WEBVTT 00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:04.559 Welcome to this week's message from the Church at Chelsea Westover. 00:00:04.879 --> 00:00:10.640 Our core values are vibrant worship, intimate fellowship, fulfilling service, and clear biblical truth. 00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:13.199 We pray that this message changes your life. 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:17.440 Let's tune in to today's message and see what God has in store for you. 00:00:19.359 --> 00:00:24.079 Last week we started cross series, a place called Calvary. 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:26.960 We looked at the priority of the cross. 00:00:27.440 --> 00:00:31.679 This week we're going to look at the pain of the cross. 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:38.399 Then next Sunday, Easter Sunday, we're going to look at the person on the cross. 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:39.759 It's going to be awesome. 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:41.280 You don't want to miss it. 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:48.479 But today, right before I get you, actually, you can go ahead and turn to Matthew 27. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:01:08.079 I wanted to give you a little episode of the pain that was visibly seen that day on a place called Calvary outside of Jerusalem on a hill called Galgotha. 00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:35.120 Like this, I thought Jeremy was going to just do a little bit more of that, but that's okay. 00:01:35.439 --> 00:01:36.000 Alright. 00:01:36.799 --> 00:01:41.040 Ladies and gentlemen, that is terrible. 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:48.000 That is as probably as descriptive as you could get it, other than being there. 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:52.000 A place called Calvary, Matthew chapter 27. 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:58.000 Verses 27 through 32. 00:01:58.719 --> 00:02:00.719 27 through 32. 00:02:00.799 --> 00:02:06.079 And it's in the middle of the chapter. 00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:13.599 The people had just roared out saying, Give us Barabbas. 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:18.319 Pilate was doing his best to get them to choose Jesus. 00:02:18.639 --> 00:02:21.039 Because he knew Jesus was innocent. 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:25.360 He knew that Jesus had not committed any crime. 00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:30.800 So he thought that the people would choose Jesus. 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:46.159 Because the reason he thought that, now this is on Friday, because just a few days earlier, on Monday, Jesus came into the city of Jerusalem, the Via de la Rosa, the same place that he walks up the cross. 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:51.919 He came in on a donkey, and all Jerusalem was praising him. 00:02:52.960 --> 00:03:18.719 Hollering and shouting out, Hosanna! Hosanna! Four days later, the same group of people are hollering, crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him! Unbelievable how quickly a mob can change. 00:03:19.919 --> 00:03:26.240 And so, as he is now led out to be crucified, verse 27. 00:03:26.400 --> 00:03:37.520 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and they gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers, all the ones that were involved in the execution. 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:42.800 And they stripped him, and they put on him a scarlet robe. 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:56.080 And when they had plated a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head and a reed in his right hand, and they bowed the knee before him and mocked him, saying, Hell, King of the Jews. 00:03:56.479 --> 00:03:57.520 Verse 30. 00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:02.319 And then they spat upon him and took the reed and smote him on the head. 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:17.279 Now can you imagine those big thorns, that plated crown of thorns, they take the reed, which was a stick about this high, and they began to hit him on the head, driving those thorns down into his brow? 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:20.319 Unbelievable pain. 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:23.199 Unbelievable pain. 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:26.000 And they laughed at him. 00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:29.279 They mocked him and saying, Hell king of the Jews. 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:33.040 And then they spat upon him and took the reed and smote him on the head. 00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:37.920 In fact, if you go to the passage in Isaiah, it talks about they literally slapped him. 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:45.839 Not only did he hit him on the head, they'd slapped him or even hit him with their fist to the point that he was not even visible. 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:53.439 In fact, Isaiah says, His visions, his face, you would not even want to look upon him. 00:04:55.519 --> 00:05:05.120 And after that, they had mocked him, they took the robe off of him and put his own raiment on him and led him away to crucify him. 00:05:05.279 --> 00:05:08.160 Now he had been beaten by the cat of nine tails. 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:09.519 We'll see that in a minute. 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:19.120 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, him they compelled to bear his cross. 00:05:19.360 --> 00:05:28.160 And when they were coming to a place called Galgotha, that is to say, a place of the skull, they crucified him. 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:32.480 I've had the privilege of going to Israel three or four times. 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:37.680 And sure enough, the place called Galgotha, there's the imprints of a skull. 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:39.759 If you stand back, you can see it. 00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:47.040 There's no doubt in my mind that was the hill where Jesus was crucified. 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:49.600 But notice something. 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:58.000 Once the sentence of death was pronounced here in this passage, he was led forth to Calvary. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:01.120 And on his way, he had been beaten beyond recognition. 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:06.240 He they used the cattle nine tails, and I'll describe that a little bit more next week. 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:09.839 But his back you saw how badly he was lacerated. 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:10.959 He was weak. 