decreasetoincrease.com

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

2 Corinthians 1:9

If we want to be risen with Christ, we must first be dead with Christ from the allurements of the world. Death to self is the only way to life. The key is very simple: stop trusting in yourself!

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 2:8

Obey God until you die. This is the narrow way.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

To have Christ live in you, you must walk as He walked. Trusting only in God the Father to direct your steps. Those that quote this verse, saying they are crucified with Christ, yet trust in themselves, are sadly deceiving themselves.

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

John 5:19

Christ did only what the Father showed Him to do. Notice that the Father didn’t have Jesus live like the world. He lived a holy, separate, victorious life by the power of God. That’s God’s plan for each of us! He wants us all to abide in His will and do what He shows us to do and speak what He tells us to speak.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Proverbs 3:5-7

The death of Christ is only possible if you serve God with all your heart. Have faith in God and walk in His ways, reading the Bible and memorizing the Bible and praying without ceasing. As you do that, the Lord will direct you day to day. All you have to do is trust Him.

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Matthew 10:39

He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

John 12:25

In the above verses the word ‘lose’ in the KJV should have been translated as “destroy”. That’s what the greek word means. If you love your life, you will destroy it. If you destroy your life for the sake of Jesus, you will find it.

To those who live in sin, trusting in themselves, doing what they want to do, it would be a destruction most severe to have to live as a Christian. A real Christian, one who follows Christ with all their heart and does not trust in themselves. It would be blowing up their sinful ways. That’s just what Christ came to do, to blow up our lives of sin and replace it with a life made in the image of Christ.

And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Matthew 21:44

Christ gives you two options. Either humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God or be judged by Him and cast into the lake of fire. He would much rather prefer that we humble ourselves and serve Him with a pure heart.

I’ve begun to destroy my old sinful life by replacing it with a life devoted to God and others. That’s how Christ wants everyone to live. Turn to God with your whole heart today and He will receive you.

Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

Daniel 4:27

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

1 Timothy 6:6-8

Where is our treasure? Is it found in Jesus Christ and a relationship with Him, or do we need to collect material possessions to somehow feel satisfied? This verse says to be content with food and clothing. God would have us live a simple life free from material possessions and rich in the spiritual things of Jesus Christ. People think they need possessions to be happy, but they are really robbing themselves and others of resources that could be better distributed.

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Luke 12:15

Our life is to consist in the fullness of Jesus Christ in our lives, not in material possessions. Emptying ourselves of a love of “things” is the best way to guard against lust and covetousness. Jesus practiced what He preached. He owned very little in his earthly existence. He didn’t even have his own home. While most of us need a home to dwell in, it needn’t be a palace. I rent a 1 bedroom apartment and I don’t really use the bedroom part of it. My needs are very simple. Why own a 2000 square foot house? It costs money to maintain a big house. Perhaps you could be just as happy in a 800 square foot house? If your treasure is Jesus, then it doesn’t take much to satisfy.

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Luke 12:16-21

Someday all your material possessions are going to belong to someone else. We can’t take them with us. Several years ago I got ahold of minimalism and got rid of most of my belongings. Why own things that you aren’t going to use? What’s the point of it all? The truth is we can live and be happy with a minimal amount of possessions. It will bring a lightness into our lives. By not spending our money on things we don’t need, we can then become cheerful givers to God, as stewards of the money God has entrusted us with.

Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Luke 12:33-34

Jesus introduced a radical idea: sell what you own and give the money to the poor and needy! How many people follow His commandment? By stripping down to the bare minimum and then maintaining that, we can make ourselves of the most use to God and others. That’s who we are supposed to love. God first, then others. We are to love ourselves also, but that comes in 3rd place. The truth is, living a simple life is what is best for our spirit. Without discipline, the Christian life falls apart.

And they that use this world, as not abusing (overusing) it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

1 Corinthians 7:31

This world will soon pass away. There’s going to be a new heaven and new earth wherein dwells righteousness. Do we really want to collect a bunch of material possessions? If that’s where our treasure is, we are going to be very sad in the day of judgment.

Living without possessions is a tool, a key to unlock a door. This alone will not satisfy you. It’s when you fill your life with Christ Jesus that your days take on new meaning and purpose. I can say that I’m happy with the life God has given me. I don’t miss my possessions. Chances are, you won’t miss them either. Clutter is just distracting you from a rich and full life in the fullness of Jesus Christ. Take the first step and start going through your possessions. Ask yourself when was the last time you used this thing? If you can’t remember, then you probably won’t miss it if you got rid of it. Step by step, item by item you can reduce down to the bare minimum. When you get there, don’t buy stuff you don’t need! We don’t need stuff in order to live and be happy!

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:3

Life in Christ is simple. Hear the Word of God and obey the Word of God. God doesn’t want you to own more than you need to live. If you truly need something, by all means keep it! Just be sure that you just don’t think you need it, when in reality it’s holding you back from the life God created you to have. Your mission in life is simple, to glorify Jesus Christ. I urge you to let go of anything that is holding you back. You won’t regret it!