WHY JESUS IS THE TRUTH (AND WHY HUMAN BELIEF CAN BE MISLEADING)

 

Awakened by Grace: Why Some Hear the Gospel but Only Some Are Made Alive

“Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?” — Mark 8:18 (NKJV)

There is a sacred mystery surrounding salvation that many wrestle with but few dare to approach honestly:
Why do so many hear the Gospel… yet only some awaken to it?

Why does one person sit under preaching for decades and remain unchanged, while another hears the message once and is instantly transformed?

Why does one heart open in tears and repentance, while another remains unmoved by the same truth?

This question is not merely theological — it is deeply spiritual.
And the answer does not begin with human effort.
It begins with God’s power to make the dead alive.

This post is for those who have seen that salvation is not human achievement — it is divine resurrection.

---

Hearing Is Natural — Awakening Is Supernatural

Every human can hear words.
But not every human can hear truth.

The sound of the Gospel reaches many ears, but the life of the Gospel only enters hearts God has made alive.

Scripture is clear:

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”
— Ephesians 2:1 (NKJV)

Dead people cannot respond.
Dead people cannot reach.
Dead people cannot choose life.

So salvation does not begin when man chooses God —
It begins when God chooses to give life.

This is why Jesus did not say:
“No one comes to Me unless he decides…”

He said:

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.”
— John 6:44 (NKJV)

Coming to Christ is not first an act of human will —
It is first an act of divine drawing.

---

The Gospel Is Seed — But the Soil Is Not the Same

Jesus Himself explained this reality through the parable of the sower.

“Behold, a sower went out to sow…”
— Matthew 13:3 (NKJV)

The seed is the same.
The sower is the same.
But the results differ.

Why?

Because the soil is different.

Some seed falls on hardened ground
Some on shallow ground
Some among thorns
And some on good soil.

The seed does not change —
But the condition of the heart determines whether life takes root.

And even the good soil is not naturally produced.

God prepares it.

“But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it…”
— Matthew 13:23 (NKJV)

Understanding here does not mean intelligence.
It means spiritual capacity, which only God provides.

---

Why the Cross Sounds Like Foolishness to Many

Scripture does not say people reject the Gospel merely because they dislike it.
It says something far deeper:

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing…”
— 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV)

And again:

“The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God… nor can he know them…”
— 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV)

This is not about stubbornness alone.
It is about inability without regeneration.

Until God gives spiritual life, divine truth sounds like nonsense.

Not because the truth lacks power —
But because the hearer lacks life.

---

Awakening Is Revelation, Not Reasoning

Jesus made this unmistakably clear when Peter recognized Him as Christ.

“Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
— Matthew 16:17 (NKJV)

Peter didn’t figure Jesus out.
He didn’t logically deduce His identity.

He was shown.

This is what awakening is.

Not learning about God —
But God revealing Himself.

Not mastering theology —
But receiving revelation.

This is why some sit under teaching for decades and never awaken,
while others hear once and their spirit explodes alive.

Because revelation is not taught —
It is given.

---

Why Some Are Awakened Now and Others Later

God does not awaken souls randomly.
He awakens them according to divine timing, mercy, purpose, and preparation.

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)

Some are awakened early in life
Some in crisis
Some after loss
Some after exhaustion
Some after success fails
Some after comfort collapses

Because God awakens when the soul is positioned to truly receive — not merely hear.

Some Hearts Must Be Broken Before They Are Opened

Scripture teaches:

“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart…”
— Psalm 34:18 (NKJV)

But biblical brokenness is not merely emotional pain —
It is surrender.

Some awaken through storms.
Some awaken through stillness.

But all awaken through humility.

---

Preservation Is As Powerful As Restoration

Not everyone comes to God through devastation.

Some are:

• preserved

• shielded

• gently drawn

• quietly aligned

• guarded from destruction rather than rescued from it

“He shall cover you with His feathers…”
— Psalm 91:4 (NKJV)

God is glorified both in rescuing the fallen
and in keeping the standing.

Peaceful lives do not mean shallow faith.
Quiet faith does not mean weak faith.

Some were not broken —
They were kept from breaking.

That is just as divine.

---

Why Only Some Awaken

Because only some are:

• drawn by the Father

• illuminated by the Spirit

• freed from blindness

• prepared as soil

• awakened from death

Jesus said:

“Many are called, but few are chosen.”
— Matthew 22:14 (NKJV)

The call goes out to many.
But awakening is divine selection.

This does not mean God is unfair —
It means God is sovereign.

