From: "Gospel Messenger Service" Subject: Take Up Your Cross Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 11:43:15 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0007_01C470AA.401FE5C0" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Unsent: 1 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4133.2400 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0007_01C470AA.401FE5C0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable TAKE UP YOUR CROSS By "Rebekah" the Bride (Matt.16:24-25; 11:28-30; Isa.53:5-6; 54:17; 64:6 Rom.3:21-22; 6:3-6; 7:18-19; Jn.1:29; 15:4-5,13-15; 16:33 2 Cor.5:17,19,21; 6:16; Gal.2:20; Col.1:27 Ex.15:26; Ps.103:2-3; Mal.4:2; 3 Jn.1:2) *** "Take up your cross and follow Me," In Matthew, Jesus said, you see. In that same verse I also read, "Deny yourself," that's what Christ said. What is the cross for us to bear? Those words might give us quite a scare. Let's look at them in their true light, And get the meaning of them right. *** Your cross to bear is not your sin, For Jesus took that all on Him. God punished Jesus in our place For sins of the whole human race. The weight of your sins He will lift Off of your shoulders-what a gift! So all believers everywhere Will never have that cross to bear. *** Disease is not your cross to bear; A heavy one for you to wear Upon your shoulders day and night. God wants your sickness to take flight. "I am the Lord that healeth thee," Is what the scriptures say, you see. Don't say, "I'm sick, my cross that is." Christ bore that one, that cross was His. *** A drunken husband, nagging wife, Is not your cross to bear in life. Some tribulations there will be, Christ said, in life for you and me. But they're not crosses God gives you, Though things like that are hard, it's true. Then what's the cross that we're to take, To carry round for Jesus' sake? *** The cross to carry on this earth, For those who've had the second birth, Is just relinquishing control; Give up self-effort, that's the goal. Rest in Christ's Life inside of you; To bear your cross, that's what you do. That is the cross, the price to pay, To follow Jesus every day. *** Don't strive to get Christ's fruit to show Upon your life down here below. Take up your cross, your self deny; Then to your precious Lord draw nigh. And let His Life bear fruit through you; Give up self-effort, oh, please do. Just bear your cross so faithfully, And soon God's fruit you'll start to see. *** Give up self-righteousness, please do, And trust in Christ's-He wants you to. Just think, a righteousness that's free; It's His yet He gave it to me! Self-effort to be righteous here Upon this earth, I hope it's clear, Is not the way your cross you bear. Lean on His Life, your cross you'll wear. *** It's hard to let self-effort go; We're used to handling life, you know. But letting God be in control Will bring such rest to your dear soul. His yoke is easy, yes, it is, When leaning on the Life that's His. To bear your cross, that's what you do. It lifts a heavy load off you. *** Lay down YOUR life, self-effort lose. Let Christ take over, oh, please choose To live life on the earth this way; Trust Him as your life every day. Lay down your life for Christ, your Friend; Then joy and peace will never end. For He'll be living life through you; Christ will be Lord in all you do. *** The old self we should all deny, For that self always wants to try To live the Christian life each day; It tries to make the flesh obey. But you'll find out it can't be done; You'll find no victory will be won. Have victory-on Christ's Life just lean; Take up your cross, is what I mean. *** With Jesus you've been crucified. It is a fact, the old you died; And now you have been made brand new, For Christ's Life dwells inside of you. And leaning on His Life each day, Is living life in the best way. Take up your cross, the old you's dead; And walk in the new you instead. *** Walk in the new you, that's the way, To carry your cross every day. Because of His cross you're made new; Your cross is all He's done FOR you. Let that to your life be applied, And in Christ's Life now just abide. Lose your old life, just let it go; And live by His Life here below. ------=_NextPart_000_0007_01C470AA.401FE5C0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
TAKE UP YOUR=20 CROSS
 
By "Rebekah" the = Bride
 
(Matt.16:24-25; 11:28-30; Isa.53:5-6; = 54:17;=20 64:6
Rom.3:21-22; 6:3-6; 7:18-19; Jn.1:29; = 15:4-5,13-15; 16:33
2 Cor.5:17,19,21; 6:16; Gal.2:20;=20 Col.1:27
Ex.15:26; Ps.103:2-3; Mal.4:2; 3=20 Jn.1:2)
 
***
"Take up your cross and follow Me,"
In Matthew, Jesus said, you see.
In that same verse I also read,
"Deny yourself," that’s what Christ = said.
What is the cross for us to bear?
Those words might give us quite a scare.
Let’s look at them in their true light,
And get the meaning of them right.
***
Your cross to bear is not your sin,
For Jesus took that all on Him.
God punished Jesus in our place
For sins of the whole human race.
The weight of your sins He will lift
Off of your shoulders—what a gift!
So all believers everywhere
Will never have that cross to bear.
***
Disease is not your cross to bear;
A heavy one for you to wear
Upon your shoulders day and night.
God wants your sickness to take flight.
"I am the Lord that healeth thee,"
Is what the scriptures say, you see.
Don’t say, "I’m sick, my cross that = is."
Christ bore that one, that cross was His.
***
A drunken husband, nagging wife,
Is not your cross to bear in life.
Some tribulations there will be,
Christ said, in life for you and me.
But they’re not crosses God gives you,
Though things like that are hard, it’s = true.
Then what’s the cross that we’re to = take,
To carry round for Jesus’ sake?
***
The cross to carry on this earth,
For those who’ve had the second birth,
Is just relinquishing control;
Give up self-effort, that’s the goal.
Rest in Christ’s Life inside of you;
To bear your cross, that’s what you do.
That is the cross, the price to pay,
To follow Jesus every day.
***
Don’t strive to get Christ’s fruit to = show
Upon your life down here below.
Take up your cross, your self deny;
Then to your precious Lord draw nigh.
And let His Life bear fruit through you;
Give up self-effort, oh, please do.
Just bear your cross so faithfully,
And soon God’s fruit you’ll start to = see.
***
Give up self-righteousness, please do,
And trust in Christ’s—He wants you = to.
Just think, a righteousness that’s free;
It’s His yet He gave it to me!
Self-effort to be righteous here
Upon this earth, I hope it’s clear,
Is not the way your cross you bear.
Lean on His Life, your cross you’ll = wear.
***
It’s hard to let self-effort go;
We’re used to handling life, you know.
But letting God be in control
Will bring such rest to your dear soul.
His yoke is easy, yes, it is,
When leaning on the Life that’s His.
To bear your cross, that’s what you do.
It lifts a heavy load off you.
***
Lay down YOUR life, self-effort lose.
Let Christ take over, oh, please choose
To live life on the earth this way;
Trust Him as your life every day.
Lay down your life for Christ, your Friend;
Then joy and peace will never end.
For He’ll be living life through you;
Christ will be Lord in all you do.
***
The old self we should all deny,
For that self always wants to try
To live the Christian life each day;
It tries to make the flesh obey.
But you’ll find out it can’t be = done;
You’ll find no victory will be won.
Have victory—on Christ’s Life just = lean;
Take up your cross, is what I mean.
***
With Jesus you’ve been crucified.
It is a fact, the old you died;
And now you have been made brand new,
For Christ’s Life dwells inside of you.
And leaning on His Life each day,
Is living life in the best way.
Take up your cross, the old you’s dead;
And walk in the new you instead.
***
Walk in the new you, that’s the way,
To carry your cross every day.
Because of His cross you’re made new;
Your cross is all He’s done FOR you.
Let that to your life be applied,
And in Christ’s Life now just abide.
Lose your old life, just let it go;
And live by His Life here below.
 
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