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[0:00] Thanks for checking in on this podcast. You are about to hear an inspirational teaching from Caris Ministries. If God has used this ministry to bless you in any way, please take a moment and write to us at amen at caris.org.

[0:14] We are always inspired and blessed to hear how God is blessing people all over the world through what he is doing here at Caris. Also, if you would like to support this ministry financially, you can do so online at caris.org so we can continue making podcasts such as this available free of charge.

[0:33] Oh Lord, eternal Father, we thank you for your word. We thank you for the privilege to sit here under your feet to hear your word.

[0:44] As we hear the message on the amazing cross, Lord, let the scrolls be open to us. Open the scrolls to us.

[0:55] Reveal yourself to us through the pages of scripture. Teach us your word. Impact and infuse yourself into us.

[1:06] As we hear your word, we are hungry for you. We are thirsty for you. Oh, Holy Spirit of promise. Reveal Jesus to us.

[1:18] Let us have a better insight and encounter with you based on the finished work of the cross. Heal the sick. Save the lost.

[1:30] Deliver the afflicted. Inspire and encourage the despondent. Let your name be glorified. Let your people be edified. We thank you for such a privilege to hear your word.

[1:44] All glory be to your name. Oh, living Father. In Jesus name. Amen. And someone who believes, shout a living amen. Amen. Shout a living amen.

[1:55] Amen. Amen. The content of every sound preaching is Christ and his cross. Any preacher who does not speak about Christ, whose message Christ is not the center of the message, is like a barber who doesn't cut hair.

[2:14] Amen. Amen. We have only one message. And that message is Christ.

[2:26] And him crucified. Someone shout hallelujah. Hallelujah. So this morning, Good Friday, there's no better message, I believe, to bring to God's people and all Christians and non-Christians now around the world, but who are watching us now, who will watch us later, than to talk about the crucified Christ.

[2:48] The amazing cross. The amazing cross is a bloody cross. It's a blood stained cross. I'm talking to you this morning about the amazing cross. The blood stained cross.

[2:59] Someone shout hallelujah. Hallelujah. I want you to understand, brothers and sisters, that in Romans chapter 1 verse 16, he said, I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

[3:10] For it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. Everyone. For the Jew first, and also for the Greek.

[3:22] The power of God. Christ is the center of everything in Christianity. Christ is the center of every God-given message.

[3:32] Christ is the center of everything church. We have nothing to offer a dying world. We have nothing else to offer a perishing world.

[3:43] But Christ, and guess what? Him crucified. That is the message of the church. The message of the church is one, and the message is Christ and Him crucified.

[3:56] It's called the gospel. For us not to get it confused, Paul defined what the gospel is. In 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verse 3 and 4. Paul said, let me get this so clear to you.

[4:07] The gospel. He said, for I deliver to you first of all, that which I also received. Say, I received. I received. Now, this ties into the inspiration of the New Testament.

[4:19] He said, this thing that we are telling you, we didn't go to bed and thought about it. It was given to us. He said, I deliver to you first of all, that which I also received.

[4:29] That Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures. Verse 4. And that He was buried, that He rose again the third day, according to the scriptures.

[4:42] That's the gospel. Say, that's the gospel. That's the gospel. That's it. Christ died. We are talking about a crucified Savior. That's the gospel.

[4:52] John chapter 14, verse 6. He said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me. Jesus is the only way to the Father. Jesus is the only answer to humanity.

[5:04] Bible says, for God so loved the world. John 3, 16. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Say, not perish.

[5:15] Say, not perish. Hallelujah. God said, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. In the book of Acts, chapter 4, verse 12, I like what Peter said.

[5:29] No, is there salvation in any other? There is no other name under heaven given amongst men by which we must be saved. There's no name but the name of Jesus.

[5:40] So that is why I said, anything outside of Jesus, forget it. It's none of the church. It's not part of the church. It's not the gospel. It doesn't matter how wise it sounds.

