True Life

Seeking joy?

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 11:00:00 GMT

Oh what foolishness to seek deep, eternal, pure joy in such a temporary and distorted world. How, with all its vanities and wicked fallen nature, could it ever give true happiness? Do we forget that if this is where we seek joy, it is under the hand of the one who is pure evil, hatred, and rebellion? Perhaps this is why so many people just can't find true joy.

Only Jesus Christ, in all His Holy beauty can satisfy. Only in Him is eternal abundant life. Seek the Lord with all your heart, mind, and strength. Love Him more than life itself. He is indeed knocking; we must let him in.

CJ Cutrone, II

Renewed Mind

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 11:00:00 GMT

It is impossible to have a renewed mind and not be conformed to this world, which we must remember is a command from the Sovereign of the universe, without filling your heart and mind, through prayer and the influence of the Holy Spirit, with God’s living word. No way! It is impossible to have the world constantly influencing you and you to have a Godly mind, and a Godly perception, without the constant filling and meditation of His word. Now I don’t mean a 2-minute devotional but a life consumed with His word. As it is written, “if you abide in me and My words abide in you” … And, “desire the pure milk of the word of God that you may grow by it”. This “incorruptible living word of God by which we have been born again” is a life necessity. Be persuaded, fully persuaded brothers in Christ, without a life in the word of God, a life in the fullness of the Son of God is very illusive. Not because you don’t have a ritual but because you are not partaking of His life. His word is truth and again as it is written, that we may grow in grace as we grow in knowledge and love of Him. If we are too busy for God’s Word, then brothers we are just too busy. Set your face toward Him and gird up the loins of your mind. The news, social media, the junk on the internet, or more

money won’t do it for you. Only God’s grace.

CJ Cutrone, II

Faith in Action

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 17:34:39 GMT

Faith, given by God, makes a demand on God; but faith also makes demands on us. And there is always an action with faith. The woman with the issue had faith that demanded she touch Jesus. The centurion’s faith demanded he go and ask… their faith response made a demand on God. Often desperation, need, etc. is the catalyst to bring faith from belief to a living faith in action; desperation for yourself, loved ones, or lost ones. Comfort and ease are the enemy of living faith. Where there is no perceived need there is no pull of faith. But faith demands are not always a response to sickness or need; those things demand faith, but we are responding to what is thrust upon us. Faith demands, given by God, are also calling us to step out, to move into the uncomfortable, to offer up to death things we love, have, or want. God’s Word says we, the just, are to live by faith. So then, are we being distracted and eased out of a life of faith? Are we numb to the needs around us or even in ourselves, or to God’s faith demand and call? Good things are good unless they produce hardness to truth or coldness of life. Here is where faith is dead. Comfort is good unless God is calling us to be uncomfortable. This is where we must lay bare before the ministry and life of the person of the Holy Spirit, that Great Comforter and leader in truth and submit to His living word. The call of faith initiated by God, will be responded to by God, when we go forth in that faith. Because he has willed it, He has obligated Himself to respond to the response of faith. He gives faith, reveals the needs, and then delights when that faith makes a demand on His love and power. To God be the glory! What a supernatural life He has laid before us. Will we obediently walk in it?

CJ Cutrone, II

Proud of HIm

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 16 May 2022 11:00:00 GMT

The other day someone asked me about my children and before I knew it, I was going on and on about my daughter and my son. Listing their character, their accomplishments, and their hearts. I had to make myself stop. I could have gone on and on. Then I found myself asking this question. Am I proud of Jesus, my savior and the sovereign of the world? When I have the opportunity to boast on Him what do I do? Am I filled with joy to express pride over my Savior? What about who He is and what He has done, and the fact He is mine and I am His? Do people see joy, love, and truth so deep it can’t help but come out of my heart, through my mouth, and into their lives? Hmnnn… let it be so Lord Jesus, true relationship in love. Amen.

Worship

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Tue, 10 May 2022 17:24:44 GMT

Worship

Matt 8:2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying,"Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."

We see here an interesting way worship is used. If we understand the literal definition of the word and how it was used here, we can see what our expectation of a life of worship truly can be. How a worshiper is not one who merely sings on Sunday. What happened here was a man came, based on the definition; to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): - worship.

This worship was not singing a song, but a humbling and believing in Christ. A surrender to His majesty. I have often thought to live as a worshiper, I needed to have music playing all day long and sing. Don’t get me wrong that can be great. But you can sing and not worship. Worship is more than singing. See here again, there was no reference to music or hymns with this man, yet he worshiped by his position, faith, and exultation of Christ being “one who can”. This is truly how we live a life of worship. No doubt the time of praise and worship is a vital part of that life, God delights in it, He moves and heals when His people worship. But don’t let it end there. We must understand worship is more than singing. We can truly live a life of a worshiper. Then, the singing is more real than ever.

To God be the glory, Amen.

The Promise, the Fact, and the Possibility

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 16:09:47 GMT

Galatians 5:16-25

Vs. 16: the promise … But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Vs. 24: the fact …And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Vs. 25: the possibility …If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

The Bible does not teach the born-again experience as some week combination of flesh and spirit. It teaches, by design, a separation of the two positions. It must be either one or the other. But we can be confused by what we see in our own lives. There must be an understanding between the Bible discussing the position of being “in the flesh” and the contrasted position of being “set free from it” and no longer under the law yet still having the battle between the flesh and spirit. There is a distinction in the scriptures, contextually clear between the two. One is of faith, and the other is of condemnation in the old. On one hand the Bible talks about the behavior of a Christian struggling and why that is, yet that position of a child of God is one of no longer being in the flesh under law and sin, but in the spirit because he now belongs to Christ and lives in Christ. (Rom 8:9) This is a complete contrast to one under the law and dead to Christ where sin is the master. To confuse this is an enormous mistake. One is a slave, and one is a possible life free from it all because of a new life and position in Christ. So many people have asked the question, “if my flesh is crucified then why”? The simplest answer for this is the truth of the promise, the fact, and the possibility. And yes, we must consider the following scriptures as well as others:

Romans 6:16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves

to anyone as obedient slaves you are slaves of the one whom

you obey… Gal 5:7-8 You were running well. Who hindered

you from obeying the truth?... and Mark 4:19 But the cares

of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires

for other things enter in and choke the word.

But again, this is not addressing someone who is under the law but someone who is free. It is not because a Christian is still of the flesh sold in bondage to sin. But because we are free, as laid out in Romans 6, and Ephesians, the fact, the promise, and the possibility belong to us. Faith believes it, while those in the flesh will have none of it. Do not confuse yourself as one sold into bondage needing to be delivered from the body of death IF you are in, seeking, and have your hope and faith in Christ, even if you “feel” your failure. Put your faith and hope in the victory of Christ in your life and know you are His. The old versus the new is now the issue. “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ” and “put off the old man…” explains so much. It is not that you are still under the dominion of sin, the source of your life is the key. The old man alive and enthroned or the old crucified and your life in Christ and His Spirit. If we are redeemed then we are set free and now able to live in the promise, the fact, and the possibility. Put your faith in Him, not in what you see of your old nature. The Holy Spirit, in the power of His cross and resurrection, will deal with the old man in a life that is submitted to Jesus Christ; a life consumed and given to Christ.

Praise His holy name!

