The Cross

Every man will find his discipline, and every man will find his cross. All Christians are not

disciples.

When He first introduces the cross, it is to Christians. Jesus Christ never places a cross on

anybody. It is in our volitional Power of will to choose. He doesn’t lay a cross on us “so we can

love Him!” No, we voluntarily take it. He never imposes it; it will be the instrument on which we

will be slain. Our cross will be the most liberating thing in our life. As with Christ’s cross, it

liberates and sets free everything in salvation, and the things of God.

If we want to sidestep the cross and miss its ministries, we won’t go to hell, but, if we sidestep

this cross, we will sidestep one of the greatest agencies in the economy of God to bring us into

God. He says, “Come, take up this cross as a voluntary act.” The cross is the instrument of death,

but it brings a fuller revelation to our hearts and lives than that of any other agency in His

economy.

If we would know fellowship in the future, we must know it now. We must know the cross in its two

fold teaching; not only sins forgiven, but, on-the other side, joy: agony—but joy. Embrace it; hang

on to it; cruel and bitter though it is; for joy and a sensing of God, as never before, will

follow.

Be willing for the crucifixion, because it is the author of LIFE.

The more spiritually-minded we are in heart and life, the more we can understand the revelation of

God, and the more we understand the cross.

“Though He were a Son,” He learned obedience continually. (Heb. 2:10; 5:8) That was like a cross.

Learning obedience is a cross which we will have too, if we want to follow Him. “If any man wants

to follow Me (to My destiny), let him take up his own cross and follow Me.” But this is not the

cross which He lays on us; it is something that we may voluntarily resist or accept. It is a cross

distinct from trials and testings that He brings upon us. It does amount to great suffering, but it

is a suffering in which we have the power to resist if we don’t want to take it. Sometimes, for

example, great teaching, a great revelation, amounts to a cross. We know if we take that cross up,

if we embrace that Truth, if we dare to subject ourselves under the impact and power of that Truth,

it is going to be a terrific cross that will kill us. It will crucify us. Well, it is supposed to!

Take up YOUR cross.

Your cross and my cross will vary according to the disposition, and the calling of our lives, so we

don’t have the same in that sense, but everyone will have one.

Why? Because in God’s economy and purpose for us, He knows the pattern, the situation, the episode

that will perfectly crucify our old flesh. So He says: “Will you voluntarily take it? You pick it

up. You know what My cross did for Me. It was the place of My execution; it was the place where I

died; now, you take yours. It will be the place of the execution of the creature that you are; it

will slay you. I don’t lay it upon you; I want you to voluntarily take it up, for then your

identification with Me will be what I want—a voluntary love and surrender.”

So, He will bring a cross to you; it may take different shapes and forms, but it is always a cross.

I can’t interpret your cross; nobody but you can. So when God brings it, don’t be amazed, upset, and

confused.

He says, “Take it up.” For if you take up your cross; this decision, this consideration, this

surrender; if you take that up into your life pattern and walk, you will have a crown over there.

Because the sequel, the answer, to a cross is a crown. And there is no crown without a cross,

because every cross, if borne, will take a crown.

“Hold that fast which thou hast . . .” What do we have? We have the Truth, which becomes a cross,

which will slay every one of us. Hold fast to the Truth as to a treasure, lest something come

along, and snatch it away. Hold fast the Word of Truth which is a cross; it will eventually spell a

crown. Snatch your crown! For the crown is the answer to the Truth. Hold to your Truth; hold to

your cross; lest in not holding it, the crown is affected.

What is the symbol of suffering? It is the cross.

Christ had His cross every day, and Calvary was the climax. “He was made perfect through

suffering.” Ready for supreme sacrifice, suffering had done the silent, sacred ministry. “. . . Who

for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross . . .” (Heb. 12:2). “. . . Our light

affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of

glory.” (2Cor. 4:17) He has gone, but He left His cross. Every man has his own cross to bear,

but the sequel is life and secret joy— the crown.

