The Children of the Cross

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; “He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD and the day of vengeance of ourContinue reading →

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted;

“He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD and the day of vengeance of our God;

“to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” (Isa 61:1-3)

 

For my Readers,

I want to do something a bit different with this journal entry. The Lord has given me a message that could be a life-changer for many of His children. It could also become the message of salvation for those who do not yet know the Lord.

Are struggling with a heart ache? Have you had a failure in marriage? Do you have straying children? Please take time to listen to this message that I shared at the Christian Challenge pulpit this past Sunday. It could heal your heart. It is titled, ‘Children of the Cross.’

 

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/50933343[/vimeo]

 

I am including an outline of the message for you who would like a study guide…

 

The CHILDREN OF THE CROSS

Intro: EPH3:8-12. Eternity was stunned at the cross. It was so amazing that the angel powers were stopped in their tracks. 

Snippets from MATT 27:42-54. 

Two things I would like this ministry to do for you. 

First – Learn what it was that stopped eternity. 

Second – How standing still can change your life. 

I – The Gospel’s Hidden Mystery 
1. The gospel story was foretold with a hidden mystery not fully understood. Cf. 1PE1:10-12. 
2. Gospel message does not limit itself to the dark side of cross. Message includes death, burial, resurrection, ascension, glorification. 
3. What astonished the angels? Cross is birthing place of a family. HEB2:9-13.
4. Every person born again receives the family seal. Cf. EPH1:11-14; HEB1:13,14.

II – The Story of the Children 
1. There are four things the children of the cross need to know and understand. 
a. GOD is your FATHER. ROM8:38,39) 
b. Lordship: Nothing out of His control. (ROM11:36) 
c. God is Faithful. (2CO1:2,20; 2PE1:4)
d. Holiness. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Holiness. Cf. 1PE3:10-16. 
2. The great truth of the cross. It is both your dying place and your living place. Cf. 1JN1. 

III – Where Faith Stands Still
1. Standing still means to take time to listen to and to hear from the Lord. Cf. MAT6:7-13. 
2. To seek God’s will. Sometimes suffering is in the will of God for our lives. Cf. ACT2:22-23; ACT5:41. 
3. There will also be corrective disciplines. Some of your deeper spiritual experiences will come from a discipline. Cf. PS94:11-15; 119:66,67; HEB12:10,11. 
4. What does faith say? “Lord, be glorified in my life.” Cf. PS115:1. 

Conc: End with EPH1:9-14.

 

In Christ Always,

Buddy

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Posted by Buddy

Lawrence "Buddy" Martin and his wife Betty are co-founders of Christian Challenge International. They have served the Lord in the ministry since the mid-1960s. They began Christian Challenge in 1976 with a stewardship from the Lord. The ministry began as a ‘School for Christian Workers’. It was Brother Buddy’s vision for ministry and missions that has led graduates of the school to enter the ministry as pastors or missionaries. Multiplied hundreds of disciples have been trained under the auspices of Christian Challenge.

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