CJ Cutrone, II

Time with Jesus

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 11:00:00 GMT

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Sowing and Reaping

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 16:30:22 GMT

Gal 6:7-8. I’ve been sitting here for about an hour and a half this morning praying, thanking God, and allowing His presence to influence and change me; about 20 minutes of that time was spent on the above verses.

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Gal 6:7-8

Regarding my life, I have asked similar questions as I will ask you to bring before the Lord. There are things I have to do, need to do, and should do and then there are things I choose to do. How many things do I choose to do regarding work, career, possessions, putting things in order, etc. etc. versus sowing to the Spirit? How do we expect to have a life of His presence, peace, and blessings when all we do is sow to the flesh? Galatians 6:7-8 has a promise that a life of sowing to the flesh will be a life of death. But the life of the Spirit is everlasting life which begins today. The last few days I have spent hours just sitting in the presence of God pushing other things aside. I cannot remember the last time I had so much peace, victory over the flesh, and joy in my heart to know Him. I am amazed at how distracted I have allowed myself to become over the last couple of years. It is definitely worth thinking about and allowing the Lord to do some redirecting in each of us. Everything around us convinces us that seeking God should be somewhere in our life but instead of first on the list it falls down the list somewhere after the things that are “important”, what a deception and a joke. What can be more important than Jesus Christ and eternity and peace with Him?

CJ Cutrone, II

The love of the Father

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 17:21:05 GMT

Who is it that Jesus will disclose Himself to differently than those of the world? Those who obey His Word and love Him because they have given their hearts to Him, those who are tender clay in the master potter’s hands. There is hope there. No parent expects a small child to be perfect. But parents desire obedience, trust, and love as they raise their children.

Those who answer the door when He knocks are the ones to whom He comes in and abides. It is not because the house is spotless that He wants to come in, it is for the one inside. But once there is sweet fellowship, He helps us clean up. He shows us things we could not even see without His light, and in His grace, we are changed.

Jesus comes near to us, but He calls us out of the world

to come to Him, to enter in with Him!

He offers us freedom from a life of sin and calls us to join His life. Jesus goes on to say, “The words which you hear Me say are not mine but the Father’s” (John 14:24). Is it possible to have any more credibility than the words of Jesus? I can’t see how, but here Jesus speaks in such a way that lays upon this word the authority of the throne of heaven. “The one who obeys and loves me is the one My father will love, and I will disclose Myself to.” In this is all the power and authority of the Godhead! Obedience matters. Living a life separated from the world matters…

The Promise

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 22:35:17 GMT

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He wants our hearts

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 17:27:55 GMT

The devil attacks the fiercest those whom the Lord calls. If he can choke out that life then he has accomplished his task, to make one called unprofitable for the kingdom. The answer is not willpower or just prayer for victory but for His abiding presence. As God’s children, we are told to gird up the loins of our minds, be sober, abide in Him and all things are possible, even bring all thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ, and make no provision for the flesh. All of these and many others are promises of help and instruction. We need both, obedience, and His presence. The present abiding of and in Christ is everything. But both are needed, either of them alone will not do. So many times we try to obey without the abiding, and we are left with “you can do nothing without Me.” God will not support victory without us abiding in Him. Why would He? He wants our hearts, our love and intimacy.

Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.

His grace is life and power.

CJ Cutrone,II

Follow Me

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 12:00:01 GMT

“…Nowhere in the Bible are we told to be crucified since this has been done and done perfectly by Christ already. …It does exhort us; however, to take up our cross for denying self. The Lord Jesus instructs us many times to deny ourselves and take up the cross and follow Him. The explanation for this is that the Lord Jesus deals with our sins and ourselves very differently. To wholly conquer sin the believer needs but a moment; to deny the self he needs and entire lifetime.” (The Spiritual Man, Watchman Nee)

CJ Cutrone, II

excerpt taken from "To Die Daily" / True Life Series

for more information click the link below:

https://www.amazon.com/Die-Daily-Christ-abides-continually/dp/0974612138

Receive His Life

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 21:41:04 GMT

We must understand the principle of surrender and dependence. It is through our surrender we bring ourselves into God's will, it is through our dependence we bring ourselves into God's power; and both are by faith in and love for Jesus Christ. In surrender we kneel before God with head bowed, in dependence, we look upward by grace, as expectant children, and receive His life and strength!

CJ Cutrone, II

excer pt taken from "To Die Daily" / True Life Series

click the link below for more information:

To Die Daily: That the life and power of Christ abides continually (True life series): Cutrone II, Rev C.J.: 9780974612133: Amazon.com: Books

Truly Surrendered

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 12:00:01 GMT

Too many times, people live their Christian life simply as a mental agreement with truth. When this happens they still live with all the struggles, sin, defeat, empty self-seeking pleasures, and death. Jesus did not die for His children to live a life of defeat, but if we do not come to God on His terms, that life is all we will have. The incomplete decision for Christ is as foolish as a man who would stand at the altar, give his vows to his bride, and then after being pronounced man and wife, would leave his wife at the altar and return to his former life. And then to fulfill his foolishness, he wonders why being married is so disappointing and lacking. As bizarre as that sounds this is often the case with people who have professed Christ. They come to a place where they acknowledge they need Jesus, make a profession of faith, and then live like it never happened.

As Paul wrote in Romans 6, we are to consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. We have been bought with a price and we are not our own. How can we consider this truth if we do not accept it as truth? We are not to "try" Jesus, we are to surrender to Jesus and give Him our everything. Then, from that point, we trust in Him for everything.

CJ Cutrone, II

excerpt taken from "To Die Daily" True Life Series

for more information please click on the link below:

https://www.amazon.com/Die-Daily-Christ-abides-continually-ebook/dp/B01450CJB8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=H18ZPUP3C0JH&keywords=To+Die+Daily+CJ+Cutrone&qid=1644338780&sprefix=to+die+daily+cj+cutrone%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1

God's plan or mine?

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 21:36:49 GMT

Israel, after hundreds of years of bondage in Egypt, was heard by God. God told Moses “He saw Israel’s affliction and has given heed to their cry.” (Ex. 3:7)

God came in and in power judged Egypt and set His people free. But Israel obviously had a different plan on how God should have worked things out. This is clear from their constant complaining. God was causing a beautiful disruption in their lives. And in the midst of it all, we can see so much of God revealing Himself to His people. God parted the Red Sea, He destroyed their enemy, in the wilderness, He let them get hungry and He provided food to eat and water to drink. He did this that they might know they lived not from bread alone but from every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord, to humble them, to test what was in the heart, and so that they would know in their heart it was God disciplining them as a father does his son. (Duet 8:2-5) God, whom they called on, was “silent” for so many years, but now He is delivering and revealing. Working through all their unbelief. For so long these he brought out of Egypt knew of the God of Abraham, but was He really the God of their hearts? As we will see, the evidence shows that God was not their God but only the solution to their problem.

How many of us have that poison seed inside? How many of us believe in God, but a God that exist to solve our problems? How few believe in a God that has the right to cause them problems if He sees fit to do so.

