The living Jesus empowers us to die.

This is a portion of chapter 15 of my book The Fall of Christendom.......

The living Jesus empowers us to die. The cross is the symbol of sacrifice and death. To live for Him is to die to ourselves and the world. In the Spiritual we came, we died and we rose again as a new creature in Christ. As we move towards and become like Jesus, we die to ourselves. And so there is an important intertwining of dying to ourselves and living the resurrected life. It is the heads and the tails of the same coin. If you focus on just one aspect to the detriment of the other, you will become imbalanced in your walk. We surely must pick up our cross daily it is important to realize that this will produce an abundant spiritual life in Christ and while you may die to the flesh internally, the world should see your joy expressed externally and wonder and marvel how such a thing could be. This is pleasing to God.

The proof of our new life, our resurrection from the dead, our authentic faith is not a large house or a $2000 suit or a prosperous life in this world, these things prove nothing in the Spiritual. The proof of our faith is how we react to carrying our cross. In the midst of death to ourselves does the love of Jesus pour forth? Do we minister to others when we ourselves are in the midst of trial and testing’s? Have we found the secret of being content in every situation? The cross does not lie. There is no hypocrisy on the cross. Tozer said that you knew one thing about a man carrying a cross out of the city, you knew he was not coming back. The cross signifies death to self and death to the world. It’s only by taking up our cross that we can crucify the flesh. The flesh wars against the Spirit. The flesh must die, it dies only upon the cross, it thrives on indulgence.

The walk of the cross is a lonely walk. Yet in every generation, across denominational lines, brothers and sisters will be called out. They will know each other when they meet. They will be people who have rejected the "norm.” They will be a people who are seeking a deeper walk with Jesus. While the crowd run after the latest craze and those that tickle their ears, these people will find themselves on an ancient narrow path. This path begins at Calvary and ends at the throne. It is a very difficult and lonely path but all the saints who have come before you have walked this very path. Be encouraged today saints, God has seen and sees the afflictions of His people. He has not left us as orphans, we have the Holy Spirit who can take us to a place that Jesus has prepared for us. He is our high tower and the righteous can run into it and are safe. There is a place beneath His wings that is ours. He has given us wings in the Spiritual so that we can fly to this place. And in this prepared place we can discover joy where there should be no joy. We can discover peace where there should be no peace. We can discover love where hate should be. We can be fed although a famine has overtaken the land. He is our fountain in a land that is dry and dusty, in a land where there is no water.

As the spiritual famine deepens, as the drought begins to change the landscape, as the counterfeit increases daily, the Lord knows how to feed His children. As the storm that rages then the Lord says to His children "I am the eye of the storm, do not be afraid of it, walk into the heart of it and find peace at the center it, I am the Lord of all storms and I stand in the midst of them and beckon unto my own to come unto me and take my hand and I will lead you through and you will not be overcome or destroyed.” We praise the Lord today that He sees all things and He knows all things and to those who have taken up their cross and walk the narrow path He is their strength and their comfort and sustainer.Jesus empowers us to die.......bro Frank

The walk of the cross is a lonely walk. Yet in every generation, across denominational lines, brothers and sisters will be called out. They will know each other when they meet. They will be people who have rejected the "norm.” They will be a people who are seeking a deeper walk with Jesus. While the crowd run after the latest craze and those that tickle their ears, these people will find themselves on an ancient narrow path. This path begins at Calvary and ends at the throne. It is a very difficult and lonely path but all the saints who have come before you have walked this very path.

In the current environment of evangelical Christianity in the Western cultures with apostasy and open homosexuality in Churches God is calling saints out of specific denominations. This will be a following of the Lord and bearing a cross to do so as the majority in some denominations are accepting the desolation and evil thing in their midst.

It has not always been God's plan that saints have to leave structured fellowships as believers have met in local gatherings of believers in the Bible such as the 7 letters in the Book of Revelation clearly show. And that there were over-comers in the midst of each Church, not departures from the Churches.

The health of the Church is far better in many countries compared to North America for instance, I have seen healthy gatherings of believers in some nations such as Nepal, India that were very strong in the Lord something I wish we had more here in Canada.

This "ancient narrow path" in the beginning was the one Church, one faith, one baptism and those saints all gathered in local churches that were one, with traditions and practices that were all the same. Of course there were false teachings or problems in each local church but the Lord was working to always show where each local body had a failing or problem.

