JESUS SAID" TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME.

 Jesus is coming for a church without spot or wrinkle. One that is looking for Him.

Remember to remove wrinkles, it will take a hot iron. The fire of the Holy Spirit can and will iron out all our wrinkles.

The blood of Jesus will remove every spot, when we die to self, then we can claim resurrection life. 

Death first, then new resurrected life.

Jesus has provided it all for us, He wants to bless us with every spiritual blessing.

He longs to fulfill all His promises.  Our obedience is the road to some of those promises.

Some promises are unconditional, while other are conditional. 

Hebrews 10:36 (Conditional)

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.

Hebrews 13:5 (Unconditional)

Let your conduct be without covetousness;  be content with such things as you have.  For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Do you want to see all God's promises become a reality in your life? 

There are about 160 promises in the New Testament.

Know which ones have a requirement to be fulfilled on your part, by obedience.

And know which ones are already yours, unconditionally.

Notice in the bible when God says IF you obey.

John 14:13-14

"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

"If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

Matthew 16:24-25

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him  deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

When Jesus said to take up your cross and follow Him, in essence, He was saying be prepared to die to all you hold dear.

We need to die to the false religious world.

It robs us of the life that Jesus has for us.

Too many in the religious world, are professors and not possessors. (A Howard Pittman quote)

They claim to know Jesus, but by their actions prove differently. Lack of love, critical, and judgmental.

When Jesus said to take up your cross, that is something your must do with effort, as your flesh will fight you all the way.

The cross is uncomfortable to carry, yet we must obey God's word.

Beloved, remember after the crucifixion, comes the resurrection. 

Resurrection that produces new life. Then we will be baptized in and with the Holy Spirit and receive the power to walk the talk.

Remember Peter said that he would die for Jesus?

Matthew 26:35

Peter said to Him, "even if I have to die with you, I will not deny You," and so said all the disciples.

Later, Peter did deny Jesus, but after the fire of the Holy Spirit touched him in the upper room,

Peter and the others became bold and their words carried great power. Faith and boldness raised in their heart.

Acts 1:8

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Home first, where the religious traditions are.

Then to the other areas outside Jerusalem.

This should speak to our heart that where the religious stronghold is,  that is where we are to go first. Our neighborhood, some churches.

Notice, that Peter and the disciples were no longer fearful of the Romans.  

They were changed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Remember at the crucifixion of Jesus that the world went dark?  The earth shook, because the light of the world was snuffed out.

Our world is about to go dark again a full eclipse.  Will this cause fear or a boldness?

Beloved, faith occurs when we set our heart and mind to take up our cross and follow Jesus.

Letting go of the old familiar things, and looking forward to the new.

Are you willing to suffer your losses and gain far more than you ever imagined?

Taking up your cross says that you are willing to die to your old life, so that you can experience resurrected power in your new life in Christ.

The peace and joy and God's grace will flood our soul, we will have a boldness from the Lord in order to reach lost souls.

With this Easter season coming, remember all that Jesus has done and is doing for us.  

Our loving Savior suffered much, so that we could have new life and be redeemed back to our Father God!!

Our salvation was given by God's grace, it is unmerited favor, we can not earn it. Just believe and receive all that Jesus said.

We are the redeemed of the Lord.

God bless your day

Jesus loves you

Love in Jesus

Joy