Take up your cross!
Matthew 10 :27 Jesus Teaches the Fear of God
27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Confess Christ Before Men
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Today, it is sociable to carry a cross; you will not fit certain circles. When I passed the county club, they had 100 golf cars out so the golfers could play, and a cross wouldn’t fit in the golf cart.
Maybe your greed to make more money keeps you from the house of God. Let me ask you anyway: How much do you have to have before you live for Jesus? The rapture is about to happen, and you’re not saved; you’re a pretender, and you like the Bourbon and the Marlboro combo. But you have never even thought about the cross.
Maybe you are like this man.
Matthew 19: Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
You may be rich, but you can’t buy happiness; you can’t buy peace. You’re a good person, but the cold, hard facts are that you are going to hell.
I’m throwing you a cross today. Take up the cross.
Jesus offered this man the opportunity to be one of His disciples, but he refused.
One time you carried your cross, but today you’re a pretender.
Take up your cross!
Matthew 10:27 Jesus teaches the fear of God.
27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Confess Christ Before Men
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Today, it is sociable to carry a cross; you will not fit certain circles. When I passed the county club, they had 100 golf cars out so the golfers could play, and a cross wouldn’t fit in the golf cart.
Maybe your greed to make more money keeps you from the house of God. Let me ask you: How much do you have to have before you live for Jesus? The rapture is about to happen, and you’re not saved; you’re a pretender, and you like the Bourbon and the Marlboro combo. But you have never even thought about the cross.
Maybe you are like this man
Matthew 19: Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
You may be rich, but you can’t buy happiness; you can’t buy peace. You’re a good person, but the cold, hard facts are that you are going to hell.
I’m throwing you a cross today. Take up the cross.
Jesus offered this man the opportunity to be one of his disciples, but he refused.
One time you carried your cross, but today you’re a pretender.
Mathew 7:21–23 I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Pick up that cross; it’s almost too late.
Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened.
Jesus is knocking on hearts’ doors; do you hear his knock today? He said if you knock, that’s all you must do is knock, and he will open the door.
God is cleaning up his house, which is why Jesus is about to come.
Jesus doesn