The power of sin follows every human like a stalking shadow. The life of a soldier is not an easy life. He could not be closed in a tomb and forgotten through the ages. That may well be the story of many walking this earth. The story of the abundant life he received as a result, is best expressed through his hymn, Amazing Grace, which carries these lyrics. He took me to the little room that has been designated a “prayer room” at the United Nations building. Satan uses jealousy, pride, gossip, gluttony, sex and sinful appetites to control us. The victory cry. The cross is substitutionary. In the song ‘Baker Street’, Gerry Rafferty sang about a man who is ‘Light in his head and dead on his feet’. God could not remain a righteous God and compromise with sin. The goal of the cross is not only a full and free pardon, but a changed life lived in fellowship with God. Yet, even hearts hardened by the heat of battles and the struggles of military service are not beyond the reach of the gospel or the power of the cross. In 1 Timothy 1:15 the Apostle Paul refers to this truth in speaking about his own transformation. The cross is the foundation as well as the center of our salvation. As a result, no one is beyond the reach of God’s saving grace. Now the daylight flees, Now the ground beneath This is what the world calls “foolishness” but what God has been pleased to call “wisdom.” What do you call it? That’s when I came to the cross one day, and as I accepted the forgiveness of Christ into my life, I found the purpose I was looking for. He didn’t stay dead. The people of Corinth were blind to Christ crucified and what it meant. Illustration: John Newton was a man who lived a wicked life, being involved in the horrible practice of slave trading. Second, in the cross we see the strongest proof of God’s hatred of sin. The power of the cross is our Christ-controlled means in preaching (v. 17). To create hope in one's heart by demonstrating God's power. Where is the scholar? It symbolized the greatest rescue mission the world has ever seen!! It was never blacker nor more hideous. To ignore the power of the cross is an eternally fatal mistake of preaching (v. 18). The power of the cross is … As a result, he encountered the transformation that only comes through Christ and the power of the Cross. There is power in what Jesus did on the cross – power that sets us all free. It was my privilege to be the guest of a secretary general at the United Nations in New York. We call it human trafficking today. When the Apostle Paul went to the great and intellectual Grecian city of Corinth, he said, “I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). The Greek word here is moria, which literally means “idiocy.” Out of this Greek word comes the word moron. Christ does come to us every day–in the form of Bibles that we do not read, in the form of churches that we do not attend, in the form of human need that we pass by. In the life of a Christian, the CROSS is placed between them and the World. If it were not for the cross no one would be born again today. The cross is the instrument by which God delivers us from the penalty of our sins and from the hand of Satan. To the people of Corinth the preaching of the cross was foolishness, nonsense. Day by day for five weeks, here are the prayers, the reflections, the stories, and the teaching that will help you not only better comprehend the power of Christ s great sacrifice for you, but come to better understanding why and how to accept that power now. When Jesus died on the cross, and was buried, it didn’t stop there. In the judgment hall of Pilate the cry was heard, “Crucify Him! Welcome to my Sermon/Devotional blog The Preaching Platform. All of us have at times been defeated by Satan. We may say that sin is not that bad–but God said it is very bad. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. • Further, we are enabled by the power of the cross of Jesus to live for righteousness. To others the cross of Christ brings an offense. In the midst of a violent storm, when hope was almost over, as the story goes, John Newton opened his heart to God. We are held in bondage to sin and are controlled by the power of the devil. law which prescribes death as the penalty for sin was cancelled—Jesus nailed it to the cross. The cross has the power: To destroy Satan and death because it provides an antidote to the poison of sin that Satan seduces us into, causing our spiritual death. The cross is the key that unlocks our hearts and reopens our connection with our Creator. This is how the Corinthians evaluated the crucifixion of Christ. Powerplays, if you will, were being instigated in Corinth by divisive parties simultaneously following Paul, Peter, Apollos and one who sought to trump them all, the "Christ party." To those, who don’t believe, the Cross is foolishness and Jesus is a rock of offence. The NIV Study Bible describes it in this manner – ‘The picture is of conquered soldiers stripped of their clothes as well as their weapons to symbolize their total defeat’ (Page 1815). INTRODUCTION: 1. The Power of the Cross Greg Laurie Senior Pastor, Harvest Christian Fellowship 2011 15 Apr The cross is en vogue today as a fashion accessory. The Scripture teaches that man’s heart is desperately wicked. When we look at the cross we see how drastically God deals with sin. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Took the blame, bore the wrath, We stand forgiven at the cross. God has stated that the soul that sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:20) and that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). About Us Contact Us Privacy
