WHERE IS YOUR CROSS?
A lot of us know about dyeing to our self-will but I think very few actually give themselves to the idea. On the other hand, many believe they are living the “saved” life style, being good boys and girls and looking forward to going to heaven when they die. The problem with that is that it is a very religious mind set and it is void of the depth and seriousness that bears witness to being a mature true worshiper of The Most High.
Christ first died for us… now it is our turn to die for him! This is actually… “The rest of the story.” Here is a TRUE AND BALANCED MEANING of the preaching of the gospel; herein dwells the power and the revelation of Jesus made manifest in our resurrected will and enlightenment; it is not our will at all but the will of God. This is an aspect of the foolishness of God that is wiser than the wisdom of man. God has chosen the metaphor of the cross and its relationship to death and resurrection to save the sinner, revive the backslider and transform the “true worshiper” into his image.
Those who are balanced in this truth function with this focus and understand the peace and the comfort in this death. Resurrection only comes out of death. The gospel is a message of LIFE THROUGH DEATH!
Nevertheless, life and peace does not materialize unless the individual actually dies: not “necessarily “an actual death but a living death, in which one lives within the will and service of God. However, actual death (martyrdom) is a fact and must be etched in our attitude with resolve, if the Lord requires it. This is the true gospel and it is the only gospel that Jesus ever preached; all else leads to deception.
Traditionally the gospel has been thought of as something that is preached to sinners and the ungodly. This is true. However the gospel, being the message of crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is continuous even after we have believed: the sinner hears it but we act it out daily. It is the power of God, by which we work out our salvation in fear and trembling.
This is a missed truth in most Christian gatherings. Nevertheless, if we are among those who claim freedom from the shameful city of the religious-proud, this sacrificial life is a requirement of the Lord for each and every one who holds the truth in high esteem.
This is a total effort on the part of each individual and it has many components and nuances. It is not simple; it is the iron attitude of holiness. This is altogether different than the “namby-pamby” attitude of those in the institutions. It is not our secondary endeavor in life, even if our outward appearance shows no indication of what is contained on the inside.
What is burning on the inside has great value to the Lord, even if it appears that there is little or nothing for the individual to do. That is, if what we do or do not do is compared to the endeavors of the religious. The religious do a lot that can be seen. Nevertheless, the inner workings of spiritual matters and the will of God is what is paramount in this realm of holiness.
The worshiper must realize that we have a hidden life. We are double agents: we look like everyone else on this planet and we do many of the same things in ordinary life but we are aliens, not of this world.
Some secret agents are called “sleepers.” These individuals pretend for years to be ordinary citizens but inside they are on a mission hidden from the sight of their neighbors. It is their supreme duty to keep themselves sharp and alert, awaiting the orders that are sure to arrive when the time is ripe. This is a metaphoric description and it is representative of those who wait before the Lord for his orders to proceed.
If we want to prove what the will of God is for our individual lives… nail the flesh and our carnal minds to the cross. The will of God is then evident. It’s like this: “Life is uncertain but death is sure.” This is a play on words but nevertheless, a good illustration. Plain and simple: the will of God is sure in the death of our will.
Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3:3, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
The carnal mind highly esteems the vigorous religious servitude; in other words, doing many seemingly holy “things.” Or as I have often heard people say, “Doing something for the Lord.” How about first things first? Take up your cross and put your will to death and then the will of God will be done through us, instead of us worrying about doing what seems good to us in our own eyes. All ministries in the service of God are great, weather they seem that way to the natural mind or not. It is not what we accomplish but what the will of God is. Whatever God assigns to us is what he assigns and if he assigns nothing and we are in his will… let us have peace about it!
The dead don’t do anything except rot, stink and decompose. The dead have no will of their own. Hello! Is anybody home? There is plenty to do in the Spirit without doing anything in the natural. We should see that we are consistent there. The will of God has its own seasons and we should be instant when the time is manifest.
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Ecc 3:1
Life itself is our worst enemy and our hardest trial. It is the test most often failed by those who put their hand to the plow. Why? Because it is the long, lack luster haul, the straight and narrow path that goes on and on; it is an endurance course, not a walk in the park. The cross is about suffering. Even though we are on this path in the Spirit, in our natural life we are in a powerful river of vanity carrying us onward in an endless flow of the rigors of natural life. In this flow there are many subtle temptations; many become discouraged, others simply lose focus and end up going with the flow of the world. The love of the Lord and holiness fades, the will of the flesh is resurrected and they slide backward and become sinners in one form or another. This is why we must endure to the end.
“Manifestations” of the will of God are in the preaching of the cross, in conjunction with those who preach being themselves upon the cross and thereby rendering the will of our God.
Our carnal minds are also resurrected out of the death that is in our self-will. This starts in the way we pray… which builds the structure of the way we think, as I have outlined in another article. Even when we agree with others in petitions of prayer, it must be subject to the will of God. It can never be our own carnal will. This is also the way of the cross.
