THREE STAGES OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY IN CHRIST: MARTYRDOM (2)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Martyrdom
a) The stages of maturity in Christ may overlap and they will occur at different speed in each person. Some people go from salvation to giving their life fully at the moment of conversion and they begin their testimony and ministry instantly. Some people have gone through all three stages in a few seconds while looking down the barrel of a gun and being given the choice to renounce Christ or die; they have chosen Christ and were instantly martyred and entered into the glory of the Lord. For other people it may take a lifetime to come to the end of them selves.
b) It is through dying to ourselves that the resurrection life of Christ can reign in us. Jesus taught that we must take up our cross daily and follow after Him.
(Luke 9:22-24 NKJV)
“The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.” {23} Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. {24} “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.
c) Jesus spoke of becoming glorified through His death and resurrection; we are to follow His example.
(John 12:23-25 NKJV)
But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. {24} “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. {25} “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
The End ...
1. Martyrdom a) The stages of maturity in Christ may overlap and they will occur at different speed in each person. Some people go from salvation to giving their life fully at the moment of conversion and they begin their testimony and ministry instantly. Some people have gone through all three stages in a few seconds while looking down the barrel of a gun and being given the choice to renounce Christ or die; they have chosen Christ and were instantly martyred and entered into the glory of the Lord. For other people it may take a lifetime to come to the end of them selves.
b) It is through dying to ourselves that the resurrection life of Christ can reign in us. Jesus taught that we must take up our cross daily and follow after Him.
(Luke 9:22-24 NKJV)
“The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.” {23} Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. {24} “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.
c) Jesus spoke of becoming glorified through His death and resurrection; we are to follow His example.
(John 12:23-25 NKJV)
But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. {24} “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. {25} “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
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