In Genesis, we see that, because of man's sin in the garden, pain and sorrow will be multiplied in the earth all the days of our lives. Many preach today that the atonement—Christ's sacrifice on the cross—now means no more sorrow, sickness or poverty, but that is not the case. We don't need a Savior to make us wealthy or to keep us healthy. We need a Savior because we are totally depraved sinners headed to hell. Don't confuse the covenant promises of God with His mercy and favor. In His love and grace toward us He does provide, heal and bring us joy; but we are not promised that there will never be pain, sorrow or difficulties in our lives.

You and I must contend for truth. We must get into this book [the Bible] and make the choice that these words are going to guide my life. These words rightfully divided; these words in full balance. Scripture interpreting scripture, studying, understanding; this is the guide for my life!

Christ won the victory for us on the cross—now what? Does that mean that we will not have problems or have to face difficulties? Not at all. You can count on your enemies gathering against you, but stand firm in your faith. Your victory is not your own, but comes from a Deliverer. God is not asking you to be a hero, He is your hero. The giant—Satan, sin and death—was defeated by Christ. Trust in the strength and delivering power of Jesus.

The guarantee I have of the future is that my heart stays open and that God can speak to me because He knows the end from the beginning. If I refuse to walk in truth and humble myself before God, none of this will ever belong to me. Can God go after that issue of the heart? Can God go after that practice in your life? Can He? Or will you reject His counsel?

Have you been set free? Are you living day to day like you are free in Christ? Or are you racked with guilt, shame and condemnation? When you accepted Christ as your Savior you were set free. You became a new creation. And Jesus implanted His righteous in you. It isn't something you're working toward or something that comes and goes based on how righteous you're feeling. Beloved, it's time to walk in the freedom and victory that Jesus won for you on the cross.

Jesus told the disciples that it is for our advantage that He went away. In His place He sent His Holy Spirit to be our helper. The Holy Spirit's role is to convict the world of their sin and impending judgment from God, but for believers He convinces us of the righteousness that we have in Christ. It's time to believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ still has the power to change and transform lives!

Jesus told the disciples that it is for our advantage that he went away because in his place the Holy Spirit would be our helper. The Holy Spirit's role is to convict the world of their sin and impending judgment from God, but for believers he convinces us of the righteousness that we have in Christ. Nicky Cruz reminds us that it's time to believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ still has the power to change and transform lives!

God has made promises to us and God is going to keep us. Promises of God—this is the victory, this is the sweetness of the cross. It is for those of us engaged in the battle of faith who want to see the name of Christ glorified in the earth. The sweetness of the cross is available to those of us willing to fight this fight to the end!

Like the church in Revelation, some of us have left our first love. We have grown distant from God. It doesn't happen overnight, but occurs gradually, like a slow leak. Familiarity and convenience cause us to drift away from Jesus and toward religion. When we realize our hearts have grown cold we try to get back to our first love by reading, praying and fasting more; but our efforts are in vain. God wants to bring a fire back to our hearts, and it starts with us acknowledging who God is—that He is good and His mercy endures forever.