WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.760 Chapter 8, when you lose something, it's painful. 00:00:04.759 --> 00:00:07.560 When I was nine, I lost my bike. 00:00:08.700 --> 00:00:09.800 ! Actually, it was stolen. 00:00:10.359 --> 00:00:11.880 And it was not a very good bike. 00:00:12.780 --> 00:00:14.919 I think we bought it at an auction. 00:00:15.820 --> 00:00:17.780 But it was a bike anyway. 00:00:18.500 --> 00:00:19.760 And it was my bike. 00:00:20.420 --> 00:00:23.120 And a 14-year-old jerk from the neighborhood 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:26.780 that went through the woods, stole it. 00:00:26.780 --> 00:00:31.140 And we found him, saw him riding it a couple days later. 00:00:31.720 --> 00:00:38.359 And my 14-year-old brother and our tough 13-year-old neighbor 00:00:38.359 --> 00:00:40.719 and I went to the boy's house. 00:00:41.660 --> 00:00:44.340 And when we got there, he was alone in the front yard. 00:00:45.140 --> 00:00:46.820 And he ran into the house. 00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:49.480 And we ran in after him. 00:00:50.900 --> 00:00:52.840 And chased him into the bathroom. 00:00:53.100 --> 00:00:55.640 And he was trying to hide behind the shower curtain. 00:00:55.640 --> 00:00:57.480 And they cornered him. 00:00:57.539 --> 00:00:59.020 I think they roughed him up a little bit. 00:00:59.219 --> 00:00:59.960 And held him. 00:01:00.579 --> 00:01:01.820 And I popped him in the eye. 00:01:02.299 --> 00:01:05.060 And I got my bike and I rode it home. 00:01:06.620 --> 00:01:07.680 Leave my stuff alone. 00:01:09.879 --> 00:01:13.359 I hope the statute of limitations has expired on that little event. 00:01:13.359 --> 00:01:18.560 But either way, losing something is painful. 00:01:18.740 --> 00:01:20.359 I heard of a newlywed couple. 00:01:20.500 --> 00:01:23.719 And one day the groom came home and his bride was crying. 00:01:23.819 --> 00:01:25.079 And he said, why are you crying? 00:01:25.079 --> 00:01:26.780 And she said, I made some biscuits. 00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:29.780 And the dog got them off the table and ate them. 00:01:30.659 --> 00:01:32.359 And he said, sweetheart, don't cry. 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:33.379 We can get another dog. 00:01:35.759 --> 00:01:38.539 Loss is painful. 00:01:38.540 --> 00:01:44.860 I want to talk to you about a different kind of loss. 00:01:46.360 --> 00:01:51.900 Mark chapter 8, beginning in verse 34. 00:01:52.100 --> 00:01:52.600 It says this. 00:01:52.599 --> 00:01:56.379 And calling the crowd to him. 00:01:56.379 --> 00:01:57.479 Speaking of Christ. 00:01:58.119 --> 00:01:59.399 With his disciples. 00:01:59.619 --> 00:02:00.739 He said to them. 00:02:01.619 --> 00:02:08.120 If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:12.240 For whoever would save his life will lose it. 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:16.219 But whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospels will save it. 00:02:17.300 --> 00:02:21.180 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 00:02:21.180 --> 00:02:25.140 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:34.420 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation of him will be the son of man also be ashamed. 00:02:34.419 --> 00:02:39.579 When he comes to the glory of his father and the holy angels. 00:02:40.959 --> 00:02:44.119 Now I want you to remember the context of our passage. 00:02:44.379 --> 00:02:52.399 We've been looking at the last half of Mark chapter 8 as we lead into Mark chapter 9. 00:02:52.539 --> 00:02:58.379 Two weeks ago we looked at Peter's very powerful confession that Jesus Christ, when Christ asked him, 00:02:58.839 --> 00:03:00.019 Who do people say that I am? 00:03:00.060 --> 00:03:01.379 And they mentioned a few things. 00:03:01.479 --> 00:03:03.179 And then they said, Who do you say I am? 00:03:03.180 --> 00:03:05.980 And Peter said, You are the Christ, Son of the living God. 00:03:06.020 --> 00:03:08.900 And it was a powerful statement to say. 00:03:10.640 --> 00:03:18.159 And on that note, Jesus told them the difficulty that was coming, that was ahead, that he would suffer. 00:03:18.900 --> 00:03:25.700 And that he would be rejected by religious leaders and they would be crucified and then he would rise again. 00:03:26.640 --> 00:03:31.140 When he said that, Peter rose up and in his own words said, I'm not going to dare let that happen. 00:03:31.139 --> 00:03:36.139 And Jesus said that his words were of the devil. 00:03:36.979 --> 00:03:45.459 And now he talks about not what he will go through, but what those who follow Christ must be willing to do. 00:03:45.460 --> 00:03:50.760 He speaks to all of us that are Christians. 00:03:50.760 --> 00:03:57.200 And I believe he speaks to all of us who are considering being Christians, what it means to be a Christian. 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:01.800 Notice that he does not speak just to the disciples. 00:04:01.800 --> 00:04:13.219 If you look back at verse 34, it says that he called the crowd to him with his disciples. 00:04:14.180 --> 00:04:18.340 So in other words, this is not just for the inner 12 here. 00:04:19.340 --> 00:04:20.800 It's for all of us. 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:28.900 If we're to follow Christ, we must first deny ourselves. 00:04:29.520 --> 00:04:34.699 And when Jesus uses that word deny ourselves, it literally means to disown completely. 00:04:36.139 --> 00:04:47.100 What he's saying is that we must do away with what we think is best for us and do what he knows is best for us. 00:04:47.100 --> 00:04:54.680 That whatever we feel like we have a right to claim, we submit that to Christ. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:05:02.760 But whatever we feel like we have a right to aspire to be, we submit that to Christ. 00:05:04.340 --> 00:05:12.220 Whatever our personal goals are, we lay that at his feet. 00:05:12.220 --> 00:05:16.500 We're not in charge. 00:05:18.460 --> 00:05:19.800 We're not self-sufficient. 00:05:21.480 --> 00:05:24.660 Jesus said it this way in Matthew 5, verse 3. 00:05:25.240 --> 00:05:29.840 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God. 00:05:29.900 --> 00:05:36.060 In other words, when we realize that we are spiritually bankrupt without Christ, 00:05:36.060 --> 00:05:40.540 we come humbly to Christ. 00:05:42.780 --> 00:05:48.100 And the reality is for true change to come, there has to be a breaking point. 00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:55.240 There has to be a point when we say no to ourselves. 00:05:56.500 --> 00:05:57.579 And that's not easy. 00:05:57.579 --> 00:06:01.339 I believe he explains it this way in verse 35. 00:06:01.339 --> 00:06:04.919 He says, for whoever would save his life will lose it. 00:06:05.339 --> 00:06:10.219 But whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 00:06:13.180 --> 00:06:17.159 Imagine someone comes to you with a very unique offer. 00:06:18.719 --> 00:06:20.860 He said, I've got an offer for you. 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:26.459 If you'll give me something, I will give you $100 million. 00:06:27.579 --> 00:06:30.439 I have your attention. 00:06:33.839 --> 00:06:35.899 He said, I'll give you basically the whole world. 00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:44.219 If you'll give me a little finger on your hand. 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:48.500 If you take that off and give that to me. 00:06:50.279 --> 00:06:51.419 And I'll give you an army. 00:06:54.719 --> 00:06:56.560 A lot of you are laying your hands out now. 00:06:56.560 --> 00:06:58.019 Hands are up everywhere. 00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:03.439 Most would say yes. 00:07:03.699 --> 00:07:04.040 Go ahead. 00:07:07.139 --> 00:07:08.319 What about your hands? 00:07:15.840 --> 00:07:16.980 What about both hands? 00:07:22.819 --> 00:07:23.800 What about your eyes? 00:07:23.800 --> 00:07:23.860 What about your eyes? 00:07:23.860 --> 00:07:23.860 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:30.019 What about both eyes? 00:07:34.639 --> 00:07:35.660 What about your hearing? 00:07:39.139 --> 00:07:41.019 I mean, I don't know where you are on the spectrum. 00:07:41.259 --> 00:07:44.480 But at some point, if I can't feel it. 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:46.819 And I can't see it. 00:07:47.980 --> 00:07:49.319 And I can't hear it. 00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:56.099 Do you think I'm going to give up all that just to gain the whole world? 00:07:56.100 --> 00:08:02.580 The reality is, folks. 00:08:03.939 --> 00:08:09.120 Unless you deny yourself and give up control of your life, 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:10.120 you are giving up. 00:08:10.120 --> 00:08:14.319 You are giving up far more than all of these things. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:21.800 And receiving far less than the best this world has on earth. 00:08:21.800 --> 00:08:26.340 Your soul is worth more than your hands. 00:08:26.340 --> 00:08:28.579 Your soul is eternal. 00:08:30.740 --> 00:08:33.320 Your soul is worth more than your eyes. 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:36.720 Your soul is everlasting. 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:41.900 Your soul is worth more than your ears. 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:45.760 Your soul is the dwelling place of the Lord. 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:55.299 Yet unless you deny yourself, say no to you, you're giving your soul up in exchange for the world. 00:08:55.299 --> 00:09:01.339 We must deny ourselves. 00:09:02.479 --> 00:09:03.519 Then he says something about it. 00:09:05.099 --> 00:09:07.459 We must also take up the cross. 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:10.819 Now, what does that mean? 00:09:10.939 --> 00:09:14.439 It's a clear physical picture of what it means. 00:09:15.339 --> 00:09:18.319 It literally means to shoulder one's stake. 