1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:05,320 Mother's Day to all the moms out there, I am blessed to have a 2 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:08,000 number of great moms, a great mom, a great mother-in-law. 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:10,240 I'm married to a wonderful mother and. 4 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,160 It is good to. Honor our moms, right? 5 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,120 It is the 5th commandment. Actually, the 10 commandments 6 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:19,280 honor your father and mother. And so it's good. 7 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:22,200 To take a day like today and. Spend some time. 8 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:23,600 Encourage. You to give your. 9 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:26,600 Mom a phone call if you're able to. 10 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:29,600 And just honor those in your life who are mothers. 11 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,280 Open up your Bibles to Luke. Chapter 9 we're. 12 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,840 Going to be in. Verses 21 to 27. 13 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:43,600 Today, Luke. Chapter 9, verses 21 to 27, I 14 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:48,080 just want to start by just praying over us and we're just 15 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:52,920 going to pray a simple prayer. Come Holy Spirit, would you fill 16 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:56,520 this place today? Would you meet us? 17 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,080 Wherever we're at. Would you? 18 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:03,160 Move our eyes towards Jesus. Guide us into truth. 19 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:06,480 Spirit of truth, in the name of Jesus we pray. 20 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:09,760 Amen. So last week. 21 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:14,800 Amanda and I were. Blessed to be able to go to the 22 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:17,120 Alpha. Global Leadership Conference in 23 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:21,440 a bit of a pre conference with a number of Australian, American, 24 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:23,680 Canadian leaders in London, England. 25 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,560 So if I look a little jet lagged because we got. 26 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,920 Back on Tuesday and I'm still trying to figure out what time 27 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:34,640 zone I'm in. The conference was amazing. 28 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:39,760 The flight, especially the flight over, was a little less 29 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:42,080 than amazing. I don't. 30 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:43,240 Know about you. There was a time. 31 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:45,480 In my life I. Remember when I was like a kid, 32 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:48,920 a teenager, probably even into my young adult years where like 33 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:51,320 the thought of flying was such an exciting. 34 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:53,200 Thing. I couldn't wait to get on an 35 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:54,760 airplane. Now the thought of. 36 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,400 Flying is the thing that makes me think how. 37 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,000 Much do I really? Want to do this? 38 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:03,120 It is it. Is not always a pleasant 39 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:07,680 experience, especially. When you are on the way to. 40 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:09,520 London in the middle of the night. 41 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:14,040 I was on a. Red Eye 11. 45 PM departure so I 42 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:18,560 could land right around noon London time, so I'm on a middle 43 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:23,000 of the night flight. In a middle seat in. 44 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:26,160 Yeah, some of you are already groaning in the middle of the 45 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:30,320 plane. And I do the awkward, 46 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:31,760 uncomfortable thing. I wait. 47 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:34,600 I wait as long as I can possibly wait to go to the. 48 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:36,560 Washroom 'cause I don't. Want to wake up the guy who's 49 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:41,920 sleeping and drooling beside me? And I, I, I'm like, I got to go. 50 00:02:41,920 --> 00:02:43,680 I got to go and I get up and I get. 51 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,840 Him to move and I head up. And then I do a really dumb 52 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,360 thing. While I'm standing there waiting 53 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:53,200 for the washroom to come open, I peek my head around into 54 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:56,800 business class. Don't do that. 55 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:00,680 Don't do that. Because what I see is, is people 56 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:08,480 who are sleeping, people who have all sorts of space. 57 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:11,480 In the room. They've got little, little masks 58 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:16,480 on their faces. I see a glimpse to me in that 59 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:21,040 moment of heaven, and then I look back to where I am and it's 60 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:26,000 the other place and and while I was. 61 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:27,880 Booking my flight. Of course the. 62 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:29,760 Option comes. Do you want to? 63 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:33,960 Upgrade I I'm flying. Basic The most basic economy. 64 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:37,720 That you can. Fly basic economy flight over. 65 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:41,760 To London, depending on when you fly and how many wars are going 66 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:43,760 on at the current moment affecting the price of. 67 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:49,400 Oil is. 700 to $1300 round trip. Business class, if you can get a 68 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:53,120 really, really good deal, starts at 3:00. 1000, but often goes to 69 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:59,640 6. 1000 Plus so booking my flight there's no way I would 70 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:03,120 have. Ever paid for that upgrade but 71 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:07,600 in my? Sleep deprived snoring. 72 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:11,280 Drooling friend. Middle of the night, middle of 73 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:15,200 the flight. Moment There's a world. 74 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:16,839 In which if they had. Put a credit. 