BE WARNED. Do not unknowingly (or willfully) stand with a COUNTERFEIT in these days.
[34] Jesus called the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. [35] For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake and the gospel’s will save it [from the consequences of sin and separation from God]. [36] For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world [with all its pleasures], and forfeit his soul? [37] For what will a man give in exchange for his soul and eternal life [in God’s kingdom]?
Mark 8:34-37 (AMP)
This is from the mouth of Jesus Himself. Even without the Amplified Bible's lovely explanations of the Greek, what Jesus speaks is not anecdotal. It is TRUTH. It is for today.
People debate scripture and history and culture and sexuality what it looks like to "love" as a Christian....but if you really want to drill down on the "What Would Jesus Do," it's THIS. This is from the scripture above, and it is for anyone who follows (or wants to follow) the true Jesus.
First, be born-AGAIN (John 3:3). That means regardless of how one thinks they are born, they are regenerated into HIS new creation (Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
Second, deny yourself. Set aside what YOU want, what YOU feel, what YOU think. Fully surrender to HIS will for your new life. Jesus is LORD, that word means supreme authority in your life.
Third, take up your own cross. Come what may, you will not submit to anyone or anything but Jesus. EVEN IF YOU ARE OFFENSIVE TO THE LUKEWARM HEART, you must stand for truth that Jesus IS.
Fourth, simply follow Him. Lean into the Holy Spirit for strength. Find His life and power at work inside of you. Let go of the world, and find yourself in Christ.
The kindness of the Holy Spirit leads to repentance, yes....but THEN, Jesus brings internal, spiritual TRANSFORMATION.
Transformation in Christ...reconciling lost ones to the Father....THAT is our great commission. Yes, there is room for everyone at the table. BUT, as ambassadors for the true King we MUST BE WILLING to point to Him as true King, and show what He requires if we choose to follow Him.
It requires EVERYTHING to follow Him. Who you are, what you think your rights are, even your own reputation.
And in exchange, we get everything we ever wanted or needed in Him.
Why else would the devil want to discredit JESUS as much as he has? Because JESUS is the only way.
All the other arguments are void. Though ungodly anger and responding from offense is not of God, we still cannot stand with a counterfeit Jesus.
Also....We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against powers of darkness and principalities. SEE IT FOR WHAT IT IS. Every situation and global presentation that sets itself up against the knowledge of the True God is not just a cute show or a cultural history lesson. There are dark spirits at work to set up knowledge AGAINST Him, especially now in this kairos time.
BE WARNED, DO NOT BECOME the stumbling block. Do not unknowingly (or willfully) stand with a COUNTERFEIT!
Woe (judgment is coming) to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5:20 (AMP)
And finally, our victory verdict in Jesus!
[14] having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. [15] When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
Colossians 2:14-15 (NASB1995)
17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” - Daniel 3:17-18 (NKJV)
Please join me in praying for a greater discernment, a greater fear of the Lord, and a greater understanding of the true JESUS in our lives.
xoxo
Mandy
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