Dying to Self-Sufficiency

For they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. (Mark 6:52)

As the first disciples demonstrated in their own walk with Jesus, it is not easy to learn to live by faith in God’s power. This difficulty of learning to walk wholly by faith in God has prevented many from entering into the life of promise. Fallen man has lived by a self-sufficiency for too long to suddenly begin depending on God for everything. As we shall see, the first disciples had a difficult time adjusting to this walk of faith, even after being taught these same lessons many times during a close walk with Jesus.

The Kingdom-life of God, where everyone lives under the control and power of the Holy Spirit, is not easy to enter. It will therefore be necessary to explain to new converts, as Jesus did, how difficult it is to enter into the life of promise. Jesus said, “Difficult is the way which leads to life {the Kingdom-life where God’s children live under the control and power of His Spirit}, and there are few who find it.” (Matt. 7:14) If we do not strive to enter into this “rest” where everyone truly lives by faith in God’s power, we will be unable to manifest the “light of life” from heaven.

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work… Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest… (Heb. 4:9-11 Emphasis added)

Because of the difficulty involved, Jesus told people to consider the cost before they tried to follow Him into His Kingdom-life. A real decision had to be made. They would need to determine beforehand if they were prepared to devote themselves entirely to the task at hand.

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” (Luke 14:28-30)

Although we seldom hear these words from preachers in this day, they are the words of Jesus. His words and His ways will never change. Men may try to change the Lord’s teachings to better fit their own desires, but all they are doing is departing from the Lord.

Everyone who wants to follow Jesus will need to learn these truths. They will experience just as much difficulty following Him into His Kingdom-life today as did the people who first received this warning from Jesus. Let us therefore believe our Lord when He says, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter {the Kingdom-life} and will not be able to.” (Luke 13:24)

Even after deciding to pay the price to buy the heavenly Pearl (the Lord’s Kingdom-life), which will entail a real turning from the independent and self-sufficient ways of the world, it will not be easy to stay on course. In other words, finding the Pearl and deciding to buy it is not enough! We will need to surrender everything from our old independent and self-sufficient way of life before we can receive it. (Matt. 13:45-46)

So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has {from his independent and self-sufficient way of life} cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:33)

Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away… How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord… (Heb. 2:1, 3)

The members of Christ’s body will generally require considerable instruction and exhortation before they will be in a condition to have the Lord’s Kingdom-life fully established within their hearts. We learn this lesson by the way Paul taught the true gospel message in the first century. He knew there was a need for a real dying out to the old self-sufficient way of life. We therefore find him exhorting his pupils to press forward in their faith until they had entered into the Kingdom-life of promise:

And when they {Paul and Barnabas} had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:21-22 Emphasis added)

Similar to the pilgrimage taken by God’s people in the Old Testament, which is a spiritual type used by God to teach Christians in this age of fulfillment (1 Cor. 10:1-12), the children of faith in the New Testament will pass through a time of testing before they enter into the life of promise. And, as Jesus has stated, many of His followers will end up turning away from this walk of faith during the time when tribulations are being used to strip away their self-sufficient spirit. “For many, I say to you, will seek to enter {the Kingdom-life} and will not be able to.” (Luke 13:24) “They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.” (Luke 8:13)

Instead of putting the flesh-life to death by the Spirit, many disciples actually go back to living by the flesh. This is why Christians need to be instructed in the ways of the Spirit and exhorted to press forward in their faith until God has established His Kingdom-life within their hearts. (Heb. 3:7 – 4:11)

For if you live according to the flesh {by your own sufficiency after being reconciled to God} you will die {have a spiritual life that keeps dying}; but if by the Spirit {as regenerate Christians} you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live {in the Kingdom-life}. (Rom. 8:13)

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Pet. 1:10-11 Emphasis added)

The Lord’s Kingdom-life will be fully established within the hearts of Christ’s followers when they have died to the fleshly ways of fallen man. Every disciple will therefore need to be exhorted to continue in the way of faith while God is stripping away their old self-sufficient way of life in the time of tribulation and testing.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience {and reliance on God}. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete {in faith and love}, lacking nothing… Blessed is the man who endures temptation {in the time of testing}; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life {the Kingdom-life} which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:2-4, 12 Emphasis added)

