“IF ANYONE DESIRES TO COME AFTER ME” Part 2

This is a partial quote from Jesus. Matthew 16:24 Mark 8:34 Luke 9:23 If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. What we are attempting to do is to study this verse phrase by phrase to see if we can: Appreciate it little more. Have a better understanding of this verse.

“If Anyone Desires” Following Jesus is and always has been a choice that each individual must make for himself. “To Come After Me” Many people are following the wrong: PersonDoctrine We need to follow Christ and His word for salvation. “Let Him Deny Himself” If we want to be a Christian self-denial is a must. Satan tempts us with our desires (lusts). Christ lived a life of self-denial. We cannot serve two masters.

“And Take Up His Cross” People condemned to be crucified were compelled to take the cross on which they were to be crucified to the place of execution. It was part of the punishment. BurdensomeDisgraceful “Take up his cross” is a figurative statement denoting that we must endure whatever is burdensome or trying in following Christ. It was:

In the booklet “The Cross-Bearer” the author describes 3 different types of cross-bearers. A man dragging the cross behind him. He wishes to have the benefits of cross-bearing, but he is ashamed of it. The second man is pictured sawing off a part of his cross. He too likes the blessings derived from cross-bearing, but he thinks the cross of Christ is to burdensome. He attempts to change the cross to fit him instead of changing himself to fit the cross. The third man is pictured bearing the cross and keeping pace with Christ. This is the true cross-bearer. Paul is an inspiring example as a true cross-bearer.

II Corinthians 11:23-28 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one--I am talking like a madman--with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. Sometimes as we go through the struggles of this life it is easy to get discouraged.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. II Corinthians 4:16-17 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. We need the encouragement of the Scriptures. Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us. Let us resolve to bear our cross whatever it may be.

“Daily” Only in Luke’s account is the word “daily” used. The Christian religion is more than a Sunday religion. It is a chosen way of life 365 days a year. Have you ever heard the expression, “Don’t lie it’s Sunday?” Sometimes I wonder if people pray for Christ to return on Sunday. There are no days off.

“And Follow Me” We should follow Christ in His: Resistance to temptation. As a response to every temptation, recorded in Matthew 4, Jesus resisted the devil by quoting Scripture. James 4:7-8 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. We must strive to never give in. I Peter 2:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

I Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Attitude toward worship. John 4:24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. Hebrews 12:28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.

Luke 6:12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God. Prayer Life. Luke 18:1 And He told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. I Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing. James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Goodness toward others. Jesus healed the sick, fed the hungry, gave sight to the blind. Before He could help them spiritually He had to attended to their physical needs. In Acts 10:38 we read that Jesus went about doing good. Matthew 7:12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Galatians 6:10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Obedience Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Hebrews 5:8-9 Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.

Sacrifice Jesus did the ultimate good. He made the supreme sacrifice. He died on the cross for you and for me. I Peter 2:24 Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Luke 9:23 If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Have you made the decision to follow Jesus? Are you willing to deny yourself? Are you willing to bear your cross whatever it may be? Are you willing to live daily in His service? Are you willing to make that total commitment to follow Him? WHO WILL FOLLOW JESUS? WILL YOU?

Given by David Hamlin on June 1, 2008 pm Hollister, Missouri church of Christ