Soldiers of the Cross!

You Are Now On Active Duty!

Be active in serving! 

We serve others as a Christian because it is our way of serving God. 

Galatians 4:9-10 AMPC
9 And when they knew (perceived, recognized, understood, and acknowledged) the grace (God’s unmerited favor and spiritual blessing) that had been bestowed upon me, James and Cephas (Peter) and John, who were reputed to be pillars of the Jerusalem church, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, with the understanding that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised (Jews).
10 They only [made one stipulation], that we were to remember the poor, which very thing I was also eager to do.

Our serving does not go unnoticed, nor is it in vain! Serving is our way to show who God is and how much He loves those who are overlooked by society through us Christians, and when we do, the Angels in Heaven rejoice!

Matthew 25:34-40 NKJV
34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Be active in giving! 

So many Christians do not understand the importance and rightful duty as a Christian to give. It is not so the church will be rich (as many believe) it’s so the anointing of the righteous will come upon you; and you will be able to supply the needs of others and more to their benefit. But giving has to be from a willing heart! 

Genesis 14:17-20
17 After his [Abram’s] return from the defeat and slaying of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh, that is, the King’s Valley.
18 Melchizedek king of Salem [later called Jerusalem] brought out bread and wine [for their nourishment]; he was the priest of God Most High,
19 And he blessed him and said, Blessed (favored with blessings, made blissful, joyful) be Abram by God Most High, Possessor and Maker of heaven and earth,
20 And blessed, praised, and glorified be God Most High, Who has given your foes into your hand! And [Abram] gave him a tenth of all [he had taken].

It says that when Melchizedek (a Priest of the Most High) blessed Abram, Abram gave him a tenth of all the spoils he had taken from battle. Little in the Bible is said about Melchizedek, other than He is a High Priest of the Most High God, with no beginning or no end! But we do know he resembles the Son of God!

Hebrews 7:1-8 AMPC
 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem [and] priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
2 And Abraham gave to him a tenth portion of all [the spoil]. He is primarily, as his name when translated indicates, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, which means king of peace.
3 Without [record of] father or mother or ancestral line, neither with beginning of days nor ending of life, but, resembling the Son of God, he continues to be a priest without interruption and without successor.
4 Now observe and consider how great [a personage] this was to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth [the topmost or the pick of the heap] of the spoils.
5 And it is true that those descendants of Levi who are charged with the priestly office are commanded in the Law to take tithes from the people—which means, from their brethren—though these have descended from Abraham.
6 But this person who has not their Levitical ancestry received tithes from Abraham [himself] and blessed him who possessed the promises [of God].
7 Yet it is beyond all contradiction that it is the lesser person who is blessed by the greater one.
8 Furthermore, here [in the Levitical priesthood] tithes are received by men who are subject to death; while there [in the case of Melchizedek], they are received by one of whom it is testified that he lives [perpetually].

After the battle, and Abram tithed to Melchizedek, God spoke to Abram (who was later named Abraham, Father of a multitude) and made a covenant with him. This is the covenant between him and God:

Genesis 17:3-14 NKJV

3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

9 And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10 This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; 11 and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. 13 He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”

When you give little, you get little, when you give much you get much, but it is NOT for our gain, but for the Glory of God, who gives generously to us, when we do it without backbiting or reproach! 

Luke 6:38 NKJV
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

We give, not to receive material things, but Spiritual blessings that are eternal, and when we do, God's blessings are righteous and just!

Proverbs 10:22 NKJV
“The blessing of the Lord makes one rich,
And He adds no sorrow with it.”

So do good and be fruitful because it is our “Active duty” so others will see God in us! It also makes one rich with Love, peace, joy, and good spiritual health - in other words, the blessings you receive will be from God, not from you striving to get the blessings in your own strength and time , with much struggle and set backs! And you will not be sorrowful for the gift, like you would be for the loan you took out for 30 years to buy a house you knew was not beneficial for your current finances to purchase. That is what it means, "He adds no sorrow with it."

Be active in prayer! 

Prayer is communicating with God of our needs, and Thanking Him for our blessings and answered prayers. It is also talking to the only wise and ALL KNOWING God, to take your worries and cares to Him and leave them there! God knows our needs and hears our cries, but He can’t get involved until we ask in prayer, in addition to that, He doesn’t always do things on our timetable either; but in the “right” time when we are mature enough to handle whatever storm in life we are going through! 

Things have to be removed from us so we are able to see, hear, obey, and trust God. 

For example: The majority of this world wants money. It is a necessity to purchase our needs, but many people will kill, steal, and destroy their lives over obtaining it. God wants your heart! Money can’t get you into Heaven, nor can it buy good health. So many of us don’t pray for eternal salvation and God’s mercy and Grace, we pray for things, that do not satisfy! 

Prayer is powerful and does get results ; but remember, it is our weapon of warfare against evil, and to bring about good! Because sometimes what we pray for is not what we need. So if you pray for a million dollars, and you are squandering money, in debt, not giving or being a blessing to others, and irresponsible with what you are making now, God will not answer that prayer! It has to be in line with His will not yours - because your motive is for self, not for service to others! Do you want a million dollars to build you a house or do you want a million dollars to build a shelter for young Mothers who need a place to stay and a spiritual foundation to be a good Mother and raise a God fearing child? Remember this earth is not our forever home, so with your blessings be a blessing - and leave a legacy for others to increase their faith, and multiply their giving!

Matthew 6(NKJV)

Do Good to Please God

6 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

The Model Prayer

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.