“Isaiah and David prophesied that God’s chosen people would kill his one and only begotten Son. The religious leaders thought that by killing God’s Son they would get to steal his inheritance.” (pg 67)
None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified The Lord of glory. (1 Corinthians 2:8)
“What blindsided each and every ruler of that age? They could not see the transforming and triumphant power of the Cross.” (pg 67)
Do you see the transforming and triumphant power of the Cross?
Do you live a transformed and triumphant life?
Do you live fully believing that Christ died for you?
Can you accept that truth into your heart and truly, without a doubt, believe it? It is one thing to know about the Cross and what happened that day in Calvary. It is one thing to know what the Cross represents—freedom, forgiveness, love, mercy, redemption, among others. But do you live in a way that your life represents this knowledge? Have you accepted this as your own truth, that Christ died for YOU? YOU, the single momma trying to make ends meet. YOU, the woman who cannot have kids. YOU, the woman who carries shame from her past. YOU, the woman who has a hard time forgiving. He died for YOU, for me, for every single one of us; regardless of anything that has happened in our lives. No matter what we have done, it was finished on that Cross.
Live triumphantly knowing that you are loved. You are wanted. You are known. You cannot do this life on your own. You cannot forgive on your own. You cannot move through the hardship and pain of your past on your own. You were not made to. If you are wondering why you struggle so much with a stronghold in your life, ask yourself: have I let God into this place? Have I allowed Him to work on my heart in this area? Christ will not barge His way into your life. He must be invited in. If your finances are a mess, you must invite Him in so that you and He can work on fixing what is broken. If your marriage is on the verge of separation or divorce, you must let Him in so that He can help you restore all that lays in shambles.
He is the only One who can do it. And He desires to fix your brokenness even more than you. He wants you to be whole. Let Him in. Let Him do His work. He is the only One who can do it.
I feel like there is this thinking in our society that we must fix our problems on our own, by our own power and might. We do a pretty good job of seeing other peoples’ problems, and how to fix those…but when it comes to our own lives, it is not so easy. We get defensive, we struggle, we read book after book trying to fix ourselves. But, have you fully turned this area of your life over to Christ? Have you let Him in to do the work He needs to do in your heart?
“Because of Him (Christ), we no longer exist in Adam. We live in Christ and are seated with him as we walk on earth.” (pg 69)
Transformation is not an easy process. But, we have a new life because of the Cross. We no longer walk in sin and death. “We were saved, forgiven, healed, loved, graced, empowered, and restored “in Christ”” (pg 71). “It was the dead tree that brought us all back to life” (pg 72). You must know and understand— you were already transformed because of the Cross. The question is – have you accepted it? Are you living it?
Let’s Pray:
Father God, the Cross represents so many things, but ultimately it shows us Your unfailing LOVE and GRACE toward us. We are triumphant because of the Cross. Help us to live triumphantly in You every day on this Earth. For those areas of our lives that we have not let You into, today we turn it over to You. Help us fix what is broken. Show us a new way. Guide us into the triumphant and abundant life that You have already prepared for us. In Jesus Name, Amen!
Live transformed and triumphant,
Jennifer
You said/asked: You must know and understand— you were already transformed because of the Cross. The question is – have you accepted it? Are you living it? — It makes me wonder about something: A friend of mine is battling Stage 4 Stomach Cancer. Although Doctors have given her this diagnosis, she is standing on God’s Word that says “By His Stripes You Are Healed” ( Isaiah 53:5 & 1 Peter 2:24) and many more scriptures that confess healing.
My question is this: The Word says that by His stripes we ARE (or WERE) healed, not “will be” or “may be”, but “we ARE” healed. That means that it’s already done…period. Over and out!! RIGHT? It means that Jesus took that disease or that sickness upon His own back in Calvary. If that’s true, why do so many people have such a hard time believing these particular scriptures? Is it because they are afraid to believe His complete Word?? Or that His complete Word applies to them, also, not just a few select individuals? Or could it be that they are afraid to believe for a miracle?
Anyone that struggles with believing for healing, should talk to my friend Irene. I’m telling you, she will convince anyone that God’s Word for Healing is for them, also!! She is very inspirational, and really truly believes ALL of God’s Word.
Her cancer: She went through chemo, and now doctors are saying there is nothing more they can do. HOWEVER, she looks better than she ever has; has ZERO pain (doctors said in normal cases like this she should be on a very strong dose of morphine by now), she is very coherent, and honestly, if you did not know she had cancer, you seriously would not know it from looking at or speaking to her!! She looks fantastic!!! Other than her getting a little tired every now and then, she says she feels great!
According to man…that is impossible. BUT….according to God she IS already healed, and there is no need for pain! She fills her life with positive thinking, positive reading, positive people. She refuses to listen to anyone who says anything contrary to what she is believing. Some say that is dangerous for her to do that because she is setting herself up for failure…. that bothers me to no end!!! I say, DEATH & LIFE are in the power of the tongue. SHE is choosing to speak LIFE, while others want to choose to speak death. I don’t blame her for choosing who to have in her life right now!
With God ALL things ARE possible.
