The Death of His Cross!
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 3:44 pmHello All,
Blessings!
Some of you will know more about what I am talking about here than others. You have been born again and filled with God's Holy Spirit. You feel constrained on the inside from enjoying the things of the world like you once did. You don't find your pleasure or happiness in them. Rather, you find your delight serving others and ministering the grace of God in as many ways as you can. Such service makes you happy! We give God the glory!
But what would happen should your calling of a rich, wonderful, abundant, and prosperous life suddenly go south? Such is the world we live in today where things can get nasty for us when we are least expecting it. Take for example Tennessee and their recent flood. Were Christian's spared? Or did the disaster effect all?
Let us not forget that many of the Roman persecution were also looking for the rapture of the church, the return of our Lord, and deliverance from death. But such did not happen, and yet they willingly gave their lives over to death because to do so was great gain.
Such willingness on the part of the apostles to submit themselves to death on a daily basis was what brought the power of God to rest on them so mightily. They didn't preach where it was safe. They went out and preached among people that just might take up rocks and stone them to death.
Ultimately those of the Roman Empire that became Christians were, as Paul, delivered unto death through the persecution of the Roman empire. Let us not take our blessings and plans for granted, but let us humble ourselves before God in seeking a greater measure of His grace to be like minded with the Apostles.
Blessings!
Love, In Christ Jesus, Saint701.
Blessings!
Galatians 6:14
14] But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
Some of you will know more about what I am talking about here than others. You have been born again and filled with God's Holy Spirit. You feel constrained on the inside from enjoying the things of the world like you once did. You don't find your pleasure or happiness in them. Rather, you find your delight serving others and ministering the grace of God in as many ways as you can. Such service makes you happy! We give God the glory!
But what would happen should your calling of a rich, wonderful, abundant, and prosperous life suddenly go south? Such is the world we live in today where things can get nasty for us when we are least expecting it. Take for example Tennessee and their recent flood. Were Christian's spared? Or did the disaster effect all?
Let us not forget that many of the Roman persecution were also looking for the rapture of the church, the return of our Lord, and deliverance from death. But such did not happen, and yet they willingly gave their lives over to death because to do so was great gain.
I Corinthians 15:31
31] I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
1Corinthians 4:9
1. [9] For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
2Cor.4
1. [11] For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
Such willingness on the part of the apostles to submit themselves to death on a daily basis was what brought the power of God to rest on them so mightily. They didn't preach where it was safe. They went out and preached among people that just might take up rocks and stone them to death.
Romans 12:1
[1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Ultimately those of the Roman Empire that became Christians were, as Paul, delivered unto death through the persecution of the Roman empire. Let us not take our blessings and plans for granted, but let us humble ourselves before God in seeking a greater measure of His grace to be like minded with the Apostles.
Blessings!
Love, In Christ Jesus, Saint701.