Our Cross = Our Ministry

Praise the Lord for the work He does in us! Last time we ended with a new life in Christ that took us through repentance, death on the cross, resurrection into a new life in Jesus, ending with our new life being a platform for our ministry! That is where I want to pick up today. How we use our "scars" to lead others to the cross that they too much bear.

Let us just dive right into the word today. We will take several looks at the purpose of us using our cross process to lead others in their! let’s start here:

Joh 12:3 & 7-8 NKJV  Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.... (7)  But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.  (8)  For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always."

This is a great picture of the preparation before the cross. You see Mary loved Jesus dearly, and out of that love she prepared Him for the cross. She played her part in assisting Him to the death He must die! Why? Because we know that for Jesus to fulfill His ministry He had go to the cross! Though we see here He did not begin this journey alone! No. He had others who walked with Him! This key to us as the body of Christ.... We will get into this a bit more in a minute.

Next let us look at another time Jesus was helped to the cross.

Mar 15:21 NKJV  Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.

Again here is another picture of others helping us to the cross! Simon, carried Jesus' cross for a time. Though Simon could not get on that cross for Jesus. If that had happened it would have been just another man dying on the cross. We know that Jesus had to bear His own load, He had to die on His cross, and fulfill His calling. This same idea was preached by Paul to the Galatians. let’s take a quick look:

Gal 6:1-2, & 5 NKJV  Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.  (2)  Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (5) For each one shall bear his own load.

You see when we go though our cross process, and we come alive in Jesus a new creation, we still bear those old scars for this very reason! That old man (the scar) is our witness to Jesus! In our bondage, despair, sin, anxiety, etc... Jesus came to us personally! When we were delivered from that stuff we saw Him, we felt Him, because of this we know Him! This personal encounter makes us first hand witnesses of Jesus! That is our ministry! That is our platform to bear the burden of those who are in the same boat we once were! We can (out of love) take them by the hand to lead them to the cross, so they can bear their own load. Just like Simon carried a burden for Jesus, he couldn't bear the entire load for Jesus. No. Jesus had to get on that cross by Himself and walk the cross process to gain victory over sin, and death! He had to bear His own load. That (through God) gave Him the power to save the whole world! He gave us the example in how to carry our cross, and do it daily!

With these two examples we see a picture that we all play a part in each other’s cross process! Mary who out of love prepared Jesus for death and burial. Simon who bore a burden for Jesus. These pictures show us that at times we play a different part in a person's life. No matter what part we play it is to lead them to Jesus, and to their cross that they must bear. You see our cross process is not to be done alone, as others are not to walk theirs alone. That is the beauty of the body of Christ. We are called together. Jesus said that He and the Father are one. When we die the death that Jesus called us to, we too become heirs with Him in new life. Jesus desired that we too become one with Him, like He and the Father are one. If we lead others to Jesus, we lead them to God, for we all are one in Him!

The beauty of all of this, is that we can minister to anyone! It could be a "season" Christian who is now having to take something in their life to the cross. Or on the other end someone who does not know Christ yet. For those "seasoned" Christians we minister to them, not to point out their sin, or bondage, but because we know the freedom in Christ and desperately want them to know it too! remember what Jesus said here:

Mat 18:15 NKJV  "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

Though some would say that in doing this you are judging or that you "need to deal" with the plank in your own eye... referenced here:

Mat 7:2-5 NKJV  For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.  (3)  And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  (4)  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?  (5)  Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

The amazing thing is when we take our "plank" to the cross we deal with it! Where we then have the power to "witness" to others the power and glory of God! why? so they too can be lead to God, where we all can join together as one! That we can be a "one another" kind of people! That we would be the spotless bride of Christ!

Just as we minister to those already in Christ, we are also called to minister to those outside of Christ. What better way to "witness" to others about the power in Christ Jesus. Just think about a man deep in depression, who may have considered taking his own life. Well if that was something you took to the cross, and have now been delivered from it, you have a bold witness of Christ Jesus! Oh the hope you can preach to that man! Where you can minister to Him his need of repentance, turning to Jesus, where we meet Him at the cross, and have the opportunity to die and be born again into a new life in Jesus! to be free from that bondage!....