[5:52] It doesn't matter how sweet it sounds. We have to be careful that the gospel doesn't get eroded out of the church by wise sayings and things that look very intellectual, things that look very intelligent.

[6:07] It's not about intellectualism. It's about the cross. That's the truth. And so, Bible says that there is no other name. Say no other name. In 1 Timothy, chapter 2, verse 5, it says that there is one God and one mediator between God and man.

[6:23] Let's read it loudly with boldness and confidence. Let's go! For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.

[6:34] One more time! For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. Alright, there is one God. And that one God has only one mediator between him and man.

[6:49] And it's the man Christ Jesus. In 2 Corinthians, chapter 5, verse 21, it says that for he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us.

[7:02] That we might become the righteousness of God in him. Once you get into him, you become in him. Say in him.

[7:12] In him. Say in him. In him. Now, let's go back to. So, I'm just underscoring this point to know the centrality of Christ and his cross. It says in Galatians, chapter 2, verse 20, that I am crucified with Christ.

[7:25] Nevertheless, I live. Yet not I, but it's Christ who lives in me. And the life that I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

[7:36] I'm crucified with Christ. That's why we sang, said, the songwriter says that the cross before me, the world behind me. The cross before me, the world behind me.

[7:46] I am living a crucified life. Why the cross? What is so special upon the cross? First Corinthians, chapter 18, verse 18.

[7:58] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness. But unto us which are saved, it is the power of God.

[8:10] The preaching of the cross is unto them that perish foolishness. When you read one of the translations, I'm using King James. He says that for the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.

[8:27] Say perishing. Perishing. Perishing. Say perishing. Perishing. Say it again. Perishing. Perishing. So it's a present continuous term. It's not they perished.

[8:38] They are perishing, struggling, suffering. They are going down. They may look good outside, but they are imploding. Life is not okay.

[8:51] Man is not the answer to life. Everything looks exteriorly calm, cool, but they are perishing. There's no eternal security.

[9:03] Let's already have a line. Let's go. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. But to us who are being saved is the power of God. One more time.

[9:14] For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. But to us who are being saved is the power of God. Now, why did he say it's foolishness to those who are perishing?

[9:26] Foolishness. The Greek word used translated foolishness sounds something like morals. That's where you get the word moron from. All right. So that Greek word morals means foolishness, stupidity, nonsense, absurdity, madness.

[9:46] Hallelujah. The preaching of the cross is madness. Practically offensive to some people.

[9:58] To those who are perishing. It's crazy. How can you claim that all of humanity is saved by a crucified conqueror?

[10:12] How can you claim that all of humanity was saved by a murdered savior? How can you claim that the whole of humanity is saved by someone who died the death of a criminal?

[10:34] He was murdered. He was crucified. So the thief on the cross said that if you are a savior, then save yourself and save us too. It's very logical. What he said was logical.

[10:47] So to thinkers and philosophers, those who love things that sound wonderful, they find it very offensive. He said it's foolishness.

[10:59] Listen. We do not have to change the message. We should read it further. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but to us which are saved, it is the power of God.

[11:13] Verse 19. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world?

[11:25] Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? In other words, God bypassed what people think sounds very great to use. God bypassed it. So then it looked foolish.

[11:37] Because that's not the means God chose to use. He chose to use a different means. So when you're thinking, for instance, to have anyone who has a PhD or a professor, automatically, when you say someone is a professor, automatically you know that a person must be very sensible.

[11:53] For you to hear that a professor has decided that he's going to leave his wife because his wife is a witch. You'll be like, ah, a professor.

[12:06] You understand what I'm saying? So then, that's why sometimes, can you imagine, they tell you that there's a president of a certain nation, and the president is an illiterate. Really, people, man.

[12:18] We need a good president. Now, at least, this one was corrupt or funny. But not an illiterate. It's going to ruin the economy. Am I right? So then, if you're looking for somebody great to lead a nation, at least you need someone who has a certain level of understanding, who has worked with IMF, or worked with UN, and, you know, work in certain places.