00:09:19.559 --> 00:09:25.079 Now, we know that Jesus had to carry his own cross as far as he could. 00:09:25.299 --> 00:09:30.659 And the reality is, he could not carry it all the way to Calvary. 00:09:31.939 --> 00:09:39.240 I believe because of the beating that he had taken before he ever got the cross. 00:09:41.859 --> 00:09:53.399 Historians say that it's very possible that the flogging that he received was usually a punishable option instead of crucifixion. 00:09:55.299 --> 00:10:08.579 And we have the idea that they were limited to whipping a man 40 times with a cat of nine tails. 00:10:08.580 --> 00:10:13.220 That's a leather strap that has nine pieces coming out from it. 00:10:13.300 --> 00:10:21.840 Nine leather straps with bone or metal or something tied into it so that it would grip the flesh. 00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:28.460 And the thought is that they limited that to 40. 00:10:28.740 --> 00:10:35.840 And so the reality was, if you whipped him more than 40, then it would be punishable to you the same thing. 00:10:35.899 --> 00:10:38.840 So you get your best buddy who's the countenance to count it. 00:10:39.420 --> 00:10:40.519 And you stop at 39. 00:10:41.780 --> 00:10:42.580 That was common. 00:10:42.580 --> 00:10:45.920 But that's a Jewish rule. 00:10:47.259 --> 00:10:48.520 Not a Roman rule. 00:10:51.620 --> 00:10:53.600 The Romans can beat you along their way. 00:10:53.600 --> 00:11:04.399 And typically they did that instead of crucifying someone when they deemed that punishable. 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:12.519 Because that way you walk around wounded by the Roman Empire and you teach other people not to mess with the Roman Empire. 00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:18.139 But some believe that it could have been there. 00:11:19.100 --> 00:11:21.199 They were unclear on what they wanted to do. 00:11:21.259 --> 00:11:23.579 But they flogged Jesus first. 00:11:26.279 --> 00:11:28.199 And then had him carry his cross. 00:11:29.100 --> 00:11:30.299 And then crucify him. 00:11:30.299 --> 00:11:39.899 When someone carried the cross, although most of what we see traditionally has been Christ carrying the whole cross, 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:45.719 the trend was that they carried the cross beam called the patella. 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:51.719 That they would tie that cross beam across their shoulders to both wrists. 00:11:51.720 --> 00:12:00.660 And they would carry that cross beam until they got to the stipe that was in the ground where it was tied on. 00:12:01.560 --> 00:12:02.180 And the man was on. 00:12:04.379 --> 00:12:07.560 That's the idea of this statement. 00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:19.840 And Christ uses this statement to speak to our need to take up the spiritual responsibility to live for Christ unashamedly and without compromise. 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:28.879 Now, in the same passage, in the parallel passage in Luke chapter 9 verse 23, the word daily is used. 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:32.180 Therefore, this is not a one-time decision. 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:34.080 Now, I want to be clear when I say this. 00:12:34.480 --> 00:12:40.000 That everything for Christ starts with a one-time decision. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:51.259 There has to be a point in your life when you wake up to the reality that you need to commit your life to Christ. 00:12:51.419 --> 00:12:52.620 Give it over to him. 00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:55.659 Deny yourself and give him your life. 00:12:57.340 --> 00:13:00.399 And to do that with boldness. 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:04.120 That's what it means to be saved. 00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:05.039 That's what it means. 00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:06.539 That's not our terminology. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:09.320 That's John speaking of that. 00:13:09.820 --> 00:13:10.259 Salvation. 00:13:10.899 --> 00:13:13.139 It means to commit our life to Christ. 00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:20.960 And if there's never been a time in your life when you have asked the Lord Jesus to forgive you of your sins, to come into your life, and to save you, 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:25.279 I want you to know that is the initial step to the Christian life. 00:13:25.799 --> 00:13:27.419 Joining the church, don't do it. 00:13:27.799 --> 00:13:31.039 Having family that's been faithful in the church, don't do it. 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:33.860 Having Bible knowledge does not do it. 00:13:33.860 --> 00:13:36.399 It's a commitment to Christ. 00:13:36.539 --> 00:13:38.860 There's no rite of passage that we do. 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:40.840 No ceremony. 