Your cross is the second element in the blood covenant lifestyle.

As we have been discussing, the three elements of the blood covenant lifestyle are expressed in Ephesians 2,4 and 6 as Sit, Walk and Stand, and in Revelation 12:11 as the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony and not loving our lives to the death. This chapter deals with the second element, walk, or not loving our lives to the death. Another way of expressing this is "taking up our cross."

We cannot "Stand" without the "Walk." Our enemy, our antagonist to the Blood Covenant, will prevail every time if we live like someone who does not have a covenant with God. Here are some Scriptures that back this up.

Ephesians 4:1 says, "I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the calling with which you are called."

"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: (this is regarding unforgiveness) for we are not ignorant of his devices" (2 Corinthians 2:11). "Neither give place to the devil"(Ephesians 4:27). "He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap" (1 Timothy 3:7). "and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will" (2 Timothy 2:26). "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).

We need faith in order to continue to believe in the finished work of Jesus, in His blood and in His promises, however we cannot continue to believe without love. "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love" (Galatians 5:6, KJV).

It is clear from these Scriptures and many others, that even as believers we can become the victim of Satan, the devil, and his assistants in many different ways. These Scriptures also show that our conduct and lifestyle have something to do with giving Satan the right to hurt us.

Our victory over Satan and circumstances can only be successful as a result of our "walk." We need the character of Jesus in our lives in order to be safe. If we attempt to make it in life with our old character, we have already lost the spiritual war. However, if we are walking in God's character, then the enemy only sees Jesus and not us. Remember, the enemy has no place in Jesus. Jesus already defeated Satan.

The Parable of the Sower in Mark chapter 4 makes it very clear that Satan will indeed come to steal the Word when you have received it from the Lord. He will not leave you unchallenged. He will attempt to have you give up because things do not change right away. If he cannot succeed in this manner, he tempt you to live your life in a sloppy and ungodly manner.

Here are some ways that Satan steals the Word.

Mark 4:15 - Hard hearts. "And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

4:16 - Tribulation and persecution. "These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

17 "and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.

4:18 - Trusting in things of the world instead of God. "Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,

19 "and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

20 "But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

Our self-image determines our conduct; the Christian life does not begin with "walking." In other words our performance or anything that we can do or accomplish is not meant to give us our identity. That process will end up in legalism, and exalting our old nature, the flesh.

Our self-image is supposed to come from the facts in the Word. This is what we covered in the previous chapter, the facts of who we are in Christ is what we should meditate upon. From that self-image, we will open the way for God to give us the desire and the power to live a holy lifestyle. Grace is what got us in, and grace is what will carry us through!

Everything is based upon the finished work of Jesus at the Cross of Calvary and what He accomplished there and who we became as a result of His cross. The Lord has done everything for us. He is seated at the throne and we are seated with Him. We have been crucified, we died, were buried, were raised and resurrected with Him and we have been seated with Him in the heavenlies. Ephesians 2:6 says, "and has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus."

However, the Christian life does not end there. Our Christian walk is a relationship between two persons, God and us. A relationship does not come instantly, it requires much time. Therein lies the problem with most Christians. They do not wish to take time, to give their priority to keeping their relationship living and vital with God. Romans 12:1-2 makes it clear that in view of the wonderful mercies of God that we need now to respond by offering ourselves a living sacrifice, which is our reasonable service. In thus doing we constantly renew our minds from the old way of living and the result and promise is that we will prove, or walk out, the will of God for our lives.

This idea of "walk" does not at all infer any type of legalism or performance based religion. It has more to do with submission to Jesus, obedience to His Word, and the relationship skills to stay properly tuned to Him. Only the obedience, those in submission to Him, will overcome. We continually need for Jesus to drive out remnants of the old nature in us. A major portion of overcoming is allowing Jesus to overcome the "junk" in us, and the "walk" will allow Him to do that in His power not ours.

To Walk worthy of the Lord depends upon our cross. Luke 9:23 says, "And He said to all, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me."

Remember, our relationship with God is a blood covenant. It takes two parties and two deaths to make it valid.

There are several types of choices we have daily. Depending upon our choices, we either get closer or further from God.

a. Moral choices. Yes or no to stealing, lying, cheating, illicit sex, gossip and the list goes on. Are we obeying the Word, or our flesh?

b. Trials and suffering. Yes or no to trusting in God's Word more than our circumstances. Are we trusting the Word or our flesh?

c. Authority. Yes or no to the Lordship of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Yes or no to the authorities that God puts over us, like teachers, pastors, police, parents, etc. If you cannot obey who is over you, then leave. If they are asking you to sin, then do not obey them. God will protect you from even evil authority.

d. The World. The "world" is a spiritual kingdom just like the Kingdom of God. 1 John 2:15-16 says the craving for sensual gratification, the greedy longings of the mind and the assurance in one's own resources are attributes of the "world" (Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life). Each time we choose one of these, we move away from God.

e. How we treat others. There is no holiness without practical holiness. This was the cry of John Wesley and the early Methodist movement. The Pharisees attempted to keep the perfect law before God, but they abused humans.

