DEATH BEFORE LIFE !

“The Lord kills and gives life…” 
1 Samuel 2:6.

Smith Wigglesworth once said he had his healing Power from God after his heart was first broken ( he lost his wife ). Another servant said just after God told him through a Prophet that he would get a better job, he first got fired from his own job. Clearly, God’s way for His followers is different but higher – He first kills before He brings back to life ! 

A Man of God whose church now is one of the most expanded ones in Africa, once said His church rather took a disgraceful downturn initially when he started making mouthwatering sacrifices unto God. One other servant narrated how that his relation suffered from a crush just after he arrived from a mission for God, even with His material sacrifices – God kills and makes alive !

Before a more glorious end, Job lost his properties and children. Joseph was betrayed and disappointed a few times before arriving in the palace. How about The Lord Jesus? Preceding His death, resurrection and eternal reign, were Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial. Indeed, we die to live !

” My son, give me thine heart…” Proverbs 23:26. And if the man He’s committed to using would still not willfully do so (even continually), He often allows this man into a state of brokenness so He may have more of Him. This way, The Lord kills in order to bring back to life !
Brokenness of Spirit is just a way by which God attunes or focuses our attention on Himself. Discussed below is a couple more ways by which we effectualise our brokenness before He finally resurrects us back to life.

PRAYING AND FASTING

Making the body a living sacrifice unto God requires that we constantly fast. It’s a way of letting God increase in us while we decrease ourselves, like John said. Only then are we infused with POWER for greater exploits. Fasting also divinely enables us to overcome temptations as we die to self but come alive to God and His WILL. 

( Romans 12:1 & John 3:30 )

GIVING

God wants us to give Him our hearts. Yet, a man’s heart belongs where his treasures are. Obviously, this is one main importance of the various givings we do to The Lord. These seeds are not only multiplied back unto us, but they also serve as ransoms for our lives in times of troubles. 

( Mathew 6:21, Proverbs 13:8 )

Beloved, it does not always mean you did anything wrong – those downturns, losses, bad breaks, betrayals and disappointments, are all forms of death. But now, The Lord says, “ I will open your graves and bring you up again…” Ezekiel 37:13. “ Indeed, we die to live !

Author: 

Pastor Nelson Anyadi.