1 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:09,240 Hi and welcome to the Via Zion Sermon podcast. 2 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:12,360 We are a local church based here in Chennai, India. 3 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,880 We are so glad you are with us and hope that this will 4 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:19,360 encourage, inspire and instill fresh faith in you. 5 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:24,200 Our theme for the year 2024 is set apart, and today we look at 6 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:27,440 how God sets us apart to carry our cross. 7 00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:31,680 Jesus was open and honest with his disciples of the kind of 8 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,840 life they would be called to live should they choose to 9 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:38,400 follow Him. It's not one that's easy, but 10 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:41,360 one of great fulfillment and eternal rewards. 11 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,800 As you listen in, would you ask God to show you how better to 12 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:50,120 carry your cross and follow Jesus, his Son, into the spaces 13 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:52,720 he leads you? Hi Church. 14 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:55,800 It's such a joy and a privilege for me to bring God's Word to 15 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:58,040 you today. Even as we've been going through 16 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:01,440 this entire Lenten season, I believe God is working in and 17 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:04,160 through US, especially for those of us who are seeking God 18 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:06,920 specifically. We as a church have been meeting 19 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:10,360 every Friday here to pray. And I believe God is wanting to 20 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:12,680 do miracles. God is wanting to come through. 21 00:01:12,960 --> 00:01:16,320 God is wanting to realign a lot of things in our lives, 22 00:01:16,320 --> 00:01:19,720 especially our views, our understanding, our dependency. 23 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:24,360 And I pray even as we go into this series of BFC, Deny, carry, 24 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:28,120 follow that God will work in and through us, even as we've just 25 00:01:28,320 --> 00:01:30,720 completed the first two parts, we're going to go into the third 26 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:32,880 part. And even as I spoke about this 27 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:36,840 the previous Sunday on Deny today, we'll be seeing on 28 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,280 carrying. But even before I, you know, 29 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:42,120 start speaking, I just want to quickly say a word of prayer so 30 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:43,200 that God's word. Will. 31 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,440 Open our hearts will open our minds so that we'll be able to 32 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:50,560 receive what he has to say. So, Church can I pray especially 33 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:52,160 for those of you watching and listening. 34 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:54,560 Loving Heavenly Father, Lord, we thank you all for this time. 35 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:58,000 But I thank you that even as we are listening to your word that 36 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:00,880 you would speak to us, minister to us, I pray even as I speak, 37 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:02,400 it will be you who's speaking through me. 38 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:06,440 Go before us, Lord Jesus, that even as we receive your word, it 39 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:09,000 will bear fruit. Lord, that seed will fall in our 40 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:11,480 hearts. And in time, as we meditate, as 41 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:14,280 we put it into practice, you will see a harvest come about. 42 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:16,720 And we have to give glory and honor to your name, Your most 43 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:17,520 holy name. We pray. 44 00:02:17,920 --> 00:02:18,880 Amen. Amen. 45 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,840 Our reference passage has been from Matthew chapter 16, verses 46 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,000 24 to 26, and this is what it says. 47 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:27,720 Then Jesus said to his disciples, whoever wants to be 48 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:30,920 my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and 49 00:02:30,920 --> 00:02:33,880 follow me, for whoever wants to save their life will lose it, 50 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:36,400 but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 51 00:02:36,640 --> 00:02:40,120 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world yet 52 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:43,120 forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in 53 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:46,400 exchange for their soul? Many a times in our Christian 54 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:50,000 walk we've highlighted certain passages, certain portions of 55 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,880 the scripture, and I think as we meditate on this verse 24, it 56 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:55,880 says whoever wants to be 1 disciple. 57 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:58,120 I remember emphasizing this even last time. 58 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:01,560 If you truly want to be his disciple, you have to deny 59 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:04,040 yourself. And we saw we deny ourselves so 60 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,320 that we understand that we can reach out to Christ who first 61 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:11,160 reached out to us. We saw that our vision, if it's 62 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:14,680 one painted, if it's one which is blurry, he will clear that 63 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:16,640 vision for us when we deny ourselves. 64 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:20,120 And we also saw that when we deny ourselves, we suddenly see 65 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:22,760 others who are running this parallel race and we are 66 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:25,160 encouraged by them. But today we're going to 67 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:28,520 emphasize and look specifically into carry your cross. 68 00:03:28,920 --> 00:03:32,800 And when I say taking up your cross or carrying your cross and 69 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:36,160 amplified it says to take up our cross is expressing A 70 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:38,920 willingness to endure whatever may come. 71 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:43,400 Jesus clearly said, if you deny yourself, you have to take up 72 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,160 your cross. And the more I spent time 73 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:49,200 looking into it, each of us are carrying our own crosses. 74 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:53,600 We are so unique, each and every one of us as human beings, as in 75 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:56,840 the image bearers of Christ in this fallen world. 76 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,360 We have so many things that are happening in and through our 77 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,680 lives and we need Jesus more than ever before. 78 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:04,680 Anything. You need to take up your cross. 79 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:08,240 A lot of us today want what someone else have. 80 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:10,880 But Jesus saying, will you take up your cross? 81 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:13,840 What is it? What is in your pathway? 82 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,160 We are not called to live someone else's lives. 83 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:22,360 We oftentimes compare our lives with those of others and feel 84 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:24,280 you know what we're not. Having that same impact, we're 85 00:04:24,280 --> 00:04:27,480 not doing but God saying if you take up your own cross and 86 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:31,240 because you've denied yourself, you will start seeing things my 87 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:33,480 way. And so today, if you have to 88 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:37,160 look deeper into our own lives, you would see that this requires 89 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:40,240 a lot of hard work. It says here we have to endure. 