The Challenges of Abandoning the Cross

By Rev. Dr. James B. Sampson

The Cross of Christ, is more than two beams of wood.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Mar 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9780997306200

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Benediction

The Challenges of Abandoning the Cross

Introduction

As the Lord began to inspire me to write this book: The Challenges of Abandoning the Cross, I had no earthly idea that I would experience so much pain and anguish. Nor did I think that I would be tempted, tried and tested as I have been. While writing this book I’ve had to ask God why am I going through so many difficult situations and experiencing the things I’ve been feeling? The Lord said unto me, in order for you to write with passion, purpose, and power, you will have to go through betrayal from acquaintances, denial by friends, sold out by my brothers, and I would have to be pressed almost beyond the limits, more than I could bear. I would have to endure hardness as a good soldier. However, the Lord said to me, don’t revile, ridicule, retaliate or try to get revenge against those people who may not even know what they are doing. When it is all said and done, I will give you position, prestige, and power; He promised that I would be stronger, wiser and better by the experience. I thought to myself what an awesome God we serve. He also reminded me of Hosea, And the LORD said to him Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD (Hosea 1:2 KJV). As well as the Prophet Jeremiah, And the word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words (Jeremiah 18:2). In order for us to feel some of what God is feeling we must go through some stuff!

Hence, I am excited and overwhelmed by the joy and sorrow I have experienced in authoring this book. This book is inspired by the Holy Spirit to encourage pastors and proclaimers of the gospel of Jesus Christ to spend more time preaching and teaching about the Cross of Christ. Many of you may or may not agree with this next statement. Many of us only spend about three minutes per sermon talking about the Cross of Christ, and that is usually when we are about to take our seat.

This book is a powerful, provocative look into the mysteries of the Cross, and it is purposely written on a (GED) level, that all may read and clearly understand those things that are freely given to us God, through his Cross. God seldom calls those we think are qualified, however, he always qualified those that he calls. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). Now I can appreciate and understand in a small way, the depths of God’s love, pain, passion, and power of his Amazing Grace.

Notice the words that Jesus uses in the gospel of John and the response of His disciples. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is a hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profited nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (John 6:60-63).

The hard sayings of Jesus sometimes challenge us to abandon the cross of Christ; why you may ask? Because we can’t be followers of the Master’s message without taking some responsibility of participating through practice. Jesus’ statement about eating His body and drinking His blood was too much for many of them to handle. Notice Jesus’ question and their answer. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. However from that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him (John 6:66-69).

Wow, some did abandon Christ and His Cross. What does it mean to challenge: to demand as due or deserved, required to order to halt and prove identity: to dispute especially as being unjust, invalid: to question formally the legality or legal qualifications of Jesus Lordship. From the beginning of his earthly ministry, Satan has tried to challenge Jesus’ identity. Abandoning means to give up to the control or influence of another person or agent: to give up with the intent of never again claiming a right or interest in: to withdraw from often in the face of danger or encroachment. Again, Satan has always had a plan to force us by fear and frustration, to give up the things that are freely given to us by God, if we abandon our cross, and come down, we will never complete our assignment. Jesus said unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it (Matthews 16:24-25). Wow! In other words no cross, no crown.

Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free, and we respond with resounding voices NO, there’s a cross for everyone, and there’s a cross for me. We preach Galatians 2:20, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Paul tells us we must embrace the fact that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, however I hear the Savior saying, But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Those of us who want to know Jesus in a deeper sense; not the Jesus of the manger; not the Jesus of the cross; not the Jesus of the tomb, but those who dare to know Him in the power of His resurrection, must become partners in His suffering and become conformed even to His death, for if we die with Him, we shall live with Him.

Therefore, my brethren, it is no great thing for believers to go through the storm and the rain because of the Word of God. Just know there is no temptation, trial or test that has come upon you, but that which is common to man (1 Corinthians 10:13), and our God is faithful that He will not suffer believers to be tempted, tried or tested above what we are able to bear, but our great God will always provide a way of escape that you might be able to handle it. Paul said in Romans 8:18, For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. In order for us to be able to stay on the cross we must believe Romans 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. That means the good, the bad and the ugly. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39). STAY ON THE CROSS!

The Seven Last Sayings of Christ on the Cross

(1) Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)

This saying is really at the heart of God’s plan of salvation. Our Sovereign Lord will do one of two things: He will either punish or pardon ours sins. Wow! Thank God for forgiveness.

(2) Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43) God is perfection in virtue and moral excellence, He’s high and holy. All the promises God has made, they are Yes in Christ. Whatever He says he will bring it to pass. Do you have your reservation?

(3) Woman, behold thy son! and Behold thy mother! (John 19:26-27) Even on the cross Jesus still had his mother on his mind and was concerned about her welfare. He would not leave her comfortless, nor would He leave us comfortless, that’s why the Father sent believers another comforter, who is the Holy Spirit.

(4) Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Matthew 27:46 Wow! He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. For the first time ever the Son of God felt lonely, and separated from his Father under the weight of the cross, and because He had become sin His Father would not look on Him, nor would he speak to him. We should all thank God for his unchanging love. We must be persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).

(5) I thirst. (John 19:28) Jesus said blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. I believe with all my heart that Jesus had His mind on Glory when He makes this statement. Although he was physically exhausted from the stress, strain, and struggle of carrying and bearing the cross. He had a longing for his heavenly home, the Crystal Rivers, and the clear streams of eternity. He thirsted for the Glory he once knew.

(6) It is finished. (John 19:30). Then said I, Lo, I come in the volume of the book it is written of me, to do thy will, O God. After completing all that was prophesied, and spoken of Him, he was really saying to his Father, the rest is on you now.

(7) Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. (Luke 23:46) At the beginning of Jesus earthly ministry the Father gave him the Spirit. Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him (Matthews 3:16). Notice now at the end of His earthly ministry Jesus gives the Spirit back to his Father; now that’s awesome.

Remember if your enemies are trying to pull you down, their already under your feet.

Chapter 1. The Purpose of the Cross

What is the cross? It’s more than two beams of wood. The beams of wood are symbols of two communities colliding in conflict over Christ being crucified on Calvary. It’s good against evil, right against wrong, heaven against hell, and light against darkness. The plan of salvation was not an afterthought in the mind of God. The all-wise and all-knowing Creator had plans for redeeming mankind before the foundation of the world. The cross was the method the Father decided to use to break the stronghold of sin