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Excerpt from the book I Die Daily

The Essential Cross of the Believer

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it.” Matthew 16:25

Now that we know who the Way is—Jesus, let’s look into what this very Son of God Himself said concerning those who would follow Him. After all, if a person is going to go to God’s Heaven, he needs to find out what God Himself said is essential to get there, right?

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. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26 

Like it or not, Jesus is speaking here of the eternal soul of every man. If need be, read His words again here. Notice that the Son of God uses the terms “if ANY man” and “whosoever.” Jesus is speaking to all about His requirements and conditions. (Anybody want to argue with the Son of God?) Did you notice that there is no special privilege or concession given here for those who have previously been saved? We should rid our minds of the subtle deception that we are somehow “secure” outside of the protection that comes from obedience to God’s Word (Prov. 30:5; Acts 20:32). Only those who are not currently “doers” of the Word of God are deceived into thinking they are secure while not presently abiding in Christ. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22).

The crucified life is God’s only solution for complete victory over all sin. Walk it. Read Romans 6 each morning this week prayerfully. Stop listening to those not preaching the cross.

The apostle Paul said, “I die daily” (1 Cor. 15:31). How did Paul “die daily”? How is this exemplary apostle’s dying depicted in Scripture? He sentenced himself to death, kept under his body of sin, and was crucified with Christ and to the world, and the world to him. He was buried with Christ and determined to glory in Christ’s cross alone (Rom. 6:3-4; 1 Cor. 9:27; 2 Cor. 1:9; Gal. 2:20; 6:14).

“Oh how the devil hates the message of the cross!” John Umlauf

We were all born in sin and “dead in sins,” and now the LORD “hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ” (Rom. 6:8; Eph. 2:5.) After being found and saved by the LORD, the believer should follow Christ in water baptism, yet only to show that he is now “dead with Christ” and that Christ now reigns in his life, as he is now “raised up” with Christ (Rom. 6:3-4; 8:11). Water baptism is the public announcement showing and openly declaring one’s own death, burial, and resurrection with Christ, one’s new Master. The death of self is symbolized in the going down into the water, and the coming up out of the water represents the resurrection accomplished by Jesus and now made effectual in that life. The Gospel is not about H2O, but rather it’s about being baptized into Christ’s death—being dead, buried, and raised up with Him (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:11-12). As we are dead with Christ and to self, buried with Him, He raises us up in His power to please Him.

One’s entrance into the kingdom of God at initial salvation is only the beginning point of his participation in the Gospel—the death, burial, and resurrection life of Christ. The born-again saint never outgrows his essential need to participate with Jesus in the Gospel. The true disciple follows Christ “daily,” and that includes denying himself and taking up his cross to be crucified with his LORD and Savior. He chooses Christ who is the life, the only way, and the truth; and is therefore ready for His soon return. “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).

Romans 6 is not speaking of water baptism, but it is that which is signified or symbolized by water baptism—being dead to self and sin, buried with Christ, and raised up to new life with Jesus, to no longer serve sin and please self but Christ. Look at verse 4 of Romans 6: “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.”

Note the words of Holy Scripture here— “buried … death … raised up.” This is the Gospel as it is being lived out in our lives. As we choose to daily die—moment by moment—giving way to His greater purpose, He raises us up out of the place of death and burial to be led and used of Him.

Anointed to the Burial

I remember fondly the days leading up to my water baptism as a young believer. My pastor at the time was keenly aware of the importance of people understanding what water baptism is, so he gave me a question-and-answer type work sheet to go through. Each question gave Scriptures to study and get the answers from. So, when I was water baptized there was a realization and spiritual anointing that came upon me—a distinct sealing type phenomenon by the Holy Spirit in which I was buried or hid with Christ in God. There was clearly a work of the Holy Spirit that day.

Beloved, there is no power or magic in water. God is trying to get at death to self, and His Spirit enables such. Water baptism merely represents going down into the death process and coming up out of the water represents the raised-up life. Without the work of the divine Person of the Holy Ghost and the believer’s going down into the death of Christ, water baptism is futile.

It is the work of the Spirit of God that is essential in our new birth, death, burial, and resurrection, just as He participated in our LORD’s birth, death, burial, and resurrection (Luke 1:35; Rom. 8:11; Col. 2:11-12).

