{"id":1142,"date":"2019-07-14T16:46:33","date_gmt":"2019-07-14T23:46:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1142"},"modified":"2019-07-14T16:50:37","modified_gmt":"2019-07-14T23:50:37","slug":"cherish-the-cross","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/14\/cherish-the-cross\/","title":{"rendered":"Cherish the Cross!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"color:black;font: 10pt arial;\"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US<\/w:LidThemeOther>   <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeAsian>   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style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">July 14, 2019<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Luke 9:18-24<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Cherish the Cross!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt\">Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">&#8220;Who do the crowds say I am?\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They replied, &#8220;Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.&#8221;<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">&#8220;But what about you?\u201d<\/i> he asked.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">&#8220;Who do you say I am?\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Peter answered, &#8220;The Christ of God.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And he said, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">&#8220;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.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then he said to them all:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">&#8220;If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">What do you cherish?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I know people who cherish a stuffed animal that they have had their entire life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When they were young they cherished that stuffed animal so much that they took it with them wherever they went.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As they grew older they cherished that stuffed animal by taking very special care of it.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why do they cherish a stuffed animal?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because of the sense of peace and calmness it brings to them!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There are people who cherish the house that they live in.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why do they cherish a house?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because of the sense of safety and security it gives to them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There are people who cherish something that they inherited from their parents or their grandparents because of all the memoires it inherently holds.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And then there are the people who cherish someone else\u2014 a spouse, a child, a grandchild\u2014 because of the overwhelming love they have for that person.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Scripture text that we have before us this morning, my friends, is very familiar.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It is very easy to understand.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It is very relevant to our world and to our lives today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It is a portion of Scripture that centers around two critically important questions that Jesus asked His disciples:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWho do the crowds say I am?\u201d<\/i> and, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBut what about you?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Who do you say I am?\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>My goal this morning is to help you see how both of those critically important questions lead us to this encouragement:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">Cherish the Cross!<\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Pointing to the cross)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Cherish the cross that Jesus willingly endured for you!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Cherish the cross that you now willingly endure for Jesus!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Luke chapter nine begins with Jesus sending out the twelve apostles in His name.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Luke says that Jesus <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cgave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases\u201d<\/i> (9:1).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Luke also says that the Lord instructed His apostles to <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cpreach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick\u201d<\/i> (9:23).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>After the twelve apostles returned and reported to Jesus what they had accomplished, Jesus took the Twelve and <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cwithdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida\u201d<\/i> (9:10).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But, when the crowds learned where Jesus was they followed Him.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus, of course, welcomed the crowds, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cspoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing\u201d<\/i> (9:11).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This is when Jesus miraculously fed this crowd of over 5,000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This is also when Jesus experienced a turning point in His ministry.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>John tells us that after the feeding of the 5,000 many of Jesus\u2019 disciples turned back and no longer followed Him because His teachings were too hard and too difficult to accept.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See John 6:60ff)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This all helps us to understand why Luke says in the opening portion of our text, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cOnce when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, \u2018Who do the crowds say I am?\u2019<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They replied, \u2018Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.\u2019\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Jesus did not ask this question because He did not know what the crowds were saying about Him.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As the true Son of God Jesus not only knew what the crowds were saying about Him, but He even knew what the crowds were thinking about Him.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No, my friends, Jesus asked this critically important question so that His disciples\u2014 including us! \u2014 could openly talk about what other people were saying about Jesus!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Luke records for us exactly how Jesus\u2019 apostles answered that question.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But what about you?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How would <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">you <\/b>answer that question?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As you listen to people today\u2014 your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, as you listen to what you hear on the news or read on the Internet, how would you answer the Lord\u2019s question:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWho do the crowds say I am?\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It\u2019s not hard to see and to hear that many people today see Jesus as a great spiritual leader, someone who can help them fine tune their life, someone who can show them what they can do to be a better person and earn their own way into heaven.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There are many people today who see Jesus as a great prophet\u2014 but certainly not <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">the <\/b>prophet.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And then there are all the people who say that Jesus is the One who shows us how to love other people and to accept other people and to be tolerant of other people no matter what they believe and no matter how they are living their life.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Just as it must have been difficult for Jesus to hear the apostles\u2019 answers to the question, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWho do the crowds say I am?\u201d<\/i> so also, it must be difficult for Jesus to hear what people are saying about Him right down to this very day.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s why Jesus asked His apostles that second and even more important question, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBut what about you?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Who do you say I am?\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Peter boldly gave that beautiful answer\u2014 the answer that you and I confidently confess today\u2014 <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThe Christ of God.