Preaching Of The Cross Campus Ministry

Preaching Of The Cross Campus Ministry "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18, KJV).

23/08/2026

Word for Every Day, August 23, 2026

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His Death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: but like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the Glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-4).

In the First Chapter of Romans, Paul proclaims the entirety of the Gentile world, to a man, as being spiritually lost, despite all their religion. In the Second and Third Chapters of Romans, the Apostle places the Jews in the same category, i.e., all needing a Redeemer. In the Fourth and Fifth Chapters of Romans, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle proclaims the answer to this dilemma, which is "Justification by Faith." Paul belabors the issue, telling us, in no uncertain terms, that works cannot attain to Salvation.

Now that Salvation has been established, in the Sixth Chapter of Romans, the Apostle tells the Believer how to live for God. In fact, if the Believer doesn't understand the Sixth Chapter, he simply does not know how to properly live for the Lord, which makes for a miserable situation. The Seventh Chapter of Romans, in fact, tells us of the Believer who tries to live for God without understanding the principles of the Sixth Chapter of Romans.

In the Eighth Chapter of Romans, we are told "what” the Holy Spirit can do within our lives, once we understand "how" He works, which is found in the Sixth Chapter. The Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Chapters of Romans proclaim a dire warning to the Church. If we forsake God's Way of the Cross and resort to works or Law, as did Israel of old, then the Church will be lost, exactly as was Israel.

Chapters 12 through 16 of Romans give us the practical aspects of Christianity, once the Believer knows and understands God's Prescribed Order of Victory. As it regards victory over sin, as is here obvious, Paul takes the Believer directly to the Cross (Rom. 6:3-4).

Jesus Christ came as our Substitute, lived the life, obeyed the Law in every respect, and then went to the Cross in order to address the broken Law, doing so all for us. As stated, He was our Substitute.

When Paul uses the word "baptize," he's not speaking of Water Baptism, but rather our being baptized into the death of Christ. The moment the believing sinner expresses Faith in Christ and accepts Him as Saviour and Lord, in the Mind of God, that person is crucified with Christ, buried with Christ, and raised with Christ. That is the manner of Salvation, and that is also the manner of Sanctification, the latter being what this Sixth Chapter of Romans is all about. This is God's Prescribed Order of Victory!

The Expositor's Word for Every Day. Baton Rouge, LA: World Evangelism Press, 2005.

21/08/2026

Word for Every Day, August 21, 2026

Therefore being justified by Faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1).

What did Paul mean when he said, "We are justified by Faith'"?

First of all, we must look at Faith. The definition of Faith is to simply believe something. In this case, it refers to having Faith in Christ and what Christ has done for us at the Cross. The Faith of which Paul speaks always must be in this capacity. We must ever understand that Christ is the Source, and the Cross is the means. In no way is Christ to be separated from the Cross, or the Cross separated from Christ.

That's the reason the Apostle said, "We preach Christ Crucified"
(I Cor. 1:23).

Paul wasn't meaning that Christ is still on a Cross; in fact, Christ is seated by the Right Hand of the Father, meaning that His task of Redemption is complete (Heb. 1:3). Instead, Paul is speaking of the benefits of the Cross, benefits, incidentally, which will never, never end. For this reason, the Holy Spirit through Paul referred to these benefits as "The Everlasting Covenant" (Heb. 13:20).

The Believer must understand that every single thing we receive from the Lord, and in every capacity, is made possible solely by the Cross. That is the Gospel. The story of the Bible is the story of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified, and the story of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified is the story of the Bible.

Once Faith is properly understood and established, now we turn to Justification. The Greek word used by Paul is "dikaioo," which means "to show or regard as innocent." In layman's terms, it means the following:

1. It means that every sin — past, present, and future — is forgiven.

2. It means that God looks at the one so forgiven as never having committed the sin or sins in question.

3. It means that one is declared innocent, not guilty and free of all charges, all made possible by Faith in Christ and what He did for us at the Cross.

Justification cannot be earned or purchased, at least not by the individual. It is given freely upon Faith in Christ and His Finished Work.

The Expositor's Word for Every Day. Baton Rouge, LA: World Evangelism Press, 2005.

19/08/2026

Word for Every Day, August 20, 2026

I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you who are at Rome also (Rom. 1:14-15).

Realizing the Grace of God which had been shown to him, Paul considered himself as a "debtor" to all men, regardless of who they might be, meaning that he must do his utmost best to take the Gospel to all concerned. Of course, Paul couldn't reach all people; however, he felt responsible to all, whether he could reach them or not. He had to do his utmost to take this Gospel as far as he could, which he most definitely did.

