1 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:04,600 Being a good to see you here tonight. 2 00:00:05,500 --> 00:00:08,000 So encouraged by your interest, in spiritual things, and your 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:11,200 support of this gospel meeting. And we're looking forward to 4 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:14,700 studying the word of God together tonight, I invite you 5 00:00:14,700 --> 00:00:19,500 to turn with me to Matthew chapter 16 verse 21 through 27. 6 00:00:20,300 --> 00:00:25,200 As I read to you, the words of an old hymn, you're very 7 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:32,400 familiar with It goes like this. Must Jesus, bear, the cross 8 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:35,300 alone, and all the world go free. 9 00:00:36,100 --> 00:00:39,700 No, there's a cross for everyone and there's a cross for me. 10 00:00:40,500 --> 00:00:44,200 The consecrated cross. I'll bear Till Death Shall Set 11 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:48,600 Me Free and then go home. My crown to wear For, there's a 12 00:00:48,608 --> 00:00:52,900 crown for me. This beautiful song was inspired 13 00:00:52,900 --> 00:00:57,900 by the passage that we're going to read now and it is this idea 14 00:00:57,900 --> 00:01:01,500 that we would like to explore and to talk about in some detail 15 00:01:01,500 --> 00:01:03,000 tonight. And see if we can't better 16 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:06,700 understand how we can be disciples followers in the 17 00:01:06,700 --> 00:01:11,100 truest sense of our Lord Jesus Christ, Matthew 16 beginning 18 00:01:11,100 --> 00:01:15,800 with verse 21, From that time. Jesus began to show his 19 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:20,300 disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things 20 00:01:20,300 --> 00:01:23,700 from the elders and chief priests and scribes and be 21 00:01:23,700 --> 00:01:27,900 killed and be raised the third day, then Peter took him aside 22 00:01:27,900 --> 00:01:31,800 and began to rebuke him saying far be it from you Lord this 23 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:36,600 shall not happen to you but he turned and said to Peter get 24 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,700 behind me Satan you're an offense to me for you are not 25 00:01:39,700 --> 00:01:42,800 mindful of the things of God, the things of men. 26 00:01:42,900 --> 00:01:45,000 N. Then Jesus said to his 27 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:48,700 disciples. If anyone desires to come after 28 00:01:48,700 --> 00:01:55,000 me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me 29 00:01:55,500 --> 00:01:57,900 for whoever desires to save his life, will lose it. 30 00:01:57,900 --> 00:02:03,200 But whoever loses his life for my sake, will find it for what 31 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:07,600 profit is it to a man? If he gains the whole world and 32 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:13,700 loses his own soul or what will a man give in exchange for his? 33 00:02:13,900 --> 00:02:16,700 Soul for the son of man will come in the glory of his father, 34 00:02:16,900 --> 00:02:19,500 with his angels. And then he will reward each 35 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:26,300 according to his words. Matthew, 16 is a incredible 36 00:02:26,300 --> 00:02:28,300 chapter, many wonderful and exciting. 37 00:02:28,300 --> 00:02:31,800 Things happen in this chapter. But when it comes to our 38 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:38,000 everyday living, there is no fought expressed or no series of 39 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:43,400 thoughts, expressed that is more important for us in serving God 40 00:02:43,500 --> 00:02:47,400 and in reacting and interacting with our Brothers and Sisters in 41 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:49,600 Christ as well as those out in the world. 42 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:51,700 In the passage we're going to notice tonight. 43 00:02:51,700 --> 00:02:57,300 Matthew 16 verse 24, A couple touching experiences over the 44 00:02:57,300 --> 00:03:02,400 summer inspired me to explore this passage a little bit more 45 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:07,400 carefully and see if I understood it as well, as I 46 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:13,000 thought, I needed to while our family was leaving a minor 47 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:15,200 league baseball game and Nashville. 48 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:19,700 We Came Upon a man who was carrying a teenage boy over his 49 00:03:19,700 --> 00:03:23,100 shoulder. His face was facing us and even 50 00:03:23,100 --> 00:03:26,600 Liz's kind of an awkward way for I believe the stadium, the 51 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:33,200 situation, his face look of on his face was one of extreme joy 52 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:38,500 and and happiness. Of course, this led to some 53 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:42,500 interesting conversations with our family as we walked Walked 54 00:03:42,500 --> 00:03:46,000 towards our vehicle. Then a short time later, Joey 55 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:49,500 and I were in Missouri. And one of the elders there, 56 00:03:49,500 --> 00:03:53,500 Oscar Morris took Joey and I to a fascinating Museum that was 57 00:03:53,500 --> 00:03:57,900 dedicated to George Washington. Carver, who is a famous 58 00:03:57,900 --> 00:04:03,000 scientist and inventor many facts about Carver's life 59 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:07,400 inspired all, but there was one particular detail that hit me 60 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:11,300 and has stuck with me. And that was that this man's 61 00:04:11,300 --> 00:04:15,300 favorite song. This man who persevered under 62 00:04:15,300 --> 00:04:20,100 incredible adversity, was this song that we referred to before 63 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:25,500 the prayer? Must Jesus bear the cross alone. 64 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:30,600 This man Carver was a victim of appalling, racial animosity in 65 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,300 the museum. It, it depicted some of what 66 00:04:33,300 --> 00:04:36,300 happened, explain some of the things that he went through and 67 00:04:36,300 --> 00:04:39,600 some of the things that that he witnessed, in fact, his 68 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:44,700 description of some of these were every bit as brutal as some 69 00:04:44,700 --> 00:04:48,900 of the things we've heard of from Hitler's Germany and Saddam 70 00:04:48,900 --> 00:04:53,200 Hussein's Iraq. Well both of these It's is 71 00:04:53,500 --> 00:04:57,400 triggered the thought of the love of the Bible. 