FLESHLY DESIRE FOR LIFE, NOT DEATH

Having read Revelation 1, with the churches as candlesticks as branches on a tree bearing LIGHT, now observe John 12.

Joh 12:20-26 KJV  And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:  (21)  The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.  (22)  Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.  (23)  And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.  (24)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.  (25)  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.  (26)  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Here, we read of a SEED as opposed to the picture of a TREE in Revelation 1's vision of candlesticks in the shape of BRANCHES, depicting the churches.

And we also find a reference to LIFE ETERNAL.

• This is what was forfeited in the Garden.

Gen 2:17 KJV  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Gen 3:22 KJV  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:


Man would die as the result of eating false fruit, and could not eat of tree of life after eating false fruit.

• As though man had to be able to die.
• We know through DEATH Jesus saved us!
• How could Jesus DIE FOR US, if we could not die?
• And in John 12 Jesus says that eternal life is available again to man.
• Yet DEATH is involved.

Everyone wants eternal life, but the part about death is what keeps them from this life, since the fleshly desire is against DEATH.

John 12:24 has Jesus telling people who want to see Him that HE IS A SEED THAT must fall and die, in order to come up and have many more like Him!

• This would produce ETERNAL LIFE for others.
  

So he uses the same picture as the tree of life in the Garden.

• You plant a seed and that seed grows into a tree.
• Revelation 1 shows the TREE of Jesus, grown up from the SEED that died and was buried.
• And this TREE in Revelation 1 has branches called CHURCHES, all bearing LIGHT.
  
• That is how there is much fruit by a seed's death.

Mankind is supposed to manifest God.

• God needs His LIFE inside man in order to do that, and even then requires no hindrance that might stop that SPIRIT from flowing out.
• The devil's goal is to hinder us from getting that life in us and, also, after it's in us, to keep it locked down inside and not flowing out.

Mat 16:15-18 KJV  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?  (16)  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  (17)  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.  (18)  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Peter gets insight about Jesus being SON OF THE LIVING GOD.

• A Son is offspring, or a child.
• A reproduction - like FRUIT.
• And the Father is the LIVING GOD.
• So it is like saying a FRUIT (Son)  OF LIFE (of the living God).
• The Living God is like the TREE OF LIFE.

Now, everyone loves Life.

• But since sin came into mankind, that Life is hindered, and something must be done about it.
• Since man was ruined by the false fruit instead of taking the fruit of life, man must have something occur.
• And while everyone likes the notion of LIFE, and while Peter got the revelation about LIFE, people do not like the requirement to get that life.

Mat 16:21-25 KJV  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.  (22)  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.  (23)  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.  (24)  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  (25)  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

We preached this detail before, but notice THE FATHER spoke of LIFE.

• The FATHER revealed to Peter the aspect of Jesus being Son of the LIVING GOD.
• Everybody likes anything to do with LIFE!
• But when Jesus told Peter the FATHER revealed that to him, he then said, "AND I SAY ALSO..."
• THE SON also had something to say.
• And people do not like what THE SON SAYS.
• THE SON SPOKE OF DEATH, while the FATHER SPOKE OF LIFE.
  

DEATH of our old existences is not something we savour.

• But it is necessary in order to allow God to recreate us start over by putting LIFE INSIDE US!

That is why Jesus spoke of Himself as a SEED that must DIE and BE BURIED.

And notice that both Matthew 16 and John 12 mention the same note:

Mat 16:24-25 KJV  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  (25)  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Joh 12:25-26 KJV  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.  (26)  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

He said He must die, and then told us to FOLLOW HIM!

• In other words we must hear about death as well!
• And what we do not want is that death, because it is LOSS OF LIFE.
• But Jesus promised that if we would lose our lives IN THIS MANNER, we would find them again UNTO LIFE ETERNAL!

In other words there is a DEATH we have to experience in order to get this eternal life AGAIN!

But the reason we do not want to lose our lives, is because this is speaking about DENYING OURSELVES.

• NOT DOING OUR WILL, BUT THE WILL OF GOD.
• And people want their own wills fulfilled so badly today.
• The world pushes it!
• Have it your way.
• Look out for No. 1!
• And people have problems with this even after they are saved!

This resistance to DYING continued on in the disciples' lives.

• After The FATHER spoke about LIFE to Peter, and the SON spoke about DEATH, the very next chapter reads as follows:
  

Mat 17:1-9 KJV  And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,  (2)  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.  (3)  And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.  (4)  Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.  (5)  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; HEAR YE HIM.  (6)  And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.  (7)  And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.  (8)  And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.  (9)  And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

The FATHER AGAIN SPEAKS.

• And He AGAIN remarks that JESUS IS HIS BELOVED SON!
• This is the LIVING GOD speaking that spoke to Peter in Matthew 16.
• Everyone likes life.
• So much so that Peter AGAIN wants to avoid death by STAYING ON THE MOUNTAIN with Jesus and Moses and Elijah.
• Build three shelters and STAY THERE!
• But AGAIN Jesus stresses the need for dying!

