Denying self and taking up our cross means something has to be crucified.
our flesh disowning and disreguarding turning away from personal interests & enjoyments.
selfish desires, selfish pursuits, Losing the lifestyle we once knew.
Losing all that defines the old man. denying self will cost us everything we lose our right
to live as we choose. popularity, letting go of earthly possessions and focusing on treasures in Heaven
Taking up our cross - the cross was a symbol of suffering, humility, death and sacrifice
we cannot carry a cross without suffering.
Luke 14:28-31) 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him. 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
we need to study to show ourself approved, and count the cost to Follow Jesus
the cost - self denial, taking up our cross , forsaking all to follow
knowing what we are taking up when we take up our cross
living a denied life and taking up our cross
we can expect suffering, we can expect to be hated, despised, persecuted we can expect opposition
we can expect people to say all manner of evil against us falsely for the Name sake of the Lord.
if we have studied to show ourselves approved and counted the cost we will know what to expect and always be on guard and when trouble comes it wont come as a suprise or shock to our faith because
we have counted the cost to follow we have studied to show ourselves approved we are prepared to be on guard and know what to expect.
The only True beauty comes from a life fully surrendered to Jesus Christ. where ourselves have died and gotten out of the way and Christ can be seen in us and through us. As it was said In John 3:30 He must increase and I must decrease. when we get in the way and we are pursuing the things our flesh wants to pursue His beauty is not seen in us or through us. Jesus extends this invitation to all wh...o will come after Him, Luke 9:23-25) 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. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? the essence of the Gospel is becoming a living sacrifice for our King, following in His steps walking as He walked. and when we commit ourselves in pursuit of pleasing Him, nothing that we have is our own anymore. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20) 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. our time becomes His , our resources become His our money etc.. our plans change its not about us its all about Him. that He may be Glorified. daily we have a choice to deny ourselves our pursuits and plans and take up our cross and follow Jesus, His plans His will. often His will and His plans will stretch us and take us out of our comfort zone.
MATTHEW 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
The nature of wolves is to devour and destroy.
MATTHEW 10:17-23) 17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
In these scriptures the Lord has revealed to us He is sending us forth as sheep in the midst of wolves
again remember a wolves character is to devour and destroy, so we can expect wolves to attempt to devour and destroy us to fight against us.we can expect the wolves to hate us despise us persecute us.
in Matthew 10:17 Jesus tells us beware of men, men with the nature of wolves. professing men who have a form of Godliness and make show of religion they will scourge you in their synagogues.
wolves in our midst will attempt to devour and destroy us and persecute us . pay attention of what Jesus said the instructions He gave us , when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. Jesus warns us the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. bearing our cross we will suffer. Jesus has given us these warnings so that when these things come we wont be shocked or caught by suprise or caught unaware.
in Luke 21:16 He says it like this And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Jesus reminds us in John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
PHILIPPIANS 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.
2 TIMOTHY 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
All that will deny self take up their cross and Follow Jesus forsaking all to follow Him,
those that refuse to compromise those that stand on the word of God as the word of God the Living Truth. those that preach repentance and confront sin as being sin no fornicator drunkard or idolator shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, those who preach these things those are the ones who will be persecuted despised hated rejected . those that confront homosexuality as being sin and abortion as being sin , those who command them to repent in the Name of Jesus, telling them to turn from sin or else they will perish and go to Hell. those who stand up Boldy and speak the Truth those are the ones who will be hated despised and persecuted, those who take up their cross are the one that the wolves will attempt to devour and destroy. so the question is have you prepared yourself have you counted the cost have you studied to show yourself approved are you willing to walk into persecution and bear your cross and suffer those things and stand and contend for the faith even to the point of death?
Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
ACTS 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
2 CORINTHIANS 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
ROMANS 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
1 PETER 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.
2 TIMOTHY 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.
1 PETER 4:12-16) 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
MATTHEW 5:10-12) 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
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