Sexual Sins Series

Taking Up Your Cross in Today’s World

1st Sermon of 4

SEXUAL SINS

Introduction:

Looking back on my life, I would not of imagined that I would be here today preaching this sermon to you. Has a child I was always shy and quite, never causing anyone any problems. Even as I grew up, I never wanted to be in the forefront, even though many times I was forced into leadership positions. God called me into the ministry when I was 14 years old, but because of certain circumstances that I will tell you about later in this series, I didn’t accept His calling. But over the last few years, God has not only been calling me into the ministry, but has also been training me.

Two years ago this past Christmas, my mother went to be with the Lord. My son and I went back to North Carolina for the funeral and I was asked to give the eulogy. I still had the little white Bible that my mother had given me for Christmas when I was 10. So I took it and told how it had not only changed my life but also the life of my son. I began telling the people in attendance how to be saved and it seemed so natural. I knew God was again calling me for something.

The following summer God called me to run NM State Representative. Remember that I am this shy quite person, who doesn’t like to make waves, but I knew God was calling me to do this. Running on a Family Christian platform, I lost! I will talk about this later in the series, but for now let me just say that God use this as a learning tool so that I would have the boldness to accept His call into His Ministry and to be here today to tell you why we must take up our Cross and follow Christ.

Sermon:

Read with me:

Luke 14:25-35

25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:

26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-- yes, even his own life-- he cannot be my disciple.

27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?

29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,

30 saying, ’This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’

31 "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?

32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.

33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

34 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?

35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

(NIV)

When the Romans led a criminal to his execution site, he was forced to carry the cross on which he would die. This show total submission by the criminal to the authority of the Roman government and their laws. Large crowds of people were following Jesus with great enthusiasm for Him. Jesus wanted them and us to understand exactly what is expected of us if we are to follow Him.

What does Christ mean when He says that we have to hate our father and mother, wife, sister and brother and even ourselves to be His disciple? First He means that our love for Him has to be unconditional love. The love that we have for our family should be pale compared to our love for Christ. Do you love Christ more than your wife, your husband, your children or your parents? I pray that you do. Secondly, Jesus is telling us that we must put Him first in our lives. Now consider the following list:

Spouse Work Money Children Health Pleasure Processions Christ

Which of these are most important to you? Did you say Christ? Which of these are you putting first in your life? Are you really putting Christ first in your life or does Christ just come first on Sundays?

Christ must be the most important thing in our lives. I have had mothers tell me that they have to put their babies first and then Christ. Mothers, if it wasn’t for Christ you wouldn’t have those children. All children are a blessing from God, even though at 2:00 o’clock in the morning it may not seem like it sometimes, but they are all blessings from God. Men usually say without my work or money or my health, I wouldn’t be able to provide for my family. Well men you have it wrong. God provides for your every need. You are just working for extras.