WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.260 Jesus and his mission. 00:00:02.160 --> 00:00:03.980 And here's a spoiler alert. 00:00:04.299 --> 00:00:06.459 We are the mission that Jesus came for. 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:09.759 He came to seek and to save that which was lost. 00:00:10.220 --> 00:00:11.759 And he calls us through the same mission. 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:14.880 He calls us to follow him and to spread the gospel. 00:00:15.099 --> 00:00:16.899 And so that's kind of what we're walking through. 00:00:17.019 --> 00:00:19.940 And really, we've seen that Jesus is getting to the place where 00:00:19.940 --> 00:00:22.539 he's kind of taking the training wheels off the disciples. 00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:27.300 And really, from this point forward in the gospel of Luke, 00:00:27.740 --> 00:00:30.600 Jesus' kind of earthly ministry, public ministry, 00:00:30.600 --> 00:00:32.640 is kind of coming to a close. 00:00:32.939 --> 00:00:34.700 And now his eyes are set on Jerusalem. 00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:36.899 He is moving towards the cross. 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:38.260 He always has been, by the way. 00:00:38.700 --> 00:00:40.880 That before the foundation of the world, there was a lamb that was 00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:41.120 slain. 00:00:41.179 --> 00:00:42.539 That's always been the plan. 00:00:43.020 --> 00:00:47.200 But really, at this moment now, he is going straightway towards 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:47.840 Jerusalem. 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:51.100 And really, he's kind of setting his disciples up because he's 00:00:51.100 --> 00:00:52.320 called them to follow. 00:00:52.980 --> 00:00:54.179 They have been following. 00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:56.540 They've been participating in the ministry. 00:00:56.539 --> 00:00:59.899 And he's kind of recently sent them out to kind of do it on their 00:00:59.899 --> 00:01:00.259 own. 00:01:00.899 --> 00:01:03.379 But he's really going to show us what it looks like to follow 00:01:03.379 --> 00:01:03.780 Christ. 00:01:04.539 --> 00:01:07.379 Well, what does it look like in our everyday life? 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:09.539 So if you found your place there in the gospel of Luke, 00:01:09.620 --> 00:01:11.900 chapter number 9, we're going to begin reading in verse number 00:01:11.900 --> 00:01:13.099 18 where it says this. 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:17.219 And it came to pass as he was alone praying, his disciples with 00:01:17.219 --> 00:01:17.500 him. 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:23.680 And he asked them, saying, whom say the people that I am? 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:26.260 They answering said, John the Baptist. 00:01:26.940 --> 00:01:29.280 But some say Elias or would it be Elijah? 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:32.780 And others say one of the old prophets is risen again. 00:01:33.900 --> 00:01:35.700 They were really quick to answer that question. 00:01:36.680 --> 00:01:39.700 But then Jesus kind of turns the question to them personally. 00:01:40.900 --> 00:01:45.200 In verse number 20, he said unto them, but whom say ye that I am? 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:49.500 Peter answering said, the Christ of God. 00:01:50.540 --> 00:01:53.439 And he straightly charged them and commanded them that they tell no man 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:59.460 that thing, saying, the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected of 00:01:59.460 --> 00:02:05.960 the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be slain and be raised the 00:02:05.960 --> 00:02:06.439 third day. 00:02:07.460 --> 00:02:11.860 As they're trying to process what Jesus said, he just goes right into this, to 00:02:11.860 --> 00:02:13.820 all that are gathered around in verse 23. 00:02:13.980 --> 00:02:19.120 And he said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:21.860 take up his cross daily and follow me. 00:02:22.500 --> 00:02:25.260 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it. 00:02:25.580 --> 00:02:31.020 But whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 00:02:31.680 --> 00:02:36.620 For what is a man advantage to be gained the whole world and lose himself or be 00:02:36.620 --> 00:02:37.200 cast away? 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:42.179 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of 00:02:42.179 --> 00:02:42.899 Man be ashamed. 00:02:43.119 --> 00:02:48.319 And when he shall come in his own glory and in his father's and of the holy 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:48.759 angels. 00:02:49.579 --> 00:02:51.979 Verse 27, but I tell you of a truth. 00:02:52.939 --> 00:02:58.079 There be some standing here which shall not taste of death till they see the 00:02:58.079 --> 00:02:59.539 kingdom of God. 00:03:00.439 --> 00:03:03.219 So I just want to preach a message entitled this, a simple question, the one that 00:03:03.219 --> 00:03:06.819 Jesus asked, who do you say that I am? 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:09.900 Who do you say that Jesus is? 00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:14.400 That's a question that every one of us must answer at some point. 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:16.439 And today's the day to answer it. 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:20.539 And Jesus is going to show and he's telling his disciples who he is and why he 00:03:20.539 --> 00:03:22.400 came and what it looks like to follow. 00:03:23.259 --> 00:03:27.680 Because the reality is there's still a lot of opinions about who Jesus is. 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:34.020 But he reminds us that he is the Christ, that he is the Son of God in the flesh, that 00:03:34.020 --> 00:03:39.219 he came for a specific reason and a mission and he's calling us to do the same. 00:03:39.300 --> 00:03:41.920 So let's have a word of prayer and then we're just going to jump right into it this 00:03:41.920 --> 00:03:42.099 morning. 00:03:42.200 --> 00:03:43.219 Father, thank you for this day. 00:03:44.120 --> 00:03:46.860 Thank you for the beautiful day you've given us and the sunshine and the great 00:03:46.860 --> 00:03:47.200 weather. 00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:53.020 And Lord, we don't know why maybe all the things didn't work like we wanted them to 00:03:53.020 --> 00:03:55.760 this morning, but really none of that really matters. 00:03:55.759 --> 00:03:57.620 Lord, what we need is you, Lord. 00:03:58.199 --> 00:03:59.539 We need you to show up now. 00:03:59.620 --> 00:04:02.039 We need you just to speak to our hearts. 00:04:02.739 --> 00:04:04.979 I don't know what everybody's brought with them. 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:07.500 I don't know what kind of week they've had or what's upcoming. 00:04:08.799 --> 00:04:11.259 Lord, I don't have all the answers for them, but you do. 00:04:12.340 --> 00:04:14.340 Lord, I pray you would just meet us where we are. 00:04:15.099 --> 00:04:19.639 Lord, you would draw those to yourself that need that, that maybe they're looking for answers. 00:04:19.719 --> 00:04:23.759 They have questions about church and Jesus and what all this is about. 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:28.000 Lord, I pray that you would be clear that their greatest need is you as their Savior. 00:04:29.180 --> 00:04:32.139 Or they're no doubt as people that have been in church their whole life. 00:04:33.639 --> 00:04:35.360 But maybe the mission is kind of faded. 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:38.980 Maybe it's not a daily taking of our cross. 00:04:39.699 --> 00:04:44.019 Lord, I pray you would just speak to our hearts and remind us that there is a great need in 00:04:44.019 --> 00:04:46.879 our world today, at our workplace, in our families. 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:49.180 Lord, you would help us to carry that truth there. 00:04:50.039 --> 00:04:51.099 Lord, I pray you'd be with me now. 00:04:51.100 --> 00:04:51.960 You would empty me of self. 00:04:52.040 --> 00:04:52.840 You would cleanse me of sin. 00:04:52.920 --> 00:04:53.960 Fill me with your spirit, Lord. 00:04:55.080 --> 00:04:58.820 I want to be a help to your people as you've been a help to me even in the studying of this. 00:04:59.260 --> 00:05:01.080 And we ask all these things in Christ's name. 00:05:01.760 --> 00:05:02.040 Amen. 00:05:02.180 --> 00:05:03.000 Thank you so much for standing. 00:05:03.080 --> 00:05:03.460 You may be seated. 00:05:06.100 --> 00:05:10.540 Have you ever signed up for something only to realize it was far more demanding than what 00:05:10.540 --> 00:05:11.100 you expected? 00:05:12.300 --> 00:05:13.379 Yeah, you ever been in one of those? 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:14.980 You're like, this sounds like a good idea. 00:05:15.860 --> 00:05:18.700 You know, maybe at the beginning of the year you're going to, these people talking into, 00:05:18.699 --> 00:05:20.279 into a workout group. 00:05:20.839 --> 00:05:21.959 Like, this is a great idea. 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:24.079 Maybe Camp Gladiator. 00:05:24.219 --> 00:05:25.459 Anybody ever do P90X? 00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:27.899 I was like, yeah, that sounds fun. 00:05:28.819 --> 00:05:29.379 It's not. 00:05:30.339 --> 00:05:31.399 Don't sign up for it. 00:05:31.719 --> 00:05:32.740 Especially at five in the morning. 