90 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:45,560 A lot of us want to just take part cross, you know, we just 91 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,760 want to take a piece of a cross, a section of the cross, because 92 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:53,320 because we deny section of ourselves, we choose to deny and 93 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:56,040 take only part of that cross. But God is saying take up your 94 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:58,840 whole cross. That's why you'll see when you 95 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:02,960 are called to be a Christ follower the And as as soon as 96 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:05,920 you've denied yourselves, you'll see the pleasure in which we all 97 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,920 have to live by. Satan knows that we are on a 98 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:11,160 mission. Satan knows we are wanting to be 99 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,400 set apart. Satan realizes that we've chosen 100 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:17,640 to follow Jesus and no one else. And So what does he do? 101 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,640 You know the minute you commit your life to Christ, he brings 102 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:24,160 temptation after temptation. The minute you decide to follow 103 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:26,800 Jesus and you, you know. Commit to the waters of baptism. 104 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:30,000 You see treasure coming, You see persecution coming. 105 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,520 You see struggles coming. You see places which you least 106 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:36,280 expected to be struggling with become a problem. 107 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:42,280 So today can we do with the part denying and the part carrying? 108 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:45,040 It's not a part time gig. It's not a freelance gig. 109 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:50,200 It's a full time role, but God saying if you are my followers, 110 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:54,720 you fully deny yourself and you fully take up your cross. 111 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:59,040 And we see that Jesus who in fact came into this world did an 112 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:00,760 effective ministry of 3 1/2 years. 113 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,600 He was wholly committed to it. He wasn't moonlighting, he 114 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,880 wasn't doing something the side he wasn't like, you know, just 115 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:10,880 come here to do it and just figure things out. 116 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:14,080 Now he was clear. Our God is a God of clarity. 117 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:17,400 Our God is a God of clear communicator. 118 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:19,560 He tells us what he wants us to do. 119 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:22,840 Is this us who choose not to hear or choose to hear him in 120 00:06:22,840 --> 00:06:27,720 part so can we be wholly committed to this call that He's 121 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:31,120 placing on our lives? So what does Jesus want? 122 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:32,640 What does this commitment involve? 123 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,320 What is following Jesus? What is what? 124 00:06:35,320 --> 00:06:39,480 What good has it come? We see that it it's tough when 125 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:43,240 people truly repent, deny themselves and say, Lord, this 126 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:45,160 is the journey I'm committing myself to. 127 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:48,160 It's hard, but he's saying endure it because I am with you. 128 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:52,160 He's saying the nose that you're saying will be tough, but I'll 129 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:54,920 give you the grace to handle it. I'll give you the strength and 130 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:57,840 the courage to handle it. You know, even as I was 131 00:06:57,840 --> 00:07:02,560 preparing, I was, you know, I'd I'd come across this quote from 132 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,600 a person who written a book on self denial. 133 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:09,320 And this is what it says as a quote comes up on the screen. 134 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:12,560 And for those of you listening, you can listen as I read. 135 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:16,920 Not one man has ever sacrificed for his Lord without richly 136 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:20,520 being repaid. If the cross is only contrasted 137 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:24,160 with earthly pleasures, it may seem hard and threatening. 138 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,280 But when the cross is weighed in the balances with the glorious 139 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:31,800 treasures to be had through it, even the cross seems sweet. 140 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:36,880 And today, if you and I are going to only carry the cross in 141 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:41,080 contrast to what the world has to offer, it will be painful. 142 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:43,920 It will be. You will have severe form, or 143 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:46,000 you will struggle with it every day. 144 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:50,040 But if we outweigh it, as he says, as we balance it out with 145 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:55,120 eternity in mind, honestly, you know, a lot of us want to have a 146 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:59,560 clear picture of what eternity is, but eternity is 1, which we 147 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:02,680 can't fathom. It says streets will be laid 148 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:05,480 with gold. It says that we would spend 149 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:09,920 eternity praising our Father, who is only worthy enough to 150 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:12,520 break that seal. And you know, she's the one 151 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:13,800 who's going to be seated on the throne. 152 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:15,280 There's going to be worship through what? 153 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:17,840 We cannot fathom what eternity is about. 154 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:22,160 It says in eternity that we would have, you know, newer 155 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:24,680 bodies where there'll be no sickness, no pain. 156 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:31,760 Church, can we start weighing it with eternity in mind, not 157 00:08:32,159 --> 00:08:35,480 knowing that, OK, this is what we many at times want, in 158 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:39,799 assurance for what we believe and for what we are doing, if 159 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:44,159 eternity is the final goal, and that's all that we are shown 160 00:08:44,159 --> 00:08:47,480 here in this world. Can we be fully committed to 161 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:49,600 what God's calling us to be fully committed to? 162 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,080 We look at the same reference from Mark 8. 163 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:56,360 Jesus mentions this right before his death. 164 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:58,640 He says in Mark eight, chapter 34. 165 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:01,000 He says then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples 166 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:04,160 and said whoever wants to be my disciples deny themselves and 167 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:05,600 take up their cross and follow me. 168 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:08,240 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it. 169 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:11,840 But whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save 170 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:14,560 it. What good is it for someone to 171 00:09:14,560 --> 00:09:16,800 gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 172 00:09:17,560 --> 00:09:21,560 And the reason why I'm reading the 2nd portion is for the sake 173 00:09:21,560 --> 00:09:24,240 of the gospel, will we be able to lose our life? 174 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:28,160 You know, there are different extremes in which we consider 175 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:31,120 losing our lives, some who are wholly committed to the gospel. 176 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:32,960 Who? Lay down their lives here on 177 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:35,600 this earth. Their prize has been to see 178 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:37,960 Jesus face to face. We see it in the life of 179 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:42,480 Stephen. We see others who are standing 180 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:45,600 the test of time for saying I'm a Jesus follower and they are 181 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:49,480 standing strong irrespective of whatever persecution their 182 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,640 family and their loved ones are putting around. 183 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:57,040 We see people who are solely standing and God says whoever 184 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:59,680 loses their life. For me, we are not here in this 185 00:09:59,680 --> 00:10:04,800 world to preserve as much as we have hospitals and medicines and 186 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:08,760 all that. Preservation also has an expiry 187 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:12,920 date and I believe our preservation is not meant for 188 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,480 this earth. Our preservation is not meant 189 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:17,600 here. We are focused on eternity. 