Follow: Becoming the Person God Wants Us To Be.

Luke 9:23-26 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35 Luke 9:19-20, And Jesus asked them, Who do the crowds say that I am? 19 And they answered, John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen. 20 Then he said to them, But who do you say that I am? And Peter answered, The Christ of God. Luke 9:22-26 The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 23 And he said to all, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 1. Reevaluate your priorities. a. Luke 9:23, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. b. Luke 9:61-62, Another person came to Jesus and said, I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home. 62 Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. c. Colossians 1:18, That in everything He [Christ] might be preeminent. 2. Redefine your life. a. Read Luke 9:24-25, For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? o Source of Life Ultimate priority Action o Money Rich Greedy, Stingy, Cheating, Hurting o Success Career or Great Parent Selfishly Driven o Approval Peoples Affection People Pleasing o Jesus Preeminence of Jesus Christ Following Jesus Christ b. Philippians 3:8, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. 3. Reexamine your Mission a. Luke 9:23, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 1

b. The Son of Man came . . . to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). c. The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). d. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). e. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). f. What shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify Your name (John 12:27-28). g. Matthew 28:19-20, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. h. Luke 9:26, For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. i. Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you. Go (do my mission) in peace (Luke 7:48, 50).