Take up your Cross [A call to Die]

BIBLE VERSE:

Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Part 1: Deny Yourself

a. our selfish ambitions to rise above other people
b. our selfish behaviors to get what we want when we want it
c. our selfish attitudes of caring only for our own interest, and
d. our selfish desires to put our needs first above anyone else.

Part 2: Identify the sources of food for your selfishness, and stray away from those things!

a. deny reading books or magazines that stimulate those thoughts
b. deny daydreaming about having more things or controlling people
c. deny watching movies or television shows that feed those impulses
d. deny listening to music that makes selfishness seem normal
e. deny hanging out with people who drag you down and offer you selfish meat
f. deny talking about people or things or yourself in ways that put people down
g. deny gossiping, criticizing, cursing, lying, stealing, acting selfishly in any way, shape, or form

Part 3: Obey God no matter what He asks us to do and no matter how much we don't want to do it

a. valuing what God says is important, and blowing off the things that aren't
b. being loyal to the Father at all costs because he is worthy of our love
c. obeying him wherever, whenever, and however he leads
d. finding our ultimate reward in knowing our God is honored in our obedience

REFERENCES:

Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

John 8:50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

MEMORY VERSE:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. http://www.facebook.com/cesaredward