CJ Cutrone, II

excerpt taken from "Beautiful Disruption"

https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Disruptions-C-J-Cutrone-II-ebook/dp/B08GJ7PNXT/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2HNWQV9BTCW1O&keywords=beautiful+disruption+book&qid=1643923886&sprefix=beautiful+disruption+book%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-6

Grounded and Soaring

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 11:00:00 GMT

Grounded and Soaring

How beautiful is that person who is solid and grounded, not tossed by every wind, emotion or situation; a life secure in Christ. But one thing we must be careful of is not to confuse the strength of being grounded with the bondage of being stuck and not able to soar like the eagle. Many can stand on a rock and feel secure, few can have nothing but the wind to hold them up and be in such glory as the eagle; wings spread wide, soaring above it all. There is a place in Christ where we are both standing on the rock and soaring like an eagle. This is the life of living in the grace and power of Christ’s Spirit and being in the secret place of the truth of His Word. Trusting and abiding with Him.

Those who wait for the LORD

Will gain new strength;

They will mount up with wings like eagles,

They will run and not get tired,

They will walk and not become weary

Isa 40:31

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine,

and acts on them, will be like a wise man

who built his house on the rock.

Matt 24

Children of God, these two verses explain the one life in Christ we are called to. These are not separate ways to live. Rather, the truth of both is God’s will for our lives. Don’t be so “grounded” that you cannot leap and dance with Jesus. But rather be so free and in love with Him that you soar like an eagle, in His grace and life, and are only moved by the wind of His Spirit. This is standing on the rock, this is the rest, this is our beloved Jesus Christ.

God’s grace,

CJ Cutrone, II

Alliance Ministries

Forbidden Fruit

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 17:52:26 GMT

Forbidden Fruit

Having the knowledge of good and evil is to be worse off than Adam and Eve were before the fall. But every descendant of Adam was born into this knowledge. Dear saints, do we dare think we can walk past this tree every day and not want to take a bite of its fruit if we do not walk in His Spirit? This knowledge and desire is what is in everything we are apart from Him. It is not just that we need His power, but we need His life, intimacy, and love. This is walking in His Spirit; having His abiding life consume our lives, a love for Him grow so strong that nothing of the tree has any allure. Yet if we often partake of the fruit then we will desire it all the more. Be not deceived, God is not mocked, whatever you sow to the flesh or the Spirit, from that you will reap. So many pray for and desire His power but are not seeking Him alone and His presence, this He will not grant. He wants us to desire a relationship with Him first and foremost. So many pray to be free but are not willing to embrace the cross.

We must walk in this world, but if we walk hand in hand with Jesus, His Glory will outshine anything this world can offer, anything this corrupted flesh can offer as desirable. Let we who have been born of the Spirit, walk by His Spirit and in His Love.

CJ Cutrone, II

Alliance Ministries

Warning

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 11:00:01 GMT

It was the cry of all the wicked people (world) in both accounts previously mentioned, “bring them out.” The plan of Satan was and always is to get them and you outside of the house so that the world can have its way with you. Even so, the devil knows he has no power to come and take you out. No one can enter and plunder the house as long as the stronger man is guarding the house (Matt 12:29). And who is like our God? He alone is omnipotent. No one is stronger, He is our strongman. So, what is the devil’s plan if he cannot enter in and take?

It has been and always will be to entice you to come outside or to never go inside at all .

As a good friend so powerfully stated to me, “ The strategy of hell is to move you from your position in Christ.” So, what is it that has that power over you? What does Satan offer you, that when God says, “come in and dwell with Me and I will bring you under the shadow of my roof”, that causes you to tarry? Is it pleasure, pressure, disappointment, riches, self- preservation, lust, envy, gossip, anger, coveting; the list could be long. The flesh has many vices and the devil has many offers. Remember he has been tempting man for over 6,000 years, and you are but a vapor on the timeline. Our only refuge is in Christ, under His wing.

But, think upon this when the temptations come; is this sin worth my intimacy with God … because that is the price. So many times we don’t notice sin and its consequences at all, much less the cost; our closeness with God.

CJ Cutrone, II

Excerpt taken from: The Secret Place, True Life Series / Book 3

click link below for more information:

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Place-True-Life/dp/0974612111/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Secret+Place+CJ+Cutrone&qid=1624993628&sr=8-1

A Great Mystery

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 11:00:00 GMT

It is a great mystery. Though our hearts are sinful and our flesh is mortal, God, the majestic ruler of the universe, would literally want to dwell in us. The power of the blood is declared in this, He lives in His people; justified and saved by His blood!

1 Cor. 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you….

1 Cor. 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you , whom

you have from God, and that you are not your own. 20 For you have been bought with a price:

therefore glorify God in your body.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior by faith, then all of you belongs to God! All your heart, your soul, your spirit, your flesh, and all that you have; for you were bought with a price. There is nothing lacking in the redeeming work of Christ. All was accomplished for victory. But we must understand God’s instruction regarding His perfect victory.

The great mystery noted above is explained in understanding God’s love for us, God's forgiveness in Christ, what God requires of us, and the power and life that is accomplished in “Dying Daily” through union with Jesus. For it is in our union with Him in death that we share in His resurrection life. It is our faith in Jesus Christ and His life that is our hope and victory. Jesus is everything! If we shouted praise to Him with all our heart, soul, and strength our praise would not begin to be enough to declare His Glory, though it would be pleasing to Him.

CJ Cutrone, II

Excerpt taken from To Die Daily, True Life Series/ Book 1

click on link below for more information:

https://www.amazon.com/Die-Daily-Christ-abides-continually/dp/0974612138/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=To+Die+Daily+CJ+Cutrone&qid=1624913315&sr=8-1

Greatness

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 20:38:18 GMT

Do not endeavor to be a great man or woman such as Bunyan, Moody, Spurgeon, Moses, Paul, this great preacher or that great man, but rather aspire and strive to be what God has called you to be in Christ and to do what God has called you to do in Christ's strength. There is no other such greatness a man can achieve than to do this thing for God: fulfill the plan and desires God has for each man's life.

C.J. Cutrone, II

Excerpt taken from To Die Daily, True Life Series/ Book 1

https://www.amazon.com/Die-Daily-Christ-abides-continually/dp/0974612138/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=To+Die+Daily+CJ+Cutrone&qid=1624913315&sr=8-1

Secret Place

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 11:00:00 GMT

As we shall see from scripture, the Secret Place is a very intimate place. It is a place of knowing and being known. It is reminiscent of the spiritual closeness of the wedding chamber between a husband and wife. Obviously we are not talking of physical oneness, but instead a oneness which happens in the hearts and lives of a couple when God makes them one. It is a relationship that is in complete contrast to the dreadful phrase so many will hear, "Depart from me, I never knew you." So what does the Bible tell us of the Secret Place and what does it have to do with the Shadow of the Almighty ? That is the best part!

Understanding the Secret Place is essential for the shadow, and the promise of the Shadow of the Almighty is something to shout about.

Exodus 33:8 So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle. And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses.

In these Scriptures, we understand that the Secret Place of God, the inner sanctum, was a place of intimacy. The Secret Place was not a place to talk about God, but to talk with God. It was here God met with Moses and they talked "face to face." It was here Moses bared his heart; it was here God revealed Himself to His servant. How much of our time and lives are spent on talking about God, thinking about God, but not talking to God or letting God talk to us?

