What is Your Cross?What is Your Cross?

Luke 9:23-27Luke 9:23-27

WHAT IS THE CROSSWHICH WE MUST TAKE UP?

What is Your Cross?

You can't have Jesus without the crossThe Romans made the condemned person carry his own cross to the place of executionThe cross represents difficulties as well as the joy of following Christ

SO WHAT IS YOUR CROSS?

Luke 9:23-25 23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone

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

24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?

Luke 9:26-27

26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.

27 "But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God."

IRRITATIONS OF LIFE Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, "If

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

Self is put to death Selfishness is put to death

IRRITATIONS OF LIFE Success is put to death Luke 9:25 For what profit is it to a man if

he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?

Shame must be put to death Luke 9:26 For whoever is ashamed of Me

and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.

INTERRUPTIONS OF LIFEINTERRUPTIONS OF LIFE Take up cross DAILY Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, "If

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

Demands sacrifice of your safety Luke 9:24 For whoever desires to save

his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it

INSTRUMENT OF DEATH Follow where HE goes What if I die? The cross does not mean – comfort,

pretty, decoration, ornament, jewlery The cross means – death, execution We must be willing - -

To serve To suffer

INSTRUMENT OF DEATH “Christ says, 'Give me all. I don't want so

much of your work – I want you. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don't want to cut off a branch here and there; I want to have the whole tree down. I don't want to drill a tooth, or crown it, but have it out. Hand over the whole natural self instead. In fact I will give you Myself, My own will shall become yours.'” C. S. Lewis

Take up your cross

This is not about comfort, beauty, jewelry, decoration on the top of a church building steeple

A cross ALWAYS means deathAre you ready to die for the cause of

Christ?Paul died daily – do you?