The Way Of The Cross
1 Corinthians 1:18-19
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.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
I am entitling this today: the way of the Cross
Pr 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
We live in a world where there seems to be a right way and there seems to be a wrong way, but if Jesus is not the one leading then they both will take us to the same place. (Hell)
We as a church need to walk in unity and have our minds on what Christ done at the Cross and what was done for us.
Philippians 3:15-16
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
This means that they were otherwise minded, but through the words of Paul the Holy Spirit was going to show them the right way, which was to pull them back to the Cross.
Paul was showing them how to press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
They were making progress as they stay focused on the same thing.
Church let us walk the same path, that of the Cross.
Philippians 3:17-18
17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Paul and others were being an example of how to walk this walk of faith.
We need those who know how to really believe to pick up their crosses and follow hard after Jesus this morning.
Verse 18 say, (For many walk, this speaks of those attempting to live for God outside of the victory and rudiments of the Cross of Christ.)
Of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, this is a most serious matter.
That they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: those who do not look exclusively to the Cross of Christ must be labeled enemies.
The world that we live in is fast paste to becoming a big enemy to the Cross of Christ.
We are heading in a direction as a Nation and even as a world that wants to take Jesus out of the equation.
We need to make sure that we as Christians are willing to pick up our Crosses and follow after Him.
We need not to be ashamed or afraid of what He wants us to do.
He will make a way where there is no way.
We need to get back to the basics of our faith and that is the cross of Christ.
1Co 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.
How many this morning is saved?
Then there needs to be a Preaching of the cross because it is the power of God.
The world will never understand the cross and what it represents without us talking about the power that we have received because of Christ and how He died on the Cross but rose again and overcame death, hell and the grave.
1 Corinthians 1:19
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
This speaks of those who are wise in their own eyes, but in effect have forsaken the ways of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:27
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
The Preaching of the Cross confounds the wise because it falls out into changed lives, which nothing man has can do.
The Cross from the worlds stand point is looked at as weakness, but it brings about great strength and power, regarding those who accept the finished work of Christ.
1: Corinthians 1:28
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
It is God working in the base things and the despised things which brings about miraculous things.
God can use that is nothing within itself, but with Him all things become possible.
1 Corinthians 1:29-30
1Co 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
We need to remember that we are not to get prideful; it’s all about Jesus and the way of the cross.
God has a great plan which is far beyond the wisdom of this world.
We are in Christ Jesus by virtue of the Cross!
What He did there.
God wants us to have wisdom and live in righteousness and learn to be Sanctified.
5-26-07
I dreamed that I saw an empty grave and a great big wooden cross. I knew that Jesus who had been on the Cross and in the grave needed lifted up. (He was not there now)
Interpretation
Jesus is no longer on the cross and He is no longer in the tomb. (Grave) Jesus overcame death, Hell and the grave.
We as Christians need to lift Jesus higher.
John 12:32
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will drawl all peoples to myself.
1Co 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
Ephesians 4:5-12
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. {captivity...: or, a multitude of captives}
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Jesus when He died on the cross descended, he went down first into the lower parts of earth.
He took the keys of death from Satan and now there was no more Paradise as they had known it.
When we die we are either in Heaven or we are in hell.
Jesus even told the thief that was on the Cross, today you shall be with me in Paradise.
All the Old time saints were waiting for the coming Messiah to lead them into Heaven.
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
5-5-98
I dreamed that I was preaching I must have been talking about the cross. I looked at the cross in the church it was wooden, the next thing I knew the power of God came on the cross and it became like lights. There were 2 at each end I was amazed.
We need to talk about the cross of Christ and what it means to the believer.
Eight lights-new beginning
Light-represents Christ
Little did I realize that he was leading me here?
Some of us wonder how God could be willing to give his only begotten son for a world that is in the shape that it is in.
God is still looking at their hearts.
7-30-02
I dreamed that some guy was chasing me. I knew that he had killed before. He must have been chasing me for a while.
Scene change
We were sitting in cars parked beside each other with guns, facing one another. We pulled the triggers at the same time with the intent to kill each other. The bullets went right through both of us. This left a place where light came out of me. I knew we were both thinking “what happens next?”. I was thinking that I am going to die and go to Hell. I was waiting for someone to come and get me. I can’t explain what happened next. Someone must have come and got me or put me to sleep.