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while {while being turned from the old self-sufficient way of life in the time of testing}, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. (1 Pet. 5:10 Emphasis added)

Christ has provided His church with pastors and teachers to build the members of His body up in their faith so they will begin to rely on God for all things. Both the spiritual life and the works that Jesus has planned to display through the members of His body can only take place when they are living wholly by faith in Him. They will therefore need someone who can help them understand how Jesus lived by the power of the Spirit through faith. This is why the church needs spiritual leaders who can instruct and exhort the members of Christ’s body “till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man {complete in faith and love}, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Eph. 4:13 Emphasis added)

Merely holding a position in the church does not make someone spiritual. All too often we find unspiritual people striving for positions in the body of Christ in the same way people “of the world” achieve their positions. The flesh has a natural appetite for position and power over others. It loves to be recognized, consulted, honored, admired and obeyed. Obviously, any “leader” who is still following the self-sufficient and self-exalting ways of this world will be incapable of leading others into the kind of faith that permits Christ to establish His Kingdom-life within the hearts of His followers.

But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life {the Kingdom-life}… (1 Tim. 6:11-12)

How patient Christ was with His first disciples! Having learned nothing from the feeding of the five thousand, they were given another opportunity in a different setting to learn this lesson about living by faith in God. “For they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.” (Mark 6:52)

In this next lesson they were separated from Christ’s presence. They were left alone and in a difficult position to help them recognize how great was their need to have God’s power working in their lives. And of course, trouble was bound to develop when they became separated from Christ’s presence. They ended up “…in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.” (Matt. 14:24 Emphasis added)

Jesus will often leave His disciples on their own when they are still trying to live by their own strength. He will permit them to be confounded by many “contrary” providences. It is during these rough times that He will be doing His work of breaking their self-sufficient spirit and teaching them to live by faith in God’s power.

Do you remember how Peter considered himself to be strong before he was clothed with power from the Spirit on the day of Pentecost? He thought he was capable of standing with Jesus even until death. But Jesus knew this human “strength” would prevent Peter from entering into the kingdom of light where everyone lives by faith in God’s power. Jesus therefore permitted Satan to “sift” Peter for a while. (Luke 22:31-32) Only after Peter’s sense of self-sufficiency had been brought to a real death would he be able to truly live by faith in God’s power.

Once Peter had become “poor in spirit” and had lost all hope in his own strength, he was in a position to enter into the kind of dependent faith that enabled God to lift him with divine power into the light of Christ’s Kingdom-life. (Matt. 5:3) Once he had lost hope in his own strength, he was prepared to wait on God in prayer to be clothed with power from above.

Living by dependent faith in the power of God is the Mystery of Godliness. Every believer will need to learn this foundation truth: The power of the Holy Spirit is perfected through God’s children as yielded believers become weaker in self and more dependent on Him. (2 Cor. 12:9)

Life in the kingdom of God is diametrically opposed to the way people live in this world. In the world people need to look out for themselves and strive to achieve the goals they have set for themselves. Only the strongest, or the most talented, or the most assertive, or the most educated rise to the top. In contrast, the people who are willing to become the most dependent on God become the greatest in His kingdom. It is not that they are placed in elevated seats of prominence, but they become the most useful servants. It is those who are willing to become the most childlike in their dependence on God who will become the most valuable servants in the kingdom of God.

Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a {helpless and dependent} little child will by no means enter it. (Mark. 10:15)

…What is highly valued among men {the independent and self-exalting ways of the world} is detestable in God’s sight. (Luke 16:15)

The first disciples, while they were being tossed by the storm, did all they could to escape from their situation. With their backs bent to the oars, and with perspiration pouring down their faces from their great struggle, they tried to save themselves from their situation. Eventually, however, they recognized their helpless condition. It was not until they had considered themselves “as good as dead” that we find Christ coming to them in divine power.

Paul tells us that Abraham had to reach this same state of helplessness, where he had lost all hope in human effort, before he possessed the kind of pure faith that enabled him to receive the “life of promise” through the power of God. (Rom. 4:19) The only thing he produced through his human efforts to help God was a flesh-life, which was represented by Ishmael.

In a similar sense, God will only use His power to lift His children into His Kingdom-life when they are “as good as dead.” Every Christian must come to this point where they die to the ways of the flesh before they can begin living wholly by faith in God. Until they are brought to this state of helplessness, they will naturally try to produce the “life of promise” through their own human efforts. Those who lose their flesh-life will find Christ’s Kingdom-life.