00:05:32.819 --> 00:05:33.560 I'm not, I'm not for it. 00:05:33.560 --> 00:05:35.639 But sometimes we sign up and we think, man, it's really good. 00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:41.279 And we, we kind of sign our name on the line and we, we write, sign the contract or whatever 00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:43.319 it is and we realize, what did I get myself into? 00:05:44.099 --> 00:05:45.919 Maybe some of you can remember buying your first car. 00:05:45.920 --> 00:05:49.160 I mean, you were so excited because you were certain when you got, turned 16 and you got 00:05:49.160 --> 00:05:51.080 a car, life was going to change. 00:05:51.580 --> 00:05:52.920 Just freedom everywhere. 00:05:54.080 --> 00:06:00.100 But then you realize there's car insurance, there's gas, all these lights keep popping 00:06:00.100 --> 00:06:01.800 on the dash that want you to fix it. 00:06:02.020 --> 00:06:07.900 And this sweet deal that you worked all summer long for is now just a financial black hole 00:06:07.900 --> 00:06:08.800 on four wheels. 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:10.200 You ever been there? 00:06:11.020 --> 00:06:12.300 I mean, it's just kind of what it is. 00:06:12.300 --> 00:06:16.560 Maybe it was your first home and, and all you thought, I mean, you, you looked at your 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:18.920 wife, you said, all we need is love and plastic furniture. 00:06:20.139 --> 00:06:24.620 But then you got in that house and you realize the water heater, Moses installed, the, the 00:06:24.620 --> 00:06:28.860 roof leaked and every weekend you have to mow all the time because your neighbors mow and 00:06:28.860 --> 00:06:30.300 if you don't mow, then you look bad. 00:06:31.480 --> 00:06:35.439 You know, you know, one of those situations, like this is not as all, all it's cracked up to 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:35.660 be. 00:06:35.660 --> 00:06:40.420 And that excitement of maybe home ownership kind of gives way to the weight of responsibility 00:06:40.420 --> 00:06:43.080 that you have to endure, so to speak. 00:06:44.400 --> 00:06:46.500 What does that have to do with Luke chapter nine? 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:52.500 I think sometimes when it comes to the Christian life and, and following Christ, it can kind 00:06:52.500 --> 00:06:53.500 of feel the same way. 00:06:54.700 --> 00:06:59.080 Then at the outset and the get go, maybe you sat in a service and you went to a VBS or in 00:06:59.080 --> 00:07:02.020 a children's church or a youth camp at some point in your life and you're like, this is 00:07:02.020 --> 00:07:02.280 awesome. 00:07:02.279 --> 00:07:08.359 I want to serve Jesus with my life and you should, by the way, and we are getting there. 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:10.819 But the idea is following Christ. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:16.139 Yes, it's a, it's a glorious thing and it's a wonderful privilege, but it's not easy. 00:07:16.919 --> 00:07:17.659 It's not. 00:07:18.379 --> 00:07:19.799 And Jesus lays the cost out. 00:07:20.019 --> 00:07:22.539 It's free to follow him, but it's not cheap. 00:07:23.379 --> 00:07:26.419 There is a cost when it comes to following Christ. 00:07:26.420 --> 00:07:31.480 And as we come to our text here in Luke chapter nine, Jesus turns to his disciples and ask 00:07:31.480 --> 00:07:34.060 the most important question they can answer. 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:38.319 Who do you say that I am? 00:07:39.140 --> 00:07:41.759 Who do you say that I am, disciples? 00:07:43.319 --> 00:07:47.639 And really, as we walk through the gospel of Luke, it's not a new question. 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:51.759 This is a question that's been coming up over and over and over. 00:07:51.759 --> 00:08:02.099 And we see Luke has really detailed in a wonderful way how extraordinary it was to be in the presence 00:08:02.099 --> 00:08:03.079 of Jesus. 00:08:04.139 --> 00:08:08.079 I don't know about you, but when I read the gospels, I think, man, I want to be there. 00:08:08.599 --> 00:08:10.099 I want to see those things. 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:15.339 I try to picture it and I try to imagine what it was like, but to be there and to actually 00:08:15.339 --> 00:08:16.339 experience it. 00:08:16.339 --> 00:08:21.459 When he was there teaching in the temple, they said, is this not Joseph's son? 00:08:22.500 --> 00:08:25.079 Isn't this just a carpenter's boy? 00:08:25.919 --> 00:08:29.139 There was times when he would heal people and forgive them of their sins. 00:08:29.219 --> 00:08:32.639 And they said, wait, wait, who can forgive sins but God alone? 00:08:33.959 --> 00:08:35.339 This is not possible. 00:08:36.759 --> 00:08:41.759 We see the disciples as they're about to go down in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. 00:08:41.819 --> 00:08:43.079 The storm is raging. 00:08:43.459 --> 00:08:44.639 Water is coming in the boat. 00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:47.519 And he wakes up from a nap and he says, peace be still. 00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:51.100 And the disciples look around and they say, who is this? 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:55.480 What kind of man is this that even the wind and the seas obey him? 00:08:56.620 --> 00:09:02.779 We saw a couple weeks ago that even Herod, he beheaded John the Baptist. 00:09:02.919 --> 00:09:05.319 He said, I know this is not John. 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:06.220 I cut his head off. 00:09:07.100 --> 00:09:08.120 But who's this? 00:09:09.139 --> 00:09:10.799 Oh, who is this man? 00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:12.639 People are gathering to him. 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:13.960 He's changing lives. 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:15.740 He's feeding 5,000 people. 00:09:16.019 --> 00:09:18.320 Herod's thinking, he's going to take over my throne soon. 00:09:19.340 --> 00:09:24.160 And people are always asking the question, anytime they get near Jesus, who is he? 00:09:25.139 --> 00:09:26.740 The angels already knew the answer. 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:28.879 We saw that in Luke chapter 2. 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:35.460 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:37.860 But the angels weren't the only ones. 00:09:37.980 --> 00:09:38.960 The demons knew it too. 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:44.519 We've seen multiple interactions when Jesus comes to him and these people are possessed by these demons. 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:46.960 And in Luke chapter 4, they said this. 00:09:47.040 --> 00:09:50.980 The demons said, I know who thou art, the Holy One of God. 00:09:50.980 --> 00:09:55.320 But we've walked with the disciples. 00:09:55.960 --> 00:10:00.539 And we've seen them as they kind of, they're following the Lord, but they're still struggling. 00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:03.480 Which I'm thankful that's recorded in Scripture, by the way. 00:10:04.220 --> 00:10:07.240 God didn't say, hey, you've got to be a Christian and got to have it all figured out. 00:10:07.580 --> 00:10:09.399 Thank goodness none of us would be here. 00:10:09.399 --> 00:10:14.740 But the disciples were really, they just really hadn't put all the pieces together. 00:10:15.159 --> 00:10:16.439 They're kind of starting to see it. 00:10:16.500 --> 00:10:19.659 They're kind of, it's kind of getting a little bit clearer. 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:25.600 But Jesus doesn't just leave the question hanging in the air for the crowds. 00:10:26.620 --> 00:10:29.179 Because he says, hey, who do people say that I am? 00:10:30.179 --> 00:10:33.120 No, he turns it directly to his followers. 00:10:33.860 --> 00:10:35.659 He turns it right to them. 00:10:35.659 --> 00:10:39.559 And friends, I just want to remind you that he still turns it to us today. 00:10:40.500 --> 00:10:42.259 And the question is still out there. 00:10:43.019 --> 00:10:44.879 Because there's a lot of people who say, oh yeah, I'm a Christian. 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:47.419 But what does it look like to follow Christ? 00:10:48.299 --> 00:10:52.699 What is some practical ways that it shows up in our life? 00:10:53.500 --> 00:10:55.019 And that's what Jesus wants us to see. 00:10:55.019 --> 00:10:57.759 And we're going to see the answer as we walk through this text. 00:10:58.319 --> 00:11:02.279 See, the first thing that we have to understand when it comes to following Jesus, 00:11:02.379 --> 00:11:04.039 we have to recognize who he is. 00:11:04.039 --> 00:11:07.679 We have to understand exactly who we're following. 00:11:08.279 --> 00:11:11.099 You ever thought you were following somebody, but it was the wrong car? 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:13.919 And you're thinking, where are they going? 00:11:13.980 --> 00:11:15.819 Because I don't remember where I'm at. 00:11:15.860 --> 00:11:18.539 This does not feel like the restaurant that I thought we were going to. 00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:21.059 And you got behind somebody and you're following the wrong person. 00:11:21.339 --> 00:11:23.860 Listen, we've got to make sure we're following the right person. 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:27.279 We've got to make sure we're following the right map, the right truth. 