The central thesis of today's discourse revolves around the profound assertion that the cross is not merely a symbol of salvation; rather, it embodies an essential call to lordship within our daily lives. In the poignant narrative of a patient resisting the truth of their condition, we discern that genuine love necessitates unvarnished honesty, which is emblematic of the cross's role in our present existence. Many individuals desire the comfort of forgiveness without grappling with the demands of discipleship, seeking a Savior devoid of a Lord. This dichotomy prompts the critical inquiry: Is the cross merely an object of admiration, or is it a burden we actively carry? Through the exploration of self-denial, the relinquishment of personal sovereignty, and the transformative power that emerges from embracing this daily cross, we shall uncover the implications for our spiritual journey and the essence of true discipleship. The discourse presented delves into the profound implications of the cross in the life of a believer, particularly emphasizing the necessity of self-denial and the relinquishment of personal authority in favor of Christ's lordship. Central to the message is the assertion that genuine discipleship transcends mere acknowledgment of Jesus as Savior; it demands an active commitment to follow Him, which entails a daily decision to 'take up your cross' and embrace a lifestyle of obedience. The profound analogy of a patient resisting the truth of their condition serves as a stark reminder of humanity's inclination towards denial, underscoring the notion that love compels one to confront uncomfortable truths rather than offering false reassurances. This episode calls believers to examine the authenticity of their faith, questioning whether they truly carry their cross or merely admire it from a distance, thus inviting listeners to pursue a transformative relationship with Christ that yields genuine change in their lives and communities.

Takeaways:

1. The cross signifies not merely salvation but the necessity of lordship over one's life, compelling a refusal of self-rule.
2. Daily discipleship involves taking up one’s cross, which signifies obedient self-denial rather than passive acceptance of one’s sinful nature.
3. Authentic faith is demonstrated through surrendering to Christ's authority, not through mere acknowledgment of His name.
4. Compromise in faith leads to dangerous spiritual stagnation, undermining the believer's integrity and effectiveness in serving others.

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

Luke 9:23.

Imagine a patient goes to a doctor with a serious disease.

The doctor studies the results and says, this illness is killing you.

It will destroy your organs.

It will shorten your life.

The patient responds, doc, I am not ready to hear that.

Just give me something that makes me feel better.

Don't talk about surgery, don't talk about treatment.

Just give me a quick fix.

A real doctor cannot cooperate with denial.

Why?

Because love tells the truth.

Love doesn't comfort you into destruction.

That is the cross in the present tense.

The cross is not Jesus merely saving you from hell.

Later, the cross is Jesus saving you right now.

Your pride, your flesh, your patterns, your compromise, your double life, your excuses, your I can't help it, your this is just how I am.

And this is why many people love the idea of forgiveness but resist discipleship.

They want a savior without a Lord.

They want mercy without mastery.

They want rescue without surrender.

But Jesus didn't say, repeat a prayer and keep your throne.

He said, deny yourself.

Take up your cross.

Follow me.

That is present tense Christianity.

Brothers and sisters, the cross didn't only save you, it redefined you.

In our series about the Cross, Message one dealt with the cross as it relates to your past.

Guilt, shame, condemnation.

Now Message two deals with your present lordship, sanctification and transformation.

Because here's the uncomfortable truth.

Many believers are forgiven in position, but not surrendered in practice.

They sing about the cross but refuse its power.

They preach grace but live unchanged.

They call Jesus Lord while still obeying their cravings.

So today we ask the question that splits shallow Christianity from real.

Is the cross something you admire or something you carry in today's message, the cross and your present death to self and the power to live.

Brothers and sisters, the cross is not just salvation, it's lordship.

Jesus doesn't merely pardon, he rules.

Galatians 2:20 tells us, I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

The cross does not only change your destination, it changes your ownership.

At the cross, you were bought.

1 Corinthians in the 6, 19, 20.

At the cross you were transferred from darkness to light.

As we read in Colossians 1:13, at the cross you were no longer your own.

The modern gospel often says, invite Jesus into your heart.

Biblically, a more accurate statement is surrender your whole life under his authority.

Jesus is not a consultant.

Jesus is a king.

He is not a life coach.

Jesus is Lord.

He is not an Accessory.

He is everything now.

What does deny yourself mean?

As posed in Luke 9:23, denying yourself doesn't mean self hatred, it means refusing self rule.

It means you stop treating your desires like commandments.

The flesh says, I feel it, so I must do it.

The cross says, I feel it, but I don't obey it.

Because not every feeling deserves a follow through.

The cross is where Jesus didn't just die for you, he died to replace you.

What is crucified will eventually control you.

Unlike flesh, unkilled flesh becomes a future tyrant.

We read in Galatians 5:24, those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Let's get very honest.

Many people don't have a devil problem.

They have an undisciplined flesh problem.

They blame witches, demons, generational curses and enemies, while the real enemy lives in the mirror.

Uncrucified appetites.

The Christ teaches you a hard truth.

Your flesh does not get trained, it gets crucified.

Your sinful nature does not get educated, it gets executed.

The flesh has a strategy, and its strategy loves the following sentences.

