What we need in the church today, is the power of God. Not by simply singing & worshiping in the church on Sundays or by a simple preaching, but by walking in God and allowing Him to rule out life. It should reflect from us, that it is HE who makes us walk.
Today we will be learning about “Take up your cross and follow Jesus”.
Matthew 16:21-28, “21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Here Jesus was talking to them about future and his disciples were walking with him. They saw his authority and were expecting His ministry to be successful. They wanted him to be king so that the Kingdom of Israel rule and Romans go away. Jesus' disciples wanted His ministry to succeed. He asks His disciples, "Who do you think I am?"
Peter answered, you are Son of God. Peter understood that Jesus is the Messiah. We at times like prosperity, and good blessings in earth, which is very normal. There is an eternal mission. He came not to acknowledge anyone but to die on the Cross.
Christ reveals his mind to his people gradually. From that time, when the apostles had made the full confession of Christ, that he was the Son of God, he began to show them of his sufferings. He spake this to set right the mistakes of his disciples about the outward pomp and power of his kingdom. Those that follow Christ, must not expect great or high things in this world. Peter would have Christ to dread suffering as much as he did; but we mistake, if we measure Christ's love and patience by our own. We do not read of any thing said or done by any of his disciples, at any time, that Christ resented so much as this. Whoever takes us from that which is good, and would make us fear to do too much for God, speaks Satan's language. Whatever appears to be a temptation to sin, must be resisted with abhorrence, and not be parleyed with. Those that decline suffering for Christ, savour more of the things of man than of the things of God.
A true disciple of Christ is one that does follow him in duty, and shall follow him to glory. He is one that walks in the same way Christ walked in, is led by his Spirit, and treads in his steps, whithersoever he goes. Let him deny himself. If self-denial be a hard lesson, it is no more than what our Master learned and practised, to redeem us, and to teach us. Let him take up his cross. The cross is here put for every trouble that befalls us. We are apt to think we could bear another's cross better than our own; but that is best which is appointed us, and we ought to make the best of it. We must not by our rashness and folly pull crosses down upon our own heads, but must take them up when they are in our way. If any man will have the name and credit of a disciple, let him follow Christ in the work and duty of a disciple. If all worldly things are worthless when compared with the life of the body, how forcible the same argument with respect to the soul and its state of never-ending happiness or misery! Thousands lose their souls for the most trifling gain, or the most worthless indulgence, nay, often from mere sloth and negligence. Whatever is the object for which men forsake Christ, which is the price at which Satan buys their souls. Yet one soul is worth more than all the world. This is Christ's judgment upon the matter; he knew the price of souls, for he redeemed them; nor would he underrate the world, for he made it. The dying transgressor cannot purchase one hour's respite to seek mercy for his perishing soul. Let us then learn rightly to value our souls, and Christ as the only Saviour of them.
During time of Adam and Eve, there was no sin earlier and they used to interact with God. Via serpent, the sin entered the Garden of Eden. First it was Eve and then Adam. God at that time wanted someone to stand.
Again we closely read Old Testament, first were the sacrifices of animals covering the sins of humans. During this period, first person God revealed was Abraham and he became the Father of nations. Then there were sacrifices.
But now even sacrifices were not helpful enough in covering the sins of men. So God sent His only son, Jesus.
Hebrews 10:6-9, “6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’” 8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second.”
The apostle having shown that the tabernacle, and ordinances of the covenant of Sinai, were only emblems and types of the gospel, concludes that the sacrifices the high priests offered continually, could not make the worshippers perfect, with respect to pardon, and the purifying of their consciences. But when God manifested in the flesh, became the sacrifice, and his death upon the accursed tree the ransom, then the Sufferer being of infinite worth, his free-will sufferings were of infinite value. The atoning sacrifice must be one capable of consenting, and must of his own will place himself in the sinner's stead: Christ did so. The fountain of all that Christ has done for his people, is the sovereign will and grace of God. The righteousness brought in, and the sacrifice once offered by Christ, are of eternal power, and his salvation shall never be done away. They are of power to make all the comers thereunto perfect; they derive from the atoning blood, strength and motives for obedience, and inward comfort.
India was damned, Europe was damned. None of the sacrifices or burnt offerings were helpful. The only one and only sacrifice was the Son of God. Jesus who loved us, to give our best life that we may become one as a body of Christ, died in the Cross.
Now all the nations, different colors, different cultures are one body of Christ. Jesus was able to do that. Now we do not need to be anywhere else.
He is our ultimate sacrifice, our advocate. His blood washes away the sins for the person who repents and seek forgiveness.
Even some of you don't know Jesus, today is the time. Salvation is here!
Today is the time, to fill that Gap.
Jesus died for us, he came down for us. He was sacrificed for our sins. Even today He is working, through media, missionaries, churches, men of God etc. You all are responsible to introduce Jesus to who do not know Him. Not only to save yourself, but to save them.
Illustration: Once a Uranian pastor was traveling for mission work in Kazakhstan. As per him, “We three decided (myself, my brother and his wife) to travel to a small village which was about 40 kms far. There wasn’t enough transport options available during 1956.
Suddenly a car stopped and there was no space more than two people. So I asked them both to sit together, and I will walk.
So I started walking after accommodating them. When I reached my brother and his wife did not arrived. I started to get worried, then I saw a man walking from a far place. My heart started troubling. Then I realized that this is my brother who arrived, but with blood stains on his shirt. I asked and came to know there was accident and thirteen other than my brother and his wife had died and blood stains belong to those people. People asked how are you saved. So he told them, that, we are children of God.
Sometimes it may seem that no one cares about what you are going through.
You may be going through something at School
Or at work with your boss.
You may be in trouble with the law.
You may drink too much and would like to stop drinking.
Maybe you do drugs and can’t stop.
Maybe you are looking for a mate.
Maybe you and your family don’t get along.
Maybe you feel like no one loves you or cares about you.
Let me say this no matter what it is that you are going through or gets you down.
Jesus does care and he wants to set you free!
Jesus cares about your life and He wants to help you make it..
1 Peter 5:7, "casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."
He cared so much that He died on the Cross for our sins. He was buried in the grave for three days, but on the third day, Jesus got up out of the grave with all power in his hands. And the bible says in Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
We hope you enjoyed today’s service. See you next week. God Bless!
Original Image by Indiana Apostolic Trumpet
Image Source: http://intrumpet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/walk-through-ephesians-a_t_nt.jpg