190 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:20,640 Everything I do is with an eternal perspective. 191 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:25,240 I was talking to one of my dear friends and he was saying, 192 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:29,080 Gesham, if you can build wealth with an eternal perspective, 193 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,720 everything changes. If you can do ministry with an 194 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:34,960 eternal perspective, everything changes. 195 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,960 If you can think of church and do things with an eternal 196 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:43,960 perspective, everything changes. So today we'll come down to the 197 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:47,920 question, how can I carry this cross? 198 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:51,320 After denying myself, we've decided we're not going to be 199 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:52,600 carrying it. In part, we're going to be 200 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:55,320 carrying it in full. So how do I carry this cross 201 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:58,280 after denying myself? When we look at the New 202 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:01,760 Testament, the imagery of a cross comes right when Jesus was 203 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:04,560 being crucified. And as a lead up to Good Friday, 204 00:11:04,560 --> 00:11:07,560 I know a lot of emphasis is given around the cross, the 205 00:11:07,560 --> 00:11:11,640 weight at which it was the. Wood that it was made and all 206 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:14,800 that, but when you look at the Roman culture, they send the 207 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:17,120 person who did wrong to the cross. 208 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:20,640 The personal probably stood up to them when there was mutiny 209 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:23,920 where they were against what was the law of the land. 210 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:27,360 And so someone was condemned and sent to the cross. 211 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:31,720 Someone was sent to the cross so that they they they'll feel 212 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:34,360 remorse, they'll be shame, they'll be, you know, they'll be 213 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:36,760 a spectacle to people who are watching so that others will 214 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:41,640 have fear they were punished for their wrong. 215 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:47,640 The one which the Romans used in terms of cross was one of shame. 216 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:49,920 We also see the weightiness of it. 217 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:55,120 It wasn't an easy suffering. It was a suffering which was 218 00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:59,440 literally crumbling. Every blood vessel in your body, 219 00:11:59,680 --> 00:12:02,560 it literally exhausted you, pulled you, drained you. 220 00:12:02,560 --> 00:12:05,560 Literally. So even as we see this, a lot of 221 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:08,520 us are scared by the figure of a cross. 222 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:13,240 But I wanted to highlight three things as to why Jesus wants us 223 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,840 to carry our own crosses. And so, as we look into it, I 224 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:19,000 believe God wants to speak to us. 225 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:22,520 The first thing that I want to emphasize is the fact that we 226 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:25,440 carry our own crosses with no condemnation. 227 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:29,000 We carry our own crosses with no condemnation. 228 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:32,280 The minute we deny ourselves and we are asked to take up a cross, 229 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:35,680 we are not condemned in carrying our own crosses. 230 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:39,520 There was a man who went before. Us, the one who died on our 231 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:42,880 behalf, He knew no sin. He was born of a virgin. 232 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,040 He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 233 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:46,880 He did not sin here on this earth. 234 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:50,720 He received the Holy Spirit on obedience, and as He did 235 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:53,760 miracles, He went to the cross for you and me. 236 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:57,360 He who did not sin was condemned. 237 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:04,200 And so when He died, he was this sacrificial lamb that was paid 238 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:09,120 once and for all. And so today, you and I, we 239 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:11,760 don't have to walk in that condemnation of that of a cross. 240 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:15,400 We cannot let go of what our past is. 241 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:18,440 There are a lot of things that are associated with our past. 242 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:20,680 There are a lot of things that we are probably living out the 243 00:13:20,680 --> 00:13:22,960 consequences of some of the choices we made. 244 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:26,280 But Jesus saying, now that you're following me, you can 245 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:28,920 follow me and carry it with no condemnation. 246 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:32,240 What does condemnation actually mean? 247 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:37,720 It means to criticize someone strongly for moral reasons. 248 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:41,640 And I believe a lot of us today are walking our Christian lives 249 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:44,320 with condemnation. We've not forgiven ourselves, 250 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,920 Jesus saying, I've forgiven you. Move on. 251 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:50,720 Carry it. Carry it. 252 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:55,040 We think it's one of suffering Jesus suffered on that cross 253 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:58,560 once and for all. There's no pilgrimage we need to 254 00:13:58,560 --> 00:14:00,560 set out to. There's nothing that I can do 255 00:14:00,560 --> 00:14:05,520 enough to earn it. Romans chapter 8 goes on to say 256 00:14:05,680 --> 00:14:08,080 verses 1 to 8. There is therefore no 257 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:11,320 condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through 258 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:15,280 Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set 259 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:18,280 you free from the law of sin and death for what the law was 260 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:21,680 powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did 261 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:24,840 by sending his own Son, the likeness of sinful flesh, to be 262 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:28,160 a sin offering. And so he condemns sin in the. 263 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:30,000 Flesh. In order that the righteous 264 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:34,200 requirement of the law may be fulfilled, met in US who do not 265 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:38,160 live according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 266 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:43,000 So today when we carry a cross, we have no condemnation because 267 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:47,800 we are in Christ Jesus and because we are in Christ Jesus, 268 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:51,800 we don't live by ourselves, we live by the Holy Spirit. 269 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:55,800 I love the fact that last year we just finished an entire whole 270 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:58,240 bunch of series about being dependent on the Holy Spirit 271 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:00,960 catching the wind, and it's putting it into practice. 272 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,720 So today, if you feel condemnation on the cross, 273 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:06,840 condemnation and carrying your own cross, you need to ask the 274 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:10,600 Holy Spirit to come show which area he needs to touch you, 275 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:13,320 which area he needs to work. In and through you. 276 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:17,760 One of the examples we see from Pauls life is when he accepted 277 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:20,280 Jesus Christ. When he met and encountered 278 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:24,600 Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, we see that he didn't 279 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:28,440 pursue the call of his Christian life in condemnation. 