======================================================================== BLESSEDNESS OF THE CROSS by Gbile Akanni ======================================================================== Summary: Gbile Akanni teaches that the cross is the profound mystery through which God releases the life of Christ in believers, calling ministers to embrace its blessedness and the gravity of their divine calling. Duration: 1:01:10 Topics: "The Cross", "Faith and Ministry", "Eternal Life" Scripture References: Hebrews 11:39-40, Hebrews 12:1-3, Numbers 16:7-10, Romans 6:4, 2 Timothy 1:1, 1 Corinthians 2:7-8, 1 Peter 1:10-12 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In this powerful teaching, Gbile Akanni explores the profound blessedness and mystery of the cross, revealing how it is the divine means through which God releases the life of Christ in believers. Drawing from Hebrews, Numbers, and other scriptures, he challenges ministers and believers alike to recognize the gravity of their calling and to embrace the cross fully. Akanni highlights that the cross is a mystery even to angels and demons, underscoring its supernatural power and significance. This sermon encourages a deeper faith and commitment to the ministry God has entrusted to His people. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Living Speed Media brings to you God's Word, which is his comprehensive equipment for changing lives. May the Lord impact your heart as you encounter his Word. For further enquiry or counsel, contact Peace House, PO Box 971, Boko, Benue State, Nigeria. Telephone numbers 0703 03636 59, 0703 76811 98. Email address lsmediaatlivingspeed.org or visit our website at www.livingspeed.org. Let us sit back and listen as the servant of God brings forth the Word of Life. Our Father, we sincerely thank you that we have experienced you in this place. Thank you that you brought us to yourself. Thank you for your kind dealings over our lives. Our Father, we do bless your name because we know that whatever you do is deliberate. What you have done to our lives these few days of gathering us to yourself is very deliberate. You planned it and having, O Lord, executed it to this last day. We pray, O our Father, that you put your finger on it, that it be permanent in our lives. We are rising to go forth. Father, we do ask, O Lord, that this life that you have brought to the cross, this life that this morning you began to say all your years of work, of labor, whatever turn those labors have turned, you are putting your finger upon our lives, O God, to break it, to release the life of Jesus. We pray that this meeting will open a new chapter in our lives. And as we go forth, O God, may we encounter the cross that we have encountered and cause that a release of life will flow forth from our ministry. We want to ask that even this moment, Lord, that we are looking up to you for a closing charge. Bring it to us. Don't leave us desolate. Come to us. Blessed be your name, for that you will release your presence to us and release your word to us as well. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. As we sought to take this closing charge, I want to ask us to turn to Hebrews chapter 11. We will read Hebrews chapter 11, the last two verses, and then we will cross over to chapter 12 and also read a few verses of that chapter. Chapter 11 of Hebrews, verse 39 and 40 are the last two verses. First of all, read them in the King James Version. And also read chapter 12, the first three verses in the same version as we look unto the Lord. Say, And this all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise. God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Verse chapter 12. We have foreseen ye also a compass about, where so great a cloud of weakness. Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. As I look very briefly on the, I really didn't know how to perhaps put the topic to what I've read, what is coming to my heart. Or could I just call it the blessedness of the cross? As we consider this closing charge. Considering the open charge that came to us at the beginning of this meeting. Considering also these last two verses of Hebrews chapter 11 that were read. Particularly, noting that God say, the Bible say God have provided some better thing for us. That they which without us should not be made perfect. Of the heroes of faith, of those who have gone before us. Considering that the opening charge that came to us began to speak of the gravity of ministry. Of what God wants to do with our lives. Which makes it very necessary that our lives so to say must suit the purpose of God. So that the Lord will use us. Considering the great thing that we noted as the Lord came to us. That is holding forth for each and every one of us. And considering the dealings that the Lord has dealt with us so richly in this meeting. To fit our ministry to become very very effective. I would want to