ON THE WAY DOWN HERE THIS MORNING MY WONDERFUL WIFE DEBBIE AND I WERE REFLECTING ON SOME OF THE NEAT THINGS WE'VE SHARED WITH OUR SON JASON, REMINISCING AS HE WILL BE GOING OFF TO COLLEGE THIS FALL... AND I WAS REMINDED OF A TIME IN CHURCH WHEN THE SONG LEADER SAID, WE'RE GOING TO SING HYMN #398 "TILL THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS" AND I REMEMBER LITTLE JASON LEANING OVER AND WHISPERING, "DAD, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE A LONG TIME.... I PROMISE, I WON'T KEEP YOU THAT LONG... BUT I DO WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT GOD HAS LAID ON MY HEART...

WOULD YOU TAKE YOUR BIBLES AND TURN WITH ME TO THE GALATIANS, CHAPTER 2... AND TODAY WE'LL BE LOOKING AT VERSE 20...

THIS MESSAGE IS THE KIND OF MESSAGE I'VE ALWAYS LOVED TO GIVE... IT'S WHAT I CALL A "HOW TO" MESSAGE.... AND SO, I'VE ENTITLED THIS MESSAGE "HOW TO EXPERIENCE THE CRUCIFIED LIFE"....

I PRAY THAT WE WILL LEAVE THIS SANCTUARY, THIS MORNING, RENEWED_ WITH A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW YOU AND I CAN KNOW_ AND EXPERIENCE_ AND LIVE_ THE CRUCIFIED LIFE ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS...

THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS AN EXPERT WHEN IT CAME TO LIVING THIS CRUCIFIED LIFE AND HE HAS MUCH TO SAY ABOUT IT IN THIS SHORT_ BUT VERY THOROUGH VERSE....

HE SAYS, (VERSE 20), "I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST; AND IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME; AND THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME, AND DELIVERED HIMSELF UP FOR ME".....

THIS IS THE ANSWER.... THIS IS THE KEY..... THIS IS THE SOLUTION... TO EVERY SINGLE PROBLEM YOU OR I HAVE_ BARRING NONE.... AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT IF YOU'LL LISTEN CAREFULLY TODAY AND LISTEN TO GOD SPEAKING, NOT ME.... ASK GOD TO OPEN YOUR SPIRIT_ ASK GOD TO SPEAK TO YOUR HEART_ ASK GOD TO WITNESS TO YOU.... AND IF YOU DO THAT AND APPLY WHAT I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS MORNING, YOUR LIFE WILL NEVER EVER, EVER BE THE SAME....

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU'RE FACING_ WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH_ HOW DEEP_ HOW PAINFUL_ HOW TRAGIC_ HOW DIFFICULT AND HOW HOPELESS YOU MAY FEEL... I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WHAT I'M ABOUT TO GIVE YOU IS THE ANSWER TO YOUR PROBLEMS.... ANY PROBLEM... THE SOLUTION TO WHATEVER YOU'RE FACING...

LISTEN, WHEN A PERSON HAS ACCEPTED BY FAITH_ THEIR IDENTIFICATION WITH THE CRUCIFIXION, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST_ SEVERAL THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN...

#1 YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW ATTITUDE TOWARDS YOURSELF.... THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN...

IT WILL NO LONGER BE MY LIFE_(WHAT AM I INTERESTED IN_ WHAT PLEASES ME_ WHAT SATISFIES ME_ WHAT DO I NEED?...)

NOTICE WHAT PAUL SAYS, " IT IS NO LONGER I, BUT NOW CHRIST LIVING WITHIN ME..." BECAUSE YOU SEE_ ONCE YOU AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST_ WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE OLD LIFE THAT WAS OURS... (EVEN AFTER YOU'VE BEEN SAVED NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT) YOU SEE, ONCE YOU AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST_ AND YOU REALLY BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'VE REALLY BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH HIM_ WHAT HAPPENS?...

THE OLD LIFE HAS BEEN REMOVED_ HE SAYS YOU AND I HAVE A BRAND-NEW LIFE... AND ONCE I AM CONSCIOUS AND AWARE THAT I HAVE A NEW LIFE... (THAT I DON'T HAVE TO LIVE THE LIFE THAT I USED TO LIVE BECAUSE I NOW HAVE CHRIST JESUS LIVING WITHIN ME)...

REMEMBER WHAT HE SAID?...

JOHN 16:7 "BUT I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, IT IS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE THAT I GO AWAY; FOR IF I DO NOT GO AWAY, THE HELPER SHALL NOT COME TO YOU; BUT IF I GO, I WILL SEND HIM TO YOU... HE'LL BE IN YOU, WITH YOU AND UPON YOU...

AND HE SAID IN THE UPPER ROOM IN THE 14th CHAPTER OF JOHN_ HE SAYS, "I'M GOING TO MY FATHER..." AND HE SAYS, "YOU WILL BE IN ME, AND I WILL BE IN YOU... (I WILL LIVE IN YOU)..."

AND SO PAUL IS SAYING_ HE SAYS, "THE OLD SAUL OF TARSUS WAS CRUCIFIED... IT'S NO LONGER I, " PAUL SAYS, "BUT IT'S CHRIST JESUS LIVING WITHIN ME"....

AND SO, ONCE I BEGIN TO SEE THAT IT'S NO LONGER MY LIFE (BUT HIS LIFE)... THAT IS THE FOUNDATION OF EVERYTHING ELSE I'M ABOUT TO SHOW YOU... BECAUSE, YOU SEE, ONCE YOU'VE ACCEPTED JESUS... IT'S YOUR SAME OLD BODY BUT A DIFFERENT LIFE WITHIN YOU...

GOD SAID, "IT'S NOW JESUS CHRIST LIVING HIS LIFE IN YOU..." AND SO, IT'S A NEW LIFE WITHIN YOU_ A WHOLE NEW LIFE... YOU CAN EXPECT CHANGES_ YOU CAN EXPECT A DIFFERENCE_ YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A WHOLE NEW PERSPECTIVE ABOUT YOUR LIFE...

THE 2nd THING THAT'S GOING TO BECOME EVIDENT IS THIS... AND THAT IS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER PEOPLE.... LET ME SHOW YOU WHY...

WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO IS YOU'RE GOING TO BEGIN TO IDENTIFY_ AND GET YOUR PERSONAL IDENTITY AND WORTH_ AND SELF ESTEEM (SO TO SPEAK, IF WE CALL IT SELF ESTEEM), IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO JESUS CHRIST AND NOT OTHERS...

YOU ARE GOD'S CHILD... YOU ARE GOD'S SERVANT... AND YOUR IDENTITY_ AND YOUR SENSE OF SELF-WORTH_ AND SELF- ESTEEM_ IS NOT WRAPPED-UP IN ANY RELATIONSHIP WITH ANYBODY ELSE IN THIS WORLD... IT IS WRAPPED-UP IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST, HIMSELF...

YOUR WHOLE SENSE OF IDENTITY_ YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CHANGE... BECAUSE, YOU'RE GOING TO BEGIN TO ALLOW CHRIST (IN ALL OF HIS FULLNESS_ IN ALL OF HIS PERSONHOOD_ IN ALL OF HIS ADEQUACY_ IN ALL OF HIS WORTHINESS)...

HIS LIFE IS GOING TO BEGIN TO VIBRATE THROUGH THIS PHYSICAL BODY... AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE YOURSELF DIFFERENTLY IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PEOPLE... THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ARE GOING TO CHANGE...

THE 3rd THING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THIS... YOU'RE GOING TO BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE VICTORY OVER HABITS AND SINS IN YOUR LIFE_ OF WHICH, YOU HAVE BEEN DEFEATED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN...