280 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:31,360 He pursued it in freedom. It's in Jesus. 281 00:15:31,480 --> 00:15:33,960 He found freedom once and for all. 282 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:36,920 Remember, a guy who's actually going around killing Christians 283 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:40,280 because they followed Jesus? Suddenly, who became a Jesus 284 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:42,920 follower is doing what God's called him to do, with no 285 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,640 condemnation. We too can experience that 286 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:51,320 freedom carrying our own cross. And even as he writes to the 287 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:55,080 Roman Church, he's assuring them to not walk in condemnation. 288 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:57,520 He could have gone back. He could have, you know, sat 289 00:15:57,520 --> 00:15:59,920 back in that guilt. He could have, you know, been in 290 00:15:59,920 --> 00:16:03,800 that place where you know what I did so much wrong over here. 291 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:07,880 But that's what Jesus does. He sets us free. 292 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:13,160 So today, as we carry across, may we walk with the renewed 293 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:17,800 sense of approval that comes when we are in Jesus, and which 294 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:20,400 comes because the Holy Spirit is guiding us. 295 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:22,480 And I don't want us to just stop with Jesus. 296 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:25,080 I wanted to come to the everyday aspect of it. 297 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:28,840 Where we come walking knowing that the Holy Spirit is living 298 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:32,240 in and through us, is because without Him we won't be able to 299 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:35,640 overcome so many of the things that are in front of us. 300 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:41,640 My past shaped me and caused me to be weak and live in sin, but 301 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:44,320 my hope has given me life and I walk in freedom. 302 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:48,320 Whatever the weight of our cross looks like, in Jesus we are 303 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:51,600 free, so he will give us the grace to carry it. 304 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:53,440 So today you might be like, you know what? 305 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:54,960 I'm coming from a broken family. You know what? 306 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:58,360 I didn't have the right parents to who brought me in the right 307 00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:00,760 environment. Whatever your circumstances is. 308 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:03,840 Or you know what? I've had such severe crisis with 309 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:05,680 regard to relationships. Or you know what? 310 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,920 My identity is so messed up. But when you give your life to 311 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:11,640 Jesus, when you deny yourself, what do we deny? 312 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:14,640 We deny our flesh. We deny everything that causes 313 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:18,800 us to desire something which is not of Jesus, which causes us to 314 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:22,599 desire something which you know, which just benefits me for a 315 00:17:22,599 --> 00:17:26,560 short duration and doesn't help me make a decision with eternity 316 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:30,600 in mind. As we read in Romans 8 verses 26 317 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:33,960 to 28, this is what the Holy Spirit helps us to do, and the 318 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:36,120 Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. 319 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,240 For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for, but 320 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:42,280 the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be 321 00:17:42,280 --> 00:17:45,000 expressed in words. And the Father, who knows all 322 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:48,360 hearts, knows that the Spirit is saying For the Spirit please for 323 00:17:48,360 --> 00:17:50,960 us believers in harmony with God's own will. 324 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:54,120 And we know that God causes everything to work together for 325 00:17:54,120 --> 00:17:57,920 good, for those of who love God and are called according to his 326 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:01,600 purpose for them and the emphasis of praying in the 327 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:03,960 Spirit. For those of you who've received 328 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:06,560 the gift of speaking in tongues, speak it out. 329 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:10,920 There is a time in life and we cannot just pray with words 330 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:14,520 which we find difficult to comprehend, to put together. 331 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:19,080 Find that space. Ask God got a desire for me, is 332 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:21,920 for me to speak it out in tongues, because the situation 333 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:26,880 is so dire, is so broken that I need you desperately. 334 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:31,480 The Holy Spirit plays a pivotal role. 335 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:36,360 There's a great confidence that God works in and through us for 336 00:18:36,360 --> 00:18:38,840 those who love God, for those who are called according to His 337 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:42,880 plan and purpose. So even as I read from Romans 338 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:48,080 826. We see that it's in this we find 339 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:51,000 fulfillment. We see God working everything 340 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:54,320 out together for good. Yes, it might take six years 341 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:57,080 later you are able to see, wow, this is the reason why God 342 00:18:57,080 --> 00:18:59,160 allowed this. This is the reason why I see God 343 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:03,160 working and then through me we see later, Oh, This is why I can 344 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:06,440 see certain things happening in my life and we give God the 345 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:08,520 glory. That's what happens when we 346 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:11,240 decide to carry a cross denying ourselves. 347 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:14,240 And you're carrying the cross with no condemnation. 348 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:19,520 If you're walking condemned, we will put our head down. 349 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:21,600 We will be ashamed of the gospel. 350 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:24,360 We will not experience the freedom that God gives. 351 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:27,480 And we see that in Joseph's life, when we see his life. 352 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:32,280 He was a guy who was prideful, you know, because he was 353 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:38,640 favoured, because his mum was loved most than the other wives 354 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:42,000 of his father. He got a Technicolor quote. 355 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:44,880 He got something which other brothers didn't have. 356 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,840 He moved. He stayed back when he wasn't 357 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:51,200 allowed to even go out and be a shepherd. 358 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:55,840 And we see everything turn around, but we see the instances 359 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:58,360 where life actually happened for him. 360 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:02,400 He was sold. There was an element of God 361 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:04,920 working in it through him. The fear of God was in his life. 362 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:07,880 As we see things happen, there comes a point when he reveals 363 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:12,000 himself to his brothers and he recalls everything that has 364 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:15,880 happened in his life is for God. Genesis 50, verses 19 to 20. 365 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:17,680 But Joseph said to them, don't be afraid. 366 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:19,920 I'm. High in the place of God. 367 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:23,240 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to 368 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:27,000 accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 369 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:30,000 And I believe that's the life story of all of us. 370 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:35,880 A lot of us are going through hardships because God intends us 371 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:40,160 to see greater things happen through our struggles, so that 372 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:42,840 His plan and His purposes will be fulfilled. 