The
message of the Cross, though not a very popular message in the mainstream of today's society, is still the
greatest expression of God's Love and Mercy that has ever been extended to our lost and hurting world. From the book of
Genesis we learn that every human being has been created in the image and likeness of God. However, the corruption that
has been brought into this world through sin has distorted that image within us, and has destroyed the harmony that people
were intended to enjoy with God.
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Believing Christ personally and the fact that the redemptive power of what He
has done at the Cross destroys the power of sin, reclaims the image of God within us and restores
our harmony with Him by transforming any person who puts their trust in Christ.
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The history of revivals on any continent reveals that preaching the
message of the Cross was always a key component to genuine conversions as well as the basis of making the most productive
and theologically sound followers of Christ.
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When the bible so clearly teaches that Jesus Christ came into this world to seek
and to save us who are lost, bringing us back to God through His death on the Cross where He shed His own blood
(without which there can be no forgiveness of sin), and justifying us by rising from the dead, How can any one preaching or
witnessing expect any conversions without the message of the Cross?
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How many churches week after week, sermon after sermon, class after class have taught their
people principles, formulas and popular trendy success oriented topics using the bible and never mention the
blood, or the Cross of Christ so necessary for redeeming their souls? Is it any wonder that reverence for Almighty God is
absent from so many of our churches? When we are teaching our people to expect God to pour out "our" blessings
because we've carried out "our" end of the "formula", we have then developed a generation
of myopic church attenders.
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These people are being consumed with getting from God what belongs to them,
and taking back from the devil what he has stolen from them, attending each service looking
for their blessing from the local church. This kind of ministry that I speak of has neglected to inform their people
that the prerequisite to becoming a christian is found in Matthew 16:24 "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must
deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me" verses 25 and 26 explains the rest.
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If we are not preaching
Christ and Him crucified under the anointing of the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven, then what are we preaching? Are
we teaching our people that the blessings of God will eventually come to those who deny themselves to obey Him first?
Are we calling on each believer to embrace the cross of Christ through which flows the abundant grace and love of God sufficient
for every need? I believe If we avoid preaching the Cross, we are avoiding preaching the gospel.