In Churchianity la la land, Matthew 16:24 and Romans 13-14 are avoided like the plague! But we’re gonna examine them for the sake of Truth, and love of Truth.
Matthew 16:24: “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
This statement was not about initial salvation but about the condition of “discipleship.” Read vv. 24-28. There are many “believers” but less disciples, and fewer frontline soldiers.
Jesus didn’t mince words: a readiness to follow Him even to giving up one’s life is (not was, but is) the condition for TRUE BIBLICAL discipleship. Please note: (v. 27) “…and then He will REWARD (i.e., repay) each according to his (or her) works.”
You see, we give little, we also will receive little. Jesus put great emphasis upon, “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?” (v. 26).
We’ve all heard the expression, “He (or She) sold out to the world,” meaning, “the believer did not wish to continue to walk on the straight and narrow, but turned aside, away, to walk in and on the Broad Way.” Backslid! You see, one can fall away from the faith in Christ yet keep proclaiming they are still “Christian.” Churches are full of such fakes/flakes. They are professors of the faith, yet denying the power of God to allow Him to use the SWORD of the Spirit to CUT off and CUT out what is evil. They deny the HOLY FIRE of GOD to BURN the HELL out of them; hence, they quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
It is by and through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to “abstain from every form of evil” (v. 22). Verse 21 tells us to “hold fast (onto) what is good.”
A TRUE disciple/soldier/saint of Jesus Christ the Lord will DENY themselves of what is evil and hold fast to what is good.
If Christ was to judge today’s universal Church, what do you think would be the outcome? A reward for doing good works … or a reward for doing evil works?
EMPOWERED, not Devoured
Satan, the Bible declares, roams the world as a lion, seeking those he can and will devour. At the same time, the Holy Spirit of God is seeking those who desire to be empowered. Satan is the enemy of God and His people.
Peter wrote: “Be sober (Greek, ‘self-controlled’), be vigilant (Greek, ‘watchful’); because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
John wrote: “…do not weep, behold, the LION of the Tribe of Judah…has prevailed…” (Revelation 5:5). Lion vs. lion.
It is the devil that causes one to lay aside his/her cross and walk as a “Christless Christian” (truly an oxymoronic statement). I dare say that there are far more Christless Christians today than Spirit-filled Christians. And even some that claim to be Spirit-filled are controlled by demon spirits. I’ve written thousands of articles on all this in years gone by. Is it any wonder that the world is ready to implode? explode?
Question:
Are we living the “crucified Life” or the Christless life? Are we denying ourselves of those things that contaminate, destroy and damn our relationship with Christ?
To DENY someone or something is to DISown them (see Matthew 10:33; 26:34-35). The cross represents death to self! Yet today’s popular message is “Enjoy yourself!” “Have your best life now!” “Have fun in the Son!” “Get the BIGGEST, the BEST, and the MOST!” Blah, blah, blah…!
How is it that many “famous” preachers, teachers, evangelists and prophets have become multi-millionaires today? Show me where Jesus or any one of His disciples lived the “good life” and enjoyed the wealth of their day! Yet we are told by those greedy bastards that it is God’s will for us to be rich … and a shame to be poor. Well, riches are not evil in themselves, but the LOVE and LUST for riches is a sin! And poverty is not a blessing in the true sense of the word, either. Truly, our riches are not of this world but are heavenly. Show me in Scripture where dishonest gain is a virtue or is blessed by God! In fact, the Scriptures condemn such things. If I’m wrong, tell me.
Take a long hard look at America today. Can we honestly say, “His blessings are upon us”? While not all are guilty of causing God’s wrath, fury, and indignation to come upon us, we all still have to feel His wrath, fury and indignation just the same. (See JesusCallstoAll.com and whatdoesJesusthink.com – in the past 4 decades the Holy Spirit has spoken thousands of Prophetic Words of wisdom, knowledge, understanding and future prophecies, both good and terrorizing. Don’t ever believe that God does not speak today! First Thessalonians 5:20 tells us “Do not despise prophecies…” See also 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.)
Take it from one who has been persecuted, prosecuted and imprisoned for my faith: both the “religious” and the “political” enemies will try to STOP you if you dare to live as the Bible dictates. One’s devotion to Christ may mean his or her DEATH!!!
The Bible tells us to “let go” of the things that are damning to “cling to” what is good. Here are some pointed Scriptures on this note:
Psalm 97:10 – “You who love the LORD, HATE EVIL!”
Psalm 34:14 – “DEPART from EVIL and do good…”
Psalm 11:5 – “The LORD tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul HATES!”
Psalm 119:104 – “…therefore I HATE every false way”
Psalm 119:113 – “I HATE the double=minded”
Psalm 119:128 – “Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I HATE every false way.”
Psalm 119:163 – “I HATE and ABHOR lying…”
Psalm 139:21 – “Do I not HATE them, O LORD, who HATE you?
Psalm 139:22 – “I HATE them with perfect (lit. ‘complete’) HATRED.”
And there are many more…
WHERE IS THE HATRED…?
Where is the HATRED for evil, for sin, for the world, the flesh and the devil? America now HATES what is good and holds fast to what is evil, thanks to the LEFTISTS. The U.S. government, under “comrade” leadership, has become the arch enemy of God and Christianity and others. They are servants of the devil, being led and controlled by demons … and the demons want the people to abandon God and serve god. This is a moment-by-moment internecine war against God and His people. So what do we do? We fight back in the Spirit!
