MESSAGE 4: TAKING UP THE CROSS

SERIES: FOLLOWING JESUS

Text: Luke 9:23–26

Theme: Following Jesus means dying to self every day in order to live fully for Christ.

Key Truth:

A disciple does not merely believe in Jesus; he surrenders his will daily to live out the will of Christ.

INTRODUCTION

Good morning, church!

Today we arrive at the fourth message in our series "Following Jesus."

Thus far, Jesus has been leading us step by step.

In the first message, we learned that discipleship begins with a new birth.

Jesus told Nicodemus:

"You must be born again."

In the second message, we heard His invitation:

"Follow Me."

In the third message, we saw Peter leaving his nets behind.

He discovered that following Jesus requires letting go of whatever controls our heart.

But today, Jesus takes discipleship even deeper.

Because there comes a moment when the problem is no longer just the nets.

The problem is us.

There is an enemy we carry with us every day.

This enemy wakes up with us.

Goes to work with us.

Looks back at us in the mirror every morning.

This enemy is called...

our own ego.

That is why Jesus says:

"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

These are perhaps the most difficult words Jesus ever spoke regarding discipleship.

Because Jesus never promised a comfortable path.

He promised a path that leads to true life.

READING THE TEXT

Luke 9:23–26 ESV

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.

CONTEXT

Shortly before this passage, Peter declared:

"You are the Christ of God."

Immediately after, Jesus begins to speak about His death.

The disciples expected a conquering King.

Jesus speaks of suffering.

They expected a throne.

Jesus speaks of a cross.

They expected political victory.

Jesus speaks of surrender.

Then Jesus surprises them even more.

He says that He will not be the only one to carry a cross.

Every disciple must also carry theirs.

In those days, hearing the word "cross" was extremely shocking.

Today, we wear the cross as jewelry.

As decoration.

As a religious symbol.

Back then, the cross was an instrument of execution.

It meant shame.

Humiliation.

Death.

When Jesus said:

"Take up your cross,"

everyone understood exactly what He meant.

I. DISCIPLESHIP BEGINS WITH A DECISION

Jesus begins by saying:

“If anyone would come after me,”

Note the first word:

"If."

Jesus never forces anyone.

He invites.

Discipleship is voluntary.

Following Jesus does not happen by tradition.

It does not happen because our parents were Christians.

It does not happen because we attend church.

It happens because we decide to follow Him.

We all follow someone.

Some follow public opinion of people.

Others follow money.

Others follow success.

Others follow their own feelings.

The question isn't:

"Are you following someone?"

The question is:

"Who is driving your life?"

ILLUSTRATION

Imagine getting into a ride-share car.

You state your destination.

Then you sit in the back seat.

It would be strange to spend the whole trip trying to grab the steering wheel.

Many people do exactly that with God.

They say:

"Jesus, I trust You."

But they keep trying to control everything.

Relationships.

Career.

Money.

Family.

Future.

Following Jesus means getting out of the driver's seat.

APPLICATION

Who is really driving your life today?

Christ?

Or your fears?

Christ?

Or your ambition?

Christ?

Or the need to please people?

II. DENYING YOURSELF DOES NOT MEAN CEASING TO EXIST

Jesus says:

"Deny yourself."

This is perhaps one of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible.

Denying yourself doesn't mean hating who you are.

It doesn't mean losing your personality.

It doesn't mean living without joy.

It means saying "no" to the ego in order to say "yes" to Christ.

Our biggest problem isn't a lack of self-esteem.

It is an excess of self-reliance.

Our hearts like to say:

"My will."

"My way."

"My timing."

"My plan."

But Jesus teaches a new prayer.

Not:

"Let my will be done."

But:

"Let Your will be done."

APPLICATION (strong)

We live in a culture that says:

"Follow your heart."

The Bible says something ...different.

The human heart needs to be guided.

Not every desire should be obeyed.

Not every emotion should drive our decisions.

Not every opportunity comes from God.

The disciple learns to ask:

"What does Jesus desire?"

Before asking:

"What do I desire?"

III. TAKING UP THE CROSS MEANS

A DAILY CHOICE

Jesus says:

"Take up your cross daily."

It is not once a week.

Not just on Sundays.

Every day.

Taking up the cross means dying daily to whatever separates us from Christ.

Sometimes we think the cross means only suffering.

But Jesus is speaking of surrender.

