10/04/05
(Preface: This message has never been a popular one, because it points to the stark reality that our carnal nature must be crucified with Christ [through faith]. Everything within our own unrenewed nature is an enemy of the Cross of Christ. No matter how hard we try to please Him through our own efforts, it is ultimately futile. There are many Christians who are trying to become successful in life by using traditional methodism and man-made regulations that are not soundly based upon holy and inspired Scripture. Likewise, many have adopted a Greek mindset, using "positive thinking(and confession)", visualization, and other forms of self-"empowerment" (which are very popular within the New Age and other occultic philosophies). As I have shared before, these things are vain imaginations and repetitions, consisting of humanistic efforts for self-growth and transformation. This other seductive "gospel" tickles the ears of people, and stimulates their carnal nature. It will be the central core of the future ecumenicalist world religious movement, as is already becoming evident within many religious, social, economic, political, educational (etc.)systems.
It says in Galations 6:14, " But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." There is absolutely no hint within this Scripture nor any other, that the self-nature is responsible for development, growth, and transformation. No,....the core of our focus is the Cross of Christ. It is the ONLY thing that we can truthfully boast in, for it is the means by which we gain the effective power of Christ, enabling us to endure the hardships of this life and spiritually overcome the deep darkness. We cannot serve two masters, for it will either be the self-nature or Christ, who rules our bodies, minds, and spirits. Only through the Cross can our fallen nature become silenced, nullified, and "as dead". Any area of our lives which has not become subject to the power of the Cross will sooner or later "puff up" (become active) and cause us many problems and failures. If you feed any area of this fallen nature, it will continue to fester and grow in power. As it is influenced by the spiritual forces of darkness, it is very subtle and crafty, and oftentimes, makes lying excuses to try to "justify" its own existence. Self-deceit is perhaps the most deadly mindset that we can ever have, and it is enmity against the truth of God. Only by denying life to this fallen nature, does it ever begin to fade and "die". Everything that you truly need is within Christ, who abides within you, for as His word says, He has "given us ALL things that pertain unto life and godliness." It is HE who is our only hope of glory. It is simply a matter of trusting and casting all of our cares upon Him, and He will sustain us through this process of transformation, in which we are being changed increasingly into His image and likeness. Hallelujah!)
(1 Cor. 1:18,19) "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."
The message of the cross makes absolutely no sense to those who have wordly wisdom and knowledge. Even the spiritual forces of darkness had no comprehension of God's marvelous plan of the ages, for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. This Gospel and the preaching of the cross is a message of hope to us who are being saved, and it IS the Power of God, ...not merely a philosophy or way of thinking. There are many philosophies and religions in this world, but none of them have the genuine Power to truly transform a person and change their destiny. In comparison to the Gospel, none of them enable anyone to endure and overcome spiritual darkness, granting spiritual restoration and fellowship, promotion, and enlightenment within the Glory of God.
In Hebrews 12:1 and 1 Cor. 9:24-27, it speaks in a figure of speech, and metaphorically, of the "race" in which we "run", but there are times when the hurdles and obstacles that we are supposed to "jump" over, end up "tripping" us and we "fall flat on our faces." At times, I have blamed those obstacles, when I should have been blaming the true source of the problem, my-SELF. After recognizing this, I quickly embrace the Cross again, and by faith, reckoning my carnal/flesh/worldly self as dead unto sin, and my spirit as being alive unto the righteousness of God.
(Romans 6:10,11) " For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; But the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Every time the will of the carnal-self nature arises, it is the rise of an enemy that is in total opposition with God. Whenever our ego (self-centerness) is active, it is comparable to when leaven (which is symbolic of sin) causes bread to puff up. (1 Cor.5: 6,7) The Lord hates this carnal nature, and the smell/aroma of it is a stench to His nostrils. The greatest hindrance of the Anointing of the Holy Spirit on the earth is not the devil and his minions, but the carnal/fleshly nature and self-will of the people. Whenever we get out of step with His will, by His grace, let us be quick to return to walking in agreement with Him, for, "How can two walk together except they be in agreement." Whenever we come to Yeshua(Jesus), in the spirit of faith, His Anointing comes and removes satan's burden from our shoulders and his yoke from our neck, and that evil yoke of darkness is destroyed by His Anointing of Light. Likewise, Yeshua(Jesus) gives us His yoke (Mt.11:29,30), which is easy and light, and we find true rest for our souls. A while back, while in prayer, I had a vision of the yoke that Yeshua put upon me. At first, it was a normal looking yoke that bound me to Him, as we walked side by side, ...and then the picture changed, for no longer did I see a yoke upon me, but His arm. His arm was around my shoulders, as me and Him walked in agreement down the road. It was such an intimate picture, seeing His arm around me, and Him talking and whispering to me, as we walked through the "road" of life.