Display Title: The Power of the Cross First Line: Oh, to see the dawn of the darkest day Tune Title: POWER OF THE CROSS Author: Keith Getty; Stuart Townend Meter: 10.8.10.8.12.14 Scripture: Luke … Third, in the cross we see a glorious exhibition of God’s love. The Power of the Cross / [Intro] / Am Am/B C C Dm Em F Em Dm Dm/F G / [Verse] / Am Am/B C Oh, to see the dawn C Dm Em Of the darkest day F … The comment form collects your name, email and content to allow us keep track of the comments placed on the website. Illustration: At the age of 16, I was a demoralized and frustrated teenager, plagued by constant sickness and physical weakness. The keys to unleashing the power of the Cross in your life. • By the wounds inflicted upon Jesus in his scourging and at the cross, we have "been healed". He laid down his life for … ©2021 Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8). The power of the cross is our God-given message for preaching (v. 17). God will not tolerate sin. God gives us new life through the power of the cross. For us, the cross is the power of God and the wisdom of God. No wonder Paul said 2,000 years ago, “We preach Christ crucified.” The world needs this message today. For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:20-21, NIV). The Power of the Cross The cross was the greatest achievement in history and has cosmic and eternal ramifications. Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? He took me to the little room that has been designated a “prayer room” at the United Nations building. Crucify Him!” The people had seen His miracles. But Paul said, “The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25). This, the power of the cross: Christ became sin for us, Took the blame, bore the wrath: We stand forgiven at the cross. b) Paul also re-emphasizes that at the cross, Jesus triumphed over all the power of satan. How few people recognize that the answer to all the world’s problems can be found at the foot of the cross. And look at the end result of all of this in the last sentence. My name is Palitha Jayasooriya and I am a Pastor from Sri Lanka. Sheet music is available for Piano, Voice, Guitar and 5 others with 9 scorings and 1 notation in 9 genres. 1) Through the power of the cross anyone can receive forgiveness (verse 13b) The forgiveness that comes through the sacrifice of Jesus is available to the worst of sinners. That God sent Christ to bear our sins means that God does not just shrug off our sin. It is also described and experienced as ‘abundant life’! They had seen how He relieved suffering humanity. The sum total of that richness, and all God accomplished and made available to us in that act of grace, is known as the "power of the cross." The Scripture says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Oh, to see the pain Written on Your face Bearing the awesome weight of sin; Every bitter thought, Every evil deed Crowning Your bloodstained brow. Here was religion without a cross … a testimony that the nations of the world are deeply religious but have not yet come to the point where they are willing to accept Christ and Him crucified. The message of shed blood is repugnant to many, and they turn from such a gory sight, feeling that their delicate sensibilities have been outraged. I went into the semidarkness. "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." To understand that magnitude of the request we must understand that this boy was a child of promise. The idea of a world being saved by Christ crucified was indeed foolishness to those who were proud and boastful and who thought the wisdom of the world was vested in them. Why this murderous spirit? At the cross of Christ, sin reached its climax. This, the pow’r of the cross: Christ became sin for us; Took the blame, bore the wrath— We stand forgiven at the cross. It is a picture of blood flowing from Christ’s veins as He hung on the cross. If God had to send His only Son to the cross in order to pay for sin, then sin must be dark indeed in the sight of God. Through Christs death on the cross, those who turn to Him are delivered from both the penalty and the power of sin. God makes it plain that our carnal nature was dealt with at the cross, so that in our standing in Christ this nature has no more power over us. Human nature has not changed, and as we stand and gaze at the cross, we see clear evidence that mankind is basically wrong, and we hear the thunderous verdict of God Himself when He says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Amazing grace, how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now I’m found, Was blind, but now I see. a) Paul tells us that at the cross, Jesus disarmed all of satan’s forces and made a public spectacle of them. They had heard His gracious words. So we find ourselves manufacturing another gospel. Thus, the people of the world stumble on blindly toward eventual judgment and destruction, not realizing that they are rejecting Christ and