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Bondman · 04-03-2008, 04:25 AM

PRACTICAL NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY

MESSAGE #39

DIE TO OUR DESIRES, AWAKE TO HIS!

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

Luke 9
23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

Just what did Jesus mean by: "Take up your cross daily and follow me." Convention has led us to express 'taking up the cross' something like this: "Oh, we all have our crosses to bear!" NO WE DON'T!! What taking up your cross REALLY means is: willing to die. The cross meant and means nothing else but death. That's what it meant for Jesus, that's what it means for us. I have to daily die to myself: to all that I want, to all that I feel, to the whole of my life, and all of ME!

DENY YOURSELF

That's why He said that I must DENY MYSELF by DAILY taking up my cross, unto death, and following Him.

Guys, do you see how serious this is? He started with: "If anyone would come after Me." That is, if you would dare to call yourself CHRISTIAN, then this is nothing less than a call unto death to yourself! Thus my life for ME is over. Gone for ever! Finished! Dead! JESUS is now the One in charge. I've given over the reins of all of my life to the Lord. That's why I use the nickname 'Bondman' = 'bond-slave to Jesus', cos now He is my Master. I now live solely to serve my wonderful Master! Like He Himself said in the Garden, "Not My will, Father, but Yours be done." That's exactly it - for every part of my life, it has to be HIS will for me, every day!

LOSE YOUR LIFE

And have a look at the CONTRAST Jesus paints in these powerful words:

Matthew 10
39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Please note "for My sake". And what does "loses his life for My sake" mean? - same as taking up the cross; same as denying myself!

More contrasts:

Ephesians 2
5a Even when we were dead in and by our sins, He made us alive in Christ.

Wow, so we USED to be DEAD, but He brought us to LIFE! Now that we HAVE this life, He's calling us to GIVE IT BACK TO HIM, to 'lose' it, not be keeping it for ourselves, but freely giving it up to JESUS - because of our LOVE for Him! Some here will remember how I've said that the NT has numbers of contradictions, or rather apparent contradictions, where we need to really concentrate hard to understand what God is REALLY saying to us!

So... lose your life for Jesus' sake, and you will gain it! Does that work for you like it does for me? Because... keep hold of it - and you will lose it. Not good, hey!

NEVER QUIT!

Finally there's a WARNING about our Christian walk when we've given up ALL to follow Jesus:

Luke 9
62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

TODAY IS THE DAY

So if ya gonna do it, THEN DO IT!! And never quit! You can take it from me that you'll NEVER regret it. Submit to the Lord Jesus as Lord over all of your life, right now. Then you'll be able to easily choose... to take up your cross and die daily to yourself. Don't put it off. There's absolutely NO time for messing around with this! Now is the time for YOU to take Jesus as your LORD, as well as your Saviour!!

Much love in Jesus!

- BM, with his Lady

QUESTIONS WELCOME!

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04-03-2008, 04:25 AM	#463 (permalink)
Bondman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Posts: 596 Blog Entries: 1 Rep Power: 1	PRACTICAL NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY MESSAGE #39 DIE TO OUR DESIRES, AWAKE TO HIS! TAKE UP YOUR CROSS Luke 9 23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Just what did Jesus mean by: "Take up your cross daily and follow me." Convention has led us to express 'taking up the cross' something like this: "Oh, we all have our crosses to bear!" NO WE DON'T!! What taking up your cross REALLY means is: willing to die. The cross meant and means nothing else but death. That's what it meant for Jesus, that's what it means for us. *I have to daily die to myself: to all that I want, to all that I feel, to the whole* of my life, and all of ME! DENY YOURSELF** That's why He said that I must DENY MYSELF by DAILY taking up my cross, unto death, and following Him. Guys, do you see how serious this is? He started with: "If anyone would come after Me." That is, if you would dare to call yourself CHRISTIAN, then this is nothing less than a call unto death to yourself! Thus my life for ME is over. Gone for ever! Finished! Dead! JESUS is now the One in charge. I've given over the reins of all of my life to the Lord. That's why I use the nickname 'Bondman' = 'bond-slave to Jesus', cos now He is my Master. I now live solely to serve my wonderful Master! Like He Himself said in the Garden, "Not My will, Father, but Yours be done." That's exactly it - for every part of my life, it has to be HIS will for me, every day! LOSE YOUR LIFE And have a look at the CONTRAST Jesus paints in these powerful words: Matthew 10 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. Please note "for My sake". And what does "loses his life for My sake" mean? - same as taking up the cross; same as denying myself! More contrasts: Ephesians 2 5a Even when we were dead in and by our sins, He made us alive in Christ. Wow, so we USED to be DEAD, but He brought us to LIFE! Now that we HAVE this life, He's calling us to GIVE IT BACK TO HIM, to 'lose' it, not be keeping it for ourselves, but freely giving it up to JESUS - because of our LOVE for Him! Some here will remember how I've said that the NT has numbers of contradictions, or rather apparent contradictions, where we need to really concentrate hard to understand what God is REALLY saying to us! So... lose your life for Jesus' sake, and you will gain it! Does that work for you like it does for me? Because... keep hold of it - and you will lose it. Not good, hey! NEVER QUIT! Finally there's a WARNING about our Christian walk when we've given up ALL to follow Jesus: Luke 9 62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." TODAY IS THE DAY So if ya gonna do it, THEN DO IT!! And never quit! You can take it from me that you'll NEVER regret it. Submit to the Lord Jesus as Lord over all of your life, right now. Then you'll be able to easily choose... to take up your cross and die daily to yourself. Don't put it off. There's absolutely NO time for messing around with this! Now is the time for YOU to take Jesus as your LORD, as well as your Saviour!! Much love in Jesus! - BM, with his Lady QUESTIONS WELCOME! GOTO: Previous Message \| Next Message __________________ –––––––––––––– *» By His grace alone, Jesus is my all in all! «* • Destination: HEAVEN! Last edited by Bondman; 04-04-2008 at 02:18 PM.