Death to Self: The Foundation of Faith

About this episode

Rev. Linda L. Adkins discusses the concept of death to self as a foundational aspect of genuine faith in the Christian life.

In this episode of Words of Light for Today, Rev. Linda L. Adkins teaches on one of the most overlooked truths in the Christian life — death to self. Drawing from Philippians 3, Romans 6, and the words of Jesus in Luke 9, she reveals that death to self is not a concept reserved for the spiritually elite. It is the only pathway to fruitfulness, and it is the foundation on which genuine faith is built. Rev. Adkins explains that every believer has been given a measure of faith — but that faith can be dammed up. Like a river blocked by pride, fear, resentment, and self-reliance, the faith is present but unable to flow freely. She draws a clear and convicting distinction between the saved life and the spiritual life, showing that carnality — mixing self with Christ — is not a sign of unbelief, but it is a barrier to breakthrough. And she makes this plain: becoming spiritual is not a process of accumulation. It is a process of being peeled. If you have ever wondered why your prayers seem unanswered, why your faith appears to work for others but not for you, or why your walk with God feels stuck — this message will show you where to look. The self-life is blocking the river. And God, in…

People in this episode

Host: Rev. Linda L. Adkins

Topics covered

• death to self
• faith
• spirituality
• Christian life
• fruitfulness
• self-reliance

Keywords

• death to self
• faith
• spiritual life
• Christianity
• pride
• self-life
• breakthrough

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Philippians 3, Romans 6, Luke 9

More episodes of Words of Light with Rev. Linda Adkins

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• The Whole Offering: Surrendering the ‘I’ · April 26, 2026 · 35 min
• Set Free From Sin: Choosing the Life That Produces Holiness · March 15, 2026 · 14 min
• Desire That Produces Understanding · March 8, 2026 · 38 min
• The Concrete Character of Christ: Living the Full Fruit of the Spirit · March 8, 2026 · 41 min
• The Fortitude to Be Still: Patience and the Fruit of the Spirit · March 8, 2026 · 28 min