1 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:20,720 Today I want to look at John 18, John 18, and verse 36 through 2 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:25,320 37. Jesus you know here we're going 3 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:31,800 to see he's standing before pilot right, The governor and 4 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:36,640 pastor read this Sunday and said Jesus answered, my Kingdom is 5 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:42,280 not of this world for if my Kingdom were of this world, then 6 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:47,280 my servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over 7 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,480 to the Jews. But as it is, my Kingdom is not 8 00:00:50,480 --> 00:00:53,800 of this realm, right and verse 37. 9 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:58,880 Therefore Pilate said to him, So you are a king. 10 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:06,040 And Jesus answered, You say correctly that I am a king. 11 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:10,960 Listen to this. And for this I have been born. 12 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:18,000 I've been born. And then he goes on to say, And 13 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:22,040 for this I have come into the world to what? 14 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:31,400 Testify to truth. Everyone who is of truth hears 15 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:33,960 my voice. Hallelujah. 16 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:38,560 Everyone that is of truth. Whose truth? 17 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:42,800 Our truth. No, His truth, actually. 18 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:50,600 The King's truth, Amen. Hears his voice, Hallelujah. 19 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:55,840 But what stood out to me is this, he said for this I was 20 00:01:55,840 --> 00:02:01,160 born. And you know, we're moving into 21 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:04,520 Easter Sunday at the resurrection of Christ. 22 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:08,120 And actually, if you go through, you should go through this week 23 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:14,920 until Sunday and read just the journey the week before his 24 00:02:14,920 --> 00:02:18,080 crucifixion, right? You should do that. 25 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:22,800 Get that in your heart. Get it in your heart. 26 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:27,400 Meditate on those scriptures because it'll remind you of the 27 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:32,560 price that he paid, but not only the price that he paid to look 28 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:38,800 at some different maybe perspectives rather than just 29 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:45,120 the fact that he died on that cross rose again so that one day 30 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:49,880 we could be in heaven with him. No, Looking at the perspective 31 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:55,600 of some of these things when you read it, to see that he had a 32 00:02:55,600 --> 00:03:03,280 lot of other intentions just as well as not just dying so that 33 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:13,760 we could be saved, but he also died so that we could what live. 34 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:21,720 He died so that we could live freely in His Kingdom, but not 35 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:29,280 only live freely in His Kingdom, but also to know that we have a 36 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:34,880 plan and a purpose for our lives, that he had a plan and a 37 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:38,760 purpose for our life. So he says here, you say 38 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:44,800 correctly, I am a king. And for this I have been born. 39 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:48,800 Do you know how many young people are still asking the 40 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:55,400 question, why am I here? What am I supposed to be doing 41 00:03:55,400 --> 00:04:01,120 with my life? And if you'll take the time to 42 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:08,120 discover the same thing that Jesus discovered is that he knew 43 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:14,520 why he was born. He knew he had a purpose and he 44 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:19,839 knew there was a plan and he fulfilled the assignment that 45 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:28,720 God had for his life. And the cross was just part come 46 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:36,560 on of his assignment and the purpose that God had for his 47 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:42,720 life. And so as we're reading through 48 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:47,000 these scriptures, Matthew 26, actually the whole chapter, you 49 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:53,880 can start reading that journey of Jesus going through all the 50 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:58,560 different things that he went through, the betrayal of Judas, 51 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:03,520 right? Being brought before Pilate, 52 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:07,200 being brought before, what is it, Caiaphas? 53 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:15,000 You know, all the different things and read it by really 54 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,880 just opening up your heart to discover those other 55 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:23,320 perspectives. And so he says, listen, This is 56 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:30,360 why I was born. So He knew His purpose now, just 57 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:35,560 as pastor had said as well on Sunday, which let me get to that 58 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:38,720 in a minute. But really where I want to go is 59 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:45,160 here where we see Him in the garden, where we see Him in the 60 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:51,240 garden in Matthew 26 verse 39. And it says, And He went a 61 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:54,440 little beyond them, those disciples that were supposed to 62 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:58,360 be watching and praying with Him, he went a little beyond 63 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:00,320 them. And he fell on his face. 64 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:07,800 And he prayed, saying, Father, if it is possible, let this cup 65 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:14,720 pass from me yet, not as I will, but as your will. 66 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:20,680 Or not my will be done, but what your will be done. 67 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:27,720 And so here we see this moment where he told Pilate I know what 68 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:32,040 I was born to do. We see the same moment during 69 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:37,200 this whole time where he says I know what I'm supposed to do. 70 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:41,960 I know my purpose. I know that I am going to have 71 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:47,160 to do the will of the Father. I'm going to have to obey Him. 72 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:49,360 I'm going to have to do the plan. 73 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:51,440 I'm going to have to do the assignment. 