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">By the grace and power of God Peter believed exactly what you and I believe, exactly what the Bible proclaims:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus of Nazareth is <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe Christ,\u201d \u201cthe Messiah,\u201d<\/i> <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe Anointed One of God\u201d<\/i> who came into this world with just one goal:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cto save his people from their sins,\u201d<\/i> (Matthew 1:21); to <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cdestroy the devil\u2019s work\u201d<\/i> (1 John 3:8).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But How?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How would Jesus achieve His goal of saving us from our sins?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How would Jesus <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cdestroy\u201d<\/i> the death and the damnation that the devil has brought upon all of humanity?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at it this way, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If you want your car fixed, you don\u2019t take it to a company that specializes in painting houses.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If your teeth hurt you don\u2019t make an appointment with a mechanic.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If you want food to keep your body alive and healthy, you don\u2019t go shopping at the hardware store.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Likewise, in order for Jesus to save us from our sins, in order for Jesus to destroy the devil\u2019s work, He needed to fulfill the Plan that His heavenly Father first announced to Satan in the Garden of Eden, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cI will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers, he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel\u201d<\/i> (Genesis 3:15).<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Jesus\u2019 determination to fulfill His Father\u2019s Plan of Salvation for this world is brought out very clearly here in our text when we hear our Savior say, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">This (Pointing to the cross) was the only way for Jesus to save us from our sins.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This (Pointing to the cross) was the only way for Jesus to destroy the death and damnation that the devil had brought upon all of humanity\u2014 including you and me!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>So cherish the cross!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Whenever someone tells you that Jesus is a great spiritual leader who can help you fine tune yourself to that you can become a better person, tell them, \u201cNo!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus is <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe Christ of God\u201d <\/i>who willingly suffered and died on the cross to completely pay for all of my sins!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If someone tells you that Jesus is just one of a long list of prophets, tell them, \u201cNo!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus is <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe Christ of God\u201d <\/i>\u2014 the One concerning whom the heavenly Father Himself has proclaimed, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u2018This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased\u2026Listen to him!\u2019<\/i> (Matthew 3:17; 17:5)\u201d If someone tells you that Jesus wants us to love everyone and to accept everyone and to tolerate everyone no matter what they believe or how they are living their life, tell them, \u201cNo!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus is <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe Christ of God,\u201d<\/i> the One who because of our sins and because of our rebellious ways cried out from the cross, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u2018My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?\u2019<\/i> (Matthew 27:46).\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Confessing that Jesus is the Christ automatically focuses our attention on this cross (Pointing) and what Jesus accomplished <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">for <\/b>us on the cross.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s why we cherish the cross with all of our heart!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">But our text does not end there, does it.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Luke goes on to record these words of our Lord, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cIf anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Because we believe and openly confess that Jesus is <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe Christ of God\u201d<\/i> who willingly went to the cross to pay for the sins of all mankind, we can expect to face difficulties, challenges and yes, persecution in our life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In other words, just as Jesus willingly bore His cross for us, so also we now willingly bear whatever crosses we are called upon to bear for Him.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And note, my friends, that Jesus did <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">not <\/b>say that we should be willing to take up our cross once in a while and follow Him.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He said that we are to take up our cross <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">daily <\/b>and follow Him as His disciples.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">What does this mean?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It certainly does not mean that we make a cross out of wood and every morning before we go to school or work we drag the cross around our neighborhood for everyone to see.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It doesn\u2019t simply mean that we wear a cross around our neck.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus Himself explains what this means when He says that we are to <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cdeny\u201d<\/i> ourselves and be willing to <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201close\u201d<\/i> our life for Him.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It means that we <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cput off our old self, which is being corrupted by its sinful desires\u201d<\/i> (Ephesians 3:22).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It means clearly saying \u201cNo!\u201d to any thought that we can somehow add something to what Jesus has done to save us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It means adamantly saying \u201cNo!\u201d to the sin that wants to come back into our heart and take over some part of our life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It means walking away from anyone who tries to get us to believe something that contradicts God\u2019s holy Word.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>None of this is easy, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We all have that old sinful nature that constantly tries to convince us to set down our cross and follow the easy path through life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But when we lift up our eyes to His cross (Pointing) and see what He was willing to endure for us, then by His power and with His grace we can indeed cherish whatever cross we are called upon to endure for Jesus.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">So what do you cherish, my friends?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Do you have a stuffed animal that you either openly or secretly hold close for a sense of peace and calmness?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Do you cherish your home and breathe a sigh of relief whenever you walk through the door?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Is there something that floods your mind with memories every time you see it or hold it in your hands?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Is there someone who makes the rest of the world fade away every time you see them?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>While each of us may have our own particular thing that we cherish, my prayer is that all of us will always cherish the cross.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Pointing)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Cherish the cross that Jesus willingly endured for you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Cherish the cross that you now willingly endure for Jesus.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Pentecost-5-07-14-19.mp3\">Pentecost-5-07-14-19.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost July 14, 2019 Luke 9:18-24 Cherish the Cross! &nbsp; Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, &#8220;Who do the crowds say I am?\u201d&nbsp; They replied, &#8220;Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1142","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1142"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1142\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1142"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1142"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}