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DON'T REBUKE
YOUR CROSS;
PICK IT UP
AND CARRY IT!
Bishop Duane Swilley
Sometimes, the circumstances we’re
'rebuking' and trying to avoid are not
caused by the devil. Sometimes, they’re part
of the Cross that we are intended to bear on
our way to the Victory.
The CROSS is still the way to all victories
and success. There's no way to bypass this.
The way of the world is ME FIRST. The Way
of the Lord is GOD FIRST; His will before
all else. It’s not the easy or the popular
way to live, but it’s the richest and most
rewarding way,
and it’s
the ONLY way to truly follow Jesus.
SOMETIMES WE TRY TO AVOID THE CROSS...OR GET
OFF OF IT TOO SOON. WHY? some reasons are:
-
to tell our side of the story so we
won't be unfairly judged.
-
to take revenge, which is never of God.
-
or because we're just impatient. We
don't want to wait on God's timing.
Matthew 10:38 "And he who does not take up
his cross and follow Me (cling steadfastly
to Me, conforming wholly to My example in
living and, if need be, in experiencing
death is not worthy of Me."
Jesus had His Cross---you have
yours,
and you should know what that is.
TAKE UP
---seize
the cross---and don't let it
go till it's time to. For each triumph, you
will experience a cross. You can't have one
without the other.
THE CROSS---exposure
to death, self-denial. We
are
dead...to the carnal nature, to
sin, to our own 'wants'... rights...to
offense. A
dead
person can't react. A corpse can't
respond to attack.
FOLLOW---literally
'to be in the same way', to accompany.
WORTHY---deserving,
comparable, due reward.
John 12:32 "And I, if and when I am lifted
up from the earth (on the cross) will draw
and attract all men (Gentiles as well as
Jews) to myself.
THE JESUS EXAMPLE:
if you'll take up your cross, it (the cross)
will exalt you and attract (influence) all
mankind to Jesus--and you.
The Cross destroys the power of sin and
brings ultimate freedom.
Romans 6:6-8 We
know that the persons we used to be were
nailed to the cross with Jesus. This was
done, so that our sinful bodies would no
longer be the slaves of sin. 7 We know that
sin doesn't have power over dead people.
8 As surely as we died with Christ, we
believe we will also live with him.
BUT IT IS NOT THE CROSS FOREVER. THE CROSS
ALWAYS
LEADS TO A CROWN!
Hebrews 11:6 "For He is a rewarder of those
who diligently seek Him"
(to rule
and reign with Me, you must suffer with Me)
SO, PICK UP YOUR CROSS AND YOU WILL SURELY
RECEIVE A CROWN! |