373 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:45,560 When we walk with no condemnation, we are in 374 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:49,400 submission to Him to say, God, I'm accomplishing your plan and 375 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:52,400 purpose. That's why I will enjoy that 376 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:54,560 freedom. And so today, would you walk in 377 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:56,800 that freedom that comes when you're asked to carry your 378 00:20:56,800 --> 00:20:59,280 cross? Would you stop condemning 379 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:01,000 yourself? Would you stop selling yourself 380 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:03,440 short? Would you stop saying, you know 381 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:05,600 what? I don't think Jesus cares for 382 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:07,000 me. No, he does. 383 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:12,160 For those of you who've been part denying and part carrying, 384 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:15,040 you will feel the heaviness of the cross and you would move 385 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:18,160 towards the world, towards what the world offers you. 386 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:21,360 But I would plead with you, if you can come to a place of 387 00:21:21,360 --> 00:21:23,360 saying God, I wholly give myself to you. 388 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:29,720 I deny myself, help me carry my cross with no condemnation. 389 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:34,200 The second thing that we see is when we carry our own crosses. 390 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:36,080 We need to carry it the Jesus way. 391 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:40,640 And what's that? With humility you'll see you'll 392 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:46,040 come across a lot of people who carry the cross and they make it 393 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:49,840 all about themselves. You can just all you have to do 394 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:55,040 is how did your day go. And they just start talking 395 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:58,840 about how their entire week has been one which was they they are 396 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:02,120 unable to find God leading them through those weeks. 397 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:07,680 I meet people time and again who magnify of things not going 398 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:09,240 right. The hardships that have gone. 399 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:12,640 They fail to understand that this is what God did in my week. 400 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:15,320 Our highlights have to be different. 401 00:22:16,120 --> 00:22:20,400 You know, one of the things when we as video creators are called 402 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:23,760 to edit videos, you know, especially of events and things 403 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:25,560 that have happened, we do a highlight tree, which is 404 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:28,320 basically we take the best portions and we show. 405 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:33,200 And I feel many of the times we as Christians want to come 406 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:36,760 across as humble and, you know, think that our lives are human, 407 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:40,000 that we talk about our suffering far more than what God is 408 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:43,760 actually doing. God is actually doing so much in 409 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,760 and through our lives. That's why I constantly feel we 410 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:50,640 need to have the right lens for us to see in humility. 411 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:53,960 If we understand, we'll realize God, I don't really deserve 412 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:56,720 this, but thank you for working this out for me in my life. 413 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:02,720 Jesus committed no crime. Jesus committed no sin. 414 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:07,320 He did not deserve the cross. Yet with all humility, he 415 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:09,280 carried the cross that was destined for him. 416 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:13,920 And so today, a lot of us with have to carry our own crosses 417 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:18,080 with humility, which means things that have happened and 418 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:22,600 things that we're going through. When we say God, as I follow you 419 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:25,120 in all humility, I'm carrying this. 420 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:27,280 I'm not carrying it out of my strength. 421 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:31,240 I'm not carrying it out of being a macho and appearing that I 422 00:23:31,240 --> 00:23:34,760 have everything going right. For those of us who are 423 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:39,200 intentional about carrying the cross the way Jesus did, we'll 424 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:41,520 realize soon that we'll be misunderstood. 425 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:44,880 We'll be looking foolish to the world's eye. 426 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:48,360 We'll realize that you know what? 427 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:49,920 There's nothing to show about it. 428 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:53,280 We just learn to enjoy the peace that surpasses all 429 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:57,760 understanding, and I believe that's where the Holy Spirit is 430 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:01,640 needed the most in our lives. Jesus could do everything 431 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:03,920 because he was full of the Spirit. 432 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:07,480 You and I, if you have to do this life, have to do it because 433 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:12,400 we are filled with His spirit, James chapter 4 verses 6 to 10 434 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:15,160 goes on to say. But he gives us more and more 435 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:18,280 grace through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin. 436 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:22,760 And live in an obedient life that reflects both our faith and 437 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:26,240 our gratitude for our salvation. Therefore, it says, God is 438 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:29,200 opposed to the proud and haughty, but continually gives 439 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:33,520 the gift of grace to the humble. Who turn away from self 440 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:36,880 righteousness. So submit to the authority of 441 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:38,960 God. Resist the devil, stand firm 442 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:41,360 against him and he will flee from you. 443 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:44,640 Come close to God with a contrite heart and he'll come 444 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:46,840 close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, 445 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:49,840 purify your unfaithful hearts and double minor people. 446 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:53,320 Be miserable and grieve and weep over your sin. 447 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:56,640 Let your foolish laughter be turned into mourning and your 448 00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:59,360 reckless joy to gloom. Humble yourselves with an 449 00:24:59,360 --> 00:25:03,120 attitude of repentance and insignificance in the presence 450 00:25:03,120 --> 00:25:05,280 of the Lord, and He will exalt you. 451 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:08,880 He will lift you up. He will give you the purpose. 452 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:11,960 So today, when you're carrying the cross, the Jesus way, you 453 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:15,680 carried, as I mentioned, with the help of the Holy Spirit. 454 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:19,240 You cannot take the Holy Spirit and try carrying it alone, but I 455 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:23,920 believe our carrying our. Own cross comes out of a place 456 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:28,400 of humility, and that humility is because we have an attitude 457 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:33,320 of repentance and an attitude of insignificance because a 458 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:38,120 significant one is the only one person who's Jesus. 459 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:43,640 You know, we all want to feel significant. 460 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:50,440 We all want to feel significant. And that's something we 461 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:56,440 constantly have to be killing our own inner man. 462 00:25:57,160 --> 00:26:01,640 And it's tough because it's like those, you know, the that game 463 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:04,080 which is there in the arcade where these monkeys keep popping 464 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:05,600 up and keep hitting it with the hammer. 465 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:08,600 It keeps cropping up time and again. 