One time when Billy Graham had a crusade in Texas he expressed concern to a prominent business leader. He felt the response to the invitation was much smaller than usual. The Christian businessman replied, “Billy you forgot to preach the cross”. The next night the entire sermon was on the Cross of Christ. This message became a Billy Graham Classic; in fact I heard him give that message recently on the Billy Graham Classics on television. The response was huge and this should be noted carefully. Because the preaching of the cross is missing in many churches in spite of that good text: “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” I Cor. 2:2
Proof the Message of the Cross is Missing
Let me share the evidence. Have you ever considered the real problem when disunity takes charge in a church? Ephesians 4:32 is very clear:
“and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another EVEN as God in Christ forgave you.” It is impossible to come to the Cross and fail to deal with hostility in fact it is extremely dangerous. Consider two reasons:
1. Failure to forgive is a by-product of pride. You mean God can forgive but we can’t? Impossible and this is the reason – pride is #1 on God’s hate list
(Proverbs 6:16-17). Furthermore note what happens if we fail to deal with pride – “…one who sows discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:19)
2. Our failure to forgive is very dangerous. On Holy Communion Sunday it would not be out of place to insert a card in the church bulletin with the address of the local undertaker! No – I’m not cracking. I am calling for a study of I Cor. 11:30. I Cor. 11:23-26 reminds us of the importance of the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper. Think of it –
“For as OFTEN as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (vs 26)
Now wait a moment! Don’t sing “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross on Which the Prince of Glory Died” – Don’t sing that until first you make the sign of the Cross – i.e. Right with God (vertical) and Right with others (horizontal). I say WAIT because of the unusual warning given in I Cor. 11:
“For this reason many are weak and sick among you and many sleep” (I Cor. 11:30)
Why? – Because we dare to approach the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper without being able to make the sign of the Cross! This is the reason Jesus made the unusual statement of Matthew 5:44 –
“But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you”
We need to pray consistently for those who sow discord. They are in for greater trouble than we who may be the object of their hostility. Pray for them, send them a present sincerely and put your finger on Job 5:21 and say – “Lord there is your promise. Make it good”
“Those shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue”
By the way, this is the reason you must contact Songtime and request the leather/suede volume “God’s Promises for Your Every Need”. When you have a need – turn to the table of contents, study the verses that apply for your need, then pray on the basis of those verses and end the prayer with – “God - no authority supercedes your Word. There is your promise – make it good.” However you can’t do this until you know the promises. This unique volume is designed to give you immediate assistance when a need arises. You many also want to get a copy of the previous offer – “God’s Wisdom for Your Every Need” There is more information about these volumes on our website.
Let me conclude with more proof that the preaching of the Cross is lost in many pulpits:
1.Disunity is a proof
2.Unconfessed sin is a proof
3.No evidence of Saving Faith is a proof
- There is dead faith (James 2:26) “.. faith without works ..”
- There is demonic faith (James 2:19)
You believe that there is one God, you do well; even
the demons believe and tremble.
Note carefully that a person with demonic faith states they believe, in fact there is even emotional involvement but the Holy Spirit is not present.
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” (Romans 8:16)
We ought to test our convictions with John 1:13. If I were teaching John 1:13 the topic might be – “How to be sure you’ll miss Heaven”. Trust in the following:
1.Human decent (which were born not of blood)
2.Human effort (nor of the will of the flesh)
3.Human assistance (nor of the will of man)
John 1:12 prevents John 1:13. I like the way Warren Wiersbe stated it in his “Be Series”:
“No one can be born again because of his relatives, his relations, or his religion. The new birth is a work of God”
Summary
Much of today’s preaching troubles me because Galatians 3:24 is missing – i.e. there is no teaching about our complete ruin in sin. Read 1 Cor. 15:3-4:
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures;
I hear “Come to Christ” but I don’t hear why. Has the Cross been lost in your church – Your life? The answer is yes if the Power of the Holy Spirit is missing –
And when that One comes, He will convict the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment. (John 16:8)
In Acts 8:13 we read of a man who believed but Peter called him a phony in Acts 8:20. Why? His admission of his complete ruin in sin and God’s perfect remedy in Christ was missing – the Cross was lost in his thinking and the result – Demonic Faith!
In contrast I heard Dr. Ryken of 10Th Presbyterian in Philadelphia ask this question – “Why did Jesus say to one thief on the cross, ‘Today you’ll be with me in paradise’ but he didn’t say that to the other thief? The answer is clear – one thief lost the cross – the other didn’t!”
Christ Died – that is history
Christ Died for us – that is Christianity
Christ Died for me – that is Salvation
Have you been saved? If you have any doubt – call 508-362-7070 and ask for the CD – “Where to go for a Miracle”.