You see your scars from your cross process are your ministry platforms! They are your first hand witnessing testimony of the power we have in Jesus!!!! One last example of just how powerful this is!

look at Revelation 12:

Rev 12:11 NKJV  And they overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

This alone could be another days worth of study. But to keep it short, if it were not for Jesus bearing His cross to set us free, save us, and lead us we would have no testimony in Him. For through His cross process opened up the door for us to have ours in Him! The word of our testimony (cross process) is the first hand testimony of the power in Christ. It shows others that through the death(s) (Jesus, and ours) on the cross we can be set free! Because in death the power over our lives is broken! What an amazing truth, that in death, we deal with the flesh and with the devils hold on us!

In closing let me ask you this: In what way can you use your "cross" to minister to others!.... And if you are in the middle of taking up your cross, who can you reach out to for help getting to the end? If you are unsure, ask your pastor, as I am sure he has see someone in your local body deal with this very thing.

Your Brother in Christ

Grace and Peace be with you

Nate Cook, Setting Captives Free Team Member

www.SettingCaptivesFree.com

And Jesus said to me:

Eze 3:10b-11a  "...Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get to the captives..."

Though The Scars Remain

This will be a two part one from me. I thought I could get it all in with just one. Though as I wrote I soon saw that I would have to break it in two J… with that lets begin:

Part one “Though The Scars Remain”

As I did my daily scriptures r

eading the other day it brought me to Luke Chapter 24. In particular verses 38-39. Lets quickly take a look:

Luk 24:38-39 NKJV  And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?  (39)  Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."

I am sure we all have see this before. Where Jesus has completed His work on the cross, has now be risen, and began showing Himself to people. As I read this verse I had to stop as I was reminded of the verses read the day before:

Mar 16:9-11 NKJV  Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.  (10)  She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept.  (11)  And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

Joh 20:11-15 NKJV  But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.  (12)  And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.  (13)  Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."  (14)  Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.  (15)  Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away."

As I stood there I began to get a picture of the crosses in our lives. We know that Jesus told us to take up our own cross and follow Him daily Luk_9:23. Though to get there we would have had to start at the beginning of it all, repentance. John the Baptist, Jesus, and Peter preached that first. All three saying "Repent! for the kingdom of God is at hand." Mat_3:1-2, Mat_4:17, Act_2:38. Repentance is the beginning of a life in Christ. Though, how can we turn from anything without first having something to turn too? Turning to Jesus to save us from our sins, pain, struggles, etc. this is the only way! The moment we turn to Jesus in repentance we are led through His saving grace. Though that is not the focus of today’s writing. You see when we turn to Jesus we meet Him first as our savior, there is no working to get saved, or anything we must do, but believe! It is as this happens, we also meet Jesus face to face with the truth of Luk_9:23. This is the only way to be born again! We know what Jesus said about that. If a man is not born again he cannot see the kingdom of God Joh_3:3. To be a Christ follower we must take up our own cross, die to our flesh, pain, thoughts, etc. We must die, and just like Jesus we must have our death period! To have our resurrection into new life. To be born again, just like Christ was! We must die...

You see Jesus had to die, that was a must! His greatest ministry had to come through that death! I mean saving the whole world from their sins, and the wrath of God, that is pretty great to me! But for Him to even come close to making it happen He had to die! He had to remain dead for some time, for a season. For Him it was only three days! Just as He died and had a death period, so we too must have one! How long will ours last? that is dependent on how hard and thick your head is, and the calling you are paying for. We can rest assured that a death must come to us, but only for a time. You see that is part of the repentance. Those verses earlier where Mary and the others wept for time Mar_16:9-11, Joh_20:11-15, painted a picture of morning in repentance, as well as how others will even see the change in us! Remember that Jesus said if we refuses to let go of our loved ones we are not worthy of Him, that we cannot be His disciples (followers) Luk_14:26. Our death in Christ Jesus is not a secret but open to others! If we choose to refuse to die because it might hurt others, we are worried about our life that we have with them. We are worried about how it might change… Praise the Lord we have a promise in Him, that if we lose our life (daily) for His sake, we will in fact save it! WOW! So this death, and the season we must remain there, is in fact a "saving" of our life? YES!!! Just as we are promised death in Christ so we too are promised life! Just as He rose from the dead so we too are called to raise again! We are born again, saved, redeemed, and changed! For we are no longer the old man! We are NEW!!!