“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
— Genesis 18:25 (NKJV)

No one is overlooked.
No one is cheated.
No one is awakened without purpose.

---

Even Belief Itself Is a Gift

Perhaps the most humbling truth of all:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
— Ephesians 2:8 (NKJV)

Faith is not self-produced.

It is granted.

Life comes first —
Belief follows.

This is why salvation cannot be bragged about.

No one awakens themselves.

God does.

---

Why This Truth Matters for Your Walk

This truth does something sacred:

It frees you from frustration

You are not responsible for awakening people.
Only for sowing faithfully.

God awakens.

It protects you from pride

You did not see because you were better.
You saw because God opened your eyes.

“Who makes you differ from another?”
— 1 Corinthians 4:7 (NKJV)

It deepens your worship

Because you realize:
You were not convinced into salvation —
You were resurrected into it.

---

What This Means for the Believer

It means you:

• walk in humility

• sow without striving

• pray without pressure

• trust without anxiety

• love without coercion

You become a vessel, not a controller.
A light, not a judge.
A witness, not a force.

---

Final Truth

Many hear the Gospel,
but only some awaken
because only God can make the dead alive,
open blind eyes,
unstopped deaf ears,
prepare the soil,
and reveal Christ to the heart.

And if your eyes are open today —
It is because He opened them.

Not taught into it.
Not pressured into it.
But awakened.

---

Closing Reflection for my Readers

If you are awake, give thanks — not credit to self.
If others are not yet awake, pray — not pressure.
If the seed has not yet taken root, trust — not strive.

Because when God speaks life…
Nothing remains dead.

WHY SOME PEOPLE REJECT THE GOSPEL (BIBLICAL EXPLANATION OF SPIRITUAL AWAKENING)

 

Awakened by Grace: Why Some Hear the Gospel but Only Some Are Made Alive

“Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?” — Mark 8:18 (NKJV)

There is a sacred mystery surrounding salvation that many wrestle with but few dare to approach honestly:
Why do so many hear the Gospel… yet only some awaken to it?

Why does one person sit under preaching for decades and remain unchanged, while another hears the message once and is instantly transformed?

Why does one heart open in tears and repentance, while another remains unmoved by the same truth?

This question is not merely theological — it is deeply spiritual.
And the answer does not begin with human effort.
It begins with God’s power to make the dead alive.

This post is for those who have seen that salvation is not human achievement — it is divine resurrection.

---

Hearing Is Natural — Awakening Is Supernatural

Every human can hear words.
But not every human can hear truth.

The sound of the Gospel reaches many ears, but the life of the Gospel only enters hearts God has made alive.

Scripture is clear:

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”
— Ephesians 2:1 (NKJV)

Dead people cannot respond.
Dead people cannot reach.
Dead people cannot choose life.

So salvation does not begin when man chooses God —
It begins when God chooses to give life.

This is why Jesus did not say:
“No one comes to Me unless he decides…”

He said:

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.”
— John 6:44 (NKJV)

Coming to Christ is not first an act of human will —
It is first an act of divine drawing.

---

The Gospel Is Seed — But the Soil Is Not the Same

Jesus Himself explained this reality through the parable of the sower.

“Behold, a sower went out to sow…”
— Matthew 13:3 (NKJV)

The seed is the same.
The sower is the same.
But the results differ.

Why?

Because the soil is different.

Some seed falls on hardened ground
Some on shallow ground
Some among thorns
And some on good soil.

The seed does not change —
But the condition of the heart determines whether life takes root.

And even the good soil is not naturally produced.

God prepares it.

“But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it…”
— Matthew 13:23 (NKJV)

Understanding here does not mean intelligence.
It means spiritual capacity, which only God provides.

---

Why the Cross Sounds Like Foolishness to Many

Scripture does not say people reject the Gospel merely because they dislike it.
It says something far deeper:

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing…”
— 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV)

And again:

“The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God… nor can he know them…”
— 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV)

This is not about stubbornness alone.
It is about inability without regeneration.

Until God gives spiritual life, divine truth sounds like nonsense.

Not because the truth lacks power —
But because the hearer lacks life.

---

Awakening Is Revelation, Not Reasoning

Jesus made this unmistakably clear when Peter recognized Him as Christ.

“Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
— Matthew 16:17 (NKJV)

Peter didn’t figure Jesus out.
He didn’t logically deduce His identity.

He was shown.

This is what awakening is.

Not learning about God —
But God revealing Himself.

Not mastering theology —
But receiving revelation.