[12:40] It's good. But Bible said, God made the wisdom of this world foolishness. So, they wrote that they think that this is their means to get to the ultimate.

[12:50] God said, I'll not use that means. So then, those who are there look at it, they go, no, this cannot be. No, this cannot be. This is foolishness. How can you tell me this? But Bible says, that it pleased God.

[13:02] Look at the verse 21. For after that, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God. It pleased God. Say, please God. It pleased God.

[13:13] Say, please God. It pleased God. That phrase really tickles my interest. It gets me excited as well. It just, that's what I want to do.

[13:24] In eternity before time. It pleased God. By the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. The foolishness of preaching.

[13:37] And I told you earlier on, that when I talk about preaching, we are talking about preaching of Christ, preaching Christ, and the cross, or preaching the crucified Christ. That is why he started by saying that the message of the cross is foolishness.

[13:50] So, this message, all right, God has a sense of humor. A message that looks foolish. That, through messengers that look foolish.

[14:02] So, the message sounds foolish. The messenger looks foolish. And the method also is foolish. That's why I said, I do not come with enticing men's of one's wisdom.

[14:16] I do not come with eloquence. I came with something that will not appeal to you. The method. The method. Oh, you know, ask for the method. It doesn't matter.

[14:27] Make sure the message is the same. But the method. Use methods that people can appeal to. It appeals to people. The people God used. You will find out from this text.

[14:38] He said, he has chosen the foolishness. Not many wise. Doesn't mean not any. He said, not many. He said, not many wise.

[14:49] Not many noble. Can you imagine, if Christ starts to preach, then not people will believe. Look at verse 26. For you see, you are calling my brethren.

[15:01] How? That not many wise men after the flesh. Not many mighty. Like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Not many noble. Like Obama. But God has chosen the foolish things.

[15:14] Has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. And God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. Verse 28.

[15:25] The best things of the world and the things that are despised. Guys, God has chosen. Yeah. And the things which are not to bring to nothing. The things that are. That no one.

[15:36] So he has chosen. Can you imagine? The vessels God like to use. To reach out or to preach the foolish message. Yes. So called. The vessels. The vessels. Can you imagine?

[15:48] Some are even fishermen. Who wrote the Bible. Some were unlearned. Only Luke was a medical doctor. So you can tell.

[15:59] He didn't say not any. Not many. Because if you are. Listen. If you've got what puts you at the top. And you can't. In God. It gives God a lot more work to do. To use.

[16:13] Because you would think that it is your training. It is your education. That is why. I don't quickly embrace the fact that. Paul wrote many of the New Testaments. Because he was learned. No.

[16:23] Drop that. He didn't write because he was learned. He wrote it because of his encounters. He had encounters with God. He said. This thing I'm telling you.

[16:34] It was given to me. He said in Ephesians chapter 3 verse 2. He said that. How by revelation. This one. No man taught me. Indeed. If you have heard the dispensation of the grace of God. Given to me.

[16:44] For you. Verse 3. Look at verse 3. That how. By revelation. He made known to me. The mysteries. No one taught me that. It was given to me by.

[16:54] Revelation. And to the standard. In the 2nd Corinthians chapter 12. He said. I know a man. He was caught up into the third heavens. And he said. There are things I saw. Which I can't tell you. So there was more.

[17:06] Paul could say. But he couldn't say it. It wasn't because of his intelligence. But it's because of his revelation. It wasn't because of his eloquence. But it's because of his encounters. Shot his hands.

[17:18] A man of God without encounters. I doubt your credibility. A servant of God without encounters. I doubt your usefulness.