LOOK IF YOU WILL IN ROMANS CHAPTER 6 FOR JUST A MOMENT... LOOK AT WHAT HE SAYS IN THIS 6th VERSE ... "KNOWING THIS, THAT OUR OLD SELF WAS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, THAT OUR BODY OF SIN MIGHT BE DONE AWAY WITH"... (NOW DON'T MISS THIS... BECAUSE HE SAYS HERE'S THE OBJECTIVE)... "THAT WE SHOULD NO LONGER BE SLAVES TO SIN... FOR HE WHO HAS DIED IS FREED... (WATCH THIS) IS FREED FROM (S.I.N.) THE SIN PRINCIPLE IS FREED FROM ITS ENSLAVING POWER IN OUR LIFE... "FREED FROM SIN"..

LISTEN, THE SIN PRINCIPLE IS THERE AND IT'S GOING TO REMAIN THERE TILL WE LEAVE THESE BODIES... BUT WHAT HE'S SAYING IS THIS... IN OUR CRUCIFIXION_ DEATH_ BURIAL_ AND RESURRECTION_ (TO WALK IN THE NEWNESS OF LIFE)...

AND THAT IS THE RESURRECTION POWER OF JESUS CHRIST_ CHRIST LIVING WITHIN US_

HE SAYS, "THINGS ARE DIFFERENT"... BEFORE ISN'T_ EVEN AFTER YOU WERE SAVED AND YOUR SINS WERE FORGIVEN_ YOU STILL HAD A PROBLEM WITH S.I.N.... ALL KINDS OF TEMPTATIONS...

YOU CAN BE SAVED AND BE ENSLAVED... YOU CAN BE SAVED AND BE IN BONDAGE TO ALL KINDS OF HABITS_

PROBABLY AND MOST LIKELY, MOST BELIEVERS TODAY ARE STILL IN BONDAGE TO SOMETHING_ OR SOMEBODY_ OR SOMETHING IN LIFE... AND WHAT I'M SAYING TO YOU IS THAT THE CRUCIFIED LIFE, MY FRIEND, IS GOD'S AVENUE OF FREEDOM AND LIBERTY TO BREAK THE SHACKLES OFF OF YOUR LIFE_ AND TO PROVIDE FREEDOM AND LIBERTY OVER ANY AND EVERY SINGLE HABIT IN YOUR LIFE...

WHY? BECAUSE NOW IT IS CHRIST JESUS LIVING HIS LIFE IN YOU... THE POWER OF SIN HAS BEEN BROKEN_ (IT WAS BROKEN AT THE CROSS)... YOU AND I HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN HIS DEATH... (BURIED AND RESURRECTED)... WE ARE NOW WALKING IN THE NEWNESS OF LIFE AND WALKING IN THE RESURRECTION POWER OF JESUS CHRIST....

THEREFORE, WHAT SIN CANNOT BIND JESUS CANNOT BIND YOU UNLESS YOU CHOOSE TO ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN... ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND THE CRUCIFIED LIFE AND YOU'RE DEFEATED_ YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO BE DEFEATED... YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE DEFEATED_ YOU CHOSE TO BE DEFEATED... LISTEN TO ME, YOU CHOOSE SIN_ I CHOOSE SIN_WE CHOOSE SIN...

WE CAN CHOOSE DEATH TO ANYTHING THAT SATAN CAN THROW AT US... WE HAVE THAT CHOICE...

BUT IF I DON'T KNOW WHO I AM_ IF I DON'T KNOW WHAT POSITION_ IF I DON'T KNOW WHAT I POSSESS_ IF I DON'T KNOW THAT CHRIST JESUS IS LIVING HIS RESURRECTED, ALL POWERFUL LIFE IN ME_ I WILL YIELD TO ALL KINDS OF THINGS... AND I WILL RATIONALIZE AND SAY, "GOD, YOU KNEW I COULDN'T HELP IT".... AND THAT'S RIGHT....

I CANNOT HELP IT... THAT'S WHY PAUL SAYS "IT IS NO LONGER I, BUT NOW CHRIST JESUS LIVING WITHIN ME"...

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT JESUS CAN'T HELP?... DID SATAN EVER DEFEAT HIM?...

