Luke 9 18 27 18 Once when Jesus

Luke 9: 18 -27 18 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: 18 -27 19 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: 18 -27 20“But what about you? ” he asked. “Who do you say I am? ” Peter answered, “The Christ of God. ”

Luke 9: 18 -27 21 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: 18 -27 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. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

Luke 9: 18 -27 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?

Luke 9: 18 -27 26 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: 18 -27 27 I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God. ”

CAN ANYBODY REALLY CHANGE? LARRY CLINE HARDIN VALLEY CHURCH OF CHRIST 2 -17 -2013

JESUS ALWAYS CUTS TO THE CORE Want to know the truth about life… go to Jesus

#1 PROBLEM IS SELF

Sin is always the choice of self over God. § Why do we lie? § To make our self look better! § Why do we blow up? § Someone got in self’s way! § Why are we jealous? § Got more than self! § Why do we lust? § Something self wants!

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. The answer is surrender

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: § If a man seeks to find his life… loses it. § Lose your life for My sake, you find it! (Matthew 16: 25)

REAL LIFE COMES WHEN YOU SURRENDER! “You’re never really alive until you’ve gone to your own funeral. ” -Anonymous

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. (Romans 12: 1)

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. ” (Galatians 2: 20)

I

Two words “my sake” “for me” What about Jesus makes you want to die to yourself?

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 Not the way God was for 33 years. That’s the way God is… it’s His character.

WHEN YOU SURRENDER YOU’LL FIND: Peace Purpose Power Presence