Excerpt taken from The Secret Place , True Life Series / Book 3

click link below for more information:

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Place-True-Life-Book-ebook/dp/B00LR7MZ0S/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Secret+Place+CJ+Cutrone&qid=1623097719&sr=8-1

A siege or open gate?

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 11:00:00 GMT

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Thank You ?

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 11:00:00 GMT

Many of us have given someone a gift with great expectation of blessing them. We are so excited, especially if we have worked hard for it. When they open it and thank us and we see the joy of their face it makes us understand it is truly a great blessing to give. Our love for them makes it so special.

We hear them say thank you and we are filled with joy over their appreciation and joy. But what if after they received this gift, they put it in the closet and never pulled it out. Or, let's say, for example, it was a car and they never drove it but every time they walked inside they said, "Thank you so much for that car, I love it." You would surely wonder if they truly loved it when they walk everywhere instead of driving.

Last night we had communion at church. I held the bread in my hand and was crying in gratitude, "Lord Jesus, thank you for shedding your blood, thank you for breaking your body."

As I said these words, I heard something in my spirit, "If you are grateful then will you join me in that breaking?"

There is no better way to thank Jesus for His cross than surrendering to that work daily. In this surrender, we are truly seeing and thanking Jesus for what He did for us. In the embracing of His gift we are embracing Him, all He did and all He wants.

We must also remember Jesus is the one who said if we do not embrace His cross daily, deny ourselves and follow Him, we cannot be His disciple and we are not worthy of Him.

This gift you cannot leave in the closet and still say thank you. It just won't bless the giver that way.

God's grace my friends.

CJ Cutrone II

Transactions

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 31 May 2021 11:00:00 GMT

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I was speaking with a brother in Christ last night and he shared along these lines, it was so good. “In dealing with people... especially ones that hurt you... the quest for justice or fairness should never be based on “transactions” between you and them. If you are Godly, even though they may not be; if you are kind, they may be unkind. The justice and fairness of it all is understood in this, it is between you and God and them and God; never between you and them.” If you obey God, then He will deal justly with you. And, God will also deal justly with them. For each of us for good or reproof; God will be just and the justifier. So, obey God in all your behavior, and know that you will be blessed in Christ for your obedience. Then you can praise God for the opportunity to obey Him in any situation that otherwise would have overcome you. Glory be to Jesus Christ. Amen.

CJ Cutrone, II

What can you do?

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 24 May 2021 11:00:00 GMT

When we read the scriptures and discover Jesus telling us, “without Me, you can do nothing.”; what do we take that to mean literally? Can I do nothing without Him or does that mean I cannot do much without Him; we must properly interpret? I, like most people, can walk, live, etc. “without Jesus” can’t I? So what was Jesus conveying here?
Here is a thought-provoking comment that I came across, “I did and continued to be able to do many great things from my natural abilities before and after I was born again, but what God showed me is that no matter what I did if it was apart from Him, it was essentially nothing.”
As a contractor, I can build a house, take all the profits, build an orphanage and not one time ever pray about it, depend on God for it, nor even ask if it was God’s will. And here we would believe that surely God is pleased with that. Well before I answer, let me first say this example can be applied to many things in our lives. And, we must apply this truth to all our lives.
So what would scriptures say about this? That which is born of the flesh is of the flesh, in the flesh we cannot please God, everything will be tried by fire, and again, apart from Me, you can do nothing. But come on you built an orphanage (in our example). Well, what about healing the sick and casting out demons? Jesus said some would ask, "did we not do it all in Your name?" And He told them to depart from Him, for He never knew them.
What is the point of all this? Very simply, are we living our lives in dependence on Jesus Christ? Are we desiring to know Him deeper and inviting Him to know us and influence all of our actions? Are we seeking His will and a life in Christ? Or do we still depend on our own ability and energy as if we were not even saved? Only bringing Jesus into the picture when we cannot do it alone is not the life that Christ desires for us. The christian life understands without Him we truly can do nothing. The Christian life is Christ’s life as our life.
All of our dreams, questions, pursuits, hopes, and decisions… it is a true thought; “if I don’t need to pray about it or trust God for it, then it may have no eternal value.”
I want to encourage each of us, keep Jesus as the center of it all not just an influence on some of your life. Jesus, the reason for your dreams and life, not only to help you in your dreams but you living for His. Be led by His Spirit, Amen.
CJ Cutrone

Life is a vapor

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Tue, 18 May 2021 16:31:43 GMT

Life is but a vapor, it has its blessings and trials but this truth we must hold onto. All of us who are in Christ will be together as a family, celebrating Jesus for all eternity. God has blessed us all the way into forever. That is a lot of blessing... all the way into forever. How do we possibly get so drawn down into the things that just don't matter? Sure, some things are important and some are hard to deal with. But God has shown me that I need to remember who He is and all of the good things He has done when I get bothered about life and circumstances that are truly so small and temporary. Then the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart can be pleasing to Him.

You, who are in Christ, are blessed all the way into forever and the life we live here is temporary; a vapor.

Jesus be praised.

CJ Cutrone, II

Remember who you are and don't apologize

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 10 May 2021 11:00:00 GMT

Dear saints of God let us remember who we are. We are the redeemed of the Lord Jesus Christ, sons and daughters of God, His ambassadors on Earth, and full of His Word and life. Why have we allowed the “political correctness” to soften our truth? Do we walk in love? Absolutely, but Love means boldly declaring the truth, not making it easier to accept.

We were recently in the Dominican Republic preaching a crusade and a Pastor's conference, there I looked at a crowd of about 400-500 people and began to wonder, how should I preach to them? How shall I act to persuade them? In doing so the first night, I felt like the message was far less profitable than it should have been. I was very discouraged the next day. God was still merciful and there was a great time of prayer after the message, but my message seemed to be more of the mind than of the Spirit. God spoke to my heart the next morning. In short, I was looking at the people and how to reach them based on their culture or actions, I was not focused on the Word of God and His Spirit as the power. What are we told is our example? For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation...Rom. 1:16, AMEN!
That truth set me free to trust in God and His Word the rest of my time there. It didn’t matter of the culture or what my eyes could see. The gospel is the same everywhere on Earth. Starting the next service, as I rested in God’s word and allowed His Spirit to move in and through me and nothing else, the power of God was there to change lives. It was a glorious time in Christ Jesus.

So again, church, children of God, let us stop apologizing and boldly declare His truth. Let us stop analyzing our tactics and do what God has instructed us. Yes, we seek wisdom; His not ours. Rise up body of Christ and remember who you are and who you belong to. We are not the ones deceived or in danger, so why do we allow unbelievers tell us how to act, what to say, and how to say it?

We have one goal after walking in intimacy with Jesus and that is to be His witnesses. May the grace of God and the life of His Spirit empower us all to live boldly. Be strong in the Lord you ambassador of God!

