“Yes, I am the Door. Anyone who goes in and out through Me will be safe, and will find a beautiful pasture. The thief only comes to steal, kill and destroy. I have come so that the sheep will live, and will have Life in abundance! I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His Life for the sheep” (John 10:9-11, TIL).
Are we willing to go deeper than the obvious, surface level explanation of what Jesus said here?
The “word of faith” people, the “name it and claim it” people, have always taken the “abundant life” in verse 10 to mean that God is going to give us the “abundant life” of this world – money, and the things that money can buy. To them this is a proof-text for prosperity, for material things. I know it is a stretch. It’s hard to understand how people can lift this verse out of the passage and teach it that way, but carnal people manage to teach it and believe it. That’s why the natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit because they are spiritually discerned.
Well, let’s go deeper. “The Good Shepherd gives His Life for the sheep.” In one sense of course, in the most commonly interpreted sense, Jesus is speaking of his death on the Cross. He lays down His life for the sheep so they can be saved. Well, that is the natural side of it, I suppose. I’m not saying that’s incorrect. But is there a deeper meaning that can apply? Oh yes, I’m believe so, because you see the word here is present tense: The Good Shepherd GIVES His Life. If He were only referring to His death on the Cross, He might have said – “The Good Shepherd WILL GIVE His Life for the sheep.” And now, since He has already died on the Cross, it would (to us) be past tense.
But He said, “The Good Shepherd GIVES His Life.” It is present tense. It is always present tense. He is always the Good Shepherd. We are always His sheep. And so He always gives His life. In what sense does He give it? Is He constantly crucified? No, that is the natural. What is the spiritual implication? He is giving His Life that we may have that same Life. And because He IS the Life, this Life is an abundant life, and this abundant life leads to spiritual fruitfulness.
Just as the Good Shepherd gives His Life for the sheep, so the True Vine gives His Life for the Branches. Do you see the connection? It’s the same thing. It’s exactly the same thing. The Good Shepherd gives His Life for the sheep; the True Vine gives His Life for the Branches. This Life He gives is not for the purpose of making my life better; it is given so that I can exchange my life altogether, and rely upon the Life of Another.
There are two aspects, two sides to this glorious truth: first, that I AM IN CHRIST; second, that CHRIST IS IN ME. If the first is true, and I am living in Christ, then the second follows naturally – Christ is living in me. He is giving His Life for me on a continual basis. We call this the exchanged life. It is a function of learning how to let Jesus live His life through me.
This is why the denial of Self, as typified by the Cross, is so essential to the spiritual life. “The carnal mind is against against God” (Rom. 8:7). The Self-Life interferes with the Christ-Life. Why? Because “No man can serve two masters” (Mt. 6:24).
And so you have those Two Universal Spiritual Principles that we have discussed elsewhere: the Law of Increase and the Law of Decrease, found in John 3:30. “He must increase.” That is the first principle. It is a spiritual law, that Jesus must increase. But there is something that hinders, something that resists this increase of Jesus. That brings us to the second principle, “I must decrease.” Me, Myself, and I – the Self. I must decrease in order for Christ to increase.
This has global implications, universal applications, but let’s bring it right down to everyday life. Let’s make it personal. It means, in a very practical sense, that when I become a disciple of Jesus I am starting out on a Path in which I am learning how to depend upon the Life of Another; and in order to live that way, I have to give up living the way I am accustomed to living – according to my thoughts, my mind, my will, my opinions, my understanding.
All that pertains to “me” is very limited. As a disciple of Jesus, I am learning just how untrustworthy “I” am, and I am becoming more and more cognizant of my need to depend upon the Life of Christ, CHRIST IN ME, THE HOPE OF GLORY (Col. 1:27). There is no hope in me. “I know,” Paul says, “that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing” (Rom. 7:18). That is the key. There is a man who is beginning to grow spiritually. He has learned something – “I KNOW.” How does he know? Through a lot of trials, and sufferings, and problems, and mistakes, and difficulties, he has learned not to depend upon himself anymore.
In Philippians, Paul says, “We are the circumcision, who worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” No confidence in the flesh. Why? Because Jesus said the flesh is weak. The flesh is fallible. The flesh is limited. I know that it seems as if the flesh is very powerful, and that you can do anything. It sometimes seems easier to just press on ahead and do what seems right; make something happen. Oh, it takes too much time (we say) to wait on God, to know the mind of the Spirit, to just watch and pray and abide in Christ. But those are the words of the immature, the babes. Spiritually mature people have lost all confidence in the flesh, in their ability to do anything, apart from Jesus.
Now I have just shared with you the secret of abiding. It means to have no confidence in the flesh, to wait instead for the Life of Another to lead. Always take that position. Always allow the Lord to lead, to initiate, to work, and don’t do anything of yourself. Now, that is easier said than done, isn’t it? What a battle it is! The flesh does not want to decrease. But as I am decreased, Christ is increased. Stated differently, the measure of Christ in a person will increase in exact proportion to the measure that their Self-Life is decreased.