This brings us to the main point J... This whole process is not just for us! The main reason for us to grow in such a way is so we may spend that payment on others! Just as Jesus didn't die for Himself, so neither to we die for ourselves! Look again at what Jesus said after He rose from the dead:

Joh 20:27 NKJV  Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."

How amazing! Jesus could have easily come back in a new body, but He didn’t! He came back to His old "shell." He bore the scars of his old life! He said look at them, touch them, see what God has done! Those scars were the platform for His greatest ministry! He used them to show what God had done in Him, through Him, and for Him! You see we always know and remember where we came from, we bear those scars for a reason. We are to show people just what God can do!

 

some might say "there was no major sin in my life that I need to die to or repent from. I was hurt when I was young, or later in life…" either way it is the pain that would hold you! the hurt that would keep you from the life in Jesus! We are still called to take that to the cross, and die to it! The amazing thing is there is life promised on the other side! Here is the truth, it is death that breaks the chains of sin, pain, anxiety, depression, fear... anything that holds us down! When we die to it through the process of the cross, its grip over us is broken!!! That is why we have the power to show those scars to others and say "look!" that is how we can use our past to lead others to Jesus and a freedom of their own!

Bringing this part to a close let me just say this process is of the cross is not a onetime deal. Jesus said we must take up our cross daily! Why? Because we are ever growing in Him, and our ministry to others! The fact is life goes on, things happen, and we need to gain victory over things. That victory can only come through the cross process! Once we get to the other side, we have a new witness for others! That is what we will talk about in the second part of this word.

Your Brother in Christ

Grace and Peace be with you

Nate Cook, Setting Captives Free Team Member

www.SettingCaptivesFree.com

And Jesus said to me:

Eze 3:10b-11a  "...Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get to the captives..."

Kingdom Seeds

A few weeks ago I talked about how the Lord opened up a door for me to witness to a coworker. It was just the other day that I got a chance to talk with the fellow Christian brother who was there. As we fellowshipped about how the Lord opened the door and paved the way for the ministry, it turned out to be quite amazing! To keep it short the Lord really moved in the both of us, where we worked in team ministry, and I didn't even know it! Oh how good our God is! This brother and I ended up having a great time of fellowship, and ended the day feeling refreshed and uplifted! It was the next morning when I was driving home that I lifted up our time together, as well as the man in whom we witnessed to. There in that time of prayer the Lord took me through journey in His word. Which is where I would like to take you now J.

So let us just dive right in....

We know that when we were witnessed to, the Lord placed a seed in us. We also know that when we witness to others a seed is placed in them. Where it falls is not really up to us. It’s just up to us to “plant” that seed! We should all be somewhat familiar with the parable about the seeds falling on different kinds of ground (rocks, shallow soil, good soil, etc...) Mat_13:3-9. We all know that when we are called (by the Holy Spirit) we play a different role in growing this “kingdom seed” process. We have heard (something like this) planting the seed, watering it, and harvesting it. These last few weeks we have really hit on planting the seed. Let us look at the watering of it now. With that short base laid the Lord brought to light many scriptures of a truth we are all familiar with.

Jesus said:

Luk 13:18-19 NKJV  Then He said, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?  (19)  It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches."

This kingdom seed put in us and others, will only grow with proper care! We can only get so far by our self! So the question remains; How do we water this kingdom seed in us and others? Ask any farmer, or gardener for that matter what makes a seed grow. They will all tell you "water!" without water nothing grows. This same principle applies to the kingdom seed in us! There must be water to grow it! With this in mind, can a seed water itself? NO! Just as someone planted that seed, someone must also water it! Watering is a very intentional thing. So how do we as believers water our kingdom seed? Fellowship! We know upon being "saved" we are given the Holy Spirit, where He lives in us, and we are His 1Co_3:16 & Rom_8:9. Knowing that the Holy Spirit lives in us, we know that we have this truth to hang our hats on:

Joh 7:38 NKJV  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."

