Carry Your Cross

Dedicate all you have unto the Lord. Rid yourself of anything that goes against Jesus and recognize His authority. Pick up your cross and get ready to take back enemy ground.

“In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them…He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus…The Lord gave David victory wherever he went. When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him…Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze. King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued: He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went. David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.”‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-15

Three aspects of this chapter stand out when we see David experience success. First, he waited and worked within the Lord’s timing. It was in the course of time that David accomplished amazing feats. He expanded the kingdom by taking the land back from the enemy. Do you trust in God’s timing?

Second, David purified the land and set up safeguards. David did not just let anyone and anything into their community. Are you careful about what influences you? A little evil can cause great division. There is nothing beautiful about war nor do we celebrate the deaths of others. However, we serve a holy God who wants his people to be holy.

David saw everything of value and all his victories as from God. Is that how you see yourself life? Have you dedicated all that you have and your success to God? Mark Batterson says anything we do not turn to praise turns into pride. David was blameless before God because he did not boast in his own success.

“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever…the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore. The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil. Lord, do good to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart.” Psalms‬ ‭125‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭

What does it mean to you to trust in the Lord? How is trust shown? Is it not in the same way as David demonstrated by dedicating the plunder and praising God through the battles? David said those who trust cannot be shaken at any time. We see the timing connection to the early passage. Trust is shown as we remain faithful through each season of life. It is easy to trust God during times of blessing, but how do you respond to bad news or other people’s bad behavior?

David prays that the Lord would do good to those who do good. The English language does not do any justice to this verse nor the word good. In our world good can mean many things, but in this verse it means something like Lord do your perfect pleasing will to those who do your perfect pleasing will. David divided people by those who live to please God doing His will and those who do not. How would it change your life if all that you did was measured by how it aligned with what God wants done? Do you believe God wants to do good for you?

“Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing. The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, The righteous lead blameless lives; when a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes. Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? Ears that hear and eyes that see the Lord has made them both. An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed at the end. A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. A wise king winnows out the wicked; Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure.” Proverbs‬ ‭20‬:‭1-28

Solomon said there is work to be done and ways that we need to winnow out evil. Imagine what would have happened if David had not fought the battles or taken back enemy land? Would the people have had the peace and prosperity that God had prepared for them?

Some of us have been wondering when God would do a new work in our lives not realizing that the answers to our prayers are hidden in how we faithfully serve God. Where are you gifted to serve? What work could you do today to help others?

Solomon says wise people use a winnowing fork. You might not be used to this language, but Solomon is inviting those who have ears to hear to learn to discern what is from God and what is not. Ask God what you need to winnow. What do you need to let go of so that God can give you something greater?

“See, the Lord is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt…They raise their voices, they shout for joy; from the west they acclaim the Lord’s majesty. Therefore in the east give glory to the Lord; exalt the name of the Lord, From the ends of the earth we hear singing: “Glory to the Righteous One.” Terror and pit and snare await you, people of the earth. In that day the Lord will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below.” Isaiah‬ ‭24‬:‭1‬-21

Isaiah continues on the path that both David and Solomon traveled. He warns of what will happen to people of the Earth as contrasted with those devoted to living for Heaven. Isaiah is giving the same plumb line that David described in both Samuel and Psalm 125.

What will be the marker of those who are heavenly and not earthly? The heavenly people will raise with joy their voices exalting the name of Jesus. The text does not say that the heavenly people are perfect, just that they praise His Holy Name. How are you sharing the good news today? Will other’s know yours is a heart devoted to the Messiah? Or will you keep quiet and let others do the singing?

“Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees…they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. When Jesus…asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?…Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven…Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭5‬-‭26

The most important question you answer on Earth could be who Jesus is. He directly asks who say He is. Jesus wants you to make a decision. The answer you give will shape every area of your life. Jesus blessed Peter for giving the correct answer and for letting the Spirit speak the truth. How would you answer this question? Is Jesus Lord and Savior?

Our world likes to put Jesus in a box. The world likes Jesus but tries to reduce him to just a teacher or kind guy. People like Jesus but the real question is if we will live like Jesus and enthrone Him as who He said He is. Jesus never claimed to be just a teacher or healer. Let us never reduce Jesus to less than who He said He is.

He has all authority on heaven and earth and wants you to know that authority lives in you as you live for Him. Does the Messiah have full authority over every area of your life? When He does, there is no limit to what He can do in and through you. He says anything you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. Do you know that you have authority to bind? Do you know that your words and your prayers have power? What does you need to bind today in Jesus name?

Jesus told Peter that He would build the church upon Him and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Think back to David who embraced the battle and took enemy ground. Jesus told Peter that He would do the same. He said we are not meant to sit back like sluggards, but we are sent to reclaim our promised inheritance as God’s children.

Jesus warns against the yeast of the Pharisees. What does that mean in modern context? Jesus is warning us to put up safeguards and guard how we think knowing that what gets in our heads gets in our hearts. What is modern yeast? Anything that goes against what Jesus taught or that does not recognize the authority of Jesus. Like David and Solomon Jesus marks out a dividing line and so should we.

Jesus wants to give us eyes to see from a spiritual perspective. He said His kingdom is not of this world. He is the ruler of the spiritual realm. He wants to teach us to crucify our fleshly desires that we might live with spiritual desires in alignment with Him. He does not use soft language. Rather He used the language that will give you victory over every battle, like David experienced, as you fully commit to carrying your own cross daily.

Today the call is to take the winnowing fork to your life and put to death anything that keeps you from Christ. Lay down your life that His Name might be lifted up and you will see Him do great and mighty things in and through you.