God’s Word Is Not About Putting Restrictions On Us – It’s About A Great Freedom He Wants Us To Live.

Faith and obedience are closely linked.

Faith comes from hearing the word of the Lord. Obedience comes when we submit to the authority of that word.

There’s the real challenge and test of faith… obedience. That’s often where there’s a price to pay.

For a Christian, obedience, or submission to God’s word is the “real deal.”

It’s easy to cover our real state of heart with many types of “Christian activity” but given time, his word always exposes the truth of what’s in our hearts.

God’s word is not about putting restrictions on us - it’s about a great freedom He wants us to live.

That’s part of his grace towards us. Why? To set us free… not by just knowing His word but by repentance and submission to His word.

God’s Word is not about putting restrictions on us – it’s about a great freedom He wants us to live.


Romans 16:26
But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:


He wants to write that word in our hearts. Let him. It’s sets us free.

  • Mark Saunders

You’re The Potter Lord And I’m The Clay

A good hunter knows how to lay a trap that his prey is lured into.

Comparing ourselves to others is a trap. Don’t be lured in.

It bears the fruits of either pride or condemnation. Neither is God’s heart for us.

Comparing ourselves to others has its roots in legalism which has the same fruits – self righteousness or condemnation.

So what do we do? Surrender and accept who we are. That’s tough but it’s the first step towards giving the Lord access to change us.

The change begins with surrender… Lord let me be what you want me to be. You’re the potter Lord and I’m the clay.

Without this surrender we’re still in the trap… comparing ourselves to who we would like to be. There’s no freedom in that.

Are you dissatisfied with yourself?
Surrender your life Jesus – He’ll know what to do.


2 Corinthians 10:12
For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.


Isaiah 64:8
But now, O Lord,
You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand.


Isaiah 29:16
Surely you have things turned around!
Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay;
For shall the thing made say of him who made it,
“He did not make me”?
Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it,
“He has no understanding”?


  • Mark Saunders

The Gospel Is Powerful If We Let It Work In Us

Ever wished you could “re-set” your life ?

God’s mercies are new every morning. The opportunity to humble ourselves before the Lord is always there. He never despises a broken spirit and a contrite heart.

photo of a mountain surrounded by fog in the morning

It’s true we can’t always “re-set” consequences – what’s done is done… but relationships can be restored… between ourselves and the Lord and between ourselves and others. If we are ready to humble ourselves, repent… and the hardest one, forgive, then there is hope for restoration.

Either way it takes a readiness to “carry my cross” …death for me but life for you.

The gospel is powerful if we let it work in us.


Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart– These, O God, You will not despise.


2 Corinthians 4:12
So then death is working in us, but life in you.


  • Mark Saunders

What’s Built Will Be Exposed

Ever got a counterfeit bank note? It looks genuine but it’s eventually exposed for what it is.

Same in the Church, what’s built will be exposed.

Cross Christ Church

So what is being built? It’s our lives. The state of our hearts and our attitudes. Are our lives Christ’s or our own? Can we forgive? Can we repent quickly? Are we ready to pay a price and even suffer for what we believe?

To be frank, Church would be not helpful to us if we are not hearing a message that helps us mature.

Although the Pastor and Teacher are have different gifts they both take us to the same place… to the cross… for the same reason… to be sanctified… or to grow towards maturity.

Neither will take me off the Apostolic foundation of Jesus Christ Crucified.


1 Corinthians 3: 11-13
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.


  • Mark Saunders