75 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:22,360 Card reader in front of. Me, at that moment, I'm maybe 76 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:29,000 you could have convinced this Dutchman to to pony up because I 77 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:33,320 like to be comfortable. I don't know about you, but I 78 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,320 assume that's. True of you. 79 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,760 Too And that's really what you're paying for, right you're 80 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:39,800 you're paying a comfort fee we're. 81 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:42,840 Taking the same flight to the same place we're going to we're. 82 00:04:42,840 --> 00:04:45,240 Leaving from the same spot and arriving the same destination. 83 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:47,440 So that difference. Is all a comfort fee? 84 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:51,800 And is there anybody who really doesn't want to be more 85 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:54,160 comfortable? Is there anyone who like your 86 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:58,240 hope for this week is I hope this week is harder than last 87 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:02,360 week. I really am praying that this 88 00:05:02,840 --> 00:05:06,680 week would be more difficult and challenging than the one I. 89 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:10,840 Came out of It's not it's not what we do, it's not how we're 90 00:05:10,840 --> 00:05:13,320 wired. Most of us our. 91 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:15,080 Lives if we're really honest, if we wanted. 92 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:17,000 To narrow it down and define it down our lives. 93 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:18,640 Are simply this their comfort? Quests. 94 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:23,560 We are seeking in life how to achieve. 95 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:27,240 Maximum comfort in the. Life we have to live. 96 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:30,560 We believe that that's what the good life is. 97 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,440 That's what we're taught, that's what we're told, right? 98 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:36,360 What the good life is. Comfortable finances, 99 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:43,160 comfortable relationships, comfortable schedule, work life 100 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:49,360 balance. And it's into this reality of 101 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,880 everything that we are taught to believe and to hold on to as to 102 00:05:53,880 --> 00:06:00,040 where life is found, that Jesus says to us that true life is 103 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:03,520 only found. Through embracing the cross. 104 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:05,840 Let me take you, take us to this. 105 00:06:05,840 --> 00:06:09,400 Passage this morning that we're going to be in and let's just. 106 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:11,480 Read it. Together and then we'll dive 107 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:18,440 into it, verse 23. Then he said to them. 108 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:20,840 Verse 21. Let's start at verse 21. 109 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:24,040 But he. Strictly warned and instructed 110 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:28,800 them to tell this to no one, saying it is necessary that the 111 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:32,640 Son of Man suffer many things and be rejected. 112 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:35,240 By the elders Chief. Priests and scribes be. 113 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:38,280 Killed and be raised the third. Day. 114 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:42,960 Then he said to them all, if anyone wants to. 115 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:46,880 Follow after me. Let him deny himself. 116 00:06:47,840 --> 00:06:52,560 Take up his cross. Daily and follow me for whoever 117 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,840 wants to save his. Life will lose it, but whoever 118 00:06:55,840 --> 00:07:00,680 loses his life because. Of me will save it for what does 119 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:02,800 it benefit someone if he gains the? 120 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:06,560 Whole. World and yet. 121 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:11,000 Loses or forfeits. Himself, For whoever is ashamed 122 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:15,080 of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when 123 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:18,760 he comes in his glory and that of the Father and the holy 124 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,000 angels. Truly, I tell. 125 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,920 You there are some standing here who will not taste death until 126 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:30,040 they see the Kingdom of God, Jesus saying. 127 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:34,200 That true life is. Only found through embracing the 128 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:38,080 cross. And what is the cross if not the 129 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:43,200 opposite of comfort? What is the cross? 130 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:52,800 But surrender, sacrifice, pain, self denial, death. 131 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:56,680 And I want us to think about this. 132 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:59,560 What? If all the ways that we've been 133 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:02,120 told were the ways. To. 134 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:05,200 Find life. What if? 135 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:09,800 All of them have actually been keeping us from the life that we 136 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:12,320 long for. What if? 137 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:18,280 What if the calls to to put yourself first, to seek the safe 138 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:24,960 paths, to follow your heart? To spend and invest. 139 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:27,120 Your life building your. Kingdom. 140 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:32,640 Are actually the things that are keeping you and keeping. 141 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:35,760 Me from experiencing the life that we were actually made for. 142 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:41,320 The message of Jesus is that. True life isn't found through 143 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:45,280 the pursuit of comfort. True life will be. 144 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:48,280 Found through embracing the cost of the cross. 145 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:53,800 Let's look at verse 21 again. But he strictly. 146 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:56,080 Warned and instructed them to tell this. 147 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:58,640 To no one. Saying it is necessary. 148 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:02,080 That the son. Of man suffer many things and be 149 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:04,240 rejected. By the elders Chief. 150 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:05,920 Priests and scribes. Be. 151 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:08,840 Killed and be raised to the third day now. 152 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:11,680 Verse 21 flows. Directly out of the. 153 00:09:11,680 --> 00:09:15,000 Confession that Peter made that Pastor Kurt covered last week, 154 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:23,280 where he asks them, he asked the disciples, who do you say I am? 155 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:25,480 And. Peter answers and says. 156 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:28,120 You're God's Messiah, right? So this is. 157 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:31,080 This is the context. He's asked this question, Who do 158 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:33,400 you say I am? Peter says you're God's Messiah. 