The cross is not about self effort but rather self denial.

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

Dear LORD Jesus, please take all of me. Have Your way in this life.

“not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42

The cross, the blood of Christ’s cross is what He commanded we take up daily in order to follow Him (Colossians 1:20; Luke 9:23-24). The divine economy is a cross economy and that is the only way one can truly walk with the LORD, pleasing Him in all things. Pouring over the words of 2 Corinthians 4:10-12 is an imperative. Also reading Romans 6 each morning this week, prayerfully. Memorize Galatians 2:20; 5:24; 6:14. John 3:30 and Colossians 3:3.

You have to die if Jesus is going to reign in your life (Romans 6).

Most men pretending to represent Christ are so busy telling people how wonderful they are that they don’t have time to preach that Jesus is the only “Wonderful” One and that we are “desperately wicked” without Christ (Isaiah 9:6; Jeremiah 9:17; John 15:5; Romans 3; 7:17, 24, etc.).  The few true servants of Christ are known in that they preach the original Gospel of Christ which begins with us repenting, believing upon Christ, and then abiding, remaining in Him by denying self, taking up the cross daily and following the King (Luke 9:23-24; 13:3; John 15, etc).

Remember how Saul served God partially, didn’t count Him important enough to meticulously do His will, exactly how the LORD instructed him? Read 1 Samuel 15. Saul is ousted and so shall every half-baked fake “Christian” who makes excuses for their sins of ommission and commission – because they have not truly repented, flattened themselves before the Almighty. As was the case with Saul, so shall the LORD declare to all rebels – “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” and Hell awaits (Matthew 25:41).

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33 

Anyone who is not walking the way Christ mandated, the crucified life, is in rebellion.

“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

Saul partially obeyed God and the LORD calls this unrepentant fake offering rebellion, sin, witchcraft, stubborness, iniquity, idolatry. Like Cain, Saul and his half truth partial offering to God were rejected.

Jesus says that to follow Him….

“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

Christ mandates your death and His reigning life in you.

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

“Until I embraced the cross, I had no lasting victory! No seed-bearing fruit, like clouds without rain, all promise but dry bones within. Christ will only indwell a vessel emptied of self and only he can give complete salvation to overcome all sin to be enjoyed at the marriage supper of the LAMB. Til then we press in abiding in Jesus, so that he may work in us his great salvation. (John 15; Rom 6; Php. 2; Col. 3; etc.) I die -> He raises me up.” Jon Crane

It seems that some among us have more faith, more confidence in themselves sinning than they do in God being able to forgive and establish them in His righteousness to overcome all sin. Jesus asks, “WHERE is your faith?” (Luke 8:25). It’s time to re-turn to the LORD, afresh, and to learn to apply the cross.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

Recently I saw a clip of a pastor saying that the #1 reason God hates sin is because He loves us and sin separates us from Him. While these things are true, what is missing?

Of holiness, one writer profoundly notes:

“Holiness speaks more to nature than it does conduct. Good conduct is the spontaneous byproduct of the new nature of the new creation man through the cross and death to the old nature. We are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-18). To preach holiness as conduct without the new nature through the cross understanding is legalism. Holiness is actually derived from ‘wholeness’ meaning the thorough transformation of the whole tripartite man (1 Thess. 5:23). So many of these ‘holiness’ preachers are preaching nothing but conduct under law. Law arouses sinful passions and causes sin to increase and was given in order to provoke transgressions (Rom. 7:5; 5:20; Gal. 3:20). They are enemies of the cross!”   

#1 reason God hates sin – is not because He loves you…. it’s Because He is holy! (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8; 1 Peter 1:15-16). And yes He loves His people also. It’s time to let Jesus reign in all things and cease making everything about us. HE is first.

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. … We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:9-10, 19

Does sin separate one – anyone – from God? Yes. Did God cease to be holy? No.

“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But YOUR INIQUITIES HAVE SEPARATED BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR GOD, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:1-2

“Death” means separation.

“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:22-23

How do we know if we or others are truly “Christ’s”?

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24

Interesting how we never hear verses, divine mandates – essentials, imperatives – such as the scriptural truth below:

“Awake to righteousness, and sin NOT…” 1 Corinthians 15:34

There are a few ministries which declare “stop all sinning,” etc.. Yet how?

How can we possibly preach holiness, something nearly no pastor does today…. and not be preaching the cross, the crucified life as the only answer?

Yes God mandates, requires, and fully expects each of His people to “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16). Again, how? The crucified life.

