The Cross, Part 7

Taking up our cross daily

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 9:23 KJV

I die daily. 1 Corinthians 15:31 KJV

Our full surrender is the “crisis of the cross”; dying daily is the “process of the cross.” It is the work of the Holy Spirit within us to apply the cross to us in our daily walk, disposition, choices, and God-given responsibilities. In the abundant life we have in the Holy Spirit we will never outgrow our need for the application and appropriation of the cross. It is the process the Spirit uses to mature us and to conform us to the image of Jesus.

Paul tells of his desire to have the cross daily work in his life when he says, “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” Philippians 3:10 NASB. The daily working of the cross within us is not theoretical, but extremely practical.  In a very real way, the Holy Spirit will not allow us to get away with anything that is rooted in our own pride or selfishness.

 The Holy Spirit knows our hearts and He will search us out. An experience I had while managing the editorial department at DaySpring will help to illustrate this truth. One day I approached someone on my team and gave them a pat on the back. “Good work” I told them, “you are doing a great job.” By all outward appearances it seemed like a nice thing to do. However, when I returned to my office I heard the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit say to my heart, “What was that all about?” In that moment the Holy Spirit showed me my heart. He made it very clear that I had done a nice thing, but I had done it for the wrong reason. What I saw in my heart was not a motive to sincerely encourage someone, but a motive to manipulate someone in order to get that person to work harder and make me look good as a manager.

 Through that experience the Holy Spirit showed me that I needed to take my desire to “look good before others” and bring it to the cross. It was something I needed to die to. That “death” led me into new freedom, one where I could bless and encourage others in sincerity and truth.

 Through Christ, God has provided the way for each of His children to walk in spiritual freedom. In the book of Romans, Paul tells us what spiritual freedom means…freedom from our past (chapter 5); freedom from sin and from ourselves (chapter 6) freedom from the law (chapter 7) freedom from bondage of the flesh (chapter 8) freedom in the Holy Spirit (chapter 8).

F.B. Meyer described the daily walk with God in this way, “I am not asking Him to help me, but asking if I may help Him. I seek not His sanction on my plans and designs but seek permission to participate in His plans and designs. I see how it is possible to cultivate God’s presence and endeavor to know His heart. There must be no lie in our life, no lack of transparency, no concealment or withholding. All the secrets of heart and life must be laid bare before Him. We must avoid any attempt to seem more or better than we are…Thus God’s smile will become the supreme object of our endeavor.”

There are many ways the Holy Spirit will apply the cross in our daily lives. Our cross is not our circumstances but the choices we make in response to them. There are many times when we will hear the voice of the Holy Spirit saying to us, “This is something you need to die to.” The death may be to our rights, our opinions, our demand for fairness, our reputation, our self-image. It can be our desire to be recognized, to be applauded, to be promoted, to be rewarded, to be noticed, to be appreciated, to go first, or to have the final say.

When we take up our cross to follow Jesus there is a price to pay—it is the price of dying to what our flesh wants to do and yielding to what the Holy Spirit wants to do. This is true spiritual freedom and liberty—to be dead to ourselves and alive to God; to exchange our life for His life; to die to our old way of living and live in newness of life.

The Cross, Part 6

We can say “yes” to the cross

 Give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Romans 6:13 NLT

I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 AMP

To take up our cross means that we must hold nothing back. Our surrender must be complete. Paul uses the sacrifice of a lamb as an example of our surrender. The lamb that was placed on the altar was a whole lamb. If a leg was held back by the one offering the lamb, the sacrifice would be rejected.

God wants us to be wholly His, so He can be wholly ours. What an amazing exchange this, all of us for all of Him—our selfishness for His love, our sin for His holiness, our own way for His perfect will, our strife for His peace, our pain for His healing, our bondage for His freedom. No wonder Paul could say, “Far be it from me to glory [in anything or anyone] except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Galatians 6:14 AMP

In his book The Unshakable Kingdom and the Unchanging Person E. Stanley Jones tells us, “ A self surrendered to the Kingdom is a self at home. When God asks us to surrender ourselves, this is not cruelty but an invitation to share with Him the deepest joy that this universe knows. When you surrender to the will of God that will is your highest good. ”

In order for us to fully surrender we must understand who we are surrendering to. We are not surrendering our lives to a mean tyrant, to an uncaring person, or to a capricious creator. We need to see our surrender as surrender to perfect love.

