34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
It can be said without even asking that each of us has had to endure some difficult times. It is without question that there have been times when the tears had to fall, times when we knew not which way to turn, and times when it took all the strength we had within us just to make it through another day’s journey. But even in the darkest hour, even in the most painful moments know that God has already walked out your steps. Know that every pain has had purpose and that every tear has had divine reason. For it is in those moments that we learn to lean on the everlasting arms of Jesus. It is in our darkest hour that we learn that He is a lamp unto our feet. It is through our tears that we see his face more clearly. Truly, for those who are called by His name, these afflictions last but for a moment. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. God has prepared your place in Glory.
Bare with me for a few minutes here because they tell us that we have to teach it before we can preach it. As we look at our text this morning here in the Gospel of Mark we find Jesus near the coast of Casaria Phillipi. The disciples had just moments ago taken the opportunity to move outside of the circle of the multitudes of people to steal away and have a little talk with Jesus. And now Jesus is here gathering the people and the disciples unto himself. As they gather He extends to them an invitation and that invitation is to come and to follow him. That invitation is to accept the title and position of joint heirs in the kingdom of God. But as that invitation is extended He cared enough to explain the perquisites for receiving that title. He lets them know that there are certain requirements of those who choose to be called by His name.
The first thing that He says is “Whosoever will”. See, here He is saying I am not going to force it on you. You’ve seen my works. You were witness to the miracle of feeding 5000 with two fish and five loaves of bread. You were privy to the conversations that I had with the religious folks of this time, you saw how they were bewildered. You were with me as I gave sight to the blind man. You know just what I am capable of. You know my works. It should be a hands down decision, but even still I give to you a choice and I say whosoever will. But know if you choose me it’s not going to be a cake walk, it is not all going to be easy. See, the first thing that you have got to do if you are going to follow me is Take up your cross.
Now I sat down and looked up this word cross. The first thing to note is that in the case of this text the cross being referred to is not physical – meaning it is not the cross of the image on the wall behind me. In fact according to some of the commentaries that I studied in preparation there are three different ways that the cross can be defined when looking at this text. The first definition referred to the cross being those daily struggles of life – the boss that acts crazy, the sicknesses of the body, the mountain of debts, the broken relationships, the wrong relationships, the betrayals by our friends, the nuisances of those who choose to claim the position of enemy – basically the stuff that we experience on a regular basis as we try to journey through this life. The second definition that was provided was that the cross represented our inability to live up to all that we should be – our yielding to temptations, our falling outside the will of God, the many ways that we sin by word, thought and deed. – basically our wars with flesh. And the final and third definition was the cross represents our obligation to serve God, the cross represents the assignment and purpose that God has placed in hearts the burden of fulfilling that thing that God has spoken into our spirit.
But no matter which definition or definitions fit your life, the reality is that each of has a cross. In fact, I am reminded of an old hymn that says “ must Jesus bare the cross alone….and all the world go free….No there’s a cross for everyone and there is a cross for me.”
The reality is that we all have a personal and particular cross that we must bare. It does not matter how good you look in your Sunday go to meeting suit, or the job title that you have, the house that you live in, the car that you drive, or even how loud you shout in the church house. It don’t matter how saved, sanctified and holy ghost filled you may be. When it all comes out in the wash each of us has some thing, some issue, some situation, some circumstance that we must endure. There is some thing that hinders our receiving and living in the fullness of God. There is in each of us some thing, some cross that blocks us from moving from where we are in this moment to the blessing that God has for us in the moments ahead. It stops us from having a next level experience with God.
Understanding that we all have a cross. Understanding that we all have stuff that we must bare the question remains…How do we move higher in Christ. How can we move to the next level of victory …the next level of Blessing?
The primary thing we have to do to move to the next level is Die. The scripture tells us that if we choose to follow Him we must deny ourselves. I would venture to guess that no matter where we are in life, where we are in our faith walk we all want just a little bit more. There are so many us that like Jabez are praying in our spirits “lord enlarge my territory, Lord bless me indeed”. We want more blessing, we want more peace, we want more anointing, we even want more prosperity. But the problem is that for all our wanting we don’t want to give up anything. There is a cost. The truth is that dying ain’t easy. It takes us thru some changes.
Can you really stand to be blessed? Are you willing to pay the cost? The scripture ask us….For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? In other words…What would it profit you to hold on to that habit and loose sight of God, What would it profit you to hold on that relationship and loose relationship with God? What would it profit you to hold on to that animosity and loose the touch of God? When you truly start trying to seek the things that God has for you, the blessings that God has with your name on it…there is some stuff you are going to have to let go of. There are some folks that won’t be able to make the journey with you. There will be some situations you are going to have to walk away from. But God has already ordered your steps He knows every tear you’ll cry as you step out into His plan for you. He already knows the doors that will have to be closed and the doors that will have to be opened. He’s already calculated the cost for you following Him and He says in Romans 13:14 put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh. What ever you stand in need of as you begin to deny your flesh to follow Him, God will provide.
The problem Saints is not that our hearts are not willing. It’s not that we don’t want to experience the Glory that God has prepared for us. It is simply that while the heart is willing the Flesh is weak. The problem is that our physical man stands in counter distinction of our spiritual man – meaning that we are undeniably physical and undeniably spiritual. These parts of us are inextricably interwoven. Both parts of us have needs. Both sides have wants. The question is, in that tug of war between flesh and spirit which side are you going to allow to win? How desperately do you want the things that God has prepared? Better put….as the scriptures say it….How long halt you between two opinions, Choose ye this day whom you will serve.
The next thing that I want you to take home with you today is that thru all the afflictions of the flesh, thru all of the cross that we must bare that these tears are just our preparation.
Understand that it is difficult at best and seemingly impossible at the worst, to stand firm when all hell is breaking around us. It takes something extra to hold firm when we look around us and see sin dashers breaking trying to conquer our souls.
When I finally reach that place called Glory. When I finally reach that promise land. My soul will shout. Glory, Hallelujah. When I reach that place my soul won’t even look back and wonder how I got over. Because my soul will know, my heart will know, my haters will know. I made it over because of the grace of God, I made it over because He loved me, I made it over because His word said that no weapon formed against me will prosper, I made it over because God prepared me for such a time as this. I made it over because He said that he would make my enemies my footstool, I made it over because he promised that by his stripes I would be healed. I made it over because I am more than a conquerer in Jesus Christ. I made it over because greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. I made it over because I am a member of he family of God. I made it. I made it. I made it.
We may not make it at the same time. But baby we’ll make it. We may have to cry a little along the way, but we’ll make it. We may have to crawl our way in, but we’ll make it. Friends may turn their backs, but we’ll make it. The road may be rough, but we’ll make it.
