© 11 Colin Melbourne
Deny Yourself: Take Up Your Cross
God longs to be permitted to rule in us.
Father’s plan is to make you; strong, fruitful, and powerful; another perfect representation of Himself on Earth.
The only thing that can hinder its fulfilment is if you want to be something.
He Wants You to Be Nothing
A theme that runs quietly through His word.
When I am weak, then am I strong.
2 Co. 12:10b. KJV
He must increase, but I must decrease.
Jn. 3:30. KJV
Unless a seed dies it cannot grow and bear fruit.
(Jn. 12:24 paraphrased)
Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of Hosts.
Zech. 4:6 KJV
Who Made You?
Let’s remember our place; we are created mere human beings.
Our Creator is not a created being. He is the Eternal Supreme Being.
When Moses asked Him who he was to represent, God replied, Ex. 3:14, KJV;
I AM THAT I AM. (also I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE.)
Meaning therefore: HE who IS, and who; WILL BE what HE IS.
Jews and cults argue endlessly over the spelling and pronunciation of God’s Old Covenant Name.
In English we call it the Tetragrammaton; YHWH, pronounced Jehovah.
That is His Name: Jehovah.
No Other Name
You can safely ignore the babble because the New Covenant made the whole matter redundant.
Today there’s only one Name that can save anybody, and that Name is The LORD Jesus Christ. Altogether now… Acts 4:12 KJV;
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Jesus is the Exodus 3:14 God who spoke to Moses.
Jesus is I AM manifested in the Flesh
HE IS: You are not.
He’s also astonishingly humble and gentle in heart, He never usurps our will.
Therefore, until you choose to become nothing, I AM will not reign in you.
Yes, He lives in every real Christian, but rules in so few.
I Did It My Way
Let us repent of wilfulness and pride, of thinking we know better than the Almighty.
He knows what’s best for us: And that is to become nothing.
Do It Father’s Way
God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. (2 Co. 12:9b)
I must decrease: He must increase.
The less you are, the more He IS.
His Spirit filling yours.
His mind renewing yours.
His love, faith, and peace, ruling in your heart.
Let Him Be
You’ve received Him, now let Him BE in you.
It’s what you were created for.
The Bible exhorts Spirit-filled believers to follow the example of Our Prototype. Phil. 2:5 KJV;
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
He who was both God and Man, made Himself of no reputation, allowing God the Father to reign in Him, setting the example we are to follow.
Since Almighty God in the Flesh made Himself of no reputation, how much more ought we to humble ourselves to His abiding Spirit?
Let us beware of usurping the Spirit’s rule in our hearts.
Jesus always yielded to Father’s will. Mtt. 26:39 KJV;
… nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Who made Him yield?
He made Himself.
Not His will, but His Father’s.
Not by His power or might, but by His Father’s Spirit.
He made Himself of no reputation, to glorify His Father.
Perfection in the Flesh made Himself of no reputation, so that Perfection in the Spirit would be manifest to the world. Jn. 14:31 KJV;
But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.
Follow Him, dare to become nothing, of no reputation, so that everything you say and do is Him.
You will live in the power and anointing of God
Okay, you’re convinced and determined to be nothing.
Now you simply need to learn what Father’s will is, and how He lets you know what He wants you to do.
We have the Holy Bible of course, but the primary way God leads His children is directly by His Spirit. How You Can Be Led By The Spirit of God. This book will help you develop your ability to follow His Spirit in all things. It’s a wonderful scriptural and practical teaching.
© 11 Colin Melbourne