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:29.659 He is the way and the truth and the life. 00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:33.939 But before we jump into the question, I want us to notice something real fast. 00:11:34.039 --> 00:11:38.120 Verse 18, and it came to pass as he was alone praying. 00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:41.419 Sometimes we run past those things. 00:11:42.139 --> 00:11:47.399 I mean, because we're coming into some great verses, really some great verses in all of the Gospels. 00:11:47.980 --> 00:11:50.219 Verses we probably have maybe heard in the past. 00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:54.060 But there's a lot of great truth in that little statement. 00:11:55.100 --> 00:12:03.720 That Luke has consistently shown us that Jesus, before any major event in his life, we find him praying. 00:12:04.460 --> 00:12:06.440 We found him praying before his baptism. 00:12:06.800 --> 00:12:08.899 We found him praying before choosing the twelve. 00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:12.220 We're going to see him next week as he's about to be transfigured. 00:12:13.220 --> 00:12:16.120 And they're going to see that on the Mount of Transfiguration. 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:24.899 And now before leading his disciples to this great confession and this kind of moving forward in their life, you know what he does? 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:26.060 He prays about it. 00:12:28.299 --> 00:12:30.379 Sometimes we treat prayer like a 911. 00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:32.480 Last ditch effort. 00:12:33.060 --> 00:12:34.720 Hey, Lord, I'm in trouble. 00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:37.100 You know what we see in Christ's life? 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:39.120 He's constantly praying. 00:12:40.019 --> 00:12:42.460 He's not trying to find God when trouble hits. 00:12:42.460 --> 00:12:43.759 He's not trying to find God. 00:12:43.940 --> 00:12:45.240 Hey, God, my life's a mess. 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:46.700 I could really use you right now. 00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:49.560 And let me remind you, it's okay to pray those prayers. 00:12:49.680 --> 00:12:50.820 And you should pray those prayers. 00:12:52.160 --> 00:12:54.820 But listen, maybe you're facing decisions in your life right now. 00:12:54.900 --> 00:12:56.060 And you've Googled it. 00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:57.500 And you've chat GPT'd it. 00:12:58.860 --> 00:13:00.200 You're like, that's good stuff. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:02.840 Have you prayed about it? 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:07.000 Because decisions affect where we're going to end up. 00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:10.040 They affect the direction of our life. 00:13:10.039 --> 00:13:14.599 And every time Jesus was going to make a major decision, and really even small decisions, 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:17.539 Jesus was in constant communication with his Father. 00:13:17.939 --> 00:13:19.959 And he wanted to be on the same page. 00:13:20.439 --> 00:13:22.539 And he's there, and he's praying. 00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:25.919 And really, this should just be a pattern of our life. 00:13:26.419 --> 00:13:29.039 A pattern that we follow when it comes to Christ. 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:31.659 So he's praying, and he knows what's coming. 00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:34.579 And so his disciples are gathered around, and they're thinking, what are we doing? 00:13:34.599 --> 00:13:35.000 Where are we going? 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:43.980 Verse number 18, his disciples were with him, and he asked them, saying, whom say the people that I am? 00:13:45.179 --> 00:13:47.940 Now what we see is the disciples were really quick to give some answers. 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:53.679 You know, you know when you're excited when, in class, when they actually ask a question that you know? 00:13:54.059 --> 00:13:55.700 And you just raise your hand up. 00:13:56.019 --> 00:13:56.799 Ooh, I know. 00:13:57.080 --> 00:13:58.759 I love when you're little, and everybody just raises your hand. 00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:00.480 The teacher says, can anybody? 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:06.159 You know, but I feel like the disciples were ready for this question. 00:14:06.920 --> 00:14:08.980 And they were all jumping up like, oh, pick me, pick me. 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:10.480 John the Baptist. 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:12.080 Elijah. 00:14:13.019 --> 00:14:14.480 One of the great prophets. 00:14:14.980 --> 00:14:19.700 And Jesus kind of nodding his head, and he's thinking, okay, you know, I've heard those things. 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:22.360 And they're so proud of themselves. 00:14:23.060 --> 00:14:23.920 I think, yeah, I said that. 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.700 Yeah, I did it. 00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:27.139 Hey, maybe they thought they were going to get candy. 00:14:27.200 --> 00:14:28.600 I'm not really sure what was going on. 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:32.700 And these are all flattering answers. 00:14:34.860 --> 00:14:42.159 As somebody being likened to John the Baptist, I mean, John the Baptist was extremely popular. 00:14:43.040 --> 00:14:44.340 He had a great ministry. 00:14:45.220 --> 00:14:48.480 I mean, Elijah, you talk about a powerful prophet in the Old Testament. 00:14:49.019 --> 00:14:51.700 I mean, everybody looked at, and they saw the power that Christ possessed. 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:53.519 They said, this has got to be like Elijah. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:56.080 I mean, this guy was calling fire down from heaven. 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:58.240 Maybe it's Elijah's comeback. 00:14:59.220 --> 00:15:00.440 Or one of the old prophets. 00:15:00.540 --> 00:15:01.580 Or somebody like Moses. 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:05.080 And then they're patting themselves on the back. 00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:09.440 And then he just turns right to them and says, but who do you say that I am? 00:15:10.920 --> 00:15:14.519 I would imagine the answer to that first question came off their lips real fast. 00:15:15.040 --> 00:15:16.500 I mean, they were just blurting them out. 00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:17.259 I mean, left and right. 00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:18.320 Jesus was like, okay, okay, okay, okay. 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:20.300 But what about you? 00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:23.879 Who do you say that I am? 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:28.799 I would imagine there was kind of a silence in the disciple group. 00:15:30.439 --> 00:15:31.439 Why don't you answer? 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:34.740 You know, you know when you don't want to answer because you don't want to be called out? 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:37.639 Because the teacher says there's no wrong answer? 00:15:38.439 --> 00:15:39.120 That's dumb. 00:15:40.179 --> 00:15:41.639 There's a lot of wrong answers. 00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:47.580 But they're looking around like, Peter, say something. 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:48.779 You always say something. 00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:52.100 And what do you know? 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:52.980 Peter does say something. 00:15:54.259 --> 00:16:01.179 He speaks up and he says, Peter answering said, the Christ of God. 00:16:01.179 --> 00:16:06.299 In the other gospels, Matthew says, thou art the Christ. 00:16:07.079 --> 00:16:08.219 What does that mean? 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:13.079 Because I think we look at that and we say, okay, yeah, good job, Peter. 00:16:14.419 --> 00:16:17.779 But Peter wasn't just tossing around a religious phrase. 00:16:18.959 --> 00:16:20.500 He wasn't saying, well, I heard this once. 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:21.539 I'm going to throw that out there. 00:16:22.219 --> 00:16:24.219 Because sometimes we're really good at the religious lingo. 00:16:25.059 --> 00:16:26.019 And sometimes you're new to church. 00:16:26.079 --> 00:16:27.359 You're thinking, what are they saying? 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:32.399 But this is more than just some religious catchphrase and some little thing they said within the group. 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:35.519 It wasn't an inside kind of a line. 00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:40.060 No, he's making the greatest confession of faith that we see so far in the gospel of Luke. 00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:42.379 See, Christ means this. 00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:46.800 It either means Messiah or anointed one. 00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:50.180 It was something that the Jews were looking for. 00:16:50.180 --> 00:16:57.259 In the Old Testament, the prophets and the priests and the kings, they were anointed with oil as a sign from God. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:17:00.139 To do a job they were called to do. 00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:04.720 When they were anointed, everybody said, hey, this is the man for the job. 00:17:05.180 --> 00:17:06.220 This is the priest. 00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:07.319 This is the king. 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:08.799 This is who he is. 00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:16.500 And to declare Jesus as the Christ is to say that he is the fulfillment of all those offices. 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:20.400 That he is anointed as a prophet to give us the truth. 00:17:20.819 --> 00:17:21.720 He is the truth. 00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:26.519 You shall know the truth, he says, and the truth shall set you free. 00:17:26.519 --> 00:17:28.460 That that's who Jesus is. 00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:30.019 He's anointed as a priest. 00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:33.420 He brings us to God through his sacrifice. 00:17:34.099 --> 00:17:38.000 Sometimes you read the Old Testament and you think, what's the deal with all these sacrifices and all these animals? 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:41.059 Well, why does a priest have to bring these and do all that? 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:42.299 Because it was a picture. 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:45.000 It was a foreshadowing of what was to come. 00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:47.379 And what was to come was Jesus Christ. 00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:51.079 That he was anointed as the priest to bring the sacrifice. 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:52.639 But he wasn't bringing a lamb. 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:54.660 He was bringing himself. 00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:57.400 And he was willing to lay down his life. 00:17:58.420 --> 00:18:00.480 But he's not just a prophet and he's not just a priest. 00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:02.880 He's anointed as the king of kings. 00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:05.120 And the lord of lords. 00:18:05.620 --> 00:18:10.700 That he rules over God's people with justice and authority. 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:13.880 And Peter didn't say, hey, you're just some anointed one. 00:18:14.080 --> 00:18:16.920 No, you're the Christ of God. 00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:22.600 That Jesus' position was not man-made. 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:28.700 His identity is not wrapped up in the popular opinion of the day. 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:36.820 And let me remind you, whether it's the first century or it's 2025, Jesus is not the Christ because the crowds vote him that way. 00:18:38.080 --> 00:18:41.660 Because popular opinion sways and we're going to see that here in the Gospel of Luke. 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:48.700 No, Jesus is the Christ because the Father had anointed him from eternity to do so. 00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:51.220 That's the simple truth of it. 00:18:51.860 --> 00:18:53.240 That Jesus is God. 00:18:53.840 --> 00:18:55.680 People say, well, I don't believe that. 00:18:56.080 --> 00:18:57.279 It doesn't change the fact. 00:18:58.820 --> 00:19:00.220 See, Christ is a title. 00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:03.160 Sometimes we think, well, Jesus Christ, that may be his last name. 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:05.140 No, he's Jesus the Christ. 00:19:05.580 --> 00:19:06.360 The Messiah. 00:19:06.660 --> 00:19:07.420 The Deliverer. 00:19:07.620 --> 00:19:08.480 The Anointed One. 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:11.480 And so Peter's confession is a loaded confession. 00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:13.660 He is telling Jesus. 00:19:13.860 --> 00:19:17.940 He is announcing to the crowds and announcing to the disciples that are there. 00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:20.640 You are the long-awaited Messiah. 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:21.779 The promised Savior. 00:19:22.080 --> 00:19:24.519 The one sent by God himself. 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:27.660 That he's beginning to put it together. 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:31.740 Well, how does that apply to me today? 00:19:32.600 --> 00:19:37.740 Let me just remind you, it's not enough to say that Jesus is a good teacher. 00:19:38.560 --> 00:19:39.920 He's a fantastic teacher. 00:19:40.840 --> 00:19:45.740 It's not just good enough to say that Jesus is a good moral example. 00:19:46.580 --> 00:19:51.580 Because you're going to find people all over this world, people that are atheists, and they'll say, listen, he was a great teacher. 00:19:52.460 --> 00:19:54.140 He's a good moral example. 00:19:54.380 --> 00:19:56.360 And we should follow some truths from him. 00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:59.100 Listen, that's what the crowds say both then and now. 00:19:59.099 --> 00:20:04.500 They have all these opinions about who Jesus is. 00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:07.559 But the real question is this. 00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:09.419 Who is he to you? 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:12.459 Is he your prophet? 00:20:12.859 --> 00:20:14.339 The one that gives you the truth? 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:15.919 That's what he came to do. 00:20:16.159 --> 00:20:19.139 Is he your priest that was willing to give the sacrifice? 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:20.719 Is he your king? 00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:22.959 Listen, who's ruling your life? 00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:25.819 You are him. 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:27.779 I know this. 00:20:27.840 --> 00:20:30.420 When I'm in control of my life, it's a mess. 00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:33.559 But Jesus came into that mess. 00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:34.880 He came into that sin. 00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:37.700 When I was lost, and he said, listen, I love you. 00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:39.559 You say, how do you know Jesus loves you? 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.500 Look at the cross. 00:20:41.900 --> 00:20:44.100 Because that's where he's marching towards right now. 00:20:44.099 --> 00:20:48.500 Because here's the truth, and here's what happens when we recognize Jesus. 00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:54.939 That when we recognize him as the Christ, then he has the right to define truth for you. 00:20:55.579 --> 00:20:59.719 Listen, we live in a world where truth, it just doesn't seem to exist anymore. 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:01.299 We say things like this. 00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:02.139 You hear it all the time. 00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:03.719 Well, that's your truth. 00:21:04.859 --> 00:21:07.819 I have, you know, I have my truth, and I'm glad it works for me. 00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:09.740 No, it doesn't. 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:12.539 There's only one truth, and it's Jesus. 00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:17.019 Jesus, and if he's your king, then he has the right to define truth. 00:21:17.619 --> 00:21:22.799 He has the right to lead your life and to rule your life, to intercede for you. 00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:25.700 And sometimes we get in our head thinking, well, I just want to do what I want to do. 00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:28.519 Anybody ever thought that? 00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:30.259 Yeah, we all do. 00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:31.960 I mean, it starts when we're real little. 00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:33.619 We want to dress ourselves. 00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:34.619 We want to do what we want to do. 00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:39.220 We don't really grow out of that, but we realize this when we realize who Jesus is. 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:42.359 He loves me more than I love myself. 00:21:43.339 --> 00:21:45.759 He knows what I need more than I need. 00:21:46.220 --> 00:21:47.480 We think we know what we need. 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:48.839 No, we need Jesus. 00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:53.700 But here's the part the disciples really weren't expecting. 00:21:55.339 --> 00:21:57.879 I mean, Peter had to be super proud of himself for this one. 00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:59.440 He's like, man, I nailed that one. 00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:07.720 But to confess Jesus as the Christ is not just to recognize his identity. 00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:09.500 That's a great start. 00:22:10.340 --> 00:22:14.700 A follower of Christ has to realize who he really is, who you're really following. 00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:16.660 But here's where the rubber meets the road. 