74 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:53,160 I'm going to have to do the purpose. 75 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:56,880 But you know what? I would rather not have to be 76 00:06:56,880 --> 00:07:03,400 killed. I would rather not have to go 77 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:12,240 through His will. His will, and what He wanted was 78 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:17,080 that he would not have to go through this plan. 79 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:20,880 He knew it was the plan. He knew it was the purpose. 80 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:25,240 He knew it was the assignment. But he knew he was getting ready 81 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:34,560 to endure suffering and death. And in his humanity, his will 82 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:37,840 didn't want to do it in the natural. 83 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:45,360 And we're going to see why I'm focusing on this because a lot 84 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:48,760 of times we look back and we think, well, if God has a plan 85 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:52,800 for us and a purpose for us and, and an assignment for us, that 86 00:07:52,800 --> 00:08:00,800 we'll never encounter anything that would be in an A place of 87 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:08,760 suffering or having to endure through some challenges, even 88 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:19,960 some scourging, maybe not physical, but he's saying all 89 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:24,640 along, it's not my will. I mean, if it was up to me, I 90 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:27,000 wouldn't want to have to do that in the natural. 91 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:33,200 But your will be done. Your will be done. 92 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:37,320 And what do we know was the Father's will? 93 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:47,000 That He would die on that cross. That He would die on that cross. 94 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:57,280 Now look at Matthew 16. Matthew 1621 through 26, it says 95 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:01,320 this from that time Jesus began to show his disciples. 96 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:05,840 He was preparing his disciples right? 97 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:11,600 In Matthew 16, we're we've already read 26, so we know the 98 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:15,120 end of the story. But I'm saying before that he 99 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:20,200 was preparing his disciples and showing them that he must go to 100 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:25,200 Jerusalem and what endure many things of the hands of the 101 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:32,640 elders, the chief priests, the scribes, and what be killed and 102 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:36,360 be raised from death to life on the third day. 103 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:41,920 And what happened to his wonderful friend Peter, his 104 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:47,840 disciple, when he heard this, he took him aside to speak to him 105 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:50,280 privately. I'm reading out of the amplified 106 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:55,880 and begin to reprimand him, or one translation says, rebuke 107 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,760 him. Say, May God forbid it. 108 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:03,200 This will never happen to you. And what did Jesus say? 109 00:10:03,560 --> 00:10:09,480 He said to Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan. 110 00:10:11,560 --> 00:10:17,360 Get behind me, Satan, you are a stumbling block to me. 111 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:20,720 Oh, there's so much that could be said here. 112 00:10:21,560 --> 00:10:26,240 You're a stumbling block to me. For you're not setting your mind 113 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,480 on things of God, but on the things of man. 114 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:38,280 And then Jesus said to his disciples, 00 Jesus said to his 115 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:41,640 disciples, are we disciples or followers of Christ? 116 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:45,840 Hallelujah? Did he just say it to these 117 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:48,920 disciples? Or is there still being 118 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:53,800 disciples being made today? Are you a true disciple? 119 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:57,000 Because actually this Scripture is going to show us in 120 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:01,520 determining to us if we're truly a disciple of his. 121 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:09,480 And so he said to his disciples, if anyone wishes to follow me as 122 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:17,880 my disciples, he must deny himself, set aside selfish 123 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:26,800 interest and take up his cross. I have said in churches, church 124 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:32,160 now for over 35 years, and I've heard the statement, aren't you 125 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:36,160 glad that you don't have to die on that cross, that Jesus paid 126 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:44,440 it all and did it all? And I would say, yes, I'm glad 127 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:48,440 that I didn't have to die as he died, but there's still a cross 128 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:53,880 that I have to die on. And we forgot about preaching 129 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:56,520 that in the American church today. 130 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:06,800 We all have a cross. We all have a cross. 