72 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:00,700 The love of the Bible that Jesus has demonstrated and that that 73 00:05:00,700 --> 00:05:04,800 love is not just something that we're supposed to enjoy for 74 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,700 ourselves, but it's something we're to reflect and particular 75 00:05:08,700 --> 00:05:11,200 this passage. If anyone desires, Matthew 76 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:18,300 16:24, if anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself. 77 00:05:19,300 --> 00:05:25,800 Take up his cross and follow me. Have you ever wondered how this 78 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:27,800 must have sounded to the apostles? 79 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:32,300 The first time these words graced the savior's lips? 80 00:05:32,300 --> 00:05:35,500 I think it probably hit them a lot harder than it does to us 81 00:05:35,500 --> 00:05:38,000 after all. We've heard it so many times and 82 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:42,400 we've sung this idea and it doesn't carry. 83 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,800 I think the same meaning as it did when they first heard it 84 00:05:45,808 --> 00:05:50,500 because when the apostles first heard it, they lived and the 85 00:05:50,500 --> 00:05:53,100 environment in which they understood. 86 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:55,200 Would something that I just became aware of. 87 00:05:55,200 --> 00:06:01,000 Recently that in Jerusalem, there would be hundreds of 88 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:05,200 crucifixions that year. And now Jesus was saying, I'm 89 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:08,500 going to be one of them. And unless you're willing to 90 00:06:08,900 --> 00:06:14,400 take up your cross and follow me, you really can't be my 91 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:18,100 disciple. Well, whether or not we are 92 00:06:18,100 --> 00:06:22,400 living out this teaching is one thing, but it certainly not if 93 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,300 we're not living it out because it's so difficult to understand. 94 00:06:25,500 --> 00:06:29,500 And grasp, Jesus is saying basically three things here. 95 00:06:29,500 --> 00:06:33,900 Number one, If you want to be my disciple, if you want to follow 96 00:06:33,900 --> 00:06:36,100 me, you're going to have to deal with yourself. 97 00:06:37,500 --> 00:06:42,700 By denying self, you're going to have to deal with others and the 98 00:06:42,707 --> 00:06:46,300 circumstances of Life by taking up your cross and then third 99 00:06:46,300 --> 00:06:50,600 simply just follow me walk the way I walk. 100 00:06:51,300 --> 00:06:55,400 Talk the way I talk and such a simple sentence, how hard could 101 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:57,900 that be? How hard could it be to live 102 00:06:57,900 --> 00:07:00,500 live that out in her life? Let's go back and let's look at 103 00:07:00,500 --> 00:07:04,000 it piece by piece. If anyone desires to come after 104 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:07,700 me when he's talking to people who were thinking, That's when 105 00:07:07,700 --> 00:07:10,100 he said that. Well, of course that's us. 106 00:07:10,100 --> 00:07:12,000 We want to follow you, we wouldn't be here. 107 00:07:12,100 --> 00:07:15,300 We wouldn't be going with you from place to place if that were 108 00:07:15,300 --> 00:07:17,700 not the case. But Jesus was saying, do you 109 00:07:17,700 --> 00:07:20,500 really want to be my disciples? Is that really what you want to 110 00:07:20,500 --> 00:07:21,700 do? Are you sure you want to come 111 00:07:21,700 --> 00:07:24,400 after me? How far are you willing to go? 112 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:27,400 And here we are two thousand years later but we need to 113 00:07:27,407 --> 00:07:30,500 imagine as if G is when he mentions these words was 114 00:07:30,500 --> 00:07:35,500 speaking directly to us because they certainly do apply to us 115 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:40,500 then Jesus gives three ways in which we can test the intensity 116 00:07:40,500 --> 00:07:45,800 of our desire to follow him. And isn't what Jesus is saying 117 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:48,900 here? Just another way of packaging, 118 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:53,300 the spirit of the greatest of Commandments, and Matthew, 22 119 00:07:53,300 --> 00:07:55,500 verse 37 through 9. We've sung a little bit about 120 00:07:55,500 --> 00:07:59,100 that tonight. You shall love the Lord, your 121 00:07:59,100 --> 00:08:02,800 God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your 122 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:07,300 mind, and all your strength. And your neighbor as yourself. 123 00:08:07,300 --> 00:08:11,000 One thing's for sure. I cannot truly love God, and my 124 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:14,600 neighbor without denying myself. A lot of times, we think, Well, 125 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:17,900 yes, I love God, yes, I love my neighbor, but we don't really 126 00:08:17,900 --> 00:08:21,800 spend a lot of time focusing on the idea of denying ourselves. 127 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:24,900 And when we talk about denying ourselves, what do we mean? 128 00:08:27,300 --> 00:08:30,100 It's really pretty simple. If anyone desires to come after 129 00:08:30,100 --> 00:08:37,700 me, let him deny himself. What do you mean? 130 00:08:37,900 --> 00:08:43,000 He means saying no to me saying no to the flesh saying no to my 131 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:47,600 wants saying no to my wishes. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the 132 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:51,900 Christian Life? Was just about saying, no, but 133 00:08:52,300 --> 00:08:54,000 it wasn't so much saying, no, to me. 134 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,600 It just meant saying no to other people be pretty easy for that, 135 00:08:57,600 --> 00:08:59,100 was that if that was all, there was to it. 136 00:08:59,100 --> 00:09:02,100 And that's one of the things we learned to do earliest, and one 137 00:09:02,100 --> 00:09:05,100 of the things we do, most often, as a little child, isn't it? 138 00:09:05,300 --> 00:09:09,300 You learn to say, no, we learn to say no to everybody else and 139 00:09:09,300 --> 00:09:11,500 everything else that everybody else wants us to do. 140 00:09:12,300 --> 00:09:14,500 But, you know, the Christian life is not about that. 141 00:09:14,500 --> 00:09:16,800 Now, there are times when we've got to say, no, there are times 142 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:18,600 when we have to say no to others. 143 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:21,100 There are times we have to Say no to immorality. 