Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me — Mark 8

0:00 Alright. Good morning. Good We're gonna be looking at three different passages from the gospels. So it's a pleasure to be here with all of you. My my dad called me last night, and and he's...

0:18 He said, hey, Ray. How are doing? And, you know, we... Our our typical little talks. And he says, where are you gonna be at so I can pray for you?

0:24 I said, oh, don't worry about it. I have the weekend off. I'm resting. Don't pray for me with that because I'm not doing anything. And so literally five minutes later, I get a text, you know, from Roger that Chris has to go back to Michigan.

0:38 Of course, that's... That in itself is rather disturbing, isn't it? That there's a young lady missing and we need to be praying for her. They have not found her as of yet. I haven't received the text that they have.

0:51 I believe she's 20 years old and in the TEPsy program and has disappeared. So great, great cause for concern, but we do trust that the Lord is gonna be, well, we know he's in control. Just pray for his will to be that she would be found. What I'm gonna share with you today is really part of my devotion. I I have a real strict discipline with a devotion every day, and I was preparing this, and I was gonna share with the college and career.

1:24 And so when I was called last night, I figured, well, since I've been meditating on this and preparing it, I might as well, you know, share with the body and tweak it a little bit. So stayed up a little bit later and worked on it some. So this is basically what the Lord's been teaching me in my in my personal time with the Lord, my personal walk with him, and I just pray that it would be a blessing to you. I I I wasn't premeditated or thought of ahead of time. So whatever the lord says to you, he says to you.

1:54 Just you know that, right, that he wasn't thinking about anybody in particular or anything like that. This was my own thoughts that were really for me. But may the lord bless his word to all of us. Let's pray before we start. Father, thank you for every person here.

2:10 We just pray that your word would speak to us. Lord, whatever is from you, I pray that it would just convict and and just bless our heart. Wherever it isn't, it's not from you. Lord, I pray that I wouldn't even say it. But we would speak truth today and love.

2:26 Pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Okay. Let's go to Mark chapter eight. We're gonna look at the three different passages first, and then I'm gonna go back and comment about them after that.

2:39 Let's go to Mark chapter eight and verse 34. So turn to Mark eight and verse 34. And I I I... I'm assuming this is the last week, finally, where there's no more camps and conferences and things. And I I I like parachurch organizations to a point.

3:01 I think they siphon a lot of the work of the local body, unfortunately, pretty consistently. But, hopefully, everybody will be back this week... Well, tomorrow, and we'll have our fruit... Full cruise already starting next week. Alright.

3:17 Mark eight and thirty four. And he summoned the the the multitude with his disciples. And he said to them, if anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospels shall save it. For what does it profit a man to gain his...

3:47 The whole world and forfeit his soul? For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the son of man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in glory... In the glory of his father with the holy angels. Now turn with me to Luke chapter nine and verse 23.

4:19 Luke nine and twenty three. And and the bible says this, and he was saying to them all, if anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man is a man profited if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

5:01 For whoever is ashamed of me and 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. Now turn with me finally to Matthew chapter 10 and verse 32. Matthew ten and thirty two. Matthew ten and thirty two. But whoever shall deny me before men...

5:37 I'm sorry. I'll start in verse 33. Verse 32, everyone, therefore, who shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before my father who is in heaven. But whoever shall deny me before men, I will also deny him before my father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth.

6:01 I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I came to set a man against a... His father and a daughter against his mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man's enemies will be members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.

6:22 And he who loves the son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He who has found his life shall lose it, and who has lost his life for my sake shall find it. That'll be it for now as far as the the reading of of the word of God. A lot of people are are saying that they're very concerned about the the cultural shift.

6:54 Brother Bingham Jim was saying this morning that they can no longer pray with a football team, and, you know, he might get fired. And and there's a lot of shifting going on in the in the outside world if you will. But but I'm more concerned with the the inside world. That is the the the culture, the the character, the commitment of the local body. That's been concerning me more for for many many years, and I'm more concerned about that really than I am with the with the world because the world is a world.

7:25 The world doesn't love the Lord Jesus. And so we can't expect anything but hate for the Lord Jesus from the world. But as we notice in these verses that we read that the Lord Jesus Christ, when he says that you come to me, it's obvious that it's not just a a a confession. It's not just a talking of the mouth, but he expects a a full fledged, a total 100% commitment of those who say they're followers of Jesus Christ. And it's pretty obvious just by looking at these verses that that's what he wanted.

