LET'S WEAR OUR CROSSES

On Vision radio recently the guest speaker, a lady lawyer, told of the pressure on Christians in the UK. She told how that she had represented a young woman who was told not to wear her cross to work.  People of other faiths were allowed to wear the symbols of their religion; but in the Court it was asserted that the Cross was not a symbol of Christianity. Anyone should know that this is a deliberate denial of the truth, but truth seems to be expendable in this day and age.

Constantine the Great, when about to engage in battle, had vision of a Cross in the sky and heard a voice saying, “In this sign you will conquer.” He subsequently converted to Christianity and the persecution of Christians ceased.

Some will argue that this was not necessarily a good thing. In a backlash against the excesses of the Church in the time of ‘Bloody Mary’ [Queen of England] the Puritans destroyed  all such symbols believing that they were idolatrous,  an attitude which still survives in some traditions. Nevertheless, it is by all that the Cross stands for, that we will conquer. It is obvious that the devil hates the Cross and any representation of it.

The rainbow, a Biblical covenantal symbol, has been appropriated by the LGBTQI lobbyists though there is currently a move to ‘Reclaim the Rainbow’ by Christians. Those who are fighting to preserve Biblical values need to have an identifying symbol to which we can rally, and what better symbol than the Cross? So I am saying, “Let’s wear our Crosses and let’s keep the Cross and all it stands for before the world.” I am not suggesting that Christians in countries where they could be executed for doing so should risk their lives; but in nations like Australia, let’s assert our right to wear a Cross and to proclaim our faith before we get to the same situation that Christians in other nations like UK and the USA find themselves in.

The speaker on Vision radio said that Christians need to be more vocal and visual. Wearing a Cross is a simple thing which we all can do – men and women. It may also give us opportunities to share our faith. The Church needs to be a lot bolder in standing up for Jesus in these days when there seems to be a growing determination to stifle all things Christian. Jesus bore the Cross for the sake of the world. Let’s wear the Cross as a witness of His love for the world and in identification with Christ and His people.

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"I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH"

Jesus said, “I will build My Church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

What does that statement mean to you? We were told that it meant that Satan would attack the Church; but he would never be victorious over it. That in itself is true and of great comfort and assurance to the Church facing ever increasing persecution; but is that the full meaning of that statement? Picture a walled city under attack by an army. Which is the Church? Are we the ones who are on the defensive or on the offensive? Do gates attack or are they attacked?

 

Our position to date has been defensive. I remember an old song which says,

“Hold the fort, for I am coming,” Jesus signals still;
Wave the answer back to Heaven, “By Thy grace we will.”

All very heroic! but is that the extent of what Jesus intends for the Church – to be merely holding the fort?

 

The Bible tells us that Jesus is building a Church that will rise “to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” [Ephesians 4:13]. We are “being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.” [Ephesians 2:22]. We are “His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” [Ephesians 1:23]. Such a Church is not to be merely on the defensive but on the offensive.

 

Against what? – The gates of Hell. Satan is the ‘god of this age’ who has blinded the minds of the people of this age. Jesus said that he is a murderer and a liar and the father lies. He holds people in bondage in darkness. If the prince of darkness is the god of this age, then Hell has invaded the earth. His minions are the principalities and powers over every nation that are dedicated to preserving extending hells grip on the earth. We see the results all around us. The strongholds of hell appear to be firmly entrenched in the earth and growing in strength day by day.

 

Jesus is building a Church that will bring down the gates of hell and set people free to receive the gospel. It will prepare the way for the Lord to come and reign. Jesus has defeated satan [the accuser of the brethren] at the Cross by removing all grounds of accusation. Satan no longer has legal authority in the earth. He operates by default. All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Jesus and He has delegated it to His Church. In His name we are commissioned to bring the nations into the kingdom. It can be done! God has shown us how in the Old Testament type of Israel’s deliverance from bondage and their possession of the Promised Land – their inheritance. Our inheritance is the earth [Romans 4:13] It is ours but we have to possess it. We need to come out of our siege mentality and get pro-active for the Kingdom. When the Church comes into the full knowledge of what the Cross accomplished, it will rise up in power and dispossess the powers of darkness that hold our world in bondage.

 

Jesus has won the victory over satan; but it is a victory which has to be enforced. The outcome is certain; but we must rise up in faith and claim what Jesus has purchased by His blood. This is a big subject and of the utmost importance. I have written about it in my books “The Other Bible Code” and “End Time Insights.” I hope you will obtain a copy and be challenged and encouraged to rise up in believing prayer for the nations.