 A quote by Catherine Marshall reminds us, “How wonderful to know that because you are His He assumes full responsibility for keeping you in all your ways.” Someone else has said it this way, “God is ready to assume full responsibility to the life that is wholly yielded to Him.”

Fenelon tells us this about the meaning of full surrender, “We tend to think of surrender as that great thing we do when we want to show God how much we love Him, and how heroically we are willing to sacrifice everything. Let me tell you what real surrender is. It is simply resting in the love of God, as a little baby rests in its mother’s arms. Surrender consists, not in doing great, heroic deeds about which self can brag, but simply in accepting whatever God sends, and not seeking to change it (unless it is His will for it to be changed). Full surrender is full peace.

Andrew Murray in his book Absolute Surrender reminds the reader that when we give ourselves completely to God we must also believe that He receives us. Our surrender to God can be a settled thing in our hearts that never needs to be questioned or repeated. Our hearts can joyfully sing, “I am His and He is mine!”

Loved with everlasting love, led by grace that love to know;
Gracious Spirit from above, Thou hast taught me it is so!
O this full and perfect peace! O this transport all divine!
In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine.
In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine.

Heav’n above is softer blue, Earth around is sweeter green!
Something lives in every hue Christless eyes have never seen;
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow, flowers with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know, I am His, and He is mine.
Since I know, as now I know, I am His, and He is mine.

Things that once were wild alarms cannot now disturb my rest;
Closed in everlasting arms, pillowed on the loving breast.
O to lie forever here, doubt and care and self resign,
While He whispers in my ear, I am His, and He is mine.
While He whispers in my ear, I am His, and He is mine.

His forever, only His; Who the Lord and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss Christ can fill the loving heart!
Heav’n and earth may fade and flee, firstborn light in gloom decline;
But while God and I shall be, I am His, and He is mine.
But while God and I shall be, I am His, and He is mine.
-George W. Robinson

The Cross, Part 5

We have been crucified with Christ

Here is what the bible tells us about the work of the cross in our lives:

“Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him…Romans 6:6 NKJV

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:2-3 NKJV

 Someone once told me, “I have been trying to crucify myself for many years, but it doesn’t seem to work.” This person is right. We cannot crucify ourselves. When we try to crucify ourselves we cannot do a complete enough job (at best we can only nail one hand to the cross.)

As far as God is concerned, the work of crucifixion in our lives has been done. When Jesus died on the cross, when He was buried, when He rose, and when He ascended, He took you with Him—

When He was crucified you were crucified: Galatians 2:20

When He died you died: Colossians 3:3

When He was buried you were buried: Colossians 2:12

When He rose from the dead you rose: Romans 6:4

When He was seated at the right hand of the Father, you were seated with Him: Ephesians 2:6

This truth is a glorious part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You don’t have to try to crucify yourself, you already have been. You don’t have to raise yourself up to a new way of life, Jesus has already raised you. You don’t have to climb a giant spiritual ladder to reach Jesus, you are already there, seated with Him.

Buried with Christ and raised with Him, too,
What is there left for me to do?
Simply to cease from struggling and strife,
Simply to walk in newness of life.

Buried with Christ and dead unto sin;
Dying but living, Jesus within;
Ruling and reigning day after day,
Guiding and keeping all of the way.

Risen with Christ my glorious Head,
Holiness now the pathway I tread;
Beautiful thought from walking therein,
He that is dead is freed from all sin.

Living with Christ, who dieth no more,
Following Christ, who goeth before;
Not under law, I’m now under grace,
Sin is dethroned, and Christ takes its place.

-T. Ryder

The Cross, Part 4

The Cross Within

Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Matthew 16:24 NKJV

The work that Jesus does in our lives is never a shallow or superficial work. He always goes deep. When Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit joins Himself with our spirits; when Jesus speaks His words to us, they penetrate to the depths of who we are—piercing the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and discerns the thoughts and intents of our hearts; when Jesus speaks to us about the cross, He is telling us that the cross must work deep within us—in our hearts, in our motives, in our attitudes, and in our choices.

Many people today wear the cross or decorate with the cross, but it is a very different thing to take up our cross. His message was to let the cross do its work within us. When the cross does its intended work it will always result in death. Jesus told us to take up our cross because He wanted something within us to die. When we let the cross do its work within us death will come—death to selfishness, death to rebellion, death to “I want my own way.”