131 00:12:09,560 --> 00:12:12,040 We wear it around our neck really good. 132 00:12:18,690 --> 00:12:23,730 So he says he must deny himself, set aside his selfish interest, 133 00:12:24,210 --> 00:12:31,360 take up his cross, expressing A willingness to endure whatever 134 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:38,120 may come and follow me, believing in me, conforming to 135 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:47,480 me example in living and if need be, suffering or perhaps dying 136 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:59,040 because of what faith in me. So 25 For whoever wishes to save 137 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:02,520 his life in this world will eventually lose it through 138 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:06,240 death. But whoever chooses to lose his 139 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:12,800 life in this world for my sake will find it, that is life with 140 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:17,760 me for all eternity. For what would it profit a man 141 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:22,400 if he gains this whole world wealth, fame, success, but 142 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:27,080 forfeits his soul? Or what will man give in 143 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:36,360 exchange for his soul? And the title of my message is 144 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:47,120 tonight, pass the cup. Not just let this pass cup, but 145 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:54,160 I called it pass the cup because you could look at that term in 146 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:59,200 two ways. You could say pass the cup. 147 00:13:59,560 --> 00:14:04,960 Yeah, I want to drink, or you could say pass the cup. 148 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:16,620 I don't want any part of it. And I believe a lot of believers 149 00:14:17,420 --> 00:14:24,300 are passing the cup on true discipleship because they're not 150 00:14:24,300 --> 00:14:32,900 willing to carry the cross. And we're going to see this in a 151 00:14:32,900 --> 00:14:37,800 minute. So you could also say pass the 152 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:41,120 cup. And as I was meditating on that, 153 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:45,880 he I was reminded of another term that's been said for years. 154 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:55,790 Or pass the buck and pass the buck. 155 00:14:55,790 --> 00:15:01,630 I like that because it all has to do with not picking up your 156 00:15:01,630 --> 00:15:08,080 own responsibility and the things that God has assigned you 157 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:13,880 and the plans that God has for your life and the purpose that 158 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:19,080 he has for you is that a lot of people want to just pass the 159 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:21,640 buck. Well, I'm not willing to do that 160 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:29,480 for the nursery, but let somebody else do it or I'm not 161 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:36,480 willing to, you know, sacrifice my time to go and serve. 162 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:41,440 So and so there's other people in the church can that can do 163 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:50,080 it. So are we passing the buck of 164 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:57,000 responsibility that actually God has for us now? 165 00:15:57,000 --> 00:16:04,360 Let's continue reading because remember, Pastor, on Sunday as I 166 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:07,440 was going through, I was reading, you know, the whole 167 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:11,720 chapters and going through all the scriptures and I thought, 168 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:17,160 wow, isn't that what they did when he said on Palm Sunday, 169 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:22,200 they came into town saying Hosanna to the king. 170 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:30,040 But then they were saying, hell, O King Jesus, we welcome you. 171 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:35,560 But then that hell became a bail. 172 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:42,120 They bailed on the king. They bailed on the king. 173 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:46,600 And people are still bailing on the king today. 174 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:51,800 They're still bailing. OK, So let's look at a couple of 175 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:55,000 things. So we know that Jesus came and 176 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:59,400 knew his purpose, but he also knew that that cross was part of 177 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:03,080 his purpose and part of His assignment to fulfill for the 178 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:07,079 Father. But he let us know as those that 179 00:17:07,079 --> 00:17:10,760 want to be his disciples and true followers of Him, that 180 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:12,960 there's a cross that we're going to have to pick up. 181 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:19,280 What is our cross? That plan, that purpose, that 182 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:22,800 assignment that God has for each and every one of us as a 183 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:25,800 believer, as a disciple in the Kingdom of God. 184 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:32,280 Look at John 19, John 1914 through 17 said this, I'm just 185 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:38,040 going to continue to read here. This is where it he said now it 186 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:42,640 was the day of preparation for the Passover week and it was 187 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:46,400 about the 6th hour. And he said to the Jews, look 188 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:49,040 your king. But what did they shout? 189 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:54,160 Away with him, away with him, crucify him. 190 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:59,160 And Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your king? 191 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:04,760 And the chief priest answers, We have no king but Caesar. 192 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:09,240 And then the he handed him over to them to be crucified. 193 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:16,480 Now verse 17, look at this. So they took Jesus and he went 194 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:18,360 out. What did he do? 195 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:28,800 Burying his own cross, Burying his own cross to the place 196 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:33,160 called the Place of Skull, which is called, you know, Gal Gotha. 197 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:46,680 Burying his own cross. He had to do it, but he expected 198 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:52,480 that his disciples would follow in the same footsteps. 199 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:58,400 And, you know, we talk about the fact that, oh, aren't you 200 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:03,440 thankful that he laid down his life so that we wouldn't have to 201 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:06,400 die? But, you know, there's people 202 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:11,080 that are dying today. There's martyrs sitting up 203 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:21,880 underneath the throne that have been murdered, following Christ 204 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:27,640 and not denying him in the face of death. 205 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:31,080 And we are living in a time where it's still happening. 