STAND UP, RISE UP, TAKE UP

ARISE TAKE UP THY BED...

PICK UP YOUR CROSS!

I know a lot of folks like the "Footprints" poem where there are two sets of footprints in the sand and the footprints are supposed to represent a mans walk with God over his lifetime.

The man reflects back over his life and notices that in the very tough and trying times there were only one set of footprints, so he asks the Lord, "Why is it that in my most difficult hours you left me?"

And the Lord's reply in this poem was, "These were the times that I carried you.

Sentimental it is.
We know that being left alone should have never even been a question or doubt because we know that God never leaves us nor forsakes us.

We know that the Lord dwells in us and we in Him.

We know that the Holy Spirit dwells within us.

We know that greater is He in me than he who is in the world.

We know that it is God who anoints us to do great things.

We know that it is the Father who equips us for service and makes us able to stand and walk and run and we carry a cross daily.

We are not being carried.

This is why we have been told that we can do all things through Christ which gives us strength.

If you like the "Footprints" poem this is not a knock to you, this is a think about it so you can run with it.

It's the subtle things, the little foxes that destroy a man's faith.

One of my sisters In Christ was attacked in her body some time back and she was using a cane temporarily, she wasn't being carried.

The Lord reminded her that she was blood bought and that meant that she would stand and not be carried.
She is not the SICK BUT THE HEALED.
I saw her Saturday and she was walking with power and strength and I offered to help carry a few bags that she had and she said, "No thank you, I got it."

She didn't need to be carried and neither did those bags.
Folks ask her how she is doing and she calls it what the Father calls it.
And she keeps on stepping.

The Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
We need our path lit because it's us who will walk it, we are not going to be carried over the finish line.

We will finish this race on our feet and strong.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word Of God.
Romans 10:17

We making new tracks in the sand today In Jesus Name.
Psalm 23:4

I know folks want to be carried.
Jesus didn't pick that man up at the pool of Bethesda, He told that man to get up.

Peter told that man at the gate of the temple I did not bring any money but what I do have is this, Rise Up!Stand Up!, Get Up and walk!

A man sick with the palsy was brought to Jesus.
Do you know who brought the sick folks to Jesus?
The brothers who took the roof off and lowered people down in front of Jesus were the friends of the sick.

Friends take you to Jesus.
I know you think the people who coddle you and tell you that you are right even when you are wrong are your friends.

But even a friend is going to lower you down so that you can be healed and walk on your own.

I know a whole lot of folks want to climb back into their mothers womb and live like a baby Kangaroo and not have to walk another step, but the womb is made to expel at a given time.

We who have been born again have to walk.
We have to pick up our cross daily and follow Jesus.

The rich young ruler in Mark chapter 10 wasn't ready to let petty go, he wasn't ready to let offense go, he wasn't ready to press in when it was hard, this boy wasn't ready to walk, he wanted to be carried, he wanted to hold onto the walls of the womb and he walked away grieved probably returned home to his mother's lap.

There is a time when the strings have to be cut.

Nicodemus asked Jesus in John 3 " ...can a man enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"
I'm talking to the born again.
No, the womb is closed people.

It's time to let that kite fly.
Milk is for babies.

We are no longer infants being tossed to and fro by minor waves and blown here and there but growing up into Him who is the head, That is Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be In Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.
The sincere Word Of God is how a man grows, not by sentiment or old wives tales or what your auntie thinks that don't line up with the Word.

Sentiment has it's place but remember it's the subtle things and the little foxes that spoil a man's faith.
Any departure away from what father said is a faith killer.

Well these real friends brought their sick friend to Jesus and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

This man was healed.

Yet the Lord had these haters standing around not bringing the faith, not having the courage to tear the roof off for their friends but they had the nerve to be a critic to Jesus.
Called him a fraud and a blasphemer.

So they don't trust that Jesus has the ability or authority to heal with those simple words.

Well He did.

What Jesus didn't do was pick the man up and carry him.
You know religion is so twisted, it is the cloak of the enemy.

It is God who brings us up out of the pit and out of the miry clay and sets our feet upon a rock and establishes our goings.

It is His rod and His staff that give us the ability to walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil.

Jesus carried our sins and He took our punishment and He offers to carry our burdens but God has given us the ability to walk.
God has made us competent.

He has strengthened our feet.

Jesus said, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
Jesus didn't say, "If any man will follow me I will carry him and his cross daily."

Yea though I walk!

I want you to meditate something.
Luke 5:23,24; Luke 6:8; John 5:8,11,12; Matthew 9:6; Mark 2:4, Psalm 23:4

I want you to know that I am praying that you be strong not in your self but in the power of His (Christ) might.
Knowing that He has equipped us with armour to put on, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Stand up, Rise up, Take up.
In the hard times and the difficult times you won't be carried, you'll be doing the carrying.

Keep your loins girt about with truth.
Tighten that breastplate of righteousness.
Cover your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

And above all take the shield of Faith, The Helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God;
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, persevering and supplicating for all saints.

THIS IS HOW WE DO IT.

WE STAND UP, WE RISE UP, WE TAKE UP AND WE WALK THROUGH!

LOVE