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:12.319 He couldn't hardly walk. 00:06:12.399 --> 00:06:17.360 And here he is carrying the part of the cross. 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:19.519 The part of the cross. 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:23.199 In fact, a lot of people believe it was already put together. 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:24.560 And so he's underneath it. 00:06:24.720 --> 00:06:25.839 And you'll see that in a minute. 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:32.480 And he's dragging that cross that some people said weighed at least 200 plus pounds or more. 00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:37.279 Some have said even up to maybe 300 pounds. 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:44.160 Can you imagine trying to drag anywhere from 150 to 300 pounds after you've been beaten beyond recognition? 00:06:44.319 --> 00:06:52.000 You'd stay, you'd been, hey, up all for 20, almost really 36 hours in three different mock trials. 00:06:56.480 --> 00:07:05.439 And so we see so great was the strain and suffering of the preceding hours that he, hey, he couldn't hardly move. 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:08.560 And in verse 32, look, they found a man. 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:10.800 Look at verse 32. 00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:19.199 They found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, him they compelled to bear his cross to Gagotha's seal. 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:25.439 Now, there's three considerations in this passage that demand our attention. 00:07:25.600 --> 00:07:29.519 Number one, the requirement of the cross. 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:32.240 The requirements of the cross. 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:33.680 Unbelievable. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:37.199 Notice, and the word there compel. 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:40.399 Him, they compeled to bear his cross. 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:43.680 The Greek word there is angaruo. 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:45.120 Angaruo. 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:50.959 And it literally means to press into action. 00:07:51.439 --> 00:08:25.759 In other words, this word was used back in the Persian days, that there were certain officers that had the authority, if they were on a mission of the king, to, hey, whether it was taking a special cargo or even a letter or whatever they needed to be delivered from the ruler, that they had the authority to grab or really to get anyone they needed necessary to make sure the letter or the cargo was delivered. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:31.120 Now, that's not like we do for me to ask David, could you help me? 00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:32.960 No, no, no, no, no, no. 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:35.039 I have the authority. 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:41.200 Hey, I have the authority as that officer to grab him by the hand and said, Mr. 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:42.799 Wilson, you don't have a choice. 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:44.639 You're going to help me now. 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:49.679 That was the word compeled. 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:50.960 That's what that means. 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:55.600 It's not asking politely, but it's saying, you don't have a choice. 00:08:55.679 --> 00:08:56.720 You're going to help me. 00:08:57.919 --> 00:08:59.120 You are drafted. 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:00.240 Oh yeah. 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:01.200 Boom. 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:07.519 So this is the context in which Simon actually was minding his own business. 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:12.159 In fact, somebody said Simon was at the wrong place at the wrong time. 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:13.519 Absolutely not. 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:14.480 Sounds good. 00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:20.639 And maybe from a worldly standpoint, and maybe even from people that don't know Christ, absolutely. 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:28.080 But from a hey, divine intervention of God, Simon was at the right place at the right time. 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:30.320 And you're going to see this. 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:32.000 Powerful truths here. 00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:34.960 So we see he was compelled. 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:45.519 I meant we see that now he, Simon, whether or not Simon was a disciple, a lot of people, was he a disciple before they found him? 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:47.600 I probably think not. 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:48.960 We don't know. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:50.960 Scripture's not clear. 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:54.000 Now it's clear after he meets Christ. 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:56.000 But right now we're not clear. 00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:58.320 Maybe, probably he was not. 00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:01.360 In fact, he was headed in a different direction. 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:04.000 He was going in the opposite direction. 00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:11.519 He wasn't even involved in the group of people that had been hollering, crucify him. 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:14.399 He kind of was minding his own business. 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:17.679 He kind of was, hey, he had his own agenda. 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:25.679 How many of us have had our own agenda, minding our own business, when Jesus decided to interrupt it? 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:26.559 Hallelujah. 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:27.600 Amen. 00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:28.639 Amen. 00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:30.399 That's the way it was with me. 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:32.000 I had my whole future. 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:37.919 I was almost ready to graduate with a physical education degree with a minor in psychology. 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:40.159 Somebody said, Why'd you minor in psychology? 00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:43.519 I wanted to try to figure out why I acted the way I did. 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:45.519 But it didn't work. 