THE FORGOTTEN POWER OF THE CROSS By Guest Author: Kevin Basconi Part 1

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1 1 This week is part one of a two-part prophetic teaching series entitled, The Forgotten Power of the Cross. Kevin Basconi, an associate of Fresh Fire Ministries, and founder of King of Glory Ministries International, shares, beautifully examines, and presents the incredible and awesome power of the cross as modeled through the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. Encouraging, timely, and uplifting, this revelatory teaching comes as a result of a powerful encounter Kevin had with the Lord. This is the appointed time, a new season in the body of Christ. God is releasing a supernatural authority and anointing to preach the cross with signs, wonders, and wholesale salvation throughout the earth! This message encourages you to move from a natural understanding of the cross, to a supernatural one through a heavenly pattern Jesus provided His disciples for their lives and ministry. Explore what it really means to exalt, embrace, bear the cross, and in so doing, become a sold-out lover of God. THE FORGOTTEN POWER OF THE CROSS By Guest Author: Kevin Basconi Part 1 THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS The Cross of Calvary is the most beautiful, awesome, and powerful thing upon the earth. The Cross of Christ, His crucifixion, and the resurrection of the Son of God are the greatest events in the history of our planet. The message of the cross is so simple, that even a child can understand and be saved by God s sovereign love, but on the other hand, it s magnificently complex, too. Sadly, multitudes find Calvary s message difficult to comprehend, relate to, or apply to their lives, and thus opt not to receive Christ as their Savior. Others pray for Jesus salvation, but never walk in the total freedom of the cross. We have stepped into a new season in the Body of Christ. The Father has given believers this kairos time to preach the message of the cross. (In the New Testament, kairos means the appointed time in the purpose of God, the time when God acts; for example in Mark 1:15: And saying, The time [kairos] is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel. ) Certainly the time grows short before the Lord Jesus makes His triumphant return to earth. There is a grace like never before to see the power of God manifest as we exalt the cross of the risen Savior, Christ Jesus. I challenge you to preach the simple message of the cross. You will see the Lord release His kingdom in power. Yes, there is power in the blood of Jesus. We are entering into a new dispensation of power. God is releasing a supernatural authority and anointing to preach the message of the cross with signs, wonders, and wholesale salvation through out the earth. The power of God is in the message of the Cross of Christ.

2 2 EMBRACING THE CROSS Assuredly, the first step to embracing the cross is to receive the gift of Christ s salvation. Joel 2:32 tells us: It shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. Again, Romans 10: 9, 10 shows us God s way to salvation: If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. We must be saved to embrace the Cross of Christ. You can pray to receive your salvation right now. The Lord Jesus embraced the Cross of Calvary. He embraced His divine destiny. He embraced the agony that He was to endure for each of our salvations. On the night of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called Passover, Christ withdrew to the Mount of Olives to pray. There Jesus prayed and asked His disciples to intercede with Him. In Luke 22:41, 42 Jesus knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." Jesus was about to embrace the cross as He had prophesied and personally understood His destiny as it was to be. The Christ found it necessary to die to His flesh so He could fully embrace the Cross of Calvary. Today it is necessary for each of us also to die to our flesh and our own dreams to embrace the Cross of Christ as well. In Matthew 16:24 Jesus tells us: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. It is impossible to follow Jesus until we first deny ourselves and take up our cross. This only comes from separation and prayer as we saw Jesus model in His ministry and times of intercession. We must also emulate Christ s model of prayer and separate ourselves from the world, and pray to our heavenly Father What is Your will for my life, Lord?. In Luke 22:43, after the Christ had resolved within His own heart for the Father s will to be done in His life, we see that An angel appeared to Him, [Christ Jesus], from heaven, strengthening Him. It is possible for us to be granted a divine impartation of strength to embrace the cross today. If we are to achieve anything in our lives that bear eternal fruit, we must first deny ourselves and embrace the cross just as Christ Jesus modeled for us. The anointing to embrace the cross comes from separation and consecration to the Lord. This process involves prayer, sanctification, and intimacy with God. There is no other route, no short path, no alternative way to embrace the cross. COMPELLED TO BEAR HIS CROSS Every day I separate myself in