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‘The Cross’ is Pure Love!

I’m often asked about the most beautiful places I’ve seen on earth. I have a long list of those, but at the top would be Antarctica and then Greenland in the Arctic. The beauty is stunning and beyond words to express. I have been down to Antarctica at different places twice carrying the cross. What a feeling and purity! Pure snow, clean, and it seems to go on forever. In some places in the summer you can see the lichen growing in the sun with awesome colors. There’s quietness and then suddenly the sounds of the wild winds blowing snow in a blinding wind storm. Oh, I loved it. Creation like God made it – untouched and unspoiled. Then there is the stunning beauty of the deserts. In Namibia the sand dunes rise up over 1,200 feet. It is a rare striking view that is breathtaking. Then add Victoria Fall, and the Hindu Kush with the Grand Canyon and you can get a taste of purity!
Oh, but here is even more!
The beauty of a pure smile!
The beauty of a pure deed!
The beauty of a pure gift!
The beauty of a pure heart!
The beauty of a pure motive!
The beauty of a pure sacrifice!
“Whatsoever things are ‘Pure’!” think on these things! “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8
This is the call of God. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Jesus Matthew 5:8 When we look at the cross we see pure love! No pretense. No phony words. No hype. No lack of concern. No rejection. When we look at the cross and Jesus we see love as it was meant to be. This love is made even more pure as we see it in the actions of humanity crying ‘crucify him’. We see love prevailing as spit drips down the face of Jesus and is mixed with His blood as it splatters on the cobblestones and dusty trail to Calvary. We feel this pure love as the cross is weighting upon His shoulders. We see it now even better like the fog lifting in the early morning as we hear the hammer ring against the nails, tearing through the Hands of Jesus. Pure love can be no clearer than when we hear the suffering Christ speaking from the cross to the repentant sinner…”This day you will be with me in paradise”; “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”! Oh how this world needs to see the ‘love’ part of ‘the cross’! In history the cross often led the way into battle and masses died cruel deaths under the crush of the cross. To groups like the Jews and Moslems, even today in the modern world, often the cross is viewed an instrument of condemnation and judgment. At the real cross of Jesus we find mercy, love, grace, forgiveness, hope and good news. I am not qualified to even lift up a cross much less carry it around the world, but my unworthiness does not disqualify me from the call because of His pure love. One of the great missions of the crosswalk around the world has been to show that the cross is like a huge flag waving saying “I love You”…Jesus! In the movie that has come out on DVD you will find in “The Cross” that pure love of Jesus! “The Cross” offers hope to the weary and peace for the struggling. It offers a place where sinners can come and experience a life-changing encounter. You will see commitment and passion that will inspire you in following Jesus.
Pilgrim Followers of Jesus, Arthur and Denise Blessitt, Luke 18:1

This Is The Time
This is the time! Some days seem to run into months and some months into years. Then there is the moment! One short breath in time when it all comes together. That is the time when delay is forgotten and it’s time for action! Something awesome is about to happen, and you know if you pass it by, you will never be able to return to the blessing just missed.
There have been times when what I was called to do seemed impossible, but not attempting the mission Jesus had given me would be something that would haunt me the remainder of my life. I had to act. I’d rather die going forward than going back or sitting still. So it is with the passing by of the cross. I get email almost every week from people who saw the cross being carried down the road but they did not stop to say hello, or offer a drink or even a prayer. What would have happened if the cross had been welcomed into that home or town? Jesus has called me, and I spent forty years walking the cross around the world…on the roads of the world. You have heard of the miracles and destiny of the cross mission and how Jesus led me every step – on and on into every nation and major inhabited island group lifting up Jesus and the message of the cross. Matt and Laurie Crouch and Rich Cook and the great team at Gener8Xion have made the movie “The Cross”. Thousands of hours they have worked on this, these men and women. Many other people have worked to take “The Cross” to the theaters across America. TBN and other news outlets have promoted the movie with great response in changed lives. Now Outreach Films is making “The Cross” Movie Event Package available to churches and outreach ministries. Hundreds of churches are showing the film and the Holy Spirit is truly moving across the nation.Now is the time! This is the Time for you to join with all of us in getting “The Cross” into people’s hands. It is the time to put “The Cross” into the hands of your family members. Now is the time to give “The Cross” to fellow workers and friends; to mail “The Cross” to people in need of hope, salvation and blessings.

Pilgrim Followers of Jesus, Arthur and Denise Blessitt, Luke 18:1

Will You Be The Person?
“At last I can focus on me serving Jesus and others!” This is the urgent need in the Body of Christ on earth today!
The call of Jesus is so personal and glorious, yet it is often lost, as seeing the perceived faults in others dominates our minds. Our conversations and thoughts are about what the government is doing wrong, the pastor, the church, the missionaries, the nations, etc. Even in the religious world there is talk of constant conflict, division and judgment.
All such talk and thinking takes the focus off of us and puts it on others. This is not where Jesus put it. Jesus taught that we are personally to be the ‘Good Samaritan’. It is our personal mission to share the message of salvation, feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, visit the sick, the imprisoned, clothe the naked, love our enemies, do good to those that despise us, forgive those that trespass against us, care for the widows and orphans, heal the sick, and on and on I could go. As a person, you partake of communion (the Bread and the Wine). We are to be personally baptized! We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit; not just the church, but you and I as individuals. Jesus gave what we call ‘the Great Commission’ to the men and women that He spoke to. This of course, was a command for the following generations to follow. We are to Love personally! We are to love God and others! This is not a vague, impersonal love, but real!
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:16-19
“We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John 4:19-21; Now to the point of this column: will you be the person in your home, community, church, nation and world living out the call and message of Jesus?
Pilgrim Followers of Jesus, Arthur and Denise Blessitt, Luke 18:1