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:42.139 No work class. 00:13:42.440 --> 00:13:42.940 No baptism. 00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:48.840 Nothing takes the place of surrendering your life to Christ personally. 00:13:51.259 --> 00:13:52.720 It begins with a one-time deal. 00:13:52.779 --> 00:13:54.320 But it's not just a one-time deal. 00:13:57.539 --> 00:13:58.360 It's daily. 00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:04.940 It's daily giving yourself back to Christ. 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:09.180 It does not change that commitment of a Christian. 00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:12.320 You remain a Christian for all of eternity. 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:15.300 You cannot fall out of the hand of the Father. 00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:18.379 No one can snatch you out of the hand of the Father. 00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:22.620 Your salvation is based upon the cross of Christ, not upon your eyes. 00:14:23.020 --> 00:14:27.160 And once you surrender your life to the cross, you're there. 00:14:27.159 --> 00:14:43.120 But if you're a Christian, and it's real, then we commit ourselves to strive against the difficulty of living for the Lord in a wicked world. 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:48.480 And we do all that we can to live for Christ with whatever we deal with. 00:14:49.620 --> 00:14:55.600 Now, some people believe that when it talks about taking up the cross, that it means sickness or it means personal hardship. 00:14:58.340 --> 00:14:59.740 It's that whatever you bear. 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:04.120 And the reality is, it does include that. 00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:06.000 That's not just it. 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:08.279 But it does include that. 00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:14.860 The Apostle Paul said that he had a thorn in the flesh, and he prayed repeatedly that God would remove it. 00:15:14.899 --> 00:15:15.679 And he never did. 00:15:16.560 --> 00:15:18.720 That was part of the cross that he had to bear. 00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:20.500 He didn't take that on. 00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:24.980 There is a reality to that. 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:30.539 But it's not just those things. 00:15:30.539 --> 00:15:39.480 I'm burdened this morning because there's a pastor that has been prominent in Southern Baptist Convention. 00:15:41.199 --> 00:15:42.299 Pastor's in Georgia. 00:15:42.599 --> 00:15:43.539 His name's Mike Stone. 00:15:44.419 --> 00:15:48.539 And he has a daughter that has a debilitating disease. 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:52.419 She is a beautiful, Sarah is a beautiful 18-year-old. 00:15:53.079 --> 00:15:54.639 Just graduated from high school. 00:15:54.639 --> 00:16:04.580 But could not have been at school many days in the last days because she has spent more time in the hospital than she has outside the hospital. 00:16:06.299 --> 00:16:07.740 And excruciating pain. 00:16:09.199 --> 00:16:10.360 Unbeeding to. 00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:13.480 Sad situation. 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:14.480 Sad situation. 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:23.399 And just yesterday I read a post that she's at home now on hospice. 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:33.279 I remember reading Sarah's post when she was able. 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:42.580 And saying, may God be glorified in the midst of whatever I have to do. 00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:45.220 May he get the cross. 00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:49.560 She has a powerful testimony. 00:16:51.060 --> 00:16:54.340 And she struggles with its debilitating disease. 00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:04.940 Sometimes the ailments in life that we deal with is part of that cross we must bear. 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:10.140 It's the things that happen to us. 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:13.180 And how we handle those things. 00:17:13.180 --> 00:17:14.740 But it's more than that. 00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:18.620 It's also how we interact with others. 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:23.980 If we are ridiculed for being a Christian. 00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:28.019 If we are tempted as Christians. 00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:33.460 If we are unappreciated as Christians living for Christ. 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:37.279 Then we strive on for the glory of God. 00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:38.620 Now what's the alternative to that? 00:17:38.619 --> 00:17:42.299 The alternative to that is trying to profit from living for the world. 