Him crucified, which is the only hope for salvation. The cross is an historical event that can bring us to heaven… And a current event bringing heaven to bear on us. I am convinced that if Christ came back today, He would be crucified more quickly than He was 2,000 years ago. So bad that He demands the death penalty. We are told that our “old man was crucified with Him” (Romans 6:6) and that we do not need to serve sin any longer. Nailed to a cross of wood. Amid COVID-19 Horror, Iran Releases Thousands of Prisoners. He won. He therefore sets us free from all condemnation and guilt. He condemns it and demands payment for it. The final picture of all that the cross provides lies in the powerful Resurrection of our Lord. How different it is for those of us who, in simple faith, know Christ crucified. In Colossians 2:15, Paul illustrates the triumph of Jesus on Good Friday in the following ways. My life has never been the same and the greatest joy I have today is in serving Him. That ongoing power is life-transforming and is working every second of every day. The message of the power of the Cross was preached by Paul to a congregation very much embroiled in the practical meaning and effects of power. When we look at the cross, we see several things: First, in the cross we see the clearest evidence of the world’s guilt. We're guilty of sin but the cross provides the forgiveness and healing we need. Immediately I recognized that there was no cross in that room. As we stand at the cross today and gaze on a confused and frustrated world, God asks the question, “Where is the wise man? People commit horrible crimes and get off with a slap o… In that great intellectual center, the cross of Christ was a stumbling block to the children of Israel, and to the Gentiles it was sheer idiocy. The Power of the Cross Lenny Ports Galatians 6:14; 1 Corinthians 1:17 Place the cross between You and God You and the World You and Others Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. When Paul described what his message was, he said, “We preach Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:23). The cross of Christ is not only the basis of our peace and hope–but it is the means of our eternal salvation. The Power of the Cross Scripture is something worth knowing by every Christian. Many people will accept Christ’s character, but they reject His crucifixion. “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, [Jesus] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” At For thoughts on the Resurrection click here. Here is a positive statement that there can be no forgiveness of sin unless our debt has been paid. There was something missing. From Colossians 2:13-15, I would like to leave 3 thoughts about ‘The Power of the Cross’ in this sermon outline. Fourth, in the cross we see the way to victory. Find your perfect arrangement and access a variety of transpositions so you can print and play instantly, anywhere. However, Colossians 2:14 tells us that Christ has cancelled the penalty of sin that was against us, having nailed it to the cross. The Power of the Cross Obedience to the message of the cross is what purifies men and prepares them for eternal life. Thousands of Christians wrestle with temptation and sin. Will Graham Q&A: Should the Faithful Heed COVID-19 Warnings? The tendency today is to feel that such a position on God’s part is too severe. The answer is found deep in the human heart. I would also like to add one of my favorite scriptures, found in 1 John 3:8 which says, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work”. However, in the cross there is power to overcome these temptations and sins. All of our problems stem from sin--from our own sin or from the sin of others against us (and our sinful reaction to it) or from the fallen world in which we live. 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 c. Verse 1:18 — For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. We look out upon the world of nature, and in the provisions and plans made for our happiness we discover a revelation of God’s love. Where is the philosopher of this age? It was a bold display of total victory over the power of the enemy! b. Introduction: It is said that Billy Graham once attributed the large number of responses to his sermons on one central theme. It was my privilege to be the guest of a secretary general at the United Nations in New York. The phrase ‘triumphing over them’ showcases “a Roman General leading his captives through the streets of his city for all the citizens to see, as evidence of his complete victory” (NIV Study Bible). The Scripture promises that sin shall no longer have dominion over us (Romans 6:14). Finished. In The Power of the Cross, Tony Evans applies Christ’s work to life today.. We see the human heart laid bare and its corruption fully exposed. Sin never improves. The Power of the Cross; Excerpt; Contact the Author; Buy the Book; Overview. THE POWER OF THE CROSS . Salvation is brought to mankind through the blood of Jesus Christ which was shed on the cross at Calvary. As a result, no one is beyond the reach of God’s saving grace. His holiness and His justice demand the death penalty. It provides power for us to live today. If it were not for the cross, no one would be called a child of God, as we today have the