Every Believer falls into the same category. By the very fact that we are saved, it means that we too are debtors to all of mankind, in that we must do our very best that they hear the good news of the Gospel. Regrettably most Believers little feel this burden and this concern.

Every Believer can "pray," and every Believer can "give."If all believers will set themselves to seek the Face of the Lord, the Lord can work wonders. In fact, every great Move of God which has ever taken place has been first of all prayed into existence. I speak of intercessory prayer, which, regrettably, is engaged by only a few; however, the privilege is available to all.

Not only should every Believer give, they should also make double certain that what they are supporting is Scriptural. Sadly, the vast majority of money given to that which purports to be of God is anything but! As stewards of what the Lord has placed in our hands, we are responsible for making certain that we are good stewards. The Lord grandly and plainly exampled this by the Parables of the "Talents" and "Pounds" (Mat. 25:14-30; Lk. 19:12-26).

We have been saved to serve! When a person truly understands what his Salvation actually is, and actually means, when we truly know how privileged we are to be saved, and that the Gospel somehow came to us, then we gladly serve, and serve gladly.

I was born on March 15, 1935 into a home that had never heard the Gospel. My Dad, in fact, had never heard a Gospel Message, had never been in a Church, and had never heard a Gospel Song, until he was 25 years old. My Mother was in the same category. When I look back and think of that, it's almost inconceivable to me that people could live that long and never even hear a Gospel Song. Of course, that was before Television, and even though Radio was the means of communication in those days, there was no Gospel Radio, none whatsoever, where my parents lived.

I know it was all because of God's Grace that the Gospel came to our home, our hearts, and our lives, which changed everything. When my parents found the Lord, our world changed, and changed forever — and a million times for the better, I might quickly add.

That's one of the reasons that Paul said, "I am a debtor," and that's one of the reasons that I say, "I am a debtor!"

The Expositor's Word for Every Day. Baton Rouge, LA: World Evangelism Press, 2005.

19/08/2026

Word for Every Day, August 19, 2026

And as he reasoned of Righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go your way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for you (Acts 24:25).

Felix was the Gentile Governor of Judaea; however, he was married to a Jewess named Drusilla; consequently, he may have had some scant knowledge of Judaism. Even though Felix knows that Paul is innocent of the charges leveled against him, still, he continues to hold him captive, thinking someone will pay a fat bribe to him for Paul's release. That never happened, so he kept Paul a prisoner until another Governor, Festus, took his place, and Paul was eventually sent to Rome.

Not long after Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea, Felix asked to hear him. He was accompanied by his wife. More than likely there also were many others present.

When Paul ministered to this Gentile and all who were there, he dealt with "Righteousness," stating, in essence that this attribute could only come by and through Christ and what He did for us at the Cross. Then he dealt with "Temperance," which addressed the bondages and vices which affect humanity. Last, he dealt with the "Judgment," which refers to the fact that one day all must stand before God.

The message was telling! The Holy Spirit anointed it greatly and Felix came under great conviction and "trembled"!

Evidently, Paul knew nothing about the now so widely acclaimed modern method of preaching to the unsaved, which states that such unsettling subjects should not be approached. And the Holy Spirit also knew nothing about it! Telling some jokes and spreading some religious pablum would have had no spiritual effect on Felix, and neither will it have any spiritual effect on anyone else.

As a result of the new method, Churches today are being filled with people who have never really been Born-Again. Regrettably, under such preaching, they never will be Born-Again. To reach the lost, or even the Believer, for that matter, the Word of God must, in some manner, be proclaimed. The Holy Spirit will not work or function in any other capacity (Acts 2:16-21, 29-38, 42; 8:14).

The Expositor's Word for Every Day. Baton Rouge, LA: World Evangelism Press, 2005.

17/08/2026

Word for Every Day, August 17, 2026

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them (Acts 16:25).

A false message has been circulated in the modern Church that if a person is in the very center of the Will of God, there will be no problems. If there are problems, so it is erroneously claimed, that means the person is out of the Will of God. Nothing could be further from the truth!

The more directly that one is in the Will of God, just as Paul and Silas were when they were preaching the Gospel in Philippi, the more that Satan is going to do everything within his power to hinder. An absence of that hindrance tells us that we are not where we ought to be.

A demon-possessed girl was delivered; her masters, who made great sums of money from her fortunetelling, grew incensed and had Paul and Silas arrested (Acts 16:16-21). As a result, the Magistrates of the city commanded that Paul and Silas be beaten, which they were. Under Roman law, scourging was a most brutal and cruel punishment. Many died under this torture. Paul and Silas must have been given superhuman strength to have endured it.