For to this end (for this chief purpose) Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. Romans 14:9

Not only is the Holy Spirit’s involvement and Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on His cross essential, where He worked with Christ to shed His blood to redeem us, but according to this same and only Savior, the taking up the cross to deny and bury self is also essential in pleasing God. His resurrection rule cannot occur without the willing participation of the recipient of His salvation. Jesus died to buy us back from sin, Satan, and slavery to self; and now our lives are made new in Him, all things now being of God and under Christ’s reign (Rom. 14:9; 2 Cor. 5:17-18).

And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:15

Those redeemed by the One who bled on that cross that stood atop Calvary’s hill, should from the moment they are grafted in, no longer serve self but rather the Savior.

The way the believer lives unto (pleases) the LORD and not self, is by the power of the One who was for us “slain from the foundation of the world.”

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him (the antichrist), whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8

It all began “from the foundation of the world” when in His mind, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son” (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:6, 8). So, redemption through “the Lamb slain,” which grants His overcoming grace, began in the mind of God from “the foundation of the world” (Jer. 1:5; Rev. 13:8). How could we ever now doubt how much He loves us! It is to Him alone who is worthy that we, with our lives, now give “honour, and glory, and blessing.”

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Revelation 5:12

All this being said, we should observe that the LORD doesn’t do things against the free moral agency He gave to every man. The individual must be “willing and obedient” if he is to “eat the good of the land” (Isa. 1:19-20).

Gaze, oh gaze on the divine form, the eternal glory, the heavenly beauty, the tenderly pleading gentleness of crucified love, as it stretches out its pierced hands and says, ‘Oh, will you not abide with me?’ – Andrew Murray, Abide in Christ, p. 175

“The New Man”

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

You are no longer your own, but rather bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

If a saint chooses not to live out of the “new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness,” he will by default revert back to the Adamic nature and its sinful deeds. Is this permissible in God’s eyes? Does the LORD overlook the sins of those He has saved?

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Romans 6:1-8

Hint: renewing your mind is biblical but it will never take the central place of the crucified life. The extent of “solutions” given in the modern church include renewing your mind. Yes yet that comes after the cross in kingdom priority – the crucified life – which is never mentioned in the apostate modern church world.

v1 – the cross
v2 – renewing the mind

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

Whenever the constant of the cross, the crucified life, is absent from our personal lives, there will be defeat, there will be no victory.

Trying to renew your mind, changing your thinking, is only successful after the fact of a life that is “crucified with Christ.” (Romans 6; Galatians 2:20; 5:24; 6:14, etc.

Putting Your Foot Down!
https://safeguardyoursoul.com/dominating-the-devil/

The “But” Factor

The taking up of the cross, the implement of death to self, is essential in separating the saint from the taint of sin, self, and Satan, which would otherwise defile us in the eyes of Him who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8).

Are you beginning to see why the cross is essential—both Christ’s and ours? The LORD told His own covenant people that their sins had separated them from Him. “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 59:2).

The word “but” here speaks of the dividing factor or attribute of sin. Sin interrupts our fellowship with Him who is holy. Sin still separates. Both the cross of Jesus (first and foremost) and our carrying our own cross deal with the problem of sin, but only when applied and participated in.

To take up the cross in obedience to Christ’s command is to agree with God that the sinful man must be mortified with his evil deeds and desires (Gal. 5:24). We must by the crucified life, “put off” the old man, the man of sin, and “put on the new man.” (Eph. 4:22-24) When one takes up his cross, which is the implement of death to self, he demonstrates that he loves the LORD more than self. God then blesses his life to be separate from sin and sinners, and to escape the taint of sin that would otherwise defile him in the eyes of Him who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8). Such a work is essential to separate the saint from the stain of sin, self, and Satan. The cross makes possible one’s death to self and sin and the resurrection presence of God (Rom. 6:7; 2 Cor. 4:1011). Holy-Spirit-enabled death to self disallows, stifles, and restrains the work of sin in us so that Christ’s divine life might work in and through us to bless others (Rom. 8:13; 2 Cor. 4:12).

Any person who has been made righteous by the LORD and now somehow believes he is secure while living in sin, is utterly deceived and all of Scripture testifies to this truth.

