Is the power of the cross of Jesus Christ evident in your life? The power to repent, cast down sin from your heart and the power to lead a Holy new life? The cross represents the sufferings of Jesus Christ, meaning all the sufferings He endured before going to the cross and on the cross. It is written in 1John1:7, that 'the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleansenth us from all sin'...not some sin....but ALL sin. Our sins are washed away by the Blood of Jesus.
The apostle Paul was very much aware to this mighty power. He wrote, 'for i am not ashamed of the gospel of Jeus Christ, for ti is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. At the cross we are free from the curse of dominion of sin. As human beings, we have a sinful nature. Jesus realised tht we are sinful flesh adn that sin constantly wants to gain control in our lives. Sin tempts, it entices and fights against us. But, by the power of the cross, sin does not have dominion over us, if we choose the cross. We live in a world that loves and emphasises power of all sorts. That type of power is not able to deliver us from oru sins, but only the power of the cross.
1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
2 Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave [a] came upon me;
I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD :
"O LORD, save me!"
5 The LORD is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.
6 The LORD protects the simplehearted;
when I was in great need, he saved me.
7 Be at rest once more, O my soul,
for the LORD has been good to you.
8 For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,
9 that I may walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.
10 I believed; therefore [b] I said,
"I am greatly afflicted."
That is the awesome power of the cross!!!
In the old testament, God showed that the cross was freeing power in the great event of Israel's being delivered from Egypt. There He said..'i take you out of the house of bondage, from the house of slavery.' That was a picture of the mighty hand of Jesus Christ that took His children out of their bondage and out of slavery and sin.
Jesus said in John10:10-15
10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
And agian He prayed in Jonh17:12....'those that thou gavest me i have kept, and none of them is lost.
What did God pour out on the cross? All the punishment and all the hellish anguish that our sins deserved......the sins of God's people.
Yet so many have not grasped the power of the cross. Many are hoping to put sin away through other means, but wonder why they are still in bondage. But the bible says that it is the cross applied to our hearts by the Holy Spirit, which alone can free us from the dominion of sin.
So, if you begin to lose your way, and life seems to overwhelm you, go back to the cross of Jesus Christ, remember why He died for your sins, because that is where there is life abundantly, for we have not been forgiven merely of grace, but are now made dead to sin and alive unto God.
How do we know that the cross has delivered us? We will know it by our fruit...by the the way we thingk, by giving thanks to God, being grateful for everything we have, like the psalmist says in
Psalm 116:12-19 (New International Version)
12 How can I repay the LORD
for all his goodness to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD.
14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his saints.
16 O LORD, truly I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant [a] ;
you have freed me from my chains.
17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the LORD.
18 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the LORD—
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD. [b]
HALLELUJAH!!
AMEN.
prayer
Father, there is noone like you. We thank you for your word, for it is life to us. We pray that we continue to die to self, so that more of the power of the cross is seen in us. We pray that we come boldly to the throne of Grace, and ask for repentance throgut the Blood of Jesus, for you are a merciful God. Create in us a clean hearth, O God, and renew a right spirit in us, so that we may pursue those things that are holy and pleasing in your sight. Father, all praise and glory are yours, now and forevermore. We pray this in Jesus awesome name..
Amen.
Name: Hildah Lunding
