In some of the Maximum-Security Prisons in the United States ... when a prisoner is taken to be executed ... the guard that is leading the procession continual shouts out, ... "Dead man walking".
It means, ...to clear the way ... to quiet down ... for this prisoner is on their last walk ... on this side of eternity.
They are truly ... A Dead Man Walking.
And When a Roman official in Biblical Times ...sentenced a man to be executed ... he too would shout a command, ... "Lay the cross ... on the man"!
Then a cross beam was strapped to his arms ...and the victim was required to carry it ... to the sight of the crucifixion.
When Jesus commands each of us ... to take up your cross, ... He is making it clear... that each human being is ... "A Dead Man Walking.
The scriptures share this spiritual truth BIBLE "Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, .......and in this way ......death came to all, ...because all sinned" END (Romans 5:21-22) (Pause)
Death came to all ... to all of humanity ... through sin.
Causing each human being to be a ... Dead man walking.
Ever since the dawn of time, ......the wall of death has hemmed us in ....... it has kept us captive, ......it has been ......our prison.
Many of you may be familiar with the statement:
"I am not afraid to die.
It's just that I don't have ... much enthusiasm for it." (Pause)
And since the fall in the Garden of Eden...... death has had a grip on us.
The writer of Hebrews tells us, "all their lives (mankind has been) held in slavery ....by their fear ...of death."
(Hebrews 2:15)
Several studies have revealed that one of the major fears ... that people have ... is the fear of death.
Not only do people Not have much enthusiasm for it...... they fear it.
Sin has brought death into the world... and with death ... fear.
The Apostle John states: BIBLE "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and ... the truth is not in us." END (1 John 1:8)
Paul's letter to the Romans sums it up by saying: "...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) (Pause)
The Fall ...the sin of mankind ...is such a dominant doctrine in Scripture, ......that it is hard... to deny.
Beloved ... we are sick ... with sin.
You might ask ... "How then do I get well?"
Well .... I'm glad you asked. (PAUSE)
If I were deathly sick with cancer, ... A Doctor might recommend chemotherapy, radiation therapy, microwave therapy.
Or I may need radical surgery ...... to attack ...the disease.
The truth is ... I need Something ... to kill the disease ... that lives ... within me.
Beloved ... Something has to die!
And the Scriptures tell us that something had to die for you and for me ...... in order to be healed spiritually.
The letter To the Church in Rome informs us: BIBLE "...don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus .... were baptized into his death?" END (Romans 6:3)
We were therefore ......buried with him ......through baptism.
Why? So... that just as Christ was raised from the dead, ...we too ...... may be raised to a new life; ........ An eternal life.
If we have been united with Christ in his death, ....... Then we will also ......be united with him ...in his resurrection.
Beloved... we can have assurance ...that our old self was Crucified with Him.
(Point to Chest) So that this body of sin ...might be buried, ....... and we as followers of the Christ ... are no longer ... slaves to sin and death. (Pause)
When you were baptized into Christ...... your old sin-sick self ... died... and was forever buried.
The old self died ... and you and I became ... a new creation ... in Christ Jesus.
Hear God's Promise BIBLE "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." END (Romans 6:23)
And Beloved...It gets ...even better.
For when we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord... .... When we are baptized ... into His death.
We receive the gift ...... "The gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)
When you were baptized into Christ, ......God's Spirit came to dwell with in you. ...... Within your very being.
And we are told ... that God's Spirit ... begins a good work ... in us.
What a beautiful gift.
The Holy Spirit works inside us ... within us ... to heal us of the disease of sin and death ... that began with Adam.
I am sure ... we have all encountered people ... who have been fearful ... to make that commitment ... to Christ.
They are concerned ......that they will sin again after they have been baptized ......and that this would somehow nullify ...the forgiveness ... God has given them.
But we really never get to the point ...where we do not sin at all.
As John explained: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves ......and the truth is not in us." (Pause) 1 John 1:8
Have you ever ice skated?
Did you fall down ... when you first started?
Have you ever watched Professional skaters live ... or on television?
Do they fall down?
Yes, ... but not as often ... as when they first started.
Why? ...... Because they spent time skating.
In the same way, .... the longer we live in Jesus .... the longer we allow His Spirit to work within our lives ... the less often ... we will fall ... in our walk.
This is called ......Sanctification... Maturing in the Faith.
Remember... We have all fallen short of the glory of God. (Pause)
There was a quote from an elderly Christian that hit home for me concerning this battle with sin.... He would say: .... "Kill the old man......Kill him every day."
Paul calls it a battle.... A daily battle ... that is fought within.
This battle with the old flesh.......is described...... very well ... by an African convert to Christianity.
This new convert ... was given a position of trust by the missionary ... but he violated that trust ... and stole something.
The missionary asked, .... "Why did you take something ... that didn't belong to you?"
The native replied: ...... "It wasn't I who stole.
It was grandfather ... in the bones!" (Repeat)
That was his way of saying ...it was his old sinful nature.
In time, however, ...... that native grew stronger in his faith.
When asked, "How is the grandfather in the bones?"
He would readily reply, ...... "Well, grandfather isn't dead yet, ... but he doesn't get around ... like he used to." (Pause)
Beloved ... Hopefully ......, this is true for you as well.
"Well, grandfather isn't dead yet, ... but he doesn't get around ... like he used to."
As we yield to Christ ... as we walk with Him daily, ......the grandfather in the bones ......will get weaker.
O' Beloved ... Allow the Holy Spirit ...to move in your life......Allow the Holy Spirit to transform you.
Receive...... Receive the free gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ.
Yet remember ...God gave ...... mankind a will.
He gave us ......the will to accept ... or reject ... that free gift.
And Many ...... reject the gift.
And there are Others who are willing to accept Christ as their Savior ....... but do not allow him be Lord ... of their life.
They have opened the gift....... partially.
Remember God's promise: BIBLE "If you accept Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you shall be saved" END (Romans 10:9)
Beloved...Open that gift completely...... and let the righteousness and love of God ......fill you to overflowing.
Let God's Spirit continue ... the eternal work of Sanctification.
The gift has already been paid for...... Paid in full....by the blood of Jesus.
It is yours; bought and paid for.
Beloved ... do not yield to the flesh... do not yield to the grandfather in the bones.
Open your hearts ...open the gift.... Fully!
Do not stay ....... A Dead Man walking ... imprisoned to sin;
Receive Christ ...... Receive him ... not only as your Savior ...... but as the Lord of your life.
Beloved ... Let God complete the good work ... he has begun in you.
Amen and Amen.
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