privilege to be part of the family of God. Its most terrible display took place at Calvary. It never let’s go and destroys lives through all types of evil. d. The Scripture says, “Without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). Maybe, it describes your life. This Gospel of Christ and Him crucified is still foolishness to millions who are perishing all over the world today. This the power of the cross; Christ became sin for us. And more. Please read and accept our website Terms and Privacy Policy to post a comment. It isn’t now, and it wasn’t two thousand years ago. Now the day light flees, now the ground beneath quakes as its maker bows his head Curtain torn into, dead are raised to file. • Jesus on the cross, bearing our sins, gives us power to die to sins. Unfortunately, many Christians live in frustration and even defeat. The cross is the power that destroys the work of sin, because our sins were nailed there -Col 2:14-15 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. I have proved on a thousand spiritual battlegrounds in my own soul that God is more than able through the cross of His Son to give us daily victory, until we can say with Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). The cross is the matching order of Christians. This the power of the cross, Christ became sin for us, took the blame bore the wrath we stand forgiven at the cross. They are. This is the message of hope, peace and brotherhood. I’ve been doing so for most of my life, with no regrets! Although the cross was a symbol of execution at that time (much like an electric chair today), God’s saving power in full was revealed at the cross. Devotional: Responding to God (Palm Sunday), Devotional : Immanuel – “God with us” in His Greatness (Mt: 1:23), God's Restoration of the Lost Years : Sermon (Isaiah 54), 2 Chronicles 20: Victory Against Overwhelming Odds, Sermon : Four Steps to Win the Battle Over Worry (Matthew 6:25-34), The Victorious Power of the Cross Is Yours Today (Colossians 2:13-15), Sermon: God's Favor on the New Year (Psalm 65:11), Sermon: Becoming Fruitful Through Affliction. Many people have said that men and women have improved through the centuries and that if Christ came back today, He would not be crucified but would be given a grand and glorious reception. As we draw close to Good Friday, it’s good to remind ourselves of the power of the cross and what the Lord accomplished through His mighty sacrifice. Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons! Belief in the occult and astrology had left a deep emptiness in my heart and I was searching for a purpose for living. Yet as wonderful as these things are in revealing divine love, nothing is comparable to the sacrifice of Calvary. The cross is for us, in our place, on our behalf. Power and its irresistible influence were thick in the air at Corinth. It was, that he always drew attention in his sermons to the Lord Jesus Christ and to ‘the power of the cross’. 1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV Paul writes to the Roman Christians, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Download an inspiring Good Friday sermon titled ‘5 ways God spoke to Pilate’ here. Thus the solutions to our problems center in the cross of Christ. I went into the semidarkness. To gain a clear understanding of God’s attitude toward sin, we only have to consider the purpose of Christ’s death. Then why this rabble cry? Therefore, if the powers of darkness are coming against you right now, stand firm on the finished work of our Lord at the cross!! To them, His death in this manner was foolishness. “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). “We preach Christ crucified.” This is the focal point of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the blood of Jesus Christ which was shed on the cross that wipes our sins and make us worthy to stand in God’s holy presence. They are: The forgiveness that comes through the sacrifice of Jesus is available to the worst of sinners. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Story: ILLUSTRATION: On May 21, 1946 in Los Alamos, New Mexico, a young and daring scientist was carrying out a necessary experiment in preparation for the atomic test to be conducted in the waters of the South Pacific. In 1 Timothy 1:15 the Apostle Paul refers to this truth in speaking about his own transformation . A holy life becomes an attainable goal. This life comes through His Spirit indwelling us and it is eternal in nature. Our hope is that the hymn, "The Power of the Cross," will be a resource to the church as a declaration of what we believe is a challenging reflection on Christ's sufferings and a powerful song for Easter or Communion services. If so, come to the cross today and be ‘made alive’ through Christ. We live in a day of loose justice at best. Closing: As we approach Good Friday, let’s remember what we have inherited through the power of the cross. He died so that you might find true and abundant life; that you too might experience the power of the cross! For us, the cross is the power of God and the wisdom of God. Knowledge of these scriptures is what convinces the heart through the power of the Holy Spirit. Browse our 13 arrangements of "The Power of the Cross." 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