The Cross In My Life (Part 2): Derek Prince (Transcript)

Full text of Derek Prince’s sermon titled ‘The Cross In My Life’ (Part 2)…

Listen to the MP3 Audio here:

TRANSCRIPT:

Derek Prince – Bible Teacher

We’re continuing with the theme which I entitled The Cross in My Life. This teaching is taken mainly from the epistle to the Galatians. And in the previous session I began by pointing out that there are two main aspects to the cross. There’s what the cross does for us which we all get excited about and quite a lot of people preach about.

But there’s another side which is what the cross is intended to do in us. And for many people that’s much less exciting. And I think a lot less is said about it.

And I said also the remarkable thing about Galatians is it not merely pinpoints the problem but it states the solution. And the solution is a FIVE-FOLD DELIVERANCE which is provided for us through the cross. And in the previous sessions we looked at the first two deliverances.

Galatians 1 verse 4, deliverance from this present evil age.

The second deliverance, how many of you can remember what that was? From the law. That’s right. And that was one which shocked some of you.

I do want to say again emphatically I am not talking about civil law. I’m not talking about the law of the nation. I’m talking about the law only as a means of achieving righteousness with God. I personally believe the New Testament teaches that basically with a few exceptions Christians are obligated to be law-abiding people. The only exceptions would be where the civil law conflicts with our duty to God, in which case our duty to God must come first.

All right, now there are three more deliverances that I want to deal with in this session. The next one is in the verse following deliverance from the law.

3. FROM SELF (GAL. 2:20)

Galatians 2 20, Paul says, ‘I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.’

You notice again it’s the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross that provides this deliverance.

Now what is it that is dealt with in verse 20?

And you can answer not just in one word but in one letter: I, that’s right. The old ego. You know ego is the Latin word for I. I think this is as important as any deliverance that’s mentioned in Galatians.

I have been crucified with Christ. The old King James says I am crucified with Christ. It’s not just something that has happened, it’s something that’s a continuing state of my being. I am continuously and permanently crucified with Christ. I have come to the end of myself.

How many of you, don’t put your hands up here, how many of you have had a hard time coming to the end of yourself? I see some of you are willing to put your hands up anyhow.

How many of you discovered that God sometimes has to use a very hard road to bring us to the end of ourselves? And we complain and we are disturbed and upset, and we think, God, what are You doing with me? He’s bringing you to the place where Galatians 2.20 really is true in your life: I am crucified with Christ. I’ve come to the end of me.