Death must work in us if life is to come. Paul tells in Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ;” but Paul goes on to say, “nevertheless I live.” Jesus wants to give to us and be to us the abundant life, but we cannot enter into this abundance if we are being controlled by selfishness and demanding to have our own way. To put it simply, we are our biggest problem and hindrance to receiving the fullness of Jesus’ life within us. The inward work of the cross is His solution to our biggest problem…ourselves! As believers in Jesus Christ this is something we should all celebrate—the cross has set us free from ourselves!

To one who asked George Muller his secret to victory and service he replied, “There was a day when I DIED, utterly died: Died to George Muller, his opinions, preferences, tastes, and will, died to the world, its approval, or censure, died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends, and since then I have studied ONLY to show myself approved unto God!”

The Cross, Part 3

Jesus died as us

While the focus of Jesus dying for us is our justification, the focus of Jesus dying as us is our sanctification.

This aspect of His death brings an entirely different meaning to the work of the cross in our lives. Jesus dying for us means we can receive forgiveness for our sins; Jesus dying as us means we can receive freedom from our sins.

Here is a brief list that points out the differences between Jesus dying for us and as us:

Jesus dying for me: He is my Redeemer.
Jesus dying as me: He is my Deliverer.

Jesus dying for me: He has dealt with the fruit of my sins.
Jesus dying as me: He has dealt with the root of my sins.

Jesus dying for me: I am released from the penalty of sin.
Jesus dying as me: I am released from the power of sin.

Jesus dying for me: I am justified.
Jesus dying as me: I am sanctified.

Jesus dying for me: I am saved from my past.
Jesus dying as me: I am saved from myself.

In 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 we read an amazing truth, “For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] One died for all, then all died; And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake.”

This passage places us on the cross with Jesus Christ. It says that Jesus not only died, but we died with Him. “He died for all” and “all died” is a powerful proclamation, a life-changing provision, and transforming reality in the hearts of all who believe.

 Why did Jesus die as us? 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 supplies us with the answer. Jesus died as us so that we would no longer be people who are living for themselves, but who are living, all out, for Him. This is good news! We really can be free. The message of the cross is our emancipation proclamation from sin and selfishness.

This life-changing truth is not something you can understand by sitting down, putting your hand under your chin, and thinking hard about it. In order for this truth to impact your life, the Holy Spirit must open your spiritual understanding and reveal it to you. This truth is not something the human mind can figure out; it is a truth the heart needs to see, as the light of the cross shines upon it.

In his book The Cross and Sanctification, T.A. Hegre reminds us of why Christ came, “Jesus came to be not only our Savior but our Deliverer. He said that He came to ‘proclaim release to the captives and to set at liberty them that are bruised’ (Luke 4:18-19). Christ came into the world not only to forgive sins and give eternal life, but also to bring release to those who are in bondage to self-will and to set at liberty those that are bruised by the devil.”

I would like to encourage you to pray the following prayer before we look deeper into the meaning of the cross in our lives…

Father, thank You for sending Your Son to die for me and as me. Jesus, thank You for being obedient to the Father, for praying “Not my will, but Thine be done,” and for willingly giving your life upon the cross. Holy Spirit, I ask You to open my understanding and reveal to my heart the meaning of the cross of Jesus Christ in my life. I want to be fully Yours so I can know what it means for You to be fully mine. Amen.

The Cross, Part 2

Jesus died for us.

In his book on the passion of Jesus, John Piper says this about the cross, “The measure of God’s love for us is shown by two things. One is the degree of his sacrifice in saving us from the penalty of our sin. The other is the degree of unworthiness that we had when he saved us. There is only one explanation for God’s sacrifice for us. It is not us. It is the “riches of His grace.” It is all free. It is not a response to our worth. It is the overflow of his infinite worth. In fact, that is what divine love is in the end: a passion to enthrall undeserving sinners, at great cost, with what will make us supremely happy forever, namely, His infinite beauty.”

The message of the cross is a message of God’s amazing love and grace. The bible tells us that Jesus died for us. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 NKJV.

 Jesus dying for us is a glorious truth, it means our justification and much more—He died for our sins, He took our sins upon Himself, He was our sacrificial lamb, His blood made atonement for us, He was our substitute, dying in our place—taking our judgment, our death, our hell. He died as our Redeemer, shedding His blood to buy us back to God as His possession, and to bring the joy of knowing Him into our lives.