The Ascension of Jesus and What It Means to Each of Us!
In the movie “The Cross” and in the book The Cross you see me heading into many places that seem impossible to carry a twelve-foot cross and survive. Why and how did we make it? Jesus did it! I believe with all my heart that Jesus knew when He had me make that cross in 1968 that I would carry it in every nation and island group on earth. I know Jesus was not surprised when I arrived in Zanzibar, completing the mission. I did not know I would make it. I only knew this was His call and mission for me. Many times I thought this crosswalk would be a one-way trip. But Jesus had other plans. He knew the end from the beginning. Do you think the completion of this journey was dependent on me, or the will of Jesus?
In this column I am going to raise some profound questions that will be for you to answer.
Why do you think Jesus ascended into heaven and did not just keep living on earth?
Jesus died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. After forty days (Acts 1:3) Jesus ascended into heaven. “This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God…” Acts 2: 23-24, 32, 33
Did Jesus know before He came to earth that he was to die on a cross? Where does Jesus sit now?
“Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:18:22
How much power, rule, authority, and dominion does Jesus have now? What is under the Feet of Jesus? Who benefits from this? “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 2-6-7 As Christ is in us by His Spirit we are seated with Him as He is Lord of our lives. When?
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Colossians 3:1-4; You have been raised with Christ and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Why fear?
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but He helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:14-18
Why did Jesus take on flesh and blood? Does Jesus understand the needs of my life? Can Jesus help with my temptations? Is Christ actively involved in your life? Is Christ actively involved in your nation and world? How much power does Jesus have on this earth? “All authority (power) has been given to Me (Jesus) in heaven and on earth.” Matthew 28:18 Line your life up with the will of God and Jesus will bring His will to pass! Who or what do you believe controls your destiny and life? Jesus is Present in the life of His children with sufficient power to meet every need. Trust Him. Jesus is at the Right Hand of the Father in Heaven and understands everything you have or ever will face. Jesus will hear the prayer of a sinner asking to be saved right now. Invite Him into your life.
Oh, dear follower of Jesus, our God reigns! Now! Let us live in the joy of the Lord with boldness and love in witness and victory in our personal lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. Glory.
Pilgrim Followers of Jesus, Arthur and Denise Blessitt, Luke 18:1

Tips For the Times
The message for today in America and the world is not to fear but have faith! The thrilling good news of the message of Jesus is for us to share with the entire world. I have walked this earth in every nation and major island group. I’ve seen first hand the best and the worst, and yet I’m more excited today than I was when I made the cross in 1968!
We have been looking at the Words of Jesus after the resurrection during the past five weeks. In these words we find nothing about His followers being griped with panic, anger, uncertainty, confusion, depression, selfishness and complaining. The resurrected Christ instead offers love, power, no fear, rejoicing, vision, reaching the world, the knowledge that He will be with us always, and that all power is in His Hands. This is a vital message for today. No gloom and doom from Jesus! Instead, the followers of Jesus, from the Day of Pentecost on through the first century and on to today, hear the good news message that Jesus established His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it! Jesus is on the throne, seated at the Right Hand of the Father and through the Power of the Holy Spirit His followers are to go and preach the gospel and make disciples in all nations. Now, just a moment to reflect. Jesus had been crucified. His followers had a brief moment of a glorious harvest of souls being saved, then came the crushing rage of persecution, beating, prison and death to the early church. Now the believers had to leave homes, family and any outward security they had. “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the Word wherever they went.” Acts 8:2-4
This was only the first wave of attack with many more to come. The ruling government in Rome was perhaps the most wicked and evil of all time. The emperor claimed to be God and the iron hammer of direct suppression of the followers of Jesus grew. As the message of Jesus went to the nations and to Rome the government tried everything to destroy the witness, but the believers multiplied and the churches spread and grew. If this was not bad then consider that the followers of Jesus in Jerusalem were so deprived that Paul and the churches gave offerings for the poor believers in Jerusalem. Then came even greater disaster. There was a Jewish uprising in Jerusalem and the Roman army came, and in their rage the city of Jerusalem was totally destroyed. Only those believers who had obeyed the warnings of Jesus escaped. Even the temple was torn down stone by stone and the city was totally destroyed. The slaughter was beyond description. Can you imagine New York city or Washington totally destroyed and not one building standing? Can you imagine Billy Graham and other leaders in jail or being killed?

Yet Jesus had a message of hope, joy, confidence and salvation for the early church. With great joy they were witnesses. Faced with death and beatings and oppression they counted themselves blessed to suffer for Christ.
“Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated…the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith.” Hebrews 11:35-38 “This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” Colossians 1:23

What does this mean for us today? Focus on Jesus. Don’t panic when you may lose everything. Be of good cheer and lift up Jesus for all to see. We are winning and Jesus is at work in our world today. He is blessing and we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit in power and glory. We are to be living witnesses! Decide today to not complain and grumble. Remember that was what the children of Israel did in the wilderness and it angered God. Let’s reach our nation and world for Jesus! Let Jesus use you to be a part of this great awaking! I am excited and thrilled with the glorious things happening today in many churches, ministries and people.

Pilgrim Followers of Jesus,

Arthur and Denise Blessitt,

Luke 18:1