prayer, and ask the Lord for His supernatural impartations of strength, so that I can embrace the cross daily. I ask for His purposes for my life and for the ministry to be fulfilled. Searching the scriptures, we find a wonderful biblical figure, Simon the Cyrenian. In Matthew 27:32 Simon was compelled to bear His cross. What a wonderful prophetic picture. Simon the Cyrenian was able to help the battered, bleeding, and bruised Messiah to carry His responsibility to Calvary. Is Jesus calling us to do the same today? Look at Matthew 27:32: Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross. Let s examine two words in more detail for a moment, first, compelled, [Greek: Aggareuo, Strong s 29], literally translated as to be a courier, or more specifically to be pressed into public service, or compelled to go. Also examine the word here for bear it is [Greek: Airo, Strong s 142], literal translation as to take up, or to take away. Certainly, Simon the Cyrenian s life was impacted and transformed as he literally took up the Cross of Christ and was pressed into service. Jesus has also called each of us to take up our cross, or to be pressed into service for the kingdom of God. This call is still true for us today just as it was for Simon the Cyrenian. To take up our cross we must come to the place of death. We must die to ourselves and to our dreams and fully

3 embrace the plans and blueprints that God has written for us in heaven. Personally, I have struggled to come to this place of death to self. 3 COMING TO GOLGOTHA When Simon and Jesus took the cross to Calvary, they were come [together] unto a place called Golgotha (Matthew 27:33). This speaks of the place of the skull or the place of death. Jesus had to come to the place of actually submitting to the will of the Father. Jesus was to literally become the Passover sacrifice and the Lamb of God who took away the sins of all mankind. The Messiah had to come to a place of physical death and separation from His Father. Thankfully, because of the finished work of Christ, we need never be separated from God. Simon the Cyrenian also came to that place with Christ. Prophetically, Simon the Cyrenian represents each of us. We must all come to the place of the cross and die to our agendas and carnal thoughts for our lives and ministries. We must allow the Father s will to be done in our lives. We must all come to our own personal Golgothas. Just as Jesus was with the Cyrenian, He will be with each of us at the time and place of our personal death to self. As I have prayed and struggled to come to this place, the place of my personal Golgotha, I have experienced a great battle. The enemy of my soul does not want me to embrace the Cross of Christ. The warfare can be tremendous for us as we embrace the cross. There is an important reason why Jesus withdrew to the Mount of Olives to pray in preparation for Calvary and Him of crucifixion. The Messiah was under an extraordinarily powerful attack from the evil one. Likewise, when we approach the place of surrender and death to self we will also come under attack from the evil one. Fortunately, Jesus has already fought this battle for each of us. The enemy will bellow and scream at us every time we fall short. When we fail to fully embrace the cross, he will illuminate our shortcomings. Recently in a time of extended prayer and fasting, the Holy Spirit whispered to me about these methods of attack that the enemy employs in our personal place of Golgotha. The Holy Spirit gently encouraged me saying: Picking up your cross is a process. If you fall down, get up just as Jesus did. Emulate Christ. Dying to yourself and dreams is a process. Even the Son of God walked through this process. It takes time and intimacy with the Lord. Laying down your life is a process. Taking up your cross is not a popular message. When Jesus shared this message, many left Him, and later reviled and cursed Him. The message of the cross was one reason why Jesus was beaten, afflicted, smote, reviled, spit on, crucified, and killed. But just as the Messiah rose again so will you when you die to your agendas. When we die to manmade methods, ideas, and formulas, and begin to truly minister in the pattern of heaven, only then can God truly begin to release the Kingdom into your life. HEAVENLY PATTERN Then the Holy Spirit said to me: Seek only those things that are from above (See Colossians 3:1 5; John 3:31; James 1:17; 3:15; 3:17). Begin to minister with the pattern of heaven, for just as Moses built the tabernacle from a heavenly plan, so must you build your life and the ministry God has entrusted to you (See Numbers 36, 37). Just as Noah built the ark from a heavenly pattern, so must you build your life and ministry (See Genesis 6:8 17). As King Solomon built the temple with the Father s wisdom, so must you (See I Kings 5:12, 1 Kings 6: 14). Just as the Christ received the revelation, anointing, and supernatural empowerment to embrace the cross from His heavenly Father, so must you (See Matthew 16:21; 17:9; 26:2; Mark 8:31; 9:12; Luke 9:22; 17:25; 24:7.) When you humble yourself before God and seek those things above, you will see heavenly fruit from your labors. In this is your heavenly Father well pleased.

