On the hill far away stood an old rugged cross. The emblem of suffering and shame. And I love that old cross where the dearest and best foe the world of lost sinners was slain. So I cherish the old rugged cross till my trophies at last lay down, I will cling to the old rugged cross; and exchange it someday for a crown.

Yes I will cling to old rugged cross and exchange it someday for a crown. Father that is our confession this morning that we will forever identify with the cross that set us free from eternal damnation. Blessed Redeemer we bless Your Holy Name, great are You Lord. You are greatly to be Praise, Father You reign, great are You Lord, Faithful Messiah, we bless Your Holy Name. How excellent, how wonderful, how precious You are be thou exalted in Jesus Name.

Matchless Jesus we adorn You, we bow before the Throne, glory, honour, adoration be ascribe unto the Thee alone Who is worthy of our Praise.

Beloveth, have you denied yourself of worldly pleasure? If you are then you are qualify for the next stage of walking with Jesus. Now is about time for you to “take up your cross.” So many Christians have problem with part of scripture. How can a loving God tell His beloved children to carry their cross and follow Him.

They don’t believe and will never want identify with it. If you check the text of today’s ministration, you will agree with me that this is the saying of our Lord Jesus Christ. Is not of third person like Peter or john or Paul relaying what our Jesus told them. It was clear statement not a parables therefore need not further explanations because it is expressive not ambiguity in nature.

Beloved, once again Jesus said “if anyone wants to come with me, he must deny himself, take up his cross (permit to stop here). Are you willing to do that right away? Because the Spirit of God is here and as many as willing, He will baptize with fresh fire and cloth them with the power to become the children of God. Praise God!

O! Some seem surprised. Yes there is power to become a child of God, when you are led by the Spirit of God which yea receive when you accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour (Rom 8:14, Gal 4:6).

However child of the Most High God there is an important thing you must know and we are willing to clarify “in carrying cross.” So many interpretation has been given to the carrying of cross as Jesus stipulated to us.

We want you to know that sickness or any negative circumstances in your life is at the cross being specified by our Lord Jesus. Is high time you say no to every spirits of infirmities and show them the way out of your life, family and career.

Our Lord Jesus cannot contradicting Himself. He cannot say that He has taken all your infirmities away and still come and put one sickness in your body and declare it as “your cross.” Listen child of God then that defect the commemoration we will be celebrating few days from now.by His stripes you were healed (1Pet 2:24, Isa 53:5).  I believe this is plain enough for your understanding.

Do not allow Satan and his agents to hold you down with one evil prophesy that “sickness is your lot in the Lord,” never, God can never do that. Why? Read Exo 15:26, Heb 6:18, Tit 1:2.

You will discover more as you read along:

 

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.”—Matthew 16:24

 

Your “cross” is God’s will for you, regardless of the cost. Taking up your cross is a choice; it is not beyond your control. You may have health problems or a rebellious child or financial pressures, but do not mistake these as your “cross to bear.” Neither circumstances you face nor consequences of your own actions are your cross. Your cross will be to voluntarily participate in Christ’s sufferings as He carries out His redemptive purposes (Phil. 3:10). Paul said he rejoiced in his sufferings because he knew that by them he was able to participate in the suffering required to bring others into Christian maturity (Col. 1:24).

We tend to want to go immediately from “denying ourselves” to “following Jesus.” But you can never follow Jesus unless you have first taken up your cross. There are aspects of God’s redemptive work that can be accomplished only through suffering. Just as Christ had to suffer in order to bring salvation, there will be hardships you may have to endure in order for God to bring salvation to those around you.

Jesus did not talk with His disciples about the cross until they had come to know He was the Christ (Matt. 16:21). You will never be able to endure the suffering of the cross unless you have first been convinced that Jesus is the Christ. Once you have settled your relationship with Christ, He will introduce you to your cross.

There is no Christianity without a cross. If you are waiting for a relationship with God that never requires suffering or inconvenience, then you cannot use Christ as your model. God’s will for you involves a cross. First, take up your cross, then you can follow Him.

Did you read that? Your cross is your involvement in the redemption plan not in sickness and poverty that Satan is manipulating your life with. Stand up and declare your victory in the Lord. Shout a believing alleluia as you pick up your cross today. Do you know that even when we suffer for Christ sake that God always make a way? We did some weeks back talked about the difference between trials and temptation. This next ministration will further help your understanding. Even in all of it know that God does not tempt us and will never send evil our way.  Come along for more discoveries:

“For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” 2Corinthians 1:5

 

There is a blessed proportion. The Ruler of Providence bears a pair of scales—in this side He puts His people’s trials, and in that He puts their consolations. When the scale of trial is nearly empty, you will always find the scale of consolation in nearly the same condition; and when the scale of trials is full, you will find the scale of consolation just as heavy.

When the black clouds gather most, the light is the more brightly revealed to us. When the night lowers and the tempest is coming on, the Heavenly Captain is always closest to His crew. It is a blessed thing, that when we are most cast down, then it is that we are most lifted up by the consolations of the Spirit. One reason is, because trials make more room for consolation.

Great hearts can only be made by great troubles. The spade of trouble digs the reservoir of comfort deeper, and makes more room for consolation. God comes into our heart—He finds it full—He begins to break our comforts and to make it empty; then there is more room for grace. The humbler a man lies, the more comfort he will always have, because he will be more fitted to receive it.

Another reason why we are often most happy in our troubles, is this—then we have the closest dealings with God. When the barn is full, man can live without God: when the purse is bursting with gold, we try to do without so much prayer. But once take our gourds away, and we want our God; once cleanse the idols out of the house, then we are compelled to honour Jehovah. “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.”

There is no cry so good as that which comes from the bottom of the mountains; no prayer half so hearty as that which comes up from the depths of the soul, through deep trials and afflictions. Hence they bring us to God, and we are happier; for nearness to God is happiness.

Come, troubled believer, fret not over your heavy troubles, for they are the heralds of weighty mercies.

Beloved, you are ready to carry your own cross with the above explanations. Get involve in the works of salvation. This is the season to show love to the “perishing” around you,” carry your cross” remember!

Thank God for opening your eyes to the truth that is in His Word-(Job 34:32}.  For indeed is my joy that you walk not ignorance but in the light that is in the Word of God –(1Jn 1:4).

Walk righteously dear beloved it is the will of God for you as you go through this season.

Remain blessed in the Lord.

Evang Ifeoma Ohondu

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IFEOMA OHONDU is the founder of the MattersoftheHeart foundation, a platform where issues affecting our everyday life are discussed and where necessary proffer solution. She is part of the end time army, who will not break their rank to fulfill the urgent call of God upon her life by declaring His word to the helpless, the doubting, the comfortless and the dying world. The world will experience great restoration and healing in the Word of God through her ministration. She is a voice to emphasize key spiritual truth about Faith, Healing and Encouragement.