start this charge by letting us to consider a question. I want to start it with a question. A question that was posed to a fellow minister. A question that I want us to consider in light of what God has been saying to us. Especially of the fact that he has heard he is holding forth. Something very very great for us as ministers of God. To experience and to discharge on his behalf. On the behalf of the kingdom of God. Let me start with this question. In Numbers chapter 16. Can we turn to Numbers chapter 16? It says, Simmeth it but a small thing unto you. That the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel. And bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord. And to stand before the congregation to minister unto them. And he hath brought thee near to him. And all their brethren the sons of Levi were thee. And seek ye the priesthood. Also, I just want to ask. As we go forth from here. That does it seem small to us. That God has called us. Do we consider what God is considering us. What God wants each and every one of us. To achieve for him. Do we consider it small? In the light of the fact that God has begun to speak to us. Of the gravity of ministry. Could there be one or two of us here still. That looks like that is small. Unto you that the God of Israel. Hath separated you from the congregation of Israel. I begin to consider the fact. That if you check yourself as an individual. And consider the number of people. Number of the children of God. The population in the church. I mean across all denominations. Millions and millions of people that God has called unto himself. And we consider that God is calling us as ministers. Hath separated us. Hath deliberately called us to himself. And the Bible says. That we should stand before the congregation. God has deliberately brought us to himself. Called us to himself. That we would minister unto the people. As he looks more to us. So when that opening charge came to us. One of the things that crushed my mind. Was God asking us. That we cannot. By the fact that he has lifted. There is something so great. That is considering each and every one of us. Not just to experience but to affect in the kingdom. And the light of which we cannot mingle. With light issues. More issues. I just want to check before we go on. That as you go back. Could it be any one of us here. That what God seems to be saying to us. That our core looks small. I want to say every misbehavior. I want to say every. Misbehavior of any man in ministry. Every compromise of a man in ministry. Anything that the man begins to do. Has to cause a shame in the ministry. I want to say every struggle. In ministry perhaps. And every seeking of positions. Of every fighting. In ministry. And every lack of brokenness. In ministry. So that the man is asserting himself. Maybe as a result of the fact that he has not seen. The great thing. That God will want to affect in his life. And affect with his life. So you see. I wish that God will help you. To go with this question. It was a question. Asked. To a man. Who did he who seems to have lost. Sight of what God wanted him to do. So it is a small thing unto you. That the God of Israel has separated you. From the congregation of Israel. To bring you near to himself. To do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord. And to stand before the congregation. To minister unto them. Does it seem small to us? And I say. Every misbehavior in ministry. Could be traced. To the fact that. What God has called us to do. We have not seen the gravity. We have not seen the magnitude. We have not seen what he wants to affect. What he wants to use it to do with it. That could be making a man. To condescend. And do things. That are unworthy. Of the ministry. For example. I say he has brought you near to him. He has brought you near to him. And. He has brought the. And brought the brethren. The sons of Levi with thee. And seek ye. The priesthood also. That's the question that God was asking Korah. I really wonder that Korah. Was already. In the ministry. All the sons of Levi. Were they not priests? And yet I wonder that Korah was seeking the priesthood. Struggling for position. Struggling to be known. When already. He was in ministry. I am praying that God. Will help us that each and every one of us here. What he has called us to do. Will not look small. In our eyes. And if. God so helps us. That. As the opening charge came. We. Began. To see. The gravity. Of what God wants to affect with our lives. The gravity of our core. The gravity of our positioning. The gravity of. What God wants to do with our lives. And that is far beyond. What a mere man can do. And that we must come to the cross. So to say. To be broken. So that the life. Of Christ. Will be released in us. I wanted us to start with that question. Even in the light. Of the scripture that we read. In Hebrews chapter 11. And verse 39. And particularly