ANGEL LIGHT - Fire and Ice Ministries River of Life Fellowship

A Word to Parents 225
Andrew, going toward the place of execution and seeing the cross waiting
for him, never changed his expression. Neither did he fail in his
speech. His body fainted not, nor did his reason fail him, as often happens
to men about to die. He said, ‘O cross, most welcomed and
longed for! With a willing mind, joyfully and desirously, I come to you,
being the scholar of Him which did hang on you, because I have always
been your lover and yearned to embrace you.’” (from Foxes book
of Martyrs of the World pp. 6­7, Greensburg, Pa.: Barbour and Company
Inc., 1991)
This man was ready to die before the time came. Jim Elliott once said,
“When it comes time for you to die, make sure that is all you have to
do.” Andrew was a martyr in his heart long before he saw that cross in
front of him. Here was a man that fled the night Jesus was arrested.
What happened to him? He had received the baptism and infilling of
the Holy Spirit. A holy boldness came into his life. Notice how the Bible
always says something like Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke
boldly (Acts 4:8). We need a fresh baptism of fire and a boldness of
the Holy Spirit in our lives to live this Christian life.
We must be ready in our hearts even now. We should hate the world
and all that is in it. The Bible says if we are friends with the world, we
are enemies of God (James 4:4).
Overcoming weaknesses
Like everyone, there are weaknesses in your life. There are areas
where you fall and struggle in sin. The first step to overcoming these
things is by dying to them. You need to ask yourself if you are really
ready to fully give these things up and never pick them up again. You
need to lay everything down at the cross. I close with these two sayings:
Religion is hanging around the cross and knowing who Jesus is.
Christianity is getting on the cross. The degree you are willing to die,
will be the level you find true life.
Here is a prayer to pray:
Father, give me the grace to totally die to self. Jesus, put me on like a
glove and live your resurrected life through me. Give me a hatred for
what you hate and a love for what you love. Take everything out of me
by the roots and kill it that is not of you, and put in me what I need to
have. I lay down my life. Help me bring you glory through my life and
death to self. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
1. He Came to Set the Captives Free pgs 145­146
Author: Rebecca Brown