This is why some sit under teaching for decades and never awaken,
while others hear once and their spirit explodes alive.

Because revelation is not taught —
It is given.

---

Why Some Are Awakened Now and Others Later

God does not awaken souls randomly.
He awakens them according to divine timing, mercy, purpose, and preparation.

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)

Some are awakened early in life
Some in crisis
Some after loss
Some after exhaustion
Some after success fails
Some after comfort collapses

Because God awakens when the soul is positioned to truly receive — not merely hear.

Some Hearts Must Be Broken Before They Are Opened

Scripture teaches:

“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart…”
— Psalm 34:18 (NKJV)

But biblical brokenness is not merely emotional pain —
It is surrender.

Some awaken through storms.
Some awaken through stillness.

But all awaken through humility.

---

Preservation Is As Powerful As Restoration

Not everyone comes to God through devastation.

Some are:

• preserved

• shielded

• gently drawn

• quietly aligned

• guarded from destruction rather than rescued from it

“He shall cover you with His feathers…”
— Psalm 91:4 (NKJV)

God is glorified both in rescuing the fallen
and in keeping the standing.

Peaceful lives do not mean shallow faith.
Quiet faith does not mean weak faith.

Some were not broken —
They were kept from breaking.

That is just as divine.

---

Why Only Some Awaken

Because only some are:

• drawn by the Father

• illuminated by the Spirit

• freed from blindness

• prepared as soil

• awakened from death

Jesus said:

“Many are called, but few are chosen.”
— Matthew 22:14 (NKJV)

The call goes out to many.
But awakening is divine selection.

This does not mean God is unfair —
It means God is sovereign.

“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
— Genesis 18:25 (NKJV)

No one is overlooked.
No one is cheated.
No one is awakened without purpose.

---

Even Belief Itself Is a Gift

Perhaps the most humbling truth of all:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
— Ephesians 2:8 (NKJV)

Faith is not self-produced.

It is granted.

Life comes first —
Belief follows.

This is why salvation cannot be bragged about.

No one awakens themselves.

God does.

---

Why This Truth Matters for Your Walk

This truth does something sacred:

It frees you from frustration

You are not responsible for awakening people.
Only for sowing faithfully.

God awakens.

It protects you from pride

You did not see because you were better.
You saw because God opened your eyes.

“Who makes you differ from another?”
— 1 Corinthians 4:7 (NKJV)

It deepens your worship

Because you realize:
You were not convinced into salvation —
You were resurrected into it.

---

What This Means for the Believer

It means you:

• walk in humility

• sow without striving

• pray without pressure

• trust without anxiety

• love without coercion

You become a vessel, not a controller.
A light, not a judge.
A witness, not a force.

---

Final Truth

Many hear the Gospel,
but only some awaken
because only God can make the dead alive,
open blind eyes,
unstopped deaf ears,
prepare the soil,
and reveal Christ to the heart.

And if your eyes are open today —
It is because He opened them.

Not taught into it.
Not pressured into it.
But awakened.

---

Closing Reflection for Your Readers

If you are awake, give thanks — not credit to self.
If others are not yet awake, pray — not pressure.
If the seed has not yet taken root, trust — not strive.

Because when God speaks life…
Nothing remains dead.

GLORY!!

WHAT DOES "FROM GLORY TO GLORY" MEAN? (2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 EXPLAINED)

 

From Glory to Glory: The Weight, Presence, and Transforming Power of God’s Glory

Discover the true meaning of God’s glory, from Shekinah to Kavod, and how believers are transformed from glory to glory through Christ, not by power, but by His Spirit.

---

Introduction

There is a phrase that lives quietly yet powerfully in the spirit of every believer who truly walks with the Lord:

“From glory to glory.”

It is not a phrase of spiritual ambition.
It is not a ladder of elevation.
It is not a declaration of self-power.

It is the gentle unfolding of a life being shaped, governed, and transformed by God Himself.

To go from glory to glory is not to move higher above others —
it is to move deeper into Christ.

And to understand that journey, we must understand what the glory of God truly is, how it moves, and what it produces in those who belong to Him.

Because glory is not a thing we chase.
It is a reality we are changed by.

---

What Is the Glory of God?

The glory of God is not simply brightness.
It is not emotion.
It is not spectacle.
It is not atmosphere.

The glory of God is the manifestation of who God is.

When Scripture speaks of God’s glory, it speaks of:
• His holiness
• His authority
• His presence
• His weight
• His truth
• His righteousness
• His goodness
• His power
• His love
• His reality

Glory is not something God possesses.
Glory is who God is revealed.