Who is it that is made free from the sins that violate the holiness of the LORD? “For he that is dead is freed from sin” (Rom. 6:7).

Beloved, it is the sanctifying work of the cross of Jesus and the application of it in the life of the saint that sets him apart in holiness to the Savior.

We find not one promise of security or assurance in Holy Scripture given to any person who is not presently abiding in Jesus Christ—as He prescribed in His Word (John 10:27-29; 15:1-6). Jesus promised His original 12 apostles an eternal throne in Heaven, yet one of them chose not to abide or remain in Him, and subsequently went to hell for his iniquity (Acts 1:25). Christ promised His 12 that “ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 10:22). Remaining in Christ—enduring to the end of one’s life—is a divinely-issued condition for being with the LORD eternally (this Bible subject is covered extensively in the book titled Lie of the Ages).

Concerning the daily cross and how it applies and does not apply to the believer, David Kupelian, vice president and managing editor of WorldNetDaily.com, writes:

It’s self-evident that we’re all born with a troublesome nature called ‘pride.’ Basically, pride is the part of us that wants to be God. It loves being praised, quickly puffs up with angry judgment over the real or perceived wrongs of others—and as a rule is oblivious to its own faults. Moreover, you can think of pride as a ‘life form’—a living, breathing ‘something’ which, like any other life form or ‘creature,’ can be fed or starved. When it’s fed, it grows and enlarges; when it is starved, it diminishes and dies—daily.

Of course—and this is something of a divine paradox—as Christians, we know we can’t save ourselves, and yet we are most definitely called to obedience. So, let’s not slough off our responsibility to ‘die daily’ by comfortably presuming on the unending mercy of God. His mercy is unending, indeed, but also balanced with justice, and these two seemingly contradictory qualities work together mysteriously and wonderfully toward our redemption, but only in the truly sincere human soul that doesn’t tempt God.

This writer realizes that the modern gospel differs from this biblical truth and message, but whom shall we trust? God, or mere men? Who is the Judge before whom we will one day stand to give account?

May God bless each of us to “Let God be true and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4), placing Him and therefore His holy truth above the words, concepts, or philosophies of any other (Prov. 21:30).

Do we take God at His Word? Do we believe, trust, embrace, and obey His words?

“The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts.” – George Mueller

After repenting and receiving Christ and initial salvation, one must remain in fellowship with (abide in) Jesus till the end of his life or he will lose out eternally (Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Rom. 11:22; Col. 1:23; Heb. 2:3, 3:6, 1215; 10:26-39; 12:14-15; Rev. 2-3, etc.). Jesus told those who had believed that if they continued in His Word (not man’s) they would be His disciples, and that they would know the truth and the truth would make them free (John 8:31-32).

Jesus died to justify us, saving us from living in sin which would merit us the wrath of God (Rom. 5:9). He certainly didn’t die to grant us a license to live in sin, but rather grace and power over sin through the crucified life (Rom. 6; Tit. 2:11-12).

The deeds of the body must be put to death, or they will wreak sinful havoc on that life where they are not crucified. The cross is the only answer, not behavioral modification, which is the level on which most messages in the modern church world seek to deal with sin. If the sinful nature is allowed to reign by not being put down, the course of resident, inherited iniquity will be sin and death (Rom. 6:1-23; James 1:14-15). “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die (spiritual death—separation): but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Romans 8:13).

When man fell in the Garden, he became dead inside. He lost the relationship and place of intimacy with His Maker, and no longer needed to be tempted externally. Man’s original inner inclination toward the LORD became slanted and tending toward self. He became self-absorbed instead of absorbed into the LORD his Maker. He then lived unto self—out of self. His inward bent is now to please self, which is rebellion and part and parcel of the first Adam. This is the fate of all born with the stain of inherent sin.

Man cannot please God in his fallen nature— “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7). This is why fallen man must be regenerated, and thereafter self must be denied by the power and grace of the Holy Ghost (Rom. 8:13; Tit. 3:5-7).

When self-will is laid down flat and the LORD’s will takes over, victory is brought about— “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Rom. 6:14). God’s greater grace, will, and glory, override self and succeed triumphantly. He said we are “more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom. 8:37).

