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Ever hear somebody pray, "none of me, God, all of you?"  Bill Johnson says that's a dump prayer because He already had that option and opted to make you.  Therefore He clearly wants there to be a "you" and if He want's it, we probably should want it too (Him being a perfect God and all).  It's simple logic and I agree with it.  So why do people sincerely pray this?  Simple, scripture means different things at different times when refering to the self. For example:  "I have been Crucified with Christ," or, "But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me."  So according to scripture here are some true statements that seem to contredict each other.  I stole a pen from Staples.  The sin in me stole a pen from staples.  I was crucified with Christ.  I am a saint.  I am both dead to sin and alive in Christ.  To make is simpler, scripture sometimes refers to the self as sinful, and sometimes refers to the self as holy.

We sometimes refer to the flesh (sinful nature) as if we were refering to our self.  This, while remaining a mystery, is simply wrong.  The mystery is that the flesh ( I ) has ( have ) been crucified with Chist in the past, and we need to daily deny ourself - daily crucify the flesh.  Paul clearly states in Romans 7 that he is no longer the one doing it (that is sin), "but the sin which dwells in [him]."

Okay, key point, those who belong to Christ are saints, they are holy ones.  Why?  Because we are "hidden in Christ" (who is holy), because "it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me," and because God declaired, "'You shall be holy, for I AM holy (Lev. 19:2; 1 Peter 1:16).'"  So Romans 8 says it perfectly.  We either live by the flesh (sin nature) or by the Spirit.  It's like the choice between going back to Egypt or trusting the Lord to lead us into the promised land.

Therefore, the initial prayer would be more accurate if addapted to the following: "Lord please give me the strength to deny my flesh and to live by Your Spirit (that is Christ in Me)"

The following are major points from Romans 7 and 8 that are extremely important for our lives.  Each disciple of Christ is a war zone.  Every morning (and all day long) we wake up and have to choose between the flesh and the Spirit (between death and life) which war inside us.  We are to deny ourselves (flesh), "pick up our cross" (or carry in our bodies the death of Christ so that the life of Christ may be manifested in our bodies - 2 Cor. 4:10), and follow Him.  And what if we replaced the word "follow" with the word "mimick?"

Generally speaking what did Jesus do (that we should mimick Him)? Well, He (by the power of the Holy Spirit) did and said everything that He (through the Holy Spirit) saw and heard His Father doing.  His agenda: The Kingdom of Heaven manifested on earth.  What does that look like in the natural? - Read the gospels.

Jesus underwent baptisms of water, Spirit, and fire.  Should we not also mimick our master by submitting to these baptisms?  Should we not also mimick our master by doing and saying what our Father in heaven is doing and saying (1 Peter 4:11)?  He was equipped for ministry through those three baptisms.  So we, can opperate in ministry to a greater degree than He did when we are in submission to these baptisms.  He even said that we would do greater things than He did.

Finally, the baptism in water represents our death to sin and life in Christ.  This only happens once and so there is only one baptism in water.  Baptism in the Spirit (i.e. pentecost and several other times in Acts) is sovereignly given as needed almost always (if not always) through prayer. NO LIMIT (remember the Spirit is the "Living Water" that Jesus spoke about in the gospels (John 7:38,39).  2 Corinthians 4:16 - How was Pauls inner man being daily renewed?  By the Living Water of the Holy Spirit).  This baptism is so key because we fellowship by the Spirit with one another and with the Father and with the Son.  Therefore, no Spirit no fellowship, period.  The baptism in fire is harder to define.  Jesus' fast and temptation in the wilderness was a baptism in fire.  Jewels, gold, and silver represent character, nature, and identity (not necessarily directly correlative).  Riches that have been refined in the fire increase in purity and worth because the impuries have been removed.  Twice Hebrews says that Jesus was perfected through suffering (I'm not going into it but this does not imply imperfection).  First Peter 4:1 makes it clear that "he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin."  Also, vs. 12 - 14 say "not [to] be suprised at the fiery ordeal."  The purpose of this baptism can been seen in verse 2.  And, how do we endure the fire? Vs. 19 answers this question.  I believe we will have many baptisms in fire during our lives.  However, I do not know if our death could be considered the baptism in fire.

I thought this was funny.

You are Book, the Shepherd. Your mission is to bring the Good Word out to the heathens and to act as a spiritual guide. Your faith can withstand any logical assault and your hair can scare even the most hardened soldier.


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