For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death {Christ’s death to the flesh-life}, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection {His Kingdom-life}… For he who has died has been freed from sin {the old life of self-sufficiency and self-will}. (Rom. 6:5, 7)

Again, as the Scriptures have so clearly revealed, there needs to be a real dying out to the old self-sufficient way of life before the promised Kingdom-life can be fully established within the soul. This lesson comes directly from our Lord: “Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matt. 16:25)

God takes away our self-sufficient spirit by exposing us to difficult situations. These difficulties are intended to cause us to lose hope in our own fleshly strength. And, because this lesson is so hard for self-sufficient people to learn, it typically involves a lengthy and painful process.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God…But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while {in dying to your independent and self-sufficient way of life}, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. (1 Pet. 5:6, 10 Emphasis added)

…We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22)

“Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.” (Matt. 14:25) Jesus came to His helpless disciples walking in a supernatural life. He was demonstrating a simple fact: The very sea that threatened to overwhelm and destroy them had been placed under His feet! He always has everything under His control! There is nothing impossible for God!

Have you come to that point when you have been overwhelmed by the sea? Here is good news for you! You are being prepared to meet the Lord in a new and supernatural way. When you lose hope in yourself and enter His rest, He will come to you as the One who walks over everything that threatens your spiritual life.

The Lord teaches His most profound lessons in the midst of the storms. It was when everything was contrary to His disciples that Jesus appeared and said, “I Am; stop being afraid.” And when He was in the boat with them, the wind ceased. “Then those who were in the boat worshipped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.’ ” (Matt. 14:33)

If you learn nothing else from this book, remember to trust in Christ and stay close to Him! He will take you into His rest in due time. You will then be enabled to continually experience a peace that transcends all understanding and a joy that is inexpressible and full of glory. (Phil. 4:6-7; 1 Pet. 1:8)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up {into the Kingdom-life} in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. (1 Pet. 5:6-7 Emphasis added)

You must learn to live in complete dependence on the Lord in all your activities. Christ desires to be in your life in a way that lifts you spiritually above all the storms of this world. He is the great “I Am.” Nothing is impossible for Him. Only when you realize this fact, and have begun to manifest this childlike dependence in the way you walk, will you truly be worshipping God.

Your “unbelief” can actually prevent God from working with His power in your life. Jesus said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.” (Matt. 9:29) And the Hebrew writer said, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” (Heb. 11:6) In other words, we please God and receive His enabling power in our lives as we rely on Him in the same way a dependent little child relies on his parent. If we are unwilling to enter into this childlike dependence on God for everything, we cannot please Him and we cannot expect to be lifted by His power into His Kingdom-life in due time.

I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like {dependent} little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven {the Kingdom-life of God}. (Matt. 18:3)

We are told that Christ could not work mighty miracles in the lives of people in His own village because they lacked faith. “Now He could do no mighty work there… And He marveled because of their unbelief.” (Mark 6:5-6) It was their lack of dependent faith that prevented God from working in their lives.

Do you still lack faith in Christ’s ability to turn you into a vessel of His life and works? When you “have faith in God,” you will be enabled to move mountain-like obstacles from your appointed path. (Mark 11:22-23) Let us therefore, for the sake of God’s glory, learn to live by faith in Him.

We do not necessarily use God’s power to avoid difficult situations. We do, however, depend on His power to manifest the life of Jesus through our mortal bodies regardless of the difficulties. (2 Cor. 4:11) Our ability to reflect the glorious life of the Son is actually enhanced during periods of hardship.

Paul has described how he received a deeper revelation of this important spiritual principle during a very difficult time in one of his missionary journeys. He said, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardship we suffered in the province of Asia… Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened {this loss of all hope in the flesh} that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” (2 Cor. 1:8-9)

Any trial that increases our dependent faith in God is actually working for both our good and God’s glory. But if we are to learn from these difficulties and tribulations, we will need to stop depending on our own strength and learn to live wholly by faith in God’s power. Only in this way is Christ able to manifest His Kingdom-life through us.

Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard…The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought… You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. (Isa. 58:8, 11)

*This article is from the book – The Mystery of Godliness. by Ian Thomas