144 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:26,000 There are times that we have to say no to worldliness to alcohol 145 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:31,100 to drugs to in modesty and the list goes on and on if things 146 00:09:31,100 --> 00:09:33,600 that we shouldn't say, no. And the in occasions when we 147 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:37,100 must say no to others. But here this is not saying 148 00:09:37,100 --> 00:09:38,900 that. He's not saying deny others. 149 00:09:38,900 --> 00:09:42,500 He's saying deny yourself, tell yourself no. 150 00:09:44,100 --> 00:09:48,600 I'm telling myself no would be hard enough if I just lived in a 151 00:09:48,900 --> 00:09:52,700 vacuum for what. Interacting with other people, I 152 00:09:52,700 --> 00:09:54,800 was just isolated from everyone else. 153 00:09:55,300 --> 00:10:01,400 If I had to say no to too much food, no to too much spending 154 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:03,300 know, the too much sleeping, too. 155 00:10:03,300 --> 00:10:05,500 Too much entertainment or recreation? 156 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:10,100 No, to losing my temper to retaliating and so on. 157 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:13,700 But no, God has placed us purposefully in a World where we 158 00:10:13,700 --> 00:10:15,800 have to interact with others. And one of the things that God 159 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:18,000 wants to see as we interact with others. 160 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:22,800 Are we willing to say? No, to ourselves? 161 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:25,500 The world says, say yes, say yes. 162 00:10:25,500 --> 00:10:28,400 Never say no to yourself. Never tell yourself. 163 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:31,500 No. Jesus says, you gotta say, no, 164 00:10:32,100 --> 00:10:36,200 you gotta say no to yourself. McGarvey on this verse, says, 165 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,000 the disciple must learn to say no to many of the strongest 166 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:43,100 Cravings of his Earthly nature, the cross is a symbol for Duty, 167 00:10:43,100 --> 00:10:45,600 which is to be performed daily at any cost. 168 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,500 Even that of the most painful death, the disciple must follow 169 00:10:48,500 --> 00:10:52,600 Jesus both as his teaching and example Barnes ads. 170 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:56,200 Let him not seek his own happiness, as the Supreme 171 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,500 object, but be willing to renounce, all and lay down his 172 00:10:59,500 --> 00:11:02,300 life. Also, if required. 173 00:11:03,300 --> 00:11:06,900 Twist talking about here. Don't think about that much 174 00:11:06,900 --> 00:11:10,000 doing. Another great doctrine of Christ 175 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:13,800 is found in Matthew 6, verse 33. And when he issues for this 176 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:16,900 statement, really what it is is just a positive restatement of 177 00:11:16,908 --> 00:11:23,400 Matthew 16:24 seek first, The kingdom of God and his 178 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:26,600 righteousness. Same message, isn't it? 179 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:30,500 We should follow him that we should do what he did, and make 180 00:11:30,500 --> 00:11:33,600 sure that we don't allow other things to clutter up our mind 181 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:38,300 and clutter up our lives. Clutter up our priorities that 182 00:11:38,300 --> 00:11:43,000 the issues of the kingdom and issues of righteous living must 183 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:50,300 take precedence in John 6:38. Jesus said, that's the way I 184 00:11:50,300 --> 00:11:53,000 live. Yeah he took on a body, he took 185 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:56,400 on flesh and he said no to self John 6:38. 186 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:59,300 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, 187 00:11:59,300 --> 00:12:03,100 but the will of him. Who has sent me, and then of 188 00:12:03,100 --> 00:12:05,200 course, we have the ultimate teaching method. 189 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:08,000 These Jesus doesn't say, this is what I'm here to do, and this is 190 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:12,400 how I'm going to live, but he shows us by his example. 191 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,600 As he agonizes in the Garden of Gethsemane. 192 00:12:17,700 --> 00:12:22,700 Luke. 22:42 hear the words. He went a little farther and 193 00:12:22,700 --> 00:12:27,900 fell on his face. And prayed o my father. 194 00:12:28,900 --> 00:12:31,300 If it be possible, let this cup pass from me. 195 00:12:32,300 --> 00:12:34,200 He didn't want it. He didn't want to drink that 196 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:38,300 cup. So we prayed if it's possible, 197 00:12:38,700 --> 00:12:42,500 take it away. Nevertheless not my will. 198 00:12:43,900 --> 00:12:48,700 But thine be done. No word, more aptly describes, 199 00:12:48,700 --> 00:12:51,500 Jesus and self-denial. And we want to be like Jesus, 200 00:12:51,500 --> 00:12:53,500 don't we? We got a we're going to be like 201 00:12:53,500 --> 00:12:56,200 Jesus, we've got to say no to self. 202 00:12:56,500 --> 00:12:59,100 Frankly, I was surprised as I look through the New Testament 203 00:12:59,100 --> 00:13:01,500 and what the apostles had to say that? 204 00:13:01,500 --> 00:13:04,500 How many times I've overlooked this teaching by the apostles 205 00:13:04,500 --> 00:13:07,800 themselves? Emphasizing self-denial speaking 206 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:11,600 of perilous times Paul writes in second Timothy 3 verse 2 for men 207 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:14,800 shall be lovers of their own selves. 208 00:13:15,900 --> 00:13:19,200 He makes that like it's it's about the worst possible state 209 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:22,300 that man could be in loving themselves. 210 00:13:22,300 --> 00:13:25,700 This is not to say that we should have an attitude of 211 00:13:25,700 --> 00:13:27,900 self-loathing that we can't stand ourselves. 212 00:13:27,900 --> 00:13:31,500 Remember, Jesus says love thy neighbor as thyself, but the 213 00:13:31,500 --> 00:13:36,000 idea here is according to Thayer, too intent on one's own 214 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:39,100 self interest and that can slip into our hearts. 215 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:45,900 It's a very surprising ways sometimes that can happen to us 216 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:48,900 even when we're discussing something that is right and 217 00:13:48,900 --> 00:13:51,600 we're willing to stand up for something that's rides. 