Matthew 16:24…..Ready

Matthew 16:24…..Ready

16:24  Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone (Expresses not an invitation, but a summons and ultimatum-(New) Not just the pastor, not just the staff, not just church leaders, not just the spiritually gifted, but every believer.-(New) would come after me. (Expresses a firm resolve and active decision, to set one’s heart on. Emphasizes a condition for discipleship-(New) he must deny himself (To have the capacity to Save yourself or be the person God wants you to be-(New) and take up (The verb tense is continually, day-in and day-out-(New) his cross and follow me. (To think like Jesus, to act like Jesus, to treat others the way He would treat others-(New) (For Complete Expository See Book)

Extended Sermons  

“Teaches the importance of counting the costs & sacrifices involved in following Jesus.” ⇒ Many want the benefits of a relationship with Jesus without the costs and sacrifices. Following Jesus may be costly but its worth it. Will you take up your cross and follow Jesus whatever may come. Will you take up your cross and follow Jesus even if it costs you everything? Martin Luther once said “A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing is worth nothing.” No sacrifice should be too greats in serving Jesus. Jim Elliot an American missionary once said; “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose”. Taking up the cross and following Jesus is easy when life runs smoothly. But true cross-bearing is revealed during trials and hardships. Each day we take up our cross. There are many who follow Jesus in the breaking of bread. But few as far as drinking the cup of suffering. Many follow Jesus in the morality of His teachings, but few in the indignity of the cross. Many will follow Jesus on Sunday, but walk their own path on Monday.

“Teaches how Jesus wants to make sure we know what were signing up for and clear with what’s involved in following Him.” → Have you ever said or heard someone say “This isn’t what I signed up for”. We find it marriage. You enter into marriage with these dewy-ideas of what the relationship may be like. Only to find out that marriage involves arguments and opinions and pet peeves. And there’s snoring, and Ido-sequencies, and expenditures. There’s a shift from this romance time to a kind of realities of life. We find it In parenting. There’s diapers, projectile vomit, sleepless nights, endless crying, constant need, and loss of freedom. Or heartbreak when our children grow up and don’t live out the way we taught them to live. We find it military service. There’s deployments over seas, and discomforts, and dangers, and home sickness. We find it in pet ownerships. Where there’s shedding, and messes, and vet bills, and dog food, and grooming fees, and dog poop. A lot of people, but not everyone would say “If I had a redo I would make a different decision.” But there has never been anyone totally committed to following Jesus who believes He’s no worth it.

“Calls for taking self off the throne to making Christ the rightful King and Ruler over our lives.” ⇒ You are no longer the Lord of your life, Jesus is the Lord. You are no longer the decision maker, Jesus decides what’s best. We often think were the director of our lives. We’re the one running the show. That idea is reinforced around us. That if things are going to happen it’s up to us to do it. If X, Y, and Z is going to happen it’s up to us to study hard, work hard to make it happen. If were going to get the things this life has to offer we have to do it. Were the master of our own destiny. We can influence, direct, and control our own environment and make our life what we want it to be. When in reality were under New management and control. God is the director of our lives not us.  If God wants us to leave a comfortable job and head overseas to make Him known, so be it. If He wants us to sacrificially give so that someone else can go and make Him known, that is fine too. If Jesus wants us to live in a car, a small house, a hard city, have an awkward conversation about faith, be more bold at work, take a pay cut in order to stay on ministry, whatever He calls us to do – we are to do it. Is there anything you wouldn’t do, or anywhere you wouldn’t go if God asked you to? The value of anything is determined by its investment, either in time, money, or personal sacrifice. Will you put Jesus first in your time, your talent, your finances. Will you put Jesus first in your relationships, your goals. Will you put Jesus first in your will, your wants, your wishes. To surrender to Jesus’ Lordship  is to allow Him to use you as He sees fit. It is to accomplish whatever He has called you to do for Hs honor and His glory. [Note: The more you surrender to Christ the more joy you have. The More peace you have. The more contentment you will have.]