00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:47.659 And Christ's response to that is in verse 36 and 37 when he says, 00:17:48.139 --> 00:17:50.639 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world for for his soul? 00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:54.779 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 00:17:54.779 --> 00:18:01.740 Charlemagne was the king and emperor of France in the 8th and 9th century. 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:09.960 And it has been said that when archaeologists entered his tomb, they saw a throne surrounded by treasures that had been buried along with him. 00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:13.339 But they found the body in a very unique way. 00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:15.339 There was a throne there. 00:18:15.339 --> 00:18:16.419 There was a throne there. 00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:20.419 And seated on that throne was a dead man with a crown around his head. 00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:30.019 But when the archaeologists came in and invaded that tomb, the skeleton was just there and that crown had slid down around his skull. 00:18:31.100 --> 00:18:38.320 But it's also been said that in his lap was an open Bible and his bony finger was pointing to Matthew 16 verse 26. 00:18:38.600 --> 00:18:41.940 For what is a man profit if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? 00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:44.560 And what shall a man give in return for his soul? 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:56.539 When we live for the world instead of living for Christ in the world, we forfeit the opportunity to walk in the way of God. 00:18:57.679 --> 00:19:02.000 We forfeit the opportunity to walk in the fellowship of God, in the will of God. 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:05.619 And the world will never satisfy. 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:13.980 And the world, even though you may wrap it around your throne in your tomb, will never last. 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:17.460 Take up your cross. 00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:19.859 Date. 00:19:22.139 --> 00:19:24.319 And the last thing he says is follow Christ. 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:29.179 He begins this statement by saying, come after me. 00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:31.799 He ends this statement by saying, follow me. 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:33.200 It's one and the same. 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:36.019 We need to trust Christ enough to follow him. 00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:38.619 He knows the world we live in. 00:19:38.679 --> 00:19:39.819 He knows what we face. 00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:42.819 In the midst of all of that, we must follow Christ. 00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:44.619 And following Christ is often misunderstood. 00:19:46.399 --> 00:19:50.700 Because the word follow there is a Greek present imperative. 00:19:50.879 --> 00:19:53.480 In other words, present means it's continuous. 00:19:54.159 --> 00:19:55.200 It's habitual. 00:19:55.819 --> 00:19:56.799 It's repeated. 00:19:57.379 --> 00:19:58.740 Imperative means it's a command. 00:19:59.119 --> 00:20:00.079 In other words, we are to. 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:03.599 It's not a one-time action to just follow Christ. 00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:05.559 One day when I was a child. 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:08.039 It's to follow Christ. 00:20:09.639 --> 00:20:10.119 Regularly. 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:16.119 And the following that it speaks of is not like walking behind one that is ahead. 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:17.899 It is instead accompanied. 00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:22.119 When a dog heals, he is right beside his master. 00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:26.459 The master leads the way, but the dog is keeping pace with the master. 00:20:26.659 --> 00:20:28.099 He don't run ahead of the master. 00:20:28.339 --> 00:20:29.959 He don't like behind the master. 00:20:30.239 --> 00:20:30.639 He heals. 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:34.000 He stays beside the master and watches the master lead. 00:20:34.399 --> 00:20:39.899 So it must be for us to not run ahead of God, to not run behind God, 00:20:39.959 --> 00:20:43.899 but to walk with God and commit to walk with him. 00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:50.220 We must focus our life on pleasing God stride for stride, not tailing behind, 00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:57.960 not running ahead and asking God to forgive us and bless whatever we're doing, 00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:07.019 but to walk with the Lord at the pace that he'd have you to walk. 00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:15.420 And that takes dedication, and it takes boldness, and it takes an unashamed attitude. 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:22.539 It's interesting to me that some people have a hard time living for Christ when other people are watching. 00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:27.400 They easily get compromised in certain crowds. 00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:30.700 And if they get around a crowd that does not honor the Lord, 00:21:31.059 --> 00:21:34.160 they'll follow that crowd, and they'll do what that crowd does, 00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:36.299 and they will not honor the Lord in the midst of that. 00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:40.480 But then there's others who have a hard time living for Christ when no one's looking. 00:21:42.619 --> 00:21:46.519 They look right, but they're not right. 00:21:48.099 --> 00:21:53.500 And shamefully, they privately abandon their faithful commitment to Christ when no one's looking. 00:21:54.059 --> 00:21:58.099 And when that sinful pattern grows bigger, it's often exposed. 00:21:58.440 --> 00:22:00.539 And when that sin is exposed, we're shocked. 00:22:01.619 --> 00:22:03.379 Where in the world did that come from? 00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:04.579 Well, I'll tell you where it came from. 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:06.920 They didn't see it coming. 00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:12.900 But whenever shocking sin is discovered, there's already been a pattern of sin that was growing. 00:22:13.379 --> 00:22:15.879 James 1, 14 and 15 puts it this way. 00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:21.160 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:24.500 Then desire, when it is conceived, gives birth to sin. 00:22:24.839 --> 00:22:28.460 And sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death. 00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:33.079 And that does not only mean that your heart may stop because of what you do, 00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:36.819 but it means there may be a death to relationships. 00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:43.180 There may be a death, an ending to life as you know it. 00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:46.140 Because now it's discovered. 00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:52.320 And one of the reasons why, men, I want you to pick up one of those books, 00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:56.640 and I want you to sign your name to come at 6 or 9, if at all possible, 00:22:56.800 --> 00:23:01.700 so we can have time together, is so that men don't get caught up in such traps. 00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:10.120 That somewhere along the way, somebody can hold somebody accountable and keep us from doing dumb stuff. 00:23:10.119 --> 00:23:14.379 I don't drop my kids off at school. 00:23:14.459 --> 00:23:17.459 I'll move one in in a couple of weeks anymore. 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:21.879 But every time I did, in the last years that I did that, when they got out, 00:23:21.919 --> 00:23:23.139 and I hope I don't offend anybody. 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.679 If you do, I apologize. 00:23:24.979 --> 00:23:27.279 But before they got out of my car, I'd say nothing stupid. 00:23:29.179 --> 00:23:31.579 Because it covers a bunch of stuff, you know. 00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:33.079 I mean, it really does. 00:23:33.139 --> 00:23:36.299 And if you'll stay away from the stupid stuff in life, you'll be in a whole other shape. 00:23:36.459 --> 00:23:37.000 I will be. 00:23:37.379 --> 00:23:39.459 Now, if that's a bad word at your house, I apologize. 00:23:40.119 --> 00:23:40.279 Okay. 00:23:41.419 --> 00:23:42.559 That's kind of stupid, too. 00:23:42.579 --> 00:23:42.959 But anyway. 00:23:50.459 --> 00:23:52.359 Let's don't get caught in such traps. 00:23:55.959 --> 00:24:00.539 James tells us, resist the devil, and he'll flee from you. 00:24:05.159 --> 00:24:06.479 So whatever it is, 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:11.059 whether it's a person that you need to walk away from, 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:16.099 whether it's a thing that you need to do away with, 00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:20.620 whatever it is, 00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:23.099 resist the devil, 00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:24.799 and he'll flee from you. 00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:29.720 Walk unashamedly with Christ. 00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:36.720 Christ dealt with it bluntly. 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:42.640 When he says in Mark chapter 8, verse 38, verse 39, 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:45.400 for whoever is ashamed of me, 00:24:46.040 --> 00:24:53.840 for whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, 00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:56.740 of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed. 00:24:56.740 --> 00:25:01.900 When he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:10.099 What Jesus is saying is that if you're ashamed to follow Christ before others, 00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:12.980 he gives evidence you don't have a relationship at all. 00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:22.099 Now why is there so much compromise in the walk of supposed believers today? 00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:23.759 Why is that? 00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:30.599 Why are so many church leaders excusing away the Word of God 00:25:30.599 --> 00:25:35.140 in order to appease those that do not want to live by the Word of God? 00:25:35.140 --> 00:26:05.120 Why are so many churches in the world that do not want to live by the Holy Spirit? 00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:05.800 Personally. 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:08.440 Will not last. 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:12.259 My friend, I want you to understand something. 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:14.580 We stand on the Word of God. 00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:17.080 We don't compromise that. 00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:20.780 And that's proof that we're true believers. 00:26:21.620 --> 00:26:23.600 And it's got to show forth in our life. 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:24.740 Not just in what we say. 00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:26.380 It's got to show forth in our life. 00:26:26.600 --> 00:26:27.960 To deny ourselves. 00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:30.460 To take up His cross. 00:26:31.020 --> 00:26:33.400 Whatever that may mean in our lives. 00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:35.780 Whether it's a hectic situation at work. 00:26:36.100 --> 00:26:40.640 Whether it's personal problems that we have. 00:26:41.100 --> 00:26:42.060 Whether it's people. 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:43.500 Whether it's illnesses. 00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:45.560 Whether it's tenderness. 00:26:45.700 --> 00:26:46.880 Whatever it is. 00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:48.340 Take up that cross. 00:26:48.540 --> 00:26:51.140 And follow Christ. 00:26:51.140 --> 00:26:59.480 Africa is known for their diamond mines. 00:27:02.300 --> 00:27:06.560 Many have traveled in search of diamonds and left very rich. 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:15.380 And generations ago, a man had a farm in Africa and saw all of those coming to Africa for diamonds. 00:27:15.380 --> 00:27:18.580 And he wanted in on it. 00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:25.500 So he sold his farm and took the proceeds to search the country for diamonds. 00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.860 Spent all he had. 00:27:30.760 --> 00:27:31.940 Searching for diamonds. 00:27:32.080 --> 00:27:33.180 To no avail. 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:36.080 Broken, desperate. 00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:39.559 He threw himself into a river and took his own life. 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:50.579 And not long after that, the man who bought his farm was crossing a stream on his farm and saw something shiny. 00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:59.980 And one of the richest diamond mines in Africa was on that farm. 00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:11.759 And the farm that a man had sold and left to go root for diamonds was the one that was the jewel. 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:17.019 Don't sell out to serve the gold. 00:28:20.140 --> 00:28:26.180 You need to look nowhere else to find value than the maker and the keeper of your soul. 00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:34.680 And whatever you lose for following Christ, you'll only profit for it. 00:28:34.680 --> 00:28:39.779 It is a profitable loss. 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.720 That is what it is. 00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:45.240 Every head bowed, every eye closed. 00:28:45.360 --> 00:28:46.720 I asked you this morning. 00:28:48.600 --> 00:28:51.720 If you've ever given your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:58.580 Because I want you to be clear that I never assumed, as I look across this congregation, 00:28:59.880 --> 00:29:01.920 that all have given their life to Christ. 00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:06.560 Even if you're a member of this church. 00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:10.799 Even if you're in leadership of this church. 00:29:13.360 --> 00:29:15.840 It is not my job to assume those things. 00:29:17.900 --> 00:29:24.180 And the greatest burden that I have in ministry is that people that sit under my preaching week after week after week, 00:29:24.840 --> 00:29:26.920 possibly never know Christ. 00:29:31.539 --> 00:29:33.360 You've never given your life to Christ. 00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:37.240 His invitation is open to you today. 00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:40.620 Today. 00:29:43.060 --> 00:29:45.380 Say, Lord, whatever I am, I give to you. 00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:49.740 And I ask you to forgive me of my sins and to come into my life. 00:29:49.960 --> 00:29:54.380 And to this day forward, I put my agenda down and I take up your agenda and follow you. 00:29:54.380 --> 00:30:01.360 If you have done that, but you've never acknowledged that public has been a private thing for you. 00:30:03.080 --> 00:30:06.800 I want you to remember what Mark chapter 8 verse 38 says. 00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:12.259 If you're ashamed to be a follower of Christ, the reality is, 00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:16.180 he wants to never having a relationship with you. 00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:21.279 Jesus, by his commission and by his example, 00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:26.319 shows us that the first step is to publicly acknowledge that new baptism. 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:28.379 If you've never done that, I encourage you to come. 00:30:28.919 --> 00:30:29.779 We line that up. 00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:36.940 Maybe God's leading you to be a part of Pickens First Baptist Church. 00:30:37.639 --> 00:30:39.619 This is the place that God would have you serve. 00:30:40.399 --> 00:30:45.940 It is so easy to tether alongside without any commitment. 00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:47.559 And the devil loves all that. 00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:51.799 Now, I'll never ask, personally or corporately, 00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:54.859 I'll never ask anybody to do anything that God don't need you to do. 00:30:56.440 --> 00:30:59.399 But the reality is, if God's leading you to be a part of this church, 00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:06.980 commit your life to go alongside somebody in the earlier worship, 00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:09.799 made a commitment to serve, said, 00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:14.460 I love the Lord, live for the Lord, but I want to serve Him. 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:16.139 I need to commit to serve Him. 00:31:16.140 --> 00:31:23.040 The beauty of the church is that in the church, 00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:25.940 everyone is served and everyone serves. 00:31:29.280 --> 00:31:32.340 So, if you're not a part of Pickens First Baptist Church, 00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:34.020 and God's leading you to be a part of that, you're not. 00:31:34.520 --> 00:31:35.340 God's leading you. 00:31:37.120 --> 00:31:42.100 Or maybe you're here this morning and you need to take up your cross. 00:31:42.099 --> 00:31:46.539 Whatever that means, you need to follow Christ. 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:52.259 And you need a renewal today in your life. 00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:57.920 I told you in this point in the Gospel of Mark, 00:31:58.000 --> 00:32:01.500 it's kind of the cap of the Gospel of Mark. 00:32:01.700 --> 00:32:05.640 That the last couple of weeks, and this week, and next week, 00:32:05.799 --> 00:32:09.559 everything's kind of been leading toward this. 00:32:09.640 --> 00:32:11.599 And then after this, we lead toward the cross. 00:32:11.599 --> 00:32:18.039 The reality is, this kind of decision that one who needs Christ makes, 00:32:18.139 --> 00:32:20.139 or this kind of decision that a Christian makes, 00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:21.879 is so significant. 00:32:22.679 --> 00:32:23.559 It's huge. 00:32:26.919 --> 00:32:30.139 To deny ourselves and take up the cross and to follow Him. 00:32:30.140 --> 00:32:34.560 Whatever that means to you, 00:32:35.880 --> 00:32:36.840 obey God's name. 00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:44.320 Heavenly Father, help us to be diligent to honor you 00:32:44.320 --> 00:32:47.560 with everything that you tell us to do. 00:32:48.560 --> 00:32:51.100 Right in Jesus' name. 00:32:51.100 --> 00:32:52.100 Amen.