Luke 9:21-26
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Last week we looked very briefly at Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Christ of God
Christ = Messiah
Reign on David’s throne forever
(Israel had it great under David and Solomon, but this would be even better.)
Overthrow Roman oppression
Heal everybody - awesome health care plan
Jesuscare > Obamacare
Jesus could just make bread and fish
Jesus meal plan > manna
The 12 were his hand-picked chief under-shepherds
Really no wonder Judas followed him
but...
Jesus drops a bomb on them in v. 21-22
21 And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one,
22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
Wow!
This is not the plan!
We see this same episode in Mk. and Mt.
Look with me at
31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
Do I need to point out how dumb it is to rebuke Jesus?
Peter just said...
(elaborate)
Who would do something as dumb as rebuke God?
How about you?
Great Commission?
Forsake assembly?
Giving?
Reading Scripture?
When God speaks, obey instead of argue!
If you don’t here is Jesus’ response...
33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
That is harsh!
Just hang on, it’s about to get worse.
Back to Lk.
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
What is a cross?
It is not...
your mother-in-law
your chronic back pain
your job you don’t like
your OCD
your spouse
or whatever we tend to complain about.
A cross was something that kills you.
Jesus is saying, if you want to follow me, you have to be willing to give up everything, including your life.
Please let that soak in.
This is really, really different from...
God has a wonderful plan for your life
or
invite Jesus into your heart
or
repeat this prayer after me
==
Do you know why churches are filled with lost people who think they are saved?
Because we have decided we can improve on this...
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
That’s really not very seeker friendly.
Wouldn’t you rather Jesus have said...
I’ll take the cross up so you can have a blessed and easy life.
==
Make no mistake...
He did take the cross and the hell that went with it so you would not have to...
but...
He also says that following him has to be on His terms.
NOT YOURS
If you want to be His disciple it will cost you everything.
Is that a price you are willing to pay?
==
Rich, young ruler...
What would you do?
I think lots of church folks would call Jesus a religious nut and go join the church down the street.
Would you?
==
You can get a lot more people to agree to a false gospel
One with a crown, but no cross
One where Jesus serves you to make your life better, but you don’t have to serve and obey Him.
One where God exists to forgive you… cow gives milk, chicken gives eggs, God gives forgiveness.
Match made in heaven - God likes to forgive sin and you like to sin.
One where you can be a fan, but not a follower.
Look at what Jesus says following him requires...
Deny yourself
Deny yourself
What does that mean?
It really goes back to my definition of repentance...
total, unconditional surrender.
That means - we don’t get to rebuke God, we only get to obey him.
We don’t get to talk about obeying him, consider for a few years, we actually have to do it.
Is there an area where the Spirit is currently convicting you of something you need to change?
Just do it!
If there is no area the Holy Spirit is working on, I suggest you read your Bible.
Because if you are reading your Bible, I’m pretty sure there is something the Spirit is working on.
==
Is there anything that rivals God in your affections?
Money
Family - including grand-kids
Possessions
Work
Recognition
Influence
Lust
Whatever rivals God in your affections has to go on that cross.
NO, I don’t want you to crucify your family...
I want you to crucify your idolatry of your family.
==
Can you identify whether you have an idol?
Let me help.
Do you give liberally and sacrificially to the church?
If not, money is your idol.
Do you skip church?
Rest or laziness is your idol.
Do you look at internet pornography?
Lust is your idol.
Do you go to food for security and self-comfort to where you are unhealthy and neglecting the care of your body?
Food is your idol.
(Have you ever seen a man try to preach while stepping on his own toes? You have now.)
==
So, if you are addicted to food, or pornography, or materialism...
Do you just declare that idol crucified and magically there is no more struggle?
I wish!
(emphasize daily)
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
You need the power of God, given through the indwelling Spirit of God active in you every single day.
How?
Pray - most of you - no problem
Be accountable to someone - I don’t want anyone in my business - it helps
Read and obey the Word - too much work - don’t have time
Let’s be honest enough to admit - we do what we want to do
(elaborate)
==
Let’s look more closely at this second requirement for following Jesus...
Take up Your Cross
Take up Your Cross
Would you be willing to die for Jesus?
If you are not willing to live for Him then don’t delude yourself into thinking you would die for Him.
Many of Jesus followers have died for serving him.
Would you?
If you are really going to follow him, you have to be willing to.
==
Are you willing to die to your desires for ungodly things?
If Jesus told you to sell all you had and follow Him would you actually do it?
If Jesus scraps your plans and gives you new marching orders would you obey, or would you rebuke him?
… explain how that is not the plan.
If he demands radical obedience from you...
when no one else around you seems to be radical about anything...
will you listen and obey?
(By the way, that is what He is doing right now!)
(After this sermon most folks will go eat lunch and forget about it - how about you?)
Why am I acting like this is such a big deal?
Because it is...
This is what separates the Gospel according to Jesus
from
the gospel according to easy-believism
They are different gospels.
Why do you think Jesus tells potential followers to count the cost?
Because there is a cost.
How much does it cost?
Everything.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,
46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
What did the pearl of great value cost this guy?
All that he had!
I thought the gift of forgiveness and redemption was free??
It is.
You could never pay enough, or do enough to earn it.
But...
You have to drop everything you are carrying in order to take this gift.
(Illustrate)
Carrying materialism, pride, autonomy, etc...
Have to lay it all down in order to receive the free gift of grace.
==
Let’s look at the final requirement.
Follow Jesus
Follow Jesus
When you follow Jesus, you go where he goes and you do what he does.
You imitate the master.
What did we see Jesus doing last week?
He sent his apostles to do the same thing.
Do you know why?
Because they were his followers so they did what he did.
They ministered to people and shared the gospel.
==
Do you know why churches die?
Because they get inside the walls and they stay there.
We need to meet in here for the purpose of being equipped to go out there!
==
How much does this matter?
Am I making a big deal out of nothing?
I mean, heaven is heaven, right?
Making it to heaven by the skin of my teeth is still good, right?
If you haven’t heard anything else I’ve said, please listen to this.
24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Jesus is clearly not talking about different classes of saved people.
He is talking about people who are saved and people who are lost.
This is the radical difference between the Gospel according to Jesus
and
the gospel according to easy-believism
It is not a small difference...
it is the difference between heaven and hell
That is why this is a big deal!
==
Are you ready to put down your pride?
your autonomy?
your materialism?
So that you can accept the free gift of grace?
OR
Are you a believer that has wasted a lot of time and energy rebuking God rather than obeying God?
If so, are you ready to change?
Let me warn you, if you decide to radically follow Jesus, you will be weird - even in the church.
Church people, for the most part, are super comfortable in their apathy.
Apathy has killed WAY more churches than persecution ever will.
If this message has challenged you...
What do we do?
What do we do?
Decide to leverage your job, your money, your position, your friendships, everything you have, for the kingdom of God.
Minister to people and share the gospel.
You cannot be a member of this church and say that you would, but you don’t know how.
Why not?
Because I will teach you if you will ask.
I can teach you to share the gospel.
I can show you that using your home, you can invite people in and form relationships that build bridges for the gospel.
Here is where you say,
By God’s grace, I will do that! - If the Holy Spirit has gotten a hold of you today.
OR
you say...
I don’t have time for that
OR
That is really not for me
OR
whatever the excuse may be
BUT...
You do have to choose.
Jimmy is going to come and lead us in a worship song...
Join
Pray
Be saved
or
Commit to fully engaging in the mission.