The Message Of The Cross

Was Preached By The Apostles                                     Acts 2:23; Acts 8:32-35; Acts 13:28-29
                                                                                      I Corinthians 1:23 and I Corinthians 2:1-2
Acts 2:23  In accordance with his own plan God had already decided that Jesus would be handed over to you; and you killed him by letting sinful men crucify him.
Acts 8:32-35

32  The passage of scripture which he was reading was this:  “He was like a sheep that is taken to be slaughtered, like a lamb that makes no sound when its wool is cut off.  He did not say a word.
33  He was humiliated, and justice was denied him.  No one will be able to tell about his descendants,

because his life on earth has come to an end.”

34  The official asked Philip, “Tell me, of whom is the prophet saying this? Of himself or of someone else?”

35  Then Philip began to speak; starting from this passage of scripture, he told him the Good News about Jesus.

Acts 13:28-29

28  And even though they could find no reason to pass the death sentence on him, they asked Pilate to have him put to death. 

29  And after they had done everything that the Scriptures say about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb. 

I Corinthians 1:23  As for us, we proclaim the crucified Christ, a message that is offensive to the Jews and nonsense to the Gentiles;
I Corinthians 2:1-2

1   When I came to you, my friends, to preach God's secret truth, I did not use big words and great learning.

2   For while I was with you, I made up my mind to forget everything except Jesus Christ and especially his death on the cross. 
Was A Stumbling Block To Jews                                    I Corinthians 1:23
As for us, we proclaim the crucified Christ, a message that is offensive to the Jews and nonsense to the Gentiles;
Was Foolishness To Gentiles                                           I Corinthians 1:18-23
I Corinthians 1:18-23
18  For the message about Christ's death on the cross is nonsense to those who are being lost; but for us who are being saved it is God's power.
19  The scripture says, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and set aside the understanding of the scholars.”
20  So then, where does that leave the wise? or the scholars? or the skillful debaters of this world? God has shown that this world's wisdom is foolishness!
21  For God in his wisdom made it impossible for people to know him by means of their own wisdom. Instead, by means of the so-called “foolish” message we preach, God decided to save those who believe.
22  Jews want miracles for proof, and Greeks look for wisdom.
23  As for us, we proclaim the crucified Christ, a message that is offensive to the Jews and nonsense to the Gentiles; 

Jesus and the Cross (What It Involved and What It Accomplished)

What It Involved
A)  The  Means to Bring About Jesus' Death                   John 19:17-18 and Acts 5:30
John 19:17-18
17  He went out, carrying his cross, and came to “The Place of the Skull,” as it is called. (In Hebrew it is called “Golgotha.”) 
18  There they crucified him; and they also crucified two other men, one on each side, with Jesus between them. 
Acts 5:30  The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from death, after you had killed him by nailing him to a cross.
B)  Was The Death of a Curse                                          Galatians 3:13
Galatians 3:13  But by becoming a curse for us Christ has redeemed us from the curse that the Law brings; for the scripture says, “Anyone who is hanged on a tree is under God's curse.”
 C)  Planned by God                                                             Luke 24:26-27 and Acts 2:23Luke 24:26-27
26  Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and then to enter his glory?” 
27  And Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures, beginning with the books of Moses and the writings of all the prophets.
Acts 2:23  In accordance with his own plan God had already decided that Jesus would be handed over to you; and you killed him by letting sinful men crucify him.
 D)  Carried Out By Humans                                              Acts 2:23 and Acts 5:30Acts 2:23  In accordance with his own plan God had already decided that Jesus would be handed over to you; and you killed him by letting sinful men crucify him.
 Acts 5:30  The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from death, after you had killed him by nailing him to a cross.
E)  Showed Jesus Obedience                                             Philippians 2:8
Philippians 2:8  He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death—his death on the cross.

What It Accomplished
A)  Redeemed Us From The Curse Of God                      Galatians 3:10, 13
Galatians 3:10 Those who depend on obeying the Law live under a curse. For the scripture says, “Whoever does not always obey everything that is written in the book of the Law is under God's curse!”
 13 But by becoming a curse for us Christ has redeemed us from the curse that the Law brings; for the scripture says, “Anyone who is hanged on a tree is under God's curse.”
 B)  Took Away Our Sins                                                     Colossians 2:13-14 and I Peter 2:24
Colossians 2:13-14 
13  You were at one time spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were Gentiles without the Law. But God has now brought you to life with Christ. God forgave us all our sins; 
14  he canceled the unfavorable record of our debts with its binding rules and did away with it completely by nailing it to the cross. 
I Peter 2:24  Christ himself carried our sins in his body to the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. It is by his wounds that you have been healed.
 C)  Reconciled Us With God                                               Ephesians 2:16 and Colossians 1:20Ephesians 2:16  By his death on the cross Christ destroyed their enmity; by means of the cross he united both races into one body and brought them back to God.
Colossians 1:20  Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son's blood^[a] on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.
D)  Gave Us Eternal Life                                                    John 3:14-15
John 3:14-15
14  As Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the desert, in the same way the Son of Man must be lifted up, 
15  so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 
E)  Brought About Victory Over Christ's Enemies            Colossians 2:15
Colossians 2:15  And on that cross Christ freed himself from the power of the spiritual rulers and authorities; he made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession.