verse 40. I really want us to. Turn back to that Hebrews. Hebrews chapter. Chapter 11. That we began with. And. Verse 39 and 40. What God is saying to us. Those of us that are ministers. Of the new testament. He said. All this. And this all. Having obtained a good report. Through faith. Received not a promise. Verse 40 say. God having provided something better for us. That day without us should not be made perfect. I want us to. If someone can help us. To read that verse 40. In NIV. But particularly in God's world. There is a version that is called. God's world. If you can help us. Read it in that. For us to see. That what God. Is saying to us. Of the greatness of what is providing for us. What version is that? NIV yes. God has planned something better for us. Sorry I didn't hear you. Can somebody nearer read it for me? No that is. Let's take it in NIV first. Before you will give us God's words. Okay. I just wanted you to consider. That God was speaking about. The heroes of faith. Those that have gone before us. And he mentioned men like Moses. Mentioned men like Abraham. All the heroes of faith. And the Bible. Coming to referring to us. Say God has planned something better. For us. That in consideration of all they did. And in comparison of what God. Wants to do with our lives. God has planned something. Something that is better for us. I'm just looking at. The blessedness of the cross. That those of us that are laboring. So to say. In the new testament. That are called at this age. That are called at this dispensation. That God has heard of something better. Better for us. In comparison to. What he allowed Moses to experience. What he allowed all of them. Heroes of faith for that matter. Listed in heaven. And when I was reading. And noting that the Bible said look. God has planned something better. And that without them. Without us. That their faith. Would not even be made perfect. And I began to ask. What is bringing us. To that kind of position. That kind of concentration. But. I wish that you would help us take it in God's word. Very quickly. So that. When we hear. God speaking to us of the. Great thing that he said he has. Planned. He wants to affect through us. Yes sir. God planned to give us something very special. God planned to give us something. Very special. So that we would gain eternal life. With them. So that we would gain eternal life. How? With them. With them. I'm talking of the heroes of faith. We cannot consider the kind of things they did. That if it is that. We will struggle. We will be considered. On the matter of what they did particularly. We may never never be compared to them. But that's. All that they did. The Bible said God. Is considering something special. For us. And that we will. That would give us eternal life. With them. I've tried to take it from that version because. I saw that the promise. That God is promising us. Is talking of eternal life. But you know as I consider that life that is calling eternal life. In a book of a. Or second Timothy chapter one and verse one. Look at that life that God is. Talking about. Second Timothy. One one. Say Paul an apostle of Christ. By the will of God. According to a promise. Of life. Which is in Christ Jesus. According to the promise of life. Which is in Christ Jesus. For me to discover. That the life that God is talking about. God eternal life. In that version. Is the very life. That is in Christ Jesus. The very life. That God promised us. That God is talking about. Is the very life that is in Christ Jesus. I mean. In quality. In every sense. When I stumbled at that scripture. And I saw. That the life that God. Will have me live. And experience. Is not just like the life. Of Christ. It is the life. That is in Christ Jesus. And considering that that life. That life. Is released only by the cross. That life. That is in Christ Jesus. Is released to us. Released to any man. Only by the cross. As is written. In Romans chapter 6. And verse 4. Of the fact that having. Having shared. In his death. Shared his baptism. But we experience the newness of life. I wanted us to see. That as. We constitute. As we. How God. I wanted us to know. That. How God releases that life. As we have seen in that Romans 4. Is by. The. Is by the cross. And as God began to talk about. We be broken by the cross. Broken at the cross. So that we can preach. Him crucified. And I saw that the cross. That God. Is. That each and every one of us. Particularly. In this meeting has. Has come to. Has experienced. That God is lifting up for us. In this meeting. As I saw it. And I sat back there. Praying. Yesterday I noted. As. I was praying over there. That God how will you do this. How do you do this. And I saw that. How God does it. Constitutes. The mystery of the cross. I'm going to be charging us to believe. That what God. Has say to us. He will do it. What God intend to do to us. By the cross. He will do it. I saw. That how