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:21.799 To recognize who he is is also to embrace his mission. 00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:24.100 That's what he wanted them to see. 00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:27.860 And his mission isn't all thrones and triumphs. 00:22:28.660 --> 00:22:29.539 It's a cross. 00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:34.420 And the disciples had a hard time wrapping their minds around this. 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:36.500 And we give them a hard time. 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:36.980 But you know what? 00:22:37.139 --> 00:22:39.000 I think we still have a hard time with that too. 00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:42.619 You know, we may come to the Lord as our Savior. 00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:43.599 And we trust him. 00:22:43.619 --> 00:22:47.240 And we know that we placed our faith in what he did on the cross for us. 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:48.200 But then guess what? 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:49.240 A problem comes in our life. 00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:51.859 And we're thinking, Lord, what's going on? 00:22:51.859 --> 00:22:56.599 I'm not sure if you know this, but I got some problems I need you to take care of. 00:22:57.519 --> 00:23:01.179 Listen, Jesus is not some great genie that's just going to make your life perfect. 00:23:01.919 --> 00:23:04.559 In fact, he promises life's going to be hard. 00:23:06.139 --> 00:23:07.419 Anybody ever find that out? 00:23:07.479 --> 00:23:07.959 Life's hard? 00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:10.279 It's hard either way. 00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:13.719 But I'd rather walk with somebody that already knows what's coming tomorrow. 00:23:14.399 --> 00:23:18.139 Somebody that loves me and takes care of me and wants to be there for me. 00:23:18.140 --> 00:23:22.560 And the moment that we confess who he is, Jesus says, it's going to cost you. 00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:24.500 It's going to cost you, Peter. 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:26.500 That's what we see in verse number 21. 00:23:26.620 --> 00:23:30.380 He said this, and he straightly charged them and commanded them that they tell no man. 00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:33.400 Before we jump into the next verses, that seems weird, doesn't it? 00:23:34.900 --> 00:23:36.900 Peter makes this great confession. 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:38.540 He makes this great thing. 00:23:38.580 --> 00:23:41.080 And he says, listen, you're the Christ. 00:23:41.140 --> 00:23:43.680 And Jesus says, shh, don't tell anybody. 00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:46.420 Anybody ever read that verse and think, what in the world? 00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:49.600 Well, why would that, why would he say that? 00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:51.600 I think there's a couple reasons. 00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:53.300 Number one, because the time wasn't yet. 00:23:54.080 --> 00:23:57.380 When you read the gospels, Jesus says this over and over and over and over. 00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:58.519 My time's not come. 00:23:59.080 --> 00:23:59.980 My time's not come. 00:24:00.300 --> 00:24:01.140 My time's not come. 00:24:01.340 --> 00:24:02.100 You know what he understood? 00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:04.039 The people would have misunderstood that. 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:08.320 Because when Jesus said, hey, I am the Messiah, you know what they were thinking? 00:24:08.800 --> 00:24:09.000 Thrones. 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:10.640 You know what they were thinking? 00:24:11.080 --> 00:24:11.980 Crowns on their head. 00:24:12.080 --> 00:24:12.700 How do you know that? 00:24:12.900 --> 00:24:15.180 Because they argued about it all the way up to the cross. 00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:18.640 James and John got their mama involved. 00:24:19.360 --> 00:24:22.759 And mama came and said, hey, listen, James and John, they're good boys. 00:24:22.820 --> 00:24:23.480 You know what they should do? 00:24:23.620 --> 00:24:24.860 Sit on your right hand and left hand. 00:24:25.060 --> 00:24:26.860 They want to rule everybody with you. 00:24:27.420 --> 00:24:29.240 And Jesus is like, oh, man. 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.539 They're missing it. 00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:35.620 We saw, you see him and he comes in the triumphant entry to Jerusalem. 00:24:36.120 --> 00:24:36.620 You know what they're singing? 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:38.560 Hosanna, save us now. 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:40.259 Hey, overthrow Rome. 00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:41.700 Jesus knew that. 00:24:41.859 --> 00:24:43.779 He knew the disciples would have misrepresented. 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:45.019 They'd have been telling everybody. 00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:47.240 They'd have posted on Facebook, hey, Jesus is the king. 00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:48.279 I'm second in command. 00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:50.940 That's how they think. 00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:52.140 That's where they were. 00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:54.740 And here's what would have happened as well. 00:24:55.019 --> 00:24:57.220 The religious leaders would have pounced too soon. 00:24:58.059 --> 00:25:00.259 Because we see already they're going to kill him. 00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:02.500 Well, that's what they think they're going to do. 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:05.339 Jesus actually just laid his life down. 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.119 No man took his life. 00:25:07.619 --> 00:25:14.660 Jesus wasn't swept up in some political wheels of the day and just kind of got mixed up and said some wrong things at the wrong time. 00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:19.119 No, at the right time, at the perfect time, Jesus went to the cross of Calvary. 00:25:19.579 --> 00:25:21.460 Just as the Father had planned it. 00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:27.380 And yes, the title Christ was correct, but it needed a cross to really give it meaning. 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:32.380 And let me just remind you, without the cross, you can't really understand who Jesus is. 00:25:33.500 --> 00:25:35.660 Because without the cross, he is just a teacher. 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:38.000 He is just a moral example. 00:25:38.619 --> 00:25:41.559 He's just some Jewish man that lived 2,000 years ago. 00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:44.640 But with the cross, everything changes. 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:47.740 And that's what Jesus wanted them to understand. 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:52.359 See, but that statement didn't really shock them compared to what he said in verse number 22. 00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:55.400 They kind of just said, okay, well, whatever he means by that. 00:25:55.400 --> 00:26:04.900 But then he said, the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected of the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, 00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:07.380 which really would make up a big group called the Sanhedrin. 00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:10.340 Basically, the religious establishment was coming after him. 00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:11.580 Why? 00:26:12.100 --> 00:26:13.040 And be slain. 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:16.360 And be raised again the third day. 00:26:16.359 --> 00:26:19.959 And we see that word in there, must. 00:26:21.659 --> 00:26:23.740 He must do these things. 00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:27.699 It just reminds us that Jesus' suffering was not accidental. 00:26:29.219 --> 00:26:32.059 Jesus didn't accidentally die on the cross for your sins. 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:33.879 No, he must. 00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:35.960 It's something he planned. 00:26:36.320 --> 00:26:37.800 Something he made sure happened. 00:26:38.100 --> 00:26:39.240 It was necessary. 00:26:39.780 --> 00:26:44.940 And then when he says all of these things, and they're kind of trying to process all these things that are coming right at him, 00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:53.680 he turns to them and says, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:56.860 I mean, talk about a lot to process. 00:26:57.920 --> 00:26:59.940 I'll just be honest, there's a lot to process even here this morning. 00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:02.840 But imagine the disciples there. 00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:06.280 And they're thinking, what is he talking about? 00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:09.160 Because they had just seen all kinds of things. 00:27:09.600 --> 00:27:12.520 They had been involved in the feeding of the 5,000 miracle. 