[17:28] Or your impact. Moses met God God said go tell them go tell Pharaoh let my people go he said Pharaoh will not listen I said go you have had an encounter so when Moses was going before Pharaoh he was not going as an ordinary man he was not going as an ex-fugitive he was going as a man with an encounter shoddy ass shoddy ass in the book of Romans chapter 10 he said how shall they call on him on whom they have not believed how shall they believe verse 14 whom they have not believed how shall they believe in whom they have not heard how shall they hear without a preacher now look at verse 15 how shall they preach the value of your message man and God has everything to do with your encounters with God not your training though it's necessary not your eloquence though it may be good to a certain extent but people don't get born again because the message was good they got born again because the Holy Ghost worked on their hands hallelujah hallelujah how can they preach except they be sent pastor are you sent close the Bible or from the pulpit get on the pulpit go into your closet go seek God get an encounter with God get the message from God and send the message to his people because we are curious we are not authors we are curious it doesn't come from us it must come from somebody preaching the Greek word for preaching has to do with heralding saying it saying it so you are a speaker you are a spokesperson on the behalf of your God hallelujah now man of God listen to this if somebody is sent to bring you a message wear a message try and spray perfume on the message change a bit remove something spray a you were sent with a message just go and deliver it why must a postman go and repackage the go and temper with repackage it says the same content but let me repackage it because the one who sent it he didn't know how to package is the address correct yes the address is correct has he paid for posting everything yes he's done so what's your problem someone sends the postcard and he says no the postcard what he has written other people can read it so let me go and repackage it put it in a nice envelope a nice big one with flowers on it because preacher don't do that preach the word preach the word preach the word and the word the content of the word is Christ and him crucified it may sound foolishness to some people but guess what let them keep perishing those who have been saved those who have been called this thing is the power of God unto salvation so yes so yes oh but you know nowadays in the modern days and if you go some places and if you try and tell them about Christ they don't mention Christ first don't say anything about Christ don't say anything about sin don't say anything about heaven don't say anything about hell don't say anything about the cross because the cross is very offensive they won't understand the cross they won't understand the devil is a liar excuse me

[21:19] Bible says that it pleased God through the foolishness of preaching that's preaching the cross to save those who believe watch this Bible says to the Greeks to the Jews it's a stumbling rock because they were expecting a political leader who bring them political freedom from the Roman rule they were expecting someone like the way David when they said son of David they were expecting someone who come like David to save them from the Roman Goliath that's what they were expecting and then now you're coming to tell me this guy was crucified with thieves now the death of the cross was the most heinous hideous of sin way of dying most shameful form of death in those times to the extent watch this to the extent that no Roman citizen was allowed to be crucified no you can't crucify a Roman citizen no matter their crime it's a serious problem to crucify a Roman citizen because that kind of death is for terrorists that kind of death is for people who are condemned they don't even deserve to live and then when they crucify you on the cross usually no one even wants to identify with your family members who come for you so then they will take you and go and dump you they don't bury people who are crucified on the cross they go and dump them on the rubbish down so does it make sense when Bible says in

[22:43] Philippians chapter 2 that he humbled himself even to the death on the cross from verse 6 he became obedient to death even the death at least death is fine but not the cross ah the cross is too of sin the cross is too nasty the cross is too bloody now you are telling me that it takes this bloody cross to save the world to define the destiny eternal destiny of all the human race oh give me a break that's rubbish my Bible says that it pleased God that through the preaching of such rubbish so to the Jews it's a stabling block don't be saying this our God cannot be like this how can he be preaching to me a God who died how can he be preaching a savior Messiah they asked him we know that when the Messiah comes he shall deliver us from the save us from all this oppression so when are you going to do that

[23:47] Jesus says it's not for you to determine what the power God has put in Acts chapter 1 verse 7 what God has put in his power but you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come to you it is not for you to know the times and the season which the father has put in his own authority don't be asking me political questions that's what they asked him he said will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel the disciples who know they were talking to a risen Jesus after he died and resurrected they are still thinking political who is going to win the vote this time they asked him saying Lord will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel the kingdom of David left are you going to have that old Israel again because that's the Messiah Bible talks about how the kingdom of the world shall become the kingdom of our God where the rule of God in the latter times will descend and the whole world God rule and his people so it was talking about the second coming of

