God's answer to fear, anxiety, panic attacks, worry, discouragement, bipolar, oppression, depression, or any care, situation, and problem that life may bring, is to
apply the Cross to the problem. 2 Tim. 1:7, 1 Peter 5:7-11, Matthew 6:33; 11:29-30
And he said to them all, If any man will come after Me
(the criteria for Discipleship), let him deny himself
(not asceticism as many think, but rather that one denies one's own willpower, self-will, strength, and ability, depending totally on Christ), and take up his cross
(the benefits of the Cross, looking exclusively to what Jesus did there to meet our every need) daily
(this is so important, our looking to the Cross; that we must renew our Faith in what Christ has done for us, even on a daily basis, for Satan will ever try to move us away from the Cross as the Object of our Faith, which always spells disaster), and follow Me
(Christ can be followed only by the Believer looking to the Cross, understanding what it accomplished, and by that means alone [Rom. 6:3-5, 11, 14; 8:1-2, 11; 1 Cor. 1:17-18, 21, 23; 2:2; Gal. 6:14; Eph. 2:13-18; Col. 2:14-15]). Luke 9:23
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it
(try to live one's life outside of Christ and the Cross): but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it
(when we place our Faith entirely in Christ and the Cross, looking exclusively to Him, we have just found "more Abundant Life" [John 10:10]) Luke 9:24
As far as trying to do something as it concerns taking up the Cross daily, we are to do nothing. In fact, it was already done at Calvary some two thousand years ago. On a daily basis, we should reinforce our Faith in Christ and what He has done for us at the Cross (Rom. 6:3-5; 8:2, Gal. 2:20-21, Col. 2:10-15). This is the "Truth" which we must learn, act upon, and continue to act upon, which guarantees the help of the Holy Spirit.
We are not wrestling against flesh and blood. Satan has been defeated through the Cross. Principalities and powers have been spoiled (Eph. 1:21-22, Col. 2:15). We are enforcing this victory through applying the Cross of Calvary to the pulling down strongholds by placing and maintain our Faith exclusively in Christ and the Finished Work at Calvary Cross where the victory was won, i.e., "The Blood of Jesus." Our source of Power is the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace (Exodus 14:14).
"In Justification, the Lord fights 'for' us, and in Sanctification, He fights 'in' us."
Two kinds of peace
1. Justifying Peace - This is Peace with God, a legal standing.
Rom. 8:7;
Eph. 2:14-15
2. Sanctifying Peace - This is the Peace of God in the heart.
Rom. 8:6;
14:19;
15:13;
Gal. 1:3
The first is the result of a legal standing. The second is the result of the Work of the Holy Spirit. The first is static, never fluctuates, the second changes almost from hour to hour. The first, every Christian has, the second, every Christian may have.
Sanctifying peace allows the Holy Spirit to deliver the Believer into the death of Christ so Christ life is manifested through the Believer (
2 Cor. 4:11,
Gal. 2:20-21,
Romans 8:2;
13,
John 14:21).
We have been given the keys of the Kingdom (Matthew 16:19). This gives us the authority to "bind" and "loose." "Binding" ties Satan's hands and stops his power to "steal, kill, and destroy," likewise, the "loosing" releases all that Jesus did at Calvary and the Resurrection. "Binding" has to do with the spirit world of darkness while "loosing" has to do with the Spirit world of Light. To "bind" means to restrict, stop, hinder, fetter, check, hold back, arrest, or put a stop to. To "loose" means to untie, unbind, unlock, liberate, release, forgive, or free.
The only way to God is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6)...the only way to Jesus Christ is by the Means of the Cross (Luke 14:27). The only way to the Cross is a denial of self (Luke 9:23). If any person tries to come any other way, Jesus says, "they are a thief and a robber" (John 10:1).
1. Jesus Christ is the source of all blessings.
2. The Cross is the means by which all blessings are given.
3. The object of our faith must be Christ and the Cross.
4. That being done, the Holy Spirit will greatly help us.
JSM and Brother John Eckhardt