And when God reveals His glory, He reveals Himself.

This is why glory is never casual.
It always brings:
• reverence
• clarity
• transformation
• humility
• alignment

Because to encounter the glory of God is to encounter God Himself.

---

Shekinah Glory: God Choosing to Dwell With His People

The word Shekinah comes from a Hebrew root meaning “to dwell.”

Shekinah glory refers to God choosing to make His presence known among His people in a manifest way.

In the Old Testament, we see this clearly:

God led Israel by:
• a cloud by day
• fire by night

God filled:
• the tabernacle
• the temple

So powerfully that:

“The priests could not stand to minister because of the glory of the Lord.”
— 1 Kings 8:11 NKJV

This was not emotional excitement.
This was the weight of divine presence.

Shekinah glory answers the question:
“Is God here?”

And throughout Scripture, the answer was visible.

But in the New Covenant, something radical shifted.

God no longer dwells in a building.
He no longer confines His presence to a physical structure.

Now He dwells in His people.

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
— 1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV

This means the dwelling place of God is no longer external —
it is internal.

The greatest expression of Shekinah today is:
Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)

Glory is no longer something we go to see.
It is something God has chosen to live within.

---

Kavod Glory: The Weight and Substance of God

Another powerful word for glory in Scripture is Kavod.

Kavod means:
weight, substance, honor, worth, heaviness.

This speaks not merely of God being present —
but of how real, holy, authoritative, and immovable He is when He is present.

Kavod glory answers the question:
“How weighty is God here?”

When God’s kavod is present:
• flesh falls silent
• pride collapses
• holiness dominates
• distractions fade
• truth becomes unavoidable

This is not noise.
This is gravity.

And in the New Covenant, God’s kavod is not meant to sit on buildings —
it is meant to shape believers.

Kavod glory in a believer looks like:
• depth without display
• authority without arrogance
• peace without passivity
• strength without striving
• humility without weakness
• obedience without coercion

This is spiritual substance.

Not flash.
Not noise.
Not performance.

But weight.

---

Glory Is Not Claimed — It Is Reflected

One of the most dangerous distortions in modern spirituality is when glory becomes something people believe they possess, rather than something God reveals through them.

We do not carry glory as a badge.
We do not wield glory as power.
We do not claim glory as identity.

We reflect glory by remaining in Christ.

Just as Moses’ face shone because he had been with God —
not because Moses generated light —
our lives reflect glory because we abide in Him.

Glory is not produced by effort.
It is revealed by communion.

---

What “From Glory to Glory” Actually Means

“We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory…”
— 2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV

This is not promotion.
This is transformation.

From one stage of Christlikeness
to another stage of Christlikeness.

From one measure of surrender
to a deeper surrender.

From one level of obedience
to a fuller obedience.

From one dimension of faith
to a deeper trust.

From one revelation of Jesus
to a more intimate knowing of Him.

Glory is not how high you rise.
Glory is how much of Christ is formed in you.

---

Glory Is Not Power — Glory Produces Power

Many confuse glory with power.
But glory is not power.

Glory is the presence and nature of God.
Power flows from glory — but they are not the same.

Power heals.
Power delivers.
Power moves.

But glory transforms.
Glory sanctifies.
Glory humbles.
Glory aligns.

Power may change a moment.
Glory changes a person.

And God is far more concerned with who you become than what you can do.

---

The Glory of Jesus

Jesus is the clearest revelation of God’s glory.

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory…”
— John 1:14 NKJV

Jesus did not reveal glory through dominance.
He revealed glory through:
• humility
• obedience
• truth
• holiness
• love
• sacrifice

The cross was not the absence of glory.
It was the fullest revelation of glory through love.

Because the greatest glory is not seen in force —
it is seen in surrender.

---

The Holy Spirit: Glory Working Within Us

The Holy Spirit is not here to create spiritual experiences.
He is here to form Christ in us.

He:
• convicts
• corrects
• teaches
• restrains
• strengthens
• purifies
• empowers obedience
• produces fruit

The Spirit does not glorify us.
He glorifies Christ through us.

“He will glorify Me…”
— John 16:14 NKJV

Any spirituality that draws attention to self is not glory.
True glory always points back to Jesus.

---

Glory Produces Reverence, Not Arrogance

When someone truly walks in the glory of God:
They do not become louder.
They become deeper.

They do not become proud.
They become humble.

They do not seek attention.
They carry authority quietly.

