"But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto
them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." 1 Cor.
1:23,24

When Matthew Boulton invented a better steam engine, he announced: "Here I sell what all men crave- power!"

The message of Christ is also about power, power greater than human wisdom or invention, power to change sinful men and women into sons and daughters of God. " I decided to nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified," wrote Paul to the Corinthian Christians (1 Cor. 2:2, RSV)

Jesus Christ is mighty to save! He delivers us from the threefold tyranny that would strangle our lives- the past, the present, the future.

From the past, because the guilt of our sin presses upon us, crushing us with a sense of lostness. Satan wants to ever keep our failures before us trying to remind us that we are unworthy of Gods love. NOT TRUE! The Cross of power is there to rid us of the past as we lay it at the foot of the cross.

From the present, because life closes in around us, the tempter lies in wait to trip us up, and we feel weak and discouraged. The great deceiver also works to the other extreme in which he wants us to believe we can handle anything on our own and that God does not wish to be bothered by our petty problems. NOT TRUE!! The Cross of power stands to show us that there is power for the day, to accomplish victory in the here and now. It shows us, as we humble ourselves in the shadow of the mighty Cross that Jesus does care!! Jesus would never have come to this earth if he did not care for everything in our lives; including the smallest of all details.

From the future, because its nameless fears of political uncertainty, old age creeping up on us, the end of the world or any other dark question that seems to hang around our necks like dead weights trying to drag us down. The father of lies would have us to believe that our future is perilous at best unless we control it in our own hands. NOT TRUE!!! Jesus knows our future and the things that we will come up against. Our best option is leaving our lives in His hands, not ours.

Jesus conquered the past: He erased our guilt by His Cross of Power

Jesus conquers the present: He gives hope and strength for every need.

Jesus will conquer the future: He holds the world in His hands and we are safe only in Him.

One of my favorite authors writes: " Lift up the Man of Calvary higher and still higher; there is power in the exaltation of the cross of Christ!"