7:57 And so as as I was reading and and studying this, I was asking the Lord to help me be fully committed to him and and not just say I'm a Christian and and not live it out every day and not make it part of the very fabric of my life. Another thing I think that has become very common is is just to show up on Sunday morning and think that that's the... You know, I've I've done my duty. I I don't think the bible says anything about that, but it is a daily commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and our savior. I think it's pretty obvious as we look at these texts.

9:08 And he was stating the manner plainly, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning around and seeing his disciple, he rebuked Peter and said, get behind me, Satan, for you are not setting your mind on God's interest but on man's. The the cross has always been a dilemma to every human being. The the preaching of the cross, the fact that that we are born again believers and we are committing our life to to a crucified man. I mean, think about it.

9:39 To the Muslim, that's ridiculous. To to most of the world, I'm thinking about even the fact when I'm in Avon Lake and I'm talking to all these unbelievers who are who are religious, and I give them a a a verse or I give them a track, and I said, let me talk to you about about Jesus Christ. You you would think I'm I'm I'm putting a gun on him. And and it's it's just so foreign to them and... But even to the believer.

10:08 And so the the cross is central to the preaching of the gospel, but it's also central to to the believer and his life. So when when I turn to Christ, it's not, okay, Lord, save me. But after you save me, don't don't get it too involved in my life. Don't don't pick on my my personal living. Don't don't get involved in what I wanna do, who my friends are gonna be.

10:33 Just save me from my sin and stay at a distance and leave me alone. That... That's that's the the the faith of many. And if I show up on on Sundays and do my thing, well, then I've I've I've I've done pretty much the the the right thing and and I'm alright with you. Jesus says immediately after Peter was thinking like a man and say, why a cross?

10:59 Why suffering? Why do you have to suffer like that and and be killed by men? And that... This is when... And and this is the same scenario every time.

11:09 This is when he says, and he summoned the the multitude that were listening to him and the disciples, if you wish to come after me, you have to deny yourself. He said it pretty clearly. You have to deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me. Alright? And...

11:30 But notice what he what he says after that too. How interesting. Whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's sake will save it. I love what Ryrie said. If you have a Ryrie study bible, look at the notes down there, but I have it written down here.

11:46 What does it mean by save your life and lose it... Lose your life and save it? Ryrie put it this way, and and a lot of the commentators, they all agree. This is a thought. Whoever would save his life by renouncing the gospel and thus avoiding the risk of martyrdom will lose it.

12:02 That is, will lose it eternally because he has not believed the gospel. But whoever is willing to lose his life, that is as a martyr for Christ, will save it. In other words, he's going to prove that he is a follower of Christ and an heir of eternal life because he's willing to lose his life for Jesus Christ. He's not going to deny the Lord Jesus Christ just because suffering is coming, but he's gonna... He's willing to stand up for the faith.

12:31 And today, you you saw the news. Right? The lady in Kentucky, where is she at? Because she stood up for her conviction. Where is she at right now?

12:39 She's in jail. Right? And it's only gonna get worse, folks. It's the beginning. And you know what's gonna happen?

12:46 The the true believers are gonna show up, and those who are just professing are are fair weather Christians are gonna show up as well. And what's gonna happen is that whenever there is is turmoil, whenever there's suffering, whenever you have to stand up for your faith or deny it, whenever that happens, what what what what really starts happening is people start really getting converted and getting committed to the Lord Jesus and are willing to serve and come and to be a servant of all and to deny themselves and their personal desires. And funny that every time, you're gonna notice this also in Luke as we go to it, you're gonna notice that as soon as he says that, that you have to be willing, to to die, and then you're gonna save your soul eternally. Verse 37, for what shall a man give in exchange for a soul? He always says that.

14:04 What did it profit you? And then he then he comes down to to the real the the the real matter, the the heart of the problem, heart of the matter. For whoever is ashamed of me, that is of Jesus Christ and my words, notice, in this adulterous and sinful generation. Wow. What what would you call our times?

14:28 Would that fit a description of our times? It was a truth of when Jesus was living on earth. The the the generation was adulterous and they were sinful. Have you noticed the overemphasis on sexual sin? And just the fact that that sin now doesn't even seem to bother us?

14:50 And and and and the the expression is very clear. Are you ashamed of Jesus? Are you ashamed of being a believer and of the words of Jesus Christ? Then the son of man will also be ashamed of him who... When he comes in the glory of the father with the holy angels.

