2 Peter

Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ.

To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our GOD and savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of GOD and of Jesus our LORD, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason giving all diligence add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our LORD Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent as our LORD Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our LORD Jesus Christ but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from GOD the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.’ And we heard this voice which came from Heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man but holy men of GOD spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 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. For if GOD did not spare the angels who sinned but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man dwelling among them tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds) – then the LORD knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the LORD. But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity; a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the LORD and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his vomit,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.’ Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and of the commandment to us, the apostles of the LORD and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’ For this they willfully forget: that by the Word of GOD the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same Word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the LORD one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. The LORD is not slack concerning His promise as some count slackness but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the Day of the LORD will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the Day of GOD, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our LORD is salvation – as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, has written you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

Excerpts from 1 Peter

“,,,Blessed be the GOD and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of GOD through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than god that perishes, thought it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ…Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ… because it is written, ‘Be holy for I Am Holy’...knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious Blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He was indeed foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for you…Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by GOD as precious, you also, as living stones are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to GOD through Jesus Christ…Honor all people, love the brotherhood. Fear GOD. Honor the king…For what credit is it if when you are beaten for your faults you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer if you take it patiently this is commendable before GOD. For to this you were called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth’; who when He was reviled did not revile in return; when He suffered He did not threaten but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree that we having died to sins might live for righteousness–by whose stripes you were healed…And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you suffer for righteousness’ sake you are blessed. ‘And do not be afraid of their threats nor be troubled.’ But sanctify the LORD GOD in your hearts and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of GOD, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil…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 to sin that he should no longer live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of GOD…But the end of all things is at hand, therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’ Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of GOD…For the time has now come for judgment to begin at the house of GOD; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the Gospel of GOD? Now ‘If the righteous one is scarcely saved where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?’ Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of GOD commit their souls to Him in doing good as to a faithful creator…’GOD resists the proud but give grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of GOD, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the GOD of all grace who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen…Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.”

Teachings form Matthew 10 & 11

Matthew chapter 10 opens with Jesus appointing and anointing the 12 apostles for ministry, “And when He called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.” Then He give them instruction on where and how to minister that the Kingdom was at hand and to demonstrate it, “And as you go preach saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” This is well before His death, resurrection and giving of the Great Commission.

“Freely you have received, freely give.”, is something I have believed for quite awhile but don’t see being practiced by some Christian ministries. In this era of the prosperity doctrine and the Church as a business too many are more concerned about size and the bottom line (finically). That is not to say that they are not ministering the Kingdom into their community and to the world. It might be saying that GOD would rather have one thousand Churches of 100 people rather than one Church of 10,000 people. Why, when a Church of 10,000 people will do better financially then a Church of 100 people and it will have the resources to do larger works in the communities it ministers in? Because a Church of 100 people will have greater more intimate relationship with one another, it will be hard for anyone to blend in and go unnoticed, their time of worship and learning will be deeper as they know each others’ lives and situations. Their ministry in their community will be more impactful when those who were ministered to see those who ministered to them regularly, living and working in their community. (Now none of this is what I was meditating about when I sat down to write.)

I was thinking about the rest of chapter 10 and all of chapter 11, the instruction that Jesus gave them and us on how to be a disciple. There are a few highlights that are commonly preached. Jesus talks about John the Baptist being the one promised to come in the power and spirit of Elijah, He speaks judgment to the cities that did not repent because of the miracles preformed in them. And the often quoted, “Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I al gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” These verses about resting in Jesus are the most taught about from this section but I think the most misunderstood.

From Matthew 10:5 thru chapter 11 Jesus is giving the disciples and us instruction on how to be ministers of His Kingdom on the earth. Remember, He told them to preach “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” We know that it is more than at hand now because on the day of Pentecost the Father sent His Spirit to all mankind (Joel 2:28-32), the Kingdom of GOD (Heaven) is on the earth and we are to do the will of GOD; remember Jesus’ taught the disciples to pray in Matthew 6:5-15, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” Well His Kingdom has come and in Matthew 10 & 11 Jesus is telling us how to do the Father’s will in the earth and what the cost of it is to us.