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. -1Jn 5:14 & 15.
The action of holiness is another component of the cross. A person is holy when they have set themselves aside from their own will, for the use of God… on the cross. A figurative holiness is not valid. Many of the religious see holiness as a function of the clergy. Nevertheless, Jesus commands all followers to take the cross. It is not an option! Choosing the cross is an act of holiness. The example of baptism (death & resurrection) can be seen in all the examples of the cross.
Nevertheless, our flesh and our carnal mind is not willingly subject to this attitude because it has to do with the law of love. Our flesh, unbridled, hates God because the love for God hinders it’s greedy and sinful will. Therefore, our flesh fights for control every day and will never willingly submit to the law of love found in the cross. It is a sort of oxymoron: the flesh is put to death by the renewing of our mind but is, nevertheless, always seeking a resurrection of its own. This is a fight that we can win but it is a long weary war.
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death (towards the things of God); but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity (bears hatred) against God : for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Everyday millions read the Bible, without seeing the essence of the death of our will as it relates to the perfect will of God. A great number see this understanding as a minor adjustment having to do with morals and good works. There is never anything wrong with morals and good works but this is not the focus that is a clear picture of the cross. Therefore, a great many ASSUME they are dead and are not and many more know they are not but pretend to be. This crosses all boundaries… even among those who have come out of institutional religion. BE AFRAID… whoever thinks that God does not see everything that we are or are not.
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh (is not dead) shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit (is dead) shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
The cross and the perfect will of God is a pair. Do not be afraid of this death. Nevertheless, it is not a thing that God does to us, we do this to ourselves; it is a voluntary endeavor that is a process. The cross is not the electric chair, it takes time accompanied by agony to die on the cross.
1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
We should all, without fail, press into this resurrection through the practice of praying in the will of God: “thy will be done… thy kingdom come.” This is where it starts! If anyone thinks that is easy, try it consistently and we will realize how much we pray for our own will to be done because of trusting our own understanding.
This is because the natural mind thinks it is wiser than God; especially, when the need appears to be simple and obvious. So we say that we trust God but in our deeds of prayer, we attempt to impose our own will and understanding upon God. That is not the cross nor is it a mature trust.
If we are to be mature we must put away childish mannerisms. We cannot grow if we do not change. Don’t be a fool… the walk of faith is not a comfortable one. Growth is not comfortable; there is often trembling and uncertainty. And this is the reaction of the carnal mind at the reality of crucifixion and the discomfort of change.
Jaytee Bee
A lot of us know about dyeing to our self-will but I think very few actually give themselves to the idea. On the other hand, many believe they are living the “saved” life style, being good boys and girls and looking forward to going to heaven when they die. The problem with that is that it is a very religious mind set and it is void of the depth and seriousness that bears witness to being a mature true worshiper of The Most High.
Christ first died for us… now it is our turn to die for him! This is actually… “The rest of the story.” Here is a TRUE AND BALANCED MEANING of the preaching of the gospel; herein dwells the power and the revelation of Jesus made manifest in our resurrected will and enlightenment; it is not our will at all but the will of God. This is an aspect of the foolishness of God that is wiser than the wisdom of man. God has chosen the metaphor of the cross and its relationship to death and resurrection to save the sinner, revive the backslider and transform the “true worshiper” into his image.
Those who are balanced in this truth function with this focus and understand the peace and the comfort in this death. Resurrection only comes out of death. The gospel is a message of LIFE THROUGH DEATH!
Nevertheless, life and peace does not materialize unless the individual actually dies: not “necessarily “an actual death but a living death, in which one lives within the will and service of God. However, actual death (martyrdom) is a fact and must be etched in our attitude with resolve, if the Lord requires it. This is the true gospel and it is the only gospel that Jesus ever preached; all else leads to deception.
Traditionally the gospel has been thought of as something that is preached to sinners and the ungodly. This is true. However the gospel, being the message of crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is continuous even after we have believed: the sinner hears it but we act it out daily. It is the power of God, by which we work out our salvation in fear and trembling.
This is a missed truth in most Christian gatherings. Nevertheless, if we are among those who claim freedom from the shameful city of the religious-proud, this sacrificial life is a requirement of the Lord for each and every one who holds the truth in high esteem.
This is a total effort on the part of each individual and it has many components and nuances. It is not simple; it is the iron attitude of holiness. This is altogether different than the “namby-pamby” attitude of those in the institutions. It is not our secondary endeavor in life, even if our outward appearance shows no indication of what is contained on the inside.
What is burning on the inside has great value to the Lord, even if it appears that there is little or nothing for the individual to do. That is, if what we do or do not do is compared to the endeavors of the religious. The religious do a lot that can be seen. Nevertheless, the inner workings of spiritual matters and the will of God is what is paramount in this realm of holiness.
The worshiper must realize that we have a hidden life. We are double agents: we look like everyone else on this planet and we do many of the same things in ordinary life but we are aliens, not of this world.
