Fountain of Living Waters Ministries (FOLWAMS)

MARKS OF THE CROSS

PART TWO

GALATIANS 6:17

Apostle Paul said, "From henceforth let no man trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus", Galatians 6:17. What an audacious statement!

He knew the authority and power that comes with bearing the Cross and he used it to make a decree. Hmm....I love the Word of God, It settles everything!

You know many of us when God ask us to lay things down and His will crosses our will instead of seeing the power and authority that comes from doing the will of God the devil focuses our attention on the temporary pain and sufferings that we may have to go through.

This message is coming to us this morning to let us know whatever God is asking us to lay down is not to our detriment but to our advantage.

Apostle Paul know what the marks of the cross translated too in his life and he used it to make a bold decree.

He knew that even though the sufferings of Christ may abound in him so also is the consolations of Christ abiding in him in the same proportion, 2Corinthians 1:5.

He knows how the anointing comes, so he was able to embrace the momentary sufferings, delay and setbacks, 2Corinthians 12:9&10, 4:17, Romans 8:18, 1Peter 1:6&7.

He perceived them from the stand point of joy rather than suffering as many that were looking at him in his days perceived it from, Phillipians 1:12.

For some of us we already know what these marks of the cross represent in our lives but because of the sufferings that we are presently going through we are not embracing it but fighting and rejecting it.

Part of the sufferings are the lacks here and there, temporary set backs, mockery of people, the waiting, the rejection, being misunderstood.

Because of these things we are being tempted to break our consecration, we are beginning to consider taking back that which we have laid on the altar of the Lord.

One thing about a living sacrifice is that it can crawl away because it is alive. You can change your mind and remove your sacrifice from the altar and walk away.

But before you do, hear the Word of the Lord to you: Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, you people in whose heart is My law: Do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their insults.

For the moth will eat them up like a garment and the worm will eat them like wool. But My righteousness will be forever, and My salvation from generation to generation.”, Isaiah 51:7&8.

You may look like a rejected stone today because of your sacrifices to obey and do the will of God but God is looking at you and saying that which man has rejected is chosen of God and so precious to Him, 1Peter 2:4&7, Isaiah 53:3&5, 10-12.

One day, that rejected stone will become the chief corner Stone. I want you to look at your sacrifices to obey the call of God and do His will and see it differently.

The Bible says in as much as Christ suffered in the flesh we should also arm ourselves with the same mind and that we should no longer live the rest of our time in the flesh to the lusts of men but to do the will of God, 1Peter 4:1&2.

Even though people call your sacrifices all kinds of things; like the Patriach Abraham, sit with your sacrifice and drive the birds of prey away until fire comes down from heaven to devour it, Genesis 15:11&17.

It is those that have walked with God by making many sacrifices that God cut covenant with, Isaiah 50:7.

One day the Lord told me don't practice Christianity of convenience, it has no weight in the realm of the spirit, 2Samuel 24:24, 1Kings 3:4&5, 2Kings 3:27.

It is those that are partakers of Christ sufferings that when His glory shall be revealed they will be glad with exceeding joy, 1Peter 4:13.

The Bible says if you are reproached for the name of Christ happy are you, for the spirit of glory resteth upon you. On their part He is evil spoken of but on your part He is glorified, 1Peter 4:14, 2Timothy 2:12.

When you look at what it has cost you to obey God and do his will, stop seeing weakness, foolishness, delay, poverty and stagnation, begin to see it for what it truly is, glory, honour, power, authority and stature with God, Romans 8:19,22&23.

Consider the end of the conversation of our fathers of faith in the kingdom, both alive and dead and follow their faith, Hebrews 13:7.

If you allow the devil deceive you to believe a lie you won't be able to say some day like Apostle Paul, From henceforth let know man trouble me for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus, Jonah 2:8.

Do you not know that what you sow is not quickened except it dies? Only when it does will the power of resurrection come upon it and raise it back to life not in weakness and dishonour that it was sown but in glory and power.

What is sown is not the same as what is raised back to life. What you sow is a natural body, but it is raised a spiritual body. It is sown in corruption but it is raised in incorruption.

It is sown in dishonour but it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness but raised in power, 1Corinthians 15. 36-44.

Some people in the Bible understood these things so well that when they were offered deliverance they rejected it in order that they might obtain a better resurrection, Hebrews 11:33.

What did they know? What have they found? Romans 4:1.What made Anna the prophetess remained in the temple for over sixty years just fasting and praying? What did she find? Luke 2:36-38.

All flesh is not the same flesh but there is one kind of flesh of men, another of fishes, another of beasts and another of birds.

Like wise, all sacrifices are not the same, one sacrifice different in weight from another. Same reason why there is one glory of sun, another of moon and even stars differ in glory one from another, 1Corinthians 15:39-41. May the Lord grant us understanding.

Let these words comfort you and guard you with strength and stability as you lay your life down to do the will of God.

Don't allow men, devil or the world describe your life and circumstance for you, let the Word of God do it for you and that is exactly what this message has come to do to you.

To guard you with strength and courage and give you stability as you do that which God has called you to do without feeling you are losing out in life by obeying God and doing His will.

The world passeth away and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever, 1John 2:17.

Your Saviour and Lord will surely come, His reward is with Him and His work is before Him.

I pray for you that you will remain steadfast, unmoveable, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord and abounding in His work in Jesus name.

SALVATION PRAYER

Anything short of you being born again and living a life of holiness and purity hurt Jesus so much. But you can make things right here and now by saying this simple prayer and mean it genuinely from your heart:

Lord Jesus I come to you today. I acknowledge that I am a sinner and I cannot help myself. I repent of all my sins and I forsake them. Jesus, I invite you into my life, be my Lord, be my Saviour.

Wash me by your precious blood, forgive my sins and write my name in the book of life. From this day, I promise to follow you all the rest of my life. Help me Lord, in Jesus name, Amen. Congratulations you are now born again!

PEACE

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