Take Up the Cross, Part 2

Today on Summit life with Jeannie Greer. A lot of people become a Christian simply means obeying the 10 Commandments and then going on your usual life and career goals. Most out of your you in a burning bush or a bowl of Cheerios or something, but that is not true. Following Jesus means accepting his mission as your own, and pursuing their cost to follow him. He didn't mean that they needed to put on their costume jewelry to symbolize their fee. Quite literally today on Senate life pastor Jeannie Greer teaches how Jesus wanted his disciples to be willing to give up everything to advance the kingdom of God.

And guess what he wants the same thing from us today.

If you've missed any of this teaching series through the gospel of Luke, instead, you can catch up free of charge@jeanniegreer.com but for now let's jump back in where we left off yesterday in the message titled take up the cross Jesus as they know that he can help their marriages. Bless your finances and relieve the burden sometimes even healed her body and help them be successful and just listen to me allbut here's the question what is obedience to Jesus lead you away from all of those things. What if it leads you to a place where you have a place to lay your head down right this down. Are you following Jesus for comfort or for cross. Jesus says to them of these verses for following me lead you away from even having a place to call home is not where you will go see him enough even without a home like I told you Jesus was not in the following me for your best life now, invitation was in the back.

I'm enough for you even if you have the worst life kind of — 9% do not do another.

He said, follow me, but this one replied Lord. When you first go and bury my father. But Jesus said to him, leave the dead to bury their own dead.

But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.

Now I think on a harsh, sudden can get my dad into a decent grave scholar say this wasn't about going to his dad's funeral will pay his respects are in Canada protesting resource to leave his dad in unburied. It was about going home to obtain his inheritance.

This man wanted to follow Jesus, but he didn't want to give out that inheritance because that inheritance was something he'd been looking forward to his old life.

It was his security for the future and Jesus says, are you willing to follow me if it means giving up that inheritance is a question for you. Are there any limits to your obedience. Is there any place where you would say I will not I cannot walk away from that more practically, is there anything that he told you to stop doing. But you're still doing some relationship you ran some habits this or anything that he has told you to start doing but you're not doing it think tithing been generosity. Think getting bad times they obedience to some call maybe engaging in some ministry for to be a simply simple as joining the church a follower of Jesus has forsaken all that Jesus has forbidden and commenced all that Jesus commanded like I just said you put your life down the blank check and say Lord Jesus. All that I have all that I am all that I ever hope to be. I give now entirely forever to you. My oldest daughter 70 mime $7.50 about 16 swimmers drivers Ed years and I muster the drums and same. I'm assuming they do at them actually get a look inside the car, but without the driver said it was a really cheap little car didn't have much power in it, but it was like a normal car except the one thing that was in the passenger seat where the driver's ed instructor sat there was a break that's all they do it. Just one breath all was just one brick and so we drive around and was in charge of the car. Why was mostly except for whenever my driver's ed instructor wanted to be told what I was about to do because I was about a dangerous or something so I was kind of in charge of the car, but any time that man wanted to get press on that break, which come to a stop override vetoes no you cannot do that question. I think for many of us when it comes to Jesus is the majority view you put Jesus in the driver seat of your car.

The question is who owns the brake pedal. Just don't break up just so I guess your mom follow you much you influence for this replaceable might look at the brake on any limits to your obedience with 961.

Yet another set. I will follow you, Lord, let me first say farewell is my home Jesus said to him, no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. Now, again, that seems a little harsh then know this is not just a limit run home and tell my mom that I'm not to be home for dinner so they don't turn in a missing person report amount. I have verse six, verse 62 shows you that there was hesitation simple hesitation. Here is a question for you. Are you delaying any area of obedience. Your high school college in your thinking.

Well when I get older I'll follow Jesus fully after I get settled in my career when I'm out of the situation. Jesus could not say it more clearly. You cannot have me and delayed obedience to the full surrender or no surrender.

I only use marriage as an example, imagine after dating Veronica my wife for a while.

I said hey I want to marry you. There is no other girl I want to grow old with.