“Calls for a radicle reorientation and fundamental shift from living a self-centered life to a Christ-centered life” → Following Jesus requires we make an intentional decision to conquer this internal urge to live only for self. To making our lives about Jesus and even about other people. This reorientation involves a fundamental change in priorities, values, and even personal identity, seeking to align one’s life with the will of God. This involves a significant change in perspective, priorities, and actions, moving away from self-centeredness and toward a life dedicated to God and His purpose. A Christ-centered life involves an ongoing process of inner transformation and spiritual growth. A moving a away from the tendencies of the old corrupt nature, saying no to sin more and more, and saying yes to God and how He wants us to live.  (Phlip. 2:1-8,  Gal. 2:20)

“Teaches how Jesus doesn’t want casual half-hearted followers, but committed disciples who are all in.” ⇒ There’s’ no halfway, toe in the water Salvation. Discipleship is not a one-time decision in believing and accepting Him as Savior and then forget about it. But a life-time decision to follow after Him. There’s no room for Sunday only Christians. Many try to sprinkle a little bit of God onto their lifestyle. A little bit of Jesus, a little bit of church. When Jesus says, “follow me,” He is calling us, not just to hang out with Him, or tag along. But to a devout, different, and dedicated life to Him. Discipleship is a all or nothing proposition. Either your all in or your all out. There’s no half-measures in being a disciple either you go all the way or you go no way. Either your sold out or your not. To take up your cross is where the rubber meets the road. To be a disciple you have to have some skin in the game. You can’t just be a church goer. There’s a big difference between being a fan and being a follower. You cant say I’ll be a Christian, but I don’t want to be one of those Jesus freaks. I’ll go to church, but don’t expect me to do all that bible reading and praying. Jesus doesn’t offer the option for secret discipleships, but bold confession. For Jesus discipleship is not a part time volunteer work or a extra curricular activity. Discipleship is not something you just add onto your life, like a hobby or something to feel good about. Discipleship is not a decision of a moment, it is a decision for a lifetime. Discipleship is not a result of easy compliance, but a deliberate and irrevocable decision. Discipleship is not just a decision about the past, but a decision for the present and the future, that’s there’s no turning back. Are you all in and sold out to Jesus no matter what it takes? Or are you just a fan or spectator at best? Some want a relationship with Jesus that is easy and comfortable, as long as it doesn’t cost them too much. Casual believers will seek convenience and ease. Committed believers seek maturity and growth. Casual believers will seek spiritual shortcuts and quick fixes. Committed believers will seek self-discipline and what pleases God. Casual believers will seek God when it’s convenient for them in what they want and need. Committed believers will say how can I better serve you or how can I serve in the church. Casual believers will fall away at the first sign of trouble and adversity. Committed believers will stay true to Jesus through thick and then. When making a decision to follow Jesus its more than simply agreeing with Him or even believing on Him. A decision for Jesus is not like an issuance policy, just say a prayer and your good to go, and then live as you want and do as you want. But rather its a commitment that is growing in sanctification in a life that is pleasing to the Lord in all that you say and do. There’s a big difference between calling yourself a Christian and being a Christian!

“Even today, taking up your cross could mean losing family and friends. It could mean being mocked, ridiculed, and ostracized. could mean being unpopular and not fitting in. It could mean suffering persecution or even death.” ⇒ Will you take up your cross and follow Jesus even if it means losing a relationship because your not going to compromise your Christian morals by having sex before marriage and your boyfriend breaks up with you over of it. Will you take up your cross and follow Jesus even if it means rejection from your co-workers who are upset with you because you won’t join them in the gossip train going around about your boss. Will you take up your cross and follow Jesus even if it means being labelled ant-social because you won’t go out drinking with your friends. Will you take up your cross and follow Jesus even if means being seen as anti-intellectual as some who believes if fairy tales because you believe God became a man. Will you take up your cross in choosing the narrow way over the way of the world? Will you take up your cross in identifying with Jesus, regardless of what it costs you personally, publicly or financially!

