TAKING up our CROSS

JESUS told us:

Luke 9:23

King James Version

23 And he said to them all, 

If any man will come after me, 

let him deny himself, 

and take up his cross daily, 

and follow me.

What does carrying our cross mean?

What would JESUS consider a cross, worthy of bearing?

If your relationship with JESUS is right, as born again, as believer, you'd know what that cross means.

The Bible teaches us the cross we believers must bear:

Titus 2:11-12

King James Version

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation 

hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, 

denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, 

we should live soberly, 

righteously, 

and godly, 

in this present world;

Both verses have said these:

"let him deny himself"

"denying ungodliness and worldly lusts"

Common word?

DENY.

We are to deny ourselves the accepted ways in the world.

We are to live as CHRIST lived.

Just.

Holy.

Perfect.

Obedient.

ACCEPTABLE in the eyes of GOD.

We are to:

"live soberly, 

righteously, 

and godly, 

in this present world"

If you love GOD, if you follow JESUS, if you are a student of the HOLY SPIRIT, if you are born again, if you live by SCRIPTURE, that is easy to do.

It makes sense, and becomes automatic for the believer.

We have SPIRIT and SCRIPTURE to teach us.

The ways of the world don't entice us.

For it goes against GOD's grain:

Luke 16:15

King James Version

15 And he said unto them, 

Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; 

but God knoweth your hearts: 

for that which is highly esteemed among men 

is abomination in the sight of God.

It will be easy to follow GOD's commandments, because Scripture said:

1 John 5:3

King James Version

3 For this is the love of God, 

that we keep his commandments: 

and his commandments are not grievous.

It will be easy to carry our cross, for JESUS promised:

Matthew 11:28-30

King James Version

28 Come unto me, 

all ye that labour and are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, 

and learn of me; 

for I am meek and lowly in heart: 

and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, 

and my burden is light.

JESUS already conquered everything on the cross.

We are merely following in His footsteps.

In the path He already paved.

JESUS made everything easy for us.

Let no one tell you differently.

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A NEW HEART in YOU

 

Ezekiel 36:26-27

King James Version

26 A new heart also will I give you, 

and a new spirit will I put within you: 

and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, 

and I will give you an heart of flesh.

27 And I will put my spirit within you, 

and cause you to walk in my statutes, 

and ye shall keep my judgments, 

and do them.

We all need a heart "transplant".

We need the HEART of GOD in us.

If we say we have no sin, then we call JESUS a liar.

1 John 1:10

King James Version

10 If we say that we have not sinned, 

we make him a liar, 

and his word is not in us.

Can't do that to the LORD.

After He gave His life for us.

Nope, I don't have such a heart.

Especially when I became born again.

GOD put a new heart in me.

He also put RIGHT SPIRIT in me.

Psalm 51:10-12

King James Version

10 Create in me a clean heart, 

O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; 

and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; 

and uphold me with thy free spirit.

The day we accept our own mistakes, and participation, things will radically change.

When we keep blaming GOD, others, or the world, our thinking's clouded.

Ah, but the moment we look deeply into our hearts and ask: 

"Where did I go wrong?"

"What am I doing wrong?"

"What am I not getting?"

"What is GOD trying to tell me?"

Expect GOD to be on your side.

GOD always loves a humble heart.

Psalm 14:2

King James Version

2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, 

to see if there were any that did understand, 

and seek God.

The enemy's pride was an abomination to the LORD.

Pride is always the cause of downfall.

Proverbs 16:18

King James Version

18 Pride goeth before destruction, 

and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Seek GOD and your life will change.

ALL my blogs and posts attest to that.

ALL GLORY belong to GOD alone.

When pride falls away, surrender comes.

And it's got to be TOTAL surrender to GOD's POWER.

He knows if you're truly humbled.

He knows if you really want to know His Truth.

He knows when you're ready to receive GRACE and TRUTH.

All the things that are of JESUS.

John 1:17

King James Version

17 For the law was given by Moses, 

but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

A stony heart cannot receive JESUS.

Only a humbled heart can receive the LORD.

The kind that's open, awake, aware, penitent.

Unless we go through that process, we are not ready to receive the LORD.

Ever seen a worldly-successful man thinking about the LORD?

Or genuinely giving credit to the LORD for EVERYTHING?

No such thing in this world.

It's either GOD, or mammon.

You must choose.

Let us have a new heart in CHRIST.

Let our pride fall away.

By ourselves, we can do nothing.

SAVE for JESUS in us.

John 15:5

King James Version

5 I am the vine, 

ye are the branches: 

He that abideth in me, 

and I in him, 

the same bringeth forth much fruit: 

for without me ye can do nothing.

We need the SPIRIT of the LORD in us.

That we may thrive and survive in this fallen world.

We so need that new heart from GOD.

Receiving JESUS in our hearts changes everything.

Our whole outlook changes.

We would not wish to sin anymore.

That's the DNA of those born again in CHRIST.

You delight in awareness.

Hebrews 10:26

King James Version

26 For if we sin wilfully 

after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, 

there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

Having a new heart means we would want to get EVERY law of GOD right.

We won't want to be wrong anymore.

JESUS prayed to the FATHER to gift us with His SPIRIT.

GOD gave us Scripture, that we may be perfectly-equipped to face the challenges in this world.

Such is GOD's love.

And mercy.

We are so loved!

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ONLY by GRACE are we SAVED

 

Psalm 25:6

King James Version

6 Remember, O Lord, 

thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; 

for they have been ever of old.

Were it not for GOD's LOVE, His TENDER MERCIES, His GRACE, His LOVINGKINDNESS, we would have perished long ago.

In case you think you can stretch GOD's patience, please don't.