4 4 EMULATING THE CROSS We must strive to be like Jesus and model our lives from Jehovah s heavenly patterns. To find the Lord s heavenly designs for our lives and ministries we must meet Him in the heavenly places. The Lord is calling us to a high and holy place in Him. Isaiah 57:15 tells us: For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. The Lord is calling us into high and holy realms of the heavens. God is With him who has a contrite and humble spirit. To find these heavenly places, where the patterns for our God-ordained futures are stored in abundance, we must come to God in holiness, and humility. Study Hebrews 12:14: Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Jesus is trying and searching the hearts of His people at this hour. In Jeremiah 17:10, the Lord of Hosts tells us this important truth about our hearts: I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. (See Psalm 44:21 also). The Lord searches our hearts and tests our minds. We must walk in true humility and holiness to find those heavenly patterns for our lives that will enable and anoint us to embrace our personal cross. The Lord is asking His children to examine their hearts at this important hour. The Lord earnestly desires for each of His children to have clean hands and pure hearts (See Psalm 24). Examine Jeremiah 4:3: For thus says the LORD, Break up your fallow ground, And do not sow among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your hearts, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, lest My fury come forth like fire, and burn so that no one can quench it. The Lord desperately desires for each of us to cleanse our hearts. Surely our hearts are deceitful. Look at Jeremiah 17: 9, 10: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. Jesus is calling each of us to circumcise our hearts, and minds to the Lord. We can only accomplish this with the help of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Once we have come to this place of prayer, introspection, and sanctification, the Lord can anoint us to embrace the cross. In part two of The Forgotten Power of the Cross, we ll continue our study of Jesus ministry and examine through His eyes, the reasons why cleansed and circumcised hearts are important to God. We ll explore what it means to exalt the cross and uncover those things that hinder us in doing so. Jesus provided His disciples with three principles and guidelines for ministry, and we ll examine this throne room model or heavenly pattern designed your life and ministry. Finally, this teaching will encourage you to honestly seek a revelation of the power of the cross, so that you can move from a natural understanding of it, to a revelation of the supernatural victory Christ bought on the tree of Calvary for each one of us.

5 5 This week is part two and the conclusion of our series entitled, The Forgotten Power of the Cross. Kevin Basconi, an associate of Fresh Fire Ministries and founder of King of Glory Ministries International, beautifully examines and presents the incredible and awesome power of the cross as modeled through the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the appointed time, a new season in the body of Christ. God is releasing a supernatural authority and anointing to preach the cross with signs, wonders, and wholesale salvation throughout the earth. In part 1, Kevin encouraged us through biblical example, to move from a natural understanding of the cross, to a supernatural, revelation of the supernatural victory Christ bought on the tree of Calvary for each one of us. In this part, we'll learn what it means to "truly preach" and "exalt" the cross, as Christ did, through three biblical Kingdom principals. We'll learn how God can "open Scripture" to the dull or slow of heart, so that we can totally embrace, exalt, and preach the fullness of the Cross of Christ. We'll also continue our study of Jesus' ministry and examine, through His eyes, the reasons why cleansed and circumcised hearts are important to God. There's power in the cross! THE FORGOTTEN POWER OF THE CROSS By Guest Author: Kevin Basconi Part 2: Conclusion EXALTING THE CROSS Jesus prophesied His glorious death in John 3:13-15 when He said: "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. (Here Jesus models His heavenly pattern for His ministry, and prophesies His crucifixion on the Cross of Calvary). And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life". It has been said that if we lift up the name of Jesus, He will draw all men to Him. Truly, there is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends, and that is exactly what the Messiah did for each of us, (John 15:13). In recent years as we have traveled throughout the world ministering, the Lord has whispered one thing to me over and over again. Every time I sequester myself away in prayer, seeking the Father's will for the meetings, the Holy Spirit speaks very softly into my ear, "Preach the cross!" O the glorious Cross of Christ, its heights and depths are amazing. Time after time, the Holy Spirit encourages me to "Preach the cross," and time after time again, the power of God has been manifest. Why? Because according to 1 Corinthians 1:18: "The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." I love that word "saved" here, or as my friend Todd Bentley so powerfully preaches, "sozo[ed]". The preaching of the cross