But at the same time, I realized that during those occasions when I allowed my carnal/worldly self-nature to have it's way, ...I was in fact temporarily removing His yoke and His arm from my shoulder, so that I could walk separate from Him, for I was not in agreement at the time.
Oh, how that must grieve His Spirit. Thankfully, His love for us is boundless and His grace and mercy carries us through, all the way to the end. He knows who are His, and He never lets us go.
(Philippians 3: 7,8b, 10, 13,14) "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ...I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,...forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
(John 15: 4,5) " Abide in Me, and I in you. As THE BRANCH CANNOT BEAR FRUIT OF ITSELF, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."
(Galations 2:20) "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me."
At this time, Yeshua(Jesus) is at the right hand of Father Yahweh in Heaven, and we have the Anointing from the Anointed One(Mashiach/Christ) abiding within and upon us, merging and uniting us. (2Cor. 1:21 ; 1 John 2:20,27) As we reckon ourselves as dead unto the carnal/sin nature, "embracing the cross", by a conscious decision and by faith in His Name, Blood, and Word, His Anointing of the Spirit is allowed to flow through us. This is the Life of God (Zoe), and the Quickening. WE can taste of This while on earth, but we will see the fullness of His resurrection Power when Yeshua comes to resurrect the members of His Body.
There is a saying that I heard several years ago, "All of self , none of God,... less of self, more of God,....none of self, All of God." Of course, none of us will ever be totally rid of the self-nature in this life on earth, but by His amazing grace, we continue this walk in the Spirit, nullifying the desires of the flesh, by our faith in Yeshua Ha'Mashiach(Jesus the Christ). As we keep our gaze fixed upon Him, seeking the Light of the Glory of God, we are continually drawn towards Him and are gradually changed into His image. (2 Cor. 3:18) It is when we take our eyes off of Him that our path becomes darkened and as we walk, we begin to stumble.
(Matthew 16:24-26) " The Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"
(1 Corinthians 15:31) " I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ, I die daily."
(Galations 5:24,25) " And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
(Galations 6:14) " But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
(Colossians 3:1-3) " If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
(Romans 8:13) "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit YOU PUT TO DEATH(mortify) THE DEEDS OF THE BODY, you will live."
(Colossians 3:5) "THEREFORE PUT TO DEATH (mortify) YOUR MEMBERS which are on the Earth: fornication, uncleaness, passion, evil desire, and coveteousness, which is idolatry."
(1 Cor. 10:27) "But I DISCIPLINE(buffet) MY BODY AND BRING IT INTO SUBJECTION, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."
May we, on a continual basis, deny our carnal/worldly self by taking up our Cross daily, reckoning and considering ourselves dead to it, by faith in Yeshua(Jesus). Every time the "leaven" and sin nature tries to rise from the "dead" self, whether it be : unrighteous anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, manipulation and control, negative speech (arguments, curses, slander, gossip,etc), greed, lust, or anything else that is from the pit of hell and not of God, let us be quick to embrace Him, and to stay in agreement with Him. Even when we fall, we can count on His graceful hand to lift us up. Let us forget those things which are behind, and leave them, for the Blood of Yeshua has taken care of them, and "run the race" with patience, pressing forward towards our goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Mashiach Yeshua (Christ Jesus). To the degree that we do so, as "branches" in Him, we receive the Anointing-Life-'Sap' that flows through the "True Vine." To the degree that we do so, the precious Anointing of the Holy Spirit will flow in abundance within us and out into the world and lives of those around you. It is not the "I" that lives, but Christ(Anointing of the Anointed One) in us, who is our hope of Glory.
Just in case anyone has trouble understanding the concept of the Cross: It ultimately is the place where all spiritual darkness was dealt with, when Christ offered Himself up as a Sacrifice for our sins, temporarily taking our place, and receiving the curse upon Himself, so that we may become liberated from this power of spiritual death and receive the dunamis Power of His life.
Whenever we "take up our cross daily", it is simply abiding in Christ-Consciousness and Awareness, while denying the darkened impulses of the fallen self-nature(which was corrupted in the Fall). I consider every decision in this life as a type of "Cross-Roads", with vertical Truth intersecting with the horizontal lies of the darkness of this corrupt world system. Thus, in this place of the Cross, we must choose to either do the perfect will of the Father of lights, or follow our will, which is nothing but a downward spiral into outer darkness and oblivion.
The Holy Spirit always abides with us, and as we listen and heed His Voice, He will guide us into all truth and teach us of all things. Choose His thoughts and ways over your own, and you will find spiritual success. If and when we fail, we can take comfort in knowing that the grace of God is sufficient, and when we are weak, then His strength is made perfect through us. He who has begun a good work in you shall carry it on until the Day of completion in Christ Jesus. Thanks be unto God who always leads us into His triumph. Hallelujah!
In Him we live, move, and have our being,
Jonathan