Only by GRACE are we saved.

Ephesians 2:8-9

King James Version

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; 

and that not of yourselves: 

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, 

lest any man should boast.

We brought nothing into the world.

1 Timothy 6:7

King James Version

7 For we brought nothing into this world, 

and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

Without JESUS, we can do nothing.

John 15:5

King James Version

5 I am the vine, 

ye are the branches: 

He that abideth in me, 

and I in him, 

the same bringeth forth much fruit: 

for without me ye can do nothing.

Only through the Restrainer -- the HOLY SPIRIT -- is the antichrist not yet revealed.

2 Thessalonians 2:6-7

King James Version

6 And now ye know what withholdeth 

that he might be revealed in his time.

7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: 

only he who now letteth will let, 

until he be taken out of the way.

As you can see, only by GOD's GRACE do we continue to exist.

Let us not fall into the same sin as the enemy.

The sin of pride.

When the day comes GOD sees fit to have His SON return, then you'll know GOD has had enough of our sin and disobedience.

Mark 13:32

King James Version

32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, 

no, not the angels which are in heaven, 

neither the Son, 

but the Father.

We are loved by GOD, but let us not mock His power.

GOD's will be done, in everything.

In JESUS, lies the LORD's GRACE.

 Titus 2:11-12

King James Version

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation 

hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, 

denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, 

we should live soberly, 

righteously, 

and godly, 

in this present world;

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NOT money, media, or man

 

2 Peter 3:3-4

King James Version

3 Knowing this first, 

that there shall come in the last days scoffers, 

walking after their own lusts,

4 And saying, 

Where is the promise of his coming? 

for since the fathers fell asleep, 

all things continue as they were 

from the beginning of the creation.

The LORD's RETURN is imminent.

Nothing of the world can stop it.

JESUS didn't mince any words:

Matthew 24:44

King James Version

44 Therefore be ye also ready: 

for in such an hour as ye think not 

the Son of man cometh.

As workman, I write each day, preparing people for GOD's GLORIOUS EVENT.

SPIRIT takes care of reaching people JESUS wants reached.

I am not to concern myself with money, media, or man.

I am tasked to focus on the RAPTURE.

We have to be ready for CHRIST.

At ANY moment.

We have to be spotless.

Blameless.

Holy.

We have to be perfect.

We cannot join the LORD as we are.

Steeped in sin.

Proud, vain, greedy, selfish, lustful, unaware.

Our bodies will be changed, when the LORD comes.

God is a Spirit; we are flesh.

John 4:24

King James Version

24 God is a Spirit: 

and they that worship him 

must worship him in spirit and in truth.

We have to be changed, to conform to the kingdom of God.

When Spirit's in your heart, you simply change.

There's no question about being holy.

It's all automatic.

You have no more desire to sin.

Your only desire is to be acceptable in the eyes of the LORD.

Your only concern is to become aware, to repent, and be forgiven.

Your only delight is in obeying the LAWS of GOD.

Scripture carries the LAWS of GOD.

Your desire is in telling others, too.

How can anyone keep the GOOD NEWS to yourself?

That the LORD JESUS will come for His FAITHFUL.

You would want everyone to know.

You would want everyone to be with JESUS.

And not suffer any longer.

JESUS commanded we be born again.

That's the only way to understand things of the SPIRIT.

With SPIRIT, Scripture's easy to understand.

Especially for the child-like heart. 

Eager to know EVERYTHING about JESUS.

You become a NEW person in CHRIST.

2 Corinthians 5:17

King James Version

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, 

he is a new creature: 

old things are passed away; 

behold, all things are become new.

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MEDITATING upon our LIVES

 

Psalm 32:8

King James Version

8 I will instruct thee and teach thee 

in the way which thou shalt go: 

I will guide thee with mine eye.

Are you living the life you've always dreamed of?

Have you discovered your purpose?

Have you got peace in your heart?

Does your life have true meaning?

Have you gone beyond self?

Who do you believe in?

What do you believe in?

Do you know the end to it all?

Have you any idea the beginning?

What is truth?

Where does one look for truth?

Who can you trust?

What can you be certain of?

Have you found your answers yet?

Do you know where to look?

Do you know what to ask?

Do you know how to ask?

Do you know who to ask?

Do you have everything you need?

If not, what more do you need?

What is it really that you need?

What gives true happiness?

Life can only be a moving forward with GOD.

Read the Bible for God's story.

If you're not born again, it's time to be one.

Look upon the LORD for answers.

Look to Him for peace.

Only JESUS can give you the answers.

In a way that satisfies your soul.

He is the WORD.

John 1:14

King James Version

14 And the Word was made flesh, 

and dwelt among us, 

(and we beheld his glory, 

the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) 

full of grace and truth.

He is the DOOR.

John 10:9

King James Version

9 I am the door: 

by me if any man enter in, 

he shall be saved, 

and shall go in and out, 

and find pasture.

He is the WAY.

John 14:6

King James Version

6 Jesus saith unto him, 

I am the way, 

the truth, 

and the life: 

no man cometh unto the Father, 

but by me.

He is the LIGHT.

John 8:12

King James Version

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, 

I am the light of the world: 

he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, 

but shall have the light of life.

He is the GIFT.

Romans 6:23

King James Version

23 For the wages of sin is death; 

but the gift of God is eternal life 

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

GOD is the captain, directing us all.

JESUS is the LIGHT, high above, as in the mast.

SPIRIT is the bow, helping us focus on GOD alone.

Psalm 32:11

King James Version

11 Be glad in the Lord, 

and rejoice, 

ye righteous: 

and shout for joy, 

all ye that are upright in heart.

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