00:27:12.900 --> 00:27:17.560 He had sent them out and they had preached and people had responded and lives were being changed. 00:27:17.820 --> 00:27:20.560 They were there when he calmed the storms and he did all these things. 00:27:20.620 --> 00:27:22.000 They're thinking, what is he? 00:27:22.120 --> 00:27:24.040 This is not what I signed up for. 00:27:25.100 --> 00:27:28.000 This is not when he said, follow me, what I thought I was getting into. 00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:32.440 This is turning out to be a lot more costly than I thought. 00:27:33.880 --> 00:27:34.620 So what does he mean? 00:27:35.300 --> 00:27:39.060 If any man will come after me, let him deny himself. 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:43.180 Listen, denying yourself doesn't mean that you hate yourself. 00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:46.580 It doesn't mean that you have to be like Eeyore. 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:48.640 You know what I'm talking about? 00:27:49.600 --> 00:27:51.280 A little cloud falling all over you. 00:27:51.580 --> 00:27:52.940 All day just rains on you. 00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:53.940 Everybody's like, how are you? 00:27:54.360 --> 00:27:55.860 Just over here denying myself. 00:27:56.860 --> 00:27:57.940 Nobody loves me. 00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:59.340 At least I love the Lord. 00:28:00.120 --> 00:28:01.640 Listen, that's not what he's talking about. 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:03.940 He's not saying that we have to go through life miserable. 00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:08.680 In fact, Christian people, followers of Christ, should be the happiest people on the planet. 00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:09.080 Why? 00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:13.500 Because they know Jesus loves them and they have a hope that's steadfast and sure and anchored in his truth. 00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:16.380 We don't have to walk around like, poor pitiful me. 00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:18.440 No, here's what denying yourself means. 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:21.539 It means surrendering your right to run your life. 00:28:22.360 --> 00:28:23.059 I don't know about you. 00:28:23.059 --> 00:28:24.399 I like to be in control. 00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:26.339 Okay. 00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:28.119 I'm the only one. 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:33.759 Almost every man in here gets home and says, who's got the remote? 00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:35.859 Dad's home. 00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:38.379 Dad, all we watch is football. 00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:39.799 What else are we going to watch? 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:41.960 Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. 00:28:42.679 --> 00:28:43.799 I like to be in control. 00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:46.819 I want to run my life because I think to myself, you know what? 00:28:46.919 --> 00:28:47.659 I'm pretty smart. 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:48.579 Don't respond to that. 00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:50.740 And I think to myself, I know what I'm doing. 00:28:50.740 --> 00:28:52.539 I know how to handle this. 00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:55.639 But the reality is, is I don't. 00:28:57.179 --> 00:29:01.079 And when I live for myself, it's not good for anybody else but myself. 00:29:01.159 --> 00:29:01.980 And it's not even good for me. 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:06.179 No, Jesus says, if you really want to follow me, here's what you have to do. 00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:07.379 You have to surrender that right. 00:29:08.399 --> 00:29:09.319 Let me lead. 00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:11.740 Because he's the one that's saying, follow. 00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:14.460 We can't follow somebody and then do what we want to do. 00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:16.519 That's not how it works. 00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:19.079 Notice what else he says. 00:29:19.639 --> 00:29:21.700 He says, a follower of Christ denies themselves. 00:29:21.700 --> 00:29:25.880 And take up his cross daily. 00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:34.960 Now, this idea of taking up your cross is one of the most wrenched out of context phrases in all the Bible. 00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:37.620 I'm going to be nice as I can. 00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:43.000 Your cross to bear is not your neighbor's barking dog. 00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:50.000 It's not that coworker that just annoys the living daylights out of you. 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:52.339 It's not even your mother-in-law. 00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:56.500 We're going to throw all the things I've heard. 00:29:56.619 --> 00:29:57.839 You know, that's my cross to bear. 00:29:57.839 --> 00:30:00.959 No, that's not what a cross to bear is. 00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:06.599 It's suffering for the sake of the gospel. 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:13.159 It's for taking a stand for Christ and living how he wants you to live. 00:30:13.439 --> 00:30:14.339 That's what it is. 00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:18.879 Jesus is reminding us that a cross was an instrument of death. 00:30:20.059 --> 00:30:23.659 And he's calling his followers to die to self. 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:25.039 To die to pride. 00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:26.220 To die to comfort. 00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:27.519 To the world's approval. 00:30:27.859 --> 00:30:29.539 Every single day. 00:30:29.879 --> 00:30:30.959 You know what the Apostle Paul said? 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:33.179 I die daily. 00:30:33.180 --> 00:30:35.960 He wasn't talking about physical death. 00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:38.580 He was saying, listen, when I wake up in the morning, I have a choice. 00:30:38.820 --> 00:30:40.940 Do I live for the Lord or do I live for myself? 00:30:42.759 --> 00:30:46.360 Do I do what God wants me to do or do I want to do what I want to do? 00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:48.840 See, to follow Christ, here's what it is. 00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:51.019 Continual obedience. 00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:54.320 Not occasional convenience. 00:30:55.940 --> 00:30:57.060 You know what Jesus is saying? 00:30:57.220 --> 00:30:58.860 I'm not looking for fans. 00:30:59.840 --> 00:31:00.440 He's not. 00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:02.759 He can draw a crowd. 00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:04.079 He had a lot of fans. 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:07.700 I mean, Jesus would show up and they say, hey, it's the guy that feeds us. 00:31:08.119 --> 00:31:08.440 Yes! 00:31:09.740 --> 00:31:11.059 Don't act like you wouldn't do that. 00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:12.759 You're thinking right now, what are we going to have for lunch? 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:15.019 I mean, that's what they were. 00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:16.299 He fed him and they said, you know what? 00:31:16.420 --> 00:31:17.220 He's got my vote. 00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:18.640 I'm voting him king. 00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:19.660 Read John 6. 00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:22.819 I mean, he fed him and everybody's like, hey, I'll be the campaign manager. 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:23.879 Let's vote this guy in. 00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:28.119 Because they were just looking, hey, he's making life easier for us. 00:31:28.119 --> 00:31:33.139 Listen, following Jesus, take up your cross daily. 00:31:34.199 --> 00:31:35.699 He didn't say Wednesdays and Sundays. 00:31:36.859 --> 00:31:37.659 No, daily. 00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:42.459 It's not when it's convenient to you, when you don't have anything else on your schedule, 00:31:42.639 --> 00:31:44.619 when it just seems like, well, I guess I can go to church today. 00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:46.359 No, it's not even about coming to church. 00:31:46.579 --> 00:31:48.599 Yeah, we should gather together as a family. 00:31:48.599 --> 00:31:50.000 But it's not about religion. 00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:53.699 It's about a relationship with Christ and continually following him. 00:31:54.139 --> 00:31:56.339 And being sensitive to his leading. 00:31:57.959 --> 00:32:00.139 I used the illustration on Wednesday night about a marathon. 00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:02.379 Yes, I ran one because I'm weird and weird. 00:32:03.559 --> 00:32:05.719 You know what the easiest part about the marathon was? 