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:51.919 And I was going to coach football and work with youth and things like that. 00:10:52.240 --> 00:11:01.360 Because I, if you remember, I was a youth, not a youth, well, I was I ended up being a youth pastor, but prior to that I was with the police department and I worked with juveniles. 00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:04.559 So that's where God began to deal with my heart about helping young people. 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:07.440 I've been doing that ever since for 33 years. 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:20.960 But again, we see Simon here minding his own business, had his own plans, going his own direction, when all of a sudden he's interrupted. 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:24.240 I meant drastically interrupted. 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:33.759 What is clear is that the requirements of, hey, that when you and I have a confrontation with Jesus, and by the way, let me go ahead and say something right here. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:37.679 You can't be saved unless you have a confrontation with Jesus. 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:44.639 You can't be saved unless you have a confrontation with the cross. 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:46.159 Amen. 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:47.200 Can't. 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:54.639 That's why today you're going to get as a gift as you leave, or maybe you've already received it, if I can find it. 00:11:54.799 --> 00:12:01.120 We have one of our men, Bruce, good worker with his hand, has a little cross. 00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:14.320 And so we wanted everyone these next day and next Sunday to have this cross so it would remind you of this whole month series on the cross, a place called Calvary. 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:18.559 So here we are, and we see a direct confrontation. 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:24.879 Now look, when you have a direct confrontation with the cross of Christ, here's what happens. 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:27.840 Number one, there's a change of direction. 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:29.840 Woo! There's a change of direction. 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:31.120 Look at verse 32. 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:33.840 As they came out, they found a man. 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:36.559 A man that was going in a different direction. 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:40.480 As they came out of the city, they found Simon. 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:53.840 And he was going in his own direction, had his own ways, had his own dreams, had his own desires, had his whole future planned out like I did when I met Jesus. 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:54.799 Amen. 00:12:57.919 --> 00:12:59.519 And it changed him. 00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:02.000 It changed his direction. 00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:08.799 In fact, Mark 15, 21 says that Mark tells us that Simon was coming out of the country. 00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:13.600 From that point onward, he traveled in a different direction. 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:18.159 This was a spiritual turning point in Simon's life. 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:20.720 I believe this is where he met Christ. 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:24.960 And Christ radically changed his life. 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:28.960 Look at what he says in 2 Corinthians 5, 17 and 18. 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:32.799 You know verse 17, but most people don't ever see verse 18. 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:38.480 And he says, Therefore, if any man be in Christ Jesus, he's a new creation. 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:40.960 Old things have passed away. 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:43.919 Behold, all things have become new. 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:47.679 And we are all called by God to the ministry. 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:48.960 Are you ready of this? 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:52.080 To the ministry of reconciliation. 00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:55.039 God calls us to what? 00:13:55.279 --> 00:13:57.440 What is the ministry of reconciliation? 00:13:57.679 --> 00:13:59.919 Let me give you the definition in context. 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:02.399 It is bearing the cross of Christ. 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:04.879 We lift up Jesus. 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:08.639 And as we lift up Jesus, what does he say he'll do? 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:14.000 He'll draw all men unto himself, John 12, 32. 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:16.480 It was a change of direction. 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:21.200 He put off the old man and put on the new man. 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:26.159 And that's seen in Ephesians chapter 4, verses 22 through 24. 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:26.879 I think we may have. 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:28.559 Well, they're on your verses there. 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:29.759 I mean on your paper. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:35.360 But anyway, you put off the old man and the characteristics of the old man and you put on the new man. 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:36.799 Here's what it means, guys. 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:43.200 When you meet Jesus Christ, when you have a confrontation with the cross of Christ and you get saved, you change. 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:45.519 You change. 00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:48.960 You change your own desires, you change your direction. 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:51.519 You, hey, it's no longer my will, but who? 00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:53.120 But thy will be done. 00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:53.759 Amen. 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:54.799 It's an exciting. 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:58.399 And but somebody said, but wait a minute, I like the way I was going. 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:05.039 I like the way Pastor Danny, I was going. 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:06.799 Well, where were you going? 