4 Requirements of Following Jesus
Mark 8:34
“And when he had called the people unto Him with his disciples also, He said to them, whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
There is a song we sing during church service,
“What a friend we have in Jesus”, and sometimes I wonder if we are singing for the sake of singing or do we really mean the words we are singing. Let’s look at the 4 requirements to be a follower of Jesus:
1.You must have a desire to follow.
2.There must be Self-denial.
3.You must take up the cross.
4.You must Follow Jesus (the pattern of his life).
1.Whosoever will come after me…
1a. Many choose Christ based on their
denominational teaching, and not fully
considering what Jesus said.
2a. Following Jesus involves a Conscious,
Willful decision.
3a. Man must be steadfast or faithful to his
desires.
4a. Once we have chosen to follow, we must
be true to our choice.
5a. Instead of being just Attenders and
Complacent, rather than truly
committed to Jesus.
6a. Some times we are not willing to really
deny the flesh and the things that
please us.
II. Let Him Deny Himself… (self-denial)
1.What it means to deny self.
Do we really understand what it means to
deny ourselves? Denying self of doing
things that are wrong, doing without
certain material possessions.
2. As part of our testimony of being a
Christian, the world looks on us…
do they see Jesus?
3. Denying self is a statement of action, but
many plan church activities around their
personal life. That is Flesh and self in
control. Denying self-means Christ and
his work becomes first priority, making
Jesus the center point of all things.
III. Take up his Cross…
1. What a personal cross implies.
Many assume that taking the cross is
personal burdens we have to carry. That
concept brings the focus on self and what
self is doing. “ Look at what I’m doing or
doing without”.
2. The Cross, is an emblem of a death.
The cross was the place of Christ’s
death. It also represented our death as he
died for each one of us. Taking up the
cross in essence is dying to self, Daily.
3. Now an emblem of Christian faith.
IV. Follow Me…
1. Wherever he may lead.
2. Whatever the circumstances may be.
3. Ready to suffer for his name’s sake.
4. Ready, Willing, and Able to be
identified with him.
V. The bearers of the cross will trade it for a Crown.
Conclusion: We ought to bear the Cross with faith and
patience for the Lord’s coming is at hand.
