Take up you cross | Augustine K

This message was preached  by Augustine Kudalkar at Word of Grace Church on July 22nd, 2018. To listen/download the audio please click here. To listen to the Sunday's worship and prophetic contributions please click here.

Luke 9: 23-27

In Luke 8 Jesus calmed the storm, set free the demon- possessed man and raised a little girl from the dead. Then he calls his disciples together, and gave then power and authority over demons and sickness. Huge crowds were following Jesus and he welcomed them. When the crowds were hungry, he moved with compassion and fed them with 5 loaves and 2 fish. After than He asked his disciples, what do the crowds say I am? Then he asks who do you say I am? Peter got a revelation and said he is Christ, the son of the Living God. Then Jesus reveals the father’s plan for his death and resurrection.

Luke 9:21 “Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.””

In Luke 14: 25-26- the crowds were following Jesus but he was not impressed with the crowds. ““If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple”

There is a cost to following Jesus. In Luke 9:23 he says “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” this means submitting to God’s will and His authority.

Q. How can you do that?

·        Spending time in His presence

·        Meeting with His people

·        Serving the Body of Christ

·        Serving the poor

We can do many things to follow Jesus. But we must take this on daily. To take our cross daily doesn’t mean to wear a cross around our neck every day. In those times, when someone was carrying a cross, it meant it was a death sentence for them. When you see people carrying a dead body, it means they are taking it to burial. That’s what carrying a cross means. It means suffering or perhaps dying for

Q. What does it look like to follow Jesus?

1.      Jesus fasted and prayed. We could do that by joining the weekly fast and pray for our country and the world.

2.      Jesus ate with Sinners- we are called to relate with the people around us- not to be isolated. So we follow Jesus when we do as he did.

3.      Jesus healed the sick- So we are called to lay hands and heal the sick.

In verse 24 Jesus says “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”  Jim Eliot was a missionary to Ecuador. He went deep into the jungle and reaching out to a tribe there. He was killed with a spear. As a result of his death, thousands of men and women signed up to go to the mission field.

John 12: 24-26 “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

In Luke 9:25 “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes”

2 Timothy 1:8-9 “So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time”

In our company, when someone does a good job, they are appreciated and acknowledged before everyone. When we acknowledge Jesus before our friends, Jesus will acknowledge us before the Father. Jesus paid the price for us on the cross and it cost him everything.

So what can we learn from this passage?

Are you a part of the crowd or are you a disciple? Even Peter messed up, but he sought forgiveness and Jesus forgave him. On friendship Sunday we have an opportunity to acknowledge Jesus before our friends. Jesus wants us to take His love to this dying world.

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that have people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service. To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.