I want to challenge you to be still, to fix your eyes on Jesus and the cross He bore for you, to let Him enter in ‘like spontaneous thoughts that light up on your mind let Him speak to you.' as Mark Virkler shares on hearing God's voice. Take a blank sheet of paper and be ready to journal those very thoughts as they come to you.
I’m going to ask you to do something this morning as an act of worship and that is to remove your shoes. I want you to prepare yourself in a way that you realize that you are in the presence of God and and that you are on holy ground.
Take time to prepare yourself in a covering prayer.
Read Mark 15:1-42 in the NLT
The CROSS in Three Movements
The first movement - I never knew You...
I was one of them, I praised you like all the rest last week but I wasn’t ready to walk down the road less travelled. I was afraid Jesus and I cried out like everyone else, ‘crucify Him, crucify Him, crucify Him’. I turned my back on you, I denied you, I ran away in humiliation. My heart was stiff inside me, I had betrayed the one who told me He was the way. I chose my own way, I choose the darkness. It is everything I’ve always known.
Here I am, without hope, without love, without meaning, without a Saviour.
I am in a dry and weary land where there is no water, my lips are parched, my soul is dry and I thirst for the living water that you told me to drink from. I have lost my way and my heart pounds for meaning.
My sins, they are too numerous to count and they accuse me, they bury me in defeat. They tell me that You didn’t die for me and that I will die in my sins and there is no hope. But my ways are not your ways. The enemy would love to me to wallow in defeat and never rise up. I am not alone, but he would like to make me think that I am. I cling to the cross and the anointing that You have provided in it for me.
I never knew you but You always knew me.
watch Good Friday – Jason Tremblay
Respond to the question, 'Where would I be Jesus if I never knew you?' Allow God to speak to your heart on this.
The second movement – When did You care?
Why do you care about me, Why do you know the exact number of hairs on my head? Why are you mindful of me? You told me that you crowned me with glory and honor.
When did you call my name? You knew me before I even had any thought of you, but one day I called and You answered and You came to my rescue. You lifted me out of the miry clay, the much and the stench of my sin. Your love flowed to every fibre of my being. Your love is so strong, it is a warming presence in my life. I cannot deny how strong I feel when I’m in Your presence Jesus. Without You I am troubled about many things so I ask that You keep my heart in tune with You. You have called me to wait so that You can give me fresh glimpses of Yourself. May I stay the course and see what is in store. You are the Rock, I AM. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of your life, your ministry, your everything. Walk in my ways and You will never be led astray. Keep your heart soft and true and I will show you the glorious things that I can do.
Watch Lead Me To The Cross - Hillsong
When did you call my name? Once again let the Father speak to into your being as You listen to His voice.
The Third Movement – Why You Died for me
You died to bring me healing...You died to remove the shame and rejection and You died to give me a new name, a new and glorious hope. You died so I could be brought to a new and living hope. You told me to let your love wash over me, to feel the strength of and vigor in Your presence. You want me to walk in sacred communion with You in the cool of the day.
You died and you laid down your life in surrender for me so that I would know how beautiful the love is that you have for me.
You died for me to make an altar of blessing for you to pour out Your love through me to others. You called me to show others Your way, it may not seem right to them, but it is right to You. You have told me to fill the whole room with Your life giving presence
By His Wounds
Why did you die for me? Finally ask Christ why He gave His life for you, why He cared....
Take time for communion and as you do prepare yourself by reading:
Isaiah 52:13 – Isaiah 53
Be blessed.
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