Doctrine: Cross for a Believer (Rev. 17)

I’m going to start you off with a shopping list of things to pick up next time you are at the store.

According to consumers- these are worth whatever they cost….

A good vaccuum

A costco membership

A good bra

real maple syrup

a quality pillow

and number 1…dead series…a good shower head.

but today I want to leave you with one more item on your grocery list…one that is most definitely worth whatever the cost…and that is the Cross…

Our doctrine today is the Cross for a Believer..

In our passage this week…while we see the believers standing with the lamb in victory in vs 14…before that- we see the prostitute drunk on their blood…

a reminder that following Christ comes with a cost…or..better said…comes with a cross..

which at first glance feels like something you might want to avoid.

it’s the thing you purposefully leave off of your list…

you might tell yourself- you know- I think I will just pick that up later…

because while as believers we cling to the hope that Christ has won the victory- we realize that the path in following Christ is not always easy..

in fact, most of the time life doesn’t feel like one triumph after another.

We struggle.

Life is hard.

There is a part of the struggle that comes from simply living in a broken, and fallen world…Sometimes disease gets worse….money is tight…loved one’s die…and we don’t get the happily ever after…

and while these things are hard…and we are called to face them with faith…walking through these things is not what Jesus means when he says in Luke 9 to take up your cross and follow me.

The cross for a believer is about answering Christ’s call to deny ourselves and live by an entirely different value system than the world- with Christ and His cross in full view.

The truth is the Life we live for Jesus looks a lot like the life He lived for us - one of self-sacrifice, that seeks first the glory of God and the good of others.

This is how we take up our cross. It requires surrendering our plans, opinions, actions, and our lives in obedience to Christ.

It represents a personal and willing determination to uphold God’s priorities above our own.

When I do not believe that God would ask me to deny myself or sacrifice my own comfort, then I falsely assume that every obstacle is a sign that God is telling me to slow down, back away, choose another path…

So, we put down the cross…and instead pick up a leaky bag of temporary pleasure that oozes quickly away and fails to bring lasting joy, peace, and purpose.

When I believe that Christ’s example of dying on the cross leads me to deny myself to seek Him and His righteousness, this world’s charms lose their appeal.

I seek purpose beyond this life and set my priorities not on self-satisfaction but on God’s glory.

As I pick up the cross I am reminded that eternal rewards matter more than temporary losses.

and even suffering for the sake of Christ becomes an act of worship.

What does the cross for a believer mean to 80 BSF leaders on a Tuesday morning?

Leading for Jesus isn’t always easy.

I mean, sometimes it’s easy and fun- But often, it’s hard. There’s sacrifice.

There are hard things to do and fun things to miss.

There are unpopular choices and uncomfortable tasks.

However there is deep joy that comes in knowing and following Christ…

Have you set the cross down…and instead picked up the passing comforts of this world?

Where is God calling you to carry your cross boldly and faithfully follow him this week?

Jesus picked up the cross because you were worth it…so you can pick up yours knowing He is worthy.

√Does Satan ally himself for their benefit? no..he wants to destroy God’s creation..

he allies himself with the purpose to destroy them.

think about a drug dealer..he isn’t trying to help them..he is trying to get rich- it’s about himself.

15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled. 18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”