THE CROSS

"The second command Jesus gives in Mark 8:34 is not so easy to define. In Jesus' time, no one ever took up a cross unless they were going to die on it. How do we "take up our cross?" The idea has such a mystical, super-spiritual sound to it. Some have even gone so far as to allow themselves to be crucified in a modified way to show identification with Christ. But your "cross" is not literal; it is instead an attitude of radical obedience to God in which you willingly accept any consequence for Jesus' sake. If denying yourself is all about saying no, then taking up the cross is all about saying yes. "Yes, God, I will do whatever you ask of me -- whatever, whenever."
~Kay Warren, Dangerous Surrender: What Happens When You Say Yes to God

A Life Prepared for God

BY FRANCIS FRANGIPANE

I love the Word of God. I have a burning passion that my words, whether written or spoken, might be filled with the substance of God. I love comparing translations, researching commentaries and then using that holy information to prepare teachings. Several years ago, however, I found myself being corrected by the Lord. I had spent too much time preparing my message for a service. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit interrupted my study to recalibrate my focus. He said, "I have called you, not just to prepare sermons, but to prepare people."

This was a subtle, but profoundly significant correction. I was reminded of John the Baptist who was sent as a "forerunner before [the Messiah]." God had called John "to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:17).

There is a difference between preparing a message about God and preparing a people for God. Obviously, sermon preparation is very important, but it is not an end in itself. The goal is to equip and train people to represent Christ.

As we approach the end of this age, I believe our Father is in the process of training people to serve during the last great harvest. Our destiny as Christians is to "grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ" (Eph. 4:15). This means, we must not only know that Jesus heals but know who He intends to heal and how He wants to heal them.

You see, our quest is not only to possess accurate theology, but that the actual "life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh" (2 Cor. 4:11).

Reward or Reproof
Our success in life is determined by one primary objective: how functionally transformed into Christ's likeness have we become? This reality - man created in the image of Christ - is the core purpose of our existence (Gen. 1; Rom. 8:29; etc). In my opinion, the Lord does not need to examine every individual thing we have ever done, good or evil. All things are already "open and laid bare" before Him (Heb. 4:13). What He will probe is the cumulative effect of our life's choices; He will measure how Christlike we have become.

If He sees that we were forgiving even when wounded; if He sees in us a heart that holds fast its faith even in times of adversity; if He finds us to be truly repentant and genuinely humble, even when we could boast; and if He sees we are committed to a life of love, we will have fulfilled the purpose of God. We will receive a great reward.

If, however, the Lord sees in us a soul easily offended or that we blame others for our joyless, angry attitude; if He scans our inner man and finds we are self-righteous and judgmental; or if our conscience alternately either accuses or defends ourselves, then we will render an account for our life at the judgement seat of Christ (Rom. 1:29, 2:5; 2 Cor. 5:10; Heb. 9:27).

Thus, it is of the utmost importance that we settle the eternal goal for our lives. Are we seizing life's opportunities to appropriate Christ or are we mostly coasting? Let us say with vision and assurance, I am preparing myself for God!

More GREAT QUOTES

More GREAT QUOTES
-Sermonindex.

"If God sends us on strong paths, we are provided strong shoes."
- Corrie ten Boom

"The secret formula of the saints: When I am in the cellar of
affliction, I look for the Lord's choicest wines."
—Samuel Rutherford

"God takes a safe course with His children, that they may not be
condemned with the world, He permits the world to condemn them,
that they may not love the world, the world hates them...."
—Richard Sibbes

"We are too busy to pray, and so we are too busy to have power."
— R. A. Torrey

"A religion that costs nothing is worth nothing."
- W.B. Dunkum

"Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be better men and women. Do not
pray for tasks equal to your strength, pray for strength equal to your
tasks." - Phillips Brooks

"It's Jesus - only Jesus"
- Denny Kenaston

THE CROSS

"The second command Jesus gives in Mark 8:34 is not so easy to define. In Jesus' time, no one ever took up a cross unless they were going to die on it. How do we "take up our cross?" The idea has such a mystical, super-spiritual sound to it. Some have even gone so far as to allow themselves to be crucified in a modified way to show identification with Christ. But your "cross" is not literal; it is instead an attitude of radical obedience to God in which you willingly accept any consequence for Jesus' sake. If denying yourself is all about saying no, then taking up the cross is all about saying yes. "Yes, God, I will do whatever you ask of me -- whatever, whenever."
~Kay Warren, Dangerous Surrender: What Happens When You Say Yes to God