Well, how does that happen? It happens quite naturally, as we keep hitting our head against the same impossible situations, the same besetting sins, the same difficulties and disappointments over and over again – and eventually we come to the place of saying, along with Paul, “I know that in me – that is, in my flesh, in my Self – dwells no good thing. I no longer have confidence in my flesh. I have learned that the Branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the Vine. So I cast myself upon the Lord, and I trust in His Life to raise me up, to work a miracle, to do what I cannot do myself.” That is spiritual maturity. Now Jesus can do something, and He takes up right where we leave off.
mark gray
10 months ago
Wow, that was what I needed. I always want to press on and not wait on God. Most of what I do is in the flesh. This needs to change.
Marla Wierzel
5 months ago
Just this morning I was meditating on this very subject coupled with casting my cares. This is a highly practical interpretation of scripture; which I greatly appreicate. Thanks for publishing this.
Denise Wedington
5 months ago
For two years, I have been what people around me call “doing nothing.” I have truly left all – because He asked me to, and I have been misunderstood because of it. I mainly want to say, at times, I have bumped my head into walls because of pressure to ‘do something’. Yet I always returned to waiting…now I understand that to wait is to be spiritually mature. To do nothing except He do it, is the right way to be.
Whew! I can stop fighting, and simply rest in Peace…for he is Peace. I can simply return to abiding.
Thank God for you.
Sidharth Mohandas
5 months ago
Dear Chip,
I am so blessed to see such love for His Word in your teachings. The kind of love that comes from Abba is that which empties itself, not one that accumulates. This is something that governs my life on a daily basis. If I am filled with myself, His Presence cannot permeate.
More disciples!
Sidharth
jimmy hinkson
5 months ago
brother chip, how can i really give my life to jesus without being so double minded and rebellious? i want peace in my life and real fellowship with god and not fear anyone. i feel so unable to push myself to repent and it is really hard to explain but i feel like i’m going nowhere.
Annette Onuoha
5 months ago
The biggest lesson we can ever learn is that we cannot and must not ever depend on ourselves, but rather fully depend on God. I alone am the only one who hinders God from what He is trying to do. This article is a refresing reminder of these valued truths. May I forever decrease that He may always increase – having no confidence in the flesh, but complete confidence that He will complete all that He has begun. Amen! Thanks for the reminder my brother. It was very much needed. May the truth of His words set us all free.
alma
4 months ago
can you elaborate on ‘who’ these
‘name & claim it’ people are?
and what you mean by “word of faith”
people? thanks.
Mary Ann
2 months ago
Thank you for another one of your wonderful insights and teachings!
Chip Brogden
10 months ago
Being able to recognize that is a huge step in the right direction.
Jazmin Savinon
5 months ago
Well said…I feel the same way =)
farai Kuwana
3 months ago
As all of you brothers and sisters, I’ve also come to learn that same principle (Christ must increase while I decrease). Its not an easy road to walk, but christ has overcome the world/flesh for us. So we have victory in the end. Reminds me of the Christ’s words…anyone who is to follow after me must give up his own life and follow after me. that means none of my wisdom, intellect, intelligence, works etc… we must receive all from above.
God bless you brothers and sisters.
Chip Brogden
4 months ago
It is a reference to people who followed the teachings of Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Oral Roberts, Charles Capps, and others. Especially popular in the 80’s, though there are still numbers who adhere to it. The basic teaching is that if you confess or claim health or wealth or anything else then you’ll receive it. It’s a very self-centered, magical psuedo-faith that manipulates Scripture and God for one’s own ends.
Chip Brogden
4 months ago
We all struggle with this. Don’t give up. Trust that Jesus is bigger than you are. Even if you fail 10,000 times, continue to go back to Him and say, “I have sinned against Heaven and against You, but forgive me, heal me, make me whole, and make me a new person!” Most people feel guilty and quit once they fail. You should do the opposite; the more you fail, the more often you should run back to Him. If you keep doing that you will find He begins to answer that prayer and something supernatural begins to happen. If you cannot do it, stop trying to do it, and rely on God Himself to do what you cannot do. That is the secret.
Brent Tamatea
2 months ago
Surely God gives us what we need to some he gives wealth wasnt solomon the richest man ever to have been born the problem i see is not riches it is the trust in the flesh a man with wealth thinks himself powerful his security in being self sufficient it is a trap his money is his securuty but what does it profit a man to gain the world but lose his soul..It is only in Jesus that true living is denying self and following him.
Brent Tamatea
2 months ago
The weakness of the flesh or the worlds thinking its all about self effort striving to do what only God can do i struggled in my christian walk for many years before i came to the realisation that i cant do it in my strength i dont need to battle thru my faith or to try and be a better person the work has been done on the cross i only have to enter into his rest and abide in him.As i meditate on Gods grace we are made righteous when God looks at us he sees his son perfect without spot wrinkle or blemish when we realise who we are in Christ it is powerful and life changing.Jimmy may God show you who you are in Christ if you have accepted him you are adopted into Gods family he loves you so much he sent his son to die for you he has removed your sin and he wants only the best for you ask him to show you what you need to do he has given us his holy spirit who will teach us and show us what we need to do next just take one day at a time.