NO

EVERY SINGLE TIME I CHOOSE JESUS TO RESPOND TO TEMPTATION...I'M VICTORIOUS... AND WHEN I CHOOSE TO RESPOND TO TEMPTATION, (IN THE FLESH)... AND 'OL MIKE BISHOP GOING TO HANDLE IT... (DOWN I GO)...

THE SIN PRINCIPLE HAS ENSLAVED US OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN BECAUSE WE THOUGHT WE COULDN'T DO ANY BETTER... AND THE TRUTH IS_ YOU CAN'T... THAT'S WHY HE SAYS IT'S NOT A SELF-IMPROVEMENT_ IT IS A SELF-REPLACEMENT...

IT IS NOW CHRIST LIVING WITHIN ME_ HIS LIFE_ I CAN'T EVER DO ANY BETTER... THAT'S WHY HE SAID, "HE CRUCIFIED THE OLD SELF TO LIVE HIS LIFE WITHIN ME_ BECAUSE THE ONLY HOPE OF VICTORY I HAVE IS JESUS LIVING HIS SANCTIFIED_ HOLY_ GLORIFIED LIFE IN AND THROUGH YOU AND ME... THAT'S OUR ONLY HOPE...

ALL RIGHT, LOOK AT WHAT HE SAYS... NOT ONLY IS THAT TRUE... BUT WHEN YOU AND I BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE CRUCIFIED BEFORE HIM_ THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ABANDONMENT OF OUR RIGHTS...

THE CRUCIFIED LIFE SAYS, "I HAVE YIELDED MY RIGHT_ TO MEET MY NEEDS_ MY WAY"... AND THAT MEANS THAT I AM WILLING TO GIVE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST (WHO IS IN MY LIFE) THE PRIVILEGE_ AND THE RIGHT_ TO MEET MY NEEDS_ (WHATEVER MY NEEDS ARE)... PHYSICALLY_ MATERIALLY_ EMOTIONALLY_ SPIRITUALLY_ I HAVE GIVEN HIM THE RIGHT TO MEET MY NEEDS IN HIS WAY_ IN HIS TIMING_ WHETHER I LIKE HIS WAY OR NOT...

WHEN YOU AND I ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT OUR CRUCIFIXION_ OUR DEATH_ AND OUR RESURRECTION_ THROUGH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST... YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS?... GOD ASSUMES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MEETING YOUR NEEDS EXACTLY THE WAY HE KNOWS YOU NEED THEM...

BUT THE QUESTION IS, "AM I WILLING TO ABANDON MY RIGHTS_ AND LET HIM DO IT HIS WAY?"... I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.... THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST FREEING_ LIBERATING DECISIONS YOU HAVE EVER MADE (IN YOUR LIFE)...

ABANDON YOUR RIGHTS AND LET GOD DEAL WITH YOUR NEEDS...

THE NEXT THING I WANT YOU TO NOTICE IS THAT YOU WILL INDEED BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE THE RESURRECTION POWER OF JESUS CHRIST IN YOUR DAILY LIFE_ AND IN YOUR DAILY SERVICE TOWARD HIM...

AND SO MANY TIMES PAUL REFERS TO THE RESURRECTION POWER.... HE SAYS, "I CAST EVERYTHING ELSE IN MY LIFE ASIDE...(ALL OF MY HERITAGE AND EVERYTHING)... IN ORDER TO KNOW CHRIST AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION"...

MOST BELIEVERS_ LET'S FACE IT, MOST BELIEVERS ARE OPERATING OUT OF THE FLESH... BECAUSE WHAT THEY DO IS THEY SERVE THE LORD OUT OF EXPERIENCE_ BASED ON EDUCATION_ BASED ON THEIR GIFTS_ OR THEIR TALENTS_ OR ABILITIES_ OR ON THEIR EXPERIENCE... IT'S "OH, I CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT"... I'LL HANDLE THAT... NO PROBLEM_ I HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THAT AREA"....

YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAYS?... HE SAYS HE DOESN'T WANT US OPERATING OUT OF OURSELVES_ HE WANTS US OPERATING OUT OF CHRIST... WHEN WE CHOOSE TO RESPOND FROM THE CHRIST WHO IS WITHIN US_ IT IS NO LONGER MY RESPONSE_ IT IS NO LONGER MY STRENGTH_ AND MY WISDOM_ AND MY KNOWLEDGE... IT IS THAT OF GOD...

AND THAT'S WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT WHEN HE SAYS, "I'M CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST... NO LONGER I THAT LIVES BUT CHRIST JESUS LIVES IN ME"...

NOW YOU MIGHT BE SAYING, "NOW WAIT A MINUTE... IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CHRIST LIVING WITHIN US_ DOES THAT MEAN WE JUST SORT-OF FOLD OUR HANDS_ IF IT'S ALL JESUS AND NONE OF ME WE JUST FOLD OUR HANDS AND SAY, "WELL, I'LL JUST WAIT FOR JESUS TO DO SOMETHING"...

IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?... NO... HERE'S TWO GOOD EXAMPLES....

DID JESUS JUST SIT AROUND?.. NO... (HE WAS BUSY)... DID THE APOSTLE PAUL JUST SIT AROUND AND DO NOTHING?... NO... (HE DIDN'T DO THAT)... PAUL WAS A BUSY MAN... BUT YOU KNOW WHAT HE WAS BUSY DOING?.... HE WAS BUSY WITH THE THINGS THAT HAD ETERNAL VALUE...

WE CAN EXPERIENCE THIS RESURRECTION POWER DAILY...

THE NEXT THING YOU CAN LOOK FOR IS FREEDOM FROM DESTRUCTIVE PRESSURES AND STRESSES... NOW WATCH THAT... FREEDOM FROM DESTRUCTIVE PRESSURES AND STRESSES...

NOW, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A LITTLE PRESSURE IN OUR LIFE... AND IF THERE ARE NO PRESSURES AT ALL... (YOU HAD BETTER GRAB YOUR WRIST AND CHECK YOUR PULSE) ,MIGHT NOT BE ONE THERE...

BUT SERIOUSLY, IF THERE WERE NO PRESSURES AT ALL, WE WOULDN'T GET UP AND GET MOTIVATED SOMETIMES... SO THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME PRESSURES AND SOME STRESSES_ BUT NOTICE HOW I SAID IT... I SAID DESTRUCTIVE PRESSURES_ AND I SAID DESTRUCTIVE STRESSES... THE DESTRUCTIVE STRESSES IN OUR LIFE...

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE THAT I KNOW IS ABOUT HUDSON TAYLOR_ WHO WAS A MISSIONARY TO INLAND CHINA...

AND THE FIRST TIME I EVER DISCOVERED ANYTHING ABOUT HIS STORY WAS WHEN I READ A BOOK CALLED "THEY FOUND THE SECRET"... TWENTY SHORT BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES... THE FIRST ONE IN THE BOOK IS ABOUT HIM...

NOW, I REMEMBER READING IN HIS LITTLE BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH... SOMETHING HE SAID.... HE WAS UNDER THE GREAT PRESSURE... LETTER ON TOP OF LETTER_ ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MISSION... ALL KINDS OF NEWS_ SO MANY BEING BAD NEWS_ FROM VILLAGES... AND LETTER AFTER LETTER HE WAS FOUND SAYING THAT HE NEVER KNEW IF THEY'D HAVE ENOUGH MONEY OR NOT... WHAT WAS HAPPENING HERE AND THERE... THE MISSIONARIES WERE FUSSING AMONG THEMSELVES... (ON AND ON AND ON)...

ALL OF THE LETTERS HE WROTE HOME WERE LETTERS OF DEFEAT... TOTAL DEFEAT_ WIPED OUT IN DEFEAT_ HE WAS WIPED OUT WITH TEMPTATION_ WORN OUT WITH DEFEAT_ HE WAS UNDER THE LOAD_ UNDER THE PILE_ IN THE PITS....