he does it. Constitutes. The mystery. Of the cross. I want to note. That the cross is a mystery. How he releases the life of Christ. The very life of Christ. In our lives. How he releases it. For us. And we release it. By the preaching of the cross. Is itself. A mystery. And I wanted to know that. It is not by our. Very. Great. Analysis. It is not by. Our. Great learning. It's not by the several. Several struggles and degrees. I just noted. That the cross. Is a mystery. I want us to know. That it's a mystery. And as we. Are going to go for. God will release that mystery. In our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ. As he always does. It's a mystery. I just consider that. It's a mystery. In a way. That even demons. Don't understand. I check the scripture. To say. That even the prophets. They never understood. Neither do the angels. Understand that mystery. And. But God. Will keep us to experience it. Let me note that. Even demons. Do not understand. The mystery of the cross. How he releases. That life. The bible says. 1 Corinthians. Chapter 2. 1 Corinthians. Can you look at. Chapter 2. We have read it again and again. But I just wish. To quickly let us. Note. Of 1 Corinthians. Chapter 2. 1 Corinthians 2. Verse 7 and 8 say. But we speak. The wisdom of God. In a mystery. Even the hidden. Wisdom. Which God ordained. Before the world. Unto our glory. Which none. Of the princes. Of this world knew. For had they known. They would not have crucified. The Lord. Of glory. Just to make us. Just to understand. That the cross. Is a mystery. That even. Demons don't understand it. But that God. Made it. Even to. All the principalities. And powers. The bible say. If they would. If they had known. The effect of the cross. If they had known. What it would do. They certainly. Would not have crucified. The king of glory. The lord of glory. They didn't know. There is a reason. That excites my heart. The prophets. As is recorded. In 1 Peter. Chapter 1. Verse 10. To 12. The prophets. And also the angels. They never. They didn't know. They didn't understand. This mystery. Of the cross. Could you just help me read. That scripture quickly. So that. We can pray together. First. Peter chapter 1. Verse 10 to 12. Somebody help me. Let me read it please. Which god. Will give you. 11. They try to find out. When the time will be. And how it will come. This was the time. To which Christ spirit. In them was pointing. In predicting the sufferings. That Christ will have to endure. And the glory that will follow. 12. God revealed. To these prophets. That their work was not. For their own benefit. But for yours. As they spoke about those things. Which you have now. And have heard from the messengers. Who announced the good news. By the power of the holy spirit. Sent from heaven. These are things. Which even the angels. Would like to understand. Amen. Very briefly do you see. That even the angels. And even the prophets. Didn't understand. The mystery of the cross. The bible say the prophets. They did prophesy about it. Of the suffering. Of Christ. The angels they also tried. To look into it. To peep into it. But they. They couldn't get. The understanding. God kept it. As a mystery. You know this is what I am saying. Recorded in that. Hebrews chapter 11. That we are reading about. That God. God providing for us. Something special. God providing for us. Something great. That all the heroes of faith. Even all the angels. And even all demons. Never never. Understanding the mystery. Of the cross. As we came here. For this meeting. And God began to unveil. The fact. That it is only he that is broken. By the cross. He that is dead. He that the cross has crushed. Who can preach him crucified. Who can preach to release. The life of Christ. Who can preach. Him to be to. Cross severer. To be drawn to the cross. And to be saved. And ready for heaven. When I began to see that. What angels did not understand. What even the prophets couldn't dip into. What. Of course demons never understood. But in truth. God. Had decided. To provide that special. For us. This. Is meant for each. And every one of us. To experience. This is meant for each. And every one of us. As ministers of the gospel. To experience in our lives. I want to just charge us. That as we go. From here. God having. Revealed. The cross. To us. Choosing particularly. That at this point. In our lives. He will gather us together to live. What it would take for us to be effective. As we go forth from here. I beg and charge you. That each and every one of us. Number one. Because it's a mystery. We will continue to pray. Continually. For the revelation of it. In our lives. On a daily note. But much more. That we will believe. What God is speaking to us. I pray. That none of us. Will take it for granted. Because. As soon as God. Announced this. In chapter 11. Do you know what. Significantly. What it occurred to my own life. To show us how we