Then they had to suffer the added torture of the stocks in the inner prison, which usually was a noisome and wet dungeon without any light. The stocks frequently were so placed that the unhappy prisoner's shoulders lay on the wet stone floor, with his feet drawn as far apart as possible, fastened high up to the wall. After a short time, the muscles would begin to constrict, causing unbearable pain.

Satan, no doubt, took this opportunity to taunt the two Apostles, telling them that they were out of the Will of God, etc. If their coming to Philippi was the Will of God, why would the Lord allow them to be treated in this manner?

That question has plagued many throughout the centuries. Why did the Lord allow this terrible beating and imprisonment to come to Paul and Silas?

The reasons are known only to the Lord, but He most definitely had His reasons. Had He desired, He easily could have stopped the situation. Paul may have answered this question in the Epistle to the Church at Corinth. Paul said, "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the Revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

"For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

"And He said unto me, My Grace is sufficient for you: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the Power of Christ may rest upon me" (II Cor. 12:7-9).

The "flesh" is ever prominent in all of us, even in Paul. Certain problems are then allowed by the Lord in order to let us know that in the flesh there is no strength or power, and that we must depend solely upon the Lord. In fact, the greater the Operation of the Holy Spirit within our hearts and lives, the greater, I think, will be these difficulties.

In the midst of it all, the two Apostles began to pray and sing praises unto the Lord. The Greek Text suggests that bursts of song broke out as they prayed from time to time. This tells us that, especially during times of great testing, and whether we feel like it or not, we should simply "pray and sing praises unto the Lord." This proclaims faith and trust!

It was midnight. "Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bands were loosed" (Acts 16:26). Even though it was an earthquake, it was very unnatural in that it seems to only have affected the jail. Further, it caused every door to be opened and even their iron bands to be unloosed, but without destroying the building.

As a result, the jailer was saved and all of his household. Also, a Church was established in Philippi.

The ways of the Lord are not always easy; however, if they are minutely followed, they always are fruitful!

The Expositor's Word for Every Day. Baton Rouge, LA: World Evangelism Press, 2005.

16/08/2026

Word for Every Day, August 16, 2026

And a Vision appeared to Paul in the night; there stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us (Acts 16:9).

Paul now begins his second missionary journey. He will take Silas with him; Timothy will join him at a place called Lystra. It seems that Paul thought he had the mind of the Lord regarding the destination of this journey, but after starting out, he found that he did not. The Scripture says, "They were forbidden of the Holy Spirit to preach the Word in Asia" (Acts 16:6). Then they tried another direc¬tion, "But the Spirit suffered them not" (Acts 16:7).

Even though every missionary journey undertaken by Paul was of the utmost significance, still, this one was more important than ever, because here the Holy Spirit will direct the Gospel westward; the first preaching in this direction took place in Greece. Satan would do everything he could to greatly hinder this effort, as would be obvious, due to the tremendous significance of this development; however, as the Spirit kept leading, Paul and Silas kept following, until ultimately they received the "Macedonian Call," which was one of the most important Calls in history.

Even though the first missionary journey undertaken by Paul was the beginning of this great episode, still, the Holy Spirit now gives special guidance regarding the Gospel and its geographical direction. To be sure, the Lord did not love those in the west more than those in the east; however, by foreknowledge, He knew that those in the west would be more receptive to the Gospel, hence leading in this direction.

When Paul received this Macedonian Call, even as it regards the man in the Vision, we are seeing here the blueprint for that which we refer to as "Western Civilization." In that Macedonian Call is every freedom we now enjoy, all the prosperity which we now have, actually that which has made the United States the envy of the world. To the degree that the Western nations have accepted the Gospel, to that degree have they been blessed.

When our leaders speak of extending democracy to other nations of the world, what most do not seem to realize is that mere can be no true democracy without acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Gospel that He affords. So our efforts at trying to democratize Muslim nations, no matter the good intentions, will little work. For it to truthfully work, they would have to forsake the religion of Islam and accept the Lord Jesus Christ, which the far greater majority of them will not do. If any type of democracy is established in Iraq, or any other Muslim country, it will mostly be democracy in name only, without many of the benefits.

Unfortunately, in the United States of America, we are losing sight of that which has made us great; we are gradually becoming "heathenized" ourselves. There is, in fact, no longer a separation of Church and State, which is proper, but rather a separation of God and State, which is catastrophic!