And the Father, now, emphasizes Peter's need to LISTEN TO WHAT THE SON HAS TO SAY!

• Peter liked what the Father said in Matth 16.
• But when the SON spoke of DEATH, Peter did not like that.
• And now the Father again stresses the need for Peter to HEAR THE SON!
• DO NOT MISS THESE WORDS ABOUT DEATH!
• "Peter, you like words about life, but NOW YOU MUST HEAR THE SON, for you still have not understood the need for DEATH".
  

John was on the mount of transfiguration with Peter and James.

• John saw this again AFTER the resurrection.

BEFORE DEATH AND RESURRECTION:

Mat 17:2 KJV  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

AFTER DEATH AND RESURRECTION:

Rev 1:16 KJV  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

And John even fell in fear as the first time.

Matt 17: (6)  And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.  (7)  And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.  

Rev 1:17-18 KJV  And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:  (18)  I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

But Jesus is risen in Rev 1.

• And like a tree with branches that arose from a buried seed, there are seven churches branching out from him as candlesticks burning.

And there is a fear in both cases.

• A fear of death!
• If John fell as one dead, and Jesus told him to not fear, then John FELL IN FEAR.
• What did he fear?
• DEATH.
• Jesus told him to not fear because JESUS DIED AND RESURRECTED.
• You might ask what that has got to do with John's fear?
• How can the fact that Christ died and resurrected benefit John in his time of fear?
• It benefits John because JESUS' DEATH AND RESURRECTION WAS FOR JOHN'S BENEFIT.
• John need not fear death, for he would resurrect!
  

Heb 2:14-15 KJV  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;  (15)  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Rev 1 shows John fall as one DEAD, and we know he fell due to fear, because when Jesus touches him He tells him not TO FEAR.

• But Jesus then says something very important.
• FEAR NOT BECAUSE JESUS WAS DEAD AND IS ALIVE.
• Just as Heb 2 says, it was as though John had a fear of death.
• Jesus tells John who fell dead because of fear to NOT FEAR BECAUSE HE DIED.
• And Heb 2 says THROUGH DEATH he destroyed the devil who had power of death!
• He delivered the people who through fear of death were SUBJECT TO BONDAGE.
• So many are bound by fear!
  

Many people after they are saved STILL FEAR DEATH LIKE JOHN.

You would think that having been attached to Jesus as a branch and therefore having died with Him, one would no more be afraid of death.

• But some people still are!
• John was!
• And Jesus had to tell him not to fear since Jesus died and was alive, because JOHN HAD TO KNOW HE HAD VICTORY OVER DEATH DUE TO JESUS.
• Why tell John not to fear, after he fell dead, because Jesus died and arose if not to inform John that Jesus' victory is SHARED BY JOHN?

We are afraid of LOSING OUR LIVES.

• Even after we deny self enough to be saved and buried in baptism of death, saints still fear death after and try to hold onto some things.
• But Jesus is saying YOU LIVE WITH HIM IF YOU DIE WITH HIM!

2Co 4:10-12 KJV  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  (11)  For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.  (12)  So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

Not only would life work in those whom Paul ministered to, but...

2Co 4:14-18 KJV  Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.  (15)  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.  (16)  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  (17)  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;  (18)  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

WE MUST NOT LOOK AT THE VISIBLE THINGS WE DO NOT WANT TO LOSE.

• Look at something you may not be able to see now, but that is ETERNAL!

     ETERNAL LIFE!

OUR WILLS staying alive and independent are what slay us so often.

• Jesus said "Not my will, but thine be done."
• He died inwardly in that Garden the day he prayed that prayer.
• He told us to follow Him.
• Deny ourselves as well.

The same thing John feared before the cross, the day he saw Jesus transfigured, was the fear he had even after the cross on Patmos.

• In both cases, with sinners as with saints, SELF WILL and fear of dying hinders God's Spirit from entering and flowing through our lives.
• Satan capitalizes on that fear.
• If we would deny our own wills for the will of the Father, we would never be stopped!
• Satan could not stop us!
• We would never fuss with people.
• Church problems would cease.
• AND GOD'S SPIRIT WOULD FLOW OUT UNRESERVEDLY FROM OUR LIVES.

Satan appealed to Eve's self-interest and self-will.

• And he still uses that very successful tactic today with sinners and saints!
• We all want eternal life, but denying SELF WILL in a sort of DEATH is what we dread.
• But if we would look not on the things which are seen, that are temporal, and see what is unseen and eternal, we would be far better off and find it easier to deny self.

We love to do our own wills, but if we realize that allows space in our lives for the enemy to work, and that much space hinders God's Spirit from flowing through us, we would deny self far more often!