It is only when and as sinful self is laid down and sacrificed that the far exceeding blessing of the life of Jesus is manifested in our daily life (2 Cor. 4:10-11). When we are crucifying self and walking in the Spirit, in Christ, the saint is pleasing to the Father. Remember that it is only in Jesus Christ that the Father told us He is “well pleased” (Matt. 3:17; 12:18; 17:5). To be in Christ is to be pleasing to the Father, but to be in self is to be at enmity with Him (Rom. 8:1-7). May His divine life engulf us today as He increases, and we decrease (John 3:30). “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57).

The Bible calls our fallen inherent sinful bent the “flesh,” “body of sin,” “carnal,” and the “old man.” We commanded to crucify the old man that is bent toward sin and evil desires that if acted upon, would cause us to be in violation against the holiness of God (Gal. 5:24). God is holy; therefore, that fallen sinful nature must be subdued, or one will not be pleasing to the LORD but rather experience spiritual “death” (Rom. 8:6, 13),

The Bible tells us that “the flesh” is “enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7, 13.) The apostle Paul said he had to “keep under” his sinful nature so that he would not ultimately become a “castaway” (1 Cor. 9:27). Sound out this word “castaway.” Many today would seek to manipulate the meaning of this word to fit their own convoluted theology, yet a “castaway” is simply one who would be cast away from God and forfeit His eternal blessings due to a violation of His order and holiness.

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:6-8

The sin of Adam affected the whole world. It was a sin that was felt throughout God’s creation, which was before according to His pristine and perfect design (Gen. 13). Adam’s sin affected all human beings from the time of his transgression. Many call this the doctrine of Inherent Sin, which states that Adam’s sin nature was passed on to all who came after him “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12).   

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Romans 5:18-19

Once the LORD finds and regenerates the individual saint, this universally inherited Adamic nature must be restrained or made unresponsive by the power of the Holy Spirit and the willing participation of the disciple, in order for the life of Christ to manifest in that life— “if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Rom. 8:13.)

In the same way that we inherit physical features from our parents and ancestors, each and every man has inherited from Adam his fallen spiritual nature and condition, which is spiritual death— “death passed upon all men” (Rom. 5:12). All men are born of water spiritually dead (separated from and at enmity with God).

Since death “passed upon all men” after Adam and “ALL have sinned,” we are also under the condemnation of God, separated from Him who is “Holy, holy, holy” until reconciled through Christ (Isaiah 6:3; Romans 5:12, 18-19; Ephesians 2:3). We all stand guilty before God and deserving of the punishment of our sin (Romans 3).

No More Condemnation

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1

According to Romans 8:1, there is an initial and an ongoing condition for getting out from under the “condemnation” of God:

  • One must repent, believe upon, and be “in Christ Jesus,” and
  • “walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Remaining or abiding in Christ is essential to remaining in the justification and blessing of God (see also John 15:1-6).

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus”—so as long as the redeemed believer remains “in Christ Jesus,” he is not under “condemnation” (Rom. 8:1).

“No good thing” dwells in man outside of Christ, and as long as he remains out of Christ, he is a slave to corruption (Romans chapters 6-8; Rom. 7:18). The only victory is Christ and being in Him. Only Jesus can conquer sin, and those who are in Him are possessed with the power of His conquering, overcoming grace.

The first Adam was conquered by sin. The last Adam (Jesus) conquered sin (Rom. 5). The first Adam left us with an inherent nature of sin while the last Adam regenerates, redeems, and rescues us from the sinful nature, condemnation, penalty, and punishment we received from the first Adam.

But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:15-21

“But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Through Jesus Christ, the Church and the individual believer have been granted “great grace” to live according to the righteous standards of the One who told us He is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3; Acts 4:33; Rev. 4:8). Grace was given to grant the believer power over sin and not to justify him in his sin (Tit. 2:11-12). When we come before His throne of grace, it is not only to receive mercy, but also grace, or divine enablement, to overcome (Heb. 4:16; Rev. 2-3). Fighting the good fight of faith and overcoming are a must (1 Tim. 6:12; Rev. 2-3).

“Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19). The opposite of living in sin is living in the place of holiness. We are “called” and commanded to live holy, and this should be of concern to every person who “nameth the name of Christ.”

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

His holiness prevails, and sin cannot have dominion over those who are dead with Christ, buried, and presently raised up in His life. This is the truth expressed in the whole of this passage.