159 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:36,720 Then Jesus says, great, you got it, don't tell anybody. 160 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:40,960 Jesus says. Peter says, hey, you're the one. 161 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:43,000 You're the one who God has chosen. 162 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:46,000 He's anointed to. Save and to rescue. 163 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:49,880 That's what Messiah means. Christ and Messiah. 164 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:54,240 It's the same word. Christ is a title, not Jesus's 165 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:56,520 last name. That's a little nugget. 166 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:59,880 For some of us here today, Jesus was the Son. 167 00:09:59,880 --> 00:10:01,160 Of Joseph. That's how he would. 168 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:04,400 Have been referred to. Christ is not his last. 169 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:07,120 Name it's it's a title. It, it equals Messiah. 170 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:11,360 It means rescuer, it means Redeemer, savor savior, 171 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:15,800 specially anointed 1 And so Peter affirms this declaration 172 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:19,560 that that Jesus affirms this declaration that Peter has made 173 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:23,480 that this is who Jesus is the rescuer, the savior. 174 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:29,520 Then he says don't tell anybody why that seems, really. 175 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:36,200 Strange and counterproductive. It's because this is not Jesus, 176 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:41,960 is not the Messiah, the type of Messiah, the type of rescuer 177 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:44,760 that the people were ready to hear about. 178 00:10:45,680 --> 00:10:49,360 He was not the Messiah that they were expecting. 179 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:53,800 He was the Messiah they needed in Jesus day. 180 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:58,720 The expectation was that when the Messiah came, when the 181 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:04,920 Savior came, God would send him, and by means of his strength and 182 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:11,160 his power, he would defeat the enemies, he would slaughter the 183 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:14,760 oppressors he would throw down, the empire, he would throw. 184 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:19,400 Down the Emperor. He was going to do it by force. 185 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:22,120 That's what the Jewish people were were waiting for. 186 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:24,680 The Jewish leaders. This is why, part of why they 187 00:11:24,680 --> 00:11:31,160 were so frustrated with Jesus. Jesus says you're right, I'm the 188 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:32,360 Messiah. Come to. 189 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:40,640 Save I have come to rescue, I have come to bring life, but 190 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:42,040 it's not going to happen the way you were. 191 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:49,320 Expecting see, it is necessary that the Son of Man suffer many 192 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:53,400 things to be. Rejected by the elders. 193 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:59,280 Chief priests and scribes. To be killed, Jesus. 194 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:01,560 Wants them to understand. He wants us to understand. 195 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:06,720 That the salvation that you desire the salvation. 196 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:11,320 That you in fact. Need It can't be achieved 197 00:12:11,680 --> 00:12:16,200 through power and acclaim and striving. 198 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:22,880 It comes through suffering and sacrifice in order. 199 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:29,880 For you to be saved, it is. Necessary for the the. 200 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:34,480 Savior for the Messiah. For the Son of man to what to 201 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:43,800 suffer, to be rejected and. Ultimately to be killed, the 202 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:46,160 people expected a savior who was. 203 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:50,400 Coming to claim a crown. And Jesus. 204 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:53,400 Is letting them know that true salvation doesn't come through a 205 00:12:53,400 --> 00:13:00,120 crown, it comes through a cross. Jesus embraced the cross. 206 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:01,960 So that. You and I could. 207 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:04,440 Live. That's the. 208 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:08,480 Beating heart of the Christian. Message this is the core of the 209 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:13,200 core of the core of the Christian messages that Jesus 210 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:19,840 died so that we could live see that's because. 211 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:24,800 Our fundamental problem is not. That life is difficult. 212 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:30,280 If the our fundamental. Problem was that life was 213 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:32,600 difficult and it needs to be made easier. 214 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:34,360 Jesus would have come as a life coach. 215 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:41,400 Our fundamental problem. Is that because of sin we are 216 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:45,760 dead? And we needed someone to make us 217 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:49,440 alive. That's our problem. 218 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:51,920 And so God doesn't come as a life coach. 219 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:58,320 He comes as a crucified Savior. The the reason Jesus came was to 220 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:01,200 die. That's why he says it's 221 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:03,480 necessary. There's no. 222 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:07,560 Other. Way in Romans 623 I I love to go 223 00:14:07,560 --> 00:14:11,440 to this passage because it's just so clear and and helps. 224 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:14,160 Us to understand so. Clearly what the problem is, 225 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:19,240 Paul writes, the wages of sin is death. 226 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:26,400 That that is our problem. We have sinned, and so we have 227 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:29,680 earned death. That's every one of us. 228 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:33,240 That's what it is to be human. We're not just people who make 229 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:37,080 mistakes. We're sinners, we all. 230 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:38,760 Sin, so we're. All owed. 231 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:41,240 Death and sin. Listen, here's what. 232 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:44,560 Sin is just in case you think. Don't put me in that that. 233 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:54,240 Category sin is any and every act, thought, attitude that you 234 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:58,800 or I have that goes against God's law and God's holy nature, 235 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:01,720 and that that's us. It just is. 236 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:07,600 Jesus came and he died as the only sinless. 