Boasting in the Cross - 1st Day in Lent

Theme for the Lent Season: Galatians 6:14

      ‘But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.’

The meaning of the word ‘Boast’ in the English dictionary: glory, exult. To possess and often call attention to, something that is a source of pride, to speak of all the time… It can come both as a verb or noun.
Let us see what the Bible says about the word boast:

• Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! -1 Chronicles 16:10 (ESV)
•  “Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations,that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.
• Here we see the word boast means glory or praise. -1 Chronicles 16:35
• Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.-Psalm 20:7

Here we see the word boast means trust.

• ‘More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.’- Romans 5:11
• The word boasts means rejoice. We received reconciliation only through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.-Isaiah 45:25
• ‘In the Lord all the offspring of Israel shall be justified and shall glory.”-Jeremiah 4:2
• ‘…and if you swear, ‘As the Lord lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations (all gentiles) shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.”-Galatians 3:8
• ‘And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” By the death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ we received our salvation.-Jeremiah 9:23, 24
• ‘Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” The Lord wants us to boast, as we know Him as our heavenly Father. We are blessed to have the Lord as our God.-Psalm 33:12
• ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!-John 15:16
• You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit …’-Romans 5:2
• Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Paul’s testimony. He rejoices that we have the hope of glory when we put our trust in Jesus Christ. He rejoices in his sufferings and in weaknesses. The Lord has told him that His GRACE is sufficient for him. We as the followers of Jesus Christ can boast only in the Lord.-Romans 5:3-4

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, …..’
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
  ‘And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 11:30
  ‘If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.’
2 Corinthians 12:9
  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
The only hindrance we will have not to boast in the cross, is the love of the world.

Do Not Love the World

• ‘Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.’-1 John 2:15-16
• ‘And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.’-Galatians 5:24

The meaning of boasting is to praise and to give glory to the Lord alone. To trust Him more in everything as we know that our heavenly Father is good and will always do what is best for us.

Let us sing the chorus together:
I have decided to follow Jesus, No turning back, No turning.
The Cross before me and the world behind me –
No turning back, no turning back.

MEMORY VERSE:

‘But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whichmthe world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.’-Galatians 6:14



                                                                                                                - Shared by Sis.Beulah Samuel
                                                                                                                              02-18-2015