THE CROSS

 Matthew 16:24

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, (daily) and follow me.

Little do you know what GOD will do for you, if only you face THE CROSS in your life. People pay the very high cost to live and enjoy Sin, but fail or never want to pay the cost to have JESUS CHRIST and SALVATION all for themselves, in their life. You are not and never counted as a Believer of JESUS CHRIST if you haven't DIE TO THE FLESH DAILY. In other words, you are never GOD'S children if you haven't die to SELF AND TO THE WORLD DAILY. Before we Further, I'll like us to understand the meaning of the cross, what's THE CROSS. The cross, is the denial of selfish, worldly and carnal influences, it means, saying 'NO' to worldly, selfish and carnal influence in your life. The cross, is also the door which THE HOLY SPIRIT comes your way, without the cross, the HOLY SPIRIT will never be present in your life. The cross is the door which leads to THE PRESENCE OF GOD. LIFE IN THE SPIRIT, IS THE ONLY LIFE ACCEPTED BY GOD. If the influences of The world, the carnality and self is not yet dead, you will never be accepted by GOD, no matter who you are and what you do. I'm sorry to inform you that not ALL CHRISTIANS ARE MEMBERS OF THE BRIDE OF GOD. You might be a Pastor, Apostle, Teacher, Evangelist, Prophet, Music minister and all sorts but not included. The reason why you haven't been included is because YOU ARE NOT YET DEAD TO THE INFLUENCES OF THIS WORLD AND YOUR SELFISH AND CARNAL LIFE. As long as your flesh is not yet dead, as long as you haven't face The Cross, ALL WHAT YOU DO IS OF THE FLESH, it doesn't reach GOD. This is why a person who never faced The Cross, or die to the Flesh or world will still go back to Sin, because his/her Repentance is of the flesh. True Repentance is SPIRITUAL, and it is by dieing to the world and self influence daily before it can be attained, if you are dead to the world and self, if you have faced the cross in your life, you cannot Sin, this was what Paul meant (see Galatians 5:24) "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts". And  St John also, "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God"(see 1 John 3:9). One thing you must know is this, Dieing to the world, or self influence is a daily activity you must do, it is not once, it is daily. Facing the Cross is you putting JESUS CHRIST first, in everything you do or what to do daily in life. You must learn how to make 'HIM' first, on a daily basis even if it is not good to and for you, 'HE' must be the first, above all your pleasures. This is why many don't want to pay the price of The Cross, because it is hard, they don't want to forfeit their friends, best TV series, worldly pleasures, their phones and the carnal, selfish and worldly thing they love doing for JESUS. When your activities collide with JESUS CHRIST, that is your cross and you must choose JESUS CHRIST first. In other words, your worldly, carnal and selfish life is the cross that must be forfeited, denied and totally sacrificed for JESUS CHRIST. Without this happening to you, you are still in Sin and not among the family of GOD. It's really hard for many people to do this because they have lots to Sacrifice for GOD. Some of this things might be Friends, Gossip, their business or Jobs, money corruption of all kinds, pornography, alcohol, social media, TV series, lust and pleasures of this world. For it is said, (see Mark 8:36) "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul"?  Mines what not really hard because right from time, I wasn't a deep worldly and selfish person, I wasn't that social, I love being in a state of solitude, what was only hard for me was overcoming parental barrier. Let me tell you this, Incase you are passing through this. Whenever your family interfere with your relationship with GOD, or your calling, you must choose GOD first. Honor your father and your mama, but choose GOD first.  I want you to understand this, the way to LIFE, eternal LIFE to be more precises is very narrow, and many will try to find it and never see it. The reason why they'll never see it is because they are trying to find it without Calvary, they don't want to deny self daily and die to self. I'll like you to ask yourself this question, which you must answer yourself genuinely, with THE FEAR OF GOD. WHAT DOES THE CROSS MEAN TO YOU DAILY? It important you get this because all your efforts, your worship, your ministry, your fasting, your prayers and all what you do for THE KINGDOM OF GOD will be rejected and counted as nothing if you haven't DIE TO THE CROSS. This was what JESUS meant when 'HE' said, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (see Matt 7:22-23). If you haven't DIE TO THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD, ALL YOUR EFFORT FOR THE KINGDOM ARE USELESS. Please get this, The Cross is not just something you wear, or a chain on your neck, THE CROSS IS OUR LIFE. The cross is our life (The worldly things we enjoy doing) that must be sacrifice before we will be given access to ENTER THE PRESENCE OF GOD, just like the old covenant, in the time of Moses. Don't forget this, The Christian Life is victorious only through The Cross. The same path of JESUS dieing to THE CROSS, is the same path for us. Do not deceive yourselves, you are never more than a conqueror if you haven't die to the world. In other words, until you are dead to the world, to it influences, to selfishness and to the carnality of the flesh before you are more than a conqueror. People who are dead to the world are inseparable from GOD, no matter the circumstances, this was what Apostle Paul meant by saying "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: For your (CHRIST) sake we face death all day long (Die to the world, to self and flesh influence everyday); we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (see Romans 8:35-37). Anyone who never face the cross in his life daily, will never be more than a conqueror. No promises of GOD is yours if you haven't face The Cross. One thing you must know is that the devil will always offer you a cross-less life, that was what the devil offered JESUS CHRIST in the wilderness (see Matt 4:8-10 and Luke 4:5-8), when he came through Peter (see Mark 8:31-34) and finally,when he came through those people shouting while 'HE' was on The cross, for 'HIM' to come down (see Matt 27:40) but THE LORD rebuked it all. Never forget this, every Christians have the power to say 'NO', it's easy to start well but hard to finish. This is why we must die to self and the world daily, if we shall finish well. There's a treasure in us hidden, or covered with the flesh. If we must manifest the treasure, CHRIST THE HOPE OF GLORY (see Colossians 1:27), the flesh must die. This is what JESUS said in John 12: 24-25. Don't forget, if you and your services for GOD must be counted among the righteous, operate in THE POWER OF GOD, and be known in GOD'S THRONE as HIS Children, You must face THE CROSS and die to the world, self and carnal influence. If you know, you haven't given your life to JESUS and die to self, this is the right time to do that. Just lift your voice as you tell JESUS to forgive you of your sins, and while you do so, tell 'HIM' you are ready to pay the price by facing The cross, begin to surrender your worldly and selfish influence to 'HIM'. Please do it genuinely with brokenness in your heart and 'HE' will save you. Please look unto JESUS, the author and the finisher of our Faith (see Hebrew 12:2). I recommend you to read THE WORD, Fellowship with 'HIM' and get to know JESUS deeply. Please also listen to Dr Kathryn Kuhlman message, Papa Kenneth E Hagin, Pastor Benny Him, Pastor Chris, Bishop Oyedepo, Prophet Uebert Angel and many more, they are GOD'S general, and you have to listen to what they teach, most especially this last days. Remember, DEATH TO THE FLESH IS THE ONLY SOLUTION YOU MUST AND HAVE TO FACE IT.