One of my favorite hymns is\u00a0Lift High the Cross<\/u>. It is a 19th<\/sup>\u00a0century English Christian hymn. It was written in 1887 by George Kitchin and revised in 1916 by Michael R. Newbolt. It is based on Matthew 16:24.\u00a0\u2018Then Jesus told his disciples, \u201cIf anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n We see another place, as recorded in John 12, relating to the cross. Listen to what Jesus says.\u00a0\u201cNow is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(vs.31) That is, all who trust in his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. He said this to show what kind of death he was going to die. Satan would have us all believe that sin is not an issue. And many world organizations and religions echo this loudly. Satan wants to build a one world order similar to what was attempted in Babel before God dispersed them throughout the earth.<\/p>\n This battle for the hearts and minds and souls of the world\u2019s population cannot be won by non-biblical truth, philosophies, or myths. There\u2019s another great 19th<\/sup>\u00a0century hymn that I\u2019m sure we all have sung many times.\u00a0Onward Christian Soldiers<\/u>\u2026\u00a0marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before!\u00a0<\/em>It was written to encourage Christians in their ongoing battles with temptations within themselves and the evil forces throughout the world. Nothing has changed. And neither is the battle cry or the means of victory.<\/p>\n I would ask you, and me; are we, in our service to the Lord for his kingdom, lifting up anything other than the gospel?\u00a0If so, it will not reap a harvest. The simple message of the gospel by which you must be saved is\u00a0cross centered<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0\u2018Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead.\u2019<\/em>\u00a0See Paul\u2019s writings in\u00a01 Cor. 15.1-5<\/a>. No cross, no shed blood, no salvation!<\/p>\n And no power to live victoriously! It\u2019s the power of the cross; the power is in his shed blood. It\u2019s not in our good works.\u00a0\u201c<\/em>But far be it from me to boast (glory) except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>It\u2019s the same for you and me, and it\u2019s the same for everyone. Jesus assured his Father\u2019s plan for salvation for his created when he obediently went to the cross and suffered the shame. But glory be to God; he is risen, he is seated at the Father\u2019s right hand and he is victorious.<\/p>\n And this will be the ultimate result in eternity.\u00a0\u201cAnd being found in human form, he (Jesus) humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(Phil. 2.8-11)<\/p>\n Let\u2019s go and\u00a0lift up the cross<\/u>\u00a0and glorify the Father.<\/p>\nBe cross centered<\/h3>\n
Jesus Christ our Lord<\/h3>\n