THE BENEFITS OF THE CROSS

Matthew 16:24 - 26

24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 

25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 

26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 

THE BENEFITS OF THE CROSS

The goal of this message on The Benefits

of the Cross for today is to learn about

the surpassing greatness, power, and

authority of the cross so we can respond

in praising God for defeating Satan and

giving us access to Christ’s rule and

authority as heirs of an eternal

inheritance.

This sermon will help us understand the

power and authority of the cross so that

we can enjoy our inheritance in Christ.

And it will explain why the power and

authority of the cross enables you to

enjoy your inheritance in Christ today.

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 

If any man be willing to come after me -

no one is forced to follow the Lord; but if

any will be a Believer, it must be on these

terms. Let him deny himself, and take up

his cross . Let him in all things deny his

own will, however pleasing, and do the

will of God, however painful.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 

If you hold on to your life, meaning your

way of doing things. Following the world’s

system and leaving God out you will lose

your life for an eternity. But if you chose to

follow Jesus and God’s way and not

you own, you will live eternity with God.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 

If it was possible to have all the treasures

of the world, what good would it do you

when your soul is required of you?

SERMON POINTS: 1. THE CROSS DISPLAYS GOD’S SURPASSING GREATNESS Believe in the greatness of God’s power .

• The resurrection of Christ demonstrates God’s power (Ephesians 1:19–21) 19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 

20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 

21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 

• God raised Christ from the dead and

seated Him in the heavenlies. Believe God

provides power to you.

• God’s power that raised Christ from the

dead is also available to you.

• God has enough power to turn even the

worst scenario in your life into a victory.

2. THE CROSS DEMONSTRATES CHRIST’S AUTHORITY Believe Jesus has supreme authority.

• Jesus’ ascension placed Him above all

rule and authority (Ephesians 1:19–21)

• Jesus disarmed sin’s power over you.

(Colossians 2:14–15) 14  Blotting out the

handwriting of ordinances that was

against us, which was contrary to us, and

took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 

15  And having spoiled principalities and

powers, he made a shew of them openly,

triumphing over them in it. 

• Jesus sits far above any situation you are

dealing with.

Believe Jesus imparts authority to you.

• Authority is the right to use the power

that you possess.

• When you identify with Christ’s cross,

resurrection, and ascension, you identify

with His authority that overrides Satan’s

power. Believe Jesus’ authority rules over

Satan.

• Although Satan is more powerful than

you, he is not strong enough to overcome

Christ’s authority.

• Jesus disarmed Satan (Colossians 2:15)

• Satan doesn’t have the last word

because Jesus now sits high above all

rule and authority.

3. THE CROSS’S AUTHORITY AND POWER MAY BE ACCESSED THROUGH COMMUNION

Take communion to access the authority

and power of the cross.

• Communion ushers in both a physical

and spiritual reality allowing you full

entry into the cross’s accomplishments.

• Communion provides the blessings

attached to Christ’s death and

resurrection (1 Corinthians 10:16)

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 

• Communion reminds us Satan no longer

holds authority over us (see Colossians

2:13–15)

• Eating the bread and drinking the cup

proclaims the Lord’s death (1 Corinthians 11:26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 

• When you take communion you are

proclaiming power over the evil

principalities that Christ has defeated

Satan.

• Through communion we proclaim the

regaining of the victory and authority

that was originally lost in the garden of Eden.

4. THE CROSS GIVES US REASON FOR PRAISE Praise God for His authority

• God is seated high above all rule and

authority.

• Because of our relationship with Him, we

are seated with Him and have access to

His rule and authority in our life.

(Ephesians 2:6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 

Praise God for His victory over Satan.

• The blood of the lamb overcomes Satan (Revelation 12:11) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;

• The cross has conquered Satan, granting

us access to an authority higher than

Satan’s authority.

5. THE CROSS PROVIDES VICTORY OVER YOUR ENEMIES Believe you are spiritually seated in heaven.

• God seated us with Him in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:5–6) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 

6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 

• Understanding where you are seated

and what that means provides access to

Christ’s authority.

Believe that your spiritual inheritance

affects your physical reality.

• Connecting with Christ’s authority

changes your fear levels, worry, dread

and all else.

• Living in light of Christ’s authority

changes how you walk, talk, and think

because you remember that God is

ultimately in control.

CHRIST’S AUTHORITY OVER SATAN:

What Satan does is similar to a man

holding a gun on you. At first, you may

feel afraid and at this man’s mercy. Yet if

someone were to point out to you that

the man’s gun did not have any bullets in

it, he would no longer control you. That’s

the difference between power and

authority. See, at the cross, Jesus Christ

“disarmed” Satan (Colossians 2:15)

And having spoiled principalities and

powers, he made a shew of them openly,

triumphing over them in it. 

Jesus Christ removed the bullets from

Satan’s gun. Satan still likes to play like a

tough guy and try to intimidate everyone

with his power, but ultimately, Jesus

Christ has stripped him of his authority;

therefore, his power is only as strong as

he can persuade you to believe that it is.

In and of itself, it is not strong enough to

overcome Christ’s authority.

“My brothers and sisters, before you give

up, look up. Fix your eyes on Jesus and

see yourself seated with Him in the

heavenlies, granted full access to His rule

and authority according to the power of

God that works in you.

THE BENEFITS OF THE CROSS!!!

1. THE CROSS DISPLAYS GOD’S SURPASSING GREATNESS

2. THE CROSS DEMONSTRATES CHRIST’S AUTHORITY

3. THE CROSS’S AUTHORITY AND POWER MAY BE ACCESSED THROUGH COMMUNION

4. THE CROSS GIVES US REASON FOR PRAISE

5. THE CROSS PROVIDES VICTORY OVER YOUR ENEMIES