466 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:14,000 And so today, can we walk the Jesus way by carrying our cross 467 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:19,480 in humility. It reflects both our faith and 468 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:24,120 our gratitude of our salvation. A humbleness in which we walk in 469 00:26:24,360 --> 00:26:28,240 is a reflection of the salvation we received. 470 00:26:29,120 --> 00:26:33,200 And it's also about our faith to say God, I trust you alone. 471 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:37,360 There's no one else I trust and I hold on to you alone. 472 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:41,480 I hold on to you alone. Grace to carry a cross in 473 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:44,200 humbleness because our dependency is on him. 474 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:48,640 God gives grace to the humble. He turns us from our self 475 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:52,240 righteousness. He he turns us from a place of 476 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:55,240 just us, trying to justify everything. 477 00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:59,400 And as we read this, there's a visible submission to the 478 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:03,640 authority of God. A lot of us that's that's 479 00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:07,120 directly proportional to the visible submission that we see 480 00:27:07,120 --> 00:27:11,080 that happens in and around us. If we are unable to submit to 481 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:14,400 things that God's asking us to submit, we will struggle to 482 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:17,080 submit to God. What is submission to God? 483 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:19,280 Looks like? It's like God, I'm doing it your 484 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:21,640 way. I'm seeing your Kingdom, and I'm 485 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:24,880 like, if this is what God wants me to do, this is where I will 486 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:26,840 do it at. This is how I'll do it at. 487 00:27:27,320 --> 00:27:30,280 So today let's kill that selfishness. 488 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:34,200 Just because we're following Jesus doesn't mean we get things 489 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:37,240 done our way. Just because we're serving Jesus 490 00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:38,960 doesn't mean we get things done our way. 491 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:42,800 We need to learn to submit because the overarching plan is 492 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:47,280 by God. A lot of us think, you know, we 493 00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:50,240 all are leaders, yes. But in in the body of Christ 494 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:54,760 there is this beautiful synergy, beautiful rhythm that's working 495 00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:57,520 out where we work in submission with one another. 496 00:27:58,360 --> 00:28:03,560 And I believe as we do that we will see God's glory being 497 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:06,000 magnified. We'll see things happen and 498 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:07,760 we'll say, Lord, this is all because of you. 499 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:10,760 There can be no pride in that place. 500 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:14,120 And so today I pray, even in US carrying that cross, every form 501 00:28:14,120 --> 00:28:18,760 of arrogance and significance will be replaced with repentance 502 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:22,120 and insignificance because it's he who lifts us up. 503 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:25,280 We don't lift ourselves up today. 504 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:28,760 The the, the, the algorithm things it, you know, if you do 505 00:28:28,960 --> 00:28:32,560 ABCD it will push content to everything and we'll be there. 506 00:28:32,920 --> 00:28:34,720 But God saying would you just do it? 507 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:38,120 Even if there's no algorithm at work, would you do it, even if 508 00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:40,440 it's just touching that one person that I'm calling you to 509 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:44,600 speak to? So maybe carry our cross with an 510 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:47,480 attitude of repentance and insignificance. 511 00:28:47,760 --> 00:28:49,920 Lord, let not my will, but your will be done. 512 00:28:50,240 --> 00:28:52,360 We make everything about ourselves. 513 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:55,280 Everything has to be in the comfort of us. 514 00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:58,160 But Jesus saying, when you carry your cross, you're carrying it 515 00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:00,760 my way. Inconveniences will come. 516 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:04,960 I will stretch you. I will ask you to give up that 517 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:07,960 one hour for someone else. Would you do it with all 518 00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:10,560 humility? Would you do it with all 519 00:29:10,560 --> 00:29:13,480 humility? Would you do it knowing that I 520 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:17,200 will be glorified and I'll use you as a tool? 521 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:20,360 And so today, God wants us to come to that place. 522 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:24,240 Even this last week I was with a person and you know, they were 523 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:28,000 sharing. Of they had come for a gathering 524 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:33,840 where they at that time Hungary was a communist country in 1989 525 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:37,560 and she was a young college going kid who was passionate 526 00:29:37,560 --> 00:29:40,920 about doing children's ministry. And as she was talking she said 527 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:46,440 that time I got preyed upon by so many people and the heaviness 528 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:48,840 of us being in a country which is communist Bureau, you don't 529 00:29:48,840 --> 00:29:50,960 have the freedom to share about Jesus. 530 00:29:52,520 --> 00:29:56,440 And she's saying today, when I AM 65 years old, I'm standing 531 00:29:56,440 --> 00:30:00,520 here and I'm able to go and pray in all humility for others who 532 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:03,560 are in restricted countries because. 533 00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:07,440 Of what I've received, of what I've received. 534 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:10,120 And as she was speaking, that caught my attention. 535 00:30:10,120 --> 00:30:14,600 Because that vision, understanding that and seeing 536 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:19,880 that will only come when we are walking with humility else, self 537 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:21,720 arrogance else. You know what? 538 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:24,600 This is bound to happen. We will belittle it. 539 00:30:25,760 --> 00:30:29,320 But because you're walking in repentance, we understand the 540 00:30:29,320 --> 00:30:32,200 power of repentance. We understand that Jesus. 541 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:34,960 I don't have it right. It's interesting when Paul 542 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:38,440 writes, he says the more further I come closer to Christ, the 543 00:30:38,440 --> 00:30:42,240 more of a Sinner reveals its itself out. 544 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:44,080 I see that I'm I need more of him. 545 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:48,360 I need more forgiveness because so many areas in my life still 546 00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:55,280 has a lot of self to carry across with humility means to 547 00:30:55,280 --> 00:31:00,400 say Jesus, I'm here. I'm here so that I will operate 548 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:02,000 out of an attitude of repentance. 549 00:31:02,680 --> 00:31:07,560 And out of an attitude of insignificance, the third thing 550 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:12,040 we saw that carrying a cross we carry it with no condemnation. 551 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:15,560 Secondly, so we carry the Jesus way, one of humility. 