Derek Tidball, in his book The Message of the Cross, asks:

“Why is there an uneasy silence about crucifying the sinful nature with its passions when it is clearly so crucial to the Bible’s teaching about holiness? For all our excuses, the truth is perhaps that such teaching does not fit easily into a comfortable world where self-indulgence and self- satisfaction reign supreme. Our silence betrays how deeply the atmosphere of the world has infected the church, and how we fear the opinion of the world more than the opinion of the Lord. The cross, however, cannot be shunted to the sidelines. It stands high on the hill of Calvary and calls individual believers to stand apart from the cultural values of the world. It equally calls the church as a whole to a deep repentance for its compromise with the world, to take radical action in ejecting sin from its midst and to demonstrate a new seriousness about holiness.” pp. 240-241

Many writers of old and today read Romans 5 and ignore the divinely imposed conditions of Romans 6. They therefore come out with a slanted and dangerous theology, which has led many to turn “the grace of our God into lasciviousness (license for sin),” and by doing so they are “denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 3-4).

Always remember that without personal holiness, no man is going to see the LORD (Matt. 5:8; Heb. 12:14; Rev. 3:5-6).

If one only read this portion of Scripture (Romans 5), he might lean toward Calvinism and an unconditional eternal security, yet there’s more to this picture, and the ensuing verses reveal the rest of the story. Romans 6 reveals the God-given personal responsibility of each saved saint, and how these blessings of His grace are conditional upon the obedience of the individual recipient. Read Romans 6-8 through three times in the next week. Also, a thorough and ongoing look at Romans chapters 3-8 is essential to a sound doctrinal foundation.

YOU know when you are right with God, when you are enduring the sound doctrine of His Word, when you are running TO the cross message and not AWAY from it! “Enemies of the cross” of Christ “mind earthly things” and not the things the LORD commanded (Philippians 3:18-19).

The apostle Paul said: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not” (Rom. 7:18).

We must rightly—biblically—assess our true spiritual nature, and when we do, we will know that without Jesus, we are corrupt and depraved in the nature of the first Adam. Knowing that there is “no good thing” that dwells in us, that is, in our flesh, we should sentence our self-life to death, that our lives might rely upon the LORD and not sinful self. “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead” (2 Cor. 1:9).

The lack of teaching in the Christian world on this all-important biblical truth has greatly hindered the understanding of many who have a desire to fully please and serve the LORD. May the LORD bless each of us to have this message of the cross embedded deeply into our hearts and minds. Speaking of His own cross, Jesus told His disciples to “Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men” (Luke 9:44).

The gross lack of attention to this core biblical truth (the cross) has given way to a myriad of Cain-type methods to modify behavior instead of teaching men to crucify the evil tendencies of the fallen nature and walk in the new man—presenting ourselves as living sacrifices unto the LORD and being transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:1-2).

PRAYER: LORD, please teach me Your truth. Allow my heart and mind to understand from whence I came and where You desire to take this life that You gave. I am sinful by nature and yet, You have made me a new creature in Christ, granting Your overcoming grace by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Right this moment, if never before, I stop my life and humble myself under Your mighty hand, fully submitting my life to You, begging You to live in me and raise my life upward to glorify You alone from this moment forward. I am dead and buried with Christ—I am crucified with Christ. I am dead and my life is hid with Christ in God. Holy Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Capture Points

  • On an index card, write out the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 16:24-26.
  • Examining the words of Romans 8:13-14, discuss the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering and leading the disciple to glorify God in this life by putting away the works of the flesh and living a life in the Spirit (KJB recommended).
  • Because there is “no good thing” that dwells in us (in our flesh), discuss practical measures as to how the disciple of Jesus is to daily sentence to death the deeds of the sinful nature (Romans 7:18; 2 Corinthians 1:9; Galatians 5:19-21).

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America

Evangelism Adventures: Stories, Reports, and Testimonies of God’s Amazing Love [podcast]


SO, we prayed for God to use us today right? …. He’s hearing our prayer.

So, in the gym this morning, a lady near me was struggling to get a large plate on each side of the barbell. So, I began to help her and she said “No Ingles” which means she does not speak English. So, I affirmed that she speaks Spanish and I began to speak God’s Word to her in her language. Her face lit up and she thanked me. God is good!

