WICKED WK 1&2 F.R.O.G

Matthew 16:21–24 (ESV)

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. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 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.”

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Jesus doesn’t say… Follow your heart, follow your dreams, or follow yourself.

How many of you have seen the movie wicked? If not it is a story off of the old movie the Wizard of Oz. Essentially there are two witches one being the Wicked Witch of the West and the movie wicked shares how the wicked witch of the west became Wicked. Expect there is this whole deal where she is actually trying to help others, and everyone else is trying to control other and they are the wicked ones. That is what I am trying to get to is each one of us is either being controlled by our wicked flesh or we are constantly battling with our wicked flesh. What I mean by flesh is not flesh and bones, human, which sometime when the bible mentions flesh it is just talking about the human nature, but it also is used to describe “the sinful element of our human nature that is in opposition to God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and His Spirit. To live according to the flesh is to live and act sinfully.

sin is missing the mark so to simplify, when we talk about living according to the flesh, It is we are living wickedly or we are living in a wicked way.

God’s word says the heart is wicked above all else. In face just a chapter earlier in Matthew 15:19 Jesus says,

Matthew 15:19–20 (ESV)

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile(make a person wicked) a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

Maybe you’re like Justin I may be bad but I don’t know if I would call myself wicked. I haven’t murdered anyone, or had sex in any way outside of what God says is good, and that is in marriage. I haven’t stolen anything,

but if you were to look at what Jesus says in Matthew 5-7 He says if anyone is angry with His brother He is subject to be judged, He also goes on to say if anyone has lusted after another person that person has committed sexual sin, and God’s word talks about how liars won’t inherit the kingdom of God.

We are wicked…

Hence why Jesus says what He says…

Matthew 16:24 ESV

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Jesus says this to his disciples, WHY?

In the context or what is going on here in the passage. Jesus warns them to beware of the Religious leaders teaching, because they promote their traditions over God’s word, then He asks who do people say I am, and who do you say I am. Peter says Jesus you are the Messiah, which meant anointed one. This meant Jesus is the one to save them from their enemies. And so Jesus tells you’re right, God has revealed this to you, but then Jesus tells them he will suffer many things, be killed, and raised on the third day, He was giving them insight on how he would save them from their enemy. Peter, and all the other disciples are confused because they think their enemy that Jesus is going to save them from is the Romans. They were thinking how are you going to overthrow the Romans by dying? SO Peter says Oh no Lord this will never happen to you, and this was probably out Lord we got your back ain’t nobody going to mess with you Jesus, but what does Jesus say, Matthew 16:23

Matthew 16:23 ESV

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.”

Peter was thinking about him and his idea of how he wanted things to go, but God’s plan is always bigger and better than our ways. I mean people thought Jesus was the one to save the Jews, but Jesus’ plan was to save humanity.

SO Jesus says

Deny Yourself.

Look we are going to talk about this more over the next couple weeks but when what you want and want God wants is different you deny yourself, your want, and choose Jesus’ way.

Our goal should be to model Jesus and say I want what God wants!

When you don’t deny self you are denying Christ.

If you don’t deny yourself you will naturally drift toward wickedness not godliness.

These famous words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer help us understand the meaning of self-denial: “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die” (The Cost of Discipleship, SCM Press, 2015, p. 44)

Pick Up your Cross

A cross was used as a way of death, and Jesus took up His cross and died for all of us so that we could live, and the call is the same for us. For us that follow Jesus He says pick up your cross, be willing to give up your life so that others can live.

A really good way to understand this is I am going to live my life to encourage others not cause them to stumble.

I am going to love and serve people with him Time, Talents, and Treasures, not expecting to get a position, recognition, or to get love from others but so others can grow.

“I will die to my sinful nature, and I will give my life so others can live.”

Follow Him.

Imitate Him. “I will live like Jesus.”

When you are willing to sacrifice your time, energy, rights, position, reputation, privileges, comforts, and even your very life for the sake of Christ, you exemplify what it means to deny yourself: “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39; see also John 12:24–26; 2 Corinthians 6:4–5).

Ladder Illustration

Self Ladder - Pride, Position/status, Money, Fear, Lust

Jesus Ladder - Humility, Honesty, Modesty

We make our life so much about us and when we do we miss out on what God wants to do. It’s not about us.

Following Jesus means following the Savior, not self.

Who did the disciples say Jesus was? Matt. 16:16

Why did Jesus call Peter satan? Matt. 16:23

What does it mean to deny yourself and pick up your cross?

In what ways, in your life, do you think your wants differ from what God wants?

Which ladder the ‘Self Ladder’, ‘God’s Ladder’, or both, do you find your self climbing and why?

What did Jesus say would happen if we try to follow our way? Matthew 16:26-27

The end of chapter 16 shares how Jesus will come back and see how we have lived our lives, for those who followed Jesus’ way they will be rewarded and get to be with Jesus, but for those who live their own way they will lose their soul. How do you think you need to respond to this today?

WEEK 2 Wicked

Luke 14:25-35

Luke 9:57-62

Is Jesus your greatest love and Highest Priority?

Will you deny your Self-Will and follow God’s Will? It is not a comfortable or easy life. You won’t be welcomed and you will be persecuted.

Are you willing to renounce all you have? Look more into this next week.

If no one else goes, will you follow Jesus?