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Taking Up the Cross? What Does that Really Mean? Cross Objects?

Drag a wooden cross around?

Did anyone in the New Testament canon do such? Not one.

This message in no way insinuates that these men who carry wooden crosses are not saved but rather it seems to show biblical proof that they are misled.

“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.” Luke 9:23-24

“Luke 9:23-27
R. Invitation to Take Up the Cross (9:23-27)
9:23 Having outlined His own future, the Lord invited the disciples to follow Him. This would mean denying themselves and taking up their cross. To deny self means willingly to renounce any so-called right to plan or choose, and to recognize His lordship in every area of life. To take up the cross means to deliberately choose the kind of life He lived. This involves:

—The opposition of loved ones.
—The reproach of the world.
—Forsaking family and house and lands and the comforts of this life.
—Complete dependence on God.
—Obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
—Proclamation of an unpopular message.
—A pathway of loneliness.
—Organized attacks from established religious leaders.
—Suffering for righteousness’ sake.
—Slander and shame.
—Pouring out one’s life for others.
—Death to self and to the world.

But it also involves laying hold of life that is life indeed! It means finding at last the reason for our existence. And it means eternal reward. We instinctively recoil from a life of cross-bearing. Our minds are reluctant to believe that this could be God’s will for us. Yet the words of Christ ‘If anyone desires to come after Me” mean that nobody is excused and nobody is excepted.’ Believer’s Bible Commentary

Not one person, not one eternal soul has ever nor ever will be saved as a result of someone dragging around a wooden cross.

Jesus commanded His people to “Go ye into all the world and PREACH the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), and not drag around a wooden cross. The preached Gospel is “the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16).

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

What Never Comes Back Void?

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23

People are saved, born again by the WORD being preached. God then convicts them via the preached incorruptible seed of His Word which never returns void but always accomplishes that for which He sends it…. and He sends it via the preaching of His Word, not a physical object being dragged around.

Saving faith, the faith to be saved comes by the WORD, not seeing someone carrying a wooden beam.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

The preached Gospel, the Gospel, when it is preached, is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.”

More on How Saving Faith Comes

NO one is going to get saved because of you carrying a wooden cross around or wearing one on your tee shirt or around your neck. No, people repent and believe on Christ unto eternal life when “the MESSAGE of the cross” is preached to them (1 Corinthians 1:18)! Saving faith doesn’t come by people witnessing some guy toting a wooden cross around but rather saving “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

To repent, believe and be saved, people must have the Word of God planted in their hearts and as they choose to turn to the LORD by faith, He will save them (Acts 20:21).

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” 1 Corinthians 1:21

God is not proud or pleased with you for doing something HE never asked you to do.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:5-7

Putting GOD first instead of self is absolutely essential to victory in Christ.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

You live by truth, which is by faith born out of divine truth – and not by how you feel.

“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. ” Colossians 3:3

This day you declare that you have sentenced yourself to death that Christ might live and reign in and through the life He gave you.

“But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:” 2 Corinthians 1:9

By which means are men born again?

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23

Such activities as wearing a cross around ones neck or toting a physical cross around town are misguided at best and a waste. Jesus only carried His wooden cross to go die on the altar of that cross for the sins of the world (John 19:16-18). He alone could have borne the sins of the world and such He did on that cross in order to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29; Isaiah 52:13-53:12). Christ told no one to go make and drag a cross around. The apostles nor early church practiced no such thing.

This all makes us wonder what the motives are of those who do such today.

Some might say “But brother the wooden cross represents, symbolizes how Christ died for us.” True and yet, do we have even one instruction to carry around a cross to make Jesus known? No. Do we have even one example of the apostles of Jesus or the earliest followers doing such? No.

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12

Human reasoning or rightly obeying?

“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” 1 Samuel 15:22-23

Saved by Grace Through Faith

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

And that saving faith comes from the hearing God’s Word (Romans 10:17).

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” Psalms 19:7 

“Preach the word.” 2 Timothy 4:2

How did Philipp lead the Ethiopian eunuch to Jesus?

“26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 

27  And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 

28  Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 

29  Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 

30  And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 

31  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 

32  The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 

33  In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 

34  And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 

35  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 

36  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 

37  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 

38  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 

39  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.” Acts 8:26-39

WHEN Jesus commanded us to deny self, take up the cross, and follow Him…. what did He really mean by that?

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Matthew 16:24-25

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Articles

THAT SUBTLE SERPENT SATAN – NIV and Modern Bible Versions Exposed

Check how they completely removed the words of Jesus in Matthew 17:21 and chopped Romans 8:1 in half, and removed the BLOOD from Colossians 1:14? Acts 8:37 was also deleted and this is not even scratching the surface of the corruptions in the NIV.