206 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:35,840 And actually, if you look at the statistics, still Christians are 207 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:44,920 the number one religion that is martyred even in our lifetime, 208 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:49,880 that are killed and persecuted Christians around the world. 209 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:55,800 If you have never went outside of the United States of America, 210 00:19:56,280 --> 00:20:04,520 you need to. You need to, because then you'll 211 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:09,560 see and realize. How blessed we truly are as a 212 00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:12,880 nation, as bad as it is even getting. 213 00:20:15,360 --> 00:20:21,000 But if we don't stand as believers come on and proclaim 214 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:27,840 and testify of the truth, we're going to see it go the other 215 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:29,520 way. Amen. 216 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:35,560 So look what Jesus said. I there's so much in my heart 217 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:41,360 just because, you know, again, we've turned American has turned 218 00:20:41,360 --> 00:20:46,760 Easter into the Easter Bunny focus and egg hunts and egg 219 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:51,120 drops and whatever. I don't, you know, personal 220 00:20:51,120 --> 00:20:53,720 convictions, whatever, that's on you. 221 00:20:55,680 --> 00:21:01,800 But the thing about it is, is I do not want my children or 222 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:07,120 grandchildren to think that that's all Easter is about. 223 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:11,600 No, I want them to know the price that was paid. 224 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:21,640 And so we don't hide eggs, we hide the rock, we hide the 225 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:26,840 rocks. We hide rocks and, and and 226 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:33,800 pastor teaches them about the rock and who is the rock and 227 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:36,440 that the rock was rolled away. Come on. 228 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:47,400 So you can be creative and not have to fall into what it's 229 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:51,640 become because that's not what it's about. 230 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:57,160 Amen. So John chapter 4 verse 34, look 231 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:03,880 at this, Jesus said to them, my food is to do the will of him 232 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:10,840 who sent me, and to completely finish his work. 233 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:19,200 And we know that Jesus certainly said on that cross, it is 234 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:23,280 finished. He did the will of the Father 235 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:27,560 and he said, I have finished the work, I've stripped. 236 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:33,680 Come on the enemy of all of his power, of everything that he 237 00:22:33,680 --> 00:22:38,240 would have against man being able to come into the Kingdom of 238 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:39,520 God. I finished it. 239 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:45,280 I did His will, I did the purpose and the plan that God 240 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:49,000 had for my life. John 5:30 It says I can do 241 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:53,240 nothing on my own initiative. As I hear, I judge and my 242 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:58,480 judgement is just just because I do not seek my own will. 243 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:02,880 But the what will of him who sent me? 244 00:23:03,120 --> 00:23:09,120 Are we as disciples and followers picking up our own 245 00:23:09,120 --> 00:23:14,480 cross that He has for each and every one of our life? 246 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:19,920 And are we focused on accomplishing His will and 247 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:22,040 getting things accomplished for Him? 248 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:27,000 Or are we focused on come on my own will, getting things 249 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:30,240 accomplished for my business, getting things accomplished for 250 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:34,040 what I'm doing, getting things accomplished for this and for 251 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:38,240 that and for that. And you're so full of trying to 252 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:41,760 accomplish all these other things when all along he's 253 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:50,080 saying, but what about my will? Are you pursuing that as much as 254 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:56,640 you are pursuing all these other things because I have something 255 00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:01,520 for you to do. I have a plan for you to do. 256 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:07,760 And Jesus said, listen, his I mean, there are 10 scriptures 257 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:12,080 that said he was only here to do the will of the Father and that 258 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:16,320 that was all he was focused on is accomplishing and being 259 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:20,640 obedient to what God had planned for his life. 260 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:29,960 Amen. Now look at Matthew 10, Matthew 261 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:35,640 1038. We already read Matthew 16 where 262 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:40,160 he said to his disciples, you know what they needed to do? 263 00:24:41,320 --> 00:24:44,800 Pick up their cross. Now here it is in Matthew 1038 264 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:49,800 and 39 it says this, and he who does not take his cross. 265 00:24:56,120 --> 00:25:00,960 And follow after me is not worthy of me. 266 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:14,400 Whoever does not take his cross, he's saying whoever, whosoever 267 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:19,720 shall call on his name, it's the same whoever come on that he's 268 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:21,760 talking to. He's not just talking to the 269 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:24,680 five fold ministry. The apostles have got to do His 270 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:27,240 will. The pastors have to do his will. 271 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:29,920 The teachers have to surely do his will. 272 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:32,520 The prophets of course, have to do his will. 273 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:36,880 Come on. No, he's saying whosoever those 274 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:41,480 that call themselves a disciple, they have a cross that they 275 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:45,520 should be carrying. And he's saying it's time to 276 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:51,160 pick up your cross. He's saying it's time to pick up 277 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:55,000 your cross because he says you're not going to be worthy of 278 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:57,480 me. And look, in verse 39, he says 279 00:25:57,720 --> 00:26:00,880 he who has found life will lose it. 280 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:06,320 So you think not doing the will picking up your cross and we're 281 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:08,440 going to see, I'm going to talk about this in a minute. 282 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:13,240 And, and doing your plan and doing the things you want to do 283 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:18,440 isn't matter, doesn't matter, he says. 284 00:26:18,440 --> 00:26:26,000 You're going to lose your life. You're going to lose your life. 285 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:29,840 And he's not just talking about in the afterlife. 286 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:37,240 You're going to lose your life for my sake, he says. 287 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:42,320 And he who has lost his life for my sake will what? 288 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:53,000 Find it, find it. So that was Matthew 1038. 289 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:57,920 Let's look what Luke had to say. And Luke 923 through 25. 290 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:01,040 So you need to look at these scriptures through all the 291 00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:06,800 different, you know, ones that wrote it so that you can see all 292 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:10,400 the different angles of the details that they said 293 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:14,480 differently. So in Luke 923 and 25 it says 294 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:16,640 this. And he was saying to them all, 295 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:23,800 if anyone wishes to follow me as my disciple, he must deny 296 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:28,240 himself, set aside selfish interest. 297 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:35,000 Just circle that in the amplified highlight it 15 times 298 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:40,680 because we're living in the I am selfish generation and world. 299 00:27:46,410 --> 00:27:49,570 And so he says and take up his cross. 300 00:27:49,650 --> 00:27:53,490 Oh, here's a little side that the other scripture didn't say, 301 00:27:53,810 --> 00:27:55,210 take up your cross. What? 302 00:27:55,970 --> 00:28:01,800 Oh, daily. So this is not just a one time 303 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:05,040 event. Oh, I did it. 304 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:09,200 You know, I did it for 25 years. But now it's time for me to live 305 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:17,600 for me. I sacrificed for 25 years 306 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:21,640 following and doing everything that God asked me to do in the 307 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:23,840 church. So now I'm going to go retire 308 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:28,800 and I'm going to do for me and my interest and myself and what 309 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:33,320 I want to do and what I desire and what I what pleases me. 310 00:28:33,640 --> 00:28:35,560 Come on. No, he says daily. 311 00:28:36,360 --> 00:28:41,280 He says daily. I have to choose to pick up my 312 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:46,400 cross daily expressing. This is what the amplifies, 313 00:28:46,880 --> 00:28:51,480 expressing a willingness. Oh this goes back to the will. 314 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:58,440 Willingness to endure whatever may come. 315 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:02,680 So does he promise us that once we get born again and we're a 316 00:29:02,680 --> 00:29:07,680 believer, that everything is going to be beautifully perfect? 317 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:13,080 Rose petals along our life as a believer and everybody's going 318 00:29:13,080 --> 00:29:17,120 to love us and everything's going to be wonderful and we're 319 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:20,000 never going to have to suffer again? 320 00:29:21,520 --> 00:29:26,640 No, not in this life. Not going to happen. 321 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:32,080 Not going to happen. That's a fairy tale and magical 322 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:34,040 thinking. I don't live for the Magic 323 00:29:34,040 --> 00:29:41,520 Kingdom, I live for the Kingdom of God. 324 00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:46,920 I live for the Kingdom of God and he says we're going to have 325 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:51,080 to endure whatever may come. And what? 326 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:56,960 Follow me, believing in me, conforming to me, not conforming 327 00:29:56,960 --> 00:30:04,360 to what all the social influencers say about how you 328 00:30:04,360 --> 00:30:07,960 should go to church and what church should be for you. 329 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:17,400 I mean, this is the society we're living in and people are 330 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:23,640 listening to this garbage and they're forfeiting their cross. 331 00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:30,280 They're forfeiting their cross, They're forfeiting it. 332 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:37,640 So he says, listen, believing in me and conforming to my example. 333 00:30:37,840 --> 00:30:50,540 Not so and so's opinion about what they think about church, it 334 00:30:50,540 --> 00:31:02,160 says, and if need be, maybe even suffering, that you may do have 335 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:04,720 a little suffering that happens in your life. 336 00:31:05,440 --> 00:31:14,080 For what? For dying because of faith in me 337 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:17,720 suffering, perhaps dying. And then he goes on to say, For 338 00:31:17,720 --> 00:31:21,080 whoever wishes to save his life in this world will eventually 339 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:24,600 lose it through death. But whoever loses his life in 340 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:29,600 this world for my sake, he is the one who will save it from 341 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:35,680 the consequences of what sin and separation from God? 342 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:39,320 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world well, 343 00:31:39,320 --> 00:31:46,280 fame, success, but loses and forfeits himself, forfeits 344 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:50,080 himself. So what does it mean to take up 345 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:53,160 your cross? To pick up your cross? 