Your cross is your crown in disguise.

Prayer: May we interpret the cross, the crown, the Truth.

His Return

When the Lord Jesus Christ returns to earth, He will appear to believers, wherever they may be.  They may be in their homes, or in a place of prayer, or worshipping together.  He will come to each individual believer, or group of believers, who are looking for His return.  He will appear in His glorified body, and be real and tangible to all who love Him.  He will be visible, and function in a real body, in the same way that He did during the forty days after His resurrection.  When He comes, He will establish God’s Kingdom in the world, and will empower His people to rule with Him.

When Jesus comes, His people will be able to see Him, and He will be able to touch them.  When He reveals Himself to believers, they will be changed, as He releases His power and glory into them.  Then, as they walk in this new power, they will rise up and witness Christ to all nations with great liberty and mighty miracles.  His Kingdom will grow and fill the whole earth.

For forty days after His resurrection, Jesus lived on earth with His people.  He taught them, instructed them, ate with them, and did many other marvelous things.  He was real and could be seen and touched.  Satan could not attack Him, neither could His enemies.  His disciples met with Him, and He appeared wherever He wished, with no restrictions: in a garden, in private homes, by the seaside, on the road.  He appeared to individuals, and groups, and then a crowd of 500 saw Him.  Multitudes of deceased saints also rose and appeared to many people.  But only believers saw Jesus, as there is no record of any unbelievers seeing Him.  His resurrection presence transformed the disciples.

This was a preview, or foretaste of what will happen at His return.  When Jesus went away, He promised to come back to earth and establish His Kingdom.  The angels said that He would come in “LIKE MANNER.”   The SAME Jesus will return in the SAME way (Acts 1:11 NIV Bible).  We are told quite clearly that the state in which Jesus was taken into heaven, is the same state as that in which He will return to earth.  In other words, the same Jesus who was crucified, and then rose again, and walked with them in resurrection, will appear, as He was while with them during the forty days.

Just as Jesus came to believers at that time, so He will return to His people wherever they are. Believers will then see the Lord, for He will be visible, as, and when He desires.  He will reveal Himself wherever He wishes, whether to individuals, small groups, or large congregations.

Nowhere in the entire world will be out of His reach, although not everyone will be able to enter His presence.  However, those who love Jesus will see Him.  He will unexpectedly return and appear to all who are His.  It could be at any time.  If Jesus is your Lord, you too will see Him. One day, as you are going about your daily tasks, He will be there; Jesus will suddenly stand in your presence.

When the King returns, He will come in the power of His Kingdom, which will grow and fill the whole world.  By His “PRESENCE,” He will change and empower His people, and through them rule the nations.  His people will rise into a new liberty, free from carnality that works death, and the Kingdom of God will come with authority into all the earth.

Fear and Trembling

I was blessed as a young man in my late teens to know a saint that
really knew the Lord, and through praying with and talking to
her I came to know something of working out my salvation with fear
and trembling. One day after speaking with her at length she said
"I feel like I need to take a bath after talking with you sometimes"
I felt great shame but it was a word that changed my walk.
I was young in the Lord and full of zeal so I had a scripture for
everyone and many ideas of how to advance Gods work.
As I witnessed the life of the Lord flowing through her as she spoke
to others in our church I realized that there was something very different
in her walk and mine. She was often quiet and spoke with few words but it was always
as if a light came on in the heart of those listening. These were people that she had
prayed for as we prayed together often. The words that were spoken
were not just scriptures and ideas but "spirit and life". She truly
feared to operate independently of the Lord. She said "we not only take
the bad parts of us to the cross but the good parts as well"
All our good ideas for service, All our understanding of the scriptures.
God revealed to me that much of my service had been separate from His Life.
The difficulty is that we have closed areas in our hearts,
where we think with pride that we are right. Our defeat lies not only in our
being wrong but continuing to work for the Lord (from our soul)
rather than with Him (through our spirit).
Working out our own salvation with fear and trembling is something we ask the Lord to
do in us. It is when we truly despair of a lifeless walk and know the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
We then begin to know the fear of the Lord and mourn many of our words and our works.
That kind of fear is the beginning of wisdom as His life begins to
flow through us. Christ is our light. He is the living Word. If we allow
Him to illuminate our heart then gradually our self confidence will
disappear. His words to our heart will divide "soul from spirit"
We will know fear and trembling as we recognize the corruption of our
nature, the hatefulness of our own selves, and the real hindrance to
the work of God is our unrestrained soul-life and energy. May we remain
In a posture of fear and trembling before the Lord and seek Him as never
before and take the things that are revealed to His cross to be put to death
that we may serve in the newness of His Resurrection Life.
　
"The fear of the Lord leads to life" (Proverbs 19:23)

