The basic lesson every servant of God must learn is that any measure of fruitfulness requires the breaking of the carnal (fleshy) part of us (1 Cor.3:2-3). This allows our spirit to be released.
Often we hear about the cross. Perhaps we are too familiar with the term. But what is the cross after all? When we really understand the cross, we shall see it means the breaking of the lower nature, or the carnal man. The cross reduces the carnal man to death and splits open the human shell. The cross must break all that belongs to the carnal man -- our opinions, our ways, our cleverness, our self love -- anything that is not controlled by the Spirit.
As we allow the cross to work in our lives, we become transparent. There is no-one more beautiful that one who is broken! Stubbornness and self-love give way to beauty in those who have been broken by God. Once the carnal man is broken, man's spirit very naturally abides in the presence of God and without any effort our spirit can receive divine revelation; but if we are unbroken, and strive for revelation and get it (as we suppose), its source is usually carnal and not divine. Thus those who claim to be prophets and revelators but who do not walk the New Covenant path of humility and brokenness more often than not receive "revelations" after their own carnal nature.
The broken spirit is a vessel of the Holy Spirit. When he is witnessing or preaching, he sends forth God's Word through his spirit. Whenever a person speaks in his presence, he can evaluate what kind of person he is, what attitude he is taking, and what his need is. With the breaking of the carnal man, the spirit begins to flow and is ever open to the needs of others.
This is the Path of the New Covenant and it is not an easy path. This is a death of self, so that the Spirit of God that dwells in our spirit might come forth. The fullness of God can then be given through our lives to a lost and dying world. This is the only path to being wholly led by the Spirit. This the path Christ calls His disciples to follow. This is the way of the overcomers. This is the way of the New Covenant Church of God.
1. What requirement does Jesus lay down for those who want to be His disciples? (Luke 14:27)
2. What was another way that Jesus and Paul described this requirement? (Matt.10:39; Phil.1:21)
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A. This passage in Philippians must be understood both inwardly (spiritually) and outwardly (physically). Read Phil.1:21-26. If you were Paul, what would you choose? Why? In what way would continuing to live here in this world outweigh the benefits of going to live with Christ in heaven right now?
3. What does Paul say is our reasonable service as Christians? (Rom.12:1-2)
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4. We are commanded to have the "mind" in us which was also in Christ Jesus. What is this mind? (Phil.2:5-9)
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5. Why are we able to experience the likeness of Christ's resurrection in our life? (Rom.6:5)
6. Who is the one who is able to produce fruit? (John 12:24)
Death cannot occur without "falling to the ground", no more than a new tree can grow whilst remaining in the highest branches as a seed. To become a Christian means "coming down to earth", facing reality, and humbling ourselves.
It is the instinct of life to survive...to preserve itself. Dying is not "natural" to the human will. Therefore something higher than the flesh in man must make a decision to lay aside the carnal self in death to allow the Christ-self to arise. This requires an act of faith.
Without a spiritual centering it cannot be done because. For a man centred in the flesh, putting the carnal side to death will seem to be total extinction, and thus his natural instinct will fight against. But if his centre is Christ, and he believes in the resurrection, then he can have a confident faith and hope that his "death" will mean new life.
7. If we submit ourselves to this cross, what are we promised? (2 Tim.2:11-12)
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8. What does Jesus call this death experience? (Matt.3:11)
This baptism of fire has a two-fold purpose: to purify and to endow with spiritual power.
9. How will the Lord appear to those who submit to this death? (N.B. Though addressed to Israel, the spiritual application is pertinent to Christian believers) (Mal.3:1-3)
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10. What will He do to these saints? (Mal.3:3)
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B. Augustine said: "God had one son on earth with out sin, but never one without suffering." What do you think he meant?
C. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said: "If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostilities." How, in the light of this, do you think suffering can be an instrument of peace and reconciliation?
11. What is the purpose of this refining fire? (Mal.3:3)
12. The mother of two of the disciples requested that her sons might sit with Christ upon His throne. What question did Christ ask them? (Matt.20:20-23; Mark 10:35-40)
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This is what Christ is asking us today. We all want to reign with Him upon His throne but are we willing to drink of His cup, and to undergo the baptism that Christ went through -- even death to self upon the cross? Jesus Himself wrestled with this question in the Garden of Gethsemane.
13. What decision did He make? (Matt.26:39,42; John 18:11)
We too must decide whether we will "drink the cup". This is the path of suffering, sprinkled with blood, but also one of joy.
14. What was Jesus's attitude to the cross? (Heb.12:2)
15. We see also the great champions of the faith in the Old Testament had this same attitude. What is said of Moses? (Heb.11:24-26)
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The crucified life involves these aspects of suffering which break us and purge us: the endurance of personal trials, suffering on behalf of others, and sharing in Christ's sufferings.
D. Samuel Smiles said: "It is not men's faults that ruin them, so much as the manner in which they conduct themselves after the faults have been committed. The wise will profit by the suffering they cause and eschew in the future. But there are those on whom bitter experience exerts no ripening influence, who only grow narrower and bitterer and more vicious with time." Name one or more experiences of personal suffering that have spiritually matured you. Why do some not profit from suffering? What is it that they have missed? How would you personally minister to someone in this condition? If there have been times of suffering in your life which appear only to have had a negative effect, how might you now make them positive and upbuilding in light of the spiritual keys given in scripture?
These are three key themes of New Covenant Christian discipleship.
