Being Crucified

“I protest by the boasting in you, brothers, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.” 1 Corinthians 15:31 RecVer 

As one born of the flesh, we are flesh indeed. Though, as believers, we are born of God in our spirit, as long as we live in the flesh, the sinful nature is still in the flesh. Nullifying this fact just because one was born of God would be a gross ignorance. When the flesh is stirred up, one will be in an utter confusion as to who he really is, of the flesh or of the spirit. Since we still live in the world and we are on the process of maturing, we still switched between the flesh and the spirit often. Therefore, the sooner one realises his being still in the flesh, the better. This will lead to conviction of sins and even of being in sin and desperately cry out to the Lord for mercy.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6, RecVer)

The Lord sovereignly still uses the flesh to expose who we really are. This must humble us to the uttermost despite the many years since we were born of the Spirit in our spirit and despite the many spiritual experiences and enjoyment. With this realisation, we must live in fear and trembling before God, not daring to lift up our ugly heads in anyway. 

Thank the Lord for His wisdom is allowing the flesh to still exist to tame us. Even more so, to remind us of who we really are in the flesh. With our conscience functioning and convicting whenever and wherever we have gone wrong, we immediately confess our sins and apply the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ for His forgiveness and cleansing.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, RecVer)

Then, despite being born of the flesh, we are also born of the Spirit, children of God, to fulfill His purpose on the earth. Herein lies the need to be in the spirit all the time she put the flesh to death. The function of the cross of Jesus Christ is to put to death the flesh, the old and natural man. Therefore, the Lord commanded, “And He called the crowd to Him with His disciples and said to them, If anyone wants to follow after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his soul-life shall lose it; but whoever will lose his soul-life for My sake and the gospel’s shall save it.” (Mark 8:34-35, RecVer)

For this very reason, the Lord sovereignly allows many things to happen in our Christian life and church life. Tracing our experiences, it all began in the outer court at the bronze altar, then the silver socket in the Holy place, and finally at the golden altar in the Holy of Holy. Similarly, the two pillars of the temple stands as a testimony of our being His testimony. 

“And he formed the two bronze pillars; eighteen cubits was the height of each pillar, and a line of twelve cubits encompassed each pillar. And he made two capitals of molten bronze to set upon the tops of the pillars; the height of the one capital was five cubits, and the height of the second capital was five cubits. There were nets of checker work with wreaths of chain work for the capitals that were at the top of the pillars, seven for the one capital, and seven for the second capital. So he made the pillars; and there were two rows of pomegranates around the one network, to cover the capitals that were at the top of the pillars. And he did the same for the second capital.” (1 Kings 7:15-18, RecVer)

To be the Lord’s testimony, our natural man must be judged and condemned daily as molten bronze implying practically to be judged and die daily as the reality of bearing the cross and being crucified. For this, the Lord allows the nets of checker work with wreaths of chain work in our Christian life and church life. All the seemingly difficulties and troubles caused by the saints or our family members, all works together for good to accomplish His purpose to crucify us day by day. No matter how we wish that our Christian life and church life should be "wonderful and perfect," the only way it can be wonderful and perfect is by being crucified. If one sees this vision, he will humble himself and worship the ways of God for all the troubles! Difficulties and problems are food for us in the proper spiritual sense. Otherwise, it will only bog us down, filled with complaining and murmuring. These are the Amaleks that God wants to deal with in relation to our experiences of Him and His cross. “For he said, For there is a hand against the throne of Jah! Jehovah will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” (Exodus 17:16, RecVer)

These are the spiritual lessons the Lord has been teaching me these days. I am glad I have been graced to learn these lesson of the cross. In our recent training for the full-time serving ones, the Lord just confirmed this matter of being crucified, through a brother's mature and timely fellowship. The Lord wants to come back. But He can do so only if His bride is ready. So, the urgency for us to experience His cross daily. For only in this way, can we be perfected, grow up and be builded up to be His beautiful bride! Thank the Lord for His grace and mercy still prevailing upon us, especially me!