can enter. Into this. Great plan of the Lord. The special thing he has. Provided for us. How will we experience it. I saw that. A new chapter. Of chapter 12. Was opened. In the book. Of Hebrews. As soon as God. Began to talk of this special thing. That he has. Spoken to us about. That he is providing for us. To show us. How we will enter into it. Briefly. He opened another chapter. Chapter 12. I pray. That God will open. Another chapter for you. As I open. Into chapter 12. Of Hebrews. And began to see God. Talking of how. Very quietly. What God has begun. To speak to us here. What God is emphasizing. In our lives here. What we have come. To embrace. What God is lifting up to us. As the only way. To be effective in ministry. As he has done that. I am praying. That a new chapter. Will be opened. For each and every one of us. In the name of Jesus. He announces it. Chapter 11. He opens chapter 12. To begin. To show us very quietly. How to enter there in. I will charge us very briefly. As it were. That as we go. Each and every one of us. By the grace of God. We continue. Looking. On Jesus. Amen. Can we. Let me go to. Hebrews 12. Praise the Lord. I am saying that. God. Began to show us. Very quietly. How each and every one of us. We. Enter on to. What he has begun to show us. That great ministry. What is holding forth. On to us. And he say. Looking on to Jesus. The author. And the finisher. Of our faith. I pray that as we go forth. Each and every one of us. Began to show. Let me just. Say very briefly. How the fact. Of. Looking on to Jesus. The author and the finisher. Of our faith. And I saw that. As soon as God talked about. Looking on to Jesus. Jesus as our example. The first thing. He will begin to show us. Is the fact that. He despised. The cross. And he sat down. At the right hand. Of the throne of God. The very. Thing. That we. Note from the life of Jesus. As an example. Is the fact that. He despised the cross. Sorry. He endured the cross. And despised the shame. And he sat down. At the right hand. Of God. God has spoken to us of the cross. But let's note. That the way. To daily. Continually. Walk. In the light. Of what he has spoken to us. Is looking. On to Jesus. He has set. This example for us. And he has said. That each and every one of us. If we are going to. Experience. The glory. That God has said. For us. We must endure. The cross. The light of what. That God has spoken to us. In this. Meeting. And all that. God has shown us. And brought us to in this meeting. I pray that as we go back. As ministers. Of the Lord. This simple thing. Of continually looking. On to Jesus. Who endured the cross. Who endured the cross. An example of what. To particularly look on to him for. God keeping us. That we will never never. As he did. We will also endure the cross. The cross. Is never never palatable. To the flesh. When I saw that. Even Jesus had to endure. The cross. Had to make sure. That however unpalatable. The cross was. He embraced it. He embraced it because. It was the only means. Only way. Elected by. By God. To cause effectiveness. Because he said. If the corn or wheat. Does not fall to the ground. It will never never. It will abide alone. But if it should fall to the ground. And die. The Bible says. It will produce much fruit. But I saw that. If the cross. If we endure the cross. As the Lord endured. So that. We also. Will we be set at the glory. Of the Lord. Will we experience the glory of the Lord. In our service. As he experienced. They said at the right hand of God. One thing that must happen. In us. One thing that. The cross does. I was. I was noting us. Seeing us to know that if the cross. Begins to continually works. In our lives. We will see one singular. Effect continue. It is. That. All. The sins. All the things. That God began. To talk about. That mentioned to us. That is. Making it. That mentioned to us about. The flesh. The Bible said. The cross will cross it out. As we look daily. On to the Lord Jesus Christ. Will we experience the cross. In our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ. But as we. As we. Look at verse three. Reading it. Let's read verse three. In a. In. Who has the message please. Let's read it. And pray with it. Verse three of Hebrews chapter. Chapter twelve. Verse three of Hebrews. Chapter twelve. Who will read it in. The message for us. When you find yourself. Flogging in your feet. Yes. When you find yourself. Flogging in your feet. Go over. That story again. Item by item. That. That. That long litany. Of hostility. Is blown through. That. That we should. That we should. Adrenaline. Into your souls. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. I wanted us to know this. I wanted us to take. This charge. That God said. In the light of what. What he has spoken to us. Lifting up the cross to us. Or say how to enter onto it. And to maintain it. Maybe we have. Taken notes. God has spoken to us. God has lifted up the fact that. It is only the cross. As we come to the cross. And we are crushed. And as we cling to the cross. And as we carry the cross daily. That the life of Christ. Will be released in us. As you go. If however. The Bible said. If you start fainting. In your faith. The Bible said. Go through this story again. Look unto the Lord Jesus. Consider how. He himself. Endured the cross. The Bible said. Read it again. Study it again and again. I was going to charge us to note. That the thing that God. Has done to us here. If we keep. Going over it again. And again. Especially at the time. That we are fainting. We are going to be praying together. To be asking the Lord. That what he has instituted. For us here. As we go through again and again. The Bible says. Adrenaline will be. Shot in our souls. I was going to ask us. To stand up. In praying about this. God has instituted something. Has lifted up something. For us. Perhaps we have taken notes. As I have said. Perhaps we are going to go with curses. Perhaps we are going to go. But whenever you are. Fainting in your faith. That spiritual say. Go through it again and again. Go through that story. Very carefully. Go through what God has done here. Very carefully. Let me promise you. That God say. Adrenaline. A new spiritual adrenaline. Will be shot in your souls. And you will not faint. You will not faint. God will. Carry us on. This that we have experienced here. Will never never win. Because that. There will be a dissertation again. Again and again. In our lives. Let us pray. Let us pray. That you will never. Never abandon this way. You will never faint. This will not be lost. In your own life. The charge is. That when it is winning. When you are fainting. Look unto the Lord Jesus Christ. Study how he. Endure the cross. Study it. Study how he has lifted up. The cross to us here. How that mystery has been. Unveiled to us. Study how what God has. Head for to our own lives. And the Bible say. When you do that. Let us pray together. That a new thing. Will be shot in our lives. The Bible say adrenaline. A spiritual adrenaline. Adrenaline will be shot. In our own lives. We will not faint again. Coming forth from here. In the name of Jesus. Let us talk to the Lord. And say Father. What you have done here is permanent. I am going forth. A new chapter has been opened. Now that you have announced. Unto me. Again. Reminding me. Of what you have heard. From out to me. And how. To be effective. In my service of you. That I will never faint. You have been told. In my own life. How I will. Be moved again and again. I will be moved on. A new. Spiritual energy. Surging in my life. In Jesus name. We are praying. Father we thank you. And bless your name. We thank you that you have preserved. Something for us. In our time of service to you. That you never never showed. The men that have gone before us. What you are asking us to do. And to experience. By the cross. They never understood. They never knew. We thank you that you intended also. That this will never. Weaned in our own lives. You have set. A very firm example for us. Of how Jesus. Endured the cross. How he endured all the. Contradictions of sinners. Who tried to pull him down. From the cross. Mocking him. Making sure that he never never. Stayed on the cross. They gave him all manner of things. They mocked him. Lord as we are going. You are speaking to us. And socially with our lives. That our ministry. Will experience. A new chapter. You are speaking to us. Oh God that we endure the cross. Whatever men do. Whatever men oh God. Try to discourage us. Some will be. Senior to us. They were the scribes. And the pharisees. Some oh God. Will be sinners. Who never actually understand. What our lives is up to. It never made the wisdom. Of this world. Our Lord we are praying. That whatever mocking. Whatever attempt. Whatever struggle that men. Want to do. Oh God. To discourage anyone of us. To abandon the cross. And go for something smaller. Lord we ask. That you will cause us. To endure the cross. We will go forth. With the cross. We will carry our cross daily. And Lord. Your good hand. Will rest upon us. And we will be seated. At your. The place where you want us. To occupy. Lord we are also praying. Sincerely speaking. That Lord. As we come to you daily. Again and again. Studying over and over. And looking on to you. A new spiritual. Energy. Surging through our hearts. Every day. Thank you that this you will do. Thank you that what you have. You have begun with us here. We never faint. We will never faint. We will go on and on and on. And fulfill this ministry. As our Lord Jesus Christ did. Blessed be your name. For in Jesus name we pray. ======================================================================== Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/gbile-akanni/blessedness-of-the-cross/ ========================================================================