Ephesians 4 - 5 gives us a mirror to look at for our own evaluation.

"This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Therefore, putting away lying, 'Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,' for we are members of one another. 'Be angry, and do not sin': do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."

"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma" (Ephesians 4:17-32,5:1-2).

f. Forgiveness. Without forgiveness on our part we will never inherit the fullness of the blood covenant. We will not inherit our promises our destiny with God! Unforgiveness gives Satan a legal right to have his way with you! Period!

We are not perfect, but we can walk and live in repentance. We will fail from time to time, but God gives us a perfect forgiveness, just as we had never sinned. 1 John 1:9 says, "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

God knows that most of us fail not because we want to, but because we are victims of something. His cure is not to slap us around, but to come and let us know who we are in Him, with the hope that will cause us to be drawn to Him even more.

Walking in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16 says, "I say, then, Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh."

Romans 8:1 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

Walking in the Spirit is a simple, but different way to live and the easiest way I know to be right with God on a daily basis. It is a process that goes like this:

1. You continue to look into the Word of God (mirror) and ask God to show you how to live. Ask Him, and seek out what His standards are for your life. For instance, it says to not lie, to treat your friends with love, to submit to your parents and teachers (young people), to treat your brothers and sisters with kindness, to not get drunk, do not be selfish, don't be angry, always forgive not matter what. Forgive, forgive, forgive! Unforgiveness will give satanic forces a stronghold in your life.

2. You determine to live the way God wants you to, knowing that only God in you can walk a life worthy of the Lord.

3. When you fail, and you will, be totally honest with yourself, God and others around you. Repent (turn) quickly. The promise is that when we repent (turn) that the Kingdom of God is at hand, or within our reach.

4. Confess your sin to God. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

5. Confess what the Word of God says about your situation in a positive way, i.e., Galatians 2:20 that says, "I have been crucified with Christ, and I live; yet no longer I, but Christ lives in me. And that life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith toward the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself on my behalf."

6. As you continue to live this way those old habits and old sinful ways begin to disappear. The grace of God takes over and gives you the character of God instead of your old character.

7. Grace kicks in for your sin and your weakness. You did not get righteous by the things you did, so your righteousness is still there, it just has some dirt on it.

While you walk in the Spirit, God gives you grace for your mistakes, and takes the penalty of the sin that you would normally suffer, and gives you a blessing that you do not deserve.

8. Not only does grace kick in for your sin, not only does God give you a blessing that you did not deserve, but the grace you receive is actually the power that gets rid of the sin (or the problem) you are dealing with in the first place. Look at Zechariah 4:7 which says, "Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerebbabel [a type of Jesus] thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it." God speaks "grace" to your situation, and the mountain is removed!

The Word judges us. You need to look into the mirror.

You need to soak in the Word and allow the Lord to continually judge you. As the Word judges you, you will eventually be judged an overcomer.

James 1:23-25 says, "Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does."

The Word of God is our judge just like a mirror is our judge. It looks at us and tells us the truth of what is right and what is wrong. However it is possible to look at some dirt on our face, see it, and walk away and forget it. James says we can do the same thing when we look at the Word of God. We can see what we are supposed to do, but we can walk away as if we never saw it. If the man who obeys is blessed, then the man who does not obey is cursed!

Obedience to the Word is a powerful thing!

1.It "takes up your cross," it completes the blood covenant and puts you under the care and protection of God.

2. It totally takes Satan off your case. He will still attempt to hurt you, bad things may seem to happen, but they cannot hurt you. Matthew 7:24-27 says, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

3. It prepares you for eternity. The more you obey, the more Jesus gives you His Spirit and makes Himself real to you. Also, something happens inside of you over a period of time that separates you from the world and makes you closer to Jesus. When you get to Heaven, you will have a position closer to Him forever!

4. There are always rewards for obedience to His Word. John 14:23 tells us that our reward is His presence. Jesus draws us into His presence and we experience eternity, we are partakers of the Divine Nature!

5. You become a slave to whom you obey. Will it be Jesus or someone else? Romans 6:16 says, "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey-- whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?"

Obedience to God is not based upon the fear that He will hurt you if you disobey, it is based upon the fact that you love Him and want to please Him. John 14:21 says, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

If you want to see who loves God, look around and see who is going out of their way to obey Him!