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  A GARDEN ENCLOSED
  by A.B. Simpson
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Summary: To experience real spiritual growth, we must die to self and
let God create anew out of nothing.

Topics: "Surrender to God", "Transformation"
Scripture References: Isaiah 61:3, Matthew 16:24-25, John 12:24, John 15:5, Romans 6:6, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 1:6, Colossians 3:3

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DESCRIPTION
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A.B. Simpson emphasizes the transformative process of becoming a
fruitful garden in Christ, contrasting it with the wilderness of our
natural state. He explains that true growth requires the removal of self
and natural inclinations, allowing God to cultivate a new life within
us. The sermon highlights the necessity of dying to self in order to
experience real life, urging believers to rely on God to accomplish this
work. Simpson illustrates this concept through the cycles of nature,
showing that new life emerges from death, just as spring follows winter.
Ultimately, he calls for a complete surrender to God's creative power,
making Jesus the center of our existence.

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CONTENT
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The figure here is of a beautiful, fruitful enclosure, not a wilderness.
Garden soil is cultivated soil, very different from the roadside or
wilderness. The idea of a garden is culture. The ground has to be
prepared, to be broken up by ploughing, to be mellowed by harrowing. All
the stones have to be removed and the roots of all natural growth dug
up. The good things we are seeking are not natural growths and will not
prosper in our natural soil. We all feel we should try to improve the
old nature, but that is not God's way. His method is to get self out of
the way entirely, and let Him create anew out of nothing, so that all
shall be of Him; and Jesus will be the acknowledged Alpha and Omega. The
thing we want to learn here is to die.

There can be no real life till self dies.

And we dare not try to die ourselves, but ask God to slay us; He will
make a thorough work of it. This the secret nature hideth, Summer dies
and lives again, Spring from winter's grave ariseth, Harvest grows from
buried grain.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/ab-simpson/a-garden-enclosed/
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