Jesus says “The seed is the word of God” and His people are planting it today in the hearts of others in order for God to bring them to Himself. God be praised in Jesus Christ our LORD and Savior today and forever!

How were we, how are others “born again”? – “the the word of God.”

“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

Sharing the Gospel in Spanish! YOU can do it! Go here.

The body of Christ in the earth is TEAM JESUS!

The body of Christ is “striving together for the faith of the gospel”, … “WE are labourers together with God.” (Philippians 1:27; 1 Corinthians 3:9)

Let’s lift this up now….. Holy Father, You are the LORD of the harvest. In the name of Jesus Christ, we here and now ask You to send forth more laborers and supporters into the fields which You told us are ready to be harvested. In Jesus’ name. Thank You LORD Jesus !

Ever notice how some church goers live their life trying to get others to go to their church? Question: As you read God’s Word, do you see Jesus, His apostles, or the earliest followers of Jesus inviting people to their church? Or, do you see them bringing the love, the truth, the Gospel to the people?

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 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 9:35-38 

Oh and this…

“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Acts 8:4

Those in charge in the so-called “church” buildings are perpetuating their own existence and not taking the Gospel of Jesus to the people. Unlike Jesus and all of His true disciples throughout New Testament history, they have no concern for lost souls.

Tens of thousands of saints and sinners are being reached each month with the Word of God via a multiplicity of diverse venues.

Books like the Born Again book and Moments with Our Master, etc. continue to go forth to the incarcerated. Today a copy of the Born Again book was sent to a man who confessed to the murder of 16 people (Sean Lannon). GOD is able saints!

Giving God praise for those who support HIS work. Your support is vital. Jesus Christ is KING! and He’s coming soon! “WE are labourers TOGETHER with God.” (1 Cor 3:9) | Because You Care

JESUS HASN’T AND WILL NOT RESCIND HIS GREAT COMMISSION MANDATE. ARE YOU PARTICIPATING? He commanded us to “GO ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

Jesus is Bringing Incarcerated, Captive Souls to Himself: YOUR GIFTS ARE REACHING BEHIND THE COLD HARD WALLS OF PRISON CELLS – INTO THE SEARCHING, HUNGERING SOULS OF A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE OF MEN AND WOMEN: Inasmuch as there is financial supply, ministry books continue to flood jails across our nation – touching the hearts of the incarcerated for Christ! These books will be read by many, Captive audience.

Sending the Divine Light into “The Prison House” Here

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” Psalms 23:5

YOUR PRAYER: Holy Father, I ask You now to use me for Your glory. Set my life apart to Yourself. Bless this life to be truly crucified with Christ and raised for Your eternal glory my LORD Jesus. I love You Jesus. I love You dear Father. In Jesus’ name.  

If we are low spiritually, it could only be for 1 reason – we didn’t stay filled. Get filled! Stay filled! Overflow!

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6 

“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” Psalms 68:11

Examples and Blessings of Sharing God’s Love

This recent letter below is from Brother John Becknell in Kentucky. John and I met when I called his store after seeing a Fox news article featuring their no-mask policy store front sign. It was a divine connection for certain and we’ve been blessed to continually supply brother John and the believers around him with Bibles and the Moments for Our Master 365 devotional books. Also, John referred us to a women’s recovery home there in his area which we’ve been blessed to also supply with Bibles and copies of the devotional books.

“Brother Todd, To say the least … it’s been busy here. Alvin’s was blessed to give away 510 free Christmas dinners to anyone in the community who came into the store the Sunday after Christmas Day. We had made all the preparations for the dinners to be served on Christmas Day… but we got about 7 or 8 inches of surprise snow and black ice, temperatures dropped into the teens; ice everywhere, broken water lines on Christmas Eve. The ice was really bad; cars off the road all around us. Several stranded people came into the store and stayed until the roads were passable Friday night. We gave away coffee and snacks to those who came in out of the storm. We had to postpone the dinner until Sunday… it was a nightmare, but God saw us through and Sunday we had a glorious time! We were able to give away the Bibles you sent. We made a display and placed them on a table directly in front of our hot bar. We talked with many people and gave the ones that wanted one a Bible… There’s nothing better than being able to feed food to the body and nourishment to the Spirit! As you know Christmas is a hard time for many families and we got to minister Hope and pray with several people… Thanks for all the prayers and support especially during Christmas with the Bibles and devotionals… ‘People need Hope, they need healing, they need to reach out for the Master, they need the Word.’ Matt 9:22. God Bless you and your ministry for sending the Word; it will bring much light in this dark place… John (and yes, we could use a few Bibles and Devotionals).” John Becknell

“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.” John 4:35-38

Below are recent letters from sister Dana, a dear disciple we have had fellowship with for years and whom the ministry outreach has been blessed to supply – due to the love offerings of Christ’s saints.

