we find He can be worshiped only in spirit and truth. Not ours.
Imagine… Right now… Close your eyes. Breathe out the world and breath in the breath of the Holy Spirit of life. Giving up something that is ultimately not for our good and separates us from that deeper walk with God, and actually hinders our closeness with our family and friends is not something that a sane person should want to hold on to. Is it?
Being broken … all the way…. is a day by day journey in our pursuit of loving God so much that we joyfully lay down our old self because we realize what a treasure He is and want to please our loving Savior.
Lord thank you for opening up my eyes to see that you endured the cross for the joy that was set before him. Hebrews 12:2 Thank you for leading me in the truth that your redeeming love never fails. Lord only by your Holy Spirit can I see this truth.
Jaci Velasquez On My Knees
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73miZjdl-NM