You see how amazing this is!? That kingdom seed in us and in others needs watering! That comes through fellowship! When we get together with others and are sensitive to the Holy Spirit we will water their kingdom seed! And they will water ours. For out of us (believers) will flow that "river of living water!" The Holy Spirit will flow through us to others!

We know this to be true from Acts 2, just as the Holy Spirit came, so came the fellowship, and the new church... the kingdom seed was planted, and watered! The Apostles even counted this as number one in their doctrine:

Act 2:42 NKJV  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

It is vital that we fellowship with fellow believers! This goes beyond the Sunday greetings, the once a week bible studies, and the occasional get together's. This is a way of life. An intentional conversation with brothers and sisters in are day to day life! Yes we can set up lunch dates, or evening get together's, etc... but those can become cumbersome. Though what if we had "kingdom" talks with fellow believers at work? Or other places that we live parts of our life? You might say, "well there are just not any believers in my life expect for church." Then I would say "praise the Lord! you're in a mission field!" Let me encourage you to begin planting those kingdom seeds in others, live the kingdom life always, water when needed, and seek the Lord for the lost! Soon enough you will have that "fellow believer" in the places you live and work! And isn't this a true fulfillment of the two greatest commandments? To Love God with all we are, and to love others!

Watering the kingdom seed (in us, others, and the newly planted) comes with a daily devotion to the Lord! It comes through fellowship with one another, for out of us flows rivers of living water! Out of us flows the Holy Spirit!

How are you watering the kingdom seeds in your life (in you and in others)?

Your Brother in Christ

Grace and Peace be with you

Nate Cook, Setting Captives Free Team Member

www.SettingCaptivesFree.com

And Jesus said to me:

Eze 3:10b-11a  "...Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get to the captives..."

That Very Hour

Luk 12:12 NKJV  For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."

Joh 14:26 NKJV  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

For the last two weeks I have been on this "witnessing" kick. I can’t explain it, or can I deny that God keeps speaking to me about it and through it. The other day at work a fellow Staff Sergeant (SSgt) and I were talking about the U.S. government, and what we think needs to change to fix it. WOW! what a big never ending topic to talk about. nevertheless me and this SSgt enjoy our time of talking about such matters. In our time of working together he has made it clear that he is not Christian. In fact he makes it known how much he disagrees with such beliefs. on the other side it has been made known that I love Jesus, and am a Christian. Well it was during our time about talking about the government that God began to open a door for me to share the gospel with him. It started out so small, but soon led to talking about the judgment to come, to repentance, to redemption, to His blood and the atonement in it, to grace, and finally to forgiveness. I think we spend 1.5 hours talking. I do not say boast or to say look at me. I say this because in my life I have never had such great time speaking about the gospel to a non-believer. It was truly God breathed.

It was after we brought this gospel talk to a close that I went to my room (we sleep at the Fire Station). Where I began to pray about the whole thing. It was then that I was reminded of Luk_12:12. You see during my time of witnessing many things that I have been getting from God began to come out. One in particular is forgiveness. (I plan on writing out what God has given me.) It’s kind of funny how God speaks to me at times. In short, when I drive to and from work I have about 20 minutes to pray. During those times of prayer sometimes I get caught up in "preaching" to the air. I know it sounds funny but I really let it loose. Over the years these times of "practice preaching" have become quit fun, and they allow me to exercise that spiritual muscle. You see God brings about a word in me, brings me to preaching it (by myself), then I know it well enough to minister it. why? because He is teaching me that very hour!

I say all of this to only now get to the main point J .... What does it mean "hour"? Does it mean literally within the hour? Or does it mean in that time and season? I think it can mean both! let us look at a few scriptures.

Mat 8:13 NKJV  Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour.

Mat 10:19 NKJV  But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;

Mat 25:13 NKJV  "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Mat 26:45 NKJV  Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Here you can see that Jesus did things at different times, talked about different times, and even talked about prophecy was being fulfilled in the "hour".

I say all of this to come back to ministering and/or witnessing. It is vitally important that we are in His word every day, praying continually, and even fellowshipping often (and if you are up to it, "preaching" to yourself J ). Why? because during these times of feasting God is brining a word to us in that "hour." And being led by His Spirit we will be given the platform to minister that word to others! In fact that is one of the primary reasons God brings words to us! Yes, we grow from them, and we are suppose to. But it’s not to stop there, we are to minister those word to others too. For we have freely received so we should freely give Mat_8:10.