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:08.359 Signing up. 00:32:10.659 --> 00:32:11.339 I mean, think about it. 00:32:11.959 --> 00:32:14.359 How many of you have signed up for a 5K, 10K for you? 00:32:14.419 --> 00:32:15.319 You're like, yeah, I can do that. 00:32:15.619 --> 00:32:16.859 I mean, you just click your name in. 00:32:16.859 --> 00:32:17.959 You put your information in. 00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:18.600 You're good. 00:32:19.620 --> 00:32:21.079 That's the easiest thing you'll do. 00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:23.259 Guess what comes after that? 00:32:23.660 --> 00:32:23.980 Training. 00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:25.799 You've got to work. 00:32:26.180 --> 00:32:26.840 You've got to put the effort. 00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:29.019 Because if you're going to run the race, you've got to be ready for it. 00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:30.579 Some of you didn't. 00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:32.340 You signed up for the 5K and just showed up. 00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:33.779 How'd that work for you? 00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:37.059 I've seen you laying on the side of the road like. 00:32:41.700 --> 00:32:44.019 See, discipleship is not a one-time decision. 00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:45.039 It's a daily commitment. 00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:48.720 You've got to take up that cross. 00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:51.139 And sometimes people aren't going to understand it. 00:32:51.720 --> 00:32:54.079 Sometimes it's people even closest to you. 00:32:54.779 --> 00:32:56.480 You may have a spouse that doesn't understand it. 00:32:56.659 --> 00:32:59.359 But instead of trying to just live for yourself, here's what you do. 00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:00.680 You serve in that marriage. 00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:02.720 Both ways, by the way. 00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:05.240 It's not a wife or a husband thing. 00:33:05.379 --> 00:33:06.440 We're to serve our spouse. 00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:14.400 At work, we choose integrity even when it might cost you that promotion or that approval or that inclusion with the group. 00:33:14.600 --> 00:33:16.220 You have to say, hey, I'm going to follow Christ. 00:33:16.360 --> 00:33:17.259 I can't do that. 00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:19.100 I can't fudge those numbers a little bit. 00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:23.400 I can't do that because I'm not going to live that way because Christ has called me to a much higher living. 00:33:24.680 --> 00:33:25.720 People don't understand that. 00:33:26.600 --> 00:33:27.860 You know what it's going to look like, young people? 00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:28.840 I'm not going to go there. 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:30.160 I'm not going to say that. 00:33:30.320 --> 00:33:30.940 I'm not going to look at that. 00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:32.360 I'm not going to be involved in that. 00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:32.700 Why? 00:33:32.880 --> 00:33:33.860 Because we're better than them? 00:33:33.859 --> 00:33:35.939 No, because we're following Christ. 00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:38.099 And we're not living for ourselves. 00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:40.719 We're not living for approval of the masses. 00:33:40.899 --> 00:33:42.699 We're living for the approval of one. 00:33:42.859 --> 00:33:45.399 And we want to serve him with everything that we have. 00:33:47.119 --> 00:33:50.599 I think, why would you endure such a cost? 00:33:52.099 --> 00:33:56.259 Because this does not seem like a glowing thing like, everybody sign up for this. 00:33:58.000 --> 00:34:00.059 But Jesus just doesn't sugarcoat it. 00:34:00.059 --> 00:34:03.720 He lets us know there is a purpose for it. 00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:08.699 But he gives us, in verse 24 and verse 25, he gives us this paradox of saving and losing. 00:34:09.500 --> 00:34:10.400 Verse 24 says this, 00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:16.299 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 00:34:17.139 --> 00:34:23.380 For what is a man advantaged if he gained the whole world and lose himself or be a castaway? 00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:27.720 Jesus says in these verses something that just doesn't make sense to us. 00:34:28.500 --> 00:34:32.700 If we hold tightly to our life as it is without Christ, here's what's going to happen. 00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:33.880 You're going to lose it. 00:34:34.840 --> 00:34:39.920 But if you open your hands and you give it to the Lord, you're going to gain it. 00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:42.280 That doesn't make sense in our mind. 00:34:43.099 --> 00:34:45.160 You know, everything in our life, we protect it. 00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:47.200 We hold on to it. 00:34:47.460 --> 00:34:48.640 We don't want anybody else to do it. 00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:52.279 You know, when you've got kids, I hear all the time, they touch my stuff. 00:34:53.239 --> 00:34:54.779 I'm like, that's my stuff anyways. 00:34:55.019 --> 00:34:55.879 Stop fighting about it. 00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:57.059 I'll put this roof over your head. 00:34:59.159 --> 00:35:01.359 Don't act like you don't parent that way sometimes. 00:35:06.179 --> 00:35:11.379 But what Jesus is wanting his disciples, a true follower of Christ, to really look in their life and see, 00:35:11.379 --> 00:35:14.319 are we living for the temporary or the eternal? 00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:21.039 He says, for where your heart is, there will your treasure be also. 00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:25.360 And even Christian people, you know where their heart is many times? 00:35:26.140 --> 00:35:27.180 In that job. 00:35:27.920 --> 00:35:28.780 In that truck. 00:35:29.260 --> 00:35:30.120 In that boat. 00:35:30.420 --> 00:35:30.980 In this. 00:35:31.100 --> 00:35:31.519 In that. 00:35:31.680 --> 00:35:34.960 In all of these things, that that's where our happiness is found. 00:35:35.100 --> 00:35:36.480 And we're living for that. 00:35:36.660 --> 00:35:40.480 And Jesus is just simply reminding us, worldly success is fleeting. 00:35:41.660 --> 00:35:42.640 It's going to be gone. 00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:44.480 Remember that new car you had? 00:35:44.679 --> 00:35:46.059 Now you're like, eh, it's a deer. 00:35:46.159 --> 00:35:46.819 It's not a big deal. 00:35:48.460 --> 00:35:50.359 But before, you wouldn't even take it out of it range. 00:35:50.460 --> 00:35:51.960 Like, we've got to leave it in the garage. 00:35:52.619 --> 00:35:54.920 You know, as parents, we're not eating in this car. 00:35:58.079 --> 00:35:58.599 Nice one. 00:35:58.659 --> 00:35:59.579 Let me know how that works. 00:36:02.739 --> 00:36:03.920 Worldly success is fleeting. 00:36:04.039 --> 00:36:05.319 Eternal life is forever. 00:36:05.320 --> 00:36:11.640 Jesus says, listen, it's not worth clinging to comfort and approval and control. 00:36:12.039 --> 00:36:13.960 Because all that leads to is loss. 00:36:16.340 --> 00:36:18.140 I know it's corny, but we've heard it. 00:36:18.320 --> 00:36:20.400 I've never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul. 00:36:22.620 --> 00:36:26.600 Maybe for you history buffs, you watch all the pharaohs when they raid their tombs. 00:36:26.680 --> 00:36:27.000 Guess what? 00:36:27.100 --> 00:36:28.600 All that stuff's still in there. 00:36:29.400 --> 00:36:31.059 It's all full of the gold and the jewels. 00:36:31.059 --> 00:36:33.639 All the things they were taking to the afterlife with them. 00:36:33.739 --> 00:36:34.019 Guess what? 00:36:34.219 --> 00:36:36.139 It's here and people pillage it and rob it. 00:36:37.759 --> 00:36:43.019 Because what does it profit a man if he gains everything this world has? 00:36:43.779 --> 00:36:45.119 Because it's not really worth anything. 00:36:45.759 --> 00:36:47.539 It's all going to be gone at some point. 00:36:48.900 --> 00:36:53.119 But he says, surrendering to Christ is how you truly find life. 00:36:55.079 --> 00:36:57.719 The great martyred missionary Jim Elliott said this, 00:36:57.719 --> 00:37:03.239 He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. 00:37:05.859 --> 00:37:07.980 Jesus reminds us, what are we living for? 00:37:09.019 --> 00:37:13.959 Even people that know Jesus as their Savior can find ourselves living for the here and now. 00:37:15.259 --> 00:37:17.939 But maybe you don't know Christ as your Savior and he's reminding us today, 00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:21.119 listen, if you're trying to hold on to everything that you have, it's not worth it. 00:37:21.819 --> 00:37:22.899 Because it's going to be gone. 00:37:23.819 --> 00:37:26.099 It's just going to go up and smoke one day. 00:37:26.099 --> 00:37:31.299 Listen, he's saying stop building your identity and your wealth and your success and your approval. 00:37:31.539 --> 00:37:32.539 It can vanish overnight. 00:37:32.799 --> 00:37:36.000 But when you invest in Christ, it will change your eternity. 00:37:38.779 --> 00:37:40.480 And I think we all feel that tension. 00:37:41.960 --> 00:37:45.880 See, clinging to life as we want it only leaves us empty. 