There are days when taking up the cross means forgiving.

There are days when it means controlling your tongue.

There are days when it means remaining pure.

There are days when it means telling the truth.

There are days when it means serving when no one notices.

There are days when it means remaining faithful when no one is watching.

Discipleship is not built on big decisions.

It is built on small decisions repeated daily.

ILLUSTRATION

A gym doesn't transform anyone in a single workout.

It is daily discipline that changes the body.

Likewise, a disciple doesn't mature because of a single worship service.

He matures through daily faithfulness.

APPLICATION

What cross is God asking you to carry today?

Perhaps it is letting go something.

Perhaps it is restoring a relationship.

Perhaps it is standing firm in a difficult decision.

Perhaps it is trusting while you wait.

We do not carry tomorrow's cross.

We carry today's cross.

IV. THOSE WHO TRY TO CONTROL LIFE END UP LOSING IT

Jesus continues:

"Whoever wants to save his life will lose it."

This phrase seems like a paradox.

But Jesus is saying:

The more we try to control everything...

The more we lose.

The more we live only for ourselves...

The less purpose we find.

Our culture says:

"Do whatever it takes to be happy."

Jesus says:

"Lose your life for My sake, and you will find true life."

ILLUSTRATION

If you close your hand tightly to protect a seed...

It will never produce fruit.

But if you place it in the ground...

It will seemingly be lost.

Yet, it will produce a harvest. That is exactly what Jesus is saying.

A surrendered life is never wasted.

V. LIFE'S WORST TRADE

Jesus asks:

"What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?"

This is perhaps the most important question of the message.

Imagine someone who conquers everything.

Money.

Recognition.

Influence.

Popularity.

But loses fellowship with God.

Was it success?

Or failure?

Jesus reminds us that there are invisible losses.

It is possible to gain so much on the outside...

And lose everything on the inside.

APPLICATION

Our generation lives in a rush.

More productivity.

More followers.

More money.

More experiences.

More achievements.

But Jesus asks another question:

"How is your soul?"

Because God never called us merely to build a career.

He called us to build character.

He never called us merely to be known.

He called us to be like Christ.

ILLUSTRATION

You might own the most modern cell phone in the world.

But if the battery dies, it loses its function.

Likewise, we can achieve many things.

But if our soul is distant from God, none of that can fill the void.

CONCLUSION

During this series, we have seen:

Being born again.

Accepting the invitation.

Leaving the nets behind.

Today we learned that there is an even deeper surrender.

Surrendering one's own "self."

Jesus never said the path would be easy.

But He guaranteed it would be the only path that leads to life.

The cross looks like loss.

But it leads to resurrection.

The cross looks like renunciation.

But it leads to freedom.

The cross looks like death.

But it leads to true life.

APPEAL

I want to invite you to close your eyes.

Perhaps you have already accepted Jesus.

But you are still trying to control your own life.

Perhaps you have left some nets behind.

But you still haven't surrendered your ego.

You still insist:

"My way." "My time."

"My will."

Today, Jesus invites you to lay everything at His feet.

Perhaps there is someone here who has never surrendered their life to Christ.

Today is the day.

Do not wait until you understand everything.

Simply begin by saying:

"Jesus, I want to follow You."

Perhaps there is a hidden sin.

A hurt.

An area you insist on controlling.

Today is the moment to lay it before the cross.

Because the cross is not just the place where Jesus died.

It is the place where our old "self" must also die.

Jesus never asked us to carry a cross that He Himself was not willing to carry first.

Before saying,

"Take up your cross,"

He took up His own.

Before calling us to surrender,

He surrendered Himself completely.

The cross reminds us of His love.

We must remember that our discipleship does not begin with our sacrifice.

It begins with His sacrifice.

Is there any area of ​​my life that has not yet been laid at the foot of the cross?

May we respond anew today to Jesus' call:

"Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me."

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,

Thank You that You did not merely call us to follow You.

You were the first to walk to the cross.

Thank You for surrendering Yourself completely for us.

Forgive us for the times we want to follow You without letting go of our pride, our will, and our control.

Teach us to deny......our ego.

It helps us carry our cross daily.

It forms the character of Christ within us.

May our generation be known not only for great achievements, but for deep faithfulness to the Lord.

Renew our gratitude for the cross.

May we never lose the wonder of the Gospel.

And may we leave here determined to follow Jesus every day of our lives.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.