But I am also having fun right now playing the field. Sears and you look at, married, have you lot down for life because I don't want to lose you will girl like you that it if I don't like you down you can get taken on the somebody else's.

I will lock you down, but I don't want to live together at first because I like to have my nights free to keep ghetto doing what I do play the field I'll settle down with you when I'm over course, she's not gonna course, she's not responding positively to that to have somebody specials Veronica try to give myself fully to her. There's a point here's the point. Many people think they already belong to Jesus like operate the prayers of the Christ house 12 blazing following him folios is going to happen. Only later, Welty's note just as Veronica would not put up at two years of our marriage with me where I just ignored her. Jesus will not have followers not to, do not submit the following him fully immediately Jesus commands you to do something you kind of person to ask questions. Life is a safe much will cost all these people think.

What is it I did my relationships of school what is coming for my college life what to get me for my bank account for a true follower of Jesus. There are no such questions.

There are no hesitations what Jesus commands you do take up your cross means total self surrender means death. Any control you claim of your life. That also means number two personal embrace of the great commission personal embrace. The great commission is not just passive surrender. Jesus is after is if you don't know what you say okay I will obey any commands you give me right you speak to me audibly from heaven him submitted to do that and then use go on about your life the cross. Think about it was Jesus's instrument of world salvation to take up the cross met actively proactively devoting your life to his mission. I point this out because a lot of people think become a Christian simply means obeying the 10 Commandments and then going on with your usual life and career goals must not appear to you in a burning bush era, a bowl of Cheerios or something, but that is not true. Following Jesus means accepting his mission as your own, and pursuant like I said a few weeks ago. There is no such thing as a follower of Jesus, who is not devoted to the mission no such thing to very practical questions your number one have you embrace the great commission. Have you personally embrace the great commission. What is the great commission number places in the Bible spell it out latest highlight one for you. Second Peter 39 the Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Y'all people talk about finding the will of God. I got good news for you this morning. It's not lost it's right there, the Lord is not willing that any should perish, and he wants to use you to bring them to repentance. What is God's will for my life is God's will to use you to bring people around you to faith in Christ. Do you know what God's word says about the lost second Thessalonians 71 versus 79 when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, he will inflict vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.

Revelation 2015 and if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life anyone from any place on earth of any backgrounds. He was thrown into the lake of fire. How could you, and I believe that gospel and do nothing. Listen. Yes, God did not make all of us the same and he's got lots of roll trust.

The body of Christ you not all supposed to be like me doing what I do full-time but away some of your and I pray to God raises up lots of men and women for for for full-time ministry from this church, but we all have the role that I have but all of us one cordless of our role got one thing in common and that is it is our personal responsibility to tell the people in our lives about Jesus. The cross demands something of this. You believe that it has to change your priorities.

A story I always think I like about this book couple days ago at North Rye Christian Academy and I told the story of its is a story heard years ago about a man who was a true story of a guy that was driving outside of Los Angeles about 20 years ago when there was an earthquake seem like a pretty severe earthquake, but it didn't seem to the man like it done it that much damage. Some wrote without the earthquake was a report call back on the road and asserted cross mothers big bridges that goes over there is a body of water out there and so he said his drop along and then crosses bridges minutes out of his earthquake is done he notices the tail lights of the car in front of them just disappear. So he stopped his car and got out and looked and he said to his horror, he saw that one of the sections. Evidently, an earthquake is bridges just fall around and see the cards plunge off in the water below.

Two men turns around and there's other cars coming on this bridge resource wave try get their attention. Now it's 330 in the morning outside Los Angeles. There's a Gonzaga row waving his arms said he watched the sonatas when not to not bring so much for cars drive right by me, 55, 60 miles an hour all them plunging to the death below. Is it also a bus come across the bridge and I just made up my mind if this buses goes up is bridges enough to take me with it trusted) mental is not. I took my my my shirt off and was waving my arms up here that will that the bus was flashing his lights and honking his horn and I just would move. I stood there bus driver gets out. He's cussing and yelling and fast, so it might show them about the bridge and so course, the bus trumped up his bridge and parked in their usually cut off access. People couldn't keep doing that I think about that story question I hear is is that is an abnormal reaction thing about you if you had been the first person there. Would you have done something similar.

