Sunday Words of Encouragement July 9, 2017

We had another good Sunday School lesson which I am saving for another today. Worship started strong and there were two prophetic messages shared at prayer time. Both asserted God’s love for people and called us to look to Him for all healing and restoration and to see that we would find His open arms.

Pastor started a new series titled “Dangerous”. Some people have a tendency to seek dangerous adventures. Even trying something adventurous may lead to failing but failing can be a learning experience.

We live in dangerous circumstances. Every day we are a step away from facing God. One of the most dangerous can be making A DECISION. One that may cost everything.

The Point: We should make the dangerous decision to follow Jesus daily.

When one becomes a Christian some think the believer is giving up danger. Life is not all smooth due to accepting Jesus.

Americans have freedom to worship unlike many other countries. Believers in some countries truly risk everything, even their lives. Their wealth may be taken away. They might have to hide to worship.

Jesus said it would be difficult. Luke 12:49-52. People were following