Sermon Tone Analysis

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*Take Up your Cross*

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*As He is, So are we…*

 

  

 

*April 8, 2007*

 

 

 

*Pastor Michael Mehring*

*Full** Gospel Church*

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Take up Your Cross

1 John 4.17

…As He is, so are we in this world!'

series

 

As we come together on this remarkable day it is valuable to look at the idea

            Who is Jesus

                       What do we see as we look at this last week

 

Matt 16.24

 Jesus said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross,……."

What does the phrase "take up his cross" mean to us?

What do the words -----

                                              -Identification                -pain

                                              -Suffering                       -loss   

                                              -self-denial                     -poverty

                                              -self abasement               -death

                                              -humility

                                              -confession

                                              -weakness

                                             

            What do they mean in relationship to this phrase – take up your cross

                             what is Christ calling us to do?

What does “take up your cross” really mean

 

     

                       Can we explore that for a few moments this morning

                      

                             Since the Cross is central to our faith

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THE CHRISTIAN LIFE    -- THE CROSS OF CHRIST

The Christian life is not found on the Cross.

It is found because of the Cross.

*What do you think of that statement?*

It is His resurrection power that energizes the believer.

Does this diminish the value of the Cross?

No!

The shed blood of the spotless Lamb wiped out the power and presence of sin in our lives.

*WE HAVE NOTHING WITHOUT THE CROSS! *

 

*Yet, the Cross is not the end—*

*it is the beginning, the entrance to the Christian Life.

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Even for Jesus the cross was something to be endured in order to obtain the joy on the other side!'

Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

And yet ----------------------the great majority of the Christian world is still weeping at the foot of the cross.

The consciousness of mankind remains fixed on the Christ who died,

not on the Christ who lives.

People are looking back to the Redeemer who was,

not the Redeemer who is."

 

 

 

 

 

*Suppose* I had been forgiven a financial debt.

It could be said I have been brought out of the red.

Yet, after my debts are forgiven,

I still am not in the black.

I have nothing unless the one who forgave my debt gives me money to call my own, and that's what Christ did for you and me.

*His blood wiped out my debt of sin.

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*But it was His resurrection that brought me into the black.*

John 10:10 (NKJV)

… I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

*Why is this important?

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*Because it profoundly changes our sense of identity and purpose.*

Jesus became poor so that I could become rich.

He suffered with stripes to free me from affliction,

and He became sin so I might become the righteous­ness of God

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV)

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

 

 *Why then should I try to become as He was, *

*when He suffered so I could become as He is? *

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At some point, the reality of the resurrection must come into play in our lives--we must discover the power of the resurrection for all who believe.

Ephesians 1:21 (NKJV)

far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

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Our identity in This World

While most of the Church is still trying to become as Jesus was,

the Bible declares, `

1 John 4.17

…As He is, so are we in this world!

*Jesus WAS the suffering servant, *

*Jesus WAS headed for the cross.*

*            Jesus WAS crucified in shame and apparent defeat  *

*(from satan’s perspective)*

*But *

*Jesus IS triumphant*

*Jesus IS resurrected, *

*Jesus IS ascended, *

*Jesus IS glorified.

*

 

Acts 2:32-36 (NKJV)

*32 *"This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.

*33 *"Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God,…    *36 *"… let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Ephesians 1:19-22 (ESV)

*19 *and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might *20 *that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, *21 *far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

*22 *And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all

things to the church,

 

1 Peter 3:21-22 (ESV)

*21 *…the resurrection of Jesus Christ, *22 *who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, John described Him in this way:

 

Rev 1.14-15

"His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters,"

 

 

 

Look at what these Scriptures say about Christ

            Who is He?

            What position does He now hold?

What authority and power does he hold?