BEWARE: The “rapture ready” website is run by a person or persons who state this following error:

“Some people are so fanatical about the exclusive “truth” of the KJV that they would doubt your salvation if you were saved by reading another version. The New International Version Bible is probably the most attacked of all the modernized versions, but any errors it might contain are subtle ones. Other folks believe other translations are the Mark of the Beast.”

FACT: The NIV removed 64,000 words and that alone makes it in violation of the severe warning of Jesus recorded in Revelation 22:18-19 … oh and the NIV is published by a division of zondervan which publishes the satanic bible and other perverted books such as “the joy of gay sex.” Oh and the NIV committee included Virginia Mollencott, a life long atheist and lesbian. See below.

As you take in some of this information, perhaps ask yourself: Could it possibly be the Holy Spirit of God leading someone to read the NIV?

The answer is a resounding NO!

Also, ask yourself: If a pastor isn’t exposing these counterfeit “bibles”, why not?

Bible Versions Issue | The Only Begotten Son of God [podcast]

Support | STORE | Podcasts | H.O.T. Bible Study [podcast] | Bible Agnostics Exposed | How to Spot a Fake Bible [podcast] | WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO CAN’T UNDERSTAND THE KJB? [podcast] | New American Standard Version “Bible” NASV Catastrophe Exposed | The Audacity of Defending the New Versions | Do We Have God’s Word or Do You Need to Know the Original Languages? [podcast] | Bible Versions Category |

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Apostasy

Lance Wallnau Exposed

Update: Currently, Lance Wallnau is running a scam on social media.

WOLF SCAM ALERT: Lance Wallnau is an absolute fraud and has a scam running presently. See pic above. God answers prayers because of JESUS and the power of His holy name, where 1 or 2 or 3 pray in His name…. and NOT because 100k people pray! (John 14:13-14; 16:23-24, etc.) This is exactly what wolves do – they rob the glory from the nail scarred LORD and Savior! Read Colossians 1-2.

The kingdom now, NAR (new apostolic reformation) cult are doing their own bidding, self-willed, due to not being truly submitted to God. To these rebels it’s “No thy while but mine be done!” instead of the surrender displayed by the Son of God as He cried out to the Father, “not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42) The crucified life is the Christian life.

Lance Wallnau is simply not preaching the original Gospel and therefore is “accursed” on that basis alone (Galatians 1:6-9). His messages include nothing about repentance, no hell, no cross, no judgment, no holiness, no blood of Jesus, etc. Totally false. Read Galatians 1:6-9 and run for your life!

Recently I received this email from a Lance Wallnau defender….

MESSAGE RECEIVED:

“There is nothing unbiblical about Lance’s teaching. You shouldn’t sow discord.”

REPLY:

Exposing wolves is not the biblical definition of sowing discord. Exposing false teachers is a divine mandate (Jude 3; Romans 16:17-18, etc.). | Naming Names: Is It Biblical? 

Please demonstrate by the facts, with exact references of his “ministry”, that Lance Wallnau is preaching the original Gospel of Jesus Christ.

    1. Show us all where the cross, the crucified Savior is being preached in his “ministry”?
    2. Demonstrate where Wallnau is preaching the imperative crucified life of every disciple – anyone who would follow Jesus (Luke 9:23-24).
    3. Demonstrate where Lance Wallnau is preaching “judgment to come.” (Acts 24:25; Romans 14:10, etc.)
    4. Where Lance Wallnau is preaching hell which Jesus preached more than heaven (Mark 3:29; Luke 16:19-31, etc.).
    5. Show us where Wallnau is preaching the essential of repentance in order to be in Christ’s kingdom (Luke 13:3, 5).
    6. Where is Lance Wallnau preaching on being ready for the return of Jesus Christ? He’s not (Matthew 24; Luke 12:35-40; Ephesians 5:25-27; 2 Peter 3:10-14; book of Revelation, etc.).
    7. Show us where Lance is preaching Christ – preaching about the Savior he falsely claims to be representing (Acts 8:5; 9:20, etc.).
    8. Please give specific references where Lance Wallnau preaches on the holiness of God and the absolute necessity for His people to “be ye holy for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16; Hebrews 12:14; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8, etc.).
    9. Show where Lance Wallnau is preaching on the 17 soul damning sins specifically listed, cited in Galatians 5:19-21).
    10. Tell us all where Wallnau is teaching the Scriptures concerning the reality of persecution to all who truly follow Jesus (Matthew 5:10-12; Luke 6:22-26; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 4:12-14, etc.).
    11. Show is where Lance Wallnau is teaching straight from God’s Word the essential of obedience to the LORD (Matthew 7:21; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:4, etc.).
    12. Where is Lance teaching from Scripture the Bible doctrines of chastening, suffering, and enduring to the end?

