Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” John 12:24, 25

Something has to die . . . 

Adam and Eve and their home-made religion.

Sarah and her right to bear a son.

Jonah and his self-righteousness.

Samson and his lust for ungodly women.

Naomi and her bitterness.

Jacob and his deceiving ways.

Saul of Tarsus and his trust in religious works.

The Prostitute of Luke 7 and her hope for the perfect man.

Mary and her hope for a respectable and reputable life.

Nicodemus and his fear of man.

The Church and her love affair with American fame and fortune.

. . . Before there can be Victory in Jesus!

Jesus died to give the Church in America, not fame and fortune, but contentment in the midst of excess and debauchery.

Jesus died to set Nicodemus free from the Pharisees’ rejection of him.

Jesus died to give his mother Mary a reputation of righteousness though nearly all of Jerusalem would view her as an unfaithful woman.

Jesus died to give a prostitute forgiveness of sins and make her feel alive for the first time in her life.

Jesus died to give Saul a new name – Paul, and then show him what he will suffer to magnify the name of Jesus.

Jesus died to outwit Jacob in a wrestling match and give him a true heritage that no man can take away.

Jesus died to give Naomi a great-grandson who would be King in Israel – all her bitterness is gone.

Jesus died to conquer his enemies on their turf, this is why he gave Samson one last humbling sacrifice: he would give his life for God.

Jesus died to subdue Jonah’s self-righteousness. Jonah would then write his own sad story as a confession and find the love of God that he was always looking for.

Jesus died to make Sarah laugh (translated as Isaac) in her old age with an impossible delivery.

Jesus died to give Adam and Eve what they could never achieve in the garden: a covering of righteousness that would last for eternity.

Before there can be victory, something has to die. Jesus died – and rose again victorious.  Something in your life has to die before you know the victory of God: an entitlement, a dream, an ambition, a right, a quest, a luxurious retirement, a safe life, applause and praise of man, a two-car garage with a new truck and a beamer, a trophy wife, . . .  you

The New You in Christ will see that the death was worth it!