218 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:56,200 We're not going to say no to our self. 219 00:13:57,500 --> 00:14:01,800 And we hide sometimes behind truth and behind. 220 00:14:01,900 --> 00:14:05,200 Right? Jesus says, you got to be 221 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:08,700 careful there. Avoiding this Pitfall will 222 00:14:08,700 --> 00:14:14,000 demand a high level of self-awareness and aggressive 223 00:14:14,100 --> 00:14:18,900 self-regulation, Stephen Covey. And one of his books talks about 224 00:14:18,900 --> 00:14:23,300 the idea of the, the difference between man and animal is our 225 00:14:23,300 --> 00:14:26,900 ability, when something shocking, something revolting. 226 00:14:26,900 --> 00:14:29,300 Something upsetting happens to us. 227 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:31,600 The difference between us and the Animals. 228 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:36,000 The animals programmed, he's going to react and we react very 229 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:41,100 fiercely there between us, and the animal is we're able to as 230 00:14:41,100 --> 00:14:44,300 he puts it. Push the pause button. 231 00:14:46,100 --> 00:14:48,000 Push the pause and just for that Split Second. 232 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:52,300 We have a moment to thank what's the what's the right response 233 00:14:52,300 --> 00:14:54,900 here? What's the right reaction? 234 00:14:55,800 --> 00:15:02,500 But too many times. I know I am thinking self self 235 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:06,100 is going to get his opportunity, I'm going to say and I'm going 236 00:15:06,100 --> 00:15:09,900 to do what I want to right now, but that didn't fit with the 237 00:15:09,900 --> 00:15:12,700 tenor of the New Testament. And that doesn't match up with 238 00:15:12,700 --> 00:15:15,400 the life that Jesus live. And that doesn't fit with what 239 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,800 Jesus is teaching here about discipleship in Matthew 16:24. 240 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:23,000 Paul puts it this way in Galatians. 2:20, I have been 241 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:27,300 crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but 242 00:15:27,300 --> 00:15:30,400 Christ lives in me and the life, which I now live in the flesh, I 243 00:15:30,408 --> 00:15:33,800 live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself 244 00:15:34,100 --> 00:15:36,600 for me. She was supposed to be about is 245 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:41,400 shrinking, this me shrinking? This me and allowing Jesus to 246 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:45,000 fill up my life and Jesus response and reaction. 247 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:50,000 To be expressed in me. Augustine was probably the most 248 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,400 famous for century Christian writer. 249 00:15:55,900 --> 00:15:57,800 Soon. After his conversion, he was 250 00:15:57,800 --> 00:15:59,700 walking down the street in Milan. 251 00:15:59,700 --> 00:16:04,700 Italy where he met a harlot who made known in his previous life, 252 00:16:05,500 --> 00:16:08,900 she called out to him. But he wouldn't answer. 253 00:16:08,900 --> 00:16:11,700 He kept right on walking Augustine. 254 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:16,400 She cried, it is. I without missing a beat and 255 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:19,400 with the Assurance of Christ in his heart, he replied. 256 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:25,400 Yes. But it is no longer I because of 257 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:31,600 Jesus Augustine denied himself. He was crucified with Christ and 258 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:34,000 we must do the same. Jesus says, if we're going to be 259 00:16:34,100 --> 00:16:38,000 his disciples, it's no accident. That in the list of the 260 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:42,600 qualifications, for The Elder, the bishop, the pastor that we 261 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:46,300 talked briefly about last night in the qualifications, we find 262 00:16:46,300 --> 00:16:49,400 this idea of self talk to you about in both ways in the 263 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:53,900 positive and the negative Titus Chapter 1 Verse And 80 says, not 264 00:16:53,900 --> 00:16:57,800 self Wills. But self-controlled. 265 00:17:00,700 --> 00:17:04,500 So easy to read it. So hard to live out there. 266 00:17:04,500 --> 00:17:07,500 In describing self-control says, it's the virtue of one who 267 00:17:07,500 --> 00:17:11,900 Masters his desires and passions of course, self-control is 268 00:17:11,900 --> 00:17:15,400 listed among the fruit of the spirit that demonstrate the true 269 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:18,099 maturity in the faith that we're all striving for you. 270 00:17:18,099 --> 00:17:22,700 Think about this self-control, this is one of the major themes 271 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:26,099 that was preached, you know. Paul goes before Felix in Acts 272 00:17:26,099 --> 00:17:31,800 chapter 24 and we just read about three things, three main 273 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,700 points in his sermon. Now, as he reasoned about 274 00:17:34,700 --> 00:17:39,000 righteousness self-control and the judgment to come Felix was 275 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:42,300 afraid and answered go away for. Now, when I have a convenient 276 00:17:42,300 --> 00:17:47,100 season, I will call for you. No doubt self-control was one of 277 00:17:47,100 --> 00:17:49,600 the issues that was a stumbling block for him. 278 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:54,400 They are says Self-willed. It's being self policing and 279 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:57,000 arrogant, Vine says it denotes. One who dominated by 280 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:01,800 self-interest and in considerate of others arrogantly asserts his 281 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:04,400 own will. It's the opposite of gentle. 282 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:08,500 Then he quotes trench one who's so far overvaluing any 283 00:18:08,500 --> 00:18:10,600 determination at which he has himself. 284 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:13,000 Once arrived at, he will not be removed from, you know what it 285 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:15,000 means. It means when you come up with 286 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:19,600 some thought or some idea, you're so set in your ways in 287 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:23,700 that there's no amount of Truth and reasoning scripture and 288 00:18:23,700 --> 00:18:26,900 Sound Logic that will in that enable you to be moved away from 289 00:18:26,900 --> 00:18:32,400 us. now, this type of self will Behavior. 290 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:34,100 We can see it in the drug addict. 291 00:18:34,500 --> 00:18:37,500 We can see it in the terrorists in the atheists. 292 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:41,700 Those who have been blinded by doctrinal error, but we need to 293 00:18:41,700 --> 00:18:47,000 realize That can happen to us. We can be enticed with this just 294 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:48,700 as well. Again he says if any man come 295 00:18:48,700 --> 00:18:54,100 after me let him deny himself Paul Associates this with a 296 00:18:54,100 --> 00:19:00,100 number of fleshly frailties. the root of disobedience is really a 297 00:19:00,108 --> 00:19:03,100 self-seeking spirit in Romans 2, verse 8, to those who are 298 00:19:03,100 --> 00:19:06,300 self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, 299 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:11,100 indignation and Wrath That's how you follow Satan. 300 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:16,300 Not the Savior self-seeking Colossians 2 verse 23. 301 00:19:16,500 --> 00:19:19,900 He talks about will worship or as the new King James puts. 302 00:19:19,900 --> 00:19:25,200 It self-imposed religion. Strong defines that as worship, 303 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:27,700 which one prescribes and devises for himself. 304 00:19:27,700 --> 00:19:30,200 Conjuring to the contents of nature of the faith, which he 305 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:32,800 ought to be directed to Christ. It just like we talked about 306 00:19:32,800 --> 00:19:35,400 last night when we can see what the pattern is. 307 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:37,800 We can see what the New Testament teaches, but we say, 308 00:19:38,100 --> 00:19:42,200 no, we Art tearing it up. I want to do it my way. 309 00:19:44,100 --> 00:19:47,000 At self First Timothy 2. Verse 9 says that women Adorn 310 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:51,600 themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness and 311 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:55,300 sobriety. That word sobriety is also 312 00:19:55,300 --> 00:20:00,800 translated accurately self-restraint when it comes to 313 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:03,100 dress the men and the women of the world. 314 00:20:03,100 --> 00:20:05,300 What happens they show? Absolutely. 315 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:08,500 No self-restraint. God's people can't be like that. 316 00:20:09,300 --> 00:20:12,600 We've got a show, demonstrate, self-restraint, and Matthew 23 317 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:15,100 verse 25. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees 318 00:20:15,100 --> 00:20:18,200 Hypocrites, for you cleanse, the outside of the cup and dish, but 319 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:25,200 inside you are full of extortion and It was all about them. 320 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:29,400 James 316 for where Indian self-seeking exist, confusion 321 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:32,300 and every evil thing or their second, Peter 2 10. 322 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:37,200 Those who walk after the flesh are daring and self-willed 323 00:20:38,100 --> 00:20:43,200 itself over and over again, the keeps us from reaching full 324 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:48,200 maturity consider Jesus own explanation of Self-denial. 325 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:50,900 And the next verse Matthew. 16 verse 25. 326 00:20:50,900 --> 00:20:54,900 He says, for whoever desires to save his life, will lose it but 327 00:20:54,900 --> 00:20:59,800 whoever loses his life for my sake, will find it in Mark 9. 328 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:03,200 35, if anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all. 329 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:06,500 And servant of all what's either saying here, what he's doing. 330 00:21:06,500 --> 00:21:10,800 He's turning the conventional wisdom of that day and of this, 331 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:13,700 on its head and our competitive World. 332 00:21:13,700 --> 00:21:15,900 Everyone feels like they've got to win, they've got to win in 333 00:21:15,900 --> 00:21:18,900 everything. They've got a win in the 334 00:21:18,900 --> 00:21:21,900 educational realm. They got a win in the 335 00:21:21,900 --> 00:21:24,900 occupational realm. They've got to win in 336 00:21:24,900 --> 00:21:31,600 everything. but Jesus says here, now you can win, you can win as 337 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:36,800 a Christian by losing Losing all those things that don't really 338 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:40,100 matter by losing yourself for me. 339 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:44,500 Let's move on in the verse If any man will come after me, let 340 00:21:44,500 --> 00:21:48,300 him deny himself. Take up his cross. 341 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:54,800 And follow me. Again, try to imagine what that 342 00:21:54,808 --> 00:21:59,600 was like hearing. If you're one of those who that 343 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:01,900 was hearing it in the time when yeah, they were putting people 344 00:22:01,900 --> 00:22:05,700 on the cross. They were doing that to hundreds 345 00:22:05,700 --> 00:22:09,600 of people every year, right there in that area. 346 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:12,800 You mean that's gonna happen to us what Jesus was talking about 347 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:15,900 here. Of course, was not literal cross 348 00:22:15,900 --> 00:22:19,100 bearing figurative language. He was going to show them the 349 00:22:19,100 --> 00:22:27,300 way in the literal form, but we do have a cross to bear and it 350 00:22:27,300 --> 00:22:30,300 just stands to reason that the more selfless we become, the 351 00:22:30,300 --> 00:22:33,200 more badly will be able to Bear our cross when Jesus Took up the 352 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:36,200 actual cross beams, that he would later be nailed to. 353 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:40,000 He was suffering already from pain, from exhaustion, 354 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:45,800 dehydration from the beating, he taken He could have cancelled 355 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:49,900 the crucifixion and call for the Angelic rescue. 356 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:55,400 We sometimes sing about, but he bore the cross, he bore it, and 357 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:57,700 he bore our sins in a sense. Really? 358 00:22:57,700 --> 00:23:03,000 When you think about it, Jesus bore with Peter, When Peter 359 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:06,200 denied him three times, how do you endure that? 360 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:10,000 How do you bear that burden? Jesus bore with Judas when he 361 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:13,900 betrayed him with a kiss, how do you not retaliate when you're 362 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:17,600 one of your closest friends? Does something. 363 00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:22,900 So heartless and so cruel. Jesus bore the chief priests he 364 00:23:22,900 --> 00:23:24,900 bore with Heron. He bore with Pilots. 365 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:29,500 He bore with a soldier's when he was reviled, he was reviled, not 366 00:23:29,500 --> 00:23:33,300 again. As the old song says, he bore 367 00:23:33,300 --> 00:23:35,000 it. All, he bore it. 368 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:38,800 All that I might live. So much Jesus bear. 369 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:41,900 The cross alone. Know we all have our crosses to 370 00:23:41,900 --> 00:23:45,100 bear. The question is, am I running? 371 00:23:46,500 --> 00:23:50,200 From those crosses. Or will I take up my cross? 372 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:54,100 Well, I take up the crosses that Jesus puts in my path. 373 00:23:54,100 --> 00:23:57,200 Martin Luther once aptly said a religion that gives nothing 374 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:01,300 costs. Nothing and suffers nothing is 375 00:24:01,300 --> 00:24:03,300 worth nothing. But if there's one danger that 376 00:24:03,300 --> 00:24:07,500 we face today as Christians, living in these United States is 377 00:24:07,500 --> 00:24:10,600 we want to live a life, a Christian Life. 378 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:12,700 We want to call ourselves Christians were not call 379 00:24:12,700 --> 00:24:15,400 ourselves followers of Christ, but we don't have to, we don't 380 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:17,400 want to have to endure anything. We don't want to have to endure 381 00:24:17,500 --> 00:24:20,200 any discomfort. Don't want to have to endure any 382 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:24,700 inconveniences for the cause for the kingdom, we want it easy. 383 00:24:26,900 --> 00:24:28,600 And the Christian Life, as easy as it. 384 00:24:29,700 --> 00:24:34,300 As it is in the United States does require some cross bearing 385 00:24:35,300 --> 00:24:37,800 when reaching the preaching of the Cross is foolishness to the 386 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:43,000 world, First Corinthians 1:18 is because it involves denying self 387 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:46,900 and bearing burdens Matthew 10:38, he who does not take his 388 00:24:46,900 --> 00:24:49,100 cross. And follow after me, is not 389 00:24:49,100 --> 00:24:52,900 worthy of me. It's a separation separation for 390 00:24:52,900 --> 00:24:57,200 him, the saved in the loss. It's not natural, it's not 391 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:00,400 something you get excited about. We associate the cross with pain 392 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:01,600 and suffering, that's part of it. 393 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:04,400 But when I read take up your cross, I think it's also 394 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:07,700 something heavy. Think of something inconvenient, 395 00:25:07,700 --> 00:25:11,000 something I'd rather not do Kaufman rights. 396 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:15,200 The cross is the acceptance for the sake of the will of God of 397 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:18,400 some burden or burdens otherwise avoidable. 398 00:25:18,500 --> 00:25:22,700 You see, we get to a place. sometimes in the day, sometimes 399 00:25:22,700 --> 00:25:25,800 in the night where there is a choice and something 400 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:28,700 inconvenient is put in front of us, you know what sometimes 401 00:25:28,700 --> 00:25:33,900 inconvenient Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday night of a gospel 402 00:25:33,900 --> 00:25:37,800 meeting after A Hard Day's Work and really be just a little bit 403 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:45,400 easier to go home, wouldn't it? And to bring to get the children 404 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:51,600 ready and come to services. Little less convenience. 405 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:55,900 We know it's the thing to do. The pay, it'll pay dividends 406 00:25:56,300 --> 00:26:00,100 down the road. After a complicated delivery, in 407 00:26:00,100 --> 00:26:05,700 1962, Rick Hoyt was born with his umbilical cord around his 408 00:26:05,700 --> 00:26:09,000 neck. Oxygen, deprivation left him in 409 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:11,900 a vegetative state. The doctor suggested 410 00:26:11,900 --> 00:26:16,100 institutionalizing him, but the voids were committed to raising 411 00:26:16,100 --> 00:26:20,400 their son as normally as possible at age. 10 Cutting 412 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:25,300 Edge, technology allowed Rick to communicate a cursor, would move 413 00:26:25,300 --> 00:26:28,000 across the screen filled with rows of letters. 414 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:30,400 And when The cursor. Highlighted a letter that Rick 415 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:34,400 wanted, he would click a switch with just the slightest movement 416 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:38,200 of his head. He was able to communicate the 417 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:42,900 first words that he communicated were go Bruins. 418 00:26:44,700 --> 00:26:47,300 He'd been following just as closely as the rest of the 419 00:26:47,308 --> 00:26:49,900 family. The Boston Bruins, who were then 420 00:26:49,900 --> 00:26:53,300 in the Stanley Cup finals, the family didn't know, they didn't 421 00:26:53,300 --> 00:26:57,800 realize. Five years later at age 15 Rick 422 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:01,900 asked his dad here, he is with this great burden that he had to 423 00:27:01,900 --> 00:27:05,500 carry himself, but he asked his dad, to put him in a wheelchair 424 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:09,700 for a five-mile benefit run for a local athlete who has recently 425 00:27:09,700 --> 00:27:14,300 paralyzed in an automobile accident, even though Rick's dad 426 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:17,100 dick was not a long distance Runner. 427 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:21,200 He agreed. Rick's words. 