No Cross No Crown

By

Gabriel Agbo

No cross, No Crown

Gabriel Agbo

E-mail:gabrielgbo@yahoo.com

P O Box 1755, Enugu. Tel: +234-8037113283

www.authorsden.com/pastorgabrielnagbo

Twitter: www.twitter.com/pastorgabagbo

Facebook: Double Honour International

All scriptures used in this work are from the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible unless otherwise stated.

Publisher: Gabriel Agbo

All right reserved:

No part of this publication should be reproduced by any means without the written permission of author.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to God; my maker and the source of my inspiration.

INTRODUCTION

This little but powerful book is written to encourage and empower Christians who are going through tough times of trial. They should know that those unpleasant situations will serve as God's instruments of lifting them to their next phase of breakthrough.

Here, we will see that our attitude can determine our altitude in our walk with God. And also, that there is always a profit in every adversity.

May your faith be enriched as you read on.

Gabriel Agbo

Preamble

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, in as much as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." 1 Peter 4:12 (KJV).

"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." 1 Peter 5: 10 (KJV)

One of the things that will make you a balanced Christian is the ability to always look beyond any difficult circumstance to see God's ultimate purpose for your life. As we already know, Christianity is not the absence of trials, but the determination to tenaciously hold unto God, even in the face of life-threatening situations, believing that they will usher us unto a greater level of glory and blessings. And this takes us to the message of the cross and the crown. The cross is a symbol of suffering, affliction, sorrow and sacrifice. While crown is a symbol of victory, royalty, completion, reward, success and perfection.

Now, it is in God's character to allow his children go through some difficult experiences that will help mould them into what He wants them to be. The bible already told us that we are like clay in the hands of the porter. The porter uses different instruments to get the clay to his desired products. Some are to beat the clay, some to sharpen it. While others are to smoothen it, etc.

The clay also comes in contact with the fire and water, just to get out the final product that will serve the pleasure of the porter. So we are in the hands of God. And one of the instruments that God uses to mould us is the trial of faith. It can come as persecution, suffering, sacrifice, loss, lack, mockery, betrayal, denial, etc. However and whenever it comes, the most important thing is that God wants to work out something in your life, and also bring out His glory.

Please, I'm not saying here that all afflictions are trials of faith, No! We must always try to find out each time where our problem is coming from; whether it is of God or just on attack from the enemy. If it is an attack, you repel it. If it is your own mistake, correct it. But, if it is God, there is not much anybody can do about it. You just have to ask Him for the grace to see you through. You ask Him for the grace to learn what He intends for you through the duration of the trial. This is very important because any counter prayer in the later circumstance (trial period) will always amount to nothing, until God finishes His work on you.

Unfortunately, this kind of message is no more popular today. All we hear is that when you receive Christ you will not suffer again. Things will never be difficult for you again, etc. But that is not true. I call this kind of gospel 'Crossless Gospel'. This is preaching Christ without the cross. But as far as our salvation is concerned, you cannot preach the Christ without the cross. We will soon come to that.

Now, do you know why so many Christians backslide when they meet difficult situations in their Christian race? It is simply because of lack of solid foundation. They were not thoroughly prepared to face the persecution that will always come with salvation. They would want all the blessings of God, but not the trials and persecution. They want all the blessings of Abraham, but not his trials. When they meet the trials, it is either they back out completely or they begin to compromise their faith. But this is not how God intends it.

God wants us to go through these trials faithfully and come out victorious and promoted. He had already told us that He will never allow us to face any situation that will be above us. That simply means that we are equal to any situation that comes to us. We already have the in-built capabilities, and also His word to help us go through any trial successfully. He wants us to go through those difficult times still loyal, holy, focused and faithful, so that at the end we will receive our due reward. Yes, there is a reward for every trial!

The apostles of the early church understood this very well, hence, Peter admonishing Christians not to look at it strange when they go through very difficult situations and persecutions. But that they should rejoice that they are partakers of Christ's sufferings, and consequently, will also be part of His glory. He said that after the suffering, they would receive restoration, strength, support and that God would settle them. So God settles people? That's sweet! For trials, they must come. For persecution and tests, they must come. But our consolation is that we have an able and just God that will see us through them all, and at the end settle us. Praise God!