[24:52] Christ but they were so hungry for it they were looking at the Messiah this is what the Messiah is going to do are going to restore the kingdom so for the ordinary Jew it's offensive they preach the cross look at verse 23 again of 1 Corinthians thank you Jesus 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 23 but we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews what and unto the Greeks Greeks are looking tell me something wise tell me something wise why are you telling me things that a child can understand no children can't tell this tell me something better so can you imagine some of you you try telling your mother try telling your father try telling your brother try telling your auntie try telling your uncle try telling your boss try telling your colleague try telling your ex boyfriend try telling your ex girlfriend try telling your husband try telling your wife and some try telling your child about the cross excuse me

[25:54] I'm a Baptist so it doesn't sound wise doesn't make sense they want you to say something that you know the way the human anatomy is and when you lie down and you lift up your right leg and you suspend yourself it allows forces to flow through you magnetic waves of the earth from the north begins to flow through you and it helps the blood flow they say ah yes now you are making sense so they are perishing and you come they said do you believe Jesus died on the cross for you they look at you and they tell you I used to believe in this kind of crap yeah that nobody believed those things are there from the medieval peers my friend be advanced be civilized for heaven's sake grow up what's that and then they begin to abuse you because to the greeks this foolishness but look at verse 24 let's all look at verse 24 from the screen verse 24 says that but to those see see see let me show you something there's a point

[27:19] I want to make from here see the amazing cross every way you turn it it's effective every way you look at it it's powerful it's amazing it's amazing it's amazing it's amazing verse 24 says that but to those who are called both Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and not just that and the wisdom of God Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God watch this the point I actually want to make here is that to remember in verse 23 he said if you preach Christ to the Jews you are making them stumble if you preach Christ to the Greeks you are insulting their intelligence they will really be offended because what you are saying is crap it's nonsense it's idiotic why are you telling me this so most of us what we do is we keep quiet and we find a nice perfume spray it on the on the spray it for it to look good and then so are you hungry

[28:41] I can give you food are you are you are you sick let me take you to my GP I'll pay for your expenses it's your house that I'll come and clean it for you brother brother brother preach the gospel the instant it season and don't change it the mandate they gave us Jesus gave us go into the world and make disciples we are supposed to preach that's how we make disciples when you do good things it's good because it's sensible to be good it's just sensible and rational and normal and Christian so that's for good words but that is not our objective anyone who comes close to us must find out that we are good must find out that we don't like people must do business with you and know that you won't dupe them Christian brother Christian sister people must do business with you they should be able to say that this way if I rent my house to him

[29:47] I know even if he's owned he'll pay everything I know if he tells me that tomorrow morning I'm coming if he gives me the check he won't give me a check and he knows that there's no money the check will bounce do it say the amazing cross the cross by which a holy god can have a relationship with a sinful man the cross is the only means by which a holy god can have a relationship with a sinful man the cross so the verse 23 talks about how to some people to the Jews is a stumbling block so watch this is the point I was trying to make if you are going to talk to the Jew and you don't want them to stumble you are going to talk to a Greek minded person and you don't

[30:47] Jew connotes religious people Greek people who just want to use their brains logical people you know some people are very religious so they want something very spooky this is too simple am I saved now you can't tell me this I have to go and roll at a beach do something I have to crawl I have to wear a long white gown or something I have to be given some small cups of real blood to drink it in the night and be doing younger younger younger younger younger shave all my hair younger younger they scruple some things and cut me a bit the blood comes out they take it where are the candles no candle I need some candles I want to see something so when you approach a Jew they stand with that and when you approach a Greek in other words someone who wants philosophy nice sounding argument into something that looks listen it doesn't mean that

[31:56] God can be intellectual that's why I said not many wise not many wise not many rich God it has pleased God that he will use the best things of the world to confront the wise not many poor listen for information I am not serving Christ because I'm hungry we have gone past that stage we have gone past that stage we are not in church because we want a wife or we want a husband we have gone past that stage we are here because of the cross we are here because we love Jesus we are here because our hearts after God shout hallelujah hallelujah it says that to the Greek an offense is foolishness now watch this the point I want to draw to somebody's attention here is if you think because they think it's foolishness you won't do it you won't say it someone who is

[33:05] Greek who originally may think foolishness about this who is Jewish who originally may think which you don't want them to feel foolish but to those who are called both Jews and Greeks so let's say these are the Jews these are the Greeks and I want to talk to you and I don't want to mention the cross because it will offend it will upset you it will destabilize you it will offend you and I don't want to offend to sound nice guess what the chances are that those amongst the Greeks those among them which God has called and the means God saved them is by the same cross so so even so even though many among many among may think this is foolishness yet those who are called suddenly suddenly suddenly the cross the power of God that is why he said

[34:06] I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto those who believe shall power to the Jew first Romans chapter 1 verse 16 I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ I'm not ashamed the gospel Christ came on earth he died he was crucified he was buried and resurrected that that's the gospel and that's God's means preferred chosen pleasurable means to save those who believe the cross may look bloody the cross may look offensive the cross may sound stupid the cross may sound idiotic madness craziness the cross may sound childish it may sound absurd it may look offensive obscene absurd but what Bible said it has pleased

[35:07] God to save those who believe through that means remember said I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live remember he said when I came to you I did not come with enticing words of man's wisdom I like the way he put it in verse 2 and 3 I did not want to know anything I was not interested in knowing anything I don't want to know about your car give me a break why must be so interested in your income in your salary in your car why why am I a financial advisor why even if I was trained as the best financial advisor once I am in my office as God's servant when I'm dealing with you didn't be focused on that aspect of your life it's your eternal destiny that must be my focus I about to say something those of you who want to do ministry full time if you are a preacher if you believe you are called a pastor and you don't have the backbone you don't have the audacity you don't have the boldness you don't have the integrity you don't have the confidence to say let your money perish with you

[36:36] Satan will strangle you Satan will choke your ministry every minister should be able to turn it back to money as long as it will cross the cross amen say no to their money and a politician will use your platform because he has promised he is going to give you a building or land a property to build university so a politician will use your platform the platform of the cross Jesus died to save souls he will use that for political purposes for political gains if you don't have the backbone to say you and your money perish satan will suffocate strangulate and choke your ministry and you will be realizing that why are things not working it's because you have abandoned the cross and you are pursuing what men are pursuing separate yourself unto

[37:43] God stay strong for the word don't pardon the word of God for profits he said when I send you I told you don't take money but God will provide he said a laborer is worthy of his wages 1st Corinthians chapter 9 verse 7 a laborer is worthy of his wages a laborer is worthy of his wages and he said don't muzzle the mouth of the ox that treaded down the corn 1st Corinthians chapter 9 verse 10 down verse when God wrote did you think he was thinking about the ox he was thinking about the preachers and he says 2nd Timothy chapter 2 verse 5 verse 5 and 6 he says the husband man who labors hard who must be the first to partake of the fruit the hard working farmer must be the first to partake of the crops pastor labor in the word that's it

[38:48] Acts chapter 6 verse 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word let's say it again but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word ministry of the word said true to the cross it may not sound popular but we are not called to be popular church don't try to impress people hold the cross the cross is an amazing cross the very thing that people see the certain is that to those who are perishing you know they are perishing they know all is not cool my Bible says to those who are perishing it is foolishness but to those who are saved listen the salvation there is talking about being saved watch this I think there's great man of God who wrote a book some years ago he said save from what save from what save from