00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:10.240 You were doing it my way. 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:14.879 Can I remind you, Romans 8, 8, Paul had that same struggle. 00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:21.120 And he says, That I've learned that they that are in the flesh, in other words, doing it your way, cannot please God. 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:23.200 Amen? 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:25.360 Can't please God. 00:15:25.840 --> 00:15:29.519 And where, hey, Jesus said, I've come to give you life in what? 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:30.639 Give it what? 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:33.519 But what's the first part of John 10, 10? 00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:35.440 The thief comes what? 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:38.480 To kill, steal, and to destroy. 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:39.679 And how does he do that? 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:45.120 He doesn't, hey, he doesn't hold a big sign up and say, oh, I'm gonna destroy you. 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:48.000 He just lets you do it your way. 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:54.559 And next thing you know, boom, you're in the you're in the pig pen. 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:56.159 Amen. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:57.279 You're in the pig pen. 00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:58.559 So we see that. 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:01.759 We see the unbelievable change. 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:02.879 Notice the second thing. 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:06.480 Not only is there a change of direction, there was a change of devotion. 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:10.960 Look at what Luke records in Luke 23, 26. 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:18.080 They laid the cross on Simon that he might bear it after Jesus. 00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:20.240 How suggestive this is. 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:26.320 Bearing the cross and following Jesus are the essence of Christianity. 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.440 Can I get an amen? 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:31.039 It's what Christianity is all about. 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:39.759 Jesus said in Luke 14, 27, and he said, and whatsoever does not, or whosoever does not bear his cross, and what? 00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:41.600 Come after me, say it with me. 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:46.000 Cannot be my disciple. 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:48.000 Now put this on your notes. 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:53.200 Discipleship denotes desire, discipline, and devotion. 00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:54.639 Can I get an amen? 00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:58.240 Desire, discipline, and devotion. 00:16:58.480 --> 00:17:00.720 That's what it requires. 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:04.880 So the question then automatically ought to say, well, what is discipleship? 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:08.640 Oh, if I'm to be a disciple, what is discipleship? 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:09.759 Four quick things. 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:10.640 This is beautiful. 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:14.079 Number one, it is self-denial. 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:16.720 It is self-denial. 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:23.440 Look at Luke chapter 14, verses 25 through 30. 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:24.880 Verses 25. 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:26.160 Can we put 25? 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:29.359 Oh, this is so good. 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:31.839 I want you to see this. 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:33.440 Luke 25. 00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:35.759 I mean, I'm sorry. 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:39.680 Luke 14, verses 25. 00:17:40.400 --> 00:17:41.839 Let me get to it. 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:43.279 This is so good. 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:51.119 I I always add a little extra because I give the outline of Susan by Monday afternoon, and then God gives me so much dear more in the week. 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:55.839 If I gave you what I really study, we'd be here for half the day, but that's okay. 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:56.799 All right, watch this. 00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:57.279 Look at this. 00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:58.160 25. 00:17:58.400 --> 00:18:00.880 Luke 14, 25, here's what he says. 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:04.160 And there went great multitudes with him. 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:06.240 And he turned and he said unto them. 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:08.960 In other words, there's a lot of people following Jesus. 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:10.960 Let me put it in this context today. 00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:13.759 There's a lot of people that say they're Christians. 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:21.920 Isn't it amazing when I go door to door or I'm out visiting, I ask people, you know, do you go to church anywhere? 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:23.279 Oh, yeah, we go to church. 00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:25.680 Then I always ask them this next question. 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:28.640 I hope I haven't asked you this question. 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:31.279 But I ask, who's your pastor? 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:45.119 Now, I hope for you that are church members here at CCW, you know who your pastor is. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:54.319 Pastor Danny, the one that runs around with the Jesus is awesome bands and hollering, Jesus is awesome. 00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:55.839 That's who I am. 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:57.759 But here's what he's saying. 00:18:58.000 --> 00:19:00.799 All of you say you're Christians. 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:04.559 But now notice, he said, All right, well, let's narrow it down a little bit. 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:06.720 Let's just narrow it down a little bit. 