15:10 Wow. And so Jesus then really starts to press the disciples and all of the other people who were listening saying, are you truly a a disciple of Jesus? Have have you really believed in me? Have you really repented? And are you following me?

15:28 Are you ashamed of my words and who I am to say to people, I have believed in Jesus Christ and I follow him? Do your neighbors know that this is true? Do your workmates... Go to go to Luke now with me. Let's go to the second passage and let's continue this thought.

15:48 As the Lord was speaking to me, and I was asking myself all of these questions. Now notice again, verse 22... Verse 21, but he warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone and saying the son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and raised up on the third day. Now notice again, soon as he says that, then he says, and use... And and and he was saying to them all, if anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

16:28 I would like to quote John MacArthur at this moment. He says, deny or shame before men by by silence, by failing to witness and trying to be an unnoticed Christian, by by failing to tell friends and neighbors and that they don't know that you're a believer, the son of man will also be ashamed when he comes in his glory. And then he goes on to quote a second part, love of one's own life is often the greatest hindrance to full commitment to Christ. A cross is the willing sacrifice of everything one has, including life for the sake of Christ. Its willingness to forsake everything, that indicates the spirit of a true disciple, end quote.

17:17 Well, Atata was very revealing. So that's why he says, if anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. William McDonald put it this way. Whenever you deny yourself, whenever you decide to follow Jesus completely to take up your cross daily, this is what it implies. It implies that there's gonna be opposition of loved ones.

17:46 That there's gonna be reproach from the world. It means forsaking family and house and lands and comforts in this life. It means a complete dependence on God. It means obedience to the leading of the holy spirit. It means proclaiming an unpopular message that Jesus Christ is truly God, that he came from earth...

18:08 From heaven to earth, that that he became a man, that he didn't sin, that he died on the cross for our sins, that he rose from the dead. That's the message. Guess what? It's not popular. People don't like it.

18:21 It means a pathway to loneliness. That means your buddies won't hang out with you as much when you start living for the Lord. In fact, when when I was young, we had we had a a huge youth group. Those about 50 young people. And when I decided to follow the Lord and be a true disciple of the Lord, the ones that laughed at me the most were the carnal Christians within the church, much to my surprise.

18:50 You're gonna get attacked by by religious leaders. You're gonna be suffering for righteousness sake. You're gonna be slandered and shamed. You're gonna be pouring out your life for others. It's gonna be death to self and to the world.

19:05 That's McDonald's take on this passage. You know, in second Timothy, if you wanna just listen, Paul was exhorting Timothy. This is his last thoughts to Timothy be... Before Paul was was murdered, and he said this to to Timothy in second Timothy chapter one chapter one and verse eight. Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in the suffering for the gospel according to the power of God.

19:40 The gospel, the true disciple, there's always gonna be some kind of suffering attached to the fact that we're preaching the gospel. Someone's always gonna laugh. Someone's gonna not invite you to a party. Someone's gonna look down on you and mock. That's part of being a believer.

19:59 That's a true Christian. And notice what he says, verse nine, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our own works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our savior Christ Jesus who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. For this reason, I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed. There it goes again. For I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he's able to guard, that is to to guard what I have entrusted to him, my soul, until that day.

20:50 Timothy, Timothy was shy. Timothy was in leadership, but he tended to be ashamed sometime to to proclaim and live his faith boldly and vividly for the Lord. And Paul reminds him, don't be ashamed of who you believe in. Don't be ashamed of the Lord Jesus Christ. Don't be ashamed of the gospel.

21:09 That... That's the only hope the world has. I would like to turn now to Hebrews 12 and verse two, and I want you to notice how how interesting this passage. Fixing our eyes on Jesus, Hebrews twelve two, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, notice, despising the shame, and he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. If if if I were to tell one of you, come on up here, we're gonna bring you to the front, and we're gonna we're gonna spit on you.

21:53 We're gonna whack you with sticks in your head with a crown. We're gonna take off all your clothes and just leave your underwear on in front and laugh at you. Would you ever come back to this place? It's embarrassing. There's nothing worse.

22:10 In fact, I I know for sure that the the only thing that you would demand of anyone is don't ever embarrass me publicly. Alright? That's one thing to be embarrassed at home quietly in a corner. Nobody knows about it, but publicly? See, the lord Jesus knew that that was gonna happen to him when he was on earth.