I love that word settle used by King James Version in 1 Peter 5: 10. It simply means to make somebody comfortable after a restless period. It is to move into a new position, into a new house and put things in order. It also means to pay what you owe somebody. So, when we go through trials successful, God automatically gets indebted to us and He must settle us. I love that! Remember, He said that He will not owe anybody. So, we have everything to gain at the time of trials. They will refine us to become what God wants us to be and He will also settle us at the end. The early church knew this very well and so they stood firmly for the gospel through very difficult persecutions. Apostle Paul also put this principle clear when he told Timothy,

"If we endure hardship, we will reign with him"

2 Timothy 2:12

Let's quickly see in the bible those who endured the cross and as a result received the crown. And I want you to know that there is also a crown you're about to wear after this your current trail. Do you know that?

JESUS’ CROSS AND CROWN

Part One

Jesus’ Cross and Crown

Our perfect example is our LORD Jesus Christ. Today, He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords because He victoriously passed through trials, temptations and persecutions victoriously. He fully paid His dues to earn His current positions. That was why He made that statement "It is finished" at the cross. The price for our salvation and the total defeat of Satan and death has been fully paid. And God as a result gave Him the eternal crown and a name that is above all names. We also know all that Jesus went through. It wasn’t all that easy for Him. In fact, at a stage He was tempted to back out, but he managed to hold no. It was rough, tough, difficult and humiliating but He remained focused till the end. We already know some of the things He went through and how God settled Him.

He passed through the cross and came out victoriously. And if He had failed at any stage, I believe the whole salvation plan would have been bungled. But thank God – the master planner! Jesus went through each stage successfully and ultimately achieved our salvation. The Greek word translated into salvation connotes regeneration, deliverance, preservation and eternal life. And this is the total salvation package. Nothing less!

From birth the enemy tried everything to abort Jesus' mission on earth. When He was conceived, the devil wanted Joseph to divorce the mother – . Mary, but God intervened by sending an angel to him. The angel came and clarified His paternity and mission. Otherwise, Jesus would have struggled with the burden of an illegitimate child all through His life. Also, when He was born, the devil instigated King Herod to kill Him. And when God frustrated that plan, thousands of innocent male children in and around the city of Bethlehem paid with their lives. Like I have been saying, the enemy will always try his best to prevent you from fulfilling God's programme for your life, but God will also always frustrate his efforts. Praise God!

The devil knew that Jesus was coming to do great things which included the destruction of Satan’s grip on man, hence, his attempt to kill Him at infant. Do you think the enemy is not aware of your mission on earth? Sure, He is. And this is just why he is doing everything to see that he frustrates you. When Jesus was born, they (the dark kingdom) immediately saw His star. And some of their priests came to pay homage to Him. The enemies can sometimes know what God plans to do with you. But I pray that no power of hell will be able to terminate God's programme for your life in Jesus' name!

Temptations

We were told that Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He was to begin His public ministry, but not without first going through the wilderness experience; where He would be tried, tested and approved. Yes, the spirit of God took Him there to be tested. The Greek word translated into tempted is the same as tested. So, the Spirit of God took Jesus to the wilderness to be tested before God would begin to use Him.

There are things God can never give to you until you have passed through the wilderness experience. There are keys of the kingdom that God can never entrust into your hands without first taking you through the wilderness experience; where you will be tested, developed and approved. Read the scriptures very well, you will always find this principle. The men and women that God used mightily were well prepared ahead of time by great challenges, adversities, trials, persecutions, etc.

For example, before David came to fight Goliath, he was prepared by his previous encounters with the wild beasts. Look at his statement when he was about go into that fight,

"…I have been taking care of my father's sheep,' he said, 'when a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and take the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I will do it to this pagan philistine too."

1 Samuel 17:34-36

Great! The killing of lions and bears in the bush helped to prepare David for the future assignment of killing Goliath, fighting God's battles and ruling Israel. This is also what temptations and trials do in our life. They prepare us for the future. And we must always strive to overcome them.

Back to Jesus, He faced the devil squarely in the wilderness. The devil came with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life, the glory of the world, but Jesus resisted all. How did He do it? By remaining focused on His divine assignment. He knew that the devil could not offer Him anything to be compared with what God kept for Him. He roundly defeated the devil and the bible said, "Then the devil went away, and angels came and cared for Jesus." When you successfully defeat the enemy, you will see God coming to comfort you.

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