DEATH.

    Death is the one thing that nobody likes to talk about. The mention of the subject alone sends shivers down people’s spine. There’s always a cold sensation or feeling when the subject of death is mentioned. However, it is best we are able to fully grasp what death signifies to us as believers and the impact it can/should make in our daily lives and the body of Christ at large.

    We’ve all heard of how business pioneers die and the business died along with them. When we come to the body of Christ, it’s a whole different ballgame. Contrary to what happens in the world, the church or ministry still stands. This tells us that there’s more to death than we actually see it to be.

     Before we go into details, let’s find out what death means:

1. Death means a cessation of life and all associated processes. It means the end of an organism’s existence as an entity independent from it’s environment and its return to a non living state.

2. Death means the collapse or the end of something. This is used to explain death in inanimate objects(relationships, companies, businesses etc.)

3. Death means spiritual lifelessness. (gist for later)

    Death, as we can decipher from above, seeks to put an end to beautiful things when it happens at the wrong times. Death comes to us all but it can be invoked earlier than the said time. Hebrews 9:27 says; “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”(KJV)

Kinds Of Death.

1. Physical Death.

    This is very familiar to both the natural and spiritual man. This is when the physical body of a man is emptied of life and breadth. At this point, the Spirit is still at work but the physical body lifeless. Therefore, it would leave the body.

    A natural death can be caused by; illnesses, accidents, spiritual attacks and so much more. Physical death is accompanied by mourning and weeping. This is due to the fact that the deseased would cease to be seen.

2. Spiritual Death

    This isn’t so common due to some factors. It is simply a situation whereby the person or church is no longer spiritually prsesnt.

    Revelation 3:1&2 says; “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.”(KJV)

    This was God’s revelation to the church of Sardis. They were physically present but they were no more spiritually. They had all the physical proofs of being a church. Spiritually, they were invisible to God.

    Another bibilical reference is St. Luke 11:44 which says; “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.”(KJV)

    This depicts spiritual death. There, Jesus wqs referring to the Pharisees. Physically, they are seen to be important to the church. Spiritually, they weren’t alive. Jesus described them as invincible, even in their dead form.

    This is a product of what I call RELIGIOUSNESS.

3. Death To The Flesh.

    St. John 12:24-25 says; “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”(KJV)

    This is very necessary to the christian faith. You must die (end your old life) to grow (begin a new life in Christ). Jesus made an illustration using a corn of wheat to describe the death and resurrection of the spirit of a man. Yes, death and resurrection. It is the death where you die and loose your old life and resurrect into the pure life that is in Christ.

    This is what baptism by immersion seeks to portray.

    The spirit realm is nothing like the physical. Anything happening (positively) in the spiritual realm is driven by the spirit of God. Without Him in the boat, death is inevitable. The body of Christ thrives without men because it’s the spirit that quickeneth.

    Romans 8:11 says; “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.”(KJV).

    The spirit of God is reason for the standing church or believer. Without God’s mercies, our righteousness is filthy.

    Beloved, 1 Corinthians 15:31 says; “I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our LORD, I die daily.”(KJV)

    It isn’t pleasant to die physically before destiny. Neither is it pleasant to die spiritually. However, it would profit us everything to die to the flesh. St. John 6:63 says; “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (KJV)

    The process of dying to the flesh is a gradual process. Mistakes would be made, like a child trying to walk and falls. However, we should be determined to die. Its a daily commitment, a daily duty.

    Your failures shouldn’t weigh you down. Rather, they should make you more determined to stand!

     Happy Sunday!
    #GrowingInGrace.