(Read Matthew 16:24-26)
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. We have been studying the life of the Apostle Peter and our study has brought us to the following passage in Matthew 16.:
Jesus said, “If anyone wants to follow in my footsteps he must give up all right to himself, take up his cross and follow me. For the man who wants to save his life will lose it; but the man who loses his life for my sake will find it. For what good is it for a man to gain the whole world at the price of his own soul? What could a man offer to buy back his soul once he had lost it?”
Yesterday we focused in on the words, “give up all right to himself”. Today we will focus in on the words, “take up his cross and follow me.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- Jesus was willing to take up his cross. Jesus was willing to die to self. Jesus was willing to give up His life in order to accomplish the assignment the Father sent Him into the earth to accomplish. Jesus then taught His disciples to do the same.
- Jesus did not come as an example FOR us, He came as an example OF us. He personified the life we are supposed to live.
- In Jesus we see a picture of true success. This success is not measured in money, cars, houses or worldly fame. This success is measured by divine purpose and it can only be accessed through human surrender.
- There is a cross associated with following Jesus. You must be willing to die in order to truly live.
- You must “take up your cross” in order to follow Jesus. You must do it. It must be an act of your free will.
- God will not force you to sacrifice your life for the life He planned for you to have. You are not a puppet and He is not a puppetmaster. But if you willingly die to sin, self and selfishness, you will get to experience the life God sent you into this earth to live and it will be better than you ever imagined.
- There is an amazing life waiting for you on the other side of SURRENDER.
- You must be willing to sacrifice the life you came up with for the life God planned for you to have from the foundations of the world.
- Take up your cross, die to self, and follow Jesus — you will be glad you did!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. You made plans for me before the world began. You spent time thinking about me before I was born. You already mapped out my success. You already allocated everything I need to complete my divine assignment. You then sent me into the world to do it. I spent years living the life I wanted. I experienced countless frustrations pursuing my own endeavors. I now realize that I can never be successful outside of the life You planned for me to live. My success requires willing sacrifice. I must will my will to submit to You and the plans You made for me. I declare that I do. I die to sin, self, and selfishness. I willingly give myself over to You. I give up all right to myself. I take up my cross daily and I follow You. I die to live. I surrender to succeed. I bequeath to become. I give myself away. I lose myself in order to find myself IN You. There is an amazing life waiting for me on the other side of SURRENDER. I shall find it, follow it, and finish it before I die. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