237 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:12,680 Person to ever live. He came and it was necessary for 238 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:13,480 him. To come because. 239 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:17,720 Only he could be sinless. Only he could live the life that 240 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:21,520 we're unable to live. And he comes and he pays the 241 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:24,800 penalty. He takes the wages that you and 242 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:29,320 I are due. He he does this to cover the 243 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:34,720 costs. He came on purpose to die. 244 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:39,120 So that we could live. It's the. 245 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:45,000 Cross that brings life, and Jesus embraces that. 246 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:49,520 Cross. He embraces the suffering. 247 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:51,560 That we talk. About on Good Friday. 248 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:57,880 The rejection that Luke talks about here that the Jesus. 249 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:02,120 Prophesied about his own death. He embraces death. 250 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:06,520 Why? Because he loves you. 251 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:13,280 Because he loves you. And he knew it was. 252 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:19,680 Necessary in order to save you. Life. 253 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:24,080 For you and for me. It is only possible through 254 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:25,360 Jesus. Death on the. 255 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:29,440 Cross unless and until you embrace. 256 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:32,800 The fact. That Jesus died so that you can 257 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:36,080 live, you remain. Dead in your sins. 258 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:39,440 True life is only. Found. 259 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:42,960 Only found isn't found. Anywhere else not. 260 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:45,440 Found through religion, it's not found through good acts, it's 261 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:47,240 not through found through acts of charity, it's. 262 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:50,000 Not found through being a nice. Person it is. 263 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:54,440 Only found through embracing. The Savior who embraced the 264 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:58,240 cross out of his love for you, now for. 265 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:00,320 Some of you, this is the first time that you're ever hearing 266 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:02,560 this. I just want to let you know. 267 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:05,480 It is the. Most important thing that you 268 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:07,800 will. Ever hear this is the? 269 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:12,160 Most important truth in the universe, but for some. 270 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:15,319 Of you. This feels like old news. 271 00:17:15,319 --> 00:17:17,160 I get it. I've spent my whole. 272 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:20,800 Life in church. So I've just been praying this 273 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:21,880 week. That you you would. 274 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:26,520 See this afresh. The you and be in. 275 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:31,240 Awe over the fact. That there is a God who loves 276 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:35,240 you so much that because you were going to die, he died for 277 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:37,680 you. That Jesus. 278 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:42,640 Suffered. That Jesus was rejected because 279 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:46,480 it was. Necessary for you to live. 280 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:50,840 Because if you aren't in awe of this fact, like if this doesn't. 281 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:53,240 Awaken something in your soul, in your spirit. 282 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:56,000 If you aren't moved by the fact that the creator God of the 283 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:58,360 universe. Stepped down. 284 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:03,280 Took on flesh, was born as a baby, struggled through all of 285 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:06,200 the difficulties of life, and then went to the cross for your 286 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:08,440 sake if. If that doesn't still move your 287 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:13,000 heart and your soul, you are not going to be able to do the. 288 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:17,720 Next part of this. You simply won't, because 289 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:19,080 listen. To what he says next. 290 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:24,880 Then he said to. Them all, if anyone wants to 291 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:30,680 follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his grass daily 292 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:36,960 and follow me. See, Jesus calls those who would 293 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:40,760 follow. Him to embrace a life shaped by 294 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:43,920 the cross. The the the. 295 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:48,040 Christian life begins. When we realized that Jesus 296 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:51,760 died. For us and then continues. 297 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:57,360 As we daily die to ourselves, this is This is what we talk 298 00:18:57,360 --> 00:19:00,120 about discipleship all the time here at Forward Church. 299 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:03,800 Because discipleship, we're called to make disciples. 300 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:06,560 We're called to be disciples. This is what discipleship is. 301 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:10,160 I think often times. We we think. 302 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:13,840 Discipleship is about getting a bunch of information, learning 303 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:16,080 how to. Learn technique to know this is 304 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:19,120 discipleship daily death to self. 305 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:22,720 The reason we give information, the reason we need to know 306 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:24,760 things, is we need to know what we need to die to. 307 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:30,040 That's why information matters. We need to know the One to whom 308 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:34,520 we are dying for. But but discipleship. 309 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:37,160 Isn't learning more about. Jesus dying to self. 310 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:40,920 The prayer of salvation is Jesus. 311 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:46,280 I believe you died for me. The prayer of the disciple. 