Are We Given to His Blessed Gospel?

Is this not the inner heart attitude toward the work of Christ? Is this the meditation of our own hearts as those who claim to love Jesus and claim even to be truth-seekers?

“Heck, YOU trust God. You’re on your own. I could care less if the Word of God gets to the people. I have no concern for lost souls being reached or God’s children being fed His Word as Jesus commanded. Don’t bother me! Please, I love my fascination with this world system. I have my ticket to Heaven. What is mine is mine and all that matters is my creature comforts in this world. Don’t bother me!”

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. ²⁵ He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.²⁶ If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” John 12:24-26

Now let’s take close note to the words of the only One who can save you and whom we cannot separate from WHAT HE SAID:

“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ³⁵ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. ³⁶ For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? ³⁷ Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? ³⁸ Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38

We must reckoning with this portion of Jesus’ message or we will find ourselves hearing from Him in the end “Depart from me!” – “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake AND THE GOSPEL’S, the same shall save it.” (Mark 8:35; Matthew 25:41)

Is Jesus not saying here that if we truly know Him that we are  losing our lives in this fleeting world for the sake of His Gospel? That would mean, that we are losing our lives – abandoning our own bidding and reputation – in order to participate in the spread of the Good News that He came and bled for the sins of all men.

Jesus is saying here that if we do not lose our lives to the point of participating in His Gospel work, we will not be saved.

Am I missing something? I don’t think so.

Are you personally engaged in the work of Christ’s Gospel?  If not, does this not reveal that you are not losing your life in this world?

If not, according to Jesus, will you be saved in the end?

Is there a misunderstanding as to what true repentance – losing our lives into His – really means?

If we truly repent – turn our lives over to Him without reserve – will we not be about HIS business and not our own?

So, this means that if we are given over to Christ (which is essential to salvation), then we are given over to the propagation of His blessed Gospel.

Can we fool God? Does the LORD see the very thoughts, motives, intentions, and idols of our hearts?

“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. ¹¹ If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; ¹² If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?” Proverbs 24:10-12

Compare this apostasy to the first century follows of Christ whom we know were not deceived but rather authentically His:

“And all that believed were together, and had all things common; ⁴⁵ And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.” Acts 2:44-45

“Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, ³⁵ And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.” Acts 4:34-35

The proof that we have given our hearts to Jesus is that HE owns all we have, that we are no longer our own but rather bought with the price of His very blood, that we are giving all for His Gospel, and that we claim to right to our own lives.

Am I deceived to imagine that I love the LORD when I don’t put Him or His Gospel message first place in my personal live? Did He not say that I am utterly deceived if I am merely a hearer of the Word and not a doer of it? (James 1:22; 1 John 3:18)

What does Jesus really merit in your life? Does He merit you fasting and praying to get closer to Him? Does Jesus merit your losing your own life in this life?

Are you committing the sin of self-idolatry? If so, is this not why the joy, peace, and love of Jesus has disappeared from your life?

Will you be that living sacrifice He calls you to be? (Romans 12:1)

Just how important is Jesus Christ to you?

He’s coming so very soon precious friend. There’s no time like right now to say to Him “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit. I lay my life in Your holy hands. I am all yours now LORD Jesus! I love You. Break me! Use me! I am no longer my own but Yours.”

**Beware of the counterfeit, cross-less gospel being peddled by most who are leading (mis-leading). Become very familiar with Paul’s warning in Philippians 3:18-21.

All true disciples of Jesus Christ are learning to die (Galatians 5:24; Colossians 3:3). Their affections are upon Jesus Christ and no other and not this sinful world! Think about that and you will begin to see just how “few” who go to church and claim to be Christians are on the narrow way which leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14). Deceivers abound who by not dying to self and therefore not teaching the daily cross, are leading men down that wide path and into that wide gate that leads to eternal damnation! Beware!

Not one of us has perfectly died and yet, our LORD is working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13). He is perfecting that which concerns us as Jesus continues that good work He began in us (Philippians 1:6). Note: We must do it His way and upon His terms and not our own or the false message of the apostate, antichrist modern church world. As we set aside our own lives for the glory of His life – knowing Him – we are being raised up by the Holy Ghost to please Him fully and be fruitful to Jesus Christ’s eternal glory (Romans 6-8). This is the Gospel in our daily lives – death, burial, and resurrection. Study this truth. Forget the self-serving wolves who have you focusing on and esteeming self. Instead, die to self. Lay it all down! Get the books I Die Daily and Raised Up.

Fresh Start with God | Is Jesus Reigning in Your Life? (audio message) | The Laid Down Life

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