Finding Freedom and Identity at the Cross
Summary
In today's gathering, I shared a message about the significance of the cross in our lives and how it serves as our true north, guiding us through the challenges and decisions we face. I emphasized that the cross is not just a historical event but a transformative moment that should become a personal revelation for each of us. It is at the cross where we find the truth about who we are and what God has done for us.
I began by discussing how the cross represents the moment where Jesus Christ gave His life for us, so that we could be set free and walk in a new life. This is not just a story; it is a historical fact that has the power to become a part of our own story when we believe in what God has accomplished through Jesus.
I encouraged everyone to step off the "train" of life that they've been riding – the train of hurt, guilt, shame, and brokenness – and to step into the freedom and healing that comes from the cross. I reminded us that the allure of the world and the struggle with our sinful nature are real, but they pale in comparison to the eternal reward that comes from living for Christ.
I also spoke about the importance of not just coming to church, but coming to the cross. It is at the cross where we find life, and it is there that we must boast, as Paul did, in nothing except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Throughout the message, I invited those who felt God speaking to them to stand in faith, acknowledging that God was opening their eyes and giving them revelation. I assured them that by doing so, they would not only see a movement of faith in their lives but also witness the movement of God in our service.
I addressed the lies of the enemy that tell us we are insignificant and that God does not care about us. I countered these lies with the truth of the cross, where God declared our value before we were even born. I stressed that our identity and worth are not based on our efforts but on the finished work of Christ on the cross.
Finally, I shared that when we face loss, circumstances, or accusations that challenge our trust in God's goodness, sovereignty, or grace, the cross remains our true north. It is the constant in the midst of life's storms, the fixed point that we can look to for direction and assurance.
Key Takeaways:
- The cross is the defining moment in history and in our personal stories. It is where we find true freedom and purpose, not because of our own merits, but because of what Jesus accomplished for us. When we embrace the cross, we step into the life God intended for us, a life marked by His grace and love. [07:32]
- Our identity and worth are not determined by our feelings or the opinions of others, but by the value God has placed on us through the sacrifice of His Son. When we align our view of ourselves with God's view, we honor Him and walk in the truth of our significance in His eyes. [25:47]
- Loss can deeply affect our trust in God's goodness, but the cross reminds us that God Himself experienced loss and did so out of His goodness. By looking to the cross, we can reaffirm our belief in God's good character, even in the face of our own losses. [19:42]
- Circumstances may seem to indicate that God is not in control, but the cross shows us that God's sovereignty is unchanging. Just as He was in control during the crucifixion, He is in control of our lives today, working all things for His glory and our good. [22:42]
- Accusations and guilt can trap us on a train of shame, but the cross is where our debt was canceled. When we understand the fullness of Jesus' sacrifice, we can step off the train of shame and walk in the freedom of God's grace, knowing that our sins are forgiven and our guilt is removed. [29:46]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 - "And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."
2. Isaiah 53:5 - "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."
3. Galatians 6:14 - "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 Corinthians 2:1-2, what was Paul's primary focus when he preached to the Corinthians?
2. In Isaiah 53:5, what are the results of Jesus being pierced and crushed for us?
3. How does Galatians 6:14 describe the relationship between the believer and the world through the cross?
4. In the sermon, what analogy did the pastor use to describe the importance of the cross as our true north? ([09:52])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize knowing "nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified" in 1 Corinthians 2:2? How does this focus impact our daily lives?
2. How does Isaiah 53:5 help us understand the depth of Jesus' sacrifice and its implications for our healing and freedom?
3. What does it mean to boast only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ as stated in Galatians 6:14? How does this shape our identity and actions?
4. The pastor mentioned that the cross trumps feelings, accusations, and circumstances. How can this understanding transform our response to life's challenges? ([14:10])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by guilt or shame. How can the truth of the cross help you step off the "train of shame" and walk in freedom? ([29:46])
2. When facing loss, how can you remind yourself of God's goodness as demonstrated through the cross? Share a specific loss you are dealing with and how you can look to the cross for comfort. ([19:42])
3. How do you currently view your identity and worth? What steps can you take to align your view with God's view of you as revealed through the cross? ([25:47])
4. Think of a situation where your circumstances made you doubt God's control. How can you use the cross as your true north to reaffirm your trust in God's sovereignty? ([22:42])
5. The allure of temporary pleasures can be strong. Identify an area in your life where this is true and discuss how focusing on the eternal reward through the cross can help you make better choices. ([37:09])
6. How can you practically boast in the cross in your daily life, as Paul did in Galatians 6:14? Share specific ways you can make the cross central in your conversations and actions.
7. The pastor invited those who felt God speaking to them to stand in faith. How can you create moments in your daily life to acknowledge and respond to God's revelations? ([13:00])
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Cross for True Freedom
The cross is not merely a symbol or a historical artifact; it is the pivotal event that redefines freedom and purpose. It is where the narrative of humanity intersects with the divine, where the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross becomes the cornerstone of a new existence. This freedom is not earned by personal merit but is a gift, stemming from the profound love and grace of God. By embracing the cross, individuals step into the life that God has designed for them, a life that is no longer shackled by the chains of sin but is marked by divine grace and love. The cross invites a personal transformation, a shift from an old way of living to a new life in Christ. [07:32]
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit," (1 Peter 3:18 ESV).