6 6 always leads to total salvation of the spirit, soul, and body. The cross leads to our eternal life, physical healing for our bodies, and our deliverance from demonic oppression. "Preach the cross, preach the cross, preach the cross," the Holy Spirit continually instructs me. The astounding result and effect of preaching the cross has been in the tens of thousands of salvations, and multiplied hundreds of miracles, healings, and deliverances. Remarkable signs and wonders appear in the heavens above meetings as we exalt the Cross of Christ. Certainly, these marvelous things are the Lord's doing and are not only occurring in the "third world," but in North America, and in Europe as well. God is on the move! CHRIST JESUS PREACHED THE CROSS Jesus Himself exalted the cross! Jesus preached, taught, and prophesied about the cross. We too must exalt the cross teach, preach, and prophesy about the Cross of Calvary. Many believers are satisfied worshiping in powerless churches, which have a form of godliness, but deny the power of God. Is it possible that we do not have the true revelation of the power of the cross? In Luke 24:25-27 Jesus rebuked two of His disciples for not having the understanding, or revelation of His finished work on the Cross of Calvary. He told them: "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things, [the cross], and to enter into His glory?" And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things, [the cross], concerning Himself." In verse 32b, we see that Jesus "opened up the Scriptures to them." Praise God! O Lord, open up the scriptures for us today that we may know the reality and power of the cross! Over time, our hearts can become hardened or calloused to the Gospel and the message of the cross. In many churches the cross is not mentioned save for Easter, and we wonder why we do not see the power and anointing of God in our midst. "Preach the cross!" In society, the cross is too often relegated to a "religious symbol," seen and spoken of more "in the world" than in the church. Entertainers wear a cross around their necks as a fashion statement, yet have no revelation of the power of the cross. We see crosses hung on walls in homes and in churches where the cross is more of an idol or icon, and our landscapes are dotted with crosses atop church steeples. We can risk becoming "slow of heart" which means: to have a callous heart, or broken heart, literally to be dull of heart or understanding. This can happen when we repeatedly turn a deaf ear to the message of the cross, or are continually exposed to a "powerless cross". Remember Jeremiah 17: 9, 10a, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart..." Jesus searched the hearts of the disciples and He still searches our hearts today. The disciples walked with Jesus continually and saw God's miraculous works daily. His disciples were first-hand witnesses to the crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of the Christ. However, they did not have the divine revelation of the power of the cross. They saw it all and personally experienced these supernatural events, yet Jesus rebuked them for their dull understanding. How could that possibly happen? Just as it did 2,000 years ago, it happens today. Our hearts can grow "dull of understanding," or have no revelation of the power of the cross. That is why we may need to "circumcise the foreskin of our heart." The cross is more than a gold medallion. The cross is more than a wall ornament. The cross is more than a thing we hang from the rear view mirror of our cars to bring us "good luck." The cross is the power of God to those who believe (1 Cor. 1:18). Have we forgotten the reality and power of the cross of Jesus Christ in our society and churches today? Have we cheapened the cross, or worse, turned the cross into an image of idolatry? Have our hearts grown dull to the power of the cross?

7 7 I proclaim no! Jesus is not on the cross anymore for "He is Risen." The power of the cross is a reality for us today. The power of the cross is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8). I don't want to live without the power of the cross! I don't want to live without the anointing of the Holy Ghost! I need more. When we preach the Cross of Christ, Jesus the Lord will anoint and confirm the Word with powerful signs and wonders. It is a season to preach the cross as never before. The Father in heaven will give you a grace to "open the scriptures" to the lost, (those in the world, and those in the church), concerning everything the prophets declared about Calvary. As we proclaim and preach the simple message of the Cross of Christ, Jesus the Lord will draw all men to Himself! EXALT THE CROSS! We must exalt the cross. We must exalt our Savior, and share the saving power of the Son of God to the "ends of the earth." We must make the suffering of the Son of God real and palatable to a lost and dying world. The message of the cross is so simple that we can miss it, or worse grow callous to it. What a gloriously supernatural entrance the Messiah made into the earth with His virgin birth. He lived as a flesh and blood human, just as each of us, for thirty years. Praise God that He was baptized and endued with power from on High. The heavens opened over the Lord's life and He began His ministry in the power of the Spirit. We can too, when we embrace our cross, and exalt the Cross of