We have all heard messages on counting the cost but today we are more likely to hear a message on GOD’s plan to prosper us and give us the good life. The principles of the prosperity teachings are base on the true principles of the scriptures, GOD does what us to prosper, the problem is in understanding what that prosperity is for us rather than our being prospered the same as others. Jesus said, “…I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10b But, the gospels are full of Jesus’ teachings that the life is going to have difficulties and we are not to seek to be rich. Matthew 6:19-34, store up treasures in heaven not on earth, you cannot serve riches and GOD, seek GOD first and He will provide what we need for life. Matthew 19:16-30, how hard it is for the rich to enter into Heaven.

So here are a couple of my highlights, “Whatever I tell you in the dark speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body only but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” It starts with the admonition to teach the Word of GOD, it ends with GOD’s promise of care and provision, but the middle reminds us that obedience will come at a cost but disobedience will have a eternal cost.

What about, ”Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. He who love father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Jesus is saying that He did not come to bring peace but many in the Church are speaking peace and prosperity. Jesus is saying we will be persecuted by our very own family and that we cannot put them before serving Him and His Kingdom. We must take up our cross and follow Him! That was a hard one for them because He had not been crucified and raised all they understood about the cross was that it was a very cruel Roman form of corporal punishment. We understand it in the knowledge of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and ascension, but many Christians do not live their life by losing it for His sake. Many Christians just want to go to church regularly and give money sometimes and wait for the rapture to rescue them from persecution. This mindset will not lead to eternal salvation, this lifestyle is not what most of the Church is experiencing around the world.

“At that time Jesus answered and said, ‘I thank You Father, LORD of Heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Our true rest is not in relaxing and taking breaks but in being absolutely surrendered to Jesus by dying to ourself. Steve Scott said “His yoke is what He said…His words. We are yoked to Jesus by His words!” GOD holds each of us accountable to know what His Word says and to live accordingly then we will have rest. Not from the works but from the fear of what the world will do to us. If we take up our cross and follow Jesus it does not matter because our life is not about this world but about His eternal Kingdom.

Remember, the books of the Bible were not written with chapter and verse divisions or with subtitles inserted or cross references and notes, these are devices of men to make reading, study and memorizing easier; but sometimes they breakup the thought of the writer and sometimes we lose the concept of the truth that Holy Spirit is revealing. Remember that the translators of different versions at different times in different languages also affect how we understand it in our everyday language and culture. So read it, meditate on it (think about it) and pray, ask Holy Spirit to reveal His truth for you and those you love and minister to.

40 Day of Hope for San Diego

As I was praying about the 40 Days of Hope for San Diego starting this Wednesday the 14th, I felt Holy Spirit speaking to me.

“There are some Church leaders who will not participate because of doctrinal or denominational issues. Some will not participate because of regional, social or racial reasons. There are some who will not participate because of the different groups that are participating or leading the effort of uniting the Church in San Diego.

Shame on those who will not come together in unity for the salvation of our communities here in San Diego County.”

If we only pray and fast in our local assemblies and fellowships we only have a little power there. But if we pray and fast in fellowship throughout the county in harmony and unity with focus led by Holy Spirit we have power over our whole region. If the light is shining only on one or two groups in a couple of communities our whole county remains in darkness.

Jesus called us to be one in Him and the Father as He and the Father are one this is only done in the world by the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus asked the Father to give to the Church. The 40 Days of Hope for San Diego is a call for the whole Church to act as the Body of Christ in San Diego County (even if only for 40 days each year). Then the Light of His Kingdom is revealed and His Will is accomplished. This will only be done as the Church is the Body of Christ not separate pieces of the body flailing about hoping to be seen.

One World Government

It is so sad to see that the Democratic party has almost completely been taken over by those who support the leftist one world government also called globalism. It is easy to see in their hard line against everything President Trump puts forth or supports, even those issues that they claim as their own causes.

Why is this? It is because the leftist agenda of globalism requires that the United States be weak politically, economically and militarily. A strong USA makes a global government impossible.

What about Russia and China, they have strong governments, economies and militaries?  They are socialist (communistic) in nature which is what the leftist agenda is. Those who want a one world government want it as a socialist government. Because they are elitist and they believe they will be part of the one world government elite that rules over the whole world.

Now that is not to say that there are no elitist, leftist, one world government members in the Republican party, because there are. Watch and see how many Republicans oppose President Trump and his agenda for a strong America.

Many in our government are not true Americans but they are true globalists who want a one world government. It has nothing to do with conservative or liberal ideals, it is about strong independent nations or one government ruling all nations.

