THE BENEFITS OF THE CROSS
The Hope of the Cross • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Matthew 16:24 - 26
Matthew 16:24 - 26
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
THE BENEFITS OF THE CROSS
The goal of this message on The Benefits
of the Cross for today is to learn about
the surpassing greatness, power, and
authority of the cross so we can respond
in praising God for defeating Satan and
giving us access to Christ’s rule and
authority as heirs of an eternal
inheritance.
This sermon will help us understand the
power and authority of the cross so that
we can enjoy our inheritance in Christ.
And it will explain why the power and
authority of the cross enables you to
enjoy your inheritance in Christ today.
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
If any man be willing to come after me -
no one is forced to follow the Lord; but if
any will be a Believer, it must be on these
terms. Let him deny himself, and take up
his cross . Let him in all things deny his
own will, however pleasing, and do the
will of God, however painful.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
If you hold on to your life, meaning your
way of doing things. Following the world’s
system and leaving God out you will lose
your life for an eternity. But if you chose to
follow Jesus and God’s way and not
you own, you will live eternity with God.
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
If it was possible to have all the treasures
of the world, what good would it do you
when your soul is required of you?
SERMON POINTS: 1. THE CROSS DISPLAYS GOD’S SURPASSING GREATNESS Believe in the greatness of God’s power .
• The resurrection of Christ demonstrates God’s power (Ephesians 1:19–21) 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
• God raised Christ from the dead and
seated Him in the heavenlies. Believe God
provides power to you.
• God’s power that raised Christ from the
dead is also available to you.
• God has enough power to turn even the
worst scenario in your life into a victory.
2. THE CROSS DEMONSTRATES CHRIST’S AUTHORITY Believe Jesus has supreme authority.
• Jesus’ ascension placed Him above all
rule and authority (Ephesians 1:19–21)
• Jesus disarmed sin’s power over you.
(Colossians 2:14–15) 14 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;
15 And having spoiled principalities and
powers, he made a shew of them openly,
triumphing over them in it.
• Jesus sits far above any situation you are
dealing with.
Believe Jesus imparts authority to you.
• Authority is the right to use the power
that you possess.
• When you identify with Christ’s cross,
resurrection, and ascension, you identify
with His authority that overrides Satan’s
power. Believe Jesus’ authority rules over
Satan.
• Although Satan is more powerful than
you, he is not strong enough to overcome
Christ’s authority.
• Jesus disarmed Satan (Colossians 2:15)
• Satan doesn’t have the last word
because Jesus now sits high above all
rule and authority.
3. THE CROSS’S AUTHORITY AND POWER MAY BE ACCESSED THROUGH COMMUNION
Take communion to access the authority
and power of the cross.
• Communion ushers in both a physical
and spiritual reality allowing you full
entry into the cross’s accomplishments.
• Communion provides the blessings
attached to Christ’s death and
resurrection (1 Corinthians 10:16)
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
• Communion reminds us Satan no longer
holds authority over us (see Colossians
2:13–15)
• Eating the bread and drinking the cup
proclaims the Lord’s death (1 Corinthians 11:26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
• When you take communion you are
proclaiming power over the evil
principalities that Christ has defeated
Satan.
• Through communion we proclaim the
regaining of the victory and authority
that was originally lost in the garden of Eden.
4. THE CROSS GIVES US REASON FOR PRAISE Praise God for His authority
• God is seated high above all rule and
authority.
• Because of our relationship with Him, we
are seated with Him and have access to
His rule and authority in our life.
(Ephesians 2:6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Praise God for His victory over Satan.
• The blood of the lamb overcomes Satan (Revelation 12:11) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;
• The cross has conquered Satan, granting
us access to an authority higher than
Satan’s authority.
5. THE CROSS PROVIDES VICTORY OVER YOUR ENEMIES Believe you are spiritually seated in heaven.
• God seated us with Him in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:5–6) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
• Understanding where you are seated
and what that means provides access to
Christ’s authority.
Believe that your spiritual inheritance
affects your physical reality.
• Connecting with Christ’s authority
changes your fear levels, worry, dread
and all else.
• Living in light of Christ’s authority
changes how you walk, talk, and think
because you remember that God is
ultimately in control.
CHRIST’S AUTHORITY OVER SATAN:
What Satan does is similar to a man
holding a gun on you. At first, you may
feel afraid and at this man’s mercy. Yet if
someone were to point out to you that
the man’s gun did not have any bullets in
it, he would no longer control you. That’s
the difference between power and
authority. See, at the cross, Jesus Christ
“disarmed” Satan (Colossians 2:15)
And having spoiled principalities and
powers, he made a shew of them openly,
triumphing over them in it.
Jesus Christ removed the bullets from
Satan’s gun. Satan still likes to play like a
tough guy and try to intimidate everyone
with his power, but ultimately, Jesus
Christ has stripped him of his authority;
therefore, his power is only as strong as
he can persuade you to believe that it is.
In and of itself, it is not strong enough to
overcome Christ’s authority.
“My brothers and sisters, before you give
up, look up. Fix your eyes on Jesus and
see yourself seated with Him in the
heavenlies, granted full access to His rule
and authority according to the power of
God that works in you.
THE BENEFITS OF THE CROSS!!!
1. THE CROSS DISPLAYS GOD’S SURPASSING GREATNESS
2. THE CROSS DEMONSTRATES CHRIST’S AUTHORITY
3. THE CROSS’S AUTHORITY AND POWER MAY BE ACCESSED THROUGH COMMUNION
4. THE CROSS GIVES US REASON FOR PRAISE
5. THE CROSS PROVIDES VICTORY OVER YOUR ENEMIES