428 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:26,500 The sun's words more than made up for their next to last 429 00:27:26,700 --> 00:27:30,900 finish. He said, Dad When we were out 430 00:27:30,900 --> 00:27:33,900 there, I didn't feel like I was handicapped. 431 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:39,600 At that moment dick the father dedicated his life to pushing 432 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:44,200 Rick in a wheelchair in Long Distance, runs big then. 433 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:48,700 Learn how to swim and trained to compete in triathlons. 434 00:27:49,700 --> 00:27:51,600 Imagine this. You know what Triathlon is? 435 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:55,200 It's a 26 mile. Run on top of that, it's 436 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:59,200 112-mile bicycle race and above that. 437 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:01,700 It's a two point. Four mile swim. 438 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:07,200 How's it going to do that? Well, and then we go on the bike 439 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:09,600 race. Rick would be rigged to the 440 00:28:09,600 --> 00:28:15,600 front of the bicycle. When it came to the swim, he had 441 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:20,400 to learn to swim. Dick would tie a rope around his 442 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:25,300 waist and the entire to a very thin boat behind him and which 443 00:28:25,700 --> 00:28:32,200 he pulled his son, he would swim Over and over. 444 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:39,400 This became his life. As of June of last year, the 445 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:44,200 father-son team competed in over 900 races, including 64 446 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:50,600 marathons and 206 triathlons. You may be wondering. 447 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:54,400 Yeah. But when we talk about taking my 448 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:57,700 cross bearing, my cross carrying my cross, is that actually 449 00:28:57,700 --> 00:29:02,200 include carrying others or bearing with others. 450 00:29:04,100 --> 00:29:06,700 Other people. Let's see. 451 00:29:07,100 --> 00:29:12,000 First Corinthians 13, 7, says, charity, or love beareth all 452 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:15,300 things, believeth, all things, hopeth all things, endureth all 453 00:29:15,300 --> 00:29:17,100 things. Well, every man shall bear. 454 00:29:17,100 --> 00:29:20,700 His own burden, according to Galatians 65, in the sense of 455 00:29:20,700 --> 00:29:23,600 everyone must give an account of himself to God. 456 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:28,400 And though, we should always cast our burdens to the Lord. 457 00:29:28,500 --> 00:29:30,100 Paul also said three verses earlier. 458 00:29:30,100 --> 00:29:35,700 In Galatians 6, verse 2, Bear one another's burdens and so 459 00:29:35,700 --> 00:29:39,600 fulfill the law of Christ. It's quite an endorsement isn't 460 00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:43,200 it? And so fulfill the law of Christ 461 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:48,100 genuine discipleship taking up. Our cross means that we're 462 00:29:48,100 --> 00:29:51,700 expected to bear. Burdened hearts. 463 00:29:53,300 --> 00:29:57,800 The burden health of others burden, family's burden 464 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:00,900 finances. 80 Robinson is word picture. 465 00:30:00,900 --> 00:30:03,900 Says of this word, it means to keep on bearing. 466 00:30:04,300 --> 00:30:08,100 Its, when one's load is about to press one down then, give help 467 00:30:08,500 --> 00:30:10,900 and carry, that's what Jesus did. 468 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:17,900 That's what he wants us to do. So idea of taking up, our cross 469 00:30:18,500 --> 00:30:21,900 must be preceded with a certain amount of selflessness 470 00:30:22,200 --> 00:30:25,700 self-denial because it puts the needs and desires of others 471 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:28,700 above. My own story, is told of a 472 00:30:28,700 --> 00:30:32,200 preacher, who met a man in his 30s man named Sandy know, Sandy 473 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:37,400 was combined to a nursing home by a terrible disease called 474 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:40,700 Ataxia. The Ataxia would have did to 475 00:30:40,700 --> 00:30:43,400 this man. It lets his whole body shaking 476 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:46,300 uncontrolled the he had no control We're even with 477 00:30:46,300 --> 00:30:49,000 medicine. So severe was his shaking, they 478 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:52,500 was further combined to either his bed or a wheelchair. 479 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:57,000 Few people invested enough time in Sandy to learn how to 480 00:30:57,000 --> 00:31:01,400 decipher the mumbled syllables that he struggled to form in a 481 00:31:01,400 --> 00:31:06,800 meaningful sentences but the preacher got to know him and was 482 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:09,900 eventually able to study with him and communicate with him. 483 00:31:09,900 --> 00:31:13,300 And they had Bible studies and eventually he was converted from 484 00:31:13,300 --> 00:31:16,300 religious error. From the Christian church. 485 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:19,800 There were challenges though and getting sanity to church. 486 00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:22,900 He wanted to come but the preacher had to lift Sandy into 487 00:31:22,900 --> 00:31:26,900 his vehicle which involve lifting 180-pound man, but also 488 00:31:26,900 --> 00:31:30,800 managing to Corral these unshakable limbs in such a way 489 00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:34,300 that he wouldn't hurt him as he was trying to get him in the 490 00:31:34,300 --> 00:31:38,400 vehicle. Incontinency was a distraction 491 00:31:38,400 --> 00:31:42,000 sometimes for the other folks at church and not everybody seemed 492 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:44,400 to be real happy that that he was there. 493 00:31:45,100 --> 00:31:47,900 The man passing Sandy, the Lord's Supper would have to 494 00:31:47,900 --> 00:31:51,700 steady the cup for Sandy to minimize the amount of grape 495 00:31:51,700 --> 00:31:56,600 juice that would would spill some people were probably 496 00:31:56,600 --> 00:32:00,300 thinking Don't you just leave that fell at the nursing home? 497 00:32:01,500 --> 00:32:06,400 But preachers, first visit after Sandy's first Sunday to commune 498 00:32:07,100 --> 00:32:11,600 can see hot tears streaming down Sandy's face, as he stuttered 499 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:15,200 and stammered a little bit more than usual and eventually was 500 00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:21,900 able to get his message across. I never thought I'd be able to 501 00:32:21,900 --> 00:32:28,100 take of the Lord's Supper again. Taking up our cross. 