We have established from the Scriptures that the only way to overcome “The Practices of the Body” is by walking in the Spirit (Rom. 8:13; Gal. 5:16).
Jesus said, “Whosoever will come after Me, let him…(2) take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mk. 8:34).
To walk in the Spirit, you must willingly take up your Cross (Lk. 14:27).
How often should one take up his Cross? Daily? Yes! Jesus said to them all, “If any man will come after Me, let him (1) deny himself, and (2) take up his Cross DAILY, and follow Me” (Lk. 9:23).
How many people would respond to an altar call that went this way: “Come follow Jesus; you may face the loss of your friends, family, reputation, career, and possibly your life”?
Majority of people in the church today would turn this invitation down. Such people that turn this kind of invitation down are called “false converts”! Such a call is what Jesus meant when He said, “Take up your cross and follow Me.” Only genuine converts (Christians that have died to self) will accept such invitation.
Many people interpret the cross as a burden they must carry in their lives – a strained relationship, a thankless job, a physical sickness that has refused to go, or the wicked spouse they married. With self-pitying pride, they say, “That’s my cross, I have to carry it.” Such an interpretation is not what Jesus meant when He said, ‘Take up your cross.’
What does it mean to take up your cross? 1. Commitment to Christ means taking up your cross daily, giving up your hopes, dreams, possessions, even your very life if need be, for the course of Christ.
For you to walk in the Spirit, you need to put to death your own plans and desires, and then turn your life over to Jesus and do His will every day.
Let me ask you: Is Christ the master of your life? Have you put to death your own plans/desires and committed yourself to His will for your life? Don’t be satisfied with anything less, for there is no greater joy in life than following Christ every day.
2. To ‘take up your cross’ means being willing to die in order to follow Jesus. This is a call to absolute surrender. Although the call is tough, the reward is matchless.
3. It means to ‘give up’ whatever you know the Word of God condemns.
4. It means to be willing (without murmuring) to be opposed, to be shamed, to suffer, and to die - all because of your allegiance to Him.
5. To “take up your cross” means to treasure Jesus more than we treasure human approval, honor, comfort, and life.
What is that cross that you have to carry daily? The cross you have to carry daily is your prompt obedience to that instruction given to you by Jesus (which you don’t like).
6. When you deny yourself of what you really desire because of Christ, you are carrying your Cross. For instance, I know you love to make up, wear jewelries, wear wigs, wear artificial eyelashes and fingernails, wear trouser, paint your lips.
If you willingly give up these things because they are hindering the Gospel, then you are carrying your cross.
When you, by the power of the Holy Spirit, deny yourself of something you really wanted so badly, there is a severe pain you feel on the inside of you. That pain you experience on your inside when you deny yourself such things is that cross you have to carry daily.
7. The persecution, the rejections and humiliations you suffer because you are a follower of Jesus Christ is the cross you have to carry daily.
8. To ‘take up your Cross’ means that you will be burdened about the needy in your community.
9. It means you’ll take your stand against pornography, Bet9ger, immorality, abortion, divorce, Valentine day, jewelries etc.
10. It means that you’ll be delighted to share in the rejection of Jesus Christ.
11. It means that you businessman will go back to your business and put in place Christian principles no matter what it may cost you financially.
You will go back and adjust your scales, your meters in their Petrol stations, Those that have falsified their ages through the swearing of affidavit, should go and redo it to state their right age, Remove that foam you added to your breast so that it will appear big, Remove that dye you used to colour your hair so that you’ll look very young etc.
12. It means that you are going to forgive all those that have offended you no matter whatever they did to you.
If you are really a Christian you cannot escape this very fellowship. Christ has not called us to walk on a bed of roses. Rather He has called us to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over every power of the devil (Lk. 10:19).
Do you know what? Every Christian is called unto the fellowship of His suffering.
Apostle Paul said, “That (1) I may know Him, and (2) the power of His resurrection, and (3) the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death” (Phil. 3:10).
Message Bible puts it this way, “…be a partner in His sufferings…”
Make no mistakes about this: If you are truly standing for Christ, you will suffer persecution. “And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offence of the cross ceased” (Gal 5:11).
The Bible promises persecution to all followers of Christ.
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12).
“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Phil. 1:29).
Jesus said, “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake” (Matt. 24:9).
In Mark 10:29-30 Jesus answered and said, “Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My sake, and the gospel's, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time (world), houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, WITH PERSECUTIONS; and in the world to come eternal life.”
“But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake” (Lk. 21:12).
Jesus said, “Remember the Word that I spoke unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for My name's sake, because they know not Him that sent Me” (Jn. 15:20-21).
Even Apostle Paul taught that entrance into the Kingdom of God comes with many tribulations. In Acts 14:22 apostle Paul said, “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we MUST through much TRIBULATION enter into the Kingdom of God.”
1 Peter 4:12-14 says, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the FIERY TRIAL which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached (insulted) for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.”
Christians are appointed unto afflictions! 1 Thessalonians 3:3 says, “That no man should be moved by these AFFLICTIONS: for you yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.”
1 Peter 2:21-24 says, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps…”
Jesus assured us that trials will come to His followers. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33).
Today, only very few Christians are willing to take up their cross and crucify upon it their own interests. Are you now willing to take up your cross and crucify upon it your own interests?
Conclusion: Without carrying your cross, you cannot walk in the Spirit, and if you cannot walk in the Spirit, you cannot deal with the Flesh, and if you cannot overcome the lust of the Flesh, you cannot overcome the Practices of the Body, and if you cannot overcome the practices of the Body, you cannot maintain your holiness, and if you cannot maintain your holiness, you cannot enter Heaven. The choice is yours!
Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit.
· Your friend, I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor, HOG).
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