They do not elevate themselves.
They elevate Christ.

True glory bows.
True glory obeys.
True glory remains teachable.
True glory walks in love.
True glory walks in truth.

---

Glory and Obedience

There is no glory without obedience.

Many want encounters.
Few want alignment.

But Scripture is clear:

“To obey is better than sacrifice.”
— 1 Samuel 15:22 NKJV

Obedience is where glory rests.

Because obedience is where God’s will is honored,
and God’s will is where His glory flows.

---

Glory in Suffering

Glory is not only revealed in victory.
It is revealed in endurance.

Some of the deepest glory is seen in:
• patience under pressure
• faith under trial
• peace under attack
• obedience when misunderstood

The glory of God is not diminished by suffering —
it is often magnified through it.

Because glory is not comfort —
it is Christ revealed.

---

Glory vs Charisma

Charisma draws attention.
Glory draws reverence.

Charisma excites crowds.
Glory transforms hearts.

Charisma fades.
Glory remains.

Charisma impresses.
Glory convicts.

Charisma performs.
Glory purifies.

And in a generation obsessed with visibility,
God is still seeking vessels of substance.

---

Living in Glory Daily

Living in glory does not mean chasing encounters.
It means living surrendered.

It looks like:
• honoring His Word
• guarding your heart
• loving truth
• walking in holiness
• choosing peace
• forgiving freely
• obeying quickly
• praying consistently
• remaining humble
• staying aligned

Because glory is not found by seeking glory —
it is found by seeking God.

---

Final Reflection

To go from glory to glory is to go:
From self to Christ
From noise to peace
From striving to rest
From flesh to Spirit
From control to trust
From surface faith to rooted faith

It is not about shining.
It is about reflecting Him.

And the more we behold Him,
the more His glory quietly shapes us.

Not for display.
But for devotion.

Not for elevation.
But for transformation.

And that glory —
never fades.

GLORY!

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO DIE DAILY AS A CHRISTIAN? (BIBLICAL EXPLANATION)

 

A Funeral Every Day: How God’s Sheep Stay Walking in the Spirit and Dying to the Flesh

For those who hear His voice.

---

There is a sentence the Spirit dropped into my heart that stopped me in my tracks:

“If I want to stay walking in the Spirit, I should have a funeral every day.”

That sentence is not poetic.
It is not dramatic.
It is not religious performance.

It is pure biblical truth.

And if you are one of His sheep — not just someone who attends church, not someone who likes Christian content, not someone who says “Lord, Lord” with their lips — but someone who belongs to Him — then your spirit already knows exactly what this means.

This message is not for everyone.

Jesus Himself said:

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” — Matthew 11:15 (NKJV)

This is for His sheep.
This is for those who hear His voice.
This is for those who are being led by His Spirit, not by their flesh, not by their emotions, not by culture, not by trauma, not by offense, not by social pressure.

---

My Sheep Hear My Voice

Jesus made a distinction that most of the world still does not understand.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” — John 10:27 (NKJV)

Notice what He did not say.

He did not say:

• My sheep hear sermons

• My sheep hear podcasts

• My sheep hear opinions

• My sheep hear trends

• My sheep hear motivational speeches

He said:

My sheep hear My voice.

That means something.

It means:

• Not everyone who claims Jesus belongs to Him

• Not everyone who quotes Scripture is His sheep

• Not everyone who goes to church is hearing His voice

Only His sheep hear His voice.

And what is His voice saying in this hour?

The same thing it has always said:

“Deny yourself. Take up your cross daily. Follow Me.”

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” — Luke 9:23 (NKJV)

Daily.
Not once.
Not at salvation only.
Not when it’s convenient.

Daily.

---

A Daily Funeral Is a Daily Cross

When I said, “If I want to stay walking in the Spirit, I should have a funeral every day,” what I was really saying is:

Every day, something in me must die.

Not my identity.
Not my worth.
Not my calling.
Not my joy.

But my flesh’s right to rule me.

Paul said it plainly:

“I die daily.” — 1 Corinthians 15:31 (NKJV)

That is not metaphorical fluff.
That is spiritual warfare language.

Paul was not saying he felt sad every day.
He was not saying life was hard every day.

He was saying:

Every day, I crucify my flesh again.
Every day, I refuse to let my old nature sit on the throne.
Every day, I choose Spirit over self.

That is a funeral.

A daily burial of:

• pride

• reactions

• ego

• offense

• impatience

• self-will

• control

• bitterness

• comparison

• the need to be seen

• the need to be right

• the need to be understood

• the need to defend myself

And in exchange, something else rises.

