"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. ", Luke 9:23.

There are two ways to interpret scripture: a carnal way and a spiritual way. The carnal way would ascribe our own works to this saying of Jesus. If only we would have the same commitment as Jesus then we could accomplish great things for GOD, as he did. Yet on the cross, our feet and hands are bound and nailed. We are helpless and can do no good works for GOD on a cross. So what is the true meaning of this scripture?

^"But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. ", Exodus 17:12.

The Israelites were in a fierce battle with the flesh (in this case pictured by battle with the Amalekites), but they were not able to overcome the flesh through the works of their own hands. To overcome the flesh they needed the power of the cross. This is revealed in idiomatic form through Moses raising his hands. Notice how the scripture is very specific that his hands were raised out to the sides in the pattern of a crucified man and not in front of him. Also notice the two crucified thieves to the right and left, that were crucified with Jesus, are pictured as Aaron and Hur. So the cross is a place of complete submission towards GOD. We are no longer relying on ourselves, but on the Holy Spirit who now abides in us and works through us. Thus, the religious method of interpreting Luke 9:23 is the opposite meaning of that intended to be conveyed by Jesus.

"Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;", 1 Corinthians 3:12.

So we understand that there is only one foundation on which we can build which is Christ. If we take up our cross daily, by trusting in his power, then we will bear good fruit. This good fruit is inflammable fruit of gold, silver, and precious stones, which can survive the fire of judgement. If we do not take up the cross daily then we will still bear fruit, but it will not be fruit tested by the fire of the Holy Spirit. This is the flammable works of wood, hay, stubble. Regardless of how good our own works are in our own eyes, they are not of any value to GOD. So the victorious path then, is to take up our cross daily by trusting in the great blessings of GOD on a daily basis. His promises provide us with everything we need to manifest the Kingdom of GOD here on the Earth.