Rev. C.J. Cutrone,II

Resident Boss

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 03 May 2021 11:00:00 GMT

A man in China gave his heart to the Lord some years ago. The person who led him to Christ lived many miles away, so they could only talk a few times a year. Well, the newly saved man was given to wine each winter when it got cold (he tended to indulge) so as the cool weather came in his wife brought the wine to the table for supper. As he sat to give thanks, he could not pray. He asked his wife “what does the scripture say about drinking?” Though they had a Bible they could find nothing about it; so his wife encouraged him to just have the drink and they could find out later. Yet he still could not give thanks. He told her to take the wine away and then felt the peace to pray. Sometime later, he saw the man who led him to Christ and was shown the scriptures about drinking.
There he said, “Ah, I didn’t know, but 'Resident Boss' would not let me do it.”
Oh, what a wonderful expression, 'Resident Boss', I love that. Do we see it is our dependence on the Holy Spirit, He who lives in us, our Resident Boss, that guides us and leads us in all things? For the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus is fulfilled in us who walk by the Spirit. This dear man did not even know the scripture, yet the Holy Spirit did His work. How much more, we who have so much of God’s Word for the Holy Spirit to work with, are able to be led by Him.
Turn your eyes to Jesus and your life and heart over to the work of God’s Spirit.
I read just this morning; God’s love is the source, Jesus' Grace is the ability, God’s Spirit is what imparts and makes real. That’s so good! Amen? Surrender to the 'Resident Boss' today, not in your own willpower but by a bended knee asking God to take you as you are and lead you in all your weakness into His strength.

Amen,

C.J. Cutrone,II

Forget Not...

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 11:00:01 GMT

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That is My Son

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 11:00:00 GMT

Recently while traveling, we were at a hotel that had one of those nice breakfast areas that we would normally pass on because they are expensive. But this time I was given a coupon to eat for free. So, I got up early and went to read, pray, and eat. What a morning. God opened Ephesians Ch 1 -2 like I never read it before. Oh, that God, according to His own good pleasure has called us, adopted us, and lavished His grace upon us. Well as I was sitting there pondering my wonderful Father, my son walked up and the lady at the front was asking him for payment or something like that. When I saw him, I called out, “That is my son.” Upon hearing this, she stepped back and waved him to the table. All of a sudden, I was brought to tears as the truth and love of God hit me like a wave. Oh, the relationship we have with God in Jesus Christ. To the praise of His glory.
Everything that our Father has for us as children are in Christ. And what is our confidence? His good pleasure to say to all creation, “That is my Son.” And again, all is found in Christ, not just because of what Jesus has done but because of what He has done we are now in Him.
I had in my hand to provide for my son the food he needed and because he is my son he was entitled to what I had to meet his need. There was no reason for me to ponder, it came forth “He is my son” because that is a father’s nature.
Some of us may be praying for peace, or patience or freedom. God is not dispersing out separate items to make you better. What God holds in His hand is Jesus, and all we need is in Him. If you need patience, peace, freedom, or any other thing God has promised, you need Jesus. Not a gift from Jesus, but more of Jesus. As Paul stated… That Christ be formed in you. We rejoice that God is looking at us and calling out. “That is My son”. Dear saints, God is not a bank to withdraw from or a store selling items to purchase. God has a gift and it is free, Jesus Christ, all other gifts are in Him. We are not begging God to give something He wants to keep to Himself or waiting for us to earn. It is God’s good pleasure to give His Son, Jesus Christ and all we need is in Him. Confidently trust in God and expect to receive from our Father. Amen.

CJ Cutrone,II

Who will you answer?

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 11:00:00 GMT

This morning I told my daughter something I wanted to share that I believe we must all consider.

“You have a friend and an enemy; both are calling you and you can only answer one.”

Jesus is calling each of us to come to Him, rest in Him, be free in Him. Our hearts filled with joy and fulfilled in all areas, our minds happy and free from bondage, and our lives tied with His in the purposes of God. A life trusting in Him and receiving all from Him in a life of intimacy with Him.

But likewise, our enemy, Satan, is calling to us. He is calling with promises that entice the mind for pleasure in sinful ways and thoughts. Calling with things, to entice the lust of the eyes, calling us with much that promises pleasure and fun. But what he calls with leads to bondage of the mind, empty unfulfilled desires, and a heartbreaking revelation that all that was promised and even obtained leads to nothing.

Even in relationships, God has a person He has designed for each of us, someone to be a part of the cord of three strands, as it were, bonded together in strength. But we must also see, that in every area, even relationships, Satan will have someone or something in mind who will pull away from Christ, harm not bless.

We simply cannot answer Jesus to have some things, and Satan to have some other things. We must willfully and deliberately choose. As it is written, “Choose this day whom you will serve.”

So, if we examine our hearts and lives, whom are we answering? What our hearts are after tells the story. Are you longing for God and all in Christ? Or are you longing for all the enemy is offering through a fallen world system, appealing to a fallen flesh, and things that won’t matter for long? The older I get the more I see the areas we, as Christians, have decided are acceptable to God, but to God, they are actually abominable. We need our minds renewed and we need to see the way God sees.
God is calling, will we answer? Praise Him for His grace through which we can surrender and allow Him to work all good things in us. Amen.

CJ Cutrone
Aministry.org

Do we hate what God loves?

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 11:00:00 GMT

I have said it, and I have heard others say it about themselves, “I hate myself”. We know that Jesus told us the following in John 12:25…he who hates his life… save it. At least that is the way so many people remember it said. But those “…” hide something that is so significant. Before this discussion though, we must address something. God does not hate you. God sent His Son to die for you regardless of what you see in yourself. So how can we hate something that God thought was so precious that He had His son put to death for? How can we hate something that God said He wants to be with forever in sweet fellowship? We cannot, and we should not. We should rejoice in how much God loves us, just as we are. Yes, surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit, but we must know and live as though we are completely surrendered to Him and completely accepted by Him.
So, what does the “…” cover? Why the instruction to hate your life? How does that reconcile with the love of God?
John 12:25, He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.
There are a few critical concepts here. 1) The words “his life,” is the basis for the problem. The born-again child of God no longer has “his life.” If you are born-again, a new creation in Christ, then you are not your own. You are bought with a price. The failure to recognize this is the ground for so many battles and losses. We know it in theory but are we surrendering to this truth in actuality? 2) The instruction is not to hate who you are in Christ, but to hate your life “in this world.” Oh, what a difference; “in this world” clarifies everything. Our old man lives in the old world; all that belongs to Satan and God hates that life enough to send His Son to die on the cross that we could die on the cross with Him. What part of ourselves loves the world, its offers, its promises of pleasure, its delight in sin, and its selfishness? The part of us that is not living in Christ and dead to the world. This is the separation and growth into Christ that we are called to. This is the “you” that he said, “he who loves his life, loses it.” This is not the life Christ died for us to live. This is not God's will. It is quite a dangerous place to be.
To clarify this Jesus stated next, “if anyone serves Me, he must follow me.” And this is significant to recognize.
So, hate your old self with all its corruption and sin nature. Hate that which you find in yourself that loves the world. But love who you are in Christ Jesus. Love that you are a work in progress. Love that you are a child of God and loved by God. Accept His powerful, passionate, and deep love for you in Christ and live in it.

Trust in His love, His cross, His blood and the work of His Holy Spirit. Amen.

CJ Cutrone, II

Why do you seek Jesus ?

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 11:00:00 GMT

Why do you seek Jesus?

This is an all-important question we must answer in truth. In such an environment where so much is preached in a fashion of, we are the center of the universe and God is here to help us, we must ask is any of this in me?

John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal."