312 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:48,840 Is a prayer of surrender. Jesus. 313 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:54,880 I die to myself. It's the life. 314 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:58,120 Of a follower of Jesus, and it's not some. 315 00:19:58,120 --> 00:19:59,680 Elite level. Christianity. 316 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:05,360 Notice how he. Starts then he said to a few of 317 00:20:05,360 --> 00:20:08,920 them. No, some of them. 318 00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:12,040 No. Then he said to. 319 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:18,440 All of them. This is Christianity if anyone 320 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:22,720 wants to follow me if you are serious. 321 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:23,880 About being a Christ. Follower. 322 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:25,680 This is it. There's not. 323 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:27,840 There's not. Some other option, Some other 324 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:29,160 path? Some other way of? 325 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:33,520 Doing this the life. Of a Christ follower doesn't 326 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:37,480 just come through the cross, it is daily shaped by the cross. 327 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:41,680 Here's what this. Means it means that Jesus isn't 328 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:44,280 just about adding or Christianity isn't just adding 329 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:47,120 about adding a little bit of Jesus to the life you already 330 00:20:47,120 --> 00:20:50,160 live. Sprinkle a little Jesus 331 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:53,480 seasoning on to the things that you already do and the way you 332 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:56,160 already want to be, adding a little bit of him to your. 333 00:20:56,160 --> 00:21:02,400 Plans and priorities. It is surrendering your life in. 334 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:08,400 Every area to Jesus. All of it, every aspect of it. 335 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:14,200 Putting him first. That's what denying yourself. 336 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:18,240 Means. It's it's saying Jesus. 337 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:20,200 You're the. King, not me. 338 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,120 Jesus, you call the shots, not me. 339 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:33,120 Jesus, when my plan and your. Plan come in conflict. 340 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:41,200 Your plan wins every time. Jesus, when my desires and your 341 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:44,480 desires come into conflict, we're going with you. 342 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:50,200 Jesus, when it's a decision between my priorities and your 343 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:53,800 priorities, we're going with your priorities. 344 00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:57,560 That that's what it means to deny yourself. 345 00:21:57,560 --> 00:22:00,120 That's what it means to pick up your cross daily. 346 00:22:00,120 --> 00:22:05,240 The cross is, is death. And so picking up your cross 347 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:10,080 daily means daily dying to self. Now I need you to hear this 348 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:13,000 because we understand. This in in different ways. 349 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:15,400 This whole idea of. Burying your cross. 350 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:18,200 We have this. Terminology in our culture. 351 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:20,240 But it doesn't capture. What we're talking about. 352 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:22,400 Here because some of you will. Be thinking bearing your. 353 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:24,480 Cross, you'll be thinking. It's like stoicism. 354 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:29,240 Stoicism is just life is hard so suck it up. 355 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:33,880 Life is hard so just bear it. It's not what Jesus saying. 356 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:36,760 It's. It is not. 357 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:39,440 A glorification of just generic suffering. 358 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:41,880 This is not Jim. Bro saying no pain no gain, 359 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:44,720 that's not what Jesus. Is talking about. 360 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:50,920 He's saying, Will you day by day, moment by moment, truly 361 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:55,280 believe that I am Messiah I am? King, I am savior. 362 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:59,920 And will you trust me? And where do you have to die to 363 00:22:59,920 --> 00:23:02,120 what you want? Because it comes in conflict 364 00:23:02,120 --> 00:23:04,640 with what I've said. You'll go with what I said. 365 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:12,080 What picking up your cross daily is is simply surrender a. 366 00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:17,200 Fullness of surrender before. Jesus posture of Jesus you. 367 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:21,680 Rule and reign and. Again, Jesus says it's it's a 368 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:26,520 daily choice, right? Pick up your cross daily because 369 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:29,240 we don't do this on like a one. Time and it's all done and over. 370 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:32,760 With I've had to learn the same lesson so many times I've turned 371 00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:35,480 the same things. Over to Jesus so many times. 372 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:39,040 Things in my marriage, things with my kids. 373 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:43,000 Sin struggles that I have. I've had to time and time and 374 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:44,960 time again come back to him and say I'm. 375 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:46,800 Sorry I I messed this up I started. 376 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:48,600 To do my. Thing we need to do your thing 377 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:52,360 this is about. Every day and every moment 378 00:23:52,360 --> 00:23:55,440 deciding who am I going to live for? 379 00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:59,240 Because we all live. For someone or something? 380 00:24:01,120 --> 00:24:05,640 Growth as a disciple of Jesus is simply in. 381 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:09,280 Greater and greater measure in greater and greater frequency. 382 00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:12,680 Learning to say yes to Jesus. More and no to yourself more. 383 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:19,000 If you're wondering it's it's not complicated, it's hard, but 384 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,080 the Christian life is not complicated. 385 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:25,960 It is just learning to say yes to Jesus more and no to yourself 386 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,200 more. But that's so hard. 387 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:35,320 So hard because sometimes taking up your cross means choosing to 388 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:39,240 forgive someone You Really. Don't want to forgive? 