The reality is that this is what the Bible says is going to happen, there will be one government that will rule over all the nations, actually there will be two one world governments according to the Bible. The first will be led by a human with seeming supernatural charisma and the power to unify the world under his rule. But this will fail after seven years and be replaced by the one true government of Jesus Christ which will last for 1000 years.

Then all humanity living and dead will be judged and enter eternal damnation or eternal life depending on whether they believed on Jesus Christ as the savior and LORD of the whole world or not. There will be an eternal lake of fire for those who reject Jesus and a new heaven and earth for those who believe and confess Jesus as their savior and LORD.

The Word of the LORD for His Church

The Word of The LORD for His Church                                     1-14-2018

Last night at the worship and fellowship meeting of New Beginnings CF during worship Katherine Zent had a word in tongues and Alma Patterson had the interpretation; “For I declare to you My precious ones, you are My alabaster boxes on the earth at this time and as life happens to you and brings forth trials that seem to be episodes of brokenness, I purpose it to bring forth the fragrance of Christ to those around you. Be not dismayed nor despair I am with you doing a good work in you. I love you and I’m with you take heart.”

Also during our worship Katherine had a vision, she saw herself like a softball fastpitch pitcher (with the windup, leap forward and release) that hurls the ball at great speed. The LORD had her pitch three times and each time a ball of light went forth, but she did not know where they were going. As our worship continued and I thought about it I felt the three balls were for the Church, USA and Israel. Jim Cantos pointed out Habakkuk 3:4, “His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand, and there His power was hidden.” NKJV

After worship Ben Monson read and commented on John 17, He spoke of glorifying, that it is the act of revealing others’ goodness. Jesus’ prayer about unity, the unity of the GOD Head and the unity of GOD and His people. The main points to me were that our GOD is one GOD and that eternal life is to know the one true GOD and Jesus Christ whom He had sent. Salvation comes through believing and receiving the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as the Lamb of GOD who takes away the sin of the world. But, eternal life is being with the Father and the Son in the Spirit forever knowing them as they know and have always known each other. That we cannot not know GOD in the world, but as believers as we believe that He sent Jesus  the love with which the Father loves Jesus would be in us and Jesus would be in us.

As the meeting was winding down my wife Charlene made the comment that she had recently heard a pastor teaching on the unity of GOD so that contrary to popular teaching the Father did not and could not abandon Jesus on the cross when He became sin for us. The consensus was that we all believed that the Father and Son could not be separated and that while many had taught this separation because of our sin, that Jesus was suffering our punishment, we’ve heard taught that Jesus suffered in hell and was tormented by the devil and demons. IMPOSSIBLE! In the flesh as a man Jesus defeated the devil under direct temptation. Jesus’ true suffering was in the garden as He prayed to His Father, “If this cup could pass from Me, not My will but Yours be done.” As the Son of Man Jesus understood what He was about to endure and He understood that it was the only way to restore humanity to the original sinless eternal relationship we were meant to have with GOD. As the Lamb of GOD He took away our sin but He did not suffer our punishment, with our sin removed no punishment is required. Even under the Law when an animal sacrifice was made to cover the peoples’ sin there was then no punishment required.

We discussed Jesus’ cry on the cross as His body died, “My GOD, My GOD why have You forsaken Me?” In His humanity He felt abandoned at the point of death even though He was the GOD Head incarnate (Colossians 2:9).  Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit could never be separated because they are the One True GOD. In the Psalms and Prophets many cry out to GOD, “How long LORD will You abandon us?” Yet today we know that He never did even though their experience made them believe that He had.

Pastor Chris Leeper said it was possible that this bad teaching could also have come out of Habakkuk 1:13a, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness.” The problem is when we look at the whole verse (this is a problem in the church where people only use the part of the scripture that fits what they are teaching), “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, and hold Your tongue when the wicked devours a person more righteous than he?” then we see that GOD is not turning away from seeing evil or sin, the book of Habakkuk is talking of GOD’s longsuffering to sinners putting off His judgment giving us time to repent, even when it is too late to stop GOD’s judgment for a group or nation it is not too late for an individual to repent and be saved.

