Power Point - November 10, 2004

 

November 10, 2004

 

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

--John 12:24-25

 

I read about a man who died named Mr. Peas. They wrote on his tombstone:

 

          This ain’t Peas.

          It’s just the pod.

          Peas shelled out

          And went to God.

 

Those who know and love the Lord are all going to shell out one of these days. But, until then, the way to live is to die. Kind of confusing, right? Well, just like a seed is planted in the ground and must die in order that it might produce fruit, Jesus said we must also die in order to live. We must give in order to gain.

 

Jesus is the ultimate seed—the eternal seed that went into the ground, died, and continues to produce the fruit of the kingdom. You must give your life in order to experience abundant life.

 

I’m not talking about earning your salvation, giving money in order to be saved, or giving of your own life and breath. Jesus is talking about dying to yourself, your own ways, and your sin. When we die to ourselves, we’re raised and become new creatures in Christ. Just as Christ died and rose again on the third day, so do we die when we give our lives completely to Him, repent of our sin, and receive eternal life.

 

If you try to keep your life, you will lose it. If you hang on to everything you’ve got, you’ll lose it. It is a fact of life. That’s why so many people are unfulfilled, frustrated, and dissatisfied. You may be the person that can say, “I’ve done it all—been there, done that,” and yet there’s an aching and longing in your heart for something more. But, the joy is that there is something more!

 

When you give your life, completely and totally, to Jesus Christ you will find abundant life. You may be thinking, “If I give my life to Christ, I’m going to be miserable.” But it’s just the opposite. If you don’t give your life to Christ, you will be miserable.

 

Psalm 84:11 says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good think will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” If I had 10,000 more lives, I’d give them all to Jesus. And when we die a physical death, our bodies will be planted in the ground like a seed, and raised again when Christ returns. At that time, we’ll reap more than we ever sowed. You can’t even imagine the harvest of heaven and the glory of God that is to come. Today, choose to die to your old, selfish ways, and give your life over to the Lord Jesus, so He can raise you up again for His glory!

 

DIE TO LIVE AND GIVE TO GAIN—

THESE ARE THE LAWS OF LIFE.