389 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:46,160 Choosing to forgive someone who every ounce of what is in you 390 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:53,680 wants to make that person pay. Sometimes picking up your. 391 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:58,880 Cross and surrendering means. Staying faithful in your. 392 00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:02,680 Marriage instead of pursuing pleasure and desire outside of 393 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:03,760 it. Even when it's. 394 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:08,240 Hard. It's choosing to tell the. 395 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:12,280 Truth. When a lie seems like it would 396 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:13,640 save you. So much more pain. 397 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:21,080 It's giving. It's giving even when you're not 398 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:25,960 sure you've got what it takes to give above. 399 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:28,920 All it's trusting. It's. 400 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:30,640 Trusting that the Jesus who died. 401 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:35,760 For you, loves you. And whatever he asks you to do, 402 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:37,120 even. If you don't get it and you 403 00:25:37,120 --> 00:25:39,360 don't understand it is. Ultimately going to be. 404 00:25:39,360 --> 00:25:43,240 What's best for you, you say? Why would? 405 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:47,360 Anybody do this? Why would anybody choose to live 406 00:25:47,360 --> 00:25:49,880 this way of the cross? Why would we be shaped this way? 407 00:25:50,360 --> 00:25:54,080 I mean, wouldn't it be nice to have a cross? 408 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:57,760 Free Christianity, at least. I mean the Jesus on the cross, 409 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:00,280 yes, but maybe I could leave my. Cross behind. 410 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:05,000 Because I would love to take Jesus up on the eternal life 411 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:09,560 bit, the answered prayer. Thing is really intriguing to 412 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:11,720 me. I love the. 413 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:16,280 Peace and the purpose and and the blessings part, you know. 414 00:26:16,280 --> 00:26:18,640 When we talk about the blessings part, we can go back to those, 415 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:21,560 Pastor. I like those, but I would. 416 00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:24,400 Like to pass on the dying to myself part. 417 00:26:26,120 --> 00:26:32,480 The problem is you don't get resurrection power without 418 00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:35,760 crucifixion. Do you hear me on this? 419 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:38,160 You don't get resurrection power without. 420 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:41,560 Crucifixion. We want the resurrection. 421 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:44,400 There's a whole bunch of churches out there who will 422 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:47,000 preach to you the new life pieces. 423 00:26:48,120 --> 00:26:51,720 I'm just telling you, you only get the new life pieces after 424 00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:57,760 death for some of you. That's why the Christian life 425 00:26:57,800 --> 00:26:59,240 feels so. Limp and so. 426 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:03,800 Powerless because you're trying to get all the new life pieces 427 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:08,360 without the death. Resurrection power only comes. 428 00:27:08,360 --> 00:27:12,680 Through death and and. And this is the truth that I 429 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:14,040 need. You to hear the life that you. 430 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:18,320 Are trying to protect. Some of you it is the very. 431 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:25,320 Thing that is destroying you. It's Jesus's words, verse 24 for 432 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:28,640 whoever wants to. Save his life will lose it, but 433 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:32,760 whoever loses his life because. Of me will save it what does it 434 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:35,440 benefit someone if he. Gains the whole world, yet he. 435 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:39,880 Loses or forfeits himself. For whoever is ashamed of me, in 436 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:43,400 my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in 437 00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:46,720 his glory, and that of the Father and the holy angels. 438 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:49,280 Like this is the great paradox of Christianity. 439 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:53,200 It's right at the core. Of it Jesus is saying. 440 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:55,240 If you put your. Comfort. 441 00:27:56,440 --> 00:28:00,280 If you put your safety, if you put yourself. 442 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:05,160 At the. Center of your life, you will 443 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:08,400 lose everything that you are striving to. 444 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:11,520 Attain and maintain. But if you're. 445 00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:16,000 Willing to die to yourself if you're willing to surrender. 446 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:19,440 Your life to me. Now you're actually going to 447 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:21,760 begin to experience the life that you're longing for. 448 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:26,680 We we live in a. Culture that has told us, 449 00:28:27,320 --> 00:28:31,120 protect yourself, prioritize yourself. 450 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:36,160 Chase comfort, avoid sacrifice. What is the? 451 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:43,560 Cost of that been skyrocketing. Anxiety, a loneliness epidemic. 452 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:45,840 So much so. That I know that. 453 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:48,000 There's a whole bunch of in this room that that. 454 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:49,960 Oh, there's like a. 1000 people in this church. 455 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:56,360 Today you feel absolutely alone. An entire. 456 00:28:56,360 --> 00:28:59,160 Vacuum of meaning and. Purpose. 457 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:04,360 That's what we've got from chasing after all of the things. 458 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:06,320 That culture has. Told us will give us all that. 459 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:10,040 We want to the. World has told us that 460 00:29:10,040 --> 00:29:15,320 flourishing comes with freedom, and then the world has gone on 461 00:29:15,320 --> 00:29:16,640 to define freedom. This way. 462 00:29:17,280 --> 00:29:19,000 Total and complete human autonomy. 