Read-John 12:25-26
Observation: –
The Lord Jesus tells us in John 12, \”Except the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, it abides alone; but if it die, it bears much fruit.\” Life is in the grain of wheat, but there is a shell, a very hard shell on the outside. As long as that shell is not split open, the wheat cannot grow. \”Except the grain of wheat falling into the ground die . . .\” What is this death? It is the cracking open of the shell through the working together of temperature, humidity, etc., in the soil. Once the shell is split open, the wheat begins to grow. So the question here is not whether there is life within, but whether the outside shell is cracked open. The Scripture continues by saying, \”He that loves his life shall lose it, and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.\” The Lord shows us here that the outer shell is our carnal life, while the life within is the eternal life, which He has given to us. To allow the spirit life to come forth, it is imperative that the carnal life be lost. Should the carnal man remain unbroken, the spirit man would never be able to come forth.
Application
A carnal Christian is one who after being saved has refused to mortify the deeds of the flesh. Carnality is very rife among Christians today because we think we can eat our cake and have it. You cannot serve God and mammon at the same time. Have you accepted as true and needful the death of the carnal life to allow a complete manifestation of the son of God in your life. Have you sensed the fact that this is drive of heaven for His sons.
Prayer
Pray against encouraging or participating in creating camps in church on tribal or social status lines, you are carnal. Repent from grudges against your fellow brother or sister and settle with the fellows. Are you still keeping malice with your offender or seek to revenge the fellow instead of forgiving him or her? You are carnal. If you gratify your flesh in things that stir up unhealthy emotions in your heart, you are carnal.
- Pray for the families that have been affected by the violence of the attacks and the trauma that follows.
- Pray that the blood of Jesus will speak and the comfort which is from the Lord will cover each household.
- Pray that he Lord will arise to fight for His bride who is under attack in the nations of Kenya, South Sudan, Nigeria and in other parts of Africa. May the Lord arise and His enemies be scattered on behalf of the body of Christ.