SONS - DYING TO SELF THE FLESH

Phil 2:8,9 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,....

INTRODUCTION Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death and so submitted himself to the death on the cross, but before he could engage this act outwardly, he first, in humility with no element of pride, embraced the principle of being obedient to the point of death to his own inclinations and will, but rather declared to His heavenly Father, Not my will but Yours be done. Before obedience to the word of God transmitted through a spiritual father, there has to be an internal obedience unto death. Obedience to the death to self. Death to self includes dying daily to the flesh, carnal or human reasoning, desires, understanding, ambitions, etc.

HOW DO WE KNOW IF WE HAVE DIED TO THE FLESH When we are quick to obey the voice of the father When we are willing to submit to the instruction of the father When humility is a life style When we are in control of the flesh, not the flesh in control of us When our minds are totally under the subjection of Christ When all traces of greed, malice, pride, jealousy and lust are subject to the spirit

Example of a son who became obedient to death: Isaac Gen 22: Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, My father! And he said, Here I am, my son. And he said, Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the a lamb for the burnt offering? 8 Abraham said, God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son. So the two of them walked on together.

The recognition of who your father is, is the key to obedience. Obedience will flow from that relationship. Once a son has recognised and established that he is a son in a household, obedience will be no difficult task for he trusts his father completely, even unto death. They walked on together, like Ruth and Naomi. You can only come to the place of obedience when you walk together with your spiritual father. Relationship with your father builds trust You cannot come to this position of dying to self unless you trust your spiritual father Mordecai asked Esther to go to the king to the inner court. To the natural mind, these actions spelt certain death – almost suicidal. This seemed like sure death.

NB But how do you obey someones instruction that seems to be leading to your death? You have to have a relationship with them. You had to have established in your heart that this man or woman has been placed over my life to father my soul in order to bring my soul to rest. From a carnal perception, a spiritual fathers instruction or command could seem that he is leading you to death. Yes, in a way, he is leading to the death of your flesh. Have you established your sonship position because you cannot come to this position of being dead to self if you do not have a relationship?

Obedience is also a position you learn from accurate fathering. The reason Isaac was obedient was because of his father Abraham, who being obedient to the voice of God was an accurate model for Isaac to follow, Isaac had the capacity to obey because he had a point of reference for what obedience looked like in the life of his fathers relationship to God

NB When the son enters obedience to the point of death, which is dying to self, his father enters a new realm or revealed knowledge of who Christ is. Caution - You as a son can hinder further development of your fathers relationship with God, or the rate at which he is able to move forward with greater speed into the fullness of the mandate he carries, through disobedience.

Isaac had to die to self (obedience), in order for Abraham to enter new phase or new revealed knowledge of who God is Jehovah Jireh. Gen 22:16 and said, "By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, In a sense, Isaacs obedience is credited to Abraham. Although the father receives new prophetic destiny and greater blessings, you as a son will receive double portion, and its your inheritance.

Your obedience in a household of faith has an effect on other sons in that same household. Your personal and private obedience will have public and corporate effect and impact. It only comes when you are dead to self. You could be holding back the breakthrough of your brothers or sisters and even that of your spiritual fathers because of your disobedience. Your acts of obedience will allow the father to easily locate you from your present function to raise you into higher functions within your destiny.

The obedience of one, can lead an entire corporate household into divine purpose The obedience of Joseph saved a whole nation from famine The obedience of Isaac The obedience of Esthers led to the nation Israel escaping genocide. Many are saved through obedience. It was said of Jesus. Rom 5:19... Through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous?