WHEN THE OLD MAN IS DEAD
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Apostle Paul emphatically stated, “I die daily” (I Corinthians 15:31). Sometimes we all marvel at the power of this apostle’s life, but the power was in his “death, to himself.” Over and over this theme fills the revelations that flooded his life. In his second epistle to Corinth he stated, “But we have this treasure (all the priceless blessings and benefits of the Holy Spirit) in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us” (II Corinthians 4:7).
Much of this generation can only conceive a saint of God walking on Hallelujah Boulevard with a golden cloud under their feet. Well, they surely need to read how this apostle described his life of constant death, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh” (II Corinthians 4:8-11).
When our old man is dead, something so wonderful happens that carnal people cannot conceive or understand it. God’s sovereign Spirit cannot rest upon or dwell in a human vessel until death to the sin nature has occurred. This is why the early church was so dynamic that they turned the cities in which they ministered into revival centers. Read Acts chapter 8, where a table-attending appointee shared the gospel message, “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:5-8).
The expectation after the Crucifixion and Resurrection was that the believers gave up their selfish life to live only for Christ. It is clear that all of them did not follow this expectation and we see that many were labeled as carnal instead of spiritual. It is clear that all of them that became spiritual also became powerful. Phillip and Stephen in Acts chapters six and seven were prime examples. It’s shattering to realize how carnal and helpless the church is today. It will never change in anyone’s life until they are fully prepared to die to the “old man.”
I challenge each reader of this Salty Saints to consider this wonderful possibility. The Romans Road of the Book of Romans is our starting point. By the Holy Spirit Paul stated, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:11-14). This is a powerful truth that our modern churches ignore.
You cannot research the history of the great saints of God without constantly encountering this revelation. It does not matter whether it is Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, or Baptist, etc. Every time you find someone that dares to seek the crucified life the same results follow. Those in the Catholic Church had to leave their connections to Catholicism. Often, those in reformed or orthodox circles were persecuted and driven out. But, every time these dear saints begin to bless multitudes and turn cities and communities into harvest fields.
Revival is going to occur either before the Rapture or after the Rapture. The Holy Spirit is searching our Church World to find laborers and the crucified life is His single source. He cannot anoint the carnal life with His unction, but He cannot fail to anoint the crucified. Listen to Apostle Paul explain this great truth, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:6-8).
This level of revelation is enough to thrill a committed believer and to fill with fear the carnal believer. In I Corinthians we read, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (I Corinthians 2:14). There is very little difference, if any, between the natural man and the carnal man. At least the carnal man has made a decision to be a Christian, while the natural man probably hasn’t. But, neither is destined to remain in this unspiritual condition.
The sacrifice of Christ’s sacred body was a spiritual moment when cleansing and redemptive powers were released to change our lives. The Blood of Christ cleanses us from the guilt of sin, but is also fully prepared to break the powers of the nature of sin. In His pastoral prayer Jesus proclaimed, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:15-17). Sanctify means to set apart for a righteous cause and to enable the same in their hearts and lives.
Apostle Paul said a similar thing in his epistle to Thessalonica, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it” (I Thessalonians 5:23-24).
You furnish the life fully ready to be put to death and He is fully ready to do the rest. Paul said, “That which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die” (I Corinthians 15:36). Jesus completely settles this entire discussion. “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” and He also says, “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27, 33).
Dave
Dear Brother Chambers, You have chosen to teach one of my main teachings where our stand before God is concerned. Romans chapter six “death to sin” understanding is easy, application is very difficult. How about Galations chapter 2 verse 20, I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live “YET NOT I” I will stop the verse right there to bring in the most powerful truth the Holy Spirit revealed to me many years ago, that truth is “DEATH TO SELF” all that I am, all that I have, all that I know and believe and much more, “all must die”. In the gospel of John there is a perfect picture of the Lord Jesus Christ ministry, how He was trained of God His Father by the Holy Spirit. The verse that got my attention first was 5 v 19, (part) The Son can do “nothing of Himself” I thought, that is impossible, Jesus is God here on earth He can do anything he want’s to. How wrong I was, the lesson I learned, and I am still learning from John’s gospel is this, It is the Father fulfiling “His” will through us “as with Jesus” He teaches us what to say, He show’s us where to go, He reveals to us just what “He” wants “us” to do and how. We do nothing at all of ourselves, It is God’s ministry in and through our lives, It is God’s life in and through our lives, all that God desires and requires of us to fulfill His will and all that that stands for in us, is for us to come completely empty of ourselves to Him, there is nothing in us that God can us, we must die to ourselves first, all our ways, all our thoughts, what we could do for Him, everything that is of ourselves must die, God cannot us it. Someone said one time, “let go let God”
Debbie Walker
Bro. Chambers,
You hit the nail on the head. This is the same message that we have been having in our services thru the spirit of God (tongues & interpretation). This hunger has been stirred within me to be so consumed with God’s spirit that there is not room for any other spirit. The verse from Luke was my very first step to surrender. My son was in Iraq for the 2nd time and I was still trying to be in control of his safety (a mother thing). When I read that scripture, I cried so hard at the thought that I was more focused on my son than God. That was a real milestone in my Christian walk. God is so faithful and I love him dearly.
Jim
Pastor Chambers:
Thanks for a beautiful article and forgotten theme-that of living the crucified life, of dying to the flesh. You know, a wonderful thing happens when we reject the world-we regain our innocence. I find that things that once were commonplace in my life and not offensive (lewdness, profanity, dirty jokes, etc) are now foreign to me. In a sense, we can actually forget the ways of sin and recover childlikeness.
A question I have for you, or anyone for that matter: is this regaining of innocence a return to Adam’s pre-fallen state or an improvement on it? Also, do perfected saints in innocence lose some of their “worldly wisdom”, i.e., knowledge of things like finances, practicalities, keeping up with current events and the like? I think that in my life, for good or bad, this has been so.
Thanks.
Jonathan, UK
Pastor Chambers, Thanks for sharing this message, it is so encouraging!
God has been showing me this same principle over the last 6 months or so, and there’s no doubt its a no-go zone for the majority of pastors and churches (church religion actually hinders the death of the carnal man, rather it tries to keep it sustained on a life support machine, for church growth and entertainment purposes). Its great to hear it coming from a pastor though!
It intrigues me how so many Bible hero’s went through this same death-in-the desert experience, eg Moses, Elijah, Gideon, Jacob, Abraham, Peter, even Jesus himself….”No longer I that live, but Chrtist lives in me” “Christ in us the hope of glory” “You died to sin and your life is now hidden with Christ in God…” How God told me was “be willing to let your reputation die son, dont care or worry what other folks might say or do….” It isnt easy especially in the context of our modern church scenario. I remember reading an old saint of God who said something like “God has to bring our accursed pride down low” This is the key, after all pride was what inspired satan to rebel against God to begin with:-I will be like God, I will have my own way, I will not be submissive, I will direct my own destiny, I will sit in the place of God etc.
I never ever thought I would come to a place where I could willingly and happily agree with James that, yes, I AM blessed when I face and endure trials, persecutions etc, but it HAS been happening more and more lately. Glory to God!! HIS strength is made perfect in OUR weakness.
Thanks Brother, Shalom Blessing
Jonathan