Php 2:12 JM-NT And as my loved ones, according as at all time (always) you
folks submissively listen and obey, not as only in my presence, but further,
now (at this moment), to much rather in my absence -- in company with fear and trembling
be habitually working down so as to bring out the results and effects of the deliverance
(or: be constantly producing the wholeness and well-being which are the outcome
of the rescue and salvation) of yourselves,
Php 2:13 JM-NT for, God is the One habitually being inwardly active, working (effecting)
within you folks both the willing (intending; purposing; resolving) and the [situation] to be
continuously effecting the action and inward work -- above the thing that pleases (or: over well-thinking or delight).

Draw Me

“Draw me, we will run after You: the king has brought me into His chambers….”  Song of Solomon 1:4

This prayer has only two words, “Draw me.”  Yet this is the most powerful prayer that we could ever pray - “Lord, if you will draw me (body, soul, and spirit), in the totality of my being (will, intellect, and emotions), I will run after you.”

The Lord creates spiritual hunger.  Ministry can only feed the hunger that the Lord imparts within us.  Therefore, when we come to the Lord, we must first acknowledge our need:

“Lord, I desire You to work within me, to draw me to Yourself, to cause me to become that which You would have me to be.  Lord, wherever it may lead or whatever it may cost, draw me, and in every aspect of my being, I will run after you.”

The result of such a prayer, when prayed in heart sincerity, will result in intimacy of relationship with the Lord - “the King has brought me into His chambers.”  Once our lives are yielded, and Jesus brings us to Himself as being His Bride, we become one with Him and now His life can be manifested and revealed through our lives.

There is a progression in the outworking of this, in which two basic confessions will result.  Each of us begins with the first one – our being “self-centered.”

“Because of the savor of Your good ointments, Your name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love You.... My Beloved is mine and I am His….”  Song of Solomon 1:3, 2:16

She is saying, “Lord, I love You because You bless me with so many good things.”

This is about to change, as she prayed, “draw me.”  Now her relationship to Jesus is beginning to change.  Something is different, as she is beginning to desire the Lord Himself, rather than all the things that He can give to her.  She is seeing the Lord in His majesty and power and is falling in love with Him.   His approbation, or favor is resting upon her life.

“I am (but) a rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.”  Song of Solomon 2:1

“Lord, there are so many lilies, the hillsides are covered with them, but you are blessing me as if I am the only one.”  The Lord responds and said:

“As a lily among thorns, so is My love among the daughters.”  Song of Solomon 2:2

The contrast is powerful.  The Bride’s response to His statement reveals her lack of spiritual perception:

“As the apple among the trees of the wood, so is my Beloved among the sons….”  Song of Solomon 2:3

Apple trees are not pretty, but they have something to eat that is very desirable.

“…I sat down under His shadow with great delight. His fruit was sweet to my taste.”  Song of Solomon 2:3

She is sitting under His shadow.  She was so taken up with being blessed that she did not notice Him.  All she has is the shadow of His presence.  He was there, but she only felt a touch of His presence.

“Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love. His left hand is under my head, and His right hand does embrace me.”  Song of Solomon 2:5-6

She is beginning to realize that there is far more than all He can provide.  She is beginning to respond to His expression of love toward her.  Now, she is ready to pray the second most important prayer that we can pray.

“Tell me oh you whom my soul loves, where you feed, where you make your flock to rest at noon: For why should I be as one that turns aside by the flocks of your companions?”  Song of Solomon 1:7

In effect, she is saying, “I can no longer be satisfied to simply go to church on Sunday morning, hear a message, go home and spend the rest of the week doing my own things, and then return the following Sunday to hear another message.”

“Why should I be among them?  Lord, tell me where YOU are.  I want to come beyond the shadow into the reality of Your presence.  Tell me Lord, where are those who truly know You, who make room for You to move as you please?  Lord, show me the way, as now I desire to go beyond my present spiritual experience.”

The Lord will respond to this desire, as we were created for communion and fellowship with Him, and nothing short of this will ever satisfy.  She now realizes that it is not enough just to be continually blessed.  There has to be something beyond His provision for us.

“My Beloved spoke, and said to me, Rise up My love My fair one and come away.”  Song of Solomon 2:10

This is a call to rise above all the “things” that are less than His personal presence.

“For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth. The time of the singing of birds is come….”  Song of Solomon 2:11-12

She is beginning to see into the realms of the spirit that will lead to the Lord Himself.  She has been set free from her self-centered seeking.  Now she can identify with His calling and purpose for her.

“I am my Beloved’s, and His desire is toward me.”  Song of Solomon 7:10

Now with a single desire, she can enter into the harmony of Heaven and worship the Lord for who He is, and find the satisfaction she was created for – her life merged into His life, to become the expression of His life in all the earth.

May each of us enter into and experience all that she experienced, that we also might become the expression of His life at this present time.

Two Planes

There are two planes, or realms in which the redeemed may live.  The first is the carnal, flesh realm.  The second is the heavenly, Spirit realm.  Since we were born into the natural earth plane, our tendencies are toward that plane.  A great transformation is necessary if we are to live and operate on the Spirit plane.  The name of this process is “crucifixion.”

This crucifixion is a death and burial process, as described in Romans, chapter 6, which is the destruction of sin.  There is also to be a facing of the cross of Christ in our daily walk.  Herein is the “process” by which the Lord recreates our character, which frees us from the natural realm, and lifts us into the Spirit realm.  In these processes, He frees us from our strengths and weaknesses, the spots and blemishes of our nature, and gives us a heavenly character.

If we desire to become an “overcomer,” becoming a part of the Bride of Christ, we must enter the school of the Holy Spirit and come under His teachings, dealings, and control.  Here, under the light of the Holy Spirit, we will face ourselves in thorough examination.  No one can see in any other way his faults and earthward tendencies.  With fan, refiner’s fire, fuller’s soap, chastening, these are the Lord’s methods in dealing with these.

“But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appears? for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver….”  Malachi 3:2-3

“Whose fan is in His hand, and he will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”  Matthew 3:12

“…My son, despise not you the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of Him: For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”  Hebrews 12:5-6

There is need of these crucifying processes in each of our lives.  When we see our need, we should earnestly present ourselves to the Lord, to be entered as being His disciple, in “The School of Christ,” of which the Holy Spirit is Principal and Teacher.

If we are careful to listen, the Holy Spirit will show us how to apply the cross to all carnal tendencies, going deeper and deeper, until one after another, they are eliminated.  At first it will be painful and hard to bear, but if we persevere, we will begin to glory in the cross.

All our carnal attitudes and ways will be transformed into the attitudes of Jesus Christ, and we will experience the great joy and delight of living untrammeled in the Spirit realm.  Our liberty and attainment will be boundless, as all barriers are swept away.

Then, along with the Apostle Paul, we will be able to testify:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20