Challenge

    image: hydrogen bomb detonation

In our arsenal of spiritual weaponry, there is powerful, ultimate weapon to which we have been given access. As we advance further into these troubled times before Christ's return, it becomes even more important for us to become familiar with this weapon. It is a weapon against which no enemy can succeed. It is a weapon that overcomes all circumstances. It is a weapon that is both offensive and defensive. One thing that makes it so effective, is that no one would suspect it to be a weapon.
However, let me warn you from the beginning - deploying this spiritual weapon is not easy, and requires a great deal of practice beforehand, or it will not be available to you when you most need it. The sooner we begin practicing, the better.
My friend sent an article about a fellow believer, actor Kirk Cameron*, entitled, "The Crucifixion of Kirk Cameron". The actor had been heavily criticized on social media because he had answered a question truthfully, and according to scripture, regarding a controversial subject that was posed to him while appearing on a TV program. He became vilified publicly because he answered the question according to his personal belief and understanding of scripture. Many others have had similar experiences because they have spoken scriptural, unchanging truth in an age when many do not accept it. The world prefers a relative kind of "truth" that changes with the whims and ages of man, but scriptural truth does not change, as God does not change. Jesus said to His Father in heaven, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." (Jn. 17:17, 1 Ki. 17:24). The truth of God's Word is so powerful, that it sanctifies us. It is able to change the profane, into the holy, and shame into glory.
We all can see that the days ahead for people of faith are going to be very difficult. Jesus warned that we will be hated by the world, because the world hated Him.
As I read the article about Kirk Cameron, it became a learning moment for me. I wondered how it would be possible to have peace in such a difficult moment, and I thought, that the world couldn't crucify someone, if he or she has already crucified themselves. I saw that this very thing is an ultimate weapon in our spiritual warfare: the crucifixion of self.
There are many verses that teach the necessity of crucifying ourselves, or dying to self. I am convinced that these verses are not referring to our suffering in this world, or some kind of monastic, religious self-flagellation. Like all of Christ's teaching, these verses are meant to free us, and empower us. "Crucifying self" is not about material things we might have lost, or even sacrificed. It's not about being betrayed, persecuted, hurt, wronged, or offended. That can certainly be very difficult, but the challenge is even greater than that. In the truth of these verses, we leave behind our own identity, and enter into His identity. However, leaving behind our own identity, who we are as an individual, which we tend to think is very important, is not easy to do. We hold on to self like we hold onto our physical lives. Who are we if we are not "self"? Scripture will give us that answer also. 
John the Baptist spoke about the process of self-diminishing when he said in regard to Jesus, "...this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above (the Hebrew word is "al", meaning place of ascent, exaltation, ascend before God, to cause to ascend; to be offered) is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all." (Jn. 3:29-31). Some may think the Baptist was only speaking about his future death, or the receding of his own ministry before the ministry of Christ, but these words of his encompass a deep richness of spiritual truth, even beyond those things. We remember that baptism, itself, with John using it in the ministry of repentance, is a baptism into death as we are lowered into the water, with the subsequent rising from the water being a resurrection from death (Rom. 6:2-4). Repentance certainly fits the concept of diminishing one's self, dying to self, or humbling one's self, before God.
This spiritual death also overcomes the power of sin and physical death over us (Rom. 6:6). This is another reason that makes it an ultimate defensive weapon.
The following are just a few additional scriptures that deal with the idea of crucifying self. There are many more. The shear number of them witnesses to their importance in the Christian walk.
After Peter rebuked Jesus when He showed His disciples that He would have to go to Jerusalem to be killed and raised, Jesus in turn rebuked Satan as an offense to Him- Satan who is not mindful of the things of God, but of men. Jesus then said to His disciples:
"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself (aparneomai- affirm no acquaintance or connection with, to forget one's self, to lose sight of one's self and one's own interests), and take up his cross (daily), and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find (save) it... And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple....is not worthy of Me."  Mt. 16:24-25, Lk. 14:27, Mt. 10:38-39 (Lk. 9:23-24)
