Take Up Your Cross
Luke 9:23-26
Rev. Phillip A. Wright
Introduction: This morning we are going to look at one of the better known verses in Scripture. “Take Up your Cross.” Today we will look at the entire passage and dig out just what Jesus is saying and not saying.
Attention: Jesus used this comment to show the underlying truth behind growing in one’s faith. This phrase does not speak to the issue of being saved, that is a given. Here we are looking at the very root of all Christian growth and development. A lost person is not capable of doing anything on this list. A believe can; but I am afraid to say – most do not.
Luke 9:23-26 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? 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. (NKJV)
Need: Every believer needs to recognize that this passage is a take or leave. You can ignore it, but it will tell on you. You will be a believer for 30 years and still be a babe in Christ and everyone around you will know it.
Textual Idea: In our passage, Luke points out the necessary steps one must go through to grow in one’s faith.
Sermon Idea: I want you to see that spiritual growth is a self willed act. I have said that many times but this passage is the clear underpinnings of that concept. You want to grow; you need to do certain things?
A Canadian writer, Donald Creighton, in his book “Towards the Discovery of Canada” said, “History is the record of an encounter between character and circumstance.”
If someone were to write the story of your life, will your faith be a footnote or the main topic in the book.
Interrogative: So let me ask: Why can’t God just allow us to be saved and then leave us alone to live our lives the best we can?
Transition: Our text this morning suggests four things that will clearly show that Christian growth and maturity is important for us but it is essential for us to be of any good use to the kingdom.
1. Being Useful to the Kingdom
Explanation: Many people go through, training, education, internships and others tasks to be useful in a job. Is preparation any less important for being useful as a soldier in God’s army?
Illustration: Spiritual Sight just like Vision is the capacity to create a compelling picture of the desired state of affairs that inspires people to respond; When Irving S. Olds was chairman of the U.S. Steel Corporation, he arrived for a stockholders’ meeting and was confronted by a woman who asked, "Exactly who are you and what do you do?" Without batting an eye, Olds replied, "I am your chairman. Of course, you know the duties of a chairman--that’s someone who is roughly the equivalent of parsley on a platter of fish." Bits and Pieces, June 27, 1991, p.7.
It’s kind of a cute illustration from the back end view, but it’s terribly accurate. Most Christians due to unwillingness to pray, read scripture, step up to the plate and take on responsibility are about that useful. Why is that?
Argumentation: This first part of the passage has a string of three imperative verbs, (deny, take up, and follow). They are a story all by themselves. They are all imperatives – commands; the first two are aorist –they are to begin and never go away; the last two are in the present tense. In the Greek, tense shows the “kind of action.” The present tense shows a durative or continual taking up and following after. Where as the first, deny is meant to be a permanent decision.
Application: What does all that mean and how does it apply today? Glad you asked! The decision to deny ones self is to be a once for all time decision; whereas the decision to take up one’s cross and to follow Jesus is a day to day activity.
Transition: So you want to be useful to the kingdom? Well…
2. Giving One’s Life for the Kingdom
Explanation: Remember the definition behind the word witness. The word in the Greek is the root of our word martyr. You want to be useful to the kingdom, then be prepared on a daily basis to pour yourself into the mold of usefulness that God has for you that day.
Illustration: As with many innovations, the originator of 3M’s sticky yellow Post-its didn’t know what he had--at first. Researcher Spence Sliver was curious about what would happen if he mixed an unusual amount of monomer into a polymer-based adhesive he was working on. The result was an adhesive that would "tack" one piece of paper to another and even restick, without leaving any residue on the second piece of paper.
The company had no use for the new adhesive until 3M chemist Arthur Fry began having problems in the choir loft. The slips of paper he used to mark pages in his hymnal often fluttered to the floor, leaving him frantically searching for his place. Then he remembered Silver’s adhesive. Fry’s better bookmark soon metamorphosed into the handy Post-its that have become a fixture in offices throughout the country. Discipleship Journal, Issue #48, p. 28.
Application: Like that special adhesive many believers are no good on the shelf, we become value to the kingdom’s work when we use our knowledge and yield our will to His and pour out our lives – willingly – for the good of the kingdom.
I do want to point out one thing in the language, notice the verse “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” The real Greek word used there is not the normal word (zoo-ay), the root of our word zoology, which means Life. The word used there is (psycha), the root of our word psyche, and psychology. The word means Soul. The original reader understood that the stakes on the table were not keeping you alive in this world but eternally.
