PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE AND THE CROSS

May 22, 2011
MF Blume


2 Timothy 2:8-12 KJV  Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:  (9)  Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.  (10)  Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  (11)  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:  (12)  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

2 Timothy 2:19 KJV  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.



Remind yourself of the two revelations for entering the Kingdom.
1.      THE IDENTITY OF JESUS – from the Father.
2.      Carrying the cross – from the Son.

Jesus said HIS WORDS are related to building the church on the rock.

Matthew 7 shows people calling Jesus Lord, performing miracles but not allowed to enter the kingdom because HE NEVER KNEW THEM.

John 10:1-4 KJV  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  (2)  But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  (3)  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.  (4)  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

People who cry LORD LORD but never carry their crosses do not know the VOICE of Jesus.


John 10:7 KJV  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

He is the door.


HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS TOOK OUR SINS.


His death on the cross counted as our deaths.


Notice Jesus said he is not just the door, but the DOOR OF THE SHEEP.


It is not a door for just anyone who cries LORD LORD.


John 10:14 KJV  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Notice what He says to the folks who cannot enter.

Matthew 7:23 KJV  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

They are committing iniquity while also committing miracles.



2 Timothy 2:19 KJV  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Notice the WISE MAN WHO BUILDS ON THE ROCK is the one who HEARS JESUS’ WORDS AND DOES THEM.


Paul used that concept and spoke of a FOUNDATION THAT IS SURE.


1 Tim 2: (9)  Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.  (10)  Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  (11)  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:  (12)  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Notice Paul suffered as an evil doer when he was not an evil doer whatsoever.


Look at what else Paul said:

Romans 9:3-4 KJV  For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:  (4)  Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

2 Corinthians 4:10-12 KJV  (10)  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  (11)  For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.  (12)  So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

2 Corinthians 4:14-15 KJV  (14)  Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.  (15)  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

Colossians 1:24 KJV  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:


Colossians 1:24 MSG  I want you to know how glad I am that it's me sitting here in this jail and not you. There's a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world--the kind of suffering Christ takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church's part of that suffering.

Jesus died for our sins, and no one can do that for anyone else and save them from hell.


This city has suffered some religious hardships.


There is a principle in the universe called the second law of thermodynamics – ENTROPY.


How much more should be PART of the active BODY OF CHRIST in our churches and city?


And satan LOVES that sort of thing.

Imagine what destruction would come to satan’s achievements in our city if God’s people would all take up their crosses and follow Christ’s example.


Paul said those words FOLLOW ME AS I FOLLOW CHRIST in 1 Cor 11…

1 Corinthians 11:1 KJV  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Look what he just finished talking about in Chapter 10.

1 Corinthians 10:24 MSG  (24)  We want to live well, but our foremost efforts should be to help others live well.

Paul spoke of meats offered to idols and said a Christian should not eat it if the person offering the meat informed the Christian it was offered to idols.

Eating meat to idols really means nothing to God since it is only meat.

1 Corinthians 10:27-33 MSG If a nonbeliever invites you to dinner and you feel like going, go ahead and enjoy yourself; eat everything placed before you. It would be both bad manners and bad spirituality to cross-examine your host on the ethical purity of each course as it is served.  (28)  On the other hand, if he goes out of his way to tell you that this or that was sacrificed to god or goddess so-and-so, you should pass. Even though you may be indifferent as to where it came from, he isn't, and you don't want to send mixed messages to him about who you are worshiping.  (29)  But, except for these special cases, I'm not going to walk around on eggshells worrying about what small-minded people might say; I'm going to stride free and easy, knowing what our large-minded Master has already said.  (30)  If I eat what is served to me, grateful to God for what is on the table, how can I worry about what someone will say? I thanked God for it and he blessed it!  (31)  So eat your meals heartily, not worrying about what others say about you--you're eating to God's glory, after all, not to please them. As a matter of fact, do everything that way, heartily and freely to God's glory.  (32)  At the same time, don't be callous in your exercise of freedom, thoughtlessly stepping on the toes of those who aren't as free as you are.  (33)  I try my best to be considerate of everyone's feelings in all these matters; I hope you will be, too.  


Then he said:  1 Corinthians 11:1 KJV  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Daniel was a child when God made Israel captive in Babylon for sins of disregard of certain laws.

Daniel 9:5 KJV  We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:

Yet he repented and acted as though HE WAS GUILTY OF something he was not personally guilty for.

Daniel 9:21-23 KJV  Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.  (22)  And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.  (23)  At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

Gabriel called Daniel GREATLY BELOVED due to this act.


Romans 14:1-8 MSG  Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with--even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.  (2)  For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume all Christians should be vegetarians and eat accordingly.  (3)  But since both are guests at Christ's table, wouldn't it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn't eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table.  (4)  Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God's welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help.  (5)  Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.  (6)  What's important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God's sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you're a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli.  (7)  None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters.  (8)  It's God we are answerable to--all the way from life to death and everything in between--not each other.


Romans 14:13-22 MSG  Forget about deciding what's right for each other. Here's what you need to be concerned about: that you don't get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is.  (14)  I'm convinced--Jesus convinced me!--that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it.  (15)  If you confuse others by making a big issue over what they eat or don't eat, you're no longer a companion with them in love, are you? These, remember, are persons for whom Christ died. Would you risk sending them to hell over an item in their diet?  (16)  Don't you dare let a piece of God-blessed food become an occasion of soul-poisoning!  (17)  God's kingdom isn't a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness' sake. It's what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy.  (18)  Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you'll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.  (19)  So let's agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words;  (20)  don't drag them down by finding fault. You're certainly not going to permit an argument over what is served or not served at supper to wreck God's work among you, are you? I said it before and I'll say it again: All food is good, but it can turn bad if you use it badly, if you use it to trip others up and send them sprawling.  (21)  When you sit down to a meal, your primary concern should not be to feed your own face but to share the life of Jesus. So be sensitive and courteous to the others who are eating. Don't eat or say or do things that might interfere with the free exchange of love.  (22)  Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on others. You're fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent.


Then he wrote:

Romans 15:3 KJV  For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 MSG  (4)  Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head,  (5)  Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,  (6)  Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

1 Corinthians 6:7 KJV  Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

1 Corinthians 6:7 MSG  These court cases are an ugly blot on your community. Wouldn't it be far better to just take it, to let yourselves be wronged and forget it?

IS SELF WORTH ALL THAT EFFORT?

When you TAKE THE BLAME and commit the act of calling on God as THOUGH YOU WERE TOTALLY TO BLAME, like Jesus committed the act of experiencing the death penalty as though He committed those sins, when in reality he was innocent, YOU ATTRACT THE GLORY AND POWER OF GOD LIKE A MAGNET.

Do you carry your cross IN THAT MANNER?


If believers did that, imagine the problems resolved!


It would bring on such a powerful move of God in our city, and instead of looking for a way out, we look for true fault.