Christi, that is an amazing testimony. Your friend is wise indeed. It is by her faith that she is healed. In fact, a prayer prayed without faith means nothing. God never fails us, His word tells us that. There is so much power in prayer, and like power in prayer the mind is also powerful. I once went to a seminar on “The power of positive thinking” I was amazed at the power our mind has over our lives. After going over all I had learned in this seminar all I could say is “our creator” doesn’t make mistakes. God Bless your friend and may she continue to SPEAK LIFE! AMEN
Christi, I claimed a healing with that scripture. The doctor said he thought I had a bladder tumor. He was going to order tests he was a Christian also. I said I wanted to pray first. When I returned the next week, the mass was gone. He was amazed but believed I was healed this was 35 years ago. I also had a German measles tests that were done my first trimester. The results showed that I had been exposed. My doctor a Christian said that most likely my child would have problems but he did not encourage me to have an abortion. I wouldn’t have considered this even though I knew the implications and that my child may have cognitive problems. I prayed and said LORD I give my child to you trusting that you care for my unborn child. Amy was born a perfect baby!! As a nurse for 15 years, I have witnessed many miracles. Recently a friend of one of our family members was given 4 months, the chemo has decreased the one tumor to a third and the other mass is gone. I will pray for Irene, we must claim the healing!!
Praising God for His Word being ALIVE, and TRUTH, and for His many miracles!! AMEN!!
Amazing Lorraine! Love your testimony!
Not one mistake was made when we were created! He created us all with specific attributes, features, and abilities for use in His Kingdom. We are all designed to work together, fusing all of our talents together, as One Church United serving our King of Kings. How cool is that?!
Christi, thank Irene for all of us for being a great example of living The Word “out in public”. I love it, “transformed and triumphant!”
Thanks Jennifer for your thoughts today. I was both challenged and encouraged by it. There is so much ‘good stuff’ in this section! I love Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me….” Lisa said, “He didn’t just take our place; He gave us…His. We have His life, His Name, His Words, His authority, and His promise.” Wow, I want to get that deep in my heart and mind!
Clella, I really just wanted to restate everything she wrote! It was all so good!!
Christi, that is a beautiful testimony. Thank you for sharing that today. It really blessed me to read it. <3
thank you, jennifer, for compelling us to recognize that our heart’s desire must be to be transformed…your words have (as clella wrote) ‘…challenged and encouraged….’ may the POWER of the Cross daily have impact on our hearts and lives! <3
YES! Amen.
Thanks Jennifer for your message. The first thing that came to mind was “surrender,” surrendering those things in our lives that are holding us back from everything that the Lord has for us. It is so true that we try to hold on to things and not let go. Sometimes I think that we feel like we need to fix it on our own because we think that we need to make it right- but that is the opposite of the way the Lord works. I found this verse- Romans 1:15-17
Amplified Bible (AMP)
15 So, for my part, I am willing and eagerly ready to preach the Gospel to you also who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God’s power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,
17 For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith. I think this in a nutshell says it all. : )
This is so good, Cher. We do want to fix things and make them right and it is important to recognize that the Lord needs to work His Will out through it, too. When we take things into our own hands, we may end up going astray from where we should be! Thanks for the scripture!!
Awesome post! There are times when we need to stop ourselves and remember what the cross represents, what it means in our lives. There are also times when we need to stop and look at our lives, to slow down and see if we are living the promises that the cross represents. Thank you for your words. 🙂
Great insight, Tonya. Yes, we do need to slow down and reflect every day. So important!!
I thank Jesus when I say that curse word in anger. I don’t ask his forgiveness, I know he already gave it to me on the cross. My legs ache like a toothache for days now. I know God took this from me 2000 years ago. My finances, God has my back. I so wish I could remember this everyday. I try and live by my favorite verses. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. John 19:30 Jesus said’ “It is Finished”
I’ve always thought that a lot of times we think of The Cross as just salvation – – a home in heaven with Jesus for all eternity. Thank God for that, but I know it represents so many more benefits while we live here on earth. And you’ve pointed that out, Jennifer. Great post.
Thanks Martha! The cross represents so much and it means different things to all of us!
Oh, I love everything about this post today. It is SO POWERFUL! The cross is so powerful!! God is so powerful! It is my prayer that everyone accepts the transformation that the cross brings into their life, and that we continue to accept and live transformed lives in Christ!!!
AMEN!!
I heard Jerry Seville say today, “Look at the Cross and Jesus hanging on that cross. Now look at the back of that cross. What do you see? You see His back and the stripes upon His back. Those stripes represent EVERY sin, sickness & disease, known to mankind. He took EVERY ONE OF THEM upon His back for YOU! Every sin. Every sickness. Every disease. He took them for YOU, so YOU didn’t and don’t have to.”
Meditate on that today!! THAT’S what the Cross represents!! Let that sink deep into your hearts….. WOW!!!!!
It is so beyond comprehension sometimes, truly. He did that for me, for you, for every commenter here, and for every person who read, or who will read this blog in the future. It’s just amazing, incredible, and beautiful. Love that true and that deep…it is just indescribable.
EVERY sin, EVERY sickness, EVERY disease! Thank you, Jesus!!! <3
AMEN!!!! He is SO good!