---

Buried With Him to Walk in Newness of Life

You cannot walk in resurrection life without a burial.

Paul said:

“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” — Romans 6:4 (NKJV)

Notice the order.

1. Buried with Him

2. Then raised with Him

3. Then walking in newness of life

There is no shortcut.

There is no version of Christianity where you keep your flesh alive and still walk in power.

There is no version of discipleship where ego survives and Spirit reigns.

There is no version of obedience where self-will stays on the throne and Jesus still leads.

Resurrection power only flows through crucified vessels.

---

This Is Why Most People Never Stay in the Spirit

This is where the road narrows.

Most people want:

• crowns

• blessings

• favor

• miracles

• provision

• anointing

• authority

• spiritual power

But they do not want:

• the cross

• daily surrender

• obedience

• silence

• waiting

• pruning

• hiddenness

• humility

• being misunderstood

• being unseen

Jesus said it clearly:

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” — Matthew 7:13–14 (NKJV)

Few.

Why few?

Because flesh hates funerals.

The flesh does not want to die.
It wants to be validated.
It wants to be celebrated.
It wants to be defended.
It wants to be comforted.
It wants to be obeyed.

And the Spirit says:

“No. Get on the altar.”

---

Crucified With Christ

This is not symbolic language.

This is spiritual reality.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” — Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

That verse is not inspirational poetry.

It is a death certificate.

Paul is saying:

The old me is dead.
The self-led me is dead.
The flesh-ruled me is dead.

And now there is a new life source operating in my body.

Christ lives in me.

That means:

• He governs my reactions

• He governs my speech

• He governs my decisions

• He governs my relationships

• He governs my time

• He governs my responses

• He governs my silence

• He governs my obedience

And when something rises up in me that does not look like Him…

It must die again.

Funeral.

---

Why His Sheep Live in Rest

Have you ever noticed how some believers live in constant emotional chaos?

Always offended.
Always triggered.
Always anxious.
Always striving.
Always explaining.
Always defending.
Always proving.

That is not the Spirit.

That is uncrucified flesh.

Jesus said:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)

Rest is not inactivity.

Rest is surrendered authority.

Rest is what happens when the flesh is no longer fighting for control.

Rest is what happens when you stop trying to manage outcomes God already promised to handle.

Rest is what happens when you accept that your life is no longer your own.

---

Why You Don’t React Like Everyone Else

When you are walking in the Spirit:

• You don’t clap back

• You don’t retaliate

• You don’t chase validation

• You don’t correct every misunderstanding

• You don’t respond to every insult

• You don’t prove your worth

Why?

Because the thing that would react…

is already buried.

Dead people don’t get offended.

Dead people don’t need apologies.

Dead people don’t fight for reputation.

Dead people don’t defend their ego.

Dead people don’t compete.

---

The Flesh Wants a Throne. The Spirit Wants an Altar.

This is the daily war.

“For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another…” — Galatians 5:17 (NKJV)

Every morning, one of them will rule you.

There is no neutral ground.

Either:

• the flesh will speak first

• the flesh will decide first

• the flesh will react first

Or:

• the Spirit will govern

• the Spirit will lead

• the Spirit will restrain

• the Spirit will direct

And the one you feed…

is the one that will rule.

---

This Is Not Self-Hatred. This Is Sonship.

Let me be clear.

This is not about despising yourself.

This is not about worthlessness.

This is not about low self-esteem.

This is about rightful ownership.

“You are not your own. For you were bought at a price.” — 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NKJV)

You belong to Him.

Your life belongs to Him.

Your will belongs to Him.

Your future belongs to Him.

Your body belongs to Him.

Your calling belongs to Him.

Your purpose belongs to Him.

That is not loss.

That is freedom.

---

A Sheep’s Daily Prayer

This is how His sheep live.

Not with noise.

Not with drama.

Not with striving.

But with a quiet daily burial.

“Father, today I lay my flesh on the altar again.
I surrender my right to react.
My right to be understood.
My right to defend myself.
My right to control outcomes.
My right to lead my own life.

I choose Your will over my emotions.
Your Spirit over my impulses.
Your peace over my pride.
Your obedience over my comfort.

Let me walk today as one already crucified with Christ.”

---

The World Will Never Understand This Life

Do not expect applause.

Do not expect understanding.

Do not expect validation.

“The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him.” — 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV)

You will look strange.

You will look passive.

