Hello, and welcome to another teaching by 119 Ministries.
Our ministry teaches that the whole Bible is still true, and directly applicable in
our lives.
If you would like to know more on what we believe and teach, please visit us at testeverything.net.
We hope that you enjoy studying and testing the following message.
Then he said to them all, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take
up his cross daily, and follow me.
There once was a lady at the last game of the World Series, dressed in black, and who
was sitting by herself with an empty seat next to her.
Finally, someone close by asked her who the other seat that was next to her was for.
She said it was for her husband.
They asked, Well, where is he?
He's already missed half the game.
The lady simply responded with, He's dead.
Caught off guard, they responded hesitantly.
Then why didn't you give the ticket to a friend or relative?
He responded because they're at his funeral.
Dedication Commitment I've seen people dedicated to ball
teams, be it professional, college, or even high school, dedicated to their favorite race
car driver, even to their church and pastor.
But my question is this, how dedicated are you to God?
We are told to take up our cross daily.
Think about that.
What's your level of commitment?
Does your commitment to God stop when it interrupts your lifestyle?
Does your commitment to God stop when it affects what your family or friends think of you?
Does your commitment to God stop when it affects a promotion at work?
Does your commitment to God stop for any reason at all?
Or do you continue steadfast, regardless of the outcome?
Again, I'm not asking what your commitment level is to your church or to your pastor.
I'm asking what is your commitment level to God?
And then we have to ask ourselves just what our attitude is in the midst of this commitment.
Is it that of obeying, enjoy, or do you continue on grudgingly?
We live in a generation that likes to focus on the promises of God and not the commands
of God.
Many love to quote, and all these things shall be added, while their lifestyles tend to skip
over the Seek ye first the kingdom.
Many seek the furtherance of the kingdom only at the furtherance of their ego.
Others will seek it only in the ease of their schedule.
And quite often, both of these can be the source of complaining and dissension when things
don't go their way.
Doing things for recognition is actually the process of stealing glory from God.
And call it what you want, but that's real close to Satanism, trying to steal glory from
God, seeking praise instead of giving it.
We must remember that we're all servants, no one is more important than the other.
And if by chance you hold a higher position, it should only remind you of the fact that
you will be judged more strictly.
James chapter 3, not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know
that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
We should have the same humility in serving as our Lord and Savior did.
Philippians chapter 2, your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who,
being in very nature, God did not consider equality with God, something to be grasped.
But made himself nothing, taken the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness,
and being found in appearance as a man.
He humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.
Our Savior set the example for all.
If humbly, take up your cross.
And remember, complaining doesn't change your circumstances, it only worsens your attitude.
And attitudes are contagious.
Is yours worth catching?
We need to be faithful in the small things from the heart, to be a true servant, and
he will take care of the rest.
Again, faithful to God, not man.
Are you serious about serving God?
If your answer is yes, then my next question is, can others tell?
What's the proof?
Are you living the life with an attitude of demanding things to be done your way?
Or can others see the humility of Yeshua in you?
If being a follower of Yeshua was against the law, would there be enough evidence to
convict you?
Does your commitment show?
Have you ever watched people who are wanting to go swimming, but the water is cold?
I have found that there is basically three types of people when it comes to getting in
a cold water.
First, we have the creepers.
Those who creep into the water as gently as possible.
Put the deeper they go, the harder it gets.
Then we have the swayers.
These are the ones who sit on the side of the pool, just swaying their legs side to
side in the water.
They say they're going to get in, but they get upset if you get their hair wet.
Then lastly, we have the divers.
Those who dive right in regardless of the temperature.
They know that they want to go swimming.
And that's it.
Even at that moment, when they're in mid-air and all time seems to stop, everything in
them is screaming, what did you just do?
It's too late, because they know that they are past the point of no return.
They put themselves in the position where there is no turning back.
It's all or nothing.
How committed are you to the maker of the universe?
Do you wake up every morning making the decision to take up your cross and follow him?
How serious are you?
Does it show?
Do you creep into it slowly, hoping to get on the cross?
Or do you sit on the side just feeling things out, saying you have the intention of actually
getting on the cross, but just waiting for the right time?
Or do you jump in because you know that is our call?
Though everything around you and in you is screaming, do not do it.
It makes no matter, you're committed.
Luke chapter 9 verse 23, then he said to them all, if anyone would come after me, he must
deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
We pray that you have been blessed by this message.
Remember, continue to test everything.
Shalom.
