21 Days of Prayer (Jan 2020)_pt3: What Are You Going To Do About It?

Can I bear it?

Jesus was praying with His disciples

He turns and asks them: “Who do the crowds say I am?

John the Baptist

Elijah

One of the prophets of long ago

Who do you say I am?

God’s Messiah… the Son of God...

Then Jesus warns them to not tell this to anyone

The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected

He must be killed and on the third day raised to life.

{POINT] - You see, it’s imperative that we know who He is.

Our salvation depends on it.

John the Baptist would be enough

Elijah wouldn’t be enough

One of the prophets… wouldn’t be enough

This month we’ve examined...

What are you seeking?

Who are you following?

[SLIDE] - What are you going to do about it?

[PRAY]

After Peter provides the correct answer...

Jesus warns them to not tell this to anyone

The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected

He must be killed and on the third day raised to life.

Luke 9:23–25 NIV

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

Another question to ponder today is, “Can I bear it?”

[PAYOFF] - On top of all that I am struggling with...

Can I take on following Jesus?

Work

Kids

Finances

Stress/Anxiety/Depression

Now, add the workload of following Him?

But, what did he say?...

Deny themselves...

Galatians 2:20 NIV

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

I live by faith, now! Not what is seen, or even known in this world

Sacrifice what is already dead!

Fear

We’re taught...

Anxiety

Your safe and secure plan (future)

Your own desires, that are ultimately selfish and harmful

Ephesians 5:25 NIV

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

Sacrifice what is already dead!

Fear

Anxiety

Your safe and secure plan (future)

Ephesians 2:22 NIV

And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 5:22 NIV

Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.

[PAYOFF] - You see, Jesus isn’t pushing us down, pulling us through the mud… forcing us to suffering

He’s empowering us to break through to an unlimited, abundant, powerful LIFE!

But, we’ve got to overcome our own flesh!

[PAYOFF] - Jesus isn’t making this hard… He’s just not making it easy...

It’s already hard getting over yourself (your flesh)

Luke 16:13 NIV

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Luke 16:

Take up their cross...

2 Corinthians 5:15 NIV

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

There is a MUCH bigger LIFE on the other side of “laying down” your own life

Romans 12:1–2 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Sacrifice what is already dead!

Fear

Anxiety

Your safe and secure plan (future)

Your own desires, that are ultimately selfish and harmful

Take up your cross = the device of execution...

Own it. Do it. Put off/put on

He paid the price, now you are responsible for following through

John 16:33 NIV

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

He’s overcome it all for you!

Now, we simply follow Him.

Follow me...

Psalm 37:23 NIV

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;

He makes you firm (strong)

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

He believes you can. In fact, He designed you for this! (through rebirth)

So now...

This is what I’m going to do about it!

I will put Him over me

Matthew 6:33 NIV

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

I recognize that the things I truly desire are in Him!

[PAYOFF] - I want to live the BEST LIFE!

It’s only found in Him!

I won’t be fooled

Luke 9:25 NIV

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

I can get selfish and lazy at times...

And tell myself that I’m good “right here in the middle”

I’m good “on the fence”

[BEWARE] - But the enemy owns that fence!

Phil

Philippians 3:7–11 NIV

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Finally, following Jesus is doing what Jesus did...

I will make disciples

Because he made disciples, and commanded us to do the same...

Matthew 28:19–20 NIV

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

[PAYOFF] - What is “the Church?”

It’s the work of Christ, still in action on the earth, even 2000 years later.

It’s the mobilized unit of believers marching out His orders while living in true freedom, themselves.

It’s built, person by person, each declaring...

Take Away

I will deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Him!

I do so by...

helping my neighbor

taking care of those less fortunate

praying for others, even my enemies

supporting others in His work

telling others about Jesus

putting others over myself

Inviting people to worship with you at Connect Church

Bringing friends with you to Connect Groups

Helping us in the schools with MOH

Showing up to #TheBlueTent

Serving on a Sunday Serve Team

What list can you make?

[AS WE CLOSE] - Join with the person next to you… Tell each other what you can do to follow Him.