Are we seeking God to fill our bellies and His blessings for our short physical lives? Nothing wrong with enjoying God's blessings but there is something wrong if that is what you are seeking instead of Jesus Himself. Is your "work" in Christ for the things that perish? Seek the healer, not just the healing, seek the King of Peace not just the feeling of peace, seek His word to know Him not just for an answer to a problem, and seek Jesus, not just His blessings.

Take a look at your prayers, petitions, and your hearts desires. What do you find there? Sure, we pray for our needs and our families; He is our source.
But, is that all we pray for, the things that perish? It is so wonderful to have a really good time of opening our hearts to the ministry of God's Word and His Spirit to see exactly what is inside of us. Our instruction is, do not seek God for the bread but the eternal. Jesus is our desire, He is our true reward. His kingdom come, His will be done. This first, in truth, and everything else will be given as He sees fit to give. Amen

CJ Cutrone, II

Just Wait

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 11:00:00 GMT

This is funny…
Well, it would be if it wasn’t so sad. I was writing a post after a great morning of prayer and study. I really felt it was going to be a blessing about walking in Christ and such. Then, as I was finishing up I received a phone call that aggravated the heck out me. I became uptight and was cranky on the phone. Now I tell you, that was not what God just got through telling me to write on. I am reminded that this life is a constant dependence on Jesus. The old flesh is crouched and ready to jump through the smallest crack in a door. Can anyone relate? With all that said, here is the wonderful thing. God, while speaking to me this morning, knew that was going to happen and He allowed it. He didn’t allow it so I could feel like a failure again but so I could stop and ask, “Father, how did this happen? What do you want me to learn from this?” I love that God knows all and still loves, sits back and lets things work, (even if we don’t like it sometimes) for His glory and good pleasure. But we must receive God’s correction and even chastening with joy and gratitude. Sometimes the only way to learn is for Dad to give us a little correction. But He, unlike us, does everything with such wisdom and love that it is indeed good. Just maybe I was operating in the message He had just given me from my head and not my heart. Maybe I jumped up too fast and did not allow Him to have His work in my heart the way He wanted. Sometimes we just need to sit with Jesus and not jump up so fast.

Remember sin is not dead but we are to be dead to sin. To walk in His Spirit is entirely different than reading or writing about it.

But we who are in Christ are called to walk as He walked and to do it in truth and Spirit.

Anyway, God’s grace to you. Maybe I’ll post another day what I heard and wrote on this morning before jumping up. But today is a different lesson on God’s grace; still a work in His hands. So desperate for Jesus, Amen.

CJ Cutrone,II

Everything

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 12:00:00 GMT

I read a comment recently that was so simple and yet so powerful. "Everything that God has for a Christian is in Christ." (W. Nee) On the surface, we all say yes of course. But if we think about it a little, we see it means there is nothing we can be looking to God for, that we will ever receive from Him, if it is not already in Christ. In other words, sometimes we look for an experience or even a thing to bring us peace, happiness, or into the 'things" of God. But if that which we seek is not already in Christ then it will not come from God. This explains the instruction on prayer where it states:

"...I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you HAVE received them and they will be granted to you." (Mark 11:24)

How can we already have what we will receive? Because in Christ all that God has for His child is already there, and since we are in Christ, we have it. Simply wait for that which we have in Him to be manifested in God's order. So here we come back to the theme of the glorious offer to abide in Christ. Keeping our eyes on Him and not on ourselves is the position and the focus of God's redeemed. If we look to experiences, things, or even ourselves outside of "in Christ" then we will not have all God has for us; we will have, to our disappointment, just the other "stuff".

So many of us look in the mirror and see 'self' and ask God to grant us this or that victory. Prayer is awesome, and there are times of conviction and repentance, but we must look into the mirror with faith and realize that so much of what we are asking God for is already there for us in Christ; not just forgiveness but life. Let us look with eyes of faith and see Christ in us, and us in Him; for this is God's reality. Believe God, love what is good and hate what is evil. By faith, God who began a good work in you will complete it. Remember you are in Christ because God Himself placed you there.

Praise God!

CJ Cutrone, II

Truth vs. Truth...the lie in the mirror

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 02:58:47 GMT

This truth has changed my life. I pray it blesses you.

Some of us have cried out to God to “fix” all the things we see wrong in ourselves. We see Christ, all He is and what His word tells us we are to be in Him and yet we don’t see it in ourselves. We pray for patience, peace or calm inside instead of turmoil, or to be free from a particular sin. We understand that His solution is not to fix our old nature but to crucify it. Death is the solution to all that is wrong with us and His life is all that is desirable in us. What a revelation; but what about after that when we still seem to have the same struggles?
Many of us are in a place where we understand what the cross accomplished, and we believe it to be a work in us. But what about the failures we still see? Oh, there is so much to say here. My heart is longing for God’s children, including myself, to understand more of God’s heart and victory.

If you are struggling with what you see in the scriptures and what you see in the mirror, please allow me to share two things that may help.

The worst thing we can do, in this situation, is to keep our eyes on us instead of, after seeing God’s will, turning our faith and eyes toward Jesus. We are the problem; He is the answer. So, look to the answer, not the problem.
The second thing had a little more to it, but God gave an analogy to help me in my understanding. I shared this a while back at church; today I felt I was supposed to share it here.
A man was arrested; due to no fault of his own, by a person who hated him. He was thrown in jail and treated harshly. A friend went to a judge and pleaded his case. The judge declared him not guilty and commanded he be set free. The officer had no choice but to obey the judge, but he hated the person in jail, so all he did was unlock the door. So, here we have the two truths. When the man in jail looked around all that he saw told him he was in jail. That was a truth, but the higher law, the absolute truth, even though not experienced in the physical surroundings, said that he was in fact free. So, it was true that he was in jail, it was also true that he was free, but the judge's truth was a higher truth a higher law. The judge was the authority. Depending on which truth he accepted though, controlled his entire life.

We have the promises of God which are truth regardless of what we see or experience. The cross is true, the resurrection is true, God’s victorious life for us is true. God says those who are in Christ have been crucified with Him, we are free from the dominion of sin, we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, we are more than conquerors in Him; we have many such precious promises of true fact. But we have an enemy who has an ally in the fallen flesh, in which we still live. Oh for the day when that which is corruptible will become incorruptible. My spiritual eyes, if opened, bring the truth into reality, faith is what brings the truth of God into reality. But here is the test, just like the man in prison, our eyes can tell us of a “truth” about our lives in Christ. Our “eyes” see failures and claim the promises of God are not true. Will we receive, by faith, God’s reality despite what we see in the jail cell? Faith is not hoping for the things of God; faith believes the promises of God. Faith believes what God says about you even if you don’t see it. He is able to complete the work He began, but God works through faith. God’s truth is a higher order, when we stand on what He says despite what we think we see as truth. He is in power to work in us, for by faith we overcome. Getting us to see ourselves instead of Jesus is one of the enemy's best tools. Resist the attack.

So today, if you see nothing but bars around you and you see nothing but your failures; lift up your eyes to Jesus and stand up and say I am free because Jesus says I am free. Today by faith I am walking out of this prison. Today, faults and all, I believe God that I am in Christ, righteous in God’s eyes in Christ's grace. I am being conformed to His likeness and I will no longer believe the lies. Amen.

CJ Cutrone, II

That Makes No Sense

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 12:00:00 GMT

The last shall be first, give so you will have, be weak so you can be strong, rejoice in your tribulations.

