A Sure Pathway To Living An Overcoming Christian Life.
Bible Passage – 1 Cor 1:17-18; Heb 12:2; Rom 1:16; Matt 16:24-25
LESSONS FROM THE SAYINGS OF PETER ABOUT THE CROSS
There are a number of people who were very close to Jesus’s ministry by physical and spirit association when he was alive and after he had ascended into heaven. Close friends of a man know a lot about him and must have learnt a lot. In such lives we can see the impact and dominion of Jesus.
Therefore, they got to the cross, stayed at the cross and accepted to fully and completely carry their own cross. So, they know about Jesus, the
cross and gave their lives for the cross as well. As we study what a few of them said about the cross, we hope to learn key lessons.
The first of the three is Apostle Peter. What did he say directly and indirectly about the cross that can help us benefit tremendously from the cross of Jesus.
1. The Cross and the Constant Betrayal of Jesus – Lk 22:31-34 – A Critical Revelation and Discourse between the Lord and Peter
It clear that not staying, living and carrying our cross will always make us deny Jesus, fail Jesus and displease the Lord.
Remember – Matt 3:17 | Matt 17:5 | Mk 1:11 | 2 Pt 1:17 | Matt 16:24-25 | 2 Peter 1:17 | Lk 22:31-34 | Matt 16:24-25
However, no man has that power TO STAY AT THE CROSS NOR CARRY HIS OWN CROSS and Peter did not know that here. So also many of us do not know it. If it was not easy for Jesus to go to the cross, how much more for us.
It was by the Holy Spirit that Peter was really able to carry his own cross. You and I betray the Lord many times. We betray him many times simply because we do not submit, surrender and follow the Holy Spirit.
The cross is not for a carnal Christian. The cross is a place of the spirit not for man. The cross is an heavenly place on earth.
The Holy Spirit takes us to the cross, keeps at the cross and enables at the cross.
The Lord See You Love Only At The Cross; Lord You Know I Love You – Jh 21:15-17. The place of the cross is a place of love first. Remember that for God so love the world led to the cross – Jh 3:16.
Just like Peter, the Lord needs your answers in spirit and in truth to the three questions he asked Peter in Jh 21:15-17
V.15- He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
V.16-He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
V.17-He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Everyday and all the time your love for Jesus must be proven and seen. It is critical at the cross. The currency that is relevant at the cross is your unquestionable, unfailing and total love for the Master.
a. It is this love that draws you to the cross.
b. It is this love that can keep you at the cross.
c. It is this love that can draw out all the benefits of the cross.
d. It is this love that allocates you your cross to carry.
e. It is this lives that makes the Holy Spirit help you to carry your cross.
2. The Holy Spirit When We Are At The Cross – 1 Pt 3:18 | John 15:26 | John 16:13 | Acts 1:4 | Acts 1:8
a. All I hope to receive at the cross, from the cross is only by the Holy Spirit.
b. The question is what is my relationship with the Holy Spirit?
c. There can be no relationship with the Holy Spirit but at the cross and in the cross.
d. The Holy Spirit does not operate outside the cross.
e. Without the cross there is no Holy Spirit, the power of the Holy Spirit outside the cross.
f. It is the either cross and the Holy Spirit or nothing – no Christian, no Christian living, no quickening, we are not alive but still dead.
3. There Must Be Joy in Living At The Cross and Carrying Your Cross – 1 Pt 4:13-17
Now from Peter we learn that:
a. Living at the cross must the the only reasonable and acceptable way of living and life.
b. Carrying my cross must be my joy and source of joy and hope.
c. Carrying the cross should not be by force and without my personal and reasonable decision.
d. No life outside and apart from at the cross and carrying my cross.
e. I need to carry my cross so effortlessly as breathing without knowing I am breathing.
f. Not carrying my cross and not living at the cross is like when I find it difficult to breathe and cannot breathe.
g. Once it is clear I may not live at the cross nor carrying my cross, death should just come before that could happen.
4. At The Cross Are Tremendous Blessings – 2 Pt 1:2-8
What do I loose without the cross?:
V.2- Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
V.3- According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
V..4- Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
V.5- And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
V.6- And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
V.7- And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
V.8- For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION
Why would you neglect the cross and loose the best the Lord has for you?