Sermons will be preached throughout the world during this time of year proclaiming this redeeming truth, “Jesus died for us.” This is a special time for Christians to celebrate what Christ did for them through His death;  it is also a special time to preach the Gospel to those who are lost, proclaiming to them the “so great salvation” that can be theirs through Jesus Christ.

Jesus died and rose for you! Does this not say it all?

 Jesus died and rose for you.
If you only knew this one truth, it would be sufficient.
If you only had this loaf of spiritual bread to eat, it would satisfy your hunger.
If you only had this living water to drink, it would quench your thirst.

Jesus died and rose for you.
This is the taproot from which the tree of life grows.
This is the headwater from which the healing river flows.
This is the pen from which the great doctrines of faith are written—justification, sanctification, redemption, salvation—Jesus died and rose for you.

Does God love you?
Yes, Jesus died and rose for you.

Does God care about you?
Yes, Jesus died and rose for you.

Does God provide for you?
Yes, Jesus died and rose for you.

Does God forgive you, save you, receive you?
Yes, Jesus died and rose for you.

The Cross, Part 1

The deceiver tells me I am good.
The cross tells me I am a sinner.

The deceiver tells me I’m on the right road.
The cross tells me I am lost.

The deceiver tells me I am innocent.
The cross tells me I am guilty.

The deceiver tells me I can save myself.
The cross tells me I need a Savior.

The deceiver tells me Christ’s work is incomplete.
The cross tells me it is finished.

The deceiver tells me I am condemned.
The cross tells me I am justified.

The deceiver tells me I cannot be made clean.
The cross tells me the blood of Jesus cleanses me from all sin.

The deceiver tells me the stain of sin has ruined my life.
The cross tells me I have been washed whiter than snow.

The deceiver tells me I can never be free from my past.
The cross tells me all things have been made new.

The deceiver tells me I must work for my salvation.
The cross tells me it is by grace alone.

The deceiver tells me I can live the way I want.
The cross tells me I have been bought with a price.

The deceiver tells me God is against me.
The cross tells me God is for me.

The deceiver tells me all roads lead to heaven.
The cross tells me Jesus is the only way.

If

If He weren’t exalted,
I would be down!
If He weren’t my joy,
I'd be wearing a frown.

If He weren’t guiding,
I'd stay in my seat.
If He weren’t triumphant,
I'd live in defeat.

If He weren’t the Master,
Where would I go?
If He weren’t the Physician,
Who'd heal my soul?

If He weren’t the Teacher,
How could I learn?
If He weren’t the Answer,
Where would I turn?

If He weren’t Jesus
I’d be in my sin;
If He weren’t the Victor,
I never could win.

If He weren’t the High Priest
I wouldn’t have a prayer.
If He weren’t my peace
I’d be loaded with care.

If He weren’t the Shepherd
I simply would roam.
If He weren’t  in heaven
I wouldn’t have a home. 

When You Need Him Most

His strongest grace  
is for your weakest moment;
His sweetest fellowship 
is for your loneliest journey;
His richest supply
is for your neediest hour;
His closest embrace
is for your deepest sorrow;
His brightest light
is for your darkest day.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?... No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 NLT

The Cross of Calvary

But far be it from me to glory [in anything or anyone] except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) through Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world! Galatians 6:14 AMP

In less than a month, we as believers, will once again turn our focus upon the Cross of Christ as we remember His death and celebrate His resurrection. To help your heart prepare for this special time, I am posting a poem written by Harold Brokke. It is a powerful proclamation of the atoning work of Christ to forgive us, to cleanse us, and to free us from our sins.

Calvary

Christ bore the curse to Calvary,
the fullness of the fall.
Oh tragic death, if Jesus bore,
a little, but not all.

If there are citadels of sin
where Christ set not His claim,
let angels wear confusion
and God be robed in shame.

If with this heart renewed by Christ,
perversity must dwell,
then what a caustic compromise
has heaven made with hell?

No, God envisioned Calvary
all love in its design.
It gladdens His eternal heart
because it purges mine.

Cast off the dark delusion,
the bondage of the lie
that says to those involved in sin,
“You shall not surely die”.

Put on, my soul, the truth of God,
sin owns no part in thee.
Your freedom from the “all” of sin
is all in Calvary.

By Harold Brokke, from his book The Testimony of Jesus