The Cross is a Surrender Not a Struggle [podcast]
The Cross is a Surrender not a Struggle
The King James Dictionary says the following of surrender:
“Yielded or delivered to the power of another; given up. Love that definition. Isn’t that exactly what we do? We give ourselves over to God. A complete giving up. Handing your life to the Lord and letting Him have total control.
“There is freedom in that!! Since doing this in my own life, anxiety and stress is gone. That only comes because we are putting ourselves in place of God. We are letting go and letting God!” Karen Cochran
Seems apparent that the struggle comes with living in the flesh, from resisting the surrender. In contrast, “the peace of God which passeth all understanding” comes from walking in the Spirit with Christ (Psalms 119:165; Galatians 5:22-23; Philippians 4:7).
On the cross….
“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” Luke 27:46
Then what happened?
“He is not here: for HE IS RISEN, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that HE IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD …” Matthew 28:6-7.
Just as Jesus died and was then resurrected, so can it be for thee, so is the will of God for you.
Notice after He died on the cross for the sins of the world, Jesus was “risen from the dead.” Could the Son of God have been “risen from the dead” if He were not first dead and buried? No.
The same is true for us – as God will never raise up anyone who is still alive under their own power, self-will. No, He only resurrects those who surrender their lives to Him, die and are buried.
One disciple observed:
“Holiness comes by way of the cross, not by way of the flesh. Just as sin was conquered by the cross of Christ, so sin in the life of the saint is conquered by the daily cross (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.). It’s time to stop trying harder and to simply die deeper.”
The cross is the key to walking in the Spirit instead of the flesh – where you surrender downward, at His holy feet – the death and burial of your life, your will, your agenda. Then, God reciprocally raises you upward, filling and propelling you with His Holy Ghost!
“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” John 6:38
In the Garden of Gethsemane, the place of the cross before the cross, Jesus surrendered His personal will afresh to the Father. He gave His will over to the will of the Father. He knew the absolute trust and integrity between the two, who are one.
“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:41-42
The cross is a letting go and letting God right? Then there’s liberty, freedom and not before (John 8:31-32, 36; 2 Corinthians 3:17, etc.).
Who is “FREE”? Who is free, set free from sin and to serve and worship God? Ready for God’s answer?
“For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7 (memorize)
The rebellion, the stubbornness, the witchcraft is what brings the struggle, the toil, the turmoil (1 Samuel 15:22-23). Then when we surrender, the blessing comes!!
“Amazing you would have a podcast with this title. I just thought this morning that ‘this cross life is not a struggle!’ When the Lord is in charge He shows me exactly how I am still not like Him. Once I see it, it is up to me to take it to the cross of Christ to be crucified. It’s mind boggling that many modern day professing Christians fight so hard to walk in their flesh. They love self more than Jesus. Once you get a taste of the Spirit of God controlling your life, you want more! More of Him, less of me! John 3:30. I will listen to this podcast. Thank you.” Karen Cochran
How to Get Free and Stay Free!
Are you willing today, to truly trust God – to say to Him, “Father, not my will but Thine be done. I am all Yours, from this moment forward”?
Death and burial alone lead to freedom. When Jesus rose from the dead, He was free forever again with the Father.
You will never be free until you die (Galatians 2:20).
“For he that is DEAD is FREED from sin.” Romans 6:7
“The cross is freedom from our wicked selves. Hallelujah.” Karen Cochran
Reading Romans 6 daily is vital – the cross. King James Bible. See also, memorize, meditate upon Colossians 3:3; Galatians 2:20.
After Jesus saves you, He requires that you continue in His Word, His truth – learning and living it! If not, you will not continue with Him and will “fall away.” (Luke 8:13) It’s impossible to be holy as He is holy if one doesn’t continue in His truth. And since God is “Holy, holy, holy” He cannot dwell with anyone living in sin (Psalms 5:4; Habakkuk 1:13; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8)
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. … If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:31-32, 36
Just as He raised Jesus from the dead by His Holy Spirit, God divinely guarantees to raise you upward if you will go downward in surrender. Do you trust Him?
“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:11-14
You’ve tried doing it your way, in the flesh. Has that ever worked out well? No. That never works, right? Right. Now, are we willing to sincerely pray, to say “Dear LORD, I come to You in Jesus’ name, asking You to forgive my rebellion, for trying to do things my way instead of Your way. This moment, I turn afresh and fully to You, asking You to anoint me with Thy Holy Spirit to the death and burial of self. I am dead and buried with Christ my LORD, and I trust You fully to raise me up for Your glory – to be fruitful for You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
It’s by the Holy Spirit, not the Flesh
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6
“Through the Spirit” – and so it’s not a work of the flesh but rather a surrender to the Savior, the Greater One – Jesus Christ, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8)!
“It is a marvelous, complete release from the weight and burden of the flesh, a surrender to Christ by the working of the Holy Spirit inside, and not a challenge to change our behavior by trying to be better people on the outside through the working of the flesh.
