Word of the Week - Benefits of the Cross

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  Psalm 103:2-5As we celebrate Palm Sunday and enter into Holy week, I am reminded of what Jesus actually did for us through His crucifixion on the Cross at Calgary.  First and foremost, He gave us Eternal Salvation by taking on our sin and paying our debt so we can have relationship with our heavenly Father.  This is the most meaningful gift ever, but He did not stop there and many Christians miss out on the best things of the Christian life because they don’t step into receiving the full benefits of the power of the Cross that includes:

• Healing in our bodies – “He himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness;  by his wounds we are healed.” 1 Peter 2:24.  Our God is a healer and promises that we have access to physical healing through faith in Jesus.
• Peace of Mind – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”  John 4:27.  The Lord desires that His children have supernatural peace even in the toughest trials of life through Trusting in God and His word.
• Forgiveness of Sins – “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more”.  Hebrews 8:12.  He not only forgives but He forgets our sins so that we can walk in our anointing without any shame or regret.  We are made new in Christ as if the sins of the past did not even happen.
• Restoration of our Hearts – “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” Psalm 147:3.  The Lord desires to take the deepest pains on our hearts and not just heal our wounds but actually use the pains for something good.  He is a redeemer and takes what the enemy meant for bad and turns it into good.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that we will not grow weary and lose heart”.  Hebrews 12:2-3  As we reflect this week on what Jesus did for us on the Cross, the Passion of Christ, I encourage us to see the fullness of His sacrifice for us so that we can truly engage fully in the Benefits of the Cross.  In doing so I pray that we are renewed like eagles and sore to new heights in our walk with Christ.  This is the redemptive power of the Cross.I hope you have an amazing Holy Week in preparation of Easter, the greatest day in history for all mankind.  If you are looking for a live Easter Service next weekend, I would like to encourage you to check out https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/easter/ to find a service time that works for you and your family.  It is sure to be a special Resurrection Celebration.Blessings,-Duane