502 00:32:28,900 --> 00:32:31,900 Need lifting other people's burdens means, helping means 503 00:32:31,900 --> 00:32:37,100 looking and listening, and being ready to help others when they 504 00:32:37,100 --> 00:32:40,000 have a need. And that means investing time. 505 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:45,000 That's what Jesus was talking about Fred Craddock denomination 506 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:48,100 of preacher said, concerning bearing one another's burdens. 507 00:32:48,100 --> 00:32:52,300 He said Jesus wrote one big check on the cross and when you 508 00:32:52,300 --> 00:32:56,900 write a big check you get noticed of Jesus didn't do that 509 00:32:56,900 --> 00:33:00,500 to get noticed. And Jesus wrote the big check, 510 00:33:00,700 --> 00:33:02,600 but he wrote a whole bunch of little checks. 511 00:33:02,900 --> 00:33:05,900 Awesome. And with you and me. 512 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:10,300 We'll probably never write the big check when it comes to 513 00:33:10,700 --> 00:33:13,000 denying ourselves and taking up our cross. 514 00:33:13,500 --> 00:33:17,100 We can write those little Jacks and when we do, we're 515 00:33:17,100 --> 00:33:22,000 demonstrating, yes, we are Disciples of Christ. 516 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:25,100 We can bear one another's burdens sometimes by weeping 517 00:33:25,100 --> 00:33:28,200 with those who weep by praying with those who are in pain by 518 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:31,900 waking up in the middle of the night, and bringing a brother or 519 00:33:31,900 --> 00:33:35,700 sisters name before the Lord in prayer during the day. 520 00:33:35,900 --> 00:33:40,000 Because we know, They need it. We can listen patiently and 521 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:42,800 sympathetically as they pour out, their heart, with an 522 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:46,000 encouraging word, with little, as little as a warm embrace, a 523 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:48,700 handshake sometimes. Just a smile and a hello. 524 00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:53,400 But sometimes we might neglect, could make all the difference. 525 00:33:53,700 --> 00:33:59,100 And folks, these little things, these little things, these are 526 00:33:59,100 --> 00:34:02,200 God's work. There Jesus in you. 527 00:34:03,700 --> 00:34:05,400 We let our light shine. We do this. 528 00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:10,699 This is following Jesus. I hope we can all look for the 529 00:34:10,699 --> 00:34:14,800 Sandy's around us. The Sandy's in this congregation 530 00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:18,500 or in your congregation look for the burdens to Bear crosses to 531 00:34:18,500 --> 00:34:20,400 carry. If anyone will come after me, 532 00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:24,100 let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. 533 00:34:25,500 --> 00:34:28,900 That's the last of it, follow me. you know, if we're able to 534 00:34:28,900 --> 00:34:32,400 do the first part, Deny yourself. 535 00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:37,500 Just say no. To our our childish, immature 536 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:41,500 cells, a little bit more. We're able to say, yeah, I'm 537 00:34:41,500 --> 00:34:43,900 going to take up a cross. I'm going to do some things that 538 00:34:43,900 --> 00:34:47,800 come my way that I could say no to I'm going to do those things 539 00:34:48,199 --> 00:34:50,199 for somebody. We do those two things. 540 00:34:50,199 --> 00:34:53,500 You know what? Last part of this. 541 00:34:55,100 --> 00:34:58,800 Will be great, you won't it? All over me. 542 00:35:00,200 --> 00:35:04,600 We can do that. Hope to see meaning that the 543 00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:08,100 study has been helpful for you. Remind you, this is so 544 00:35:08,100 --> 00:35:09,600 fundamental. This is so basic to 545 00:35:09,600 --> 00:35:14,700 Christianity. The idea we're so familiar with 546 00:35:14,700 --> 00:35:18,200 it. But it slips slips from our 547 00:35:18,200 --> 00:35:22,900 mind, slips from our Behavior. This is what being a Christian 548 00:35:22,900 --> 00:35:24,500 is all about. We can't follow him. 549 00:35:25,700 --> 00:35:30,400 Unless we're willing to deny yourself and take up a cross. if 550 00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:34,100 we understand what Jesus meant in Matthew 16:24 and we're not a 551 00:35:34,107 --> 00:35:37,700 Christian, We understand that and we're willing to deny 552 00:35:37,700 --> 00:35:40,200 ourselves and take up our cross and we've heard the Plan of 553 00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:44,100 Salvation. We believe that Jesus Christ is 554 00:35:44,100 --> 00:35:47,200 the Son of God. Are we going to be hesitant to 555 00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:50,400 say before men, to make that statement? 556 00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:52,900 I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, when we be 557 00:35:52,900 --> 00:35:57,000 ashamed or willing to do that, we say no. 558 00:35:58,200 --> 00:36:01,100 I can't turn my back on those friends. 559 00:36:01,100 --> 00:36:05,100 I can't turn my back on my family. 560 00:36:06,100 --> 00:36:08,000 I've got to just keep walking this walk. 561 00:36:09,400 --> 00:36:13,200 No, not if we know what Jesus says, not if we know what Jesus 562 00:36:13,400 --> 00:36:18,100 demands are. Will deny ourselves will take up 563 00:36:18,100 --> 00:36:21,500 that cross will turn our back on religious are. 564 00:36:22,500 --> 00:36:25,300 We'll turn our back on. Our pride will turn our back. 565 00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:31,100 On that worldly lifestyle. We thank you for listening to 566 00:36:31,100 --> 00:36:35,900 our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. 567 00:36:35,900 --> 00:36:39,400 Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional 568 00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:42,700 information or you would like to receive a free Bible 569 00:36:42,700 --> 00:36:48,200 correspondence, course by mail. Please email us at info at True 570 00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:50,600 Church of Christ Bakersfield.com. 571 00:36:51,300 --> 00:36:56,500 Our service times are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 572 00:36:56,500 --> 00:37:00,900 Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Please make plans to join us. 573 00:37:01,500 --> 00:37:03,700 We would love for you to be our honored guest.