Here’s exactly what’s going on:

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4

Today is your day to truly repent and follow Christ.

Anyone who follows Lance Wallnau is doing so while ignoring what Scriptures reveals and to their own destruction. When you meet someone who follows Wallnau, they are not in love with Jesus but rather intent upon defending this vile wolf (Colossians 2:4-10, 18-19).

Yes we are entitled to our opinion and we are also given the command and opportunity, privilege to follow God’s Word which is the only protection there is (Proverbs 30:5-6, etc.). If you can prove to me that Wallnau is preaching the original Gospel, that is, the truths, doctrines of Christ and His holy apostles give us in the Bible, I will change my mind. Otherwise, he’s an “accursed” wolf in my view as this is what Scripture plainly states. See Galatians 1:6-9. Do the words holy, holiness, repent, the cross – crucified life, hell, deny yourself, take up the cross, follow Jesus, the precious blood of Jesus, judgment to come, etc., come out of his mouth? No. Is he teaching the Word? No. He using a few Bible verses out of context to perpetuate his new age messages. “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” (Matthew 24:11) 

H.O.T. BIBLE STUDY [podcast] | Answered Prayer? WHY? 

Lance Wallnau is a warlock, a false prophet, a self-serving snake, a master manipulator, and wolf.

You will never hear this “accursed” wolf preach Christ or the cross – the crucified life! (Galatians 1:6-9)

Comment on video below: Wallnau is saying the guy got delivered by water baptism, not by Jesus, the only Deliverer! Hear him say this for yourself.

MESSAGE RECEIVED:

“Stop sowing discord among the brothers. God will deal with the tears. Lance Wallnau is doing a work that people like you won’t do in a Godly way. And he isn’t a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

REPLY:

You are obviously biblically-illiterate and therefore blind. IS Wallnau preaching the doctrines of the original Gospel which was delivered us in the New Testament Scriptures which true believers are mandated to earnestly contend for??? Yes or No???? Let me help you: Is Wallnau preaching the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, repentance with fruit to prove it, deliverance from all sin, the coming of Christ, the daily cross-crucified life, the blood of Jesus, hell/eternal damnation, judgment to come….???? No. Wallnau is plainly preaching “another gospel” which is a false gospel (2 Corinthians 11:2-5) You are propping up, bidding Godspeed to a wolf, and enemy of Christ and will be judged with him in hell if you don’t repent. Repent sinner.

“If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 10-11

Lance Wallnau is “accursed” for preaching a false gospel and so are you for bidding him Godspeed (Galatians 1:6-9)

Lance Wallnau is a new age warlock posing as a Christian minister. If he were of God he’d be preaching the original Gospel and all of it’s doctrines. God is turning you over to “strong delusion” for rejecting His truth – for rejecting Christ for a sinful man who is Christ’s enemy (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

ARE you caught up with someone’s ministry, enthralled with their personality and yet not judging their doctrine? If so you are NOT a New Testament Berean! Time to repent and return to the LORD, today. ISSUE SETTLED: Are they preaching the original Gospel? Do you even know what the foundational doctrines of the original Gospel are? Do you realize that any man who is pretending to represent Christ and yet is not preaching the original Gospel doctrines, is “accursed”? (Galatians 1:6-9) Do you realize that if you bid Godspeed to (condone, support, defend) them you will be judged by God with them? (2 John 7-11)

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Abiding

The Greatest of these is Charity [podcast]


God sent His only begotten Son to die for your sins and He now calls you to lose your life in this fleeting world and follow Jesus – His example and His teachings.

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16

Loving God and Others

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

Following Our LORD Jesus by Putting God and Others Above Ourselves

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:3-5

Due to the Many Evil things Transpiring in this Late Hour before Our LORD Returns, the Love of Many toward God and Others, is Waxing Cold

“All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:8-14

Keeping Ourselves in the Love of God

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 21 

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:7-8

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8

“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” Romans 12:9-10

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:34-35

The Savior’s Love in His True Disciples vs the Lovers of Self

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5

God’s Love in Us

THE LOVE CHAPTER

Read it each morning this week in the King James Bible.

1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 

2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 

3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 

4  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 

5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 

6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 

7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 

8  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 

9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 

YOUR PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to You now, in Jesus’ name. Please make good on Your prayer of oneness – that Your people, Your body will be one with You. Thank You for dying for my sins Jesus, for shedding Your precious blood to purchase me to Yourself and the Father. Please break me, let me be poor in spirit and pure in heart. Cause me to be full of Thy holy love toward You and others. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

The Return of Christ | Discipleship

Support | STORE | PodcastsThe Bridegroom is Calling His BridePurifying Ourselves as He is Pure [podcast]10 Clues Your Love for God is Waxing Cold [podcast]

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