Luke 9: Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

Luke 9: They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”

Luke 9: “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” 20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

Luke 9: Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

Luke 9: 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. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

Luke 9: What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?

Luke 9: If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Luke 9: I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

LARRY CLINE HARDIN VALLEY CHURCH OF CHRIST

JESUS ALWAYS CUTS TO THE CORE

#1 PROBLEM IS SELF

WHAT DO WE DO WITH SELF? 1. Prop up self - self promotion 2. Put self down - self demotion The answer is NOT self demotion. The answer is NOT self promotion. The answer is NOT found in self.

Look at what Jesus said: And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23 )

Look at what Jesus said: And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23 )

“I don’t know the man!” Same with self - no longer the core issue of my life

What do we do with self ? 1.Self promotion 2.Self demotion 3.Take up your cross

The key to dealing with the core issue of self is there’s got to be a crucifixion.

PROBLEM WITH THE FIRST TWO SOLUTIONS:  Promote self/demote self  Still about what “I” do  Surrender takes focus off me & puts it on Him

NOT COMMITTED ENOUGH! Answer is much deeper than commitment… Surrender!

GREATEST PARADOX IN SCRIPTURE:

REAL LIFE COMES WHEN YOU SURRENDER!

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JESUS ISN’T ASKING YOU TO DO ANYTHING HE DIDN’T DO FIRST. That’s the way God lives! We serve a self-surrendering God.

Isaiah 53 - suffering servant Bears our pain Takes our scourging Beaten and smashed for our sins Too unbelievable

NOT JUST A BLIP ON THE SCREEN

WHEN YOU SURRENDER YOU’LL FIND: