COME TO THE CROSS!

Highlights from Pastor Jerry’s message on Sunday, July 7

“At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light, and the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight,  and now I am happy all the day!”

Our Hope Centre prayer efforts are causing us to enter new opening doors of God’s favor and provision.  We deeply believe that Jesus is always faithful and we recognize the significance of the CROSS of CALVARY.

Pastor Jerry shared how 43 years ago he was seeking answers to a deep depression and anxiety.  One night at a charismatic prayer group Jesus Christ brought him out and set him free. “I had to come to the CROSS!”

We can have all the programs, schemes and dreams (lobster everyday), but we (our families, friends, ourselves) cannot bypass the CROSS in order to have our burdens rolled away. The CROSS is a revelation to all of us that this is a “so great a salvation!”  It’s not adding water and stir. Jesus took our suffering, our pain and gave us healing.  We must do whatever we can do to get to the CROSS. How horrific that death was, there were times when He could not breathe. Jesus was positioned on the CROSS – not just by being nailed there!  Jesus gave up His life (John 10:18) for it was part of “being about His Father’s business” (Luke 2:49). 

“I had a lot to think about over the last several days being very sick with congestion. I went to the pharmacist, hoping they had an answer for me on the shelf! They knew the problem but couldn’t help me! God gave me favor and I got to see a doctor who prescribed antibiotics and blessed me as I left!” 

We need the Great Physician to examine us! It’s humbly coming to the CROSS in repentance!   It is an everyday encounter!  Remember the two thieves at the Cross – one ridiculed Jesus, the other acknowledged Him for who He was and that He had done nothing wrong. “The Man in the Middle” said to him “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:32-43) Jesus in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane asked the Father, “Is there another way? But not My will but Yours be done!” (Luke 22:42)

The CROSS is the always powerful symbol in reminding us of the price paid for our redemption. We have that dynamic testimony of the conversion of the Apostle Paul who had the privilege of meeting Jesus in ways never seen before.    

The transition of the Apostle Paul found in Colossians 2:13-15 must be part of our truth partnership with the biblical heavenly agreement …___

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave all your sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, NAILING IT TO THE CROSS. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them TRIUMPHING OVER THEM BY THE CROSS.”

The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are the one and only physician we need! When we worship - our whole body, soul, spirit, mind, tongue and emotions are in it!

God told us to put up the PRAYER CROSS – He spoke it, we did it! Jesus knew that from the foundation of the world there would come a day when there would be a people who would need a Saviour.  The SEED will come (Gen. 3:15),be born, live and demonstrate miracles, die and rise again.  It all came together at the CROSS.

The PRAYER CROSS is a reminder that God’s focus in on it! What is God saying to us? “Keep your eyes focused on Me? “God would then speak to us, “Seek Me,” give us songs and dreams about ‘open doors’ and to warn us how principalities and powers would try to cripple us; but also, of our children coming to the Lord and this place being filled. The CROSS is the greatest example of the Father’s love was sending His Son, so we didn’t have to bear the same problems.