The problem?

The problem is the Church! The Church has strayed so far from the True Gospel of Jesus Christ that it any more little persuades and sways Governmental leaders, which it is meant to do.

Peter said, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the House of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them who obey not the Gospel of God?" (I Pet. 4:17).

The Expositor's Word for Every Day. Baton Rouge, LA: World Evangelism Press, 2005.

16/08/2026

Word for Every Day, August 15, 2026

For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden that these necessary things; That you abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if you keep yourselves, you shall do well. Fare ye well (Acts 15:28-29).

The General Council conducted in Jerusalem saw, for the first and only time, all of the original Apostles, along with Paul and Barnabas, gathered together "for to consider of this matter" (Acts 15:6). It was conducted at the Church at Jerusalem, which was, in essence, the first Church, and of which James the Lord's brother was the Senior Pastor, so to speak.

Even though we say "Church," they didn't have a building, and for many and obvious reasons. In a sense, the Temple continued to serve as their "Church" in Jerusalem. There were probably as many as 20,000-30,000 people who were members of this "Church," virtually all of them Jews.

From the Text, it seems that Peter spoke first, and rightly so, because he was much better known to all the people; furthermore, even as Peter said, "You know how that a good while ago (approximately ten years) God made choice among us that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the Word of the Gospel, and believe" (Acts 15:7). This had to do with Corrnelius and his household, all Gentiles.

Then Paul and Barnabas addressed the crowd.

The great question concerned the "Law" and "Grace." After they come to Christ, is it right to demand of the Gentiles that they also keep the Law?

At this Council, the Holy Spirit made the decision that the Gentiles would not have to keep the Law. In other words, they were saved by trusting Christ and Him alone! There were four requirements for the Gentiles, and all four, in a sense, had to do with the Cross.

They are:

1. "That you abstain from meats offered to idols": These were lambs or heifers which had been offered in sacrifice to idols, a custom which, of course, was nurtured and fostered by Satan to say, in effect, that the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross was of no consequence. After these animals were offered in sacrifice, the carcass was then offered for sale in the meat markets of the city, and whoever purchased this cut of meat was believed to have good luck, etc. As should be obvious, Christians should not be involved in such.

2. "From blood": Under the Law, the Jews were strictly forbidden to eat blood (Lev. 17:14). To be brief, Christ would shed His Life's Blood on the Cross, which meant the pouring out of His Perfect Life, with Faith in that securing Salvation for all who believe.

3. "From things strangled": This referred to the carcass of animals which had not been properly drained of blood; when this meat was eaten, blood would also be imbibed, which is forbidden. Once again, it goes to the Cross.

4. "And from fornication": This spoke, obviously, of immorality; even more so, however, James is using it in the Old Testament sense of being unfaithful to the Lord. When a Believer trusts in anything except Christ and the Cross, he is, in effect, committing spiritual fornication with that thing, whatever it might be. Each Believer is married to Christ. Christ Alone meets our every need, as He Alone can meet our every need (Rom. 7:1-4). Therefore, our Faith is to be exclusively in Him and what He has done for us at the Cross; otherwise, we commit spiritual fornication.

That's the reason it is imperative for every Believer to make Christ and His Cross the exclusive Object of one' Faith, and that alone! There is nothing more important than that!

The Expositor's Word for Every Day. Baton Rouge, LA: World Evangelism Press, 2005.

13/08/2026

Word for Every Day, August 14, 2026

And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders about this question (Acts 15:1-2).

Here we find the beginning of the problem with the Judaizers, a problem which would plague Paul throughout his ministry. The Judaizers were Jews, almost all from Jerusalem and Judaea, who had accepted Christ as the Messiah, but who insisted, at the same time, that all Believers, even Gentiles, must also keep the Law. This was Satan's great effort to dilute and ultimately destroy the Gospel. Satan would do this, as he does most of his insidious work, from inside the Church!

Paul had been given the Revelation that the Lord Jesus had fulfilled the Law in every respect. Consequently, for Believers to attempt to continue to keep the Law, this said, in effect, that what Jesus did at the Cross was insufficient, which, as should be obvious, was an insult of the highest order to the Lord of Glory. However, this problem did not die with the Early Church. It continues unto this hour. It has been the greatest problem that plagues the Church.

Today it's not the Law of Moses which is in question, but laws of one variety or the other made up by religious men. It probably could be said that every single one of us at some time has formulated some laws in our hearts and minds, which, within themselves, may have been valid, but faith and trust placed in those laws, whatever they may have been or may be, will bring no victory.

