Decay and New Life

Decay and New Life!

2 Corinthians 4:7-18

“We always carry in our bodies the dying of YESHUA, so that the Life of YESHUA may be manifested in our bodies too. For we who are alive are always being handed over to death for YESHUA’s sake, So that YESHUA’s life also might be manifested in our mortal bodies. Thus death is at work in us but life in we. This is why we do not lose courage. Though our outer self is heading for decay, our inner self is being renewed daily. For our light and transient troubles are achieving for us an everlasting glory whose weight is beyond description. We concentrate not on what is seen but on what is not seen, since things seen are temporary, but things not seen are eternal.” 4:8-12, 16-18 CJB

Some of what is taught in the Church is that we should have divine health (never be sick or always be healed), be financially prosperous and always be at peace. These are lies! JESUS never said that we would live our lives like this. Both Old Testament and New Testament Saints prove this: while some for certain periods of their lives did have some or all of these things going for them, they also had sickness, poverty, rejection and despair.

JESUS said only one time during His ministry that, “I have come so that we might have life and have it in abundance.” JESUS said many times during His ministry that if we followed Him we would be persecuted, imprisoned and even murdered. JESUS told us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. JESUS told us that if we did not lose our life for Him we would lose it for eternity, but if we gave our life to Him we would save it for eternity.

Paul who wrote most of the New Testament and is considered the greatest evangelist and church planter in history did not live a healthy, financially prosperous and peaceful life in serving JESUS. Peter, James and John also told us that trials and tribulations were a normal part of the Christian life and along with Paul said that we should rejoice in our persecutions and tribulations allowing them to bring growth and humility.

JESUS said that He did not come to be served but to serve and to do the works of His Father. All of the Apostles called themselves slaves of JESUS.

If we listen to what others tell us the Bible says rather than studying the Bible for ourself than we can easily be persuaded to believe half truths and lies. Don’t just read some verses but actually study them, cross reference them with other verses. We should look up the meaning of words even if we think we know them. Study them in the full context of the writer’s message. Remember that none of the books of the Bible were written with chapter and verse divisions. They were written as complete thoughts and need to be read and studied that way.

JESUS said that The Father was sending His SPIRIT to remind us of everything JESUS said and to teach us what we need to know. If we ask and He will teach us as we read and study the Bible.

JESUS said a seed has to be planted and die before it can bring forth a new plant and fruitful harvest. Decay has to come before life, naturally and spiritually. JESUS’ teachings are clear if we do not die to ourself we will die eternally but if we die to ourself and live to Him we will live eternally.

When we stand before The Father or JESUS in judgment they will not ask us what so and so believed, they are going to judge us according to what we believed and how we lived. If we believed, lived and taught something that is not true because we did not take the time to actually study the Bible, we will be judged accordingly. Matthew 7:15-29 makes it very clear that some will actually be doing the works of the Kingdom but not be allowed in!

JESUS said that there is no prophet in gaining the whole world but losing our soul! Health, prosperity and wellbeing is what the world is seeking. Believers should be seeking obedience, service, humility and death to self through serving JESUS and doing the Works of The Father as He did.

Natural decay In JESUS brings eternal Life!