But as brother Frank is alluding to that great suffering and even martyrdom awaits possibly many in the West who will stand for truth as there is a departure of the faith by many.

Bro Greg writes............

"The health of the Church is far better in many countries compared to North America for instance, I have seen healthy gatherings of believers in some nations such as Nepal, India that were very strong in the Lord something I wish we had more here in Canada."

I would agree with that. Most of what I write is about the church in the west which is so influential to the church at large. The church in Europe is all but gone, it is for all intents and purposes a post Christian world. Much of Africa is taken up with some version of the prosperity gospel or word of faith. If we took those kinds of churches out of the mix then the landscape of Christianity would closer resemble the European model...........bro Frank

Hi Elizabeth, I am glad that you and others were blessed and I love your question ..........

"Are you describing a place where a King, who is Jesus,is ruling in one's life,and is Lord ?"

Yes indeed I am describing a place where Jesus is King. This wee video below speaks directly to that question. I hope that is okay bro Greg. May all be blessed by the short message that glorifies God in the highest and answers your question Elizabeth.................bro Frank

https://youtu.be/D5xXrNPDD6Y

Brothers and Sisters, the Lord is working on hearts who are hungry for Him..He's working on me in ways I cannot tell you! There has been such a conviction and beautiful work I've never known....never, not like this. Im very grateful the Lord is drawing us together to encourage and edify one another as we see His Day approaching!

Brother Frank, thank you so much for obeying the Lord to encourage us.

Sister Leslie, your words ministered deeply to my heart.

May the Lord dissolve everything in our lives that are not of Him, may we truly be crucified with Jesus so He will get all the glory, and bring us to understand His perfect will and be faithful to DO it without question. Speaking the truth in love, even if it stings. Having done all to stand...stand. Being watchful for the purpose of prayer, but above all having fervent love for one another because love covers a multitude of sins.

Love is the difficult, narrow path through the cross to Jesus, the only way through the cross is death, for without death, there cannot be a resurrection that gives life.

Brothers and Sisters, keep spurring me on....Im listening! Praise the Lord, Hallelujah!

Sister Leslie writes............

"What was once simple belief in Christ and acting in faith has now become a spectator sport watching the super heroes up on the podium, so to speak. It's easier to watch a Christian film than to speak to a neighbor."

Yes indeed sister, a spectator sport for the most part, it is a terrible tragedy...........bro Frank

Thank you all for posting
Encouraging, edifying, glorifying God, wonderful to see.
This is what went through my mind:

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Sister Sherri writes ...........

"Love is the difficult, narrow path through the cross to Jesus, the only way through the cross is death, for without death, there cannot be a resurrection that gives life."

Amen sister, could not agree more. It is a difficult thing to die, yet He bids us come to die, He bids us. What I mean by that is this, the cross was voluntary, Jesus bowed to the Father and said " not my will be done but thine." Calvary was not forced upon Jesus and we are not forced to take up our crosses daily. Shall we take up our crosses? Shall we put on the full armor? Shall we continually abide in Him? Shall we count all things as loss to be found in Him? Shall we learn to be content in every situation? Shall we love our neighbor? Shall we forgive one another? Shall we choose not to compromise? Shall we spend time with Jesus? Shall we do all things without complaint? There are so many more " shall we's."..............bro Frank

Brother Frank said..." Jesus bowed to the Father and said " not my will be done but thine." Calvary was not forced upon Jesus and we are not forced to take up our crosses daily. Shall we take up our crosses? Shall we put on the full armor? Shall we continually abide in Him? Shall we count all things as loss to be found in Him? Shall we learn to be content in every situation? Shall we love our neighbor? Shall we forgive one another? Shall we choose not to compromise? Shall we spend time with Jesus? Shall we do all things without complaint?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for these reminders.

Philippians 2:1-16
1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 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. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you 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 who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

Hi bro William,

I am sorry that you not hear the video. I think it must be something to do with the device that you have. Why dont you try again. If it does not work, e-mail me and I will send you the link directly through the e-mail and see if that makes a difference. appolus@aol.com ............bro Frank

Hi William,

Scottish :) I do know David Legge. Excellent preacher. I dont agree with all of his theological stances :) but have listened and learned so much from him. Greg and I met him in Wales at the revival conference where he was one of the speakers and I was the prayer coordinator. His message there was excellent and can be found right here on SI. I believe it is entitled " New thing," and the themes in this sermon resonate throughout many of his sermons............bro Frank