Transition: So you want to be useful to the kingdom? Be prepared to give your life, nothing less will work.
3. Your Value as Part of the Kingdom
Explanation: Vs 25, speaks to an issue that everyone here will related to. Money, worth or value. The simple question is, “What is the value of gaining everything in the whole world and then loosing your own soul?”
Illustration: The greatest obstacle to being handicapped--or challenged, or disabled or whatever label we may be using this year--is not the condition but the stigma society still associates with it. The truth is we are valuable because of who we are, not because of how we look or what we accomplish. And that applies to all of us, the disabled and the temporarily able-bodied alike. I’m convinced God didn’t turn His back at the moment of Jeff’s conception. He is still the God of miracles, but in this instance, the one who received healing was me. Our Lord is still in the business of changing lives, but not always in the ways we expect.
Several years ago, Jeff played in a special Little League for kids with disabilities. After many seasons of watching from the bleachers and rooting while his big brother played ball, Jeff’s opportunity finally arrived. When he received his uniform, he couldn’t wait to get home to put it on. When he raced out from his bedroom, fully suited up, he announced to me, "Mom, now I’m a real boy!" Though his words pushed my heart to my throat, I assured him he had always been a "real boy." Carlene Mattson, Focus on the Family, April 1993, p. 13.
Argumentation: Too many believers feel that real worth and value to the kingdom is only for those better prepared or educated. NO. Real worth by the Lord is measured in your personal level of surrenderedness. I know I made another word. However, you take my meaning.
Application: God sees your saying “yes, I will serve.” He does not concern himself with our inability to speak clearly, - Moses apparently stuttered and Aaron was his spokesperson. However, notice that even as one who stuttered, he was still a Prince of Egypt. You can be a mighty Prince in the Kingdom of God if you forget about titles, and benefit and just say, Here I am Lord send, me.” He will teach you what to say…
The text notes for the Life Application Bible on this verse say: “People are willing to pay a high price for something they value. Is it any surprise that Jesus should demand this much commitment from his followers? There are at least three conditions that must be met by people who want to follow Jesus. We must be willing to deny self, take up our crosses, and to follow him. Anything less is superficial lip service.”
Transition: You want to be useful to the kingdom? Be prepared to give your life, nothing less will work. Your individual value to God is measured in the phrase, Yes, Lord I am available.”
4. Being a Partner in the Kingdom
Explanation: You can’t be a real partner with someone or a true party to something and sit on the sidelines. I am a member of this or that and bad mouth it to others.
Illustration: Winston Churchill exemplified integrity and respect in the face of opposition. During his last year in office, he attended an official ceremony. Several rows behind him two gentlemen began whispering. "That’s Winston Churchill." "They say he is getting senile." "They say he should step aside and leave the running of the nation to more dynamic and capable men." When the ceremony was over, Churchill turned to the men and said, "Gentlemen, they also say he is deaf!" Barbara Hatcher, Vital Speeches, March 1, 1987.
Ellen Wilcox Wheeler wrote it this way:
Have you heard of the terrible family They,
And the dreadful venomous things They say?
Why, half the gossip under the sun,
If you trace it back, you will find begun
In that wretched House of They.
Argumentation: Notice the phrase, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words.” That phrase is an indefinite relative clause, it speak solely to shame in the eyes of man. I truly don’t care a lot about what a man or woman says about me behind my back. When someone comes to me as says, I heard ….. I generally just say consider the source. When people in the littleness of their lives need to build themselves up by knocking me down, then so be it. I will generally address the issue with those whose opinions matter to me and forget the rest.
Application: I believe that all of us from time to time have said something that would easily be classified as gossip. The best rule of thumb to live by is don’t gossip. If you have a problem with your brother – go to your brother. I think that’s been written somewhere…
Transition: Be useful to the kingdom. Be prepared to give your life. Be of real value to God, frequently use the phrase, Yes, Lord I am available.” Consider yourself a partner in the kingdom work of your Lord, I figure that’s what the phrase, joint heir to the throne means.
5. Conclusion:
Visualization: Visualize a team of people who are harmoniously working for a common goal. Then notice the evil one who is kicking down the workers. Pray for that one, love that one.
Action: It is essential for us to acknowledge that our abilities and worth to the kingdom of God are tied directly to our faithfulness to God. Did you take last weeks challenge? Did you read God’s word, share your faith or invite someone to church? Teammates!