Study Habakkuk, John 17, Colossians 1 & 2, 2 Timothy 3, 2 Peter 1 & 2. Remember the Bible was not written in chapters and verses, it is 66 different books written by 40 different men over 1500 to 2000 years. Psalms and Proverbs are the only ones written in their present form but they were not numbered as we have them. GOD gave us His Word because He wants us to learn of Him and to serve Him. While we are to follow Holy Spirit we have the Bible to make sure that we are not following a false spirit, there are several “Christian” churches that have their own doctrine and book that differs from the one GOD gave humanity (Joshua 1:8-9; 2 Timothy 3:10-17; 2 Peter 1:16-2:3; Revelation 1:3).

Our Cross

Our Cross

What does “Take up your cross and follow Me!” mean?

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:34-39 NKJV also study Luke 14:25-33)

“From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from You, LORD; this shall not happen to You!’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offence to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of GOD, but the things of men.’ Then 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? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of the Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.’” (Matthew 16:21-27 NKJV also study Mark 8:31-38 & Luke 9:21-26)

“Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?’ So Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is GOD. You know the commandments: “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not bear false witness,” “Do not defraud,” “Honor your father and your mother.”’ And he answered and said to Him, ‘Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.’ Then Jesus looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up your cross and follow Me.’ But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great passions.” (Mark 10:17-22 NKJV)

I’ve never truly understood what the people (even the disciples) thought when Jesus would tell them that to follow Him they must take up their cross. They (even the disciples) did not yet understand what He meant about following Him, it seems to me that they (even the disciples) mostly followed Him because of the signs and wonders and the hope He would free them from Roman rule. They all knew what the cross was, the Roman form of a torturous death penalty. But they did not understand what Jesus meant when He told them they had to take up their cross and follow Him. After His crucifixion some might have thought He meant they would have to carry their own cross and be crucified like He did, to follow Him (and many have), I am sure that the disciples thought this and feared this not understanding the fuller meaning of dying to themselves and following Christ.

It was not until the day of Pentecost and Holy Spirit filling the disciples with His presence and the knowledge of who and what Christ was and had done that suddenly they understood everything they had heard, seen and experienced with Jesus in the context of eternal salvation rather than mortal life. I am sure that most if not all of the first converts after Pentecost were people who had heard Jesus teach and seen Him do signs and wonders, but they had no context in which they could understand what He was teaching and demonstrating.

Not until Holy Spirit downloaded into the disciples and they began under His influence and power to expound and demonstrate the Kingdom of GOD did they and the people begin to understand what Jesus had been teaching about His eternal Heavenly Kingdom. That the pursuit of it verses the natural world was GOD’s plan for humanity all along and that Jesus was the only bridge that allowed sinful humans to cross over from the natural world with its’ eternal destruction into His Heavenly Kingdom with its’ eternal rewards.

Today many in the Church seem to have lost the understanding of this essential concept! There is much teaching in the Church about our comfort and prosperity in this life rather than building up treasures in Heaven. More Christians are presence minded than Kingdom minded, we are to, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of GOD, did not consider it something to be held onto, to be equal with GOD, but emptied Himself of His privileges, taking on the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore GOD also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in Heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of GOD the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11 NKJV)

How did Jesus do this and how are we to do this?

Jesus took up His cross and was crucified because He only did what He saw the Father do and He only said what He heard the Father say. He fully yielded His will to the Father knowing the cost. “But I have said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.  All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from Heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:36-40 NKJV Also study John 5:16-30, 8:21-30, 12:42-50, 14:7-11)

“Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. When He came to the place, He said to them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’ And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’ Then an angel appeared to Him from Heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. Then He said to them, ‘Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.’” (Luke 22:39-46 NKJV also study Matthew 26:36-46 & Mark 14:32-42)

So why is this so hard for us as believers? Because we are slow to know that GOD has called us not to live our life, die and go to Heaven to be with Him for eternity; but to die to ourself, crucifying our flesh and our will and to live our life to do His will; the works of His Kingdom now in the earth. “Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, ‘Go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’” (Mark 16:14-18 NKJV also study Matthew 28:16-20; Luke 24:44-49; John 20:19-23 & Acts 1:4-8)

Father, forgive us our desire to live our own life rather than the life that You wrote out for us while we were yet in our mother’s womb. Holy Spirit, thank You that You instruct us in the way of your Kingdom and teach us how to yield to and obey GOD’s call for our life. Amen!