Every unsaved person in the world is under the Government of Law, whether they realize it or not (Ex., Chpt. 20). I'm speaking of the Law of God, to which they will answer at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15), that is, if they do not accept Christ as their Saviour. When the person comes to Christ, we then come from the Government of Law to the Government of Grace (Rom. 6:14).

Unfortunately, most Christians do not understand the Government of Grace as they should, because they do not understand the Cross. It is, in fact, impossible to properly understand Grace if one does not properly understand the Cross. As such, most Christians are trying to live for God under two Governments at the same time, the Government of Law and the Government of Grace. Such is a miserable existence, which Paul himself tried to do for a period of time, because he understood, at that time, neither the Cross nor the Government of Grace.

We find Paul's account of this period in his life in the Seventh Chapter of Romans, which is also the account, unfortunately, of most modern Christians. According to the instructions given to us by the Apostle, who received them directly by Revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:12), the Believer lives under the Government of Grace by understanding that everything we have from the Lord comes to us through the means of the Cross; the Cross of Christ, therefore, is ever to be the Object of our faith, which then gives the Holy Spirit latitude to work within our lives (Rom. 6:1-4; 8:1-2,11).

That being done on a constant basis, the Holy Spirit will develop His Fruit within our hearts, which will spring forth in our lives, which is the Gospel of Grace. Otherwise, Christ will profit us nothing (Gal. 5:2).

The Expositor's Word for Every Day. Baton Rouge, LA: World Evangelism Press, 2005.

13/08/2026

Word for Every Day, August 13, 2026

Now there were in the Church that was at Antioch certain Prophets and Teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger; and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Seperate Me Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for the work whereunto I have called them (Acts 13:1-2).

Very few recognize the significance of the facts stated in the first four Verses of this Thirteenth Chapter of Acts. This occasion takes place several years, possibly as many as nine, after the conversion of Paul. Even though the Church began, in a sense, with the conversion of Cornelius and his household, all Gentiles, its systemized order began with the sending forth of Paul.

During these intervening years, i.e., from the time Paul was converted until now, the Lord had given him the meaning of the New Covenant, which was, in effect, the meaning of the Cross. Paul gave that to us in his fourteen Epistles. He was called by the Lord to be the Masterbuilder of the Church, which could not be until this great Revelation was given to him (Gal. 1:12).

The Holy Spirit, in this account of the missionary journey, refers to both Paul and Barnabas as Apostles (Acts 14:4, 14).

As it obvious, Paul and Barnabas were not of the original Twelve. The Holy Spirit names as Apostles over twenty individuals in the New Testament. "Apostle" is one of the fivefold Ministry callings, and is, in fact, apropos even unto this hour (Eph. 4:11).

Apostles are not elected by popular ballot, neither are they appointed by men. The Office of the Apostle is a Call of God. An Apostle is recognized by the significance of the Message which He proclaims. In other words, the Holy Spirit will place a special and powerful emphasis on a particular Message, which will always be exactly according to the Word of God. With Paul, one might say that he was the Apostle of Grace, or the Apostle of the Cross. That was his emphasis.

Others may have the same emphasis, even as did Barnabas, etc.

Under the Headship of Christ and the Leadership of the Holy Spirit, Apostles set the course for the Church. This is what the Holy Spirit intends. In the Old Testament times, there were no Apostles, because there was no Church. Prophets served in the capacity of leadership for Israel of old.

This great missionary journey, actually the first, was also the beginning of what we refer to as "Western Civilization." Through Paul, the Gospel would go west, because the Holy Spirit knew that the reception would be greater in that direction. When you read the account of this first Missionary effort, as recorded in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Chapters of Acts, you should also read your Salva¬tion into these two Chapters, because the Gospel that Paul and Barnabas gave to the Gentile world ultimately came to you and me.

From this account, we learn that the Holy Spirit, a Person Who "speaks" and "sends," was the Director of all proceedings. He was the Source of their Apostolate; He energized them.

Incidentally, the First Miracle recorded on this First Missionary journey was the making blind of one Elymas the Sorcerer, who withstood Paul and Barnabas, "seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith" (Acts 13:7-12). Remarkably, this was also the moment chosen by the Holy Spirit to introduce the change of Paul's name from the Hebrew "Saul" to the Greek "Paul." This tells us that all who reject the Message of Grace, as proclaimed by Paul, which is, in effect, the Message of the Cross, will become spiritually blind!

The Expositor's Word for Every Day. Baton Rouge, LA: World Evangelism Press, 2005.

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