The Power Of The Cross In Thanksgiving Series

The Power of the Cross Series – Part 4

“In Thanksgiving”

November 24, 2002

10:30 AM

Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bull followed in hot pursuit, and it was soon apparent they wouldn’t make it. Terrified, the one shouted to the other, "Put up a prayer, John. We’re in for it!" John answered, "I can’t. I’ve never made a public prayer in my life." "But you must!" implored his companion. "The bull is catching up to us." "All right," panted John, "I’ll say the only prayer I know, the one my father used to repeat at the table: ’O Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.’"

The Bible tells us “in everything give thanks!”

For believers who live with identification of the Cross of Jesus Christ a life of thanksgiving is a natural attitude of life because of the power of God at work in them.

Let’s look at the text again:

1 Cor 1:17-18

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel-- not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (NIV)

Thanksgiving flows from those who identify with the Cross because of …

I. The Power of the Cross in Redemption

1 Pet 1:18-19

18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (NIV)

3084 lutroo (loo-tro’-o) means to ransom

it speaks of a redemptive price for the purpose of setting the object of redemption free – loosen.

· This redemption is real not symbolic:

The ransom/price was paid thru the shame and cruelty of a Roman cross of crucifixion.

Remember not only did he bear our sin but also our shame!

In her classic autobiography The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom tells of a time when she and her sister were forced to take off all their clothes during Nazi inspections at a death camp.

Corrie stood in line feeling forsaken and defiled.

Suddenly, she remembered that Jesus had hung naked on the cross.

Struck with wonder and worship during that seemingly forsaken moment, Corrie leaned forward and whispered to her sister: “Betsie, they took His clothes too.”

Betsie gasped and said, “Oh, Corrie, and I never thanked Him.”

· This Redemption is from an empty way of life

KJV – Vain

NIV – Empty

Greek profitless – unsuccessful

Jesus – “what does it profit a man if he gains the whole

world and lose his soul”

Life is filled with vain (empty) chasing after the wind – Without Christ we will pursue happiness and never find it!

Passage speaks pointed at the vainness/emptiness of religion.

“Handed down to you from your forefathers” –

Second hand religion is useless!

Second Hand religion is empty!

Second hand religion is powerless!

It is only by personal experience that the power of cross is released in your life! YOU must be born again. YOU must knee at cross personally, individual and accept that that cross was yours.

When you personally identify with the cross the impact of redemption will overwhelm you and it’s power will over flow in Thanksgiving from your lips and life.

Thanksgiving flows from those who identify with the Cross because of …

II. The Power of the Cross in Renovation

Look with me at 2 Cor. 5 that speaks of the power of the cross that renovates or transforms us.

2 Cor 5:14-17

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (NIV)

The power of the cross is displayed in the transformation of our lives!

· We no longer live for ourselves but him

World what’s in it for me

Believer what’s in it for him

· We no longer regard men from a world point of view

World - Fascination with the temporal

Believer - Fixated on the eternal