Imagine that you work in a tall business building and each day you step into the elevator and push the button to go to your floor, and because you are a little late you push the “close door” button to speed things up. A few seconds later the door closes, and soon you are on your floor.
But did you know that in the United States the “close door” button in an elevator does not actually work? It’s true! It’s just “there” but when the door automatically closes a few seconds after you push that button it gives you the feeling that you are “in control” even though you actually aren’t.
People want to be in control of their lives, but in order to truly be a Christian we must give the control of our lives to Jesus, and let Him lead our decisions. We must be completely obedient to Him and His will for us.
Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
To be a true follower of Christ one must be able to deny themselves, which means to not allow yourself to do the things that you want to do as a person in the flesh, but to abide by the words found in the Holy Scriptures.
John 12:25-26 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
How many of us as a child have seen a toy that someone else had at school, and we wanted it so bad that we decided to go and take it? I’ve done this. One day during preschool one of the other children had a toy that they were playing with and I wanted it so bad! So bad in fact that when my parents came to pick me up as I walked by my cubby that had my shoes and backpack in it I quickly looked around to see if anyone was looking, and when no one was I reached into that other child’s cubby and took their toy, and left. Now I did this as a child, but some people grow up into adults and continue do that exact same thing. But you see, that is not the way of Christ, and that is not what He wants people to do. People may do acts like that as unbelievers, but when someone makes the decision to follow Jesus they must let the Word of the Lord direct their actions and control their life.
Romans 8:8-14 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Mortify, that’s a word that isn’t used too much today. Mortify means to “subdue (the body or its needs and desires) by self-denial or discipline.” As Christians we must deny ourselves the works of the sinful flesh and submit ourselves to the order and control of the Lord.
“What would Jesus do” is a saying that I heard at a very young age, and it is a saying that we should always keep with us and bear in mind each day. Not “I am going to do this because I want to,” but ” I’m going to do this because Jesus wants me to.” If we can do that we truly are servants of the Lord. Give Jesus the control!
In Christ
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 