“Denying yourself doesn’t mean depriving yourself. It doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy life, no fun. no going out. It doesn’t mean self-hating or punishing yourself. Nor is it about giving up some guilty pleasure like denying yourself chocolate, or binge-watching Netflix. But rather it’s a complete submission and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus no matter the costs or sacrifices.” ⇒ The call to deny self is difficult because we have a habit of living for number one Denying self goes against the grain. It’s not what our self-seeking culture is about. Aren’t we supposed to love ourselves? If I don’t look our for number one who’s going to? Everything today is geared towards Self-indulgence, Self-esteem, Self-love, Self-acceptance. Self-fulfillment, Self-preservation. The world says celebrate yourself, gratify yourself, promote yourself. We often think if a meaningful life means anything, surely it means to live and make the most out of your life. Culture says do what’s best for you. Look out for number one. But Jesus’ call for self-denial goes against the grain. Jesus calls us to a life of humility, brokenness, surrender, self-denial, self-sacrifice. And that’s in complete opposition to a Contemporary Gospel of self-fulfillment, self-exaltation, and self-help. The wrong gospel says, “Jesus wants to make you feel better about yourself. He wants to make your life prosperous. He wants to put an end to your negative thinking. Whereas the true Gospel is the death of Self. That is the core of discipleship. When Jesus asks us to deny our self. He’s not saying you can’t have a life. He’s not being harsh in taking all the fun out of life. He’s not saying pretend you don’t exists. But rather what Jesus is asking is for our own good in order to liberate us and free us. He wants us to deny ourselves the various comforts and pleasures of life for the sake of faithfully following Him. Denying yourself may mean leaving that image and reputation you spent a lifetime creating for yourself. For the greedy it may mean renouncing an appetite for wealth. For the complacent it may mean renouncing the love of comfort and ease. For the faint hearted it may mean abandoning the craving for security. For the violent it may mean giving up the desire for payback and revenge. On and on it goes. Only you know what God may want you to give up or hand over. Is there an area your holding back from God. Is there something that’s holding you back from following Jesus wholeheartedly?

“Taking up your cross is not about bearing with some hardship or inconvenient burden as a mean boss, nagging wife, thankless job, chronic backache, difficult neighbor, rebellious child, etc. As the saying go’s “That’s the cross I have to bear”. Nor is it a piece of jewelry you wear around your neck. But rather its about about a life that is surrendered and submitted over to Christ no matter the costs or sacrifices.” ⇒ Whether it’s the painful outward journey of dying to a life of comfort, security, approval, recognition, money, success, etc. Or the painful inward journey of growing in holiness, putting off the sinful nature and desires of the flesh. Taking up our cross cannot be done by our own willpower. When it comes to putting to death our natural man it’s a work of the Holy Spirit and in which we’re called to participate. Just as criminals did not willingly go, but were forced to carry their cross to the place of execution. So to we are called to surrender and submit. God may use crosses to bring us to a place of humility and submission. The greatest motivation in picking up our cross is simply because Jesus did for us. Jesus denied His own rights when He left heaven and came to earth and took the form of human flesh so He could die on the cross for the death and punishment we deserved. The more we know all that Jesus did for us. The forgiveness of sins; past, present, and future. The peace He brought with God. The gift of adoption into the family of God. The gift of the Holy Spirit. The joy, purpose, and meaning He brought into our lives. The promise of our future glory and resurrected bodies. The more you will pick up your cross and live for Him.

“The reason we need to deny self is because we have this inward inclination towards sin and self passed down from Adam & Eve.” ⇒ Ever since the Garden, humanity has sought to be their own gods, to make their own identities and to protect those identities at all costs. Each human being is born with a dedication to self, to pleasing and preferring self, “What’s in it for me”. We have a natural tendency towards selfish interests and pursuit. Whether its pleasing our self, promoting our self, cherishing our self, etc. Self is the cause of all fights, all marital issues, all lawsuits, all addictions, all church splits, etc. It’s the self that says we need to win, I need to be right. The one that says I need win the argument at all costs, even if I’m wrong. The one that says I can’t let them see me as weak on this or they’ll walk all over me. The one that says stand firm and be proud, that your not going to give in on this no matter what. To deny self is a constant upstream battle. We have selfishness to battle, pride to battle, ego to battle, etc. You need to turn away from that gravitational pull within you to be all about you.  (Note: Self is the hardest sin to overcome. No one will ever arrive in putting the sin of self completely to death. No sooner do we think we’ve put self to death,  someone comes along and crosses or slights us in our opinion, or cuts us off in traffic. The first thing we do is respond with harsh words. Think about it when someone disagrees with you, are you awesome with that. Or if they take something from you are you O.K. with that, probably not.)