463 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:23,560 The freedom is just you do you. You do whatever you want, 464 00:29:23,560 --> 00:29:25,560 whenever you want, however you want to do it. 465 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:30,160 But. What if flourishing isn't found 466 00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:31,760 in freedom as. The. 467 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:35,840 World defines it. What if? 468 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:40,760 Flourishing is found in freedom that comes through sacrifice and 469 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:45,320 surrender. What if the key? 470 00:29:45,320 --> 00:29:49,760 To finding the life that we long for isn't about clenching our 471 00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:54,120 fists. And trying to hold on harder to 472 00:29:54,120 --> 00:30:00,400 the things that we want to. Have but the actual freedom is 473 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:08,040 opening your hands. I mean, this looks a lot more 474 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:12,680 like freedom to me than this. What if the very things that you 475 00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:15,720 are trying to hold so tightly onto? 476 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:20,440 What if? Those are the things that are 477 00:30:20,440 --> 00:30:23,240 keeping you from the life that you so long for. 478 00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:26,800 Jesus says. Whoever wants to. 479 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:29,840 Save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life. 480 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:32,360 Because of me will save it. And then he says this. 481 00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:36,760 What does it benefit someone? Just hypothetically think about 482 00:30:36,760 --> 00:30:40,640 this. What would it benefit you? 483 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:47,400 If you actually got that, if you got all of it, all the things on 484 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:50,520 your bucket list, all of the things that you think life will 485 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:53,000 be found, what would it benefit you if you gained the whole? 486 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:57,200 World, and yet you lost or forfeited yourself. 487 00:30:58,680 --> 00:31:03,280 He said let's assume in this world that you could somehow 488 00:31:03,280 --> 00:31:08,480 achieve everything, but it's only for this world. 489 00:31:08,480 --> 00:31:11,720 What have you really gained? Because at the end of the day, 490 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:14,280 the. Poorest person. 491 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:18,000 In Jesus has. More than the richest 492 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:21,760 billionaire in this world. One day. 493 00:31:22,800 --> 00:31:26,080 Elon Musk. Jeff Bezos. 494 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:30,680 Every other billionaire is going to face the. 495 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:34,120 Same thing that every person in this room faces. 496 00:31:34,840 --> 00:31:37,640 Death. It is inevitable. 497 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:41,800 When death comes, the question will not be. 498 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:44,840 How much money did you accumulate? 499 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:53,800 How much power did you gain? How famous were you? 500 00:31:54,040 --> 00:31:56,120 How many followers did? You have on your. 501 00:31:56,120 --> 00:32:01,720 Social media accounts, it's. Not even going to be how good 502 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:02,400 did. You do. 503 00:32:03,360 --> 00:32:05,360 How nice were you? How kind were you? 504 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:07,440 How? Often. 505 00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:11,480 Did you show up at church? It'll simply be this. 506 00:32:12,560 --> 00:32:17,880 What did you do with Jesus? This is the only question that 507 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:21,920 all of. Us have to answer, and that's 508 00:32:21,920 --> 00:32:25,880 why Jesus gives this warning. Whoever is ashamed of me, in my 509 00:32:25,880 --> 00:32:29,480 words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in 510 00:32:29,480 --> 00:32:32,600 his glory and that of the Father and the holy angels. 511 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:34,320 To be ashamed here means to reject. 512 00:32:34,320 --> 00:32:36,440 It means to despise. It means to view is 513 00:32:36,440 --> 00:32:43,440 unacceptable. It is to reject the message that 514 00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:45,880 Jesus. Came out of love for you, to die 515 00:32:45,880 --> 00:32:50,440 on the cross for you. It's to reject that good news 516 00:32:51,440 --> 00:32:54,040 that you needed. Him to die for you so that you 517 00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:57,600 could live. And if you reject what? 518 00:32:57,600 --> 00:32:59,360 Christ. Has done on the cross from you. 519 00:32:59,760 --> 00:33:01,920 Then. Jesus words are that someday 520 00:33:02,360 --> 00:33:04,720 when you stand. Before God with all. 521 00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:08,440 Eternity at stake. You in turn will be rejected 522 00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:14,760 because in the end. Life. 523 00:33:14,760 --> 00:33:18,160 True life is found through and only through embracing the 524 00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:21,480 Cross. Embracing the Jesus. 525 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:24,760 Who died on the cross so that you could live and then? 526 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:28,160 Living a life. Where we embrace everyday cross 527 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:33,800 shaped surrender to be shaped more and more by Jesus choosing 528 00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:38,480 to follow Him in all things. At the end of the day, life 529 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:43,480 comes at a cost. It came at the cost of Jesus 530 00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:46,160 purchasing your life on the cross. 531 00:33:48,600 --> 00:33:53,880 And the cost for you to have the life that you long for is to 532 00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:56,200 also embrace the cross every day. 533 00:33:57,480 --> 00:33:59,880 So I want to ask this question as we come to a close. 534 00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:04,920 What do you need to die to today? 535 00:34:04,920 --> 00:34:10,360 In order to live, what do you need to die to today in order to 536 00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:17,719 live, starting with the reality, maybe today you have never ever, 537 00:34:17,719 --> 00:34:20,760 ever come to a point where you have cried out and. 538 00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:24,360 Died to your pride. And said I can't save myself. 539 00:34:26,320 --> 00:34:29,719 Jesus, I need you, Jesus. It was necessary. 540 00:34:30,440 --> 00:34:33,760 For you to go to the. Cross and die for me because I'm 541 00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:37,159 a Sinner when you. Call out and. 542 00:34:37,159 --> 00:34:40,760 Confess Jesus as Savior. As Lord, as Christ. 543 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:46,040 Then the good news is he meets you in that he brings. 544 00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:53,639 Life to you, eternal. Life if you're a follower of. 545 00:34:53,639 --> 00:35:01,400 Jesus is there. Something in your life you've 546 00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:06,400 been gripping onto, you've been holding tight too. 547 00:35:07,720 --> 00:35:11,000 The the Today you need to surrender to him. 548 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:19,920 Let me give you a few things. Maybe there's a sin deep down 549 00:35:21,680 --> 00:35:24,000 that you're not sure you really want nailed to the cross with 550 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:27,160 Christ. You kind of like it alive a 551 00:35:27,160 --> 00:35:30,600 little bit in your life. You kind of want to keep that 552 00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:33,320 sin to yourself. You want to hold on to it 553 00:35:33,320 --> 00:35:36,280 because you think that you're going to find pleasure. 554 00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:40,800 You think that you're going to find life, and all that sin is 555 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:46,920 doing is bringing to you death. Maybe there's an area of control 556 00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:50,720 in your. Life, it's a job. 557 00:35:50,720 --> 00:35:57,240 Situation, family situation, relationship. 