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Title: Take up your cross.
“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, 'Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'" Mark 8:34 NKJV.
A lot of times people ask: What did Jesus Christ mean by deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me?
How do I deny myself? What is the cross?
The simply answer is- taking up your cross means doing the will of God even when it may be or appear (on the face of it) inconvenient.
Sometimes we are called to serve others, sometimes this may mean waking up early and staying late,
sometimes it will mean handing out flyers and leaflets.
The cross was the place of sacrifice and your cross is your place of sacrificing yourself- in a small way- for Jesus Christ
it is the place where the will of Almighty God comes before your will-
this may mean, could mean and often means a complete change of the direction of your life.
As you do that you are denying yourself whatever else you could have been doing.
Point of reflection:
Doing the will of God means denying yourself, denying yourself of your will and doing the will of God instead.
You die to self so that Christ may live in you. His will becomes your will, His purpose becomes your purpose.
It may involve inconveniencing yourself for the sake of the gospel.
Your have your own cross, take up your own cross and follow Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:10 NKJV:
"That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings,
being conformed to His death."
Fellowship of His sufferings is in doing His will and in so doing you die to self so that
the will and power of God may be manifested through you.
The selfish nature in you needs to be dealt with as you obey the will of God.
God will need to reveal to you the joy of mission accomplished.
That is why His word says in Hebrews 12:2 that Jesus Christ, for the joy that was set before Him,
endured the cross and despised the shame and is now seated at the right hand if the throne of God.
You should therefore look unto Him, Jesus Christ the author and finisher of our faith
because as you carry your own cross there is a joy of mission accomplished,
the joy of seeing souls being taken from death to life, from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.
Do you desire to experience the joy of mission accomplished for all eternity?
When you are ready-
Prayer of consecration:
Heavenly Father I thank you for sending Jesus Christ to suffer and die for me.
I acknowledge the risen Jesus Christ as Lord of my life today.
Thank you that for the joy of seeing a sinner like me being born again,
He endured the cross and despised the shame.
As I follow His example Lord show me the joy of mission accomplished
so that I may do the will of God. In Jesus Christ's name I pray. Amen.
Learn more:
Https://planetministries.org.uk/message/turningyoursitustionaround
Https://planetministries.org.uk/message/yourcallingtointercede
Https://planetministries.org.uk/message/youarewitnessestothesethings
Much grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Best wishes for 2017- our year for the New Beginner, Higher Beginner.
We are seeking the excellence of the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
We are interceding, witnessing and being faithful stewards.
We are expecting and receiving a reward from Almighty God as we seek Him diligently.
Apostle Dr Max and Joyce Matonhodze.
Planetministries.org.uk