The cross and nothing else is the LORD’s solution to overcoming sin. It’s only when God Himself is raising us upward out of the state of death and burial that victory is transpiring in our lives. Saying we are sinless perfection,  praying, reading the Bible, going to church, or fellowshipping with other saints, etc. is not the answer. These are all important and yet the cross is the answer to being right with our God. Nothing else is the answer, nothing is the remedy for sin but the cross of Christ and the one He commanded us to take up (Matthew 16:24-25). There is no other divine prescription for victory over sin but the cross. | Sinless Perfectionism Rebuked

Any man pretending to be a representative of Christ and not regularly preaching the crucified life, is a false teacher (Philippians 3:18-19; Galatians 2:20; 5:24; 6:14, etc.). Such a man is not teaching the original Gospel and so is teaching “another gospel” (Galatians 1:6-9).

Make Romans 6 your spiritual meat each morning this week. Read it prayerfully, asking God to teach you His ways.

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:3-4 

YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, I here and now repent of my wicked sin, my rebellion, my unbelief, not trusting You, self-idolatry, and spiritual adultery. Please wash and cleanse me now dear LORD. Fill me with Your Holy Ghost and use me Jesus in this last hour. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Cross Saturation 101 – Get Saturated Here |

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"Resist the Devil, and he will Flee from You" [podcast]

  “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” 1 Peter 5:8 Satan had no power over Adam and Eve until they sinned and so he seduced them to do so as he tries to do with us (Colossians 2:4; 1 Peter 5:8, etc.). The enemy was allowed to tempt the first man and woman and when he did, they took the bait and sinned against God, consequently being separated from Him, from His blessings and protection (Genesis 3). From that point, separated from God in sin, the […]

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  The Divine Prescription is Clear and there are No Shortcuts “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24 There are lots of people peddling the lie of “self care” which is ultimately nothing more than absolute selfishness. Pure evil. Such only perpetuates the prey, the victim, in their misery. The only way to deal with the wicked iniquitous nature, is to crucify it, not pamper it (Luke 9:23-24). It’s your time to get into God’s Word and follow Jesus (KJB). Repent, deny yourself, lay down your life and serve God and […]

The Cross in Colossians [podcast]

Colossians Death and Burial: The Cross in Colossians Bible Study Group (below)   The Cross in Colossians with Todd Tomasella and Travis Bryan III [Radio] (below) More on Colossians here. Support | STORE | Podcasts | Colossians | Upholding Jesus | H.O.T. Bible Study [podcast] | Divine Blessings | Exhort One Another Daily | The Return of Christ | The Joy of Fulfilling the Great Commission | The Love of Many Shall Wax Cold | Lie of the Ages (book) | Soul Damning Sins (small book) | Why We Need not Fear Death | Revelation Bombshell! Colossal Colossians Colossians 3 and 4 [podcast] https://safeguardyoursoul.com//colossians-questions-podcast/

Ready or Not – Jesus is Coming

“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:3

Here’s how you know if you are ready to meet Jesus—whether by dying or His soon return. The context of the Bible verse above is the return of Jesus and being ready for it (1 John 2:24-3:3). Those who live for Christ long to see Him and look expectantly for His soon return. This world is not their
home.

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16

God is holy and He says to …

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Hebrews 12:14

Holiness simply means pure, sanctified.

Clearing out everything that defiles us in His holy eyes is the sign that we are living in fervent expectation of our LORD’s return for His bride.

“His wife hath made herself ready”

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” Revelation 19:7-9

We see here again, the earmark fruit of the Heaven bound remnant of Christ, the bride of Christ – “his wife hath made herself ready.”

2 ways to purification

1. The precious blood of Jesus (Matthew 26:28; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7
2. The washing of water by the Word of God (Ephesians 5:26).

Washed in His Precious Blood

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” 1 Peter 1:18-19

The Washing of Water by the Word

“Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27

Your present spiritual state is what matters most to God. In Ephesians 5:25-27 carefully note the state of the Church—the people for whom Jesus will soon return.

Those not purifying their lives (washing daily in the blood and water of His Word), do not live daily with the hope of Christ’s return.

Memorize 1 John 3:3 today.

“And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. 18  And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19  And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” Mark 4:17-19

Jesus warns us here of …

1. the cares of this world,
2. and the deceitfulness of riches
3. and the lusts of other things

We are “espoused” to Christ the Bridegroom. We are not yet married to Him and will not be if we are not purifying ourselves before Him (2 Corinthians 11:2).