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:07.359 Hmm. 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:10.160 Boy, this is really good. 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:12.000 All right, verse 26. 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:20.319 If any man come to me and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters, yea, in his own life, also he cannot be my disciple. 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:22.880 Now, when you first read that, you say, Man, that's horrible. 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:25.039 The Lord wouldn't say something like that. 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:31.279 He's not talking about a angry hate or a vindictive hate. 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:46.480 What he is saying there is that you, hey, have put your commitment and your life and your desires and your direction and all that you are, hey, for hey, before to the Lord, before your children are your relative. 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:55.920 In other words, you're not going to allow your children, your relatives, your mom or your dad to come between you and your relationship and you following Jesus Christ. 00:19:56.559 --> 00:20:01.200 I've seen a lot of parents allow their kids to be the center of attention. 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:07.519 Now, don't get me wrong, I love my kids, but the center of attention is my awesome God. 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:14.160 You let your children lead you today, they'll lead you away. 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:24.880 You let your children, somebody tell you, listen, I was just dealing with this, and I had a parrot say, Well, I'm not going to make my children go to church. 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:27.279 Because it may turn them away. 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:32.640 If they don't go to church, how can they hear the truth? 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:36.480 And it's the truth that brings, hey, that brings them to Christ. 00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:37.039 Amen. 00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:39.039 It's the truth that sets them free. 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:42.160 So all you're doing is doing what Satan wants you to do. 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:52.640 It is a false lie to say that if you make your children come so they can hear the gospel, hear the good news, people love on them, people be an example for them that really are born-again Christians. 00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:56.240 It is a lie from the devil to tell you that it'll drive them away. 00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:57.039 That's a lie. 00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:58.880 By the way, let me ask something. 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:00.480 Do you make them go to school? 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:06.000 Hello. 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:11.680 So you're gonna make them go hear humanism and anti-God. 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:15.519 But you don't want them to, you're afraid that it'll drive them away. 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.640 Can I tell you something? 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:19.039 I grew up and I had no choice. 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:25.599 I'd come in at 2 o'clock in the morning, but hey, at 8 o'clock in Sunday morning, I was out of bed, or here came the water. 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:30.319 And my granddaddy didn't mind dishing it. 00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:34.000 And he'd always put it in ice for I think he had fun. 00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:40.400 I think he enjoyed when I wouldn't get up that first or second time he called because he'd put ice in it. 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:43.119 Didn't throw it on me. 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:45.920 Say, Woo! Hallelujah! Get up, Danny boy. 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.960 It's church time. 00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:48.240 I can see him now. 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:49.920 And he said, Yep, yep, yep. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:51.039 Tell him, tell him. 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:54.319 I didn't have a choice, David. 00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:55.599 I was going to church. 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:58.319 He said, if you don't want to go to church, you don't live here. 00:21:58.559 --> 00:22:03.039 He said, Well, that's a big Well, it turned out alright. 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:07.839 And the way he whipped me sometimes, that would be abuse. 00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:08.640 Well, guess what? 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:10.160 It turned out alright. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:12.799 Amen. 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:16.960 So there's a change of devotion, folks. 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:17.839 Amen. 00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:18.960 There's a change. 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:20.559 There's a self-denial. 00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:22.799 There's, hey, listen to what else he said. 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:24.160 Now this gets good. 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:27.519 And if any man come to me and hate not, look at verse 27. 00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:31.839 And whosoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:33.039 There it is. 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:37.279 He's got to be Lord of all or not at all. 00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:38.160 Amen. 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:40.559 Lord of all or not at all. 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:42.480 He's got to be first. 00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:49.119 Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these other things should be added unto you. 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:50.160 Notice the second thing. 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:52.400 Look at verse 33 in that same chapter. 00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:53.200 Leaving all. 00:22:53.359 --> 00:22:55.119 Look at what he said in verse 33. 00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:57.519 Luke 14. 