I'm sure the meaning of the above verses also includes the idea of being willing to physically die for our faith in Christ, but the meaning of the words "deny himself" in the above verse goes beyond that. According to the Greek word used, this command means to turn away from our own identity, our own "selfness", which is a form of spiritual death.
More scriptures:
"And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Gal. 5:24
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in (of) the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."  Gal. 2:20
"I affirm...I die daily."  1 Cor. 15:31
"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him....reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom. 6:11
"...that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness..."  1 Pet. 2:24
New Testament scriptures also teach about putting off (meaning "wholly put off from one's self: denoting separation from what is put off")  "the old man", as the only way to attain "the new man" (Eph. 4:22-24, Mt. 9:16-17). It is not possible to belong to Christ while clinging to the "old man". It is not possible to be both the "old man" and the "new man" at the same time.
These verses above, and the idea of dying, or crucifying ourselves, does not begin with trying to force our bodies into something. I think the beginning point must be what Christ said when He began His teaching: "deny yourself", and the Greek meaning of that phrase. Once "self" dies, the rest of the "death", will follow. I would like to look and learn from some examples of this in scripture.
Some time after his conversion experience, Paul changed the way he referred to himself . He called himself "Paul" instead of his name "Saul". "Saul" means desired, asked for, to demand. "Paul" means small or little. In 1 Cor. 15:9, the Greek word used as Paul describes himself means "least, less, smallest, very little. In Eph. 3:8, he puts additional emphasizes on this idea, and the different Greek word used means "less than the least, lower of the lowest, far less". How many of us would truly think of ourselves in this manner? In relating one of his greatest revelations, Paul's experience of being caught up (harpazo- seize, pluck, pull, take away (by force)) to the third heaven, or Paradise, he uses no name, but says "I know a man" (2 Cor. 12:2-4). He alludes to us that the experience belonged to him, but he does not want to attach even his "person" or self to it, because the very nature of "self" and identity would lessen its magnitude.
Another example of the power in the diminishing or denying of self, comes from the greatest king of Israel, David. David had much to identify him, and many accomplishments in the natural realm. He was not only a king prophetically chosen and anointed by God, but he was one of the mightiest warriors in the history of Israel. He received the promise from God, which was overwhelming to him, of an eternal kingdom, by the Messiah to come through his own line, or house. He received from God, the plans for the building of the house of God. He received revelation and prophetic knowledge, evidenced also in the psalms he wrote (example Ps. 22). Yet in one of the most well known and beloved of his psalms, Psalm 23, David the King becomes a spiritual sheep. Having been a shepherd himself in his youth, David is very familiar with sheep, and their lack of "esteem" in the chain of the animal kingdom. They have their uses, but they are neither powerful, majestic, nor regal in any way. They have no individual identity, because they are herd animals. They are not strong, nor equipped with natural weapons or defenses, and must rely totally upon their shepherd for protection. However, in becoming a spiritual sheep under his heavenly Shepherd, David realizes that he has entered into a different realm. It is a realm of rest, comfort, safety, lack of want and miraculous provision, restoration, paths of righteousness, no fear because even the power of death has been removed, the anointing of oil that makes him shine with glory, goodness and mercy that will follow him all of his days as a sheep, and his forever home in the house of God. What a powerful, freeing understanding for David! I want to reach for it, and attain it.
We can easily see how the denying of self is a valuable defensive weapon, but how is it the ultimate offensive weapon? The Book of Revelation shows us this "denying of self" as part of an all-overcoming weapon, even over the greatest demonic power:
"And they overcame him (the great dragon, serpent, Devil, Satan, accuser of the brethren) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."  Rev. 12:11
The denying of self is our ultimate weapon, both offensively, and defensively. It is a weapon that we will need in the days to come. Though we may think we have the mastery of it, and that we are applying it in our lives, I think we may be falling far short. Speaking for myself, I know that I have not yet attained the glory and the freedom of the command of Christ, "...deny yourself". Time to start practicing with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Our Father calls us to deny ourselves; to decrease so that His Son may increase in us.

*Kirk Cameron