“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:2

All 10 virgins in Jesus’ parable were engaged, invited to attend the the marriage, the wedding (Matthew 25:1-13). Only 5 of them made it in and the other 5 were rejected. Why?

One source summates the importance of the parable of the 10 virgins – where 5 made it and the other 5 were shut out.

“The parable of the ten virgins teaches about spiritual readiness for the return of Jesus Christ, with five wise virgins who prepared by bringing extra oil for their lamps and five foolish virgins who did not. The foolish virgins were turned away by the bridegroom when he arrived, as they were unprepared and missed the feast. The parable, found in Matthew 25:1-13, encourages constant vigilance and preparation for the unknown time of Christ’s coming.” 

Here is a picture of our abiding fellowship and relationship with Jesus…..

“Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24  Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” Psalms 73:23-24

When your vessel is full of the oil of Heaven via fellowship, you will be purifying your life of everything that defiles you in His holy eyes, in the eyes of the Great Bridegroom.

We are no longer our own. We are Christ’s. He bought us, purchased us back to Himself and the Father with His blood.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 

“The flesh and spirit”

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1

Prayer: Father, I know You are holy and will have Your holy Bride whom Jesus died to purchase. Please purify my heart, mind and life of all that defiles. Make me holy dear LORD, as You alone can do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Loved this podcast. I think it was important to stress that women need to be submitted to their husbands as our country is infested with Jezebels. Who refuse to lay down their lives and submit to God and their husbands. Who can find a virtuous woman? Proverbs 31:10. Do men ask that question? And more importantly our relationship with our husbands is a direct result of our relationship with the Lord. If a woman is not submitted to Jesus she will never submit to her husband. It starts at the feet of Jesus. We must be like Mary. Bringing all of our alabaster box (ourselves) to Him. I love what Job says, ‘The root of the matter is found in me.’ Job 19:28. This is always true! If my husband or anyone else upsets me I must go before God and let Him search my heart and see if there be any wicked way in me! Psalm 139:23-24. And I can guarantee there is. It all starts with me!! Allowing God to purify and cleanse my heart. My heart!!” Karen Cochran

Moments with Our Master [book] 365 Day Devotional book available at STORE page and amazon. English and Spanish.

See what others are saying about this devotional book.

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Daily Prayer Guide

PRAYING EVERY DAY FOR:

THE BODY OF CHRIST

Here’s some of the biblical truth I personally pray daily for those disciples of Jesus on my prayer list:

• That God would take away the stony places in our hearts and grant us hearts of flesh – pliable, humble, teachable, worshipful, obedient (Ezekiel 36:24-26).
• That the LORD would unite our hearts to fear His holy name (Psalms 86:11).
• That He would bless us to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God (Colossians 4:12).
• That the LORD would fill us with His love and cause that love to be demonstrated through our lives daily in our interactions with others (1 Corinthians 13).
• That He would baptize and fill us with His Holy Spirit and use us powerfully for His eternal glory (Acts 1:8; 2:4, etc.).
• That God would quicken and give us His wisdom concerning fruitful stewardship of His resources He’s entrusted us with (Matthew 25:14-30, etc.).
• That we would be blessed to know Him in that oneness and abiding relationship He spoke of and prayed in John 15 and 17 – bearing fruit to His glory.
• That the LORD would teach us and bring us to be consummate soul winners as His ambassadors (Proverbs 11:30; 2 Corinthians 5:20).
• The our LORD will multiply His grace, love, and wisdom in our hearts (2 Peter 3:18; Romans 5:5; James 1:5).
• That God would increase our faith (Luke 17:5).

OUR LEADERS:

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; ² for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. ³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.” 1 Timothy 2:1-3

OUR CITY:

“And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.” Jeremiah 29:7

GOD’S KINGDOM TO COME ON EARTH:

(Both today and the Millennial Kingdom when Jesus Christ reigns on earth for 1,000 years)

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

GOD TO SEND LABOURERS INTO HIS HARVEST:

“Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; ³⁸ pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38

THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM:

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalm 122:6

—— • ——

Also, Jesus gave His disciples a model for daily prayer which is an excellent starting place for each day.

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. ¹⁰ Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread. ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13

Prayer

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The Importance of Private Prayer [podcast]

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The Imperative of Private Prayer [podcast]

  We must be aware of our prayers we throw up while they have no congruence with our personal life – when they are shot gun prayers void of the foundation of private prayer, private praying. “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6 Private prayer is essential to the disciple. Jesus reveals here that those who seek His face in prayer privately, will be used of Him publicly! Are you at Christ’s feet? Do […]