Good bye Daniel Hello Coffee

I was reading a facebook status of one of my college roommates who loves Jesus with all of his heart. He's been doing the Daniel fast as well as thousands of others accross North America. He reached day 21 a little more quickly than I did. He obviously started a week earlier. His status was good bye Daniel hello coffee. I had a great chuckle this morning as my wife read it and said "oh would I love a coffee." Isn't it true that we always look forward and long for what we know we can't have.

Now to stand up for my wife she also says, "but I don't walk in the flesh anymore, I walk in the Spirit". I would love to say that I have overcome every aspect of my flesh and I no longer long for the things I shouldn't partake in, but that's not true. The  battle with the flesh is a constant battle. As I end my Daniel fast I continue to battle. In fact I battle every day with that nasty flesh of mine. In fact Paul said in

1 Corinthians 15:31 - I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

I die daily. Now what does that really mean. Let me tell you right now the work Christ did on the cross, the death of Christ was done once. He doesn't need to die again. It is incorrect for us to say we must "die daily" when we mean that we must deny ourselves. The Bible repeatedly says that crucifixion with Christ is a PAST TENSE experience to those saved. Denial of self is an ongoing process, but not so with death with Christ. Taking our crosses and following the Lord is ongoing, but actual crucifixion is speaking about another issue, and that is an issue that is completed already accomplished. We die ONCE with Christ unto sin.The entire context of the chapter is not speaking about self denial when he said he died daily. If anything it has come to mean to me that I am reminded that I am dead to the old man, I am dead to sin and a live unto Christ. If we read the entire chapter in Corinthians that Paul writes Paul was talking about the physical resurrection. Because Christ is resurrected I also live a resurrected life.

Church I encourage you to deny yourselves like we have done on the Daniel fast, but I more so encourage you to live alive to Christ. Our Saviour has risen and you have been made new. Having trouble with the flesh? Remember you're alive to Christ.