TD Jakes - The Value of Living a Restricted Life
Paul says, «I am crucified with Christ.» So, let’s talk about that a little bit. I am crucified with Christ. Was Paul actually crucified? Is that how he died? No, that is not how Paul died, according to history. So, that’s not what he’s talking about. He’s not talking about literally being crucified, and yet he says, «I am crucified with Christ.» What he means is simply this: my will, my way, my plan for my life, my intentions, my goals, how I live my life, how I function—I am crucified; my flesh is crucified with Christ. Crucifixion is a painful place, a restrictive place.
Now, on one hand, Paul was teaching the grace of God, but he was also teaching us the responsibility of living a crucified life. Those things may not seem like they blend well together, but they do blend quite well. You will remember Romans 6:1: «Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid! How can we that are dead to sin live any longer therein?» So, Paul’s contention is that the old man is crucified with Christ; he’s nailed up. The old man, with all his desires, is nailed to the cross. With every nail that drives into that old life I lived is the removal of every curse that was contrary: every generational curse, every bondage, every guilt, all shame. That person who lived that way is nailed up, crucified with Christ.
So, it’s not just that Christ is crucified; I am crucified. My will is crucified. I don’t get to say everything I wanted to say; I don’t get to do everything I wanted to do. I don’t get to respond to you the way I would want to respond. I am crucified with Christ. He is talking about the value of living a restricted life while the Gospel is liberating. Every liberty has responsibility, and just because I have grace and just because I am liberated doesn’t mean that I get to do my own thing, go my own way, and disregard God. I am crucified with Christ; I am restrained. The Spirit of the Lord constrains us.
Have you ever been ready to let someone have it, but the Holy Spirit wouldn’t let you? You knew you could really get them, but He wouldn’t let you—not in the full strength of how you wanted to get them, no. I am crucified with Christ. I want you to get that picture in your mind because if you only see the words and don’t get the picture, you don’t really grasp the restraint. I am nailed up with Christ. Where I go, where I live, how I live, and what I do is always a reminder. There’s always a nail somewhere holding me back from being who I used to be.
Do you remember when Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane? He said, «Father, if it be Thy will, pass this bitter cup from me.» Then finally, He said, «Not my will, but Thine be done.» When we forsake our will, we are crucified with Christ. Now, I believe this: I believe that Calvary was settled in the Garden of Gethsemane before they ever drove a nail into His hand or pierced Him in His side. When His will was crucified, it was over. After that, behold Isaiah said, «He goeth as a lamb to the shearers,» and He opened not His mouth.
The battle broke in the Garden of Gethsemane; the struggle was in the Garden of Gethsemane. The place of surrender was in the Garden of Gethsemane. The pressing was until Jesus sweated great drops of blood—this was in the Garden of Gethsemane, where His friends, the disciples, fell asleep. All of that happened to bring Him to a place of surrender—"I surrender to You; I am crucified with Christ.» Have you ever surrendered fully to Jesus? To really surrender? Because a lot of Christians have never truly surrendered. Your plans are frustrating because God isn’t doing what you told Him to do. Hey, baby, you’re not God’s boss. It’s not God’s job to do what you tell Him to do; it’s your job to do what God told you to do.
As soon as you understand that God is not some genie in your life to do whatever you want Him to do, you begin to understand that He is the one telling you what to do, and you have to live the crucified life. It doesn’t mean you can’t drive, can’t move, can’t have fun, can’t enjoy your life, can’t socialize with people, can’t enjoy your life—no. But it means that you’re living a restricted life, and there’s some level of restriction on your life. It means that you can’t quit whenever you want because you’re tired of those people. You can ask, «God, if You want me to endure this, then yes, I am crucified with Christ.»
You don’t hear that much today. When I was growing up, you heard that a lot. You don’t hear many preachers preaching about that; it doesn’t get a lot of shouts or a lot of dancing. «I am crucified with Christ» is so important. It includes our morality, our integrity, but it also goes deeper than that. It goes down to a surrendered life—"Not my will, but Thine be done.» I surrender; I surrender; I surrender. I surrender my plans; I surrender what I had in mind for my life; I surrender what I was going to do; I surrender what I was going to say. All of that, I nailed to the cross with Christ.
So, whatever You have for me, I’m now ready to do because the old me, with all his ambitions, proclivities, insecurities, and uncertainties, I count as dead. I am crucified with Christ. That’s the first thing Paul says. Yet he’s writing a letter to a church that he’s trying to keep on the straight and narrow path of a clear understanding of what it really means to be a Christian. He’s writing to them from a cross—not literally, but spiritually. He says, «I am crucified with Christ.» Now, I want that to sink into your spirit because that is my first point: that we are crucified with Christ.