Let's Get Back to the Cross

[mfblume]

The cross is never a popular message. It causes all the fighting over standards and ideas to cease because SELF is the root cause of fights. And the cross pushes us to deny self. Self is the grand enemy of the cross. And I, as much as anyone else, so need the cross to keep my SELF down. We can disagree and say why we disagree, and that is fine. But bickering is plain old SELF being alive and undenied too much.

It does not matter what end of the spectrum, and everything in between, people adhere to as far as being conservative or liberal. Both sides can be pretty much crossless. SELF can be alive and well in ALL categories of faith. ALL OF THEM.

[Jack Shephard]

The Cross is the toughest thing in the world for a Christian to ignore. The Cross is the Key that unlocked the door to salvation, for sure. While people in the world wear crosses around their necks and on their ears, which I am fine with, the thing for me is that I stand in the shadow of the Cross. Jesus the moment He was born was in the shadow of the Cross. When He began with His first steps they were steps towards the Cross. When He woke up in the morning and began to stretch and yawn He faced the Cross. After He hung on the Cross the shadow was cast onto us. Not cause we were under sin anymore, but because of the cause of the Cross we are able to stand in the light of the resurrection also.

The Cross casts a shadow under which I live, but out of the shadow of that old Cross the light of the world is shown unto us. Great is our God! The Cross was ugly and beautiful at the sametime. Sin and forgiveness met at one moment and for all the rest of eternity there is Grace to wash away our sins.

Yes, I do live under the shadow of the Cross, yet I am able to stand in the light of the resurrection because of the one on the Cross..in Him is no darkness. The shadow of the Cross follows me not to condemn me, but to remind me that I AM FREE! I AM FREE from sin and death. I AM FREE! This is what true freedom feels like.

Sorry for the rant, but the Cross gets me going!

[Withdrawn]

Great posts, Bro. Blume and JTULLOCK. The cross represents the ultimate act of self-denial and sacrifice and it's an example that we should daily endeavor to live up to. JTULLOCK makes a great point that, without the cross there could be no resurrection. But because of the cross, the resurrection is ours.

So, with that in mind, I find new significance to "I die daily."

Jesus, help me to follow Your example by preferring others over myself, to pour out myself in service to those in need, to love those who I don't feel deserve my love and to have compassion on those who are so far from You that they have no idea how to find You or even know that You exist.

[Falla39]

Must Jesus bear the cross alone,
and all the world go free?
No, there's a cross for everyone,
and there's a cross for me.

How happy are the saints above,
who once went sorrowing here!
But now they taste unmingled love,
and joy without a tear.

The consecrated cross I'll bear
till death shall set me free;
and then go home my crown to wear,
for there's a crown for me.

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by jaamez

Great posts, Bro. Blume and JTULLOCK. The cross represents the ultimate act of self-denial and sacrifice and it's an example that we should daily endeavor to live up to. JTULLOCK makes a great point that, without the cross there could be no resurrection. But because of the cross, the resurrection is ours.

So, with that in mind, I find new significance to "I die daily."

Jesus, help me to follow Your example by preferring others over myself, to pour out myself in service to those in need, to love those who I don't feel deserve my love and to have compassion on those who are so far from You that they have no idea how to find You or even know that You exist.

Thanks. I just can not get past the Cross. I can't get over it, under, or around it. It follows me like a lost dog except is breathes life into me. It certainly is my laminin...it is the cell that holds the whole body together. HEre is a photo of the laminin cell...

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:...hotobucket.com

[Withdrawn]

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

Thanks. I just can not get past the Cross. I can't get over it, under, or around it. It follows me like a lost dog except is breathes life into me. It certainly is my laminin...it is the cell that holds the whole body together. HEre is a photo of the laminin cell...

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:...hotobucket.com

WOW! Is that for real? I'm going to have to do a little bit of study on laminin. That will preach!

Falla39,
Thanks for those beautiful verses. I'm not familiar with the hymn, but I wish I were.

God Bless!

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by jaamez

WOW! Is that for real? I'm going to have to do a little bit of study on laminin. That will preach!

Falla39,
Thanks for those beautiful verses. I'm not familiar with the hymn, but I wish I were.

God Bless!

Thank you! Old, old hymn! I grew up listening to those old songs of
the church. Today as a senior saint they often come back in memory
and speak many things to my soul. What is stored in memory can be
recalled if you have knowledge that it in there, I didn't realize just how
much like a computer our bodies are. What goes in, comes out. If we
have the Spirit of God inside, it is processed and comes out in a very
constructive way. If another spirit is in there, you will soon find out
who is in control of our minds, our words, etc. It will govern what we
say, what we look at, where our minds are. Of course, we have the
trash/recycle bin!

Blessings,

Falla39

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by jaamez

WOW! Is that for real? I'm going to have to do a little bit of study on laminin. That will preach!

Falla39,
Thanks for those beautiful verses. I'm not familiar with the hymn, but I wish I were.

God Bless!

Yeah it is for real. I didn't come up with it though. Go to YouTube and check out the sermon from Louie Giglio about "How Great Is Our God" and laminin. The whole message is maybe 30-35 minutes, but the sermon will absolutelty blow your mind.

[Withdrawn]

Originally Posted by Falla39

What is stored in memory can be recalled if you have knowledge that it in there, I didn't realize just how much like a computer our bodies are. What goes in, comes out. If we have the Spirit of God inside, it is processed and comes out in a very constructive way.

How correct you are. I'm only 41 (I say only because I feel about 25), but I love the old landmarks of truth and the testimonies of the saints.

My father-in-law recently shared a testimony about an older saint that you may recognize. Louis Harrah, a faithful saint of God, preacher and song-writer/singer for many years, evidently has a pretty advanced case of Alzheimer's Disease. At a recent appointment, his daughter and he were talking with his doctor and he was asked about several different people and what he knew about them. He didn't know his daughter's name or the name of his wife or other children. He didn't know where he lived and he had a hard time remembering his own name. But when the doctor handed him a pad of paper and asked him to write what he did remember, without much hesitation he wrote:

Repent
Be baptized in Jesus' Name for the remission of your sins
You shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Then, as a true Apostolic preacher, he handed it back to the doctor and said, "and that's good for you too. It'll cure whatever ails you!"

Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.

God Bless!

[POWERUP]

Singing "My God Is More Than Enough" 3 hrs. is fine. If that is what you want to do. Or doing 30 Jerico walks. But, I don't believe it will bring miracles any quicker. Trust me. I love outward worship.

But, God has convicted me to move closer to the cross. If were not careful, the rest is just emotionlism.