346 00:31:53,240 --> 00:31:59,600 It literally means that he has a plan, a purpose, and an 347 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:03,280 assignment for each and every single one of us. 348 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:08,040 Every single day there is a cross that we are to pick up, 349 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:17,560 which is His will for our life. Daily, daily Am I walking in His 350 00:32:17,560 --> 00:32:26,040 will daily choosing to do what He is requiring and asking of me 351 00:32:26,440 --> 00:32:30,680 through his plan for the day, through His purpose for the day, 352 00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:34,400 through whatever it is that God is asking of me. 353 00:32:34,800 --> 00:32:38,360 And listen, we've made this into, well, He's not called me 354 00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:42,080 to go to Africa or anything. I'm not a missionary, you know, 355 00:32:42,080 --> 00:32:48,040 or I'm not a pastor. Every single disciple has a 356 00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:52,200 purpose and a plan and an assignment for their life. 357 00:32:53,160 --> 00:33:00,720 And that's assignment is found in walking the Kingdom life out 358 00:33:00,920 --> 00:33:07,920 every single day. So we can ask ourselves, am I in 359 00:33:07,920 --> 00:33:14,040 the will of God doing what he is requiring of me to do every 360 00:33:14,040 --> 00:33:18,600 minute of every day, every 24 hours in a day? 361 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:23,680 And if I can sit back and say I I'm doing everything that God 362 00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:29,000 has asked me to do today, whatever it is, if he's asked me 363 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:35,080 to go to Walmart and go down aisle 4 and lay hands on a 364 00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:38,720 person, guess what? Guess what? 365 00:33:40,160 --> 00:33:43,080 I'm doing His will. I'm going to go to Walmart. 366 00:33:44,040 --> 00:33:47,120 That's an assignment that he has for me. 367 00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:54,240 That's my cross that I'm to pick up today and go do today to be a 368 00:33:54,240 --> 00:33:57,400 follower and a disciple of his today. 369 00:33:57,640 --> 00:34:03,760 Or if he's asking me today to make a meal in my house for my 370 00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:08,440 sister that just had a baby and I want to be able to be a 371 00:34:08,440 --> 00:34:10,440 blessing to her, then guess what? 372 00:34:10,440 --> 00:34:15,800 That's my assignment today. That's my cross to carry today. 373 00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:21,080 And I'm being obedient to pick up my cross and do whatever he's 374 00:34:21,080 --> 00:34:24,239 telling me to do daily. And guess what? 375 00:34:24,520 --> 00:34:30,040 And today, if he tells me, you know what, I want you to go to 376 00:34:30,040 --> 00:34:34,679 that person and tell them that you're sorry and ask them to 377 00:34:34,679 --> 00:34:38,239 forgive you because maybe you did something towards them and 378 00:34:38,239 --> 00:34:41,679 they may not even know it, but God spoke it to my heart. 379 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:45,600 I'm going to pick up my cross. I'm going to do His will. 380 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:48,920 And I'm going to go to that person because I'm going to obey 381 00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:52,199 Him daily and say, please forgive me. 382 00:34:54,760 --> 00:35:00,720 Whatever it is. It's an assignment that he's 383 00:35:00,720 --> 00:35:04,880 speaking to each and every one of us every single day for 384 00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:07,520 whatever it is that he wants us to do. 385 00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:09,680 Amen. That is our cross. 386 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:15,880 So he's saying that word means the cross to pick up, take, take 387 00:35:15,880 --> 00:35:21,680 hold of it, lay hold of it. You have a responsibility to lay 388 00:35:21,680 --> 00:35:25,880 hold of the cross that he has for you to carry. 389 00:35:26,360 --> 00:35:32,080 You have to pick it up just like Jesus had to pick up that cross 390 00:35:32,360 --> 00:35:35,720 and carry it through the streets of Golgotha. 391 00:35:35,720 --> 00:35:40,160 Come on and bring it to them, knowing that this I'm getting 392 00:35:40,160 --> 00:35:43,000 ready to hang. On this very. 393 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:46,160 Thing that I'm carrying to my death. 394 00:35:48,320 --> 00:35:50,160 He had to obey. He had. 395 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:55,400 To pick it up, he had to lay hold of the will of God for his 396 00:35:55,400 --> 00:35:58,400 life. He had to carry it upon. 397 00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:03,880 That's what it means. Carry it upon oneself every. 398 00:36:03,880 --> 00:36:08,040 Single one of us have. A cross to carry upon ourselves. 399 00:36:10,920 --> 00:36:15,280 And we've put it all. On him and he did it all and he, 400 00:36:15,480 --> 00:36:19,000 he died on that cross so that we don't have to do anything that 401 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:22,880 is not true. It's not truth of the God's 402 00:36:22,880 --> 00:36:25,120 Word. It's not truth. 403 00:36:25,760 --> 00:36:30,040 We have a cross that we are to bear, that we are to get up 404 00:36:30,040 --> 00:36:34,840 under, that we are to take hold of, that we're to carry and walk 405 00:36:34,840 --> 00:36:39,640 out daily as a disciple and follower of Christ. 406 00:36:40,080 --> 00:36:44,320 And you know what's so sad is in the American church, a Christian 407 00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:53,280 can't even just attend service. And you think you're going to? 408 00:36:53,280 --> 00:37:00,200 Carry a cross. Or that you're going to. 409 00:37:00,200 --> 00:37:05,120 Endure until the end. If you can't even endure coming 410 00:37:05,120 --> 00:37:11,560 to a 2 hour service, come on. It's magical thinking. 411 00:37:11,880 --> 00:37:16,280 It's fairy tale. It's a fairy tale and people are 412 00:37:16,280 --> 00:37:21,800 buying the lies. They're buying the lies and we 413 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:27,480 have to, we have to be having better moral clarity than that. 414 00:37:29,960 --> 00:37:34,960 To not get sucked into. That deception of. 415 00:37:34,960 --> 00:37:39,080 What is? Happening in the world. 416 00:37:39,560 --> 00:37:45,960 So he said carry it, take it up. What does it mean to claim as 417 00:37:45,960 --> 00:37:51,200 one's own possession? When you look that word up, to 418 00:37:51,200 --> 00:37:58,480 claim as one's own possession? So there's a cross and Jesus has 419 00:37:58,480 --> 00:38:02,040 it right there for you. And he's saying go ahead and 420 00:38:02,040 --> 00:38:04,600 claim it. Do you know how people how many 421 00:38:04,600 --> 00:38:10,880 don't claim it? How many don't claim? 422 00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:14,840 The cross for. Themselves they want to claim. 423 00:38:14,840 --> 00:38:23,560 That cross but they don't want to claim this one just saying 424 00:38:24,680 --> 00:38:28,280 make it your own take possession of it. 425 00:38:29,080 --> 00:38:34,040 It means to reach after it. That means there's something 426 00:38:34,320 --> 00:38:38,680 that you have to also strive after. 427 00:38:39,200 --> 00:38:42,160 Oh, there is no striving. We're under grace. 428 00:38:42,520 --> 00:38:46,560 Oh no, there is a cross that we are meant to carry. 429 00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:51,400 And for us to carry it, that means we are going to have to 430 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:54,440 reach for it. We're going to have to strive 431 00:38:54,440 --> 00:38:57,240 for it. Because if we don't strive to do 432 00:38:57,240 --> 00:39:02,080 the will of the Father, everything else is buying for 433 00:39:02,080 --> 00:39:07,160 our time and we'll do everything else except that because we 434 00:39:07,160 --> 00:39:11,640 think it's free and we don't have a responsibility. 