Reflection: How does understanding the cross as the source of true freedom change the way you approach your daily struggles and decisions?
Day 2: Our Worth Defined by Divine Sacrifice
The world often measures worth by success, appearance, or influence, but the cross declares a different truth. At the cross, God proclaimed the inherent value of each person, a worth that is not contingent on human achievement or recognition. This divine valuation is rooted in the ultimate sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. When individuals align their self-perception with this heavenly perspective, they honor God and live in the truth of their significance in His eyes. This understanding liberates from the need for external validation and instills a deep sense of purpose and belonging. [25:47]
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 ESV).
Reflection: In what ways have you sought value from the world, and how can you begin to see yourself through the lens of God's sacrifice for you?
Day 3: Trusting God's Goodness Amidst Loss
Loss can shake the foundations of faith, leading to questions about God's goodness. Yet, the cross stands as a testament to God's unyielding character, even in the face of profound loss. It is a reminder that God is not distant from human suffering but has entered into it through Jesus Christ. The cross assures that God's goodness is not absent in pain but is most profoundly demonstrated in it. By looking to the cross, believers can find the strength to trust in God's good nature, even when their circumstances seem to suggest otherwise. [19:42]
"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession." (Hebrews 4:14 ESV).
Reflection: How can the example of Jesus' suffering on the cross help you maintain trust in God's goodness during your own experiences of loss?
Day 4: The Unchanging Sovereignty of God
Circumstances can often feel chaotic and out of control, but the cross is a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty. It demonstrates that God's plan is not thwarted by human actions or events. Just as God was sovereign in the orchestration of the crucifixion for a greater purpose, He remains sovereign over the lives of believers today. This understanding provides a firm foundation in an ever-changing world, offering peace and assurance that God is working all things for His glory and the good of those who love Him. [22:42]
"In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will," (Ephesians 1:11 ESV).
Reflection: What current situation in your life seems out of control, and how can you surrender it to the knowledge of God's unchanging sovereignty?
Day 5: Freedom from the Train of Shame
The cross is the place where the burden of guilt and shame was lifted, where the debt of sin was canceled once and for all. It is the ultimate expression of God's grace, offering a way off the train of shame that so many ride. Understanding the fullness of Jesus' sacrifice allows believers to step into the freedom that comes with forgiveness. This freedom is not a temporary reprieve but a permanent release from the chains of past mistakes, enabling a walk in the newness of life that Christ offers. [29:46]
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24 ESV).
Reflection: What guilt or shame are you holding onto, and how can you embrace the freedom of the cross to release it today?
Quotes
1) "When my wounds are clouding my belief that God cares, the cross is my true north. This gathering today is not a surface thing. We all know that in this life you get hurt. And when you get hurt enough, it can begin to cloud the belief that you had that God really cared about you because the enemy says if God cared about you then how could he let that happen to you." [14:51]
2) "When my opinion of me is drowning out God's opinion of me, the cross is my true north. Amen. You know the world, and I'm not... we all have feelings, and God made us with feelings, but we live in a world that is central about feelings. And if we're not careful, we spend our lives riding the feelings train, and that becomes problematic when your opinion of you starts differing from God's opinion of you." [23:24]
3) "When enemy accusation is corrupting my belief in God's grace, the cross is my true north. The Bible calls Satan the accuser, and he's good at it. He forgets nothing. He's keeping an account of everything, and he'll pull stuff out of like the craziest corner of your life. And as soon as you think you're going to get up and get moving with God, he's going to say, 'Excuse me, I hate to bring this up again, but there is this.'" [28:42]
4) "When my loss is undermining my trust in God's goodness, the cross is my true north. Again, we're all dealing with loss. We live on a broken planet, and things are lost. But when things are lost, what the enemy wants to do is he wants to undermine your trust in the goodness of God. If God was good, then why would this loss have occurred?" [19:05]
5) "When my circumstances are obscuring my confidence that God is in control, the cross is my true north. Is that anybody in the place today? Circumstances in your life are getting really loud, and they're starting to undermine and chip away at the belief that you really do want to have deep down that God, to use this big theological word we use a lot, is sovereign." [20:55]
6) "You don't need to just come to church; you need to come to the cross. Because it is at the cross that revelation shows us that we were dead until He made us alive. And the breath we're using to make the foolish choices we're making is a gift that we received because of the miraculous work that was finished on the cross." [35:58]
7) "My accusation that I rightfully did own and did do all got cancelled by the finished work of Jesus. And when the accuser comes, he's just looking to see what kind of person you are, whether you've got information or whether you've got revelation. He's like, 'Don't you think you're gonna, you know, get all up in it with God?' And you're like, 'Oh yeah, that's right, what I was thinking.'" [30:20]
8) "When my current state is overshadowing my faith in God's future plan, that's when you need true north. You say, 'What are you talking about?' I'm talking about how you believed at some point that you had a big future. You could see it, but now based on right here and right now, you think all that future has gone up in smoke." [32:05]
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