Christ Jesus. Jesus ministered for over three years and He preached and shared prophetically often about His own death on the cross. (See Matthew 6:2, Luke 24:7, John 3:14). In Luke 24:8, we see that "And they remembered His words," about His death, crucifixion, and resurrection. It was the third day and they understood that the Cross of Calvary was a reality. They understood the reality of Christ's resurrection from the dead. They received a revelation of the power of the cross. Yes, the Lord rose again on the third day just as He had prophesied in Mark 10:33, 34, Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again. The risen Jesus also took the time to preach the cross to the eleven after His crucifixion in Luke Chapter 24. These wonderful "things" Christ Jesus taught them was the cross, and His resurrection. The Lord "opened their understanding," ensuring that the ones He had chosen to fulfill His ministry had a divine revelation of the power and finished work of the cross. Look at Luke 24:44-46, Then He said to them, (Jesus taught and preached to the disciples), "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me. [concerning the Cross] And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day." Literally Jesus gave the disciples a renewed mind, or intellect concerning the power of the cross. Jesus exalted the cross. Jesus, Himself, exalted the cross, even after He had endured its agony. Ought not we to do the same? Refer again to the earlier scripture in Luke 24:27 where we see that Jesus "expounded" to His disciples (likely two of

8 the seventy referenced in Luke 10:1), "beginning at Moses and all the Prophets" the "things concerning Himself." The word "expounded" is used in the Greek context diemeneuo, meaning "to explain thoroughly, or literally to translate" (Strong's Concordance). What a wonderful prophetic picture of God's heart for His church. Here we see Jesus translating to His disciples the reality of and the power of the Cross of Calvary. Christ gave them renewed minds. We could say Jesus imparted to the disciples the mind of Christ so that they would have the divine revelation of the power of the cross. The first thing that Jesus teaches after His resurrection is to thoroughly explain, or actually to translate the work of the cross to those who had "hearts dull of understanding or hearing." This is significant! Literally, Christ needed to ascertain they had the divine revelation of the power of the cross. Perhaps we need to reexamine the power of the cross today and ask the Teacher to "diemeneuo" or expound, and translate to our spirit man, the true nature and reality of the cross. Perhaps then, we can move from a natural understanding of the cross to a revelation of the supernatural victory Christ bought on the tree of Calvary for each of us. Jesus ascertained, He determined, He made sure and certain that the disciples had the revelation of the power of the cross. God needed to be 100% positive that His Church had the revelation of the power, finality, and perfection of the cross. Jesus needed to ascertain that the disciple's minds were settled, that they grasped the reality of the message. God then gave the disciples a supernatural impartation of knowledge, and the divine revelation of the importance, centrality, and authority of Calvary. At that kairos moment of time, He commissioned them. In doing so, Christ Jesus told the disciples in Luke 24:47-49, And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. I send the promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. 8 THREE KINGDOM PRINCIPALS Here we see the crowning moments of the ministry of Jesus. Just prior to His ascension and final and complete victory of the cross, He provided His servants and disciples three simple guidelines and instructions for ministry. The Lord shares a "throne room model" or "heavenly pattern" for life and ministry, (Col. 3:1-5). If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. We can still utilize these principals today: Revelation of the Cross: The primary attribute Christ desired for the Church was to be empowered and equipped with a supernatural revelation of the power of the Cross of Calvary, the significance of His death, and His resurrection. We need the same supernatural revelation of the power of the cross today. Commission to Preach: The secondary attribute He required was for the Church to be witnesses of these things, and to preach. Clearly Christ expects "these things" (the cross, His death, and resurrection), and repentance and remission of sin to be preached from Jerusalem to the "ends of the earth," in the mighty name of Christ Jesus. In fact, we see the doctrine of the Apostle Paul stated very simply in 1 Corinthians 2: 2, "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." Paul received the Gospel of Christ by divine revelation. Christ appeared to Paul and diemeneuo the cross to him. Jesus "explained thoroughly