435 00:39:11,760 --> 00:39:18,200 We pass the buck, we pass the cup. 436 00:39:24,100 --> 00:39:25,820 What? Is the cross across the? 437 00:39:25,820 --> 00:39:31,900 Cross is a place of self denial in a world of selfishness that 438 00:39:31,900 --> 00:39:37,400 we are living. We are so full of. 439 00:39:37,400 --> 00:39:45,760 Self in this generation that we're forgetting the truth. 440 00:39:45,760 --> 00:39:49,360 Of God's Word. Self denial is what that cross 441 00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:54,240 stands for. Willing to die to self. 442 00:39:56,360 --> 00:40:01,200 Self-interest it. Literally means. 443 00:40:01,360 --> 00:40:08,880 To deny utterly, I have to deny utterly that I would rather be 444 00:40:09,880 --> 00:40:15,080 living on a private island. Come on. 445 00:40:15,360 --> 00:40:21,760 In my own garden tropical garden in the. 446 00:40:21,760 --> 00:40:25,720 Cool of the day. Me and God all by myself. 447 00:40:29,160 --> 00:40:34,480 Come on that. Is self denial saying I choose 448 00:40:34,480 --> 00:40:41,680 to do his will rather than what I desire, what my interests are, 449 00:40:41,880 --> 00:40:46,160 what I think the plan of God is for my life? 450 00:40:48,480 --> 00:40:52,600 It's self denial, utterly. That's what it means to utterly 451 00:40:53,120 --> 00:40:59,920 disown and forget oneself. Nobody is wanting to do that 452 00:40:59,920 --> 00:41:05,040 today, to utterly forget yourself, to lose sight. 453 00:41:06,640 --> 00:41:09,360 Of your own. Interest. 454 00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:12,840 Oh, I. Have interest in sports? 455 00:41:12,840 --> 00:41:17,080 Oh, I have interest in hunting. Oh, I have interest in boating. 456 00:41:17,320 --> 00:41:23,200 Oh, I have interest. And all of these interest could. 457 00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:28,000 Come before you. Picking up your cross daily? 458 00:41:29,440 --> 00:41:31,320 Nothing. Wrong with these things. 459 00:41:31,320 --> 00:41:35,240 If you have your priorities straight, then I'm going to do 460 00:41:35,240 --> 00:41:39,600 His will and if oh if this is what he needs me to do today, 461 00:41:39,600 --> 00:41:42,280 then guess what? The boat ain't happening. 462 00:41:46,960 --> 00:41:50,280 But see, you talk like this. And you know, it's all over 463 00:41:50,280 --> 00:41:54,520 social media. Of how you should. 464 00:41:54,840 --> 00:41:58,880 Not go to a church that tells you that you can't do things of 465 00:41:58,880 --> 00:42:01,800 yourself. That's how they say. 466 00:42:01,800 --> 00:42:14,900 It and it looks so. Sweet and lovely, but it's sly 467 00:42:17,500 --> 00:42:19,220 and. Not the truth of God. 468 00:42:19,220 --> 00:42:26,140 'S word. Self denial. 469 00:42:27,360 --> 00:42:35,480 So you know Paul said this, he said what I die to myself daily. 470 00:42:37,880 --> 00:42:42,800 And he says. That we are to what daily? 471 00:42:42,800 --> 00:42:46,600 So how do we die? The cross is a place of 472 00:42:46,600 --> 00:42:50,960 crucifixion, right? But it was only for Jesus. 473 00:42:51,840 --> 00:42:54,800 But the cross is a place of crucifixion. 474 00:42:54,800 --> 00:42:58,720 And he says each and every one of us have that cross as a 475 00:42:58,720 --> 00:43:05,440 disciple to carry and to bear under and to do the same will 476 00:43:05,440 --> 00:43:08,760 purpose and plan that he has for our lives. 477 00:43:09,400 --> 00:43:13,560 And he lets us know that this is a daily thing. 478 00:43:13,920 --> 00:43:18,120 And that you know what? If he's saying I'm going to have 479 00:43:18,120 --> 00:43:20,680 to what? Crucify myself? 480 00:43:20,680 --> 00:43:23,360 What I'm going to have to do it daily. 481 00:43:23,400 --> 00:43:28,360 I'm going to have to choose daily to deny what I want to do 482 00:43:28,640 --> 00:43:31,160 if God's saying, but I want you to do this. 483 00:43:34,360 --> 00:43:37,920 So I'm going to crucify. I'm. 484 00:43:37,920 --> 00:43:39,840 Going to die on that. Cross. 485 00:43:39,840 --> 00:43:47,360 I'm going to crucify myself today to do the will and the 486 00:43:47,360 --> 00:43:52,120 plan of God that He has for my life today, whatever that may 487 00:43:52,120 --> 00:43:54,280 be. And again, we're thinking that 488 00:43:54,280 --> 00:44:00,200 some big thing, it's not. It's daily things, daily. 489 00:44:00,200 --> 00:44:04,440 Things. That we are having to crucify 490 00:44:04,640 --> 00:44:10,080 and put under so that we are not letting self-interest rise up. 491 00:44:10,680 --> 00:44:14,200 It's daily things. That's why he says we're going 492 00:44:14,200 --> 00:44:17,960 to have to do it daily. Jesus had to do it what, once 493 00:44:17,960 --> 00:44:20,720 and for all? But we have to do it every 494 00:44:20,720 --> 00:44:22,800 single day. If we're going to carry our 495 00:44:22,800 --> 00:44:26,720 cross, we're going to. Have to do it daily. 496 00:44:26,720 --> 00:44:31,640 And we're going to have to choose to die to self daily to 497 00:44:31,640 --> 00:44:38,840 do the plan and the purpose that God has for our life. 498 00:44:38,960 --> 00:44:40,920 Amen. Do you believe that God has a 499 00:44:40,920 --> 00:44:43,840 plan for your life? Yeah. 500 00:44:43,840 --> 00:44:45,560 God has a plan for. Your life. 501 00:44:45,800 --> 00:44:50,480 He says this in Matthew 721. He says not everyone who says to 502 00:44:50,480 --> 00:44:53,920 me Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only who, 503 00:44:54,280 --> 00:44:59,120 who, what does the will of my Father. 504 00:45:03,000 --> 00:45:07,600 He who does the will. He who does the plan, He who 505 00:45:07,600 --> 00:45:12,200 does the purpose, He who does the assignments, the things that 506 00:45:12,200 --> 00:45:17,120 He has for us to do, He who has recognition that I have a cross 507 00:45:17,120 --> 00:45:21,320 that I am carrying every single day and I have to choose to do 508 00:45:21,320 --> 00:45:26,120 the will of the Father today. Those are going to be the ones 509 00:45:26,120 --> 00:45:30,880 that enter the Kingdom of God. Those are going to be the ones 510 00:45:31,080 --> 00:45:35,720 Matthew 1254 Whoever does the will of my Father who is in 511 00:45:35,720 --> 00:45:39,760 heaven, He is my what? Brothers and sisters. 512 00:45:40,720 --> 00:45:44,680 Those that do the will, Oh, we're all God's children. 513 00:45:44,680 --> 00:45:51,360 No, you're not. He says he who does the. 514 00:45:51,360 --> 00:45:56,880 Will going back to the will of the Father, that's what Jesus 515 00:45:56,880 --> 00:45:59,280 had to do when he picked up that cross. 516 00:45:59,560 --> 00:46:02,320 He had to say and make a decision. 