These statements are foolishness to the natural mind. But we, who have been saved by grace and have seen things in the light of God’s truth, understand they are perfect truths. It all seems so clear once we have the mind of Christ; but what about the many other issues in God’s word?

Romans 12:2 instructs us not to be conformed to this world but to be renewed in our mind so that we may prove what the will of God is. The word prove means to verify as true. The unregenerate mind says, "The things of God don’t sound good to me," we all accept that. But what about the parts of our thought process that are not renewed. There may be things God is trying to tell us, trying to call to us and our minds are saying, “nonsense.” The cross itself is foolishness to those who are perishing, and a worldly mindset makes the things of God sound foolish, yes even in Christians.

That is the point of the instruction in Romans. A mind that is not renewed in the knowledge of God says the things of God are sacrificial and not worth it, the mind of Christ says, “What an offer God has given me, I rejoice in it.”

Everything around us in this world (apart from the purposed work of the children of God) is distorted and part of a plan leading us to believe lies and to reject what is of God. Do we see that? We are behind enemy lines to bring the Kingdom of God to this world not to be influenced by it, although we are at times. James 4:4...friendship with the world is hostility toward God. I know it is so in me, how often I have to pray for God’s truth and removal of my thoughts that I may see as He sees, think as He thinks, and love as He loves.

Friends, let us be on guard, submit to God, surrender to His truth, ask Him to lead us in His word, by His Spirit, and in His ways. Then when He speaks, it will not be foolishness but accepted and proven as truth and life indeed to our souls. Our life and strength are in Christ, and He is the wisdom of God, Amen.

CJ Cutrone, II

Remind the Devil

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 20:53:40 GMT

So many times the Devil comes and accuses, reminds us of our past, or even our present (the present as we see it not the way God sees it) And sometimes it seems as though he may have a good point. But what we must remember is more than the truth of a past or current occurrence; we have the absolute truth of the blood of Jesus Christ. By His blood we are cleansed, forgiven and reconciled to God; a glorious work in progress in the hands of the master builder. I want to encourage you in this. When the Devil comes to start a conversation with you remind him of this. Yes, I have sinned, maybe I even have issues, but I have overcome and I will overcome by the Blood of the Lamb. My Father is working in and through me to conform me into the image of Christ. Not only that, let me tell you what His blood and the cross means to you. You have been defeated, the cross is your undoing. Jesus Christ rose from the dead. His blood is my lifeline. You could not stop Him, He is God Almighty and you are on the losing side. You accuse me you liar, but I submit to God and resist you. You are defeated in the name of Jesus.

Now I am not advocating making railing accusations against the Devil, but standing on the work of Jesus Christ. I wonder if we started truly submitting to God, standing on what He says and resisting the Devil how much less the Devil would want to come and talk to us? I love that thought.

Let us stop being beat up by the enemy and start reminding him of his past and his future. Praise God! Let us boldly declare about ourselves what God declares about us in Jesus Christ. He is our life and victory. We are not defeated we are more than conquerors, as we submit and trust in Him.
Amen,

CJ Cutrone, II

Forgiven and Cleansed

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 22:38:00 GMT

Forgiven and cleansed…the "and" is important.

There is a significant difference between forgiveness and cleansing. So many of us have been saved and forgiven, but we still struggle with the past or perhaps even things in the present. There is an important distinction in the Old Testament, which points to the work of Christ in the new; the offering for sins and the cleansing for purification. Andrew Murray puts it like this (paraphrased). “In the offering, something was done for the man about the guilt of sin, but in purification, something was done to the man himself. A change made on the inside.”

If for example, a person touched a dead body they had to be sprinkled and washed, then they were ceremonially clean and could fellowship among God’s people. Death was a result of sin, and as a person touched death, they had to be purified. But if a person committed a sin they had to have an offering to pay the price for sin. God dealt with both forgiveness and cleansing in His law. Of course, all of this pointed to Christ.
Both of these works are contained in the blood of Jesus Christ. For we are told that He is our offering for sin, but we are also told that the blood of Jesus cleanses our conscience from dead works.(Heb. 9) Even as David prayed, "create in me a clean heart", he was asking for more than forgiveness of sin.

Why is this so important? Let us remember, in Christ all that was of Adam, all the horror of the fallen nature was taken by Christ to the cross and dealt with. This is why Jesus is referred to as the last Adam to all who are in Him because all of Adam was dealt with in Him. Likewise, Jesus is called the second man because as both creator and mediator of a new covenant He was able to stand as the first born of a new creation. The second man was the father of all in Him, for a new life. Not a redone old life but a new life. This is the power of a new creation. In this new creation all things have passed away, and all things become new. Praise Jesus Christ! This is why the shame of the past and its tentacles which try to drag us back and keep us from God or make us feel less than pure and fully acceptable are a lie. We came into Adam through birth, and we left through our union with Christ in death. Our life is a new one entirely in Christ now. The past has no power over you if you accept the power of the life and blood of Christ. Do you believe the blood of the Son of God is able to purify you? The conscience not only tells us when we are wrong but it, by faith, bears witness that we are acceptable to God because we are cleansed by His blood.
One of my favorite scriptures, and yes to those who are already saved need it desperately as well as the lost, is 1 John 1:9. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We see that while we are to strive never to sin, if we do, we have an advocate and He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Dear saints of God, beloved of Jesus Christ, glorious bride… Trust in the Blood of Jesus Christ. Be free from the guilt of the past and even your shortcomings today. Follow His spirit so that you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh, hate sin, love what is good, and know that while the outer man is dying the inner man is being renewed day by day in Christ. Above all let nothing separate you from the love of God and fellowship with Him.

CJ Cutrone, II

Faith is not Abstract

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 22:08:59 GMT

Faith is not abstract.

Faith is not an abstract set of beliefs or feelings. Faith is not a general understanding of something of times past. True faith is knowing and believing a definitive and tangible object of truth on which we set our hope and eternity. True faith fills us, changes us, and always brings us deeper in Christ.

In Hebrews 3:1 we see the beautiful words, "consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession;"

When you look at your circumstances, do you see your savior’s hand? When you look in the mirror, do you see the life and grace of Christ? When you see the challenges before you and your family, do you see the plan of God shining through it all? Do you see with the eyes of faith? Yes, I know it's hard sometimes but God has given us the way.

What are you setting your faith on; the fact that you belong to God? That is powerful, but faith requires more. The smallest of God’s children have this glorious truth, but we are to grow and deepen in our knowledge of God. Little consideration results in little faith, little anchors result in drifting with the smallest of waves. The winds and the waves will come, but those who live according to His word will stand.

While most of us could speak on these themes of scripture, it is not enough to only know them. These truths must be considered so that they are alive in our hearts. God's truth is the ground of faith, and God's Spirit works through faith.

When did you last consider things like this:
What does it mean, this great love of God? Am I surrendering to the leading of the Holy Spirit in my life? Do I trust God because I see Christ's sacrifice ever before me? What does it truly mean to be reconciled to God? Probably one of the most powerful ... what is the value of the blood of Christ and what does it say to God and then to me? What is God's plan for me in Christ?

