Choose Life Part 1
Cry for Revival Prayer – July 08, 2020
Text: Deuteronomy 30:19, John 3:16
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you, life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live: Deuteronomy 30:19
Today I am introducing a series derived from out text “choose life”. You can see here how gracious our God is. He treats us like children with care and perfect love, He never tramples upon your will because He made you after His own image. Instead, He puts before you, death and life but encourage you to choose Life. The human life has been victim of death since Adam. In this discussion we focus on the choice of life and warnings about the disruptive nature of death. When Jesus said…, Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:60 He was not referring to corpse in the graveyard, but to everyone who … lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. Luke 12:21 Or those who are alive only for the pleasures of this world, but are dead to the way, the truth and life of God.
There are two ways to describe death in bible context. One is physical or the first death, the other is the second death. The first death began in the garden of Eden; when the LORD God said “ … of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:17 Unfortunately they disobeyed God, ate the fruit, and died. Man was not aware he was spiritually dead because they kept on living thereafter, sadly, they had lost relationship with the living God. Therefore, physical or first death is being spiritually dead to the life of God, but alive in the flesh. Be aware also that the physical death can only terminates the flesh. This is the death of the body as we know it and it is irrelevant to eternity. But if the spirit is not regenerated, it will face eternal condemnation Heb. 9:27
The second death is completely spiritual. Rev. 2:11 “36 He that believes on the Son (Jesus) has everlasting life: and he who believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him. John 3:36 Spiritual death or second death is total failure to secure everlasting life while you lived here on earth. I have set before you, life and death, the LORD said, therefore choose life. You have the good fortune to make the right choice. For God is not willing that any should perish or miss eternal life, but that all come to repentance.
The act of repentance is to make the choice of life or restore life as ordained by God. It is the choice which turns from the way of death to that of true life with God. You alone can make that choice. Consider the following calamities of death, to help or encourage you to make the right choice.
- A dead person cannot have a meaningful relationship with the Living God. Because he is spiritually dead, and God lives. “… For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another. Galatians 5:17 Jesus said “… God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” Matthew 22:32 And God is Spirit, those who worship Him must do so in spirit and in truth. You cannot begin to navigate the dangers of spiritual death until you have done what God said – Choose life. You must first receive this life. “… as many as received Him(Jesus Christ), to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: John 1:12 The following are some signs or spiritual vitals we can use to test where we are.
- Bread and drink of life – It is a good indicator when you can eat and drink. (in this case spiritual food) Your life began with eating and drinking even from conception. 51 I am, Jesus said, the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. John 6:51 54 He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day. John 6:54 This the only spiritual bread and drink that keep you alive now an unto eternity. You eat and drink the blood of Jesus by faith in Him. Your continuous and obedient desire for Jesus and His word is a sign of spiritual life.
- Hunger and thirst after righteousness – This convinces you that you are active and need more of Jesus (the bread and drink of eternal life) 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 The psalmist also said, 131 I opened my mouth and panted: for I longed for your commandments. Psalms 119:131 Your strong desires in life, indicates if you choose life or death. 16 Do you not know that if you continually surrender yourselves to anyone to do his will, you are the slaves of him whom you obey, whether that be to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness (right doing and right standing with God)? Romans 6:16
We will continue from here next week. But meanwhile, if you are not there yet, you can choose life right now. Make the turn, repent, and believe the only begotten son of God Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life. The cry for revival prayer promotes His life and His Gospel. Revival brings the dead to life and keep the living more vibrant until Jesus Comes again. Therefore, continue to watch and pray. See next week. God bless you.