558 00:35:58,360 --> 00:36:02,920 A dream. Maybe here on Mother's Day 559 00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:07,760 today, for some of you mothers, it's it's your kids where you 560 00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:10,800 just you're clenching on with. All that you've. 561 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:12,440 Got and you know. The whole. 562 00:36:12,440 --> 00:36:14,440 Time I've been talking, Jesus is saying that's what I want you to 563 00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:15,800 surrender. The Holy Spirit has been 564 00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:16,880 speaking. To you, will you? 565 00:36:17,720 --> 00:36:20,520 Open your hands and trust him with it. 566 00:36:22,640 --> 00:36:25,200 Maybe it's bitterness or unforgiveness. 567 00:36:26,560 --> 00:36:34,120 Maybe it's shame or guilt Did Jesus died on the cross to free 568 00:36:34,120 --> 00:36:38,880 you of but you keep on living under a label that no longer 569 00:36:38,880 --> 00:36:41,920 applies to you because. If you're in Christ Jesus. 570 00:36:42,920 --> 00:36:49,080 The labels that apply to you now are holy, forgiven, redeemed, 571 00:36:49,680 --> 00:36:53,440 son or daughter of the. King, you. 572 00:36:53,440 --> 00:36:56,120 Just need to let Jesus nail that to the cross and start living 573 00:36:56,120 --> 00:36:58,360 into the identity. Jesus has given you. 574 00:37:00,080 --> 00:37:02,680 To the cross is the. Place where we put things to 575 00:37:02,680 --> 00:37:06,400 death and. Every day there are. 576 00:37:06,400 --> 00:37:11,560 Things that we need to choose, sometimes again, sometimes over 577 00:37:11,560 --> 00:37:15,000 again, to put to death. If you are. 578 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:18,000 Truly going to experience church. 579 00:37:18,040 --> 00:37:22,440 I've been praying all week and my deepest desire for me for. 580 00:37:22,440 --> 00:37:27,280 You for us collectively is that we wouldn't just church is a 581 00:37:27,280 --> 00:37:33,000 terrible hobby following Jesus. If it's just things that you do 582 00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:33,880 it's lame. I'm just. 583 00:37:33,880 --> 00:37:38,680 Going to tell you. Find a better hobby, but there 584 00:37:38,680 --> 00:37:44,160 is no better life than. Actually following Jesus and 585 00:37:44,160 --> 00:37:46,920 actually following Jesus comes through surrender. 586 00:37:48,040 --> 00:37:51,080 It's only when we die to ourselves that we can begin to. 587 00:37:51,080 --> 00:37:54,080 Experience the resurrection power and life that Jesus has 588 00:37:54,080 --> 00:37:55,840 offered to us through the Holy Spirit. 589 00:37:57,280 --> 00:38:01,600 God wants us to receive life. So just going to ask you to do 590 00:38:01,600 --> 00:38:03,600 this. I say this all the time. 591 00:38:03,600 --> 00:38:06,600 There's no power and it's not a magical thing. 592 00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:11,920 I just put to bow your head to close your eyes because it just 593 00:38:11,920 --> 00:38:14,320 helps to remove distractions in a distracted world. 594 00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:19,920 And then I would encourage you to just hold your hands out in 595 00:38:19,920 --> 00:38:24,600 front of you. Again, there's nothing magical 596 00:38:24,600 --> 00:38:28,320 about this, but a posture of crossing your arms across you 597 00:38:28,680 --> 00:38:32,960 does not signal surrender to your body or putting your hands 598 00:38:32,960 --> 00:38:34,960 in your pockets. Just hold your hands out in 599 00:38:34,960 --> 00:38:39,920 front of you. And then would you just pray 600 00:38:39,920 --> 00:38:45,240 this prayer? God, I give and then fill in the 601 00:38:45,240 --> 00:38:47,960 blank with the thing that God has been prompting you with. 602 00:38:49,680 --> 00:38:51,400 It's God. For the first time I give my 603 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:53,040 life to you. Praise Jesus. 604 00:38:53,040 --> 00:38:59,080 That would be amazing. Got to give my marriage to you. 605 00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:07,480 Got to give my kids to you. Some of you are so weighed down 606 00:39:07,480 --> 00:39:12,320 with worry and anxiety because your hands are clenched so tight 607 00:39:12,320 --> 00:39:15,600 around things. What is the source? 608 00:39:15,600 --> 00:39:17,400 What is the? Thing that keeps you up at night 609 00:39:17,400 --> 00:39:19,800 that that you can't stop having running through your mind. 610 00:39:19,880 --> 00:39:23,840 Would you just open your hands today and surrender that to him? 611 00:39:26,320 --> 00:39:27,920 What's the? Sin that has you. 612 00:39:28,480 --> 00:39:31,880 Stuck. You know it's killing you, but 613 00:39:31,880 --> 00:39:36,560 you feel like you can't move through life without it Just 614 00:39:36,560 --> 00:39:37,680 open. Your hands and say, God, I 615 00:39:37,680 --> 00:39:42,400 surrender it to you today. I'm relinquishing my control and 616 00:39:42,400 --> 00:39:45,320 my claim over it. I'm picking up my cross. 617 00:39:50,440 --> 00:39:55,880 And then here's the thing, when we empty our hands, we give up 618 00:39:55,880 --> 00:40:00,560 the thing that was in our hands. This posture becomes a different 619 00:40:00,560 --> 00:40:05,040 posture because when your hands are empty, now you're in the 620 00:40:05,040 --> 00:40:10,800 space to receive. Now you can get what God wants 621 00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:16,000 to give you. And so with your hands open, if 622 00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:18,400 you've prayed that prayer of surrender, now I'll just invite 623 00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:22,320 you to pray this prayer. Come, Holy Spirit. 624 00:40:25,720 --> 00:40:31,560 Come, Holy Spirit. Come give me your peace. 625 00:40:33,480 --> 00:40:36,480 Come give me a deep, abiding sense of your love, as the Holy 626 00:40:36,480 --> 00:40:38,120 Spirit does. He reminds us we are. 627 00:40:39,760 --> 00:40:43,280 Dearly loved adopted. Children of God, just God I 628 00:40:43,280 --> 00:40:44,600 want. To feel that love. 629 00:40:45,560 --> 00:40:46,960 Maybe in a way you've never felt it before. 630 00:40:47,440 --> 00:40:49,040 Come. Give me your joy. 631 00:40:52,120 --> 00:40:58,000 Come bring healing, open your hands up and ask the Holy Spirit 632 00:40:58,000 --> 00:41:07,290 to pour out on you. Yes, come Holy Spirit, we thank 633 00:41:07,290 --> 00:41:12,050 you that you answer that cry as we surrender and open our hands 634 00:41:12,050 --> 00:41:14,970 up and free ourselves from the things that have entangled us, 635 00:41:16,610 --> 00:41:20,050 that we now createspace for you to give us all that we truly 636 00:41:20,050 --> 00:41:26,680 need and long for. I pray that so many people today 637 00:41:26,680 --> 00:41:29,880 who have been set free to true freedom through sacrifice and 638 00:41:29,880 --> 00:41:34,480 surrender today. Amen. 639 00:41:34,720 --> 00:41:36,440 The band's going to come, they're going to play a song. 640 00:41:36,440 --> 00:41:40,160 And I'm going to invite some of our prayer team, some of our 641 00:41:40,160 --> 00:41:43,360 elders, their wives, few others to come forward. 642 00:41:43,360 --> 00:41:46,040 And if you have something that you just would like prayer over 643 00:41:46,040 --> 00:41:49,600 today, well, the band's playing, we're playing this last song. 644 00:41:49,600 --> 00:41:53,440 You feel free to come forward if you're up in the balcony, don't 645 00:41:53,440 --> 00:41:54,680 let that. Be if, if God. 646 00:41:54,680 --> 00:41:57,360 Is saying come remember, we said your plan is better than my 647 00:41:57,360 --> 00:41:59,720 plan. Your plan is better than my 648 00:41:59,720 --> 00:42:03,040 lunch reservations. If God's calling you to come 649 00:42:03,040 --> 00:42:05,000 down, you come down and receive prayer. 650 00:42:05,000 --> 00:42:06,480 Our team would love to pray for you. 651 00:42:07,240 --> 00:42:44,680 Let's sing together. From the shore you called my 652 00:42:44,800 --> 00:42:50,600 name, left my past.