517 00:46:02,320 --> 00:46:05,600 I'm going to do with the will of the Father, not my will, but 518 00:46:05,600 --> 00:46:10,080 your will be done. Jeremiah 29 So let's look and 519 00:46:10,080 --> 00:46:13,760 see He says, for I know the plans that I have for you. 520 00:46:13,760 --> 00:46:18,880 So he has plans for us. He has a cross for us to carry, 521 00:46:19,880 --> 00:46:22,720 declares the Lord. Plans for your what? 522 00:46:22,920 --> 00:46:28,160 Welfare not for your calamity, but to what give you a hope and 523 00:46:28,160 --> 00:46:31,720 a future so his. Plans for. 524 00:46:31,720 --> 00:46:38,640 You are for a good life, a hope and a future for you to live in 525 00:46:38,640 --> 00:46:43,560 the Kingdom full of everything that He has for your life. 526 00:46:43,560 --> 00:46:48,000 But you have to choose. I'm going to lay, hold and take 527 00:46:48,000 --> 00:46:51,720 possession of it by doing whatever it is that He's asking 528 00:46:51,720 --> 00:46:55,040 of me to do. I'm going to lay down myself and 529 00:46:55,040 --> 00:46:58,040 I'm going to pick up my cross and do it no matter what it 530 00:46:58,040 --> 00:47:04,000 takes. I'm going to disown myself, and 531 00:47:04,000 --> 00:47:06,720 I'm going to pick up His cross and carry it. 532 00:47:06,720 --> 00:47:12,200 Ephesians 210 For we are His workmanship, His own master work 533 00:47:12,200 --> 00:47:17,160 of art, created in Christ Jesus, born from above, spiritually 534 00:47:17,160 --> 00:47:19,440 transformed. Why are you spiritually 535 00:47:19,440 --> 00:47:27,440 transformed, renewed, ready to be used, ready to be used for 536 00:47:27,440 --> 00:47:33,240 good works which He prepared for us beforehand, taking paths, 537 00:47:33,760 --> 00:47:39,040 plans, paths what? Which He said so that you would 538 00:47:39,040 --> 00:47:43,400 walk in them, living the good life. 539 00:47:43,400 --> 00:47:49,360 Which he prearranged and made ready for us all. 540 00:47:49,440 --> 00:47:52,840 Hallelujah, He has a plan for us all. 541 00:47:52,840 --> 00:47:57,120 Look at Proverbs 1921. Many plans are in a man's mind. 542 00:47:58,800 --> 00:48:00,600 Many. Plans are in a man. 543 00:48:00,600 --> 00:48:05,600 'S mind, but it is the Lord's purpose for him that will stand 544 00:48:05,600 --> 00:48:10,520 and be carried out. So he lets us know. 545 00:48:10,520 --> 00:48:15,600 There's lots of plans and men have plenty of ideas and plans 546 00:48:15,600 --> 00:48:19,680 usually. But it's his purpose. 547 00:48:19,680 --> 00:48:23,120 That's going to be the thing that's going to prevail. 548 00:48:23,760 --> 00:48:27,720 And so you can have all the plans you want, but if it's not 549 00:48:27,720 --> 00:48:31,520 his purpose, then guess what? It's never going to prevail. 550 00:48:31,920 --> 00:48:34,720 It's not going to work out. You're going to forfeit your 551 00:48:34,720 --> 00:48:38,440 soul, right? You're going to gain, maybe. 552 00:48:38,440 --> 00:48:41,360 The whole world, but forfeit your soul. 553 00:48:41,480 --> 00:48:45,040 You're going to lose out because it's not his plan and never was 554 00:48:45,040 --> 00:48:49,960 his plan for your Life OK? For your wife? 555 00:48:50,000 --> 00:48:52,280 For your life or your wife if you're married. 556 00:48:53,760 --> 00:48:57,400 OK. Now look at here. 557 00:48:57,400 --> 00:49:00,960 I want to move because I really wanted to be done. 558 00:49:03,080 --> 00:49:06,600 But that isn't happening but. Maybe we. 559 00:49:06,600 --> 00:49:14,080 Can just close. With this Hebrews. 1036. 560 00:49:14,640 --> 00:49:18,800 It says this for you have need of patient endurance to bear up 561 00:49:18,800 --> 00:49:23,520 under difficult circumstances without compromising, so that 562 00:49:23,520 --> 00:49:28,440 when you have carried out the will of God, you will receive 563 00:49:28,440 --> 00:49:33,640 and enjoy the full promise. Come on up. 564 00:49:33,840 --> 00:49:38,920 Todd of what he had for you, We're going. 565 00:49:38,920 --> 00:49:41,360 To have to. Right. 566 00:49:41,400 --> 00:49:45,240 Walk through circumstances, situations. 567 00:49:45,640 --> 00:49:48,840 And the thing about it is, is we're going to have to realize 568 00:49:48,840 --> 00:49:54,880 that we should want to be doing the will of God through every 569 00:49:54,880 --> 00:49:57,640 situation. No matter what we encounter, 570 00:49:57,880 --> 00:50:00,240 there's going to be things we're going to just have to walk 571 00:50:00,280 --> 00:50:03,920 through and endure through. There's going to. 572 00:50:03,920 --> 00:50:06,280 Be things that we may. Have to suffer. 573 00:50:07,080 --> 00:50:11,760 And again, I'm not talking about sickness and disease because God 574 00:50:11,760 --> 00:50:15,080 does not put sickness and disease on you to make you 575 00:50:15,080 --> 00:50:18,360 suffer. And but there's things in this 576 00:50:18,360 --> 00:50:23,400 fallen world and things that trials and tribulations that we 577 00:50:23,400 --> 00:50:26,360 all have to walk through. And how many have seen 578 00:50:26,360 --> 00:50:32,200 Christians that don't actually walk through some situations 579 00:50:32,200 --> 00:50:35,880 properly and. In the end. 580 00:50:36,720 --> 00:50:41,680 They are bankrupt, no longer attending church, no longer 581 00:50:41,680 --> 00:50:46,600 going to church, no longer, you know, married. 582 00:50:46,800 --> 00:50:50,240 They've divorced, you know, because why? 583 00:50:50,240 --> 00:50:56,960 Because they didn't walk through some things in life properly. 584 00:50:59,080 --> 00:51:02,720 And they, you know, end. Up in destruction. 585 00:51:03,520 --> 00:51:08,120 And so again, every one of us have to say, you know what I'm 586 00:51:08,120 --> 00:51:12,320 going to in whatever I encounter, I'm going to say, 587 00:51:12,320 --> 00:51:15,680 Lord, what is your will in this situation? 588 00:51:16,720 --> 00:51:20,080 What is your plan in this situation? 589 00:51:21,000 --> 00:51:24,800 What do I need to do? Because we can be just like 590 00:51:24,920 --> 00:51:32,440 Jesus and say, I don't say and I don't do anything unless I've 591 00:51:32,440 --> 00:51:35,640 heard it and seen it from the Father. 592 00:51:36,680 --> 00:51:41,080 So again, that's why it's so important that we are in the 593 00:51:41,080 --> 00:51:47,480 Word of God and reading His truth, not listening to everyone 594 00:51:47,480 --> 00:51:51,800 else's truth. But what does His truth say? 595 00:51:52,200 --> 00:51:54,200 And that's what I'm sticking with. 596 00:51:54,200 --> 00:51:58,280 That's what I'm standing on in whatever I'm going through. 597 00:51:58,480 --> 00:52:03,120 And I'm going to navigate this by picking up my cross and 598 00:52:03,120 --> 00:52:08,000 carrying it and daily dying to what I want to do. 599 00:52:08,000 --> 00:52:12,160 I may want to respond a certain way to a circumstance or 600 00:52:12,160 --> 00:52:14,880 situation, but guess what I have to do? 601 00:52:15,440 --> 00:52:20,240 Die to self if God's saying that's not what the Word says. 602 00:52:21,960 --> 00:52:25,040 That's not what I want. You to do in this situation, 603 00:52:25,960 --> 00:52:29,400 that's not the plan that I had for you to do. 604 00:52:31,520 --> 00:52:34,760 In this. Scenario. 605 00:52:37,160 --> 00:52:41,880 And So what do I have? To do, I have to say fine, I'm 606 00:52:41,880 --> 00:52:43,400 going to do. Your will and your. 607 00:52:43,400 --> 00:52:47,440 Plan in this and guess. What we? 608 00:52:47,440 --> 00:52:54,320 Will see, we will see the fruit of it in our life and it won't 609 00:52:54,320 --> 00:53:01,560 end in destruction or death or, you know, all kinds of 610 00:53:01,560 --> 00:53:07,000 scenarios, drama in people's life that they just every, I 611 00:53:07,000 --> 00:53:12,040 mean, you know, every week there's some catastrophic, 612 00:53:12,040 --> 00:53:15,840 dramatic thing that's happening in their life. 613 00:53:16,080 --> 00:53:19,520 You know, people like that, even believers. 614 00:53:20,520 --> 00:53:23,520 Every time you talk to him, you never see him in church, but 615 00:53:23,520 --> 00:53:26,360 every time you talk to him, there's something terrible going 616 00:53:26,360 --> 00:53:29,680 on that ought to. Be able to help. 617 00:53:29,680 --> 00:53:35,200 You make a connection. Right. 618 00:53:35,920 --> 00:53:39,360 And so. Again, we must be people that 619 00:53:39,360 --> 00:53:49,400 realize during this week when you see that cross, it's yours. 620 00:53:50,840 --> 00:53:57,440 It's yours for you to pick up and for you. 621 00:53:57,440 --> 00:53:58,040 To carry.