Here’s How Our LORD Instructed us to Pray

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 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 9:35-38

Feel free to lift a lady named Cindy in prayer….. the following was given to her…

​ @Cindy – We have all sinned against God and shall all stand before our Maker, the Judge of our eternal souls, to give full account. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” (Psalms 14:1) Lying, stealing, coveting, using His holy name in vain, lusting, fornication, etc. are sins we’ve all committed and are 100% guilty and will pay for our own sins in hell for eternity. The Almighty owes you nothing. You need Him. He does not need you.

More testimonies and stories here>>> Because You Care | Moments with Our Master 365 Devotional book | Grocery Basket Evangelism! [podcast] | Evangelism | Revolutionary Evangelism book | Support | STORE

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Jeremy and Jesus! SAVED! [podcast]

Grocery Basket Evangelism! [podcast]

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Abiding

THIS LIFE is about loving GOD and OTHERS [podcast]


THIS LIFE is about loving GOD and OTHERS. It’s that simple. Read Matthew 22:37-40 daily.

WHEN we are walking a life of prayer and helping others, we are dead center in God’s perfect will.

Read that again.

“Walk in love.”

“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Ephesians 5:2

Loving the Brethren is Essential to Eternal Glory

Matthew 22:37-40 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. 

1 Peter 4:7-8  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 John 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 5:1-2  Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

John 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 

The love of many waxing cold and yet for Christ’s remnant, for those choosing God’s way and no other, can our love for the LORD wax hotter? (Matthew 24:8-14)

Just as we have to forbear others, they have to forbear us! Right? To forbear basically means “to put up with.”

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Colossians 3:12-14

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 

“EDIFY ONE ANOTHER”

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and EDIFY ONE ANOTHER, even as also ye do.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

To “edify” means to build up, upward – with biblical truth, not flattery.

IF you aren’t regularly, perpetually edifying, building up the body of Christ, you have no business correcting the body of Christ. Repent now and cry out to God for His mercy, for an heart of flesh, and the mind of Christ. Read Philippians 2:3-5 each morning this weekend in prayer.

“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may EDIFY another.” Romans 14:19

YOUR PRAYER: Father, please have YOUR way in me. I am crucified with Christ, now. Now, dear LORD please fill this Your vessel with Your love – to be poured out upon Your beloved saints. I love You LORD Jesus. In Jesus’ name. amen.

Support | STORE | PodcastsBecause You Care Page | The Greatest of these is CharityBe Ready in the Morning [podcast]The Sure Mercies of David [podcast]That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast]At His Feet | Prepared to be Used of God  |

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Abiding

“In Due Season We Shall Reap, If We Faint Not” [podcast]


“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9

Paul’s Sufferings and Warning to Us

“For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.” 1 Corinthians 4:9-14

Paul warned the body of Christ that as he suffered, so we would suffer for Christ.

Like Paul, on this earth, in this life, we shall not awake to the absence of temptation or evil lurking in our own hearts or this world. No, evil shall not be vanquished until Jesus returns to put down all evil and secure us unto Himself. For now, may God bless each of us, His children, to be dead and buried with Christ as He raises us upward in His divine grace unto complete victory (1 Corinthians 15:57; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12, etc.). Reading Revelation 21-22 today is glorious. The final 2 chapters in our LORD’s Word. Heaven’s KING is coming!

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

His Enemies Put Under His Feet

“Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up t he kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” 1 Corinthians 15:24-28

Learning to Count it All Joy!

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing… 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:2-4, 12

Even though men shall forsake you, God is going to be with you, “even unto the end of the world  (Matthew 28:18-20).

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Worshipping God in and through our times of testing, the trials, temptations and struggles provides the Christlikeness, the maturity our regenerated inner man desperately desires (Romans 8:28-29; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 5:10). God’s goal is much greater than just snapping His holy finger and delivering you out of the temporary trial. He’s after much more. He has to break down and strip us before He can re-furnish us, making us “a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (Jeremiah 1:10; 2 Timothy 2:21). Remember Paul’s thorn? Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel. unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”  Hebrews 6:10-12

Is the LORD doing a deeper work in you, preparing you for greater fruitfulness?

“Did a bit of a study on testing yesterday, …take note Genesis 22:1 … ‘God tested Abraham,’ even Jesus after His baptism was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil ….even Jesus was tested …how can we expect anything less, we will be tested, …will we be found faithful, one who perseveres, one who endures till the end of our life here on earth?” Sharon

“I’ve learned that ‘the LORD may get me out of this’ trial, but I will have missed the joy and reward of going through whatever ‘this’ is with Him – and what He intended to accomplish in me. Closer intimacy often comes through great conflict in which the foundations of hope, trust, and faith are built. I love you, Jesus!” Jon Crane

“While you’re praying: ‘Get me OUT of this, Lord!’ don’t forget to add: ‘Be with me IN this, Lord!’ Wait ON and WITH the Lord.” Michael Beck

God’s plan for your life….here it is:

“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

Declare this and/or perhaps Colossians 3:3 each morning. Declare it as you sentence yourself to death that the Savior might reign!

“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

Have you fallen, stumbled? JUST get up saint….

Cry out to the LORD. Psalm 51; Philippians 3:13-14.

“For a just man FALLETH (death, burial) seven times, and RISETH up again (resurrection): but the wicked (unrepentant) shall fall into mischief.” Proverbs 24:16

The dishonest, the unrepentant will go downward, stay downward, and perish down in the bowels of eternal damnation.

This is a war. We’ve lost some battles and yet, as we learn to live a life of true and humble repentance, as did beloved David, we shall be preserved unto everlasting glory with the soon coming KING! (Psalm 32; 51; Matthew 24:13; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; Revelation 2-3, etc.

God is going to greatly use those who truly know Him, who are known of Him, who have been submitting to His process (1 Peter 1:7; 5:10, etc.), His chastening, purging, instruction….. who’ve been trusting Him through the fires….

“And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. 35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.”  Daniel 11:32-35

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4 

WHEN we witness the bless-ed, needed change the LORD does in us as we trust and seek Him in seasons of testing, we begin to “count it all joy” to “fall into divers (various) temptations (trials) (James 1:2-4).

Liza Young writes:

“When we say yes to GOD as HIS Spirit reveals HIS will to us through HIS Word, the bitter circumstances of our lives become sweet. We must not grumble against what the LORD permits, instead, we must do all that HE asks us to do.”

Saints, in Psalms we see the psalmist in many dire scenarios, forced and blessed to cry out to the LORD in desperation of spirit. We need, we must have trials. We shall never truly understand and more deeply know God until we are forced to cry out in utter desperation to Him. Recently, I saw a man interviewed who’d been lost in the wilderness for five days. Put yourself in his place. Five whole days, lost. He said he prayed. Now, do we think his prayers were lame, lukewarm? Was he yawning? No, we know he was crying out from the depths of his being to the LORD. What a gift! What a blessed place to be made “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3). Are you desperate for Jesus today?

Maureen Lundie writes:

“At the end of my time on earth I want to look back and say that I’ve trusted Jesus during every stage of my life. There were many wasted years that I did not serve God, but the years that I have left, I only want to spend it serving God.”

“Beware of False Prophets”

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15

When you are rooted and grounded in Christ via His own Word, you aren’t looking for any other word from any mere man or woman. Pour over, study Colossians.

EVER hear one of the many false prophets among us declare that “This is your time!” or “This is your year!”. etc.? False prophet. No sinful man decides that it’s their own year or anyone else’s. Typical bait used by wolves. Anyone who can read hear this bait line and not shut it off, discern it as false, needs their eyes opened. THIS IS GOD’S YEAR, NOT YOURS! And EVERY year is God’s year, not yours selfish one! Read Hosea 10:12. – “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets (false leaders) that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth (written Word) of the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:16

“I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;” Jeremiah 23:25-26 

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