00:37:47.860 --> 00:37:49.579 There's things we just try to hold so tight on. 00:37:50.019 --> 00:37:51.500 We want that control of. 00:37:52.799 --> 00:37:54.039 But God says just give it to him. 00:37:54.039 --> 00:37:56.759 Here's the encouragement. 00:37:57.860 --> 00:38:00.639 That the surrender will never be in vain. 00:38:01.579 --> 00:38:02.320 It won't. 00:38:02.860 --> 00:38:09.000 Every sacrifice, every time you take up your cross and you live for Christ and you speak his name and you share the gospel 00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:10.940 and you may not receive the approval. 00:38:11.179 --> 00:38:16.259 In fact, you might have to deal with some harsh realities and you might lose that job and you might lose that friendship. 00:38:16.500 --> 00:38:18.880 It might be some real difficult times in your life. 00:38:18.880 --> 00:38:23.400 But every moment of obedience is moving us toward that eternal reward. 00:38:25.200 --> 00:38:30.019 And Jesus lifts his disciples' eyes from the cost to the crown. 00:38:30.539 --> 00:38:32.240 Look what he says in verse 26 and will be done. 00:38:32.480 --> 00:38:36.720 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me, in my words, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed. 00:38:37.059 --> 00:38:40.960 When he shall come in his own glory and in his Father's and of the holy angels. 00:38:41.340 --> 00:38:43.380 He's simply saying, listen, I'm coming again. 00:38:43.380 --> 00:38:46.860 Jesus, hey listen, Jesus is coming again. 00:38:48.079 --> 00:38:49.519 Okay, just making sure we're on the same page. 00:38:49.740 --> 00:38:50.980 He reminds us of that. 00:38:52.420 --> 00:38:55.519 And he said, I want to be ready when he comes. 00:38:56.500 --> 00:38:59.160 I want my life to be pleasing to him. 00:39:00.280 --> 00:39:03.460 See, Jesus warns about shame but promises reward. 00:39:03.460 --> 00:39:10.599 See, the approval of Christ outweighs the temporary shame and suffering that we might face in this life. 00:39:11.500 --> 00:39:14.260 When you study the New Testament, you're going to meet a man named the Apostle Paul. 00:39:14.760 --> 00:39:16.599 I mean, talk about a man that went through the ringer. 00:39:17.280 --> 00:39:18.320 I mean, he was beaten. 00:39:18.579 --> 00:39:19.400 He was shipwrecked. 00:39:19.559 --> 00:39:20.360 He was prisoned. 00:39:20.539 --> 00:39:22.679 They stoned him with stones unto death. 00:39:22.880 --> 00:39:25.159 He went through all these horrible things. 00:39:25.659 --> 00:39:26.059 Snakebitten. 00:39:26.159 --> 00:39:28.340 I mean, you name it, Paul experienced it. 00:39:28.340 --> 00:39:32.400 And Paul said this, this light affliction. 00:39:33.519 --> 00:39:36.260 I get bit of my mosquito and I'm complaining about it. 00:39:38.160 --> 00:39:41.600 But Paul went through some things that none of us can even maybe comprehend in our mind. 00:39:41.640 --> 00:39:43.079 And he says, it's not a big deal. 00:39:44.039 --> 00:39:45.500 How can he say that light affliction? 00:39:45.800 --> 00:39:47.460 Because he was looking for something far greater. 00:39:48.460 --> 00:39:51.240 He knew his life wasn't wrapped up in the things of life. 00:39:52.160 --> 00:39:55.280 In all the things this world has to offer. 00:39:55.280 --> 00:40:01.300 See, a soldier endures grueling training and goes to battle. 00:40:01.600 --> 00:40:01.640 Why? 00:40:01.800 --> 00:40:03.160 For the joy of victory. 00:40:04.019 --> 00:40:05.640 In the honor of standing free. 00:40:06.400 --> 00:40:10.019 Sacrifice is hard, but the glory that follows it makes it worthwhile. 00:40:11.320 --> 00:40:12.900 That's what Jesus reminds us. 00:40:14.420 --> 00:40:17.840 So we need to be bold in our confessing Christ publicly. 00:40:19.440 --> 00:40:22.980 Jesus didn't call us to gather on Sunday and nod in agreement with the message. 00:40:22.980 --> 00:40:24.760 He called us to go live it out loud. 00:40:25.560 --> 00:40:27.540 To let others know that Jesus is real. 00:40:27.780 --> 00:40:29.000 And that Jesus does love them. 00:40:29.200 --> 00:40:30.040 That he is the Christ. 00:40:30.260 --> 00:40:31.060 And he's worthy. 00:40:31.400 --> 00:40:32.800 And he has the right to rule your life. 00:40:32.960 --> 00:40:34.660 And he's going to actually just make your life better. 00:40:35.780 --> 00:40:36.920 Doesn't mean it's going to be perfect. 00:40:37.200 --> 00:40:40.620 But you can walk through the most difficult time of your life and say this, God is good. 00:40:41.940 --> 00:40:44.000 Because I've heard testimony by many in this room. 00:40:44.220 --> 00:40:45.800 I mean, walking through the darkest times. 00:40:46.040 --> 00:40:46.920 Loss of a loved one. 00:40:47.180 --> 00:40:47.860 Cancer battles. 00:40:48.019 --> 00:40:48.720 All these things. 00:40:48.720 --> 00:40:51.320 And you say this, no life's not great. 00:40:51.660 --> 00:40:52.540 But God loves me. 00:40:52.539 --> 00:40:55.920 And I think we saw it even in our country. 00:40:56.219 --> 00:40:58.179 And some of the things that have gone on in the past few weeks. 00:40:58.460 --> 00:40:59.559 And just the response. 00:40:59.779 --> 00:41:00.980 Because I've been at funerals. 00:41:01.079 --> 00:41:02.360 And kind of the world got to see it. 00:41:02.539 --> 00:41:04.279 There's a difference when people know Christ. 00:41:05.300 --> 00:41:07.099 And how they respond to death. 00:41:07.800 --> 00:41:09.079 Doesn't mean we're not sorrowful. 00:41:09.759 --> 00:41:11.539 But our hope wasn't anchored in this world. 00:41:12.480 --> 00:41:14.900 And we're looking for a city whose builder and maker was God. 00:41:14.900 --> 00:41:17.260 And that's what we're pushing towards. 00:41:17.639 --> 00:41:21.820 And as we've walked through one of the most defining moments here in Luke's gospel. 00:41:23.360 --> 00:41:27.780 Jesus looked his disciples in the eye and asked the question that we must answer today. 00:41:28.340 --> 00:41:31.280 Who do you say that Jesus is? 00:41:32.660 --> 00:41:34.119 The crowds have their opinion. 00:41:35.240 --> 00:41:36.619 Your co-workers have their opinion. 00:41:37.260 --> 00:41:38.700 Your classmates have their opinion. 00:41:39.940 --> 00:41:42.400 We saw in the gospel of Luke the demons had their suspicion. 00:41:43.180 --> 00:41:44.139 The angels knew it. 00:41:44.139 --> 00:41:48.679 But the only answer that really matters is your answer. 00:41:50.299 --> 00:41:51.819 And that's what you have to answer today. 00:41:52.539 --> 00:41:53.319 Not to me. 00:41:53.980 --> 00:41:54.579 But to him. 00:41:55.420 --> 00:41:56.339 Because Jesus is saying. 00:41:57.420 --> 00:41:58.739 Who do you say that I am? 00:42:00.500 --> 00:42:00.879 Well. 00:42:01.359 --> 00:42:02.440 Because it's going to make a difference. 00:42:03.619 --> 00:42:07.460 Everything eternal hinges on who you believe Jesus is. 00:42:07.960 --> 00:42:09.119 And what you do with him. 00:42:09.980 --> 00:42:11.599 It's going to change your life. 00:42:11.599 --> 00:42:15.960 To say that he is the Christ is not only to acknowledge his identity. 00:42:16.360 --> 00:42:17.619 But to embrace his mission. 00:42:17.900 --> 00:42:19.679 And his mission was a cross. 00:42:21.119 --> 00:42:24.019 And at first the cross looked like defeat. 00:42:24.900 --> 00:42:27.159 But standing here today you know what we see when we see a cross? 00:42:27.699 --> 00:42:28.139 Victory. 00:42:28.139 --> 00:42:30.819 God is victorious. 00:42:31.619 --> 00:42:33.619 His suffering was necessary. 00:42:34.759 --> 00:42:36.019 But what are you going to do? 00:42:36.019 --> 00:42:38.880 If you don't know him here this morning. 00:42:39.039 --> 00:42:40.019 I just want to remind you. 00:42:40.199 --> 00:42:41.259 You cannot remain neutral. 00:42:43.259 --> 00:42:44.880 You can't ride the fence. 00:42:45.820 --> 00:42:49.719 To reject him or delay is to answer the question wrongly. 00:42:50.420 --> 00:42:53.000 The Bible says that all have sinned and come toward the glory of God. 00:42:53.639 --> 00:42:56.599 But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:42:56.599 --> 00:42:58.319 You say well how do you get that? 00:42:58.599 --> 00:43:00.360 That you call out to him. 00:43:00.619 --> 00:43:03.960 You place your faith and your trust in his life. 00:43:04.599 --> 00:43:07.279 And what he did on the cross of Calvary for you. 00:43:08.119 --> 00:43:11.719 That whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 00:43:13.659 --> 00:43:17.099 If you're here this morning and you know him as your savior. 00:43:17.920 --> 00:43:20.759 Maybe it's time to renew your commitment to him. 00:43:20.760 --> 00:43:24.720 Because this call of discipleship is still the same call today. 00:43:24.800 --> 00:43:25.380 It hasn't changed. 00:43:26.060 --> 00:43:26.800 Deny yourself. 00:43:27.940 --> 00:43:29.860 Lay down your rights so to speak. 00:43:30.300 --> 00:43:31.700 And let him lead. 00:43:32.360 --> 00:43:33.640 Take up your cross daily. 00:43:34.060 --> 00:43:34.420 Live. 00:43:34.720 --> 00:43:35.920 Speak boldly for Christ. 00:43:36.280 --> 00:43:39.860 Don't settle for convenient Christianity that cost you nothing. 00:43:41.000 --> 00:43:43.760 I don't want to stand before the Lord one day and say. 00:43:44.820 --> 00:43:47.120 Well I didn't do a whole lot but thanks for letting me be here. 00:43:47.119 --> 00:43:50.859 No if we know him as our savior we're going to be there. 00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:54.139 But I want to stand before the Lord one day and hear him say this. 00:43:54.619 --> 00:43:55.119 Well done. 00:43:55.819 --> 00:43:58.480 Thou good and faithful servant. 00:43:59.920 --> 00:44:00.940 Every sacrifice. 00:44:01.559 --> 00:44:03.980 Every moment of obedience is seen by Christ. 00:44:04.759 --> 00:44:08.119 And one day he will reward it. 00:44:08.819 --> 00:44:10.819 Would you stand with your heads bowed and with your eyes closed.