By Pastor Anthony Okamgba- April 14, 2017
Baptism unto death
So, this afternoon, your decision and response to the word of God must go beyond ordinary routine. If you stand today for Christ, you`re standing to go. If you say YES to Jesus today, you’re saying yes to Life. If you`re saying LORD, take my life and let it be consecrated love for your use, you meant it.
Luke 12:49-50; 49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? 50 But I have a baptism to be baptised with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
What is that Baptism that Jesus was talking about?
1. We saw that baptism was the baptism unto death by which Jesus tasted death for every man to set us free from the power of satan, who had the power of death and used the fear of death to keep us in bondage in all our lifetime.
2. By that death, Jesus brought our old man the flesh who, so to speak that was in marriage by our lives and would not let us bear fruit unto God, Jesus brought that also unto death that we might be free.
What is our response to that Baptism?
Our response is what we are dealing with this afternoon in the book of Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 5:11-20; 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
Listen, you do not have a choice!
Except you think Jesus did not die for you. Then you do not want to participate in the death that Jesus died, that is, when you think you have a choice to choose to die to the world or live for the world!
The truth of the matter is: – whosoever wants to be my disciple!!
Luke 14:27; 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
I want to tell us this afternoon, all those who have been baptized into the death of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1. Which brought us Deliverance
2. Which brought us Healing
3. Which brought us Victory
4. Which brought us Holy Spirit baptism.
They were all dead to the interest of the world. So, if you are not dead to the world, you are none of his.
2 Corinthians 5:15; 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth (Now) live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again (KJV)
1. Maybe this is what you did not understand, which makes it look like we have to be bargaining
2. Maybe this is what was not preached to you when you were confronted with the gospel that produced the kind of members that you are.
3. Maybe this is the kind of thing that was presented that made it like it is all right for you to be doing something that has no bearing on the
purpose of God on earth.
4. Do you know that every man who has been redeemed by the death of Jesus has no right to live for themselves henceforth.
Romans 14:7-9; 7For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
8For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Bro. Paul came to the understanding that non of us live to himself and none of us die to himself.
1. Jesus went to calvary not only to conquer satan
2. Jesus went to calvary not only to finish the flesh
3. Jesus went to Calvary so that He might have exclusive ownership over me and you if you believe.
Why do you not want to die??
1. For whose interest?
2. So for what do you want to live?
Bro. Paul came to the understanding that non of us live to himself and non of us die to himself.
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
Anything God decided to do for his people , he just decided to do it not because you merited it….
If I live, I live for Jesus…If I die, I die for Jesus.
May you live for Jesus day after day
Prayer points:
1. Let us pray For Holy Church-
Let us pray, dearly beloved, for the holy Church of God,that our God and Lord be pleased to give her peace, to guard her and to unite her throughout the whole world
and grant that, leading our life in tranquility and quiet, we may glorify God the Father almighty.
2. Let pray for the Pope and all the ordained ministers of the word of God
Let us pray also for our most Holy Father the Men of God and all that our God and Lord, who chose them for them for the work of God, may keep them safe and unharmed for the Lord’s holy Church, to govern the holy People of God.
3. For all orders Believers and degrees of the faithful
Let us pray also for our Deacons, our teachers, leadershipsof the Church
and for the whole of the faithful people.
4. For catechumens-
Let us pray also for (our) catechumens, that our God and Lord may open wide the ears of their inmost hearts and unlock the gates of his mercy, that, having received forgiveness of all their sins through the waters of rebirth, they, too, may be one with Christ Jesus our Lord.
5. For the unity of Christians-
Let us pray also for all our brothers and sisters who believe in Christ, that our God and Lord may be pleased, as they live the truth, to gather them together and keep them in his one Church.
6. For the Jewish people-
Let us pray also for the Jewish people, to whom the Lord our God spoke first, that he may grant them to advance in love of his name and in faithfulness to his covenant.
7. For those who do not believe in Christ and For those who do not believe in God-
Let us pray also for those who do not believe in Christ, that, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, they, too, may enter on the way of salvation.
8. For those in public office-
Let us pray also for those in public office, that our God and Lord may direct their minds and hearts according to his will for the true peace and freedom of all.
