“¹⁵ For though you have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have you not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I  have begotten you through the Gospel.

¹⁶ Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers (imitators) of me.

¹⁷ For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

¹⁸ Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.

¹⁹ But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

²⁰ For the Kingdom of God is not in Word, but in power.” 1 Corinthians 4:15-20

Follow those who follow Christ; those who preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified and who live Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Everyone is going to follow someone; some preacher, teacher, prophet or evangelist and if that someone is not looking unto the Cross of Christ for all that they receive from God, do not follow them.  If they look unto 40 days of purpose to receive from God, do not follow them.  If they look unto 21 days of fasting to receive from God, do not follow them.  If they look unto paradigms, harbingers, blood moons, penance, hail mary’s or Jewish feasts to receive from God…do not follow them.

“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” 1 Cor. 11:1

If they follow the Lord Jesus Christ according to His Word, not man’s methods, follow them as they follow Christ.

“And He (Jesus) said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23

If any man be a follower of Christ Jesus, they must deny themselves…deny their own intellect, their abilities, skills, efforts and self will in order to pick up the blessings afforded them by the Cross of Jesus and follow Jesus.  The Cross of Christ was a place of great suffering for our Lord Jesus but for us it is a place of great blessing.  Picking up our cross is not a particular burden we must bear but the blessings afforded us by the atoning death of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross.

Again, in order to follow Jesus we must pick up our cross (that which Jesus afforded us at Calvary) and in order to pick up our cross, we must deny ourselves (our self will and self efforts).   Understanding this great truth and following Jesus Christ, others will see the Power of God in the lives of Jesus’ followers and not puffed up words.  Our loved ones, our family members, children, coworkers…the people in line at the grocery store will see the Power of God working in you that which is pleasing to HIM.  Precept upon precept and line upon line, the Believer overcomes adversity by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony of the Cross of Christ.

“¹⁵ And He (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.

¹⁶ He that believes and is baptized (baptized into Jesus’ death, not water baptism [Romans 6:3-4]) shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.

¹⁷ And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My Name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Mark 16:15-18

Follow those who follow Christ.  You will know them by their fruit and not their words.  The Power of God (the Cross of Christ) is having It’s intended effect in their lives and sometimes it may be painful and unpleasing as the storms rage…but they continue following; precept upon precept and line upon line they will always end up on the banks of the promise land.

Always remember Brothers and Sisters, there are those who are following you…those who are looking unto you as you are looking unto the Cross of Christ and consider your testimony; NOT your social or economic status or your Facebook likes but your testimony of the Blood of the Lamb.  The devil will try to distract and hinder; he will come to kill, steal and destroy your testimony to those eyes who are watching you in the storms of life.  No matter the case, keep looking unto the Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith.  Stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord.

Consider your testimony. What has the Cross of Christ done in your heart and life? There are those following you as you follow Christ.

-Donna Clark Warren