Blessing Prayer

Heavenly Father, I come to You now in the Name of my Lord and Savior Christ Jesus.

Heavenly Father, I ask You to give me divine healing now in every area of my life, spirit, mind, will, emotions and physical being in accordance with Your Divine Plan and Order for my life. 

I receive Your Divine Healing, Wholeness and Newness of life, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Lord, I ask You to expand in me Your territories. 

Lord I ask for and receive beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness: for I am trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that You may be glorified, in Jesus’ Name.  

Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven, Father, I pray with thanksgiving in Jesus’ Name. 

Heavenly Father, I ask you to give me and every person I prayed for today according to John 16:23, the manifestation of every miracle and every healing,

You have given to me and the manifestation of divine healing and divine health in each of our bodies.  

Amen!

The Blood of God's Covenant (Hebrews 10:26-31) NLT

26  For there is no longer any sacrifice that will take away sins if we purposely go on sinning after the truth has been made known to us. 
27  Instead, all that is left is to wait in fear for the coming Judgment and the fierce fire which will destroy those who oppose God! 
28  Anyone who disobeys the Law of Moses is put to death without any mercy when judged guilty from the evidence of two or more witnesses. 
29  What, then, of those who despise the Son of God? who treat as a cheap thing the blood of God's covenant which purified them from sin? who insult the Spirit of grace? Just think how much worse is the punishment they will deserve! 
30  For we know who said, “I will take revenge, I will repay”; and who also said, “The Lord will judge his people.” 
31  It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!

God Sent His Spirit (Galatians 4:6-7) NLT

6  To show that you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who cries out, “Father, my Father.” 
7  So then, you are no longer a slave but a child. And since you are his child, God will give you all that he has for his children.

I Am In Christ

I am: God’s child for I am born again of the incorruptible seed of the Word of God.  1 Peter 1:23.  

I am: Forgiven of my sins and washed in the Blood.  Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:14, Colossians 1:14,  1 John 1:9  

I am: A new creature in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

I am: The temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19. 

I am: Delivered from the power of darkness and translated in God’s kingdom. Colossians 1:13. 

I am: Redeemed from the curse of the law of sin and death.  I Peter 1:18-19, Galatians 3:13. 

I am: Blessed. Deuteronomy 28:2-12, Galatians 3:9. 

I am: A Saint. Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:2, Philippians 1:1.  

I am: The head and not the tail, above and not beneath.  Deuteronomy 28:13. 

I am: Holy and without blame before Him in love.  1 Peter 1:16, Ephesians 1:4 

I am: The Elect of God. Colossians 3:12, Romans 8:33. 

I am: Established to the end. Romans 1:11.                    

I am: Made near to My Heavenly Father by the Blood of Christ.  Ephesians 2:13. 

I am: Set free. John 8:31-33. 

I am: Strong in the Lord. Ephesians 6:10. 

I am: Dead to sin. Romans 6:1, 11 and 1 Peter 2:24. 

I am: More than a conqueror. Romans 8:37. 

I am: Joint heir with Christ. Romans 8:13. 

I am: Sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Ephesians 1:13. 

I am: In Christ by His doing. 1 Corinthians 1:30. 

I am: Accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:6. 

I am: Complete in Him. Colossians 2:10. 

I am: Crucified with Christ. Galatians 2:20. 

I am: Alive with Christ. Galatians 2:20. 

I am: Free from condemnation. John 5:24. 

I am: Reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:18

I am: Qualified to share in His inheritance. Colossians 1:12.

I am: Firmly rooted, built up, established in my faith and overflowing with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:7. 

I am: Born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.  1 John 5:18. 

I am: His faithful follower. Revelation 17:14, Ephesians 5:1. 

I am: A fellow citizen with the saints of the household of God.  Ephesians 2:19. 

I am: Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,  Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone.  Ephesians 2:20. 

I am: Overtaken with blessings. Deuteronomy 28:2 and Ephesians 1:3. 

I am: His disciple because I have love for others.  John 13:34-35. 