Scene change
I was then at the house and I am talking to my Susan. I had a chain with something that was on me coming from where I had been shot. From where the light came from, was a chain. The chain was hooked from the inside of me. I knew that I could never get it off. I felt like I was branded. I looked and I saw a piece of wood hanging from the chain. It read “PROPERTY OF JESUS CHRIST”. There was a picture of a cross that was on this chain with a piece of wood.
Interpretation
Satan wants to kill and destroy our walk in the Lord.
The enemy is trying to chase us. He wants us to fear and to doubt our salvation.
We have to stay steadfast in our walks and not give in to the wiles of the enemy.
We have to submit our whole life to God and we need to resist the enemy in our lives.
Some of us need to kill sin that is trying to invade our space with God.
Satan has killed before and he will try to kill again, maybe we need to quit running and start fighting the enemy.
We were parked beside one another with guns facing one another.
We both pulled the triggers at the same time, “greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world”.
The bullets went through both of us; at times I will be wounded.
Romans 8:35-39
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
A light came out from where I had been shot.
I was wondering what was going to happen next, was I going to die and go to hell.
When we are wounded, we feel like we have failed God and we are not living right.
That’s what Satan wants you to think.
Paul was beat, stoned and left for dead, ship wrecked, and he was even in stocks and bonds.
Paul knew that tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword would not be able to separate him from the love of God.
Nothing was going to be able to move Paul from where he was in his walk.
I was then at the house and I was talking to Susan. I had a chain with something that was on me coming from where I had been shot. From where the light came from was a chain. The chain was hooked from the inside of me. I knew that I could never get it off. I felt like I was branded. I looked and I saw a piece of wood hanging from the chain. It read “PROPERTY OF JESUS CHRIST”. There was a picture of a cross that was on this chain with a piece of wood.
I am the Property of Jesus Christ, I am chained (hooked) from the inside, I am hooked on Jesus.
It is all because of the Cross of Christ.
Who are you the property of today?
1 Corinthians 7:20-24
20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
If we are bond servants of Christ, then we have a call for our lives.
You are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
Don’t give up in your day of trouble; you are not your own. You are “THE PROPERTY OF JESUS CHRIST”.
You are going to win the battle that you are going through because of who you belong to.
John 10:10-18
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
I am the “PROPERTY OF JESUS CHRIST”, are you?
I have entitled this today: the Way Of The Cross
6-1-12 I had an open vision.
I literally saw myself with a laminated Cross in front of me.
Interpretation
God is leading me by the way of the cross.
1 Corinthians18-19
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.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
The way of the Cross
I understand that some of you do not understand why God shows me these kinds of things.
I can tell you this I am sure glad that He does because I want to follow whatever plans that he has for this church.
Gal 1:10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. (N.A.S.)
Paul was not seeking the favor of men, but he wanted the favor of God to abide in his life.
Paul was a bond-servant of Christ. When I say bond-servant, I mean that there was a connection between Paul and Jesus.
Paul was so connected to Jesus that there was no way that he could or even want to let go of Jesus in his life.
When we are a bond-servant to Christ, we will not worry about what the world has to say, we will be God pleasers.
1 Corinthians 7:1 says, “let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called”.
God has calling where each and every one of us are called. We have to be willing to listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us and move forward.
When we get to where God is taking us to, abide in that calling because that calling is what God has planned for your life.
How do we know what the will of God is for my life?
Ro 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
We know the will of God by not being conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of your mind.
We are able to prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Ephesians 6:19-21
19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21 But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you.
Paul was an ambassador in chains, and he was going to speak boldly what God would reveal to him.
Paul, at times, really went through it in his life but he knew that God was in control of what ever he went through.
Romans 8:35-39
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The way of the Cross!
It might seem foolish to this world.
1 Corinthians 1:18
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.
Closing
A lot of people are going through a lot of stuff this morning can I ask you a question what way are you willing to go?
Are you willing to go the way of the Cross?
Pr 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Don’t go the way that seems right, but go the way that is right.
His Name is Jesus!
Alter call
