Resist the Pressure to Come Down From Your Cross!
Our LORD JESUS CHRIST sought and did only one thing: The Will of THE FATHER.
As He said, “…I do not seek My own will but The Will of THE FATHER Who sent Me.“ (John 5:30).
Indeed, The Will of THE FATHER was His Food (that is, what He lived to eat).
“Jesus said to them, “My Food is to do The Will of Him Who sent Me, and to finish His Work.“ ” John 4:34.
No matter how tough and pressuring, He willed to do only The Will of THE FATHER. When The Hour of HIS CROSS came, He prayed to THE FATHER: ‘saying, “FATHER, if it is Your Will, take This Cup away from Me; nevertheless not My Will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42).
Likewise, we must be brave and resolved to do only The Will of GOD, no matter the many pressures to quit, and temptations to compromise and sin.
Our fervent prayer and determination must be:
“LORD, my will is to do Your Will. Teach me and help me to do Your Will all the days of my life.
LORD JESUS, I am nailed to Your Will just as You were nailed to THE CROSS — Your FATHER’s Will.“
We must resist the pressure to come down from our cross, and remain faithful to the end. Don’t be tempted to come down from the cross (when the going gets tough); rather, endure your cross so as to receive the joy of your resurrection. Ask for Grace to endure to the end.
“This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.” 2 Timothy 2:11-12.
As THE LORD Himself said: “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison [harrowing circumstances], that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days [the period of testing]. Be faithful until death [the end], and I will give you The Crown of Life. “He who has an ear, let him hear what THE SPIRIT says to The Churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” (Revelation 2:10-11).
Our LORD JESUS was under much pressure to come down from His CROSS. But He was determined to see It through. And He did.
We must follow His Example.
He was blasphemed, mocked and tempted to come down from THE CROSS, but He endured to the end according to The Will of GOD:
“And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You Who destroy The Temple and build It in three days, save Yourself! If You are THE SON OF GOD, come down from THE CROSS.”
Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is The King of Israel, let Him now come down from THE CROSS, and we will believe Him.” Matthew 27:39-42.
THE LORD JESUS took upon Himself The Sufferings of THE CROSS for us to have Eternal Life . Therefore, we also must live for Him Who died for us.
“For The Love of CHRIST compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him Who died for them and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15.
“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever 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 and The Gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him THE SON OF MAN also will be ashamed when He comes in The Glory of His FATHER with the holy angels.” ” Mark 8:34-38.
We must NEVER allow anything, any situation whatsoever, to separate us from GOD and His Will!
“Therefore, since CHRIST suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for The Will of GOD. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles — when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.” 1 Peter 4:1-3.
Doubting is by demons!
I heard a strange one the other day from America. A wise brother shared a testimony of escaping from talk of “honest doubt“.
WHAT? Honest doubt?! That’s like saying ‘good poison‘!
“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey The Truth, before whose eyes JESUS CHRIST was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?” Galatians 3:1 emphasis added.
Doubt is a doctrine of demons! Hence, if you doubt you will sink and drown — pulled down by them. The moment Peter doubted he started sinking.
Furthermore, doubting exceedingly displeases GOD. The children of Israel spent forty years in the wilderness instead of entering The Promised Land, because they doubted GOD.
“But without faith it is impossible to please GOD, for he who comes to GOD must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6.
You cannot be blessed in any way by GOD if you approach Him doubting.
“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from THE LORD; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:6-8
Eternally worst of all, like all other sinners, the unbelieving will forever be imprisoned and tormented in The Everlasting Fire! 🔥
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8.
Don’t fall away!
“Now THE SPIRIT expressly says that in latter times some will depart from The Faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which GOD created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know The Truth.” 1 Timothy 4:1-3.
Many believers are giving in to sin, doubt, fear, the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, technology (computer games, evil on social media, YouTube and other online platforms, bingeing on Netflix and other streaming services, etc.), false preachers and error messages.
They are “tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men“; yes, “carried about with various and strange doctrines,” (Ephesians 4:14; Hebrews 13:9).
“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying THE LORD Who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom The Way of Truth will be blasphemed . By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.” 2 Peter 2:1-3.
Do not forsake The Right Way and go astray! Do not come down from your cross.
Endure to the end and, surely, THE LORD will turn things around for you.
“Watch, stand fast in The Faith, be brave, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13.
In The Name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, I pray for you that:
“Now may THE GOD OF HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by The Power of THE HOLY SPIRIT.” Romans 15:13 emphasis added.
“Now may our LORD JESUS CHRIST Himself, and our GOD and FATHER, Who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by Grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17.
“Now may THE GOD OF PEACE Who brought up our LORD JESUS from the dead, that GREAT SHEPHERD of The Sheep, through THE BLOOD OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT, make you complete in every good work to do His Will, working in you what is well pleasing in His Sight, through JESUS CHRIST, to Whom be Glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21 emphasis added.
“Now may THE LORD OF PEACE Himself give you peace always in every way. THE LORD be with you all.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16.
I encourage you to pray these and other ‘Scripture prayers’ (like Ephesians 1:17-23; 3:14-21; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-14; and so on) often for yourself and others.
“The LORD Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:22.
“Farewell” Acts 15:29.
~ Jacob Awagah
As John was, Jacob is the disciple whom JESUS loves, (John 13:23;19:26; 20:2; 21:7,20). And like Paul, Jacob is “the prisoner of CHRIST JESUS” (Ephesians 3:1) for His Purpose forever: to obey Him always.
“And having been perfected, He became The Author of Eternal Salvation to all who obey Him,” Hebrews 5:9.
Thank you, brother Jacob Awagah. Amen.
I extended the prayers also to you, and you all.
“Now may THE LORD OF PEACE Himself give you peace always by all means. THE LORD be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16 KJV)
Thank you, Jacob for your important reminder to continue to carry our crosses daily. It’s a difficult, narrow road that leads to an eternity with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is faithful!!