Additional Notes & Applications

Calls for loving Jesus so much that we would gladly make Jesus’ cross-destined journey or own journey in life. Is your love and loyalty to Jesus so deep that your willing to embrace the journey of carrying your own cross, mirroring His path with unwavering devotion and sacrifice. (cf. Philp. 3:4-9)

Calls for stop being about the business of Satan and the world, and start being about the business of God and His work. Will you stay true to Christ when everyone else in the world around us are not.

Calls for following Jesus, not only when life is running smoothly, but also when things are tough and not going our way.

Prepares believers how following Jesus is not going to be a easy and comfortable life from here on out It’s going to take a lot of work and a lot of sacrifice.

Teaches how no one is beyond the love, mercy, and grace of God.

Teaches when we follow the Lord we find our true selves.

Warns against thinking you can have Salvation of sorts outside of our Savior. That we can have a little bit of both here and now.

Teaches how Jesus is not a recruiter who emphasized the benefits of enrollment, yet fails to mention the possibility of combat. Jesus is no bait & switch, He gives it like it is.

Displays how God the Father is never more glorified then when we pick up our cross and say to the world “I choose to live like this and give myself to that.” Not because I’m being ripped off, but because I have something far greater.

Calls for staying true to Christ when everyone else in the world around us are not.

Calls for following Jesus, not only when life is running smoothly, but also when things are tough and not going our way.

Teaches how Christianity is not a belief system. It’s not a religion. It’s not a set of rules or a moral code. It’s about a person, Jesus and following Him.

Warns against thinking you can have Salvation of sorts outside of our Savior.

We have a very skewed view of Christianity that would have you believe that following Jesus will make your life way better. That you will be healthier if you follow Jesus. That you will be wealthier if you follow Jesus. That your life will prosper if you follow Jesus. But that’s not  the Gospel we read. The Gospel we read gets people killed. It actually costs you something.     It involves hardships and sacrifices.

Teaches how suffering is going to be a part of life in this world. If anyone tells you if you come to Jesus your life is going to be easy, all your troubles and problems will go away. Life will be wonderful, you’ll  live a happy, blessed, and healthy life. They are sorely mistaken.

What does picking up our cross look like today? It means making practical sacrifices, such as caring for aging parents, offering our time to help others, or choosing to have meaningful conversations about faith. It’s about prioritizing God’s mission over our personal pleasures and comforts.

In conclusion, true discipleship is a lifelong journey of surrender, sacrifice, and service. It’s about being “all in” for Jesus, embracing the challenges, and living out our faith boldly and authentically. Will you take up your cross and follow Jesus, no matter the cost? Will you trust Him as the director of your life, surrendering your will, your desires, and your ambitions to His greater purpose? Let’s live a life that honors and glorifies God, knowing that the more we surrender to Christ, the more joy, peace, and contentment we will find.

The cross here was a symbol of Roman execution. In the ancient world, crucifixion was the vilest, most shameful and painful form of death, reserved for the worst of criminals. A condemned person after they were stripped naked and whipped to an inch of their life. They would have to carry the crossbeam on their back through the streets on their way to the place of execution. As they carried their cross they would mocked by the crowds. They would experience public humiliation as they began their death march to the place of execution. The cross wasn’t simply a means of execution. There are a lot of easier ways to kill people. But rather the purpose of the cross was to ultimately humiliate, shame, and set an example in deterring others from revolting against Rome. Historians estimate that over 30,000 people were crucified by the Romans during Jesus’ lifetime, When Jesus talks about taking up ones cross. The disciples having seen this numerous times. Would not have pictured this as putting up with some inconvenience, “This is the cross I have to bear.”. They would have understood this as a march towards death and a sign of shame and humiliation. For believers we may never and probably won’t be called to die for Christ. But we are called to willingly bear shame, reproach, humiliation, suffering, hatred, alienation as we follow Jesus.

Taking up our cross is not a burden but a liberating act. Taking up the cross may involve suffering, but it also draws us closer to the Lord. It’s suffering yes, but it’s ot worth comparing to the glory that awaits us. It’s about living a life that is fully submitted to Christ, embracing the sacrifices and hardships that come with following Him. It involves both outward acts of service and inward journeys of holiness. The motivation to pick up our cross comes from understanding the depth of Jesus’ sacrifice for us. He left heaven, took on human flesh, and died on the cross for our sins. The more we grasp the magnitude of His love and grace, the more willing we are to live for Him.