552 00:31:15,920 --> 00:31:22,400 The third, we carry the cross our own crosses from a place of 553 00:31:22,400 --> 00:31:29,600 rest, from the place of rest. Carrying a cross is not making a 554 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:30,440 show of. It. 555 00:31:31,320 --> 00:31:33,000 But it's operating out for place of rest. 556 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:37,360 A spirit man is at rest. I love when I read verses in the 557 00:31:37,360 --> 00:31:41,960 Bible it says my soul is at rest because I know my creator 558 00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:45,160 Jeremiah chapter 6, verse 16 says this is what the Lord says. 559 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:46,800 Stand at the crossroads and look. 560 00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:50,960 Ask for the ancient paths. Ask where the good way is and 561 00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:54,280 walk in it. You will find rest for your 562 00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:57,000 souls. But you said we will not. 563 00:31:57,040 --> 00:32:00,560 Walk in it. And it goes on to say why the 564 00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:05,480 Israelites didn't want to walk on that path, even this year as 565 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:08,760 as a friend of mine just called and he was encouraging me. 566 00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:10,600 And he said, Geshom, you're going to go. 567 00:32:11,360 --> 00:32:13,840 Ancient paths will come across your way. 568 00:32:14,480 --> 00:32:16,760 God's asking you to go ahead. And take it He had a prophetic 569 00:32:16,760 --> 00:32:19,120 word. And I remember when he said that 570 00:32:19,360 --> 00:32:22,480 I was like God, what? And I, as I was reading it, 571 00:32:22,840 --> 00:32:28,360 there will be crossroads where we come, God's asking us. 572 00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:32,240 Take the path which he's asking us to take, where his people 573 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:36,000 have walked earlier, where his people have sustained their 574 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:39,560 faith journey till the end. What does that look like? 575 00:32:39,800 --> 00:32:43,800 The times can be different, but when the path when you're taking 576 00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:46,840 is 1, where your eyes are focused on Jesus, where you're 577 00:32:46,840 --> 00:32:48,200 carrying your cross and you're saying. 578 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:52,240 I want to operate out of a place where my soul is at rest. 579 00:32:53,080 --> 00:32:57,920 We often times don't talk about a soul, but in this world, our 580 00:32:57,920 --> 00:33:01,880 soul is downcast because of so many things that are happening 581 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:05,280 around us. Anxiety causes our soul to be 582 00:33:05,280 --> 00:33:09,840 downcast and then causes it to manifest in terms of our body, 583 00:33:09,840 --> 00:33:13,800 in terms of different areas of our life, our soul is not at 584 00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:16,440 peace. We say our spirit is not at 585 00:33:16,440 --> 00:33:20,480 peace, and many a times we, you know, we we we add. 586 00:33:20,480 --> 00:33:23,200 We create a layer of a climate around our spirit, and we 587 00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:27,520 control that. But oftentimes we do everything. 588 00:33:27,560 --> 00:33:31,880 We change the physical, we change our emotional state, but 589 00:33:31,880 --> 00:33:38,200 our soul is still not at peace. Maybe come to a place of saying 590 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:41,240 God, I want to. Carry the cross out of a place 591 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:47,000 of rest or my soul is at rest. We are trying to innovate our 592 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:50,880 way in carrying the cross. Jesus is saying you don't have 593 00:33:50,880 --> 00:33:53,080 to innovate, you just have to listen and do. 594 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:57,280 The Israelites struggle to listen and obey what God had 595 00:33:57,280 --> 00:33:59,840 called them. So inherently, there's a problem 596 00:33:59,840 --> 00:34:03,800 for those who follow God where we choose to do things our way. 597 00:34:04,680 --> 00:34:07,560 We feel because the world is talking about innovation a lot. 598 00:34:07,560 --> 00:34:11,760 Because the world is talking about working smart a lot, we 599 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:14,560 are figuring ways in which we need to carry the cross in a 600 00:34:14,560 --> 00:34:17,800 smarter way. No, we are carrying the cross 601 00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:22,600 the way Jesus wanted us to carry it, where our soul is at rest. 602 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:25,239 But we're not hustling. We're not, you know, we're not 603 00:34:25,239 --> 00:34:26,440 like, oh, you know, we need to do that. 604 00:34:26,440 --> 00:34:28,960 We need to do this. We're not, you know, jittery. 605 00:34:29,400 --> 00:34:33,880 We are focused and we're like, God, lead me through this path, 606 00:34:34,560 --> 00:34:38,520 lead me so that my soul will be at rest, so that it won't be 607 00:34:38,520 --> 00:34:40,880 downcast. Which means I need to dwell 608 00:34:40,880 --> 00:34:44,159 deeper in the Bible. The more you read, when you see, 609 00:34:44,159 --> 00:34:47,480 when the Psalmist writes, when the prophets write, they say 610 00:34:47,480 --> 00:34:50,199 their soul is at rest. When they're meditating on God's 611 00:34:50,199 --> 00:34:54,199 word, when they allow God's Word to permeate, it's like a drip 612 00:34:54,199 --> 00:34:58,360 coffee where you allow it to slowly infuse through that paper 613 00:34:58,360 --> 00:35:04,680 and it falls. It's got the essence, It's got 614 00:35:05,320 --> 00:35:10,240 life in it to change us. And Jesus wants us to find that. 615 00:35:11,440 --> 00:35:17,040 What does ancient Path teach us? We see that those who led it LED 616 00:35:17,040 --> 00:35:20,440 it depending on God solely. Moses, who had to lead the 617 00:35:20,440 --> 00:35:24,600 people to the Promised Land, LED it knowing that only God can 618 00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:27,440 take him through. Joshua was able to settle in the 619 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:30,960 Promised Land and fight all those battles because God was 620 00:35:30,960 --> 00:35:33,880 with him. Caleb, son of Japhne, was able 621 00:35:33,880 --> 00:35:38,040 to occupy the land because he had a different spirit in him. 622 00:35:39,080 --> 00:35:42,720 Samuel finished the work of a prophet that says that there was 623 00:35:42,720 --> 00:35:44,240 no other prophet like him before. 624 00:35:45,120 --> 00:35:47,480 What do we learn from our ancient paths? 625 00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:52,560 We learn what not to do. We see from the life of Saul. 626 00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:54,800 He was ahead above, which means he had height. 627 00:35:54,960 --> 00:35:57,200 He was good looking, but he didn't finish well. 628 00:35:58,160 --> 00:36:02,640 We see what we have to give up. Places where God does not want 629 00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:04,040 us to be. We don't have to be. 630 00:36:04,600 --> 00:36:07,080 We move on. We move on. 631 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:11,400 We keep ourselves glued to what God's calling us to do. 632 00:36:12,360 --> 00:36:16,160 We learn from those who've gone in the ancient parts of what the 633 00:36:16,160 --> 00:36:19,440 power of prayer is, why we need to pray through difficult 634 00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:22,040 situations, why we can only pray through. 635 00:36:22,920 --> 00:36:25,200 We always are looking to be prayed over. 636 00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:28,960 But God's saying, would you pray yourself through the situation? 637 00:36:30,240 --> 00:36:33,200 Well, how do we fight it out? How did the people who've taken 638 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:36,400 this ancient path fight it out? How did they hold on to their 639 00:36:36,400 --> 00:36:39,800 faith? How do they hold on to their 640 00:36:39,800 --> 00:36:43,120 conviction? Many a times we struggle to, you 641 00:36:43,120 --> 00:36:45,080 know, stand up for our own convictions. 642 00:36:45,080 --> 00:36:47,320 We think others have to testify for our conviction. 643 00:36:47,320 --> 00:36:51,080 No, we have to be bold enough to say this is what I believe in. 644 00:36:53,040 --> 00:36:56,920 We learn from others who walk this ancient path of what pride 645 00:36:56,920 --> 00:37:02,160 can do, because many a times we make it about ourselves and 646 00:37:02,160 --> 00:37:05,280 carrying this cross that we start erecting our own poles in 647 00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:08,920 different places. We established compound walls 648 00:37:08,920 --> 00:37:14,160 and gates and you know, fortresses thinking this is our 649 00:37:14,160 --> 00:37:18,640 Kingdom. But God's saying, would you walk 650 00:37:20,160 --> 00:37:23,720 and carry a cross in a place of rest where your soul is at rest? 651 00:37:23,720 --> 00:37:26,600 Because when your soul is at rest, you're at peace with 652 00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:29,840 yourself. You're always in a mode of 653 00:37:29,840 --> 00:37:32,000 learning. You don't want to repeat the 654 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:35,760 same mistakes others have done. Your dependency is solely on 655 00:37:35,760 --> 00:37:40,000 Christ. We walk, you know, as as 656 00:37:41,040 --> 00:37:44,720 youngsters, as people who are, you know, in the forefront of 657 00:37:44,880 --> 00:37:47,200 leading others. Many times we say we say these 658 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:48,240 words. You know we're standing on the 659 00:37:48,240 --> 00:37:50,000 shoulders of others who've gone before us. 660 00:37:51,080 --> 00:37:54,200 But many times we are looking for just. 661 00:37:55,120 --> 00:37:57,840 Ground where we can stand and say this is who we are. 662 00:37:57,840 --> 00:38:01,480 But God saying, would you be willing to lay down and say if 663 00:38:01,520 --> 00:38:05,120 my soul is at rest, I don't care whoever gets the glory as. 664 00:38:05,120 --> 00:38:09,080 Long as God gets the glory. So today the weight of carrying 665 00:38:09,080 --> 00:38:12,400 this is real. The weight of carrying the cross 666 00:38:12,400 --> 00:38:15,600 is heavy. That's why repentance is 667 00:38:15,600 --> 00:38:18,920 important because we many a times try it in our flesh. 668 00:38:18,920 --> 00:38:21,880 And God saying, will you allow me to be in control? 669 00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:26,360 We feel unworthy. We say God with my past. 670 00:38:26,520 --> 00:38:30,400 This is not I I don't think I'm worthy enough for Jesus saying I 671 00:38:30,400 --> 00:38:33,880 have made you worthy. You can carry the cross. 672 00:38:34,760 --> 00:38:39,200 As we read, we read from Matthew Chapter 11, verses 20 to 29. 673 00:38:39,480 --> 00:38:43,280 Come to me, all of you are weary and heavily burdened by 674 00:38:43,280 --> 00:38:46,240 religious rituals that provide no peace, and I will give you 675 00:38:46,240 --> 00:38:49,120 rest, refreshing your souls with salvation. 