I would think so. I can see you Nina Simone's missing arms are the road and try to sue people by my example what the right thing to do his ear. You say people about the dive and I see something they don't see which of care that they thought that you were a little bit all your mind. No, because you would say I see something they don't say that the man something. How could you and I understand what the Bible says about eternity and about people without Jesus and just say I'm just going about my life is to make sense if you embrace the great commission is your own. Following Jesus means reassessing your talents and your resources and why the great commission which I was over. Students here for the mission of God first, where they pursue their career, which allows them to give Elyse the first two years after the graduate college to go explore a career just in tandem with similar play in the church were willing to go to get a job somewhere want to get a job in a place where God's doing something strategic but away your college student with the best predecessor that is due city project from messenger do around here. I'm unsure the application is still open ballista say that they are and you could you this summer.

It's a great way for you to engage in what God may want to do with your life as a kind of thinking is not just for students you at whatever age need to reassess your guess why did God give you the talents that he gave why they give you the resources that he gave you. Are you using those for the great commission, only one life to live will soon be passed only what's done for Christ will last follow me. Jesus make you a fisher of men not follow me and I'll make a handful of you fishers of men is what he has for you. There's no such thing as a follower of Jesus, who is not devoted to the mission's second predator question on this. You obey his command to care for for him to do this quickly.

Jesus said repeatedly throughout the book of Luke that we do not act on behalf of the poor. Our faith is not real.

Jesus came to set the captive free and to relieve the burden of the suffering for for not doing that. We cannot call ourselves as followers that Luke 16 Jesus describes a rich religious man who had everything right.

Unfortunately, not really get into the story in this series I don't think that this man believes all the right things you about all the right morals.

He was super involved in religion is on every committee there was in the synagogue but ignored the suffering of the people around him. It's not my responsibilities that I did steal from them everything I've got, and I learned honestly one of the shocking twists in any of Jesus stories that Google religious man ended up in the health's lack of engagement with the poor was the indication that his faith was not real. Ballista was a fluke.

Proverbs 2113 whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered but at that you pray you go to church faithfully, but you shut your ears to the poor pencil you prayed that matter.

Proverbs 2027 whoever gives the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes from them will get many occurs, you will be cursed by God.

You say your disciple that you asked how is my life supposed to lift others up in houses close to relieve suffering around me rethinking about your career only in terms of how we can help you accomplish your goals. How intimidating for you. The house you've always wanted the vacations you want the retirements you want right you asked how God is supposed to use your talents, your resources to lift up others really say like this is the trajectory of your life going toward human suffering or away from it.

Many of us are using our privileges and are our ability to make money to isolate herself in human suffering.

Jesus, that my followers will go toward it is a bottom line.

When Jesus called people to follow him. He did not mince words, to take up your cross picture father and mother pronounce everything. It was almost like he wanted to turn people away, but of course that was not his goal.

He wanted us to count the cost. He wanted us to think about exactly what he was asking and not attempt to use Jesus as a fire escape were divine Jeannie to help us through our problems and that's what I want today. I want you to carefully count the cost because prayed a prayer raising your hand didn't baptize her get involved in a small group.

None of those things is the essence of discipleship. Total surrender and a personal embrace of the great commission is that you're ready for that you committed to. If your answer to that is yes, life demonstrate that kind of radical obedience now in every area you will understand what he tells you to stand even if it's unpopular and you got a standalone you want to testify to Jesus say you belong to him that is most important thing in your life.

Even if others make fun of that you want to be generous retail should be generous to go where he tells you to go do what he tells you to do.

Don't tell me you're ready to go all the way with Jesus.

If you're not obeying him in the areas where he's already spoken know why do so many so-called Christians stop following Jesus when he gets hard. John RW Stott, one of the great Christian leaders milligrams friend from previous generation Christian landscape is strewn with the wreckage of derelict half built towers. The ruins of those you begin to build them or unable to finish for thousands of people still ignore price warning and undertake to follow him without first pausing to reflect on the cost of doing so.

The result of the great scandal of Christendom today so-called nominal Christianity.