PLAYING YOUR ROLE

John 4:37-38 (NKJV)
For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

Playing Your Role

Your unique characteristics, capabilities, gifts and resources were provided to you with the intent that they be used. More than that, if you are to please God, you must use them in His service. By reading the parable of the talents in light of Luke 12:47-48 we can see that He takes this charge very seriously. Remember, though, that the use of what God has given us, in His service, will fit us well and not feel burdensome. We each fit uniquely into His plan and have a role to play in the spiritual battle that is raging.

All He asks of you is your obedience, using what you have been provided to achieve His goals. Others depend on you, perhaps for their eternal destiny.

Pray
Praise God that He cares about you so much that He created a unique plan for you that relies upon your use of your talents. Ask God to continue to refine you and direct you as you walk in His service.

Ask Yourself
Are you using ALL your talents and resources to His glory? Are there any that you hold back from His service in order to serve only you?

Take Action
Identify one area where you could more fully use your talents or resources in His service. Come up with a plan to use them THIS WEEK in a way that will bring glory to Him. Make sure you pray over their use and ask Him to guide these decisions.

Christ Is Forgiving

Luke 23:34 (NKJV)
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.
***

Christ Is Forgiving

Forgiving (for·giv·ing) excusing an offense without exacting a penalty

Christ’s entire ministry rests on the foundation of forgiveness. He consistently preached about forgiveness during His life and taught it through parables.

Still, it is one thing to speak about forgiveness or to forgive sins that are not directly impacting you. In this verse from Luke, Jesus makes it very personal. He appeals to God to forgive those who have directly harmed Him and tried to take away His dignity as a man. This is forgiveness that transcends theory and reaches right out to the heart of what it means to truly forgive and be forgiven. This is the sort of forgiveness that is not possible to achieve without God’s hand firmly upon our hearts, but it is exactly the sort of forgiveness that God desires for us to exhibit to others.

Pray
Ask God to soften your heart towards any whom you bear a grudge against. Pray for those people right now. Ask for God, through His strength, to bring you to the point where you can forgive them.

Ask Yourself
Do you bear ill will towards any person? Is there anyone that you do not show Christ’s love to because of their attitude towards you? Has anyone, who you have not forgiven, committed any offense against you greater than those that were committed against Jesus?

Take Action
Jesus did not wait until after His death and resurrection to forgive. He forgave those around Him immediately. Follow His example this week and, after prayer, reconcile yourself with those who you hold a grudge against or carry ill will towards. Turn over these relationships to God.

HE LORD BLESS and KEEP YOU in ALL YOUR WAYS

THE LORD BLESS and KEEP YOU in ALL YOUR WAYS
-by David Wilkerson (16 June 09).

Recently I reread the life story of George Muller who, in the mid-
1830s, cared for over 2,000 orphans in England – all by faith in God.
Muller was a known as the man who got answers to his prayers.
Before he died, he had listed in his journals over 50,000 answers
to prayer.

When asked how he determined the will of God on any matter,
Muller listed the following steps he believed were necessary:

1. “I get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to any particular matter.”

2. “I do not leave the result to feelings or simple impressions.
That can make one open to great delusions.”

3. “I seek God’s will through, or in connection with, his Word.
If you look to the Spirit without the Word, you open yourself to
delusion.”

4. “I consider providential [God-controlled] circumstances.”

5. “I ask God in prayer to reveal his will to me.”

6. “I make sure I have a clear conscience before God and man.”

7. “Every time I listened to men instead of God, I made serious
mistakes.”

8. “I act only when I am at peace, after much prayer, waiting on
God with faith.”

Those who walk by faith, seeking only God’s perfect will, are often
sorely tested and tried. More and more in my own life, I am finding
out how important diligent prayer and Bible reading are. Sadly, not
many of God’s people pray diligently nowadays. Instead, there is
much TV viewing and very little of waiting on God.

When I give myself to prayer, my faith rises. And when I feed on
God’s Word, my confidence in his power to lead and help me
increases. The Lord becomes my banker, my advisor, my
attorney.

May you find him doing the same for you.

-David Wilkerson.

SOURCE: http://davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com