This is the Grace of Christ on the Cross. He did not die on the cross so that you can live a happy, prosperous life of worldliness, chasing and following the lusts therein. Perpetually asking forgiveness of your sin, your natural-born devil nature.
Taking up your cross and following Christ means nothing on or in this world is of more value to you than Christ on the cross, his excellency, his righteousness, and his POWER to resurrect the dead! It means you will be hated, persecuted, and quite possibly executed for your faith and testimony of Christ in you who convicts you and governs you by his written word. And then by his LIVING word. It means nothing is of more value to you than your passionate pursuit of him, fueled by a trembling fear of an eternity in hell. It means Christ on the cross is more important to you than life itself. It’s not saying you can’t be joyful and happy with having what the Lord provides you with, joyful to be in his presence and doing things in the world that are fun to you. Like hobbies, crafting, playing or watching sports, water skiing, swimming, hiking, etc. The point is, how much value do you hold in it? How much value do you hold in your eternal destiny for yourself and others? How much you actually “believe” God, the devil, heaven, and hell are real?
Taking up your cross actually means you are willing to allow Christ (the spirit that was in Jesus) to manifest within you. To take over your life, CHANGE and DESTROY your inability to obey him. To actually KNOW HIM and his living voice (word), love Him, worship Him, and praise Him for his sacrifice. And be a testimony for the transformation He has done in you. Taking up your cross is allowing God to internally, permanently transform you so that you CAN enter His eternal kingdom SIN FREE, as Jesus was and IS!
The cross does weigh a ton, until you’re actually crucified on it. Then it is light as a feather.
THAT IS THE GOSPEL!!! THAT IS THE LOVE AND LIMITLESS POWER OF GOD!!!
THAT IS NOT THE GOD THE WORLD OF CHRISTIANITY IS CURRENTLY TEACHING!!
The God Christianity is currently teaching is the God of this world, THE DEVIL!! That is hell-bent on keeping you comfortable in this world, doing his will. Keeping you in hot pursuit of material blessings and popularity in this world. IN COMPLETE DENIAL OF THE POWER OF GOD TO ACTUALLY CLEANSE YOU OF YOUR SIN {{{AND}}} GIVE YOU ETERNAL LIFE!!!
AS GOD AS MY WITNESS, YOU ARE NOT AND I REPEAT NOT TAKING YOUR SIN OR ANYTHING THAT EXISTS (IN THIS WORLD) WITH YOU, INTO HIS KINGDOM!!!
YOU NEED TO HAVE HIM GET IN AND GET RID OF YOUR NATURAL-BORN {{{CANCER}}}, SIN AND YOUR LUSTS OF THE WORLD, RIGHT NOW!! BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!!!
Philippians 3:8-10
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
1John 3:4-10
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
1John 5:18-21
18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Luke 9:22-27
King James Version
22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.
27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
Philippians 2:12-15
King James Version
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;