Christians get somewhat involved enough to be respectable, but not enough to be uncomfortable.

Their religion is a great soft cushion that protects them from the heart and pleasantness of life but doesn't transform their lives in radical ways. No wonder cynics dismiss religion as escapism and I need you to choose nominal Christianity or real Christianity made you choose G Jesus is a comfort. Jesus is across search today a Menasha to make a very simple decision in that direction I Menasha to recommit to the five essential identities of a follower of Jesus, but before I walk you through that speak one. One last word of truth, and the guy's in the context into which Jesus maybe Samantha discipleship pronounce everything into becomes a dedicated Jesus said that committed your commitment to him every other relationship.

See my Kate. The context was in response to his incredible offer to us. See the verses leading right up soon. Luke 1425 you read it later Jesus had compared the offer of salvation to this wealthy powerful king within this gigantic feast and invited a bunch of our guest. Shockingly, however, these get started make excuses for why they couldn't come these excuses range from the lame to be absurd. While it is bought a piece of property I need check it out. Why just got married, my wife and I will want some alone time. The king says to his messengers, like right of these people, and I want you to go out to the ghettos to find that the poor and the homeless and the diseased those who are living in ditches and under bridges and I want you to tell them to come both for the story is how absurd it would be to turn down an offer like that from the king, especially if you were one of the homeless of the disease printing realize what you're being offered.

What excuse could possibly justify rejection or even hesitation in the face of so great an offer and so I would say did you guess the demands of Jesus are severe but you know what Jesus offer CUP that has a son first John 512 even as a son has life does not have the son will never see life eternal life eternal adoption into the family of God. Forgiveness the power of resurrection working you to heal and restore you both you and those around you is presence inside you that will never leave you or forsake you a divine inheritance that is kept in heaven for you all and an eternity of joy of delight and blessedness with the family of God in God's presence right now. The promise that a sovereign good heavenly father want to serve you so carefully and so tenderly that he knows will even out. I hear falls in your head and pledges to work all things in your life are good that he will lead you beside still waters of fulfillment to make your cup of joy, overflow, even in the midst of pain and then in his presence even in the presence of your enemies will prepare for you to satisfy the goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life will literally stalk you could get away from them.

If you try and dwell in the house of the Lord forever. That's a God who in your worst moments in your worst moments didn't despise mercy on your team. After many even after use, never gave up.

He never looked away.

He loved you faithfully and consistently even in your worst moments he loves you right now is pursuing you. No matter what a mess you've made of your life.

No one's love for you is ever been this constant system is further this is is a Jesus you promise to bear this discipleship will forgive and support restore you. You struggle to get out of bed in the morning, much less live successfully as a disciple is promised to walk with you and sustain you and pick you up when you fall in light of all that possible excuse. Could you have to stay away.

What reason could you manufacture that can justify even the slightest thing is excluded from Jesus's and in exchange life take up the cross has been our subject today from Pastor Jeannie clear if you miss any part of this message, or if you'd like to catch up on the rest of our series from the book of Luke, you can listen free of charge@jeanniegreer.com this month we've created a resource that can use to gather memory verse current encouraging one another is Scripture in your heart this year than ever before. Seems like a kid that you need to work on memorizing Scripture. There are dozens of reasons why this is what it thing for us to do throughout our life. For the second time just a couple first Jesus memorize Scripture to the Old Testament frequently in his lanky ministry when he quoted 24 different books of the Bible hundred and nine was the ultimate authority in his life in this compelling reason first memory that we are called to do it. Colossians 316 tells us to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly.

This set of cards comes with our thanks need any today to support this ministry so that more people can type into the message of the gospel with that dealing based get any request your rejoice always, Scripture memory card. Thanks, 335-1521 more time at 866335 T-20 or you can request that we donate online. Jeannie clear.com finally checked out Pastor Jeannie's newest podcast anything you want to do that. Pastor Jeannie quick answers to tricky questions and you can find it online. Clear.com with your favorite podcasting I Molly benefits next week will cover the most famous parable Jesus ever told the story of the prodigal sign to be sure to come back Monday night night your ministry