It's not that deep.

God understands I am only human.

At least I'm not like them.

I'll change later.

This is my weakness.

The flesh always wants tomorrow's obedience while enjoying today's compromise.

But Jesus said the daily cross.

Not occasionally.

Daily means every day.

You choose who sits on the throne.

What you tolerate today becomes what torments you tomorrow.

Small compromise grows teeth.

A small lust becomes bondage.

A small lie becomes a lifestyle.

A small bitterness becomes poison.

A small prayerlessness becomes spiritual blindness.

And this is why Scripture commands in Colossians 3:5, put to death.

Therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature, not manage it, not reduce it, put it to death.

If you don't kill sin, sin will kill you.

Brothers and sisters, our resurrection power, the resurrection power only flows through crucified lives.

There is no Easter without Good Friday.

Romans 6:6 tells us, for we knew that our old self was crucified with him, so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with.

Many want power without process.

They want anointing without obedience.

They want authority without holiness.

They want spiritual gifts without spiritual discipline.

And they want miracles without maturity.

But God does not pour resurrection power into a life that refuses crucifixion.

That's why Paul says, I want to know Christ and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.

Philippians 3:10 tells us, Now Paul wasn't chasing pain, he was chasing transformation.

You can't Follow Jesus and keep yourself as the main character.

The cross is the end of self centered living.

And hear this clearly.

The cross is not only about what you stop doing.

It's about who you become.

You become stable, you become disciplined, humble, bold, spiritually alive and consistent.

Because the cross breaks the back of double mindedness.

Now let's look at what the practical cross, what it looks like in real life.

Now some people think taking up a cross means suffering random hardships.

But Jesus is talking about obedient self denial for God's will.

Taking up your cross, brothers and sisters, looks like choosing truth when lying is easier, forgiving when bitterness feels justified, staying pure when just when lust screams and serving when ego wants applause giving when fear wants to hoard and praying when the flesh wants to scroll.

Being faithful when nobody's watching and saying no to yourself so you can say yes to God.

Now this is discipleship.

It's not glamorous, it's not trendy, but it's powerful.

The cross is God's way of turning you into someone you couldn't become by willpower.

Now here are some applicable lessons for believers, ministry, work and family.

1.

For the believer's inner life, stop negotiating with sin like it's a roommate.

Name it, expose it and crucify it.

A practicality that we can use is when temptation hits, don't debate it.

Drag it to the cross.

Say out loud, this is not my Master, I belong to Jesus.

And two, let's look at what this means for ministry and life.

The greatest threat to your calling isn't opposition, it's compromise.

A gifted person without a cross becomes dangerous.

You become prideful, manipulative, attention addicted, spiritually loud, but privately weak.

The cross makes leaders clean.

What this means for family and relationships.

Self centeredness destroys marriages, friendships and parenting.

The cross produces a different home atmosphere.

It produces patience instead of explosiveness, humility instead of ego battles, service instead of entitlement, repentance instead of stubbornness.

A crucified spouse is a powerful spouse.

A crucified parent is a safe parent.

What does this mean for work and integrity?

The cross shows up at work when you refuse corruption, you refuse shortcuts, you refuse ego games, you refuse choose excellence as worship as written in Colossians 3:23.

Now here are some warnings for us to be aware of.

The first warning is A cross less Christianity is a counterfeit.

A cross less Christianity is a counterfeit.

Matthew 7:21 tells us, not everyone who says to me, lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven.

Notice they call them Lord but didn't obey.

A gospel that produces no surrender is not the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Second warning is partial surrender is still rebellion.

Now God does not share thrones.

By the way, you cannot say Jesus Lord, but also say, but this area is mine.

This is why Jesus says in Matthew 6:24, no one can serve two masters.

Third warning is if you keep feeding the flesh, don't be shocked when it grows.

The flesh is not impressed by your church attendance.

If you keep feeding it privately, what you feed grows, what you starve dies.

Here are some questions for reflection.

1.

Where have I accepted forgiveness but resisted transformation?

What small compromises have I normalized that would shock me if exposed?

Question 3.

What part of me still wants the throne?

My pride, my comfort, my lust and my control?

Question 4.

If my private life had a microphone, would I still be a disciple?

Think about that one.

Question 5.

What daily discipline is the Holy Spirit calling me into right now?

Let us pray.

Father, in the name of Jesus, I confess that I cannot live the Christian life by my own strength.

I need the cross, not as a memory, but as a daily reality.

I surrender my will, my pride, my appetites, my excuses and my hidden compromises.

Lord Jesus, you did not die to make me comfortable.

You died to make me new.

Teach me to deny myself.

Teach me to take up my cross daily.

Crucify what's killing me.

Eat even when it cries, even when it resists, even when it feels familiar.

Holy Spirit, give me the power to obey.

Give me hatred for sin and hunger for holiness.

Let my life reflect that Christ lives in me.

Break double mindedness, Break secret bondage.

Make me clean, make me consistent.

Make me courageous.

I declare today Jesus is not only my Savior, but He is my Lord.

I will follow him fully.

In Jesus mighty name, Amen.