What Is Your Cross? by Brother Duke Hansen

  While you are on your walk, you need to remember that it is a process. This walk does not end at any point in time. This walk is not like a intensive course you take for a few years and obtain a degree after you finish. It isn't something that you write out goals you want to hit every 3 months. This walk is not a sprint, it is a marathon. We are going to look at Romans 11 verse 25 before we go to the main scripture to focus for this message. Romans 11:25 says;

        For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

    

              Paul is warning that we should not favor our own thoughts of what the word says. This is a form of blindness which the Pharisees did not recognize in themselves when Jesus was on earth, yet the truth of Jesus was about to be revealed to the world at large through the work of the early church. The statement applies to us today, especially to believers not to confuse our own understanding against what the scripture says and think that our thoughts are the correct interpretation.     

            What is your cross? What is something your are burdened and weighted down by that you carry with you daily? Look briefly at the crucifixion. Simon of Cyrene carried the cross for Jesus on the hill toward Golgotha. The symbol of the cross means death. Today, Jesus is here with us to help us with our cross. Everything we get involved with, the highs and lows of life, the possessions, the homes, the labor, all this is temporal and fleeting. Jesus is the permanent and consistent answer to us now and forever.  People have deceived themselves in thinking that Jesus has stopped miraculous signs and wonders in this day. That it was just for that time, but we know more now. "We don't need that Pastor! That time passed, because here in this Greek translation, this word means this instead of what you think it means."  Wise in your own conceits.  Jesus doesn't want you to stop showing his glory to the world! What he wants is for you to make a sacrifice of yourself for his glory. My next question is what is it that you are sacrificing?

            You can labor and do what you think is biblically right, but immediately you are going to think that you cannot do wrong. This foolishness makes your view haughty, self righteous nose in the air as if your better because you follow laws listed and not his word. Sacrifice is not just casting things aside which we know are not good for us, the ABC's and basic sins we all can tell each other not to do. Look at it more of a spiritual sin than just the basic sin. True sacrifice is when you stop something that your fleshly carnal person loves, and gives it pain.

               Our body is our cross. Pick up your cross and follow Jesus. A cross is not a cross without a sacrifice. Our current environment just grips us in this non-stop dream, filled with lofty expectations and goals that we are never going to fully obtain. You may know someone who is currently attained in the world with wealth and possessions today, and they are still just miserable. Why is that? Because the flesh is never content. It's always consuming, intaking comforting lies and positions to make it feel better. As pentecostals we should never think that just knowing of the Holy Ghost is what conquers our carnal self. Knowing the definition and leaving it there isn't useful and does not work without a made up mind!

                Let us look at the next chapter of Romans. Chapter 12 and the first 3 verses.

        I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

        2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

        3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

                Go back to verse 2. "Be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" We have to remind ourself daily. We need to remind our flesh. "that you may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of GOD." Evaluate yourself at the moment. Do you walk through your day proving what is good and acceptable perfect will of GOD? They will know you by your fruits. Your good stuff should be visible to others because they can already see the sins you are carrying. At judgement day, you are going to be judged on the deeds you commit here on earth in this life.

                    Everyone has been given a measure of faith. It is ours to do what we will. We can use it daily, or we can sit on it and store it. You have to be aware of what is the truth and what is not. One last question for you; Who is to say of how GOD is capable in your life?  What is it? The answer is you.  You are the example to someone who has been like the prodigal son. You are the answer to a person who is just confused and lost with their itchy ears and belief in false doctrine.  You are the first person to get a text from someone in the world who knows better, may have been on the path at one time and now in some bleak moment for them they reach out to you for prayer. Put your flesh to death daily.