I encourage you to begin stepping outside of your box and begin to exercise those things God is ministering to you. Try writing them out, preaching to the air, talking with your wife about them, meeting up with a brother in Christ and share with him. find a way to cultivate and grow that word in you, so that you may minister it to others!

If you choose to write these words out let me know, and you can send them out in our group as a mini-check-in. I am sure that you are tired of always hearing from me J. 

To bring this to a close let us look at the verse we first started out with. For God is saying here, that when He brings us to witness the good news of Jesus, He will teach us before what to say. He will teach us and lead us even as we are speaking. For the Holy Spirit will bring to remembrance all those things that Jesus has ministered to us! so let us close with being lifted up in His word:

Luk 12:12 NKJV  For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."

Joh 14:26 NKJV  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Your Brother in Christ

Grace and Peace be with you

Nate Cook, Setting Captives Free Team Member

www.SettingCaptivesFree.com

And Jesus said to me:

Eze 3:10b-11a  "...Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get to the captives..."

Sin in Saints

It was only a few days after writing our last mini-check-in that I was praying about it, when a student asked me a question of “if we are a new man then why do we still sin?” Though at first in prayer time these two (witnessing and sinning) had nothing to do with each other it soon was made clear that in fact they do. With that let us take a few minutes to look at what I mean.

What does sin do in the lives of saints? Of course it brings death like it would with any other person. Though sin in the life of a saint does more. It binds us from ministry! When there is an open sin, one not brought before Jesus, asking for Him to cover it with His blood, and forgive us, our mouths are shut! You see there is a power in sin that when we are in it we are its slaves! Though when we are in Christ Jesus we are His! When we are His we have the Holy Spirit, and when we have the Holy Spirit we can and will walk in the power of His might!

Look at it like this, when we are in sin and we see person who needs ministry we will not be able to minister to them. Not that we cannot speak, but that even if we do our words will have now power from the Holy Spirit. For if we are in sin (the flesh) then we cannot be in the Spirit as listed here in Gal_5:16-17:

Gal 5:16-17 NKJV  I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  (17)  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Therefore if we do not minister as redeemed saints covered by His grace, then we are not walking in the will of God! For He has called us to be a witness to the world! We are to be a witness in word and deed! We must have both. There is a time and place that one may prevail over the other, but the fact remains we must be a witness in both word and deed. How we do it, and what power we do it in is up to us. If we are in sin, then when/if we do minister then it will be done in the flesh, and our words/deeds have no power but our own. And we know just how NOT strong we are if we are left to ourselves. But if we choose to walk in the Spirit and die to our flesh (like Jesus commands that we do Luk_9:23) then we will walk in the power of the Holy Spirit like we are promised in Act_1:8! For we know that it is Him that calls all men unto the FatherJoh_6:44! So if He is the one doing the calling and we are not walking in the Spirit, but in the flesh, then we know our words will have no power but our own! It would be only by the grace of God and His will that any ministry done in the flesh would be of any affect!

Now I say all of this not to say that every sin would have this affect on us. But I am saying that if we sin willingly, knowing full well what we are doing, then expect to be an effective minister of the gospel we are fooling ourselves. For example, if we were to willingly have binge session of sexual sins over a course of time we would be willingly putting our self back into bondage of sin! There in this “sin state” we would not be an effective witness! For we know that whom we present our bodies we will be slaves:

Rom 6:12-15 NKJV  Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.  (13)  And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.  (14)  For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.  (15)  What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!

After reading this, is there any sin in your life that needs to be dealt with? Have you gotten lax in an area that may lead to open sinning? If so please share that with us now, so you can bring it into the light, and we can begin to pray for you right where you are!

(Also below my signature block are the scriptures that I used today)

Your Brother in Christ

Grace and Peace be with you

Nate Cook, Setting Captives Free Team Member

www.SettingCaptivesFree.com

And Jesus said to me:

Eze 3:10b-11a  "...Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get to the captives..."

Gal 5:16-17 NKJV  I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  (17)  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Luk 9:23 NKJV  Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

Act 1:8 NKJV  But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Joh 6:44 NKJV  No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.