You will look quiet.

You will look “unbothered.”

You will look “too calm.”

You will look “detached.”

But heaven will recognize you.

---

This Is the Life of His Sheep

His sheep:

• live surrendered

• walk quietly

• move in obedience

• stay in rest

• operate in peace

• carry authority

• bear fruit

• do not strive

• do not react

• do not compete

Because they are already dead.

And risen.

---

Final Word to His Sheep

If you want to stay walking in the Spirit…

Yes.

You must have a funeral every day.

Not for your life.

But for your flesh’s right to rule it.

And the beauty?

Every funeral is followed by a resurrection.

And every resurrection carries more glory.

“For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.” — Romans 6:5 (NKJV)

---

To His sheep:

Stay on the altar.
Stay surrendered.
Stay crucified.
Stay risen.
Stay walking in the Spirit.

And let the world keep their crowns.

You chose the cross.

And heaven knows your name.

Glory

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO CARRY YOUR CROSS? (LUKE 9:23 EXPLAINED)

 

Very Few Want a Cross, But Everyone Wants a Crown

Very few want a cross.
Everyone wants a crown.

Everyone wants victory.
Everyone wants blessing.
Everyone wants favor.
Everyone wants promotion.
Everyone wants reward, honor, recognition, and glory.

But very few want surrender.

Very few want obedience.

Very few want death to self.

Very few want the narrow road.

And even fewer want a cross.

This thought did not come to me from a book.
It did not come from a sermon.
It did not come from a conversation.

It came quietly… while thinking about my Lord.

Thinking about Jesus.

Thinking about what He gave.

Thinking about what He endured.

Thinking about how He laid down His life…

…and how rare it is to see anyone lay down theirs for Him.

We live in a world that teaches us how to stay busy in the flesh, but almost never teaches us how to be busy in the Spirit.

From the time we are children, we are trained to strive.

Train harder.
Practice longer.
Work more.
Study more.
Compete more.
Achieve more.
Build more.

We are taught how to succeed in this world.

But who teaches us how to die to it?

---

Busy in the Flesh, Empty in the Spirit

People are always busy.

Busy with schedules.
Busy with careers.
Busy with sports.
Busy with school.
Busy with entertainment.
Busy with money.
Busy with social media.
Busy with building a life that one day will come to an end.

But how many are busy for the Spirit?

How many wake up thinking about eternity instead of time?

How many labor for heaven instead of earth?

Jesus spoke directly about this in John 6:27 (NKJV):

“Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life…”

Yet most of our labor is still for what perishes.

Bodies grow old.
Careers end.
Fame fades.
Records are broken.
Trophies collect dust.
Buildings crumble.
Money disappears.

But the soul lives forever.

And still, we spend almost our entire lives investing in what cannot last.

We plan carefully for retirement…
but rarely prepare carefully for eternity.

We save for homes…
but rarely build treasure in heaven.

We protect our bodies…
but neglect our souls.

Jesus warned us in Matthew 6:19–20 (NKJV):

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…”

And yet, almost everything we are taught to value is still here on earth.

---

They Gave Their Lives to a Game

As I was thinking about all of this, one example stood out so clearly to me.

A person spends almost their entire youth training for a sport.

Early mornings.
Late nights.
Endless practices.
Strict diets.
Painful injuries.
Sacrificed weekends.
Missed family time.

They give their strength.
They give their body.
They give their time.
They give their youth.

And then one day… they retire.

Their body can no longer perform the way it once did.

And what do they often do next?

They become a coach.

And they spend the rest of their life teaching others the same game they once gave their life to.

There is nothing wrong with sports.
There is nothing wrong with discipline.
There is nothing wrong with training.

But suddenly, the contrast pierced my heart.

Jesus gave His body once.
Jesus gave His blood once.
Jesus gave His life once.

Not for a game.
Not for a title.
Not for applause.
Not for a trophy.

He gave His life for souls.

And I asked myself quietly:

How many people will ever give their life back to Him?

---

He Gave His Life… And We Gave Ours to Everything Else

Jesus did not die comfortably.

He was betrayed by one of His own.
Abandoned by His friends.
Denied by Peter.
Rejected by His people.
Mocked by soldiers.
Spit on by men He created.
Scourged until His flesh was torn open.
Crowned with thorns.
Nailed to wood.
Lifted between heaven and earth.

And while hanging there…

He still loved.

He still forgave.

He still prayed.

John 10:18 (NKJV) says:

“No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.”

He chose the cross.

He chose suffering.