AND THEN, ONE OF HIS MISSIONARY FRIENDS WROTE HIM A LETTER... IN THE LETTER HE ASKED HIM A QUESTION....

HE SAID, "WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT JESUS IS THERE ANY FURROW ON HIS BROW?"... THAT IS: IS HE WORRIED??... IS JESUS ANXIOUS??... IS HE WRINKLED IN THE BROW, BECAUSE HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT_ (IF HE'S GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH?)...

IS HE CONCERNED ABOUT ALL THE MAIL_ AND ALL THE NATION_ IS HE WORRIED ABOUT ALL THESE THINGS?"

HE SAID, "NO"... AND HE SAID, "HUDSON, WHEN YOUR LIFE BECOMES JESUS' LIFE YOU WON'T BE WORRIED EITHER BECAUSE"... YOU SEE, HE SAID, "BECAUSE IT WILL NO LONGER BE HUDSON_ BUT IT WILL BE JESUS AND YOU COULDN'T EVER SWAMP HIM WITH MAIL OR PROBLEMS"...

HUDSON TAYLOR ACCEPTED HIS POSITION IN CHRIST JESUS AS CRUCIFIED, DEAD, BURIED AND RESURRECTED, WALKING IN THE NEWNESS OF LIFE... AND THEY SAID OF HUDSON TAYLOR WHEN HE CAME TO THE MISSION TO SPEAK (ONE SUNDAY) IT WAS A DIFFERENT HUDSON TAYLOR...

SURE IT WAS... IT WAS NOW CHRIST JESUS SPEAKING_ AND LIVING_ AND ANSWERING THAT MAIL_ FACING THOSE PROBLEMS_ TAKING CARE OF THOSE MISSIONARIES... NO LONGER WORRIED_ BUT JUST RESTING IN HIM_ RESTING IN HIM...

THE NEXT THING I WANT YOU TO NOTICE, AND I'VE INDICATED THAT IN THIS LAST ONE... AND THAT IS A RESTFUL RELIANCE UPON CHRIST FOR EVERYTHING...

YOU SEE, IF YOU AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S CHRIST'S LIFE AND NOT OURS... YOU KNOW WHAT THAT SAYS?... THAT SAYS THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS_ WE ARE ALLOWING HIM TO COME INTO OUR LIFE_ AND POSSESS_ AND LIVE WITHIN US_ SO THAT WE REALLY ARE HIS LIFE NOW... THIS IS HIS LIFE...

THIS PHYSICAL BODY WITH OUR PERSONALITY AND OUR DISPOSITION IS STILL HIS LIFE... DID HE NOT SAY, "KNOW YE NOT THAT YOU'RE NOT YOUR OWN... YOU'RE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE...
THEREFORE GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY"...

IT'S CHRIST LIVING WITHIN US... THIS IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT...(IT'S NOT OURS)... SO THIS IS AN EXPRESSION OF CHRIST LIVING HERE ON EARTH... AND IF THAT BE TRUE, (AND IT IS).... THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE A RESTFULNESS IN US WHEN WE UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE... AND LISTEN, WHO'S RESPONSIBILITY IT IS...

ONE OTHER THING I WANT YOU TO NOTICE... AND THAT IS WHEN YOU AND I BEGIN TO EXERCISE THE LIFE THAT HE'S PROVIDED FOR US_ AND PAUL SAYS, "A WHOLE NEW LIFESTYLE" NOW HE SAYS, " I LIVE MY LIFE BY FAITH"...

WHAT IS IT? HE SAYS WE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM... IN COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 2 AND VERSE 9.... "FOR IN HIM THAT IS IN CHRIST, ALL THE FULLNESS OF DEITY DWELLS IN BODILY FORM"...

THAT IS... WHEN JESUS WALKED IN THIS WORLD... HE SAID "ALL THE FULLNESS OF DEITY (THE FATHER, THE SON, THE SPIRIT) WAS ALIVE WITHIN HIM"

NOW WATCH THIS, "AND IN HIM; THIS SAME CHRIST, YOU HAVE BEEN... [LISTEN CLOSELY](IN THIS SAME CHRIST WHO INDWELLS YOU_ YOU HAVE BEEN_ PAST-TENSE_ FINISHED ACTION)_ YOU HAVE BEEN MADE COMPLETE"

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?... IT MEANS, MY FRIENDS, THAT EVERYTHING YOU AND I NEED_ (WATCH THIS) EVERYTHING YOU AND I NEED_ EVERY NEED OF OUR LIFE_ EVERY HUNGER_ EVERY THIRST_ EVERY YEARNING OF THE SPIRIT_ EVERY ACHE OF THE SOUL....

HE SAYS THAT THE CHRIST JESUS WHO LIVES WITHIN US MAKES US COMPLETE... BECAUSE (THE WAY THE LIVING BIBLE PUTS IT SO BEAUTIFULLY) IT SAYS, "SO YOU HAVE EVERYTHING WHEN YOU HAVE CHRIST"... YOU HAVE EVERYTHING_ THAT IS YOU ARE COMPLETE IN HIM...

AS I CLOSE LET ME TELL YOU THAT FIRST...UNTIL YOU'RE WILLING TO COME TO THE CONCLUSION IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU HAVE FAILED GOD AS A CHRISTIAN... AND IF YOU GET REAL HONEST, IT WON'T TAKE YOU BUT ABOUT 15 SECONDS TO FIGURE THAT ONE OUT... YOU'VE FAILED...

IT MAY BE THAT MOST OF US WOULD HAVE TO SAY NOT ONLY HAVE I FAILED AT BEING A CHRISTIAN... BUT I FAILED AT BEING THE FATHER_ OR THE MOTHER_ OR THE SON OR DAUGHTER I OUGHT TO BE_ THE KIND OF FRIEND I SHOULD BE_ THE KIND OF EMPLOYEE, I SHOULD BE_ THE EMPLOYER, I SHOULD BE....

BUT I'VE FAILED... I'VE FAILED AS A STUDENT_ I'VE JUST FAILED BEING WHAT I OUGHT TO BE_ DOING WHAT I OUGHT TO DO...

SECONDLY WE NEED TO HONESTLY CONFESS "I'VE BEEN AT THE CENTER OF MY LIFE BECAUSE THE PRIMARY THING I'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN_ IN MY LIFE_ IS MYSELF... I'VE BEEN MEETING MY OWN NEEDS"... WHETHER THEY WERE PHYSICAL NEEDS_ EMOTIONAL NEEDS_ INTELLECTUAL NEEDS_ I HAVE BEEN MEETING THEM MY WAY...

JUST ASK GOD TO BRING TO YOUR MIND THE AREAS OF YOUR LIFE IN WHICH YOU ARE CONTINUALLY SUFFERING DEFEAT...

IT MAY BE PROCRASTINATION... IT MAY BE A CRITICAL TONGUE... IT MAY BE LUST... (WHETHER IT'S LUST FOR MONEY_ LUST FOR SEX_ OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE... IT MAY BE DISHONESTY_ IT MAY BE SOME PHYSICAL HABIT THAT YOU HAVE... IT MAY BE SOME ENSLAVING PROBLEM IN YOUR LIFE THAT HAS DOGGED YOU SINCE YOU CAN REMEMBER... SOMETHING THAT YOU HATE, BUT YOU STILL PARTICIPATE IN IT...

SOMETHING THAT YOU DESPISE_ BUT IT HAS A GRIP ON YOUR LIFE... SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO BE FREED FROM_ BUT YOU'RE ENTRAPPED BY IT TODAY...

WHEN GOD BRINGS THOSE THINGS TO YOUR MIND_ HERE'S WHAT YOU DO...

YOU SAY, "FATHER, ON THE AUTHORITY OF YOUR WORD, YOU SAID WHEN JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED I WAS CRUCIFIED... BURIED_ RESURRECTED_ SEATED AT THE FATHER'S RIGHT HAND... AND NOW WALKING IN THE NEWNESS OF LIFE... I ACCEPT THAT BY FAITH... BY FAITH, I ACCEPT MY CRUCIFIXION... CHRIST JESUS LIVING WITHIN ME... AND I ACCEPT THIS NEW LIFE WHICH IS MINE"...

LET'S SAY HE BRINGS TO YOUR MIND THAT DEEP DOWN INSIDE THAT YOU'RE CONTINUALLY BEING DECEITFUL ABOUT THINGS...

YOU JUST TELL HIM, "FATHER, I CHOOSE DEATH TO DECEIT IN MY LIFE... I CHOOSE DEATH TO SENSUALITY IN MY LIFE... I CHOOSE DEATH TO GREED IN MY LIFE... " AS GOD BRINGS THESE THINGS UP... YOU HAVE THE POWER... BECAUSE SIN'S POWER BEEN BROKEN... YOU HAVE THE POWER BECAUSE OF THE PRESENCE OF THE LIVING CHRIST_ TO CHOOSE DEATH TO ANY AND EVERY AND ALL THINGS THAT GOD BRINGS TO YOUR MIND...

BY FAITH, YOU TELL HIM THAT YOU'RE ACCEPTING YOUR POSITION AS CRUCIFIED... THAT THERE'S NEW LIFE OF CHRIST JESUS WITHIN YOU... AND THAT YOU, BY FAITH, WILL CHOOSE ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS (BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE) YOU, BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL CHOOSE DEATH TO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT SATAN BRINGS TO YOUR MIND AND YOUR WAY THAT WOULD DEFEAT YOU...

AND TELL HIM THAT YOU'RE ACCEPTING BY EXPERIENCE_ BY FAITH_ YOUR POSITION_ CRUCIFIED, BURIED, RESURRECTED AND WALKING NOW IN A NEWNESS OF LIFE IN THE RESURRECTED POWER OF JESUS CHRIST...

IF YOU ARE WILLING TO GO TO GOD AND PUT THAT IN YOUR OWN WORDS_ ALL THAT'S NECESSARY... HE'LL BEGIN TO WORK WITHIN YOUR LIFE... AND THE MOMENT THAT YOU TELL HIM BY FAITH, THAT YOU'RE ACCEPTING YOUR POSITION AS CRUCIFIED_ RESURRECTED TO WALK IN THE NEWNESS OF LIFE_ IT WILL BE JUST AS DEFINITE (JUST AS DEFINITE A DECISION) AS THE DAY WHEN YOU SAID, "LORD JESUS I DO ACCEPT YOU AS MY SAVIOR AND MY LORD AND (WHATEVER ELSE YOU PRAYED), WHEN YOU TOLD HIM "I WANT TO LIVE FOR YOU."

THAT WAS A LIFE CHANGING ETERNAL DECISION_

I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING... IF YOU WILL FACE THE LORD JESUS IN THE SAME WAY (WITH THE CRUCIFIED LIFE) GOD WILL DO MORE DRAMATICALLY IN YOUR PRESENT LIFE AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWS THAN HE DID THE DAY YOU WERE SAVED...

BECAUSE IT WILL BE CHRIST JESUS LIVING HIS LIFE IN AND THROUGH YOU...

THE CRUCIFIED LIFE IS THE DOORWAY INTO A LIFE OF WALKING VICTORIOUSLY IN THE SPIRIT, WHEREBY, BY FAITH YOU BEGIN TO EXERCISE THE LIFE THAT IS YOURS_ AND THE POWER THAT IS YOURS_ IN CHRIST JESUS, OUR SAVIOR AND LORD...

I'VE BEEN DEFEATED AGAIN_ AND AGAIN_ AGAIN IN MY LIFE... AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, THERE ISN'T BUT ONE ANSWER... THE ANSWER IS NOT IN IMPROVEMENT_ IT'S REPLACEMENT....

LET'S PRAY...