The Weekly Word

From the Pastor's Desk:

This week the question comes to mind, are we trying to live a “Crossless Christianity”? It seems as though in our churches across America today, it has become unpopular to preach self-denial and following Christ completely. Jesus clearly states in 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. We have lost the message of self-denial. We want to be a Christian all right, but we are not willing to deny ourselves and follow him. Today in the church we applaud prayer seminars, buy and read books about prayer and listen to tapes teaching about prayer, but fail to pray. Let’s face it, prayer is hard work and we don't like hard work, we like comfort. Why engage in spiritual warfare when it is so much easier to watch television, to talk on the phone or go out socializing with our friends? The bottom line is that the church has become selfish. We work real hard to pursue and do the things that we think will make us happy, but we give little thought to the things that we could do that would please God.

You know, Jesus didn't make this cross an option or something we could do for extra credit. As far as Jesus was concerned, bearing this cross was to be an integral part of life for His followers. Matthew chapter 10 verses 38 and 39 remind us of this. (38) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. (39) He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Do you hear the words ringing in your ears, "he that loseth his life for my sake". Look at what Luke 14:27 says; And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Wow, that’s pretty clear isn’t it?

Now please understand that self-denial by its self will never purchase your salvation. You can deny yourself until you are blue in the face, and your self-sacrifice will not save you. Only the shed blood of Jesus Christ can bring you salvation, nothing else can. Self-denial doesn't make you more saved than Christ's blood, either. Jesus’ work on the cross was perfect and complete. However, the only way to be a true and obedient disciple of Jesus is through self-denial. In order to accomplish the work that God has entrusted to us, we must die to self. When we take up our cross, we enter into God. Our life then glorifies Him. Put simply, only the blood can save you from your sins, not any works you can do yourself. But and its a big but, If you are truly saved, you can not serve Christ and continue in Christ unless you are willing to crucify the flesh, take up your cross, die to self, deny this world and proclaim Christ as your Lord and serve Him only.

So there you have it, starting today if you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, pick up that cross and get busy. If you have never accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, why not do it today? The bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:2B now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. If you need prayer E-mail me mdrnsr@bellsouth.net or call me at 985-652-4943. So until next week God Bless you and keep the faith!

Pastor Michael Reeves