9 9 translated the message of the power of the cross to His servant, and then Paul to the gentiles. (See Galatians 1:11-12, & Ephesians 3:1-7). Enduement with Power: The third attribute Jesus promised was the gift of John 14:26: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." Also in Luke 24:49, Jesus reassured us of this promise, and gave specific directions, "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." Jesus gave the disciples a heavenly pattern to follow. Jesus promised, "power" (dunamis: abundant miracle working abilities), to those who preach the Gospel of the cross. If we "tarry" today, the Lord will still endue us with His magnificent miracle-working power and anointing just as He promised over two-thousand years ago. The Lord will give it to us today for one reason: That we may exalt and preach the Cross of Christ with a demonstration of God's power to confirm His Gospel. These three promises and spiritual principals are still available for the Church today. We can have them. God still wants you to have a supernatural revelation of the cross. Jesus desperately desires for you to know the hidden power of the cross. He wants the church to experience the anointing of Luke 24:44, 45: Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me. [the Cross]" And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Jesus wants to give each of His children a supernatural and divine revelation of the forgotten power of the cross. Once you have the God-given epiphany of the forgotten power of the cross, you will preach the Gospel. After you have been faithful to preach the Gospel with exousia or "delegated" authority, and you press into prayer and "tarry," you will be endued with the dunamis, "miracle working" power of God. Many in the church today do not understand why there is no power in their lives and churches. The primary reason is that they have forgotten the power of the Cross of Christ Jesus. They have not pressed into the Lord for the revelation of the cross. They may know it in their heads; however, there is no revelation of the reality of the power of the cross in their spirit man. Even the disciples who walked with Jesus for over three years, and witnessed His death, crucifixion, and resurrection did not have the revelation of the power of the cross. The enemy of our soul would like nothing better than to keep the true and magnificent reality of the power of the cross hidden. Oh Lord, release Your hidden knowledge, and divine revelation of the power of the cross in our spirit's now! We desperately need the divine revelation of the forgotten power of the Cross of Christ. PRAYER "Father, We need your anointing today more than ever before. O God raise up a people who will turn their hearts wholly to Your agenda. God raise up sold-out lovers who will set their hearts to seek those things that are above. Lord, help us to pick up our crosses daily and come after You. Help us to embrace our cross. Lord, I ask in the mighty name of Jesus, that you help us to remove the foreskins of our hearts. Lord release the anointing of Luke 24:27, and give Your people the revelation of the hidden mysteries of Christ. Lord let us know the true power of the Cross of Christ. Oh Father, reveal the hidden power of the cross today. Lord release the authority and anointing to preach the Cross of Christ Jesus with Your revelation, miracles, signs, and wonders. Father release to Your church the epiphany of the reality and power of Your Son's Cross. Lord anoint Your people with the dunamis power to preach "these things" to the ends of the earth. O Jesus, anoint us, empower us, and send us into the great harvest fields of the earth. Father, give us your good heavenly gifts at this hour. God, give us the revelation of the hidden, and forgotten power of the cross today... Amen"

10 Kevin Basconi and his wife Kathy are the founders of King of Glory Ministries International, an associate ministry of Fresh Fire Ministries. Their vision is to empower the church to move in the power of God with a demonstration of miracles, signs, and wonders. To accomplish this, Kevin and Kathy conduct healing meetings, conferences, and crusades in North America, Europe, and East Africa. They are also working to build homes for AIDS/HIV orphans in Tanzania, where they help to support dozens of widows and orphans. Please visit our website: or write us at: King of Glory Ministries International, P.O. Box 144, Grandview, Mo, SUBSCRIBE NOW If you have received this teaching as a forwarded , and don't want to miss these powerful and timely weekly teachings, please take a quick moment to visit us at to subscribe. REPRINT AGREEMENT Duplication and re-transmission of this writing is permitted provided that the entire contents of this message are not changed or modified in anyway; Full credit of this article be given to Healing Evangelist Todd Bentley; All of the contact information for Fresh Fire Ministries along with a hotlink to our website and the FFM General address: mailto:info@freshfire.ca are included. FORWARDING You are more than welcome to forward these messages on to friends, family and other mail lists. All we ask is that you include the entire contents of the message along with all contact information provided. MORE INFO For the latest Ministry News, Travel Itinerary, Testimonies, Revival Reports, Resources, FREE weekly teachings and more information about Healing Evangelist Todd Bentley & Fresh Fire Ministries please visit our website at: Website: mailto:info@freshfire.ca FRESH FIRE MINISTRIES CANADA: PO BOX 2525, ABBOTSFORD BC, CANADA V2T 6R3 USA: PO BOX 1588 SUMAS, WA TEL: FAX: PRODUCT ORDERS Toll Free: mailto:orders@freshfire.ca Online Store: CANADA USA/INTL NEWSLETTER Receive our FREE weekly teachings in your INBOX! Subscription and Archive - Website: COPYRIGHT FRESH FIRE MINISTRIES , ALL RIGHTS RESERVED