Jesus is not being harsh or trying to take all the fun out of life. Jesus not trying to torture us or torment us. But rather is saying this for our own good in order to liberate us and free us. He wants us to deny ourselves the various comforts and pleasures of life for the sake of faithfully following Him.

The call for self-denial and picking up our cross is not about having a martyrs complex in seeking out suffering and death. That as Christians were supposed to live a miserable life of suffering and death. There are some disturbing and sad stories from early Christian history in which many misinterpreted this text and actually sought our brutal martyrdom.

The three different things Jesus asks for; 1) To come after. 2) To Deny. 3) To take up. Are all commands in the present tense. Meaning as disciples of Jesus were supposed to be doing this on a continuous and daily bases. In living for Jesus there’s no days off. The call also suggests a “once for all” action in taking up our cross and never laying it down until we reach the place of our death and call home.

Denying ourselves cannot be done by our own power and strength. But is the work of the Holy Spirit in opening our hearts to know how much Jesus loves us and suffered for us. Then only after that will you want to deny yourself and pick up your cross and follow Him. The greatest motivation in denying ourselves and picking up our cross is simply because Jesus did for us. Jesus denied His own rights when He left heaven and came to earth and took the form of human flesh so He could die on the cross for the death and punishment we deserved. The more we know all that Jesus did for us. The forgiveness of sins; past, present, and future. The peace He brought with God. The gift of adoption into the family of God. The gift of the Holy Spirit. The joy, purpose, and meaning He brought into our lives. The promise of our future glory and resurrected bodies. The more you will deny yourself and live for Him.

What Jesus is calling for here is really difficult and hard to live out. We all have a natural inclination to avoid suffering and pain. There is a drive within all of us to preserve our lives and to extend them. Self-preservation, it is said, is the first law of the universe, so we desire to ensure that we do not suffer any pain. But we must not do so at the expense of sacrificing our principals and values for comfort and convenience.

You may ask what does picking up our cross look like for us today? Practically it can mean caring for aging parents. It could mean giving up our own time and interest to help others. It could mean turning off the T.V. or the computer in the evening to go talk to a friend about Jesus, even if we don’t feel like it. It could mean sacrificing evenings out with family and friends so we can use that money to support a ministry so others can hear about Jesus.

WHAT IT MEANS TO DENY YOURSELF

• It means to crucify the old-self and put on the new-self

• It means to stop being proud & arrogant to being humble & meek

• It means putting God’s will above your own will

• It means allowing Jesus to take the lead in our life

• It means allowing God to have His way in our life

• It means turning from selfishness and self-centered thinking

• It means making Jesus the center of your life, not self

• It means turning from the old self you used to be

• It means sacrificing personal ambitions and desire to follow Jesus

• It means practicing self-control

• It means making decisions that are in line with Christian values and goals

• It means resisting the immediate impulses and temptations of the flesh

• It means denying self in order to serve others

• It means being open to correction and criticism

• It means denying worldly values and worldly interests

BENEFITS OF DENYING SELF

• Allows us to align our will with God’s will.

• Allows us to grow in holiness and commitment to God.

• Allows us to build greater discipline and self-control.

• Allows us to grow in a closer and deeper relationship with God.

• Allows us to give our full allegiance to God

• Allows us to overcome fleshly desires of the body

• Allows us to seek the good of others above ourselves

• Allows us to love and esteem others above ourselves

• Allows us to receive correction and reproof

• Allows us to let go of things that are holding us back from experiencing God’s best

• Allows us to open ourselves up to all that God has for us

• Allows us to make healthy and sound decisions

• Allows us to recognize our own weaknesses and limitations

WHAT IT MEANS TO TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

• It means giving complete surrender & submission to God

• It means putting God’s plan, will, and work first in your life

• It means going public and on record that your a follower of Jesus

• It means putting God’s will above your own desires and needs, even when it’s difficult

• It means the willingness to suffer hardships and trials in following Jesus

• It means accepting the hardships and challenges that come with following Jesus

• It means to keep walking forward, even if you stumble and fall.

• It means to die to the sinful lusts and desires of the flesh

• It means the willingness to endure shame, reproach, rejection, betrayal, persecution, even death in order to obey God

• It means allowing God to change us and transform us into who He wants us to be