I am: The light of the world. Matthew 5:14

I am: The salt of the earth. Matthew 5:13. 

I am: The righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:24 

I am: A partaker of His Divine Nature. 2 Peter 1:4.

I am: Called of God. 2 Timothy 1:9. 

I am: An ambassador for Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:20 

I am: God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works. Ephesians 2:10. 

I am: The apple of my Father’s eye. Deuteronomy 32:10.          

I am: Healed by the stripes of Jesus. 1 Peter 2:25, Isaiah 53:6 

I am: Being changed into His image. 2 Corinthians 3:18,  Philippians 1:6 

I am: A child of God. John 1:12, Romans 8:16. 

I am: Christ’s friend. John 15:15. 

I am: Chosen and appointed by God to bear His fruit. John 15:16. 

I am: Enslaved to God. Romans 6:22. 

I am: A son/daughter of God. Romans 8:14-15, Galatians 3:26 and 4:6. 

I am: A temple of God, His Spirit dwells in me.  1 Corinthians  3:16, 6:19

I am: Joined to the Lord and I am one with him.  1 Corinthians 6:17

I am: A member of Christ’s Body. 1 Corinthians 12:27, Ephesians 5:30. 

I am: Reconciled to God and I am a minister of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 

I am: One in Christ. Galatians 3:26, 28. 

I am: An heir of God since I am a son/daughter of God.  Galatians 4:6-7. 

I am: Righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:24. 

I am: A citizen of Heaven and seated in Heaven right now.  Philippians 3:20, Ephesians 2:6. 

I am: An expression of the Life of Christ because He is my life. Colossians 3:4. 

I am: Chosen and dearly loved by Christ. Ephesians 1:4, 1 Peter 2:9. 

I am: A son/daughter of light and not of darkness.  1 Thessalonians 5:5. 

I am: A Holy brother/sister, partaker of a Heavenly Calling. Hebrews 3:1

I am: One of God’s living stones and I am being brought up as a spiritual house.  1 Peter 2:5

I am: A Chosen Race, a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, a people for God’s own possession to proclaim the

          excellence of Him.  1 Peter 2:9-10. 

I am: The enemy of the Devil. 1 Peter 5:8. 

I am: Now a child of God, I will resemble Christ when He returns. 1 John 3:1-2. 

I am: Not the great I AM but by the grace of God I am what I am. 1 Corinthians 15:10. 

I am: Justified, completely forgiven and made righteous.  Romans 5:1. 

I am: Dead with Christ and dead to the power of sin’s rule over my life. Romans 6:1-6. 

I am: Dead, I no longer live for myself but for God.  2 Corinthians 5:14-15 

I am: Bought with a price, I am not my own, I belong to God. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 

I am: Established, anointed and sealed by God in Christ.  2 Corinthians 1:21 

I am: Given the Holy Spirit as a pledge, a guarantee of my inheritance. Ephesians 1:13-14. 

I am: Crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ. Galatians 2:20. 

I am: Chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.  Ephesians 1:4. 

I am: Predestined (determined by God) to be a son/daughter.  Ephesians 1:5. 

I am: Sanctified and I am one with the Sanctifier, Christ.  He is not ashamed to call me brother/sister.

          Hebrews 2:11. 

I have: Received the Spirit of God into my life that I might know the things given to me by God.

             1 Corinthians 2:12 

I have: Been redeemed, forgiven and I am a recipient of His lavish grace. Ephesians 1:7. 

I have: Been raised up and seated with Christ in the Heavenlies. Ephesians 2:6. 

I have: Christ Himself in me. Colossians 1:27. 

I have: Been firmly rooted in Christ and I am now built up in Him. Colossians 2:7.

I have: Been buried, raised and made alive with Christ.  Colossians 2:12-13. 

I have: Been raised up with Christ, my life is now hidden with Christ in God. For Christ is now my life.  

             Colossians 3 1-4. 

I have: Been given a spirit of power, love and self discipline.  2 Timothy 1:7. 

I have: Been saved and called (set apart) according to God’s doing.  2 Timothy 1:9. 

I have: A right to come boldly before the throne to find mercy and grace in time of need. Hebrews 4:16. 

I have: Been given exceedingly great and precious promises by God which I am a partaker of His Divine Nature.  2 Peter 1:4. 

I have: The mind of Christ. Philippians 2:5, 1 Corinthians 2:16

I have: Obtained an inheritance. Ephesians 1:11. 

I have: Overcome the world. 1 John 5:4. 

I can:   Do all things in Christ. Philippians 4:13.

I shall: Overcome because greater is He who is in me then he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4. 

I press: Toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God. Philippians 3:14.