676 00:38:49,800 --> 00:38:52,680 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, following me as my 677 00:38:52,680 --> 00:38:55,000 disciple. For I'm gentle and humble in 678 00:38:55,000 --> 00:38:59,280 heart, and you will find rest, renewable, blessed, quiet for 679 00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:01,960 your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, My 680 00:39:01,960 --> 00:39:05,760 burden is light, you know, even as right now, as you watch this 681 00:39:05,760 --> 00:39:08,800 clip, you're going to watch this clip where this farmer is 682 00:39:08,800 --> 00:39:12,360 actually taking the yoke and putting it on top of two oxes. 683 00:39:13,240 --> 00:39:16,960 And even as I was filming this. I and as I was preparing, I was 684 00:39:16,960 --> 00:39:20,320 reminded of the scene because I just filmed it like 8-9 months 685 00:39:20,320 --> 00:39:23,040 back. And as I was seeing this, I I 686 00:39:23,040 --> 00:39:26,800 was reminded many a times, we want to push away God who's the 687 00:39:26,800 --> 00:39:29,360 one who's walking next to us, the other person. 688 00:39:29,760 --> 00:39:32,080 And I think we'll carry this. OK, we want to make it all about 689 00:39:32,080 --> 00:39:36,000 ourselves, of how we've achieved it, but God's saying if you want 690 00:39:36,000 --> 00:39:41,600 to have your souls refreshed with salvation, if you want. 691 00:39:42,040 --> 00:39:46,360 To. See an operator of a place of 692 00:39:46,360 --> 00:39:49,000 rest, which is renewal and blessed quietness. 693 00:39:49,960 --> 00:39:53,080 We need to learn to share. The beautiful thing about Jesus 694 00:39:53,080 --> 00:39:58,040 coming alongside us is as we carry our cross is that he will 695 00:39:58,040 --> 00:39:59,680 walk at the pace that we are walking. 696 00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:05,200 He will tell us to stop here. Rest you don't have to prove 697 00:40:05,200 --> 00:40:08,120 yourself. Allow my spirit to guide you to 698 00:40:08,120 --> 00:40:13,360 be with you. We will see that this. 699 00:40:13,720 --> 00:40:17,000 Yoke that is on us will suddenly seem lighter. 700 00:40:17,840 --> 00:40:21,680 And soon, even though we are carrying across our own crosses, 701 00:40:21,680 --> 00:40:24,280 our own things that we're dealing with, we will still be 702 00:40:24,280 --> 00:40:25,720 on mission. We'll be able to do all that 703 00:40:25,720 --> 00:40:28,400 he's called us to do. The worst that's explained here. 704 00:40:28,400 --> 00:40:32,440 We see in Acts 15 where Peter is talking to the group of 705 00:40:32,440 --> 00:40:35,080 Christian, Jewish, Christian, he says let's not impose things on 706 00:40:35,080 --> 00:40:37,160 the Gentiles, let's not create a yoke on them. 707 00:40:37,360 --> 00:40:41,760 And so today, whatever you have in terms of church art, in terms 708 00:40:41,760 --> 00:40:46,520 of this is what the church has done, Can we take a step back 709 00:40:46,520 --> 00:40:50,360 and say, but Jesus, I'm committing myself to you. 710 00:40:50,680 --> 00:40:53,320 I'm not committing myself to a church, to a leader, to another 711 00:40:53,320 --> 00:40:55,680 person. I'm committing myself to you. 712 00:40:55,920 --> 00:40:58,160 I don't want someone else. I don't want my therapist to 713 00:40:58,160 --> 00:41:00,880 carry my yoke and walk. I don't want my spouse to carry 714 00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:03,040 my yoke and walk. I don't want my child to carry 715 00:41:03,040 --> 00:41:05,600 my yoke and walk. I don't want my friend to carry 716 00:41:05,600 --> 00:41:09,000 my yoke and walk. I don't want my friend to carry 717 00:41:09,000 --> 00:41:12,680 my You can walk my live in partner to be carrying this yoke 718 00:41:12,680 --> 00:41:14,720 and walking. I don't want this person. 719 00:41:14,720 --> 00:41:16,800 I'm having a feeling to be the one who's carrying me. 720 00:41:16,960 --> 00:41:20,640 I want you to carry. She will guide you. 721 00:41:20,640 --> 00:41:23,800 You'll soon realize there's only a certain distance. 722 00:41:23,800 --> 00:41:26,440 When you start allowing Jesus to carry, he'll allow you to take a 723 00:41:26,440 --> 00:41:30,120 lead, but then he'll remind hey, I'm not coming there at that 724 00:41:30,120 --> 00:41:32,480 pace. Would you wait on me? 725 00:41:33,360 --> 00:41:36,480 We will see certain breakthroughs stalled because we 726 00:41:36,480 --> 00:41:38,040 are trying to push in a different direction. 727 00:41:38,040 --> 00:41:40,040 But Jesus will be like, wait on it. 728 00:41:40,480 --> 00:41:42,240 I know when is a good time to give it to you. 729 00:41:44,240 --> 00:41:48,920 And I believe God wants us to walk to a place of wholeness, 730 00:41:49,320 --> 00:41:53,200 walk to a place of seeing Jesus be glorified. 731 00:41:55,160 --> 00:41:57,000 So church, even as they're close, I just want to pray 732 00:41:57,000 --> 00:42:00,800 specifically that even as we all carry our own crosses, we'll be 733 00:42:00,800 --> 00:42:05,760 carrying it with humility. We'll be carrying it with one 734 00:42:05,760 --> 00:42:09,280 which says, Lord, I'm right now at the place where I want to be 735 00:42:09,280 --> 00:42:13,200 repentant. And I want to be at a place, but 736 00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:16,960 I'm not proving myself. I want to be at a place where my 737 00:42:16,960 --> 00:42:20,920 soul is at rest. I want to be at a place where 738 00:42:20,920 --> 00:42:24,000 I'm. Able to say that, Lord, I'm not 739 00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:26,800 the significant one, I'm insignificant. 740 00:42:28,280 --> 00:42:32,920 I want to carry the Jesus way. And even as we carried, may we 741 00:42:32,920 --> 00:42:37,840 carry it with no condemnation that you would find rest for 742 00:42:37,840 --> 00:42:41,800 your soul. Lord, I pray even right now 743 00:42:41,800 --> 00:42:43,600 specifically for those who are struggling. 744 00:42:43,600 --> 00:42:48,840 Lord Jesus, Lord, they've found it easier to deny the world and 745 00:42:48,840 --> 00:42:50,560 follow you. But they have been struggling to 746 00:42:50,560 --> 00:42:53,680 carry their cross. I pray if guilt is eating them 747 00:42:53,680 --> 00:42:56,400 up, shame is eating them up. I pray that Lord, they will 748 00:42:56,400 --> 00:43:00,360 realise the cross took everything once and for all and 749 00:43:00,360 --> 00:43:02,920 you've given us freedom. And I pray even as they carry 750 00:43:02,920 --> 00:43:05,960 their cross, whatever their life circumstances have been, they 751 00:43:05,960 --> 00:43:08,560 won't be defined by it. They'll be defined by who you 752 00:43:08,560 --> 00:43:11,040 are, what you say, because you are our God. 753 00:43:11,040 --> 00:43:13,920 You are our Savior. I pray, Lord, we will carry 754 00:43:13,920 --> 00:43:17,640 across your way, Lord Jesus, in humility, Lord Jesus, that we'll 755 00:43:17,640 --> 00:43:22,000 be dependent on you, that we'll place ourselves, Lord Jesus, in 756 00:43:22,000 --> 00:43:24,840 a position of insignificance because you are the significant 757 00:43:24,840 --> 00:43:27,160 one, is because of you. We're able to carry. 758 00:43:28,480 --> 00:43:31,560 We'll place and always be in a place of repentance where we'll 759 00:43:31,560 --> 00:43:36,080 say God sorry for myself, which is coming, the forefront. 760 00:43:38,640 --> 00:43:42,680 Lord, I pray even as we, Lord, wait on you that our souls will 761 00:43:42,680 --> 00:43:46,200 be at rest as we carry our crosses because you are carrying 762 00:43:46,200 --> 00:43:49,120 it alongside this I pray especially for those of weary 763 00:43:49,440 --> 00:43:52,840 who are tired, who are in the verge of giving up because of 764 00:43:52,840 --> 00:43:56,000 the add-ons that come because of following you. 765 00:43:56,000 --> 00:43:58,080 I pray that they won't magnify the add-ons. 766 00:43:58,080 --> 00:44:01,120 They'll magnify you. I pray your Voice will be so 767 00:44:01,120 --> 00:44:06,160 clear, your arms will be so wide to reach out to them, be with 768 00:44:06,160 --> 00:44:09,240 them, Lord, I pray that they will find healing strength and 769 00:44:09,240 --> 00:44:11,880 rest in you. Lord Jesus, I pray a word will 770 00:44:11,920 --> 00:44:15,400 start ministering to us, shaping us that as we are in the season 771 00:44:15,400 --> 00:44:18,520 of Lent, it will reflect. It will mark us so that we will 772 00:44:18,520 --> 00:44:21,960 be able to do this lifelong. We'll have a spirit of endurance 773 00:44:21,960 --> 00:44:23,800 to run the race well and finish well. 774 00:44:24,280 --> 00:44:26,320 We thank you. Go before us. 775 00:44:26,760 --> 00:44:28,760 I pray for your blood covering over each and everyone of us. 776 00:44:28,760 --> 00:44:31,040 The food and what of our homes will be blessed. 777 00:44:31,240 --> 00:44:33,360 You will bless our going out and coming and bless our 778 00:44:33,360 --> 00:44:35,520 conversations. Bless the people that we 779 00:44:35,520 --> 00:44:37,800 interacted. Pray your peace will surround 780 00:44:37,800 --> 00:44:39,760 us. Take charge in your most holy 781 00:44:39,760 --> 00:44:40,440 name. We pray. 782 00:44:41,080 --> 00:44:42,320 Amen. Amen. 783 00:44:42,480 --> 00:44:44,600 Amen. Church, I pray even as you step 784 00:44:44,600 --> 00:44:46,000 out, you'll step out in boldness. 785 00:44:46,320 --> 00:44:49,160 That you'll have grace. You'll have his strength. 786 00:44:49,160 --> 00:44:52,320 More than anything you'll have His purpose is being fulfilled 787 00:44:52,320 --> 00:44:55,160 in and through your lives. I pray that you have a blessed 788 00:44:55,160 --> 00:44:58,480 week and God bless you. Thanks for listening to this 789 00:44:58,480 --> 00:45:01,560 message. We hope you were blessed to hear 790 00:45:01,560 --> 00:45:05,320 more messages like this. Make sure to subscribe and check 791 00:45:05,320 --> 00:45:08,000 out our podcast channel for past episodes. 792 00:45:08,440 --> 00:45:11,760 If you like what you are hearing, consider rating us, 793 00:45:11,880 --> 00:45:14,920 subscribing and even sharing it with friends. 794 00:45:15,280 --> 00:45:19,600 That would really help us. For more content from Via Zion 795 00:45:19,960 --> 00:45:24,120 and to connect with us, go to Via Zion dot in. 796 00:45:24,680 --> 00:45:28,240 Remember, whoever finds Jesus finds life.