Comfort v.s The Cross

Saints, all of us have a decision to make. We are literally one month away from the beginning of the New Year on the Hebrew Calendar. I can assure you, as we go into the Fall of 2015, there are some things that God is going to do in this country that are going to Shake Up America. Remember however, that Judgment starts first in the House of God (1Peter 4). Therefore, there are some things that God is going to address in His Church as He prepares to address certain things in His country. With this in mind, as believers in Christ, we have to make a decision as God prepares to move in America in a way I don't believe we've ever seen before. Are we going to settle for Comfort, or are we preparing to Bear our Cross?

Many of you, I'm sure, are familiar with the phrase "comfort zone". This is the area of familiarity and functionality that most people like to operate in because it represents the most comfort and security for them. Their knowledge of what to expect and what's expected of them, allows them to operate in what can be described as their "comfort zone". Saints, I want to put you on alert; God is calling the church out of her "comfort zone". God no longer wants us to feel "comfortable". You wonder why it's been so hard for you lately? You're wondering why God is allowing you to experience this struggle that you're going through. Let me answer it for you in a very succinct manner; He's calling you out of your Comfort Zone. Most of the believers that I'm talking to these days are going through some type of struggle right now. Even though they know God is Faithful and has not left them, the question still arises, where is God? And if not "where is God", then, why God? All of these questions are legitimate, but understand what the Lord is doing. He's breaking you out of your comfort zone.

With this in mind, what the Lord is doing is conditioning you to Bear your Cross. Jesus told us to bear our cross daily (Luke 9). That's why it feels like a daily grind. God is allowing this with Divine Intentionality. What you're experiencing is not arbitrary. God operates with Specific Intent when it comes to the affairs of His children and His chosen. My pastor preached a sermon years ago entitled, "Tough Equipment for a Rough Assignment". God's not looking for spiritual civilians, He's looking for Soldiers. He's building an Army. And when you're in the armed services, they train you for Battle. God as Commander-in-Chief, is no different.

But at the end of the day, the choice is still ours. God's not going to "force us" to bear our cross. And I suspect that there are some of us that want to resort to our "old ways". Can I just feel good for a moment? No you cannot. What did Jesus say? "No man having put his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God" (Luke 9). It's Training Season saints. Let the Holy Spirit get you in Spiritual Fitness for the Manifestation of the Kingdom of God. I know it's rough right now; but don't look back! Don't turn back to comfort. Don't turn back to convenience. Deny yourself. Bear your Cross. Endure that pain. Suffer those hardships. If you continue to endure (Hebrews 6), you'll discover that the Reward of the Cross always trumps the convenience of comfort.