In other words, we don’t need to focus on trying to change the multitude of things that are not right in our lives, rather there’s only ONE FOCUS, and that is surrendering to JESUS! It is His to be the Great Shepherd of the sheep (us) and He WILL do it — as long as we stay surrendered! Not my will but Thine be done.” Debbie Lord
“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye TROUGH THE SPIRIT do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Romans 8:13
Selah.
“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:3
Walking with Jesus is not a work of the flesh but rather an abiding walk in the Spirit with Him.
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16
YOUR PRAYER: Father I come to You now in fresh repentance. I re-turn to Thee. Please wash me clean from all rebellion, all self-idolatry, pride, and rebellion. Please cleanse me with the precious blood of Jesus Christ my LORD and Savior. Please anoint this life to be dead, buried, and raised up for Your eternal glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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“The Knowledge of the Holy is Understanding” [podcast]
“He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” John 8:47
A long time friend of mine, after realizing that….
“Thank you for the lambasting.”
“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:17
“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:” Proverbs 1:5
“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:9-10
“The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. 32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. 33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” Proverbs 15:31-33
“Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.” Psalms 141:5
PRAYER: Father I want the knowledge of the holy. I want to know and serve You on Your terms and no other. Please forgive my sins which include being hardened in heart, being full of pride and rebellion, being therefore unteachable. Break me dear LORD. Let the righteous, let Your people rebuke me as is needed. I want to know, love, worship, and be with You forever. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Abiding
Walking in Godly Integrity Means Paying Restitution Where Needed [podcast]
“And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.” Acts 24:16
Truth: The LORD is watching everything you think and do and will bring you into judgment for it all – all (Proverbs 15:3; 20:11; 23:7; Mark 12:41-44; Romans 14:10, etc.). What’s your judgment going to look like?
“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:1-2
Jesus taught that only the “honest” will be with Him (Luke 8:15). The dishonest, “ALL … liars” will perish irrevocably in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8). Those who’ve brought harm to others and have the opportunity to restore what they took (financially, emotionally, etc.) prove who they are by what they do or do not do. Those who take personal responsibility for the harm they brought on another, will be blessed. Those who don’t will be shut out, “cut off” from God (Romans 11:20-22).
“Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,” 2 Corinthians 6:3-4
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
Godly Integrity owns up to its personal responsibility to make amends where we have caused hurt. Restitution. A man of godly integrity never runs from his personal responsibility to repair and restore where he has brought harm – with his words, attitudes, or actions. This is exactly what happens when a man truly repents and gives his life to Christ. Zacchaeus is a great example to us of this. Like Zacchaeus, when we truly repent, there will always be good fruit, amends for our wrongdoing. Watch this closely. Watch what this man does after getting right with God:
Luke 19
1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5 (the call and command) And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6 (obedience) And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. (that’s exactly why Jesus came!)
8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. (true repentance always brings for the fruit of restitution Matthew 3:7-10)
9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
As we see in this case with Zacchaeus when he repented, turning to Jesus the Savior, true repentance always brings for the fruit of restitution. See Matthew 3:7-10.
Zacchaeus is a great example. When, if that true repentance happens in his heart, if the sinner, the transgressor allows it, there will be a practical restitution to those he’s harmed by his sin. Soon as he repented he wanted to pay restitution to those he’d harmed.
“Verse 8 is one of the strongest in the Bible on restitution. Salvation does not relieve a person from righting the wrongs of the past. Debts contracted during one’s unconverted days are not canceled by the new birth. And if money was stolen before salvation, then a true sense of the grace of God requires that this money be repaid after a person has become a child of God.” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary
There’s no such thing as a person who is right with God and not making restitution for those he’s hurt.
INTEGRITY: If you owe someone $1,000 and can’t pay it all at once, show integrity and send them $ every month or week till you’ve paid them off. If you don’t, you show yourself to be a man who is without integrity (Proverbs 20:7). Soon as you begin paying back, you demonstrate the earnest of your integrity.
Jesus teaches us that we are wasting our time attempting to relate to or pray to the Father in His name if we have issues that need to be clear up with another.
God will not answer the prayer of any person who does not honor and obey His Word and if a person has an outstanding offense He wants them to clear up these matters (Proverbs 28:9, 13).
“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Matthew 5:23-24
God is not going to bless our lives unless we are willing to sincerely admit our sins, repent and confess them, and make amends (restitution) with anyone we’ve harmed. In the divine economy, there’s no such thing as being right with God when you’ve done another person wrong, haven’t repented, and haven’t made amends for what you’ve done. Such a person will be outside of the will and blessings of God until he makes things right with God and man.
The LORD requires that His people “examine” and “judge” themselves.
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine and honest judge yourself and amend your ways or God will judge you.
“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:31-32
More Bible Verses on Restitution
Read Exodus 22:1-31
“If a thief be found breaking up (stealing in a burglary, home invasion), and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him. 3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.” Exodus 22:2-3
“Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person be guilty; 7 Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed.” Numbers 5:6-7
“And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. 6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” Genesis 9:5-6
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