The Cross We Carry-Called To Suffer

The Cross We Carry-Called To Suffer For Righteousness' Sake

Matthew 16:24 "Then said Jesus unto His disciples, 'If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.'"

Matthew 10:38 "And he that taketh not His cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me."

1. We are called to carry our own cross.

2. We are called to deny ourselves.

3. We are called to follow Him.

2 Corinthians 1:5 "For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ."

2 Corinthians 1:6 "And whether be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation."

4. Our sufferings are abundant, therefore our consolation is also abundant.

5. Our sufferings will lead others to salvation and consolation through Christ, as well. 

Acts 14:22 "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."

6. We must continue in the faith.

7. We must go through much tribulation before we can enter the kingdom of God.

Romans 8:16, 17 "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, the heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together." 

8. We suffer with Him.

9. We will be glorified with Him because of our suffering.

John 15: 18 "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you."

Matthew 10:22 "And ye shall be hated of all men for My Name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved."

10. We will be hated.

11. We will endure and be saved.

Matthew 10:23 "But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till The Son of Man be come."

12. We will be persecuted.

Matthew 10:17, 18 "But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles."

13. We will be judged and condemned. 

John 13:2, 26 "And supper being ended, the devil having put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him;" ... "Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop(morsel), when I have dipped it. And when He had dipped the sop, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon."

14. We will be betrayed by a friend. 

John 19:1-3 "Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe, And said, 'Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote Him with their hands."

15. We will be mocked for Christ's sake.

Acts 17:6 "And when they found them not, they drew Jason (the homeowner who had brought Paul and Silas into his house) and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside-down are come hither also."

16. We will turn the world (around us) upside-down with the preaching of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. 

2 Timothy 2:11 "It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him:"

Romans 6:5, 8 "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection:" ... "Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him."

Matthew 16:25 "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it."

John 14:2 "In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

17. We died with Him and we live with Him.

18. We are planted together in the likeness of His death.

19. We will live in the place which Jesus has prepared for us.

John 17 This is The Lord's prayer for us who believe and those who will believe.

Ephesians 6:18 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in The Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

20. We pray in The Spirit for all saints: those who already believe and those who will believe: John 17:20 "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word;" 

Galatians 6:5-10 "For every man shall bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in The Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to The Spirit shall of The Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."

21. We will persevere in spreading the gospel,

Matthew 10:14 "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet."

Acts 17:32 "And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter."

22. Even if we are not heard;

Matthew 10:40 "He that receiveth you receiveth Me, and he that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent Me."

John 17:14 "I have given them Thy Word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."

23. For it is not we who are being rejected, but Christ in us. 

Luke 23:34 "Then said Jesus, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.' And they parted His raiment, and cast lots."

24. We forgive the people who betrayed, mocked, persecuted us for the sake of the gospel of Christ.