[39:55] God save from the judgment and the wrath of God and it is only God who can save us from him God he didn't get what I said it is only God who can save man from God and he chose to use the cross to save us I stand here this morning and I tell you that the old cross still works we don't need a new cross I know we are based in a place called new cross but we don't need a new cross the old rugged cross the old rugged cross the old rugged cross the old rugged cross it still works it still works the cross works the blood is still speaking the blood is still speaking for there is one

[41:02] God and one mediator between God and man there is one God there is no other name given unto men by which we must be saved except the name Jesus except the name Jesus except the name Jesus accept the name Jesus accept the name Jesus now our overarching scripture for this season Galatians chapter 6 verse 14 does that make sense when Paul said but God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Christ Jesus by whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world let your boasting your point of reference not be just your beauty brother let your point of reference your boasting not be just in your handsomeness the way you are able to dress and the labels you wear let your point of boasting let your point of confidence not be in your education not be in your social status you have money let your boasting not your confidence not be in anything he said watch this first Galatians that's the overarching scripture

[42:29] I'm ending on this Galatians chapter 6 verse 14 put you on the screen please he said but God forbid that I should boast God forbid why should I make my confidence my confidence my job no my house no my car no my beauty no my contacts no my makeup no no my wife no my husband no my education no my background no God forbid that I should boast except in the cross except in the cross except in the cross except in the cross except in the cross if you are Christian and you boast about every other thing except the cross you are misplaced you have betrayed your birthright you have betrayed your identity spiritual identity any Christian and I'm sad to say it easily has eroded or has eluded the church and many of us the cross amongst many Christians in many churches not intentional not because people are bad but there's a way worldliness can creep in and we are supposed to be crucified to the world but we are right now crucified and we have turned our back to the cross we are getting into bed with the world and the cross has been eclipsed in churches there is an eclipse of the cross in many many many many churches and Christian homes but this is

[44:11] Good Friday I brought a message please unveil the cross stick to the cross hold on to the cross cleave to it let it be your point of confidence let it be your point of reference for boasting your point of if you boast say God forbid that I should boast save in the cross of Christ my Lord I pray that God is blessing on this word may this word bear fruits in our lives in our hearts and all over the world anybody who is watching I pray that this word will bear fruits in our ministries bear fruits in our communities bear fruits in our families bear fruits everywhere we find ourselves so that anyone who sees us they know we are the people of the cross we are the people of the cross yes the cross may look foolishness may sound foolish may look foolish may look absurd yes we admit the cross is bloody yes we admit the cross is of sin yes we admit the cross is shameful but it is at the cross where we had our liberty it is at the cross where our sins were forgiven it's at the cross where everything changed it's at the cross where Christ took our sins and gave us his righteousness someone who believe shout hallelujah shout hallelujah shout hallelujah if you are not saved you are not safe because life is dangerous life is not under your command

[45:44] I don't see why I should end this service without giving you an opportunity to say yes Lord pastor pray with me because I want to have this bread means I want to put all my confidence in him all my hope in him I want to give my life to Jesus if that is your genuine desire just lift up your hand and say this after me say it genuinely from your heart say Lord Jesus I know I'm a sinner I've sinned against you I ask you to forgive my sins wash me with your blood thank you Lord for dying on the cross to save me from today I will serve you I believe in you I put all my hope in you I put my faith in you as my Lord and personal savior I receive you into my life I make a vow with you that I will serve you all the days of my life Satan get behind me I don't belong to you I belong to Jesus thank you Lord for saving me in Jesus name Father I thank you your word says that you know your sheep and your sheep know your voice no one can come to you except your father brings him

[46:52]  I pray that let your grace be upon them help them to be strong I pray that the grace of God will come upon you the power of the Holy Spirit will come upon you and help you to be a strong Christian in Jesus mighty name Amen Thank you for listening for more resources please visit charis.org or call us on 0207-740-9960 God bless you God bless you God bless you