He chose obedience.

He chose love.

And now, two thousand years later…

People will give:

– 20 years to a career
– 30 years to a job
– Their health to money
– Their minds to entertainment
– Their hearts to ambition

But almost no one says:

“Lord, here is my whole life. Use it all.”

We say we love Him…

…but we rarely surrender to Him.

We say we believe…

…but we rarely follow.

We sing about the cross…

…but we do not want to carry one.

---

Very Few Want a Cross, But Everyone Wants a Crown

This is the truth that pierced my heart:

Very few want a cross.
Everyone wants a crown.

Everyone wants reward.

But who wants obedience?

Everyone wants glory.

But who wants suffering?

Everyone wants resurrection.

But who wants death?

Jesus never offered a crown without first offering a cross.

He said in Matthew 16:24 (NKJV):

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

Not admire Me.
Not speak about Me.
Not quote Me.
Not post about Me.

Follow Me.

With a cross.

And then He said in Matthew 16:25 (NKJV):

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

This is the great mystery of the Kingdom.

The way up is down.
The way to life is death.
The way to glory is surrender.

---

Crowns Without Crosses

Today, many want crowns without crosses.

They want blessing without obedience.
Favor without surrender.
Promotion without pruning.
Glory without suffering.
Power without purity.
Authority without humility.

We want the promises…

…but not the process.

We want the reward…

…but not the refining.

We want heaven…

…but not the narrow road.

Paul understood this.

At the end of his life, after suffering, imprisonment, rejection, beatings, hunger, shipwrecks, and persecution, he finally said in 2 Timothy 4:7–8 (NKJV):

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown…”

Notice the order.

Fight.
Race.
Faith.
Then the crown.

No fight — no crown.
No race — no crown.
No faith — no crown.

No cross — no crown.

Even Jesus Himself walked this order.

Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV) says:

“…who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross… and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Cross first.

Throne later.

---

Why So Few Choose This Road

Why do so few choose this life?

Because the flesh hates surrender.

The flesh wants comfort.

The flesh wants control.

The flesh wants pleasure.

The flesh wants recognition.

The world celebrates ambition.

The world rewards pride.

The world praises self.

But the cross requires death.

Following Jesus is not convenient.

It will cost you:

– Your pride
– Your plans
– Your will
– Your reputation
– Your comfort
– Your control

It may cost you friends.
It may cost you family approval.
It may cost you popularity.
It may cost you understanding.

That is why Jesus said in Matthew 7:14 (NKJV):

“Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Few.

Not many.

Few.

---

The Hidden Ones Who Gave Him Everything

But there are some.

Quiet ones.
Hidden ones.
Unknown ones.

People the world will never celebrate.

They are not famous on earth.

But they are known in heaven.

Jesus spoke about them in Matthew 6:4 (NKJV):

“And your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”

These are the ones who:

– Chose obedience over popularity
– Chose purity over pleasure
– Chose surrender over success
– Chose Jesus over everything

They did not build great names.

They built great faith.

They did not chase crowns here.

They carried crosses quietly.

Some people are famous on earth but unknown in heaven.

And some are unknown on earth but famous in heaven.

---

What Are We Really Giving Our Lives To?

This reflection left me with one quiet question:

What am I giving my life to?

Not what do I say.

Not what do I post.

Not what do I believe.

But what do I actually live for?

Where does my time go?

Where does my energy go?

Where does my heart go?

Jesus said in Matthew 6:21 (NKJV):

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Where is my treasure?

In money… or eternity?
In success… or surrender?
In earth… or heaven?
In myself… or in Him?

---

The Crown That Never Fades

The beautiful truth is this:

God does not forget the ones who carry their cross.

James wrote in James 1:12 (NKJV):

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life…”

Peter wrote in 1 Peter 5:4 (NKJV):

“…you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

There is a crown coming.

Not a crown made of gold.

Not a crown made by men.

A crown that never fades.

But it is not given to those who avoided the cross.

It is given to those who carried it.

---

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus…

Thank You for the cross.
Thank You for the blood.
Thank You for the life You gave.

Teach my heart to want what You want.
Teach me to love surrender more than success.
Teach me to choose obedience over applause.
Teach me to carry my cross with joy.

I do not want a crown without You.
I do not want glory without obedience.
I do not want blessing without surrender.

Very few want a cross.
Everyone wants a crown.

But Lord…

I want You.

Your will be done.
Your Kingdom come.
Seedtime and harvest.
Purpose and provision.

Glory 🙌🏾💜