Romans 13:14 – “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make NO PROVISION for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Paul wasn’t writing to the unsaved pagans, but to believers. As it is said, “Romans is the longest and most systematic unfolding of his thoughts, expounding the Gospel of God’s righteousness that SAVES ALL who believe (1:16-17).” “First, I give thanks to my God thru Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is heralded throughout the world”(Romans 1:8).
So, why did Paul write v. 14?
In Galatians 3:27 we read, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Then in Romans 13:14 we have “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” The believer, baptized into Christ, has literally “clothed himself/herself with Christ,” “has put on Christ,” that is, has put on a covering of righteousness.
Ephesians 4:24 puts it another way: “…put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” This being the case, and it is the case, verse 25 tells us, “putting away (off) lying, let each of you speak the truth…” (v. 25)
Speak the truth? Lying is so common in religion and politics that it has been codified, sanitized. Speaking the actual truth has become “HATE speech.” Paul goes on to write, “Nor give place (‘an opportunity’) to the devil.” What? Do “Christians” do this? Yep! Sure do.
Paul says that bitterness, wrath, anger, quarreling, evil speaking, and malice grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesian 4:30-31). Not that wrath/anger is always wrong. No, sir! There is such a thing as Holy wrath and anger. “BE ANGRY and sin not,” the Bible says. This is Spirit wrath/anger, not fleshly wrath/anger.
Romans 13:14 tells us to “Put on Christ” and keep on the Lord Jesus Christ. If we are faithful to do this, daily, we will not make provision for the desires and lusts of the flesh. Verse 11 tells us to AWAKE! To cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light … to walk properly, not in sinfulness (vv. 12-13).
Are you ready for discipleship?
– Gen. Jim, POW
Read the following Words of the Spirit found on JesusCallsToAll.com:
WOS 2-28-23 – SECRETS!
Given by Prophet General Deborah Green
I speak unto you this day and I say there are many secret things that I desire to reveal to My Spirit people. These things are hidden from the world, and they are hidden from those who claim to be Mine yet are steeped in pride. I do not want My people to be wallowing in pride and therefore unable to hear My Spirit when the same directs them to repent and walk in humility. There are so many beautiful, secret, and hidden things that I want My people to know that they can understand My Kingdom more fully.
It is not My intention that My people would be caught up in the ways of the world and by the same imagine that they are increasing in knowledge. I want My people to be directed, corrected, and instructed by My Spirit that they would come into true wisdom which is great treasure. It has never been My intention that My people would take up the dumbness that has permeated the world at this time.
There are countless people in these times who are following after the vanities and the emptiness of the world and being devoured by the foolery of the same. When people are imagining that they can do whatever they want and get by, they are stupid, dull, and dumb because they have taken up the spirit of this age and by that are blinded.
As My people, you are meant to draw near to Me and be in subjectivity to the mind of My Spirit that you can be enabled to hear and receive the secret things that I desire to reveal to My own. Therefore be willing to purge yourselves of all worldliness and ungodly lusts that the same do not overtake your lives and devastate your integrity in Me. You are not intended to be in the mindset that is so common in these times whereby many are living only for the flesh and not for the Spirit. Souls are perishing for the lack of the true wisdom that can only be found thru Me.
Be thankful this day that you are not meant to be overwhelmed and overtaken by those things that men would imagine elevate them to realms of great wisdom, yet are nothing but deceiving spirits as they are under the doctrines of devils. Do not imagine that you must pay heed to the doctrines of devils for the same are lies. When you make the effort to keep away from the lies and the liars, you will find that in these times, very few are speaking the truth. Instead, they are speaking lies and are hypocritical in the same. When you are full of the discernment of My Spirit, you will be exercised to be enabled to tell what is evil, and what is good.
In these times, multitudes are calling evil good, and good evil. Think it not strange that the world has completely flipped and people are saying and doing things that are far from reality and believing imagination and fantasy far above the truth. When you see the ones who have yielded to such madness, do not imagine that you must be partakers of the same, You are not intended to be partakers of such madness, you are intended to be partaking of the truth and walking in the humility that is available to those who are wanting to please Me.
Learn to seek My face with all diligence and understanding that the Way that I lead you is the Way that is perfect and given for you that you can understand and seek your counsel of Me each day. It is My intention that you would know and understand that when you are desiring Me, that I will reveal to you thru the mind of My Spirit many secrets about My Kingdom and the operation of the same.
I do not show these things to the world for they are swine who would trample the precious as they make their way to the vile. They do not understand My Ways nor do they desire to please Me. When some try to make those of the world to see the Light, know that the majority of the world’s people will mock and scoff the knowledge I would give them because their hearts are far from Me. I do not want you to live in the place of misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the wisdom and knowledge I desire to reveal to you. However when your hearts are full of the worldliness, they will be hard against the righteousness and holiness that I want to impart to you.
Do not ever assume that you know more than you do. Rather keep focused on Me and My intentions for you for in the same is the purpose for which you were created to be revealed. Yes, the secrets that I will give to those who are capable of receiving are far above the realms of carnality where most people are dwelling in these times.
Be thankful even this day that as you will partake of the secret places that I desire for you to have, you will be greatly increased in appreciation and be glad that I am ever with you to openly display My love towards you. When I want to reveal My secrets unto you, do not run from the same, rather be trusting and believing that the same are given to you in order to bring you closer and closer to Me.
It is a good thing when My people are knowing that thru Me they will be led in the Way that will cause them to be perfected in Me. More and more as you increase in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, so will you be given secret insights that were never before possible for you. Comprehend even this day that as you are made complete in Me, so are you able to appreciate more and more what I do for you and in you as you dwell in the secret place.