Some secret agents are called “sleepers.” These individuals pretend for years to be ordinary citizens but inside they are on a mission hidden from the sight of their neighbors. It is their supreme duty to keep themselves sharp and alert, awaiting the orders that are sure to arrive when the time is ripe. This is a metaphoric description and it is representative of those who wait before the Lord for his orders to proceed.
If we want to prove what the will of God is for our individual lives… nail the flesh and our carnal minds to the cross. The will of God is then evident. It’s like this: “Life is uncertain but death is sure.” This is a play on words but nevertheless, a good illustration. Plain and simple: the will of God is sure in the death of our will.
Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3:3, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
The carnal mind highly esteems the vigorous religious servitude; in other words, doing many seemingly holy “things.” Or as I have often heard people say, “Doing something for the Lord.” How about first things first? Take up your cross and put your will to death and then the will of God will be done through us, instead of us worrying about doing what seems good to us in our own eyes. All ministries in the service of God are great, weather they seem that way to the natural mind or not. It is not what we accomplish but what the will of God is. Whatever God assigns to us is what he assigns and if he assigns nothing and we are in his will… let us have peace about it!
The dead don’t do anything except rot, stink and decompose. The dead have no will of their own. Hello! Is anybody home? There is plenty to do in the Spirit without doing anything in the natural. We should see that we are consistent there. The will of God has its own seasons and we should be instant when the time is manifest.
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Ecc 3:1
Life itself is our worst enemy and our hardest trial. It is the test most often failed by those who put their hand to the plow. Why? Because it is the long, lack luster haul, the straight and narrow path that goes on and on; it is an endurance course, not a walk in the park. The cross is about suffering. Even though we are on this path in the Spirit, in our natural life we are in a powerful river of vanity carrying us onward in an endless flow of the rigors of natural life. In this flow there are many subtle temptations; many become discouraged, others simply lose focus and end up going with the flow of the world. The love of the Lord and holiness fades, the will of the flesh is resurrected and they slide backward and become sinners in one form or another. This is why we must endure to the end.
“Manifestations” of the will of God are in the preaching of the cross, in conjunction with those who preach being themselves upon the cross and thereby rendering the will of our God.
Our carnal minds are also resurrected out of the death that is in our self-will. This starts in the way we pray… which builds the structure of the way we think, as I have outlined in another article. Even when we agree with others in petitions of prayer, it must be subject to the will of God. It can never be our own carnal will. This is also the way of the cross.
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. -1Jn 5:14 & 15.
The action of holiness is another component of the cross. A person is holy when they have set themselves aside from their own will, for the use of God… on the cross. A figurative holiness is not valid. Many of the religious see holiness as a function of the clergy. Nevertheless, Jesus commands all followers to take the cross. It is not an option! Choosing the cross is an act of holiness. The example of baptism (death & resurrection) can be seen in all the examples of the cross.
Nevertheless, our flesh and our carnal mind is not willingly subject to this attitude because it has to do with the law of love. Our flesh, unbridled, hates God because the love for God hinders it’s greedy and sinful will. Therefore, our flesh fights for control every day and will never willingly submit to the law of love found in the cross. It is a sort of oxymoron: the flesh is put to death by the renewing of our mind but is, nevertheless, always seeking a resurrection of its own. This is a fight that we can win but it is a long weary war.
Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death (towards the things of God); but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity (bears hatred) against God : for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Everyday millions read the Bible, without seeing the essence of the death of our will as it relates to the perfect will of God. A great number see this understanding as a minor adjustment having to do with morals and good works. There is never anything wrong with morals and good works but this is not the focus that is a clear picture of the cross. Therefore, a great many ASSUME they are dead and are not and many more know they are not but pretend to be. This crosses all boundaries… even among those who have come out of institutional religion. BE AFRAID… whoever thinks that God does not see everything that we are or are not.
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh (is not dead) shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit (is dead) shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
The cross and the perfect will of God is a pair. Do not be afraid of this death. Nevertheless, it is not a thing that God does to us, we do this to ourselves; it is a voluntary endeavor that is a process. The cross is not the electric chair, it takes time accompanied by agony to die on the cross.
1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
We should all, without fail, press into this resurrection through the practice of praying in the will of God: “thy will be done… thy kingdom come.” This is where it starts! If anyone thinks that is easy, try it consistently and we will realize how much we pray for our own will to be done because of trusting our own understanding.
This is because the natural mind thinks it is wiser than God; especially, when the need appears to be simple and obvious. So we say that we trust God but in our deeds of prayer, we attempt to impose our own will and understanding upon God. That is not the cross nor is it a mature trust.
If we are to be mature we must put away childish mannerisms. We cannot grow if we do not change. Don’t be a fool… the walk of faith is not a comfortable one. Growth is not comfortable; there is often trembling and uncertainty. And this is the reaction of the carnal mind at the reality of crucifixion and the discomfort of change.
Jaytee Bee