It is not just a mental picture of a cross; it is what the cross represents. Oh, the depth, love, and life that is found in the Blood of His cross. Consider Jesus... then you have an anchor sure and steady. But no one can do it for you. You must seek the Lord for yourself.

God's grace my friends.
CJ Cutrone, II

Busy and Chaotic

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 22:29:38 GMT

Never before in history has there been a generation of people with so many machines, tools, and inventions to speed work and free time as this one. And it seems as though there has never been a generation that is so preoccupied and seems to have less time than this one. Phones, TV entertainment, and even hobbies have us so busy or distracted and for some, even dependent. Okay, so I know I am about to lose a lot of people here. If we look at any of these things individually they can be fine, but, if we take a step back and see it as a total package it is hard to not think, "Something is wrong here."

It seems like everyone is so busy that we often have no real peace, no quiet in our hearts and minds. We have a generation who cannot sit quite or even sit and talk without all the stuff. As such, we seem to have difficulty in pondering the scriptures, spending time with God, and letting Christ's life grow inside of us. Almost like it was part of a plan...

As a husband and father, I think I have an idea of how God feels about this. I see the distractions and hurt over the time the "modern stuff" has robbed us of. I feel the heart of God crying out, "put it down and spend time with me." Jesus redeemed us because He loves us. God’s will is to be our Abba, our dear Father. Can we see John the beloved with his head on the chest of Jesus? Do you long for the day when we can fall before Him and have Him pick us up and hold us, to love us as only a parent would? Oh Lord, come quickly. Jesus, you are everything. But what about today? God is ever calling, "Come to Me and I will give you rest." All of the things we busy ourselves with, and the distractions can choke out the life and word of God. Honestly, none of it will truly give you fulfillment and what you need to be happy. God created us that He should be our everything; nothing else will satisfy.

He stands at the door of your heart and knocks, waiting for you to open up and let Him in. Here we trade the turmoil of this crazy race for peace, life, and love. This too is learning how to be in but not of the world.

Busy? Some things we have to do, some we choose to do. Too busy, then lay some of it down and rest; spend time with the One who loves you like no other.

God's grace my friends,

CJ Cutrone, II

Forgiven but not changed.

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 21:33:27 GMT

A man was driving down an old dirt road and came upon a new car wash and noticed his friend standing outside. When he pulled up, he saw his friend in distress and asked what was wrong. His friend said, "I always saw dirty cars on this road and thought it would be good to build a car wash here. But no one will come because once the car gets clean; it immediately gets dirty again. This plan is the ruin of me."

I think most of would realize it would be foolish to spend money to wash your car only to have it immediately get dirty again. So, why would we expect God's plan in Christ to just bring forgiveness but leave us unchanged on a "dusty old road”? That may not be our doctrine, but sadly it is how we often live.

I once read something like this. "The blood deals with our sin, the cross deals with our nature. We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners."

If we believe or even preach, "Because we have sinned, we need to be forgiven," and stop there we miss the work of Christ. Yes, we need forgiveness, but we need a new nature, that new nature is the life of Jesus Christ. True Christians possess His life and are possessed by His life. Not just forgiven but a new creation. As it is written, "...not I but Christ lives in me." Of course, this is a work in progress, but many of us have called on His name for forgiveness and still not completely surrendered to His cross.

Not my will Lord but yours, not my life but yours, is a requirement for the work of the cross. That is Gethsemane, and we all must go through that surrender. Are you and I willing to embrace the cross and all its judgments against the old man; all that we love in that old life? If we are not then, we will live the cycle of forgiveness and sin and then forgiveness over and over again. Jesus said taking up your cross and following Him is a daily requirement. God did not build a "car wash" on a dusty road. His plan is and always will be the new creation of His son Jesus Christ. My friends, don't just walk in forgiveness, walk and abide in Christ. Surrender to God's plan with faith in the complete work of Jesus Christ and allow His Spirit, by His grace, to work in you.

Today Lord, I embrace the cross. Help me, Jesus, have your way. And where I am not willing, Father make me willing. Amen.

CJ Cutrone

Defeated?

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 20:35:45 GMT

I Think Not!

So many times we look around and see all the "yuk" of this world everywhere, and we get bothered about it. I would say that is great. There should be a holy grief about all the evil around us. However, this should never be a feeling of defeat. Jesus told us all that we are seeing would be as it is, it will even get worse. But we exist in a world that was handed over to the enemy of God in the garden, so we should not be surprised. (Eph. 2:1-2) Satan could not have offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world if they were not his to give. (Matt. 4:8)

But while we see all this around us we must remember what God has told us. We are soldiers in a battle behind enemy lines. (2 Tim. 2:3-4) And who is it that called us into His service? The glorious King of kings. The church is planted by God in this place to wreak havoc on the Devil's kingdom. So, while we see all the bad, we must never feel defeated. Instead, realize that we are here in the power of God and there is nothing all of hell can do to stop the life of Christ in us. We are not defeated we are undefeatable ambassadors for Christ. Who is this who has filled us with His life? The eternal Lord of all creation, the Majesty of Heaven, the bright and morning star, the fairest of ten thousand. He is the King of Glory, and we are invited to walk with Him and share in His victory as He works out His redemption plan.

He came as a baby and grew as a man, all of hell was against him, and even in death, it could not defeat Him. Praise our Lord Jesus Christ! Sadly, the Devil has done an effective job at making the church, the bride of Christ feel like we were losing. Some of that is because he has God's people much like the world. The result of that is we may not clearly see what side we are on. Divided hearts equals a divided life. (Matt. 6:21-23) Dear saints of God, remember in whom you have placed your hope and remember the light God has called you to shine. We are fighting a powerful enemy, yes not defeated and we fight in the power of God. Stand in the power of His might, don't see the "yuk" as us losing the fight, but know the mission of God as we walk in and by His grace. Let the life of His Spirit make you bold in the Lord. Yes, like a man shouting the victory as he runs into battle swinging his sword at the enemy, be about the Father's mission.
We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against rulers and the powers of this present darkness and spiritual forces in high places, therefore take up the whole armor of God. The weapons of our warfare are mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds. (2 Cor. 10:4, Eph. 6:12)

Amen,

CJ Cutrone, II

Believe First

183:825573385 (Cj Cutrone) — Mon, 09 Apr 2001 16:57:24 GMT

Believe First.

I was with my dad recently and He said something really simple but profound.

People ask God to show them so they can believe, but I think God says, "believe then I will show you."

We all know from so many scriptures how faith and belief is what pleases God. Are you hoping God will do something? Well, do you have God's will on the matter? Do you have God's word on the matter? If you know God's will and His word then ask, but then after asking stand on what God has said. Believe God before the answer comes in the natural. Believe that you have received because you asked and it shall be yours; not because you have earned it by asking but because God always does what He says He will do. It's about Him, not us.

God instructed Israel, "put blood on the doorpost and when the death angel comes he will pass over you". Now once they walked by faith and applied the blood, the death angel passed over. But know this, he did not pass over because of anything going on inside the house. Death passed over because God said, "When I see the blood I will pass over and there shall be no death in that house". We believe God to do what He said, simply because He said it; even if we don't yet see it.

It only sounds odd when we are not walking in faith, for in the life of faith it makes perfect sense. And through it all God receives His glory. We believe you, Lord!

Amen, walk in faith, believe God!

CJ Cutrone, II