00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:58.079 Boy. 00:22:58.240 --> 00:23:04.880 So likewise, whosoever he be that be of you, that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:13.839 What he's saying there is if anything that you have comes between you and Jesus being first in your life, it is a hindrance. 00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:15.680 And I want to tell you what it really is. 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:16.960 It's an idol. 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:21.039 Those are 21st century idols. 00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:22.000 Amen. 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:23.359 That's what he means. 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.559 He says it can't be. 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:27.359 If I'm not Lord of all, I'm not Lord at all. 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:30.000 You say, Well, that's pretty tough. 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:31.200 Absolutely. 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:34.400 It's tough if you have a worldly mindset. 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:39.119 It's not tough if your heart's totally wrapped up in Jesus. 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:41.200 In fact, it's exciting. 00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:49.039 Simon never, ever, after he met Jesus, went his own way. 00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:50.799 I'm going to show you that. 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:52.400 Never, ever. 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:54.480 And the third thing, steadfastness. 00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:56.400 Look at John 8, 31. 00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.680 I love this verse. 00:23:57.920 --> 00:24:01.519 Jesus said, hey, to those Jews which believed on him. 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:08.400 In other words, he's separating, hey, he's separating all of them that say, hey, hey, hey, hey, I'm following you, Jesus. 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.359 Oh, you really are? 00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:10.559 You really a Christian? 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:11.039 All right. 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:12.559 He says, well, let me see. 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:19.599 Jesus said to those Jews which believe on him, if you say it with me, continue in my word. 00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:21.039 Wow. 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:23.279 Then are ye my disciples indeed. 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:28.960 And verse 32 says, and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. 00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:35.839 In other words, from all those bondage of sins and the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and pride of life. 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:47.119 He says, the only way you're going to overcome that is getting in the word of the living God, taking the word of God, allowing the Holy Spirit to teach you the Word of God and to lead you in the Word of God, and you walk in the Word of God. 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:50.160 And we're going to remember what we talked about, following in His steps. 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:52.720 We'll see that 1 Peter 2.21 in a minute. 00:24:52.880 --> 00:25:00.559 Following in his footsteps to the point that when he sees, hey, he sees you, he sees his reflection. 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:02.079 Man, that's good. 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:09.359 Then you are steadfast. 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:13.359 And then the fourth thing, what is discipleship? 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:15.119 It's bearing fruit. 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:22.480 By this is my Father glorified that you bear much fruit, so you will be my disciple. 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:23.200 Wow. 00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:24.480 Wow, wow, wow. 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:25.920 That's what discipleship is. 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:32.000 Repeat it: self-denial, leaving all, steadfastness, and bearing fruit. 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:33.519 Bearing fruit. 00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:39.279 And by the way, bearing fruit's not just leading somebody to Christ or bringing somebody to church and they get saved. 00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:40.000 Oh, that's good. 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:40.319 Yeah. 00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:42.400 Let me tell you what bearing fruit is. 00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:44.079 You know what bearing fruit is? 00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:48.559 Being kind one to another, tender-hearted. 00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:56.400 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, temperance. 00:25:56.640 --> 00:25:59.039 Against such there's nothing to compare with it. 00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:01.440 Galatians 5, 22 and 23. 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:03.519 That's bearing fruit. 00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:06.160 It's being faithful to the things of God. 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:07.440 It's been in church. 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:08.799 It's been in a great church. 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:10.400 It's been in a Bible study. 00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:13.359 It's been a light in your work arena. 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:17.759 So that is the requirements of the cross. 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:27.839 So when Simon met Jesus that day and they asked Simon to carry his cross, it changed his direction and it changed. 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:29.039 Are you ready? 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:31.359 It changed his devotion. 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:32.960 Now watch. 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:34.160 Here it is. 00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:35.920 The second thing. 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:39.920 And that is the reality of the cross. 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:46.880 Now, once you pick up that cross, there's a reality that you're going to face. 00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:48.240 Jeremy. 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:29.039