22:29 And this is what the Bible says. He endured the cross. Notice what he says, despising the shame. Here's what he says. I know I'm gonna be embarrassed.

22:37 I know everybody's gonna be around and mocking and laughing, But here's what I say to shame. Come on, shame. I'm gonna take you on. I despise you. Let them laugh.

22:49 Let them hang you on a cross, and let the blood be dripping, and everybody be mocking. And and as you know, they did. And let them do what they're gonna do. I despise it. I don't care because I'm gonna save some people from hell.

23:05 Wow. He despised the shame. And so that's why Jesus says, if you're ashamed of my words and who I am and and the message of the cross, then I'm gonna be ashamed of you too when I come in glory. And so the Lord Jesus wasn't ashamed. The apostle Paul wasn't ashamed.

24:01 Everyone, therefore, who shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before my father who is in heaven. See, Christianity involves confession. Right? What does it say in Romans 10? That if you confess with your, what?

24:23 With your mouth, and you believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord. Lord, you shall be saved. That's the message. There... There's a confession that brings salvation.

24:37 There there has to be a confession where where you outwardly say, I believe in the Lord Jesus in my heart and with my mouth, I'm confessing it outwardly. Right? And and this is what brought me salvation. This is what brought me salvation. And so when he says confess, that's what he's talking about.

24:56 And that's why we we get baptized. And when we get baptized, what do we do? We confess publicly that that I have I have repented of my sin. I have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ that he died on the cross for me and that he rose from the dead, that he's in heaven, and that's the only way to be saved. I confess that publicly.

25:19 There... There's a public confession of a true disciple, a true believer in Jesus Christ. But see, you don't understand. People let me down. Pep...

25:33 People let the lord Jesus down. His friends run away. People are always gonna let you down. There's always gonna be things that happen. But have you confessed?

25:46 Therefore, whoever shall confess me before men... Notice, before men here on earth, as your friends observe you, as people watch you, have you have you made this clear to everyone? Do they know that you're a believer? I will... Listen.

26:01 Whoever confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my father who is in heaven. Wow. What what what a thrill to know that when the Lord Jesus Christ represents me as my savior, as my lawyer, he's gonna say to the father, this person believed in me. He confessed me publicly. He he he didn't hide it.

26:25 He he said it clearly that he's a believer. And so, father, I confess him as a true believer in front of you. Can you imagine that? Wow. To hear the Lord confess me before the father to me is the ultimate thrill.

26:42 Now to be a true believer, we have to deny and take up our cross. But you know what? There's such a blessing to the person who does that. The the joy of the Lord, the joy of leading someone to Christ, the the the joy of of denying self and living for the Lord is inexplicable. It's something beautiful.

27:03 The peace and the joy that he gives you is worth it. And so the verse says that he's gonna confess us before the father in heaven. But notice verse 33, but whoever shall deny me before men, I will also deny him before my father who is in heaven. Now the word here to confess and to deny means this, to confess is to affirm and agree with. It's not simply to recognize truth, but to receive it and identify with it.

27:41 Alright. Did you notice that? It's not simply to recognize truth, but to receive and identify with it. For example, in James two nineteen, the demons recognize truth, but the the the... But they, in...

27:58 By no means or no way, confess the Lord Jesus Christ, do they? And yet they recognize truth. You confess Christ by acknowledging him and receiving him as your lord and savior as your lord and savior. Right? But, for example, Peter denied the lord Jesus Christ, as you know.

28:21 But he didn't deny him ultimately and forever, But it was a temporary moment of shame, if you will, when he didn't wanna publicly acknowledge him. But afterwards, he bitterly repented, as you know, and then the Lord came and restored him and brought him back. So, yes, in in all of our lives, there's times where you know you should have said something and you didn't. And then you repent. You say, Lord, I had that open door.

28:49 I I was ashamed at the moment. I didn't say what I should have said. Look. I've done it many times. But this is talking about a person who denies Jesus Christ as the only way to heaven, as the only lord, as the only mediator between heaven heaven and earth, between man, the only one.

29:13 So it's a person who who listens to Jesus, who was observing Jesus, but ultimately denies him, and that's what that's saying. That's why Peter isn't included in this statement. So this is a final outright rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so having said that, look at the verse again. Verse 33, but whoever shall deny me, that is the the the rejection.

29:42 It's not a momentary shame or momentary denial because you didn't have the guts to say at the moment that you weren't a believer. It wasn't a Peter moment, but it's an outright denial. It's never receiving him as your personal savior. Even though you know all about him, I would also deny him before my father who is in heaven. Though...

30:06 And so the the person who then denies the Lord Jesus Christ, when they die, the Jesus is gonna deny him entrance into heaven if you will. Now then he... That's when he says, do not think I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. Verse...

31:03 And I just want you to be patient as I read it. He says, I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. To die has been cast. I have stopped... Stepped over the line.

31:17 The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of his, and I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure.

31:32 I am done and finished with low living, with sight walking, with small planning, with smooth knees, with colorless dreams, tame vision, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarf goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right or first or recognized or praised or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on his presence, walk by patience, live by prayer, and labor by the Holy Spirit's power. My face is set.

32:14 My gate is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow. My my way rough. My companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.

32:27 I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I would not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the average... Adversary. I would not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let let up until I have stayed, stored up, prayed, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.

33:00 I am I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until I all know, and work until he comes. And when he does come for his own, he'll have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear. Wow.

33:19 This was a young pastor serving the Lord in Zimbabwe, and nobody even knew that he had wrote this down. They found it after he was murdered for his faith. And so the Lord Jesus then is is demanding of us, I think it's pretty clear, that we fully commit to him, that you deny yourself, that you take up your cross, that is you're gonna have to give some things up and follow him. You know, give up something that's holding you from from the time of prayer, from reading the word, from serving, from being committed, even from faithful attendance, from worshiping, from giving yourself to him. And see the Lord Jesus laid down a heavy line, didn't he?

34:18 He who does not take up his cross, verse 38, and follow after me is not worthy of me. The Lord Jesus himself said it. Who has found his life shall lose it. He who has lost his life for my sake shall find it. And I'm applying this to to myself.

34:36 Your own ambitions and your own selfishness because we're we're selfish creatures. We need to come to where we go before the Lord and say, Lord, these are my plans, but I wanna follow you. I wanna deny my own plans and take up my cross and follow you. Is this from you? If it is, then I'll go full fledged, but if not, I'm willing to give it up.

35:27 Enter by the narrow gate for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life And notice, and few are those who find it. A lot of people profess salvation, profess Christ. But I often wonder how many of those are really real. Because as Jesus said, with your mouth, you worship me, but your heart is far from me.

36:06 Think this is a... These passages really lead us to to examine ourselves and to see if we're real and if we're really following the Lord. But notice that the Lord himself said that that the narrow gate, the life of Jesus, the the true disciple, it said that it's difficult. It's it's hard being a true believer. It's almost...

36:27 So much easier just to go blend in and and hang out with the guys and and don't worry about it, and let's just look at the girls, and let's just do our thing, and let's go on our our many pleasures, and we don't wanna be too committed and and keep doing our thing. That's easy, but it's difficult being a a Christian. So he says that it's very difficult and few find it. And I'm applying this not only to salvation, but to the to the true disciple. It's a very difficult life because it's hard and and it comes with insult and rejection and having to constantly deny yourself.

37:08 And you have to make drastic changes. And true believers, it says it's difficult and few find it. But notice on the positive side, it leads to life. It leads to life. Wow.

37:22 I don't know of a committed Christian who's a true disciple, who's taken up his cross, who's denying himself, who's living for the Lord, who who says, you know, I regret having lived for the Lord. But I know a lot of people who have done the opposite and after they burn themselves in sin and doing their own thing, say, you know, I regret all the years I've wasted. And so the narrow gate, it's true. It's true. Who who who wants to truly commit to the Lord and and really be a disciple?

37:58 It's easier to be just a fair weather one. But notice what he says about the other gate. He says that that it's broad. It's broad. It's huge.

38:09 Everybody loves that. It's fun. Hey. You know what? Don't be boring.

38:13 Don't don't be a goody two shoes. Don't be a drying believer. Don't be truly committed. It's it's it's... You know, that...

38:19 That's the boring, you know, dry life. Hey. The broad gate, it's it's fun, it's easy. Notice what I said. It's easy.

38:26 It's easy. And many do it. That's that's where the masses are. That's where the masses are. But it...

38:35 Notice what it says that it leads to destruction. It leads to destruction. That's what the Lord says. And so the the broad gate gate is attractive. It's cool.

38:49 You know, it's hip if you will. You know, just keep doing what you're doing and hanging out and and go ahead and keep watching whatever you're watching and listening to whatever you wanna listen to. You don't have to be committed. You don't have to read your word. You don't have to be committed to prayer.

39:06 You don't have to deny certain friends that are dragging you into sin and into carnality. Just keep doing what you're doing. See, everybody wants to do that. That's easy. But a true believer has to deny himself and pick up his cross.

39:36 See, look, I'm picking up my cross. That's not what it means. It means you have to go before the lord Jesus Christ and say, maybe I've been a a fair weather Christian, uncommitted. Yeah. I come to church.

39:50 I read the bible once in a while. You know, I do my thing, but, you know, I'm hanging out with guys I shouldn't hang out with. I'm listening to music probably I shouldn't listen to. I'm watching movies that are filthy, that are really shouldn't be looked at, and I'm doing all kinds of things that that probably aren't pleasing to you because that's the easy way to be a Christian. But, Lord, you're asking me to deny myself.

40:14 All those things that are desirable and fun and to take up my cross, I think that's what the Lord is saying. I think that's what the Lord is saying. So this is a true challenge to me as I was reading this and having this as my devotion. I said, lord, you're really speaking to me. And and so in Matthew, in the in the great commission in Matthew 28, the lord says, you're gonna make disciples.

40:43 You're gonna baptize them. You're gonna baptize them. You're gonna teach them to obey all that I command, loyalty and obedience. And I'm gonna be with you until the end of the age. And so I believe that that the Lord does demand loyalty and that he wants your heart, he wants your commitment, he wants you to be living for him.

41:08 And so as I was doing this, I really did examine my heart because I told you this is my devotion. I don't know if it's blessing you or not, but this is what the Lord was telling me. And so I started looking at my own life and say, Lord, what what is it that's keeping me from me being more empowered by you? What do I need to deny? Am I being lazy in my in my reading, in my prayer?

41:33 I mean, I have energy to watch a movie, but I don't have energy to come and pray. I have energy to to check out the sports for two, three hours, but I get bored with one hour of preaching. Lord, what's wrong with me? Because, you know, it's so easy to do the opposite because of the flesh. And so the the lord is demanding that we commit to him and that we commit to him fully.

42:00 At least that's what he's telling me. So I don't know where you're at, but the implications are pretty clear. And I'm gonna I'm gonna read it to you again just so it'll stay with it. You can go home with it nagging you and by... And and bothering you.

42:18 Everyone, therefore, who shall confess me before men, I shall also confess him before my father who who is in heaven. Have you have you done that yet? Have you confessed them openly, and are you confessing them continually? But whoever shall deny me before men... Now remember, that means to to to make a decision to to openly say, do not believe in Jesus.

42:44 I don't want him. I don't want him bothering my life. I don't want him invading my life. I wanna do my own thing, so I deny you Jesus so I can do my sinful stuff. I will also deny him before the father who is in heaven.

42:59 Do not think that I came to make peace. Verse 38, he who did not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for my sake shall find it. Well, I don't know about you, but I don't wanna be a fair weather Christian. And as I look at the Bible and I keep reading it, I see that Jesus expected a full commitment from believers.

43:34 And I've been guilty myself of preaching oh, just get saved and do your own thing thing. No. No. You repent of your sin. And you see the ugliness of it, and you turn away from that stuff, and you turn to Jesus for the salvation of your soul, and then you fully commit to following him.

43:53 That's what the lord demands, and and that's what a true disciple is. And and I'm just looking forward to what god is gonna do through this body as we do this. He's gonna do powerful things. He's already doing them. Praise God.

44:10 He's already working in our hearts in a powerful way. But as but as we fully commit like this one guy who who was murdered, think God's gonna do great things, and we're gonna see a lot of great things happening here. And I wanna be the first to do it. I'm not asking you to do anything I'm not first committed to doing myself. And that is to take up my cross and deny myself and follow follow him.

44:57 Come to me and deny. Take up the cross. But Lord Jesus, you, first of all, weren't ashamed to die for us and to deny yourself so we'd be... We could belong to you. Help us, Lord.

45:11 Help me. For, Lord, so many times I am ashamed, and it's difficult to share because you know they're gonna laugh. But thank you that you're so full of grace, and you're so patient with us, and you continue to use us for your glory. I pray that as a chapel, as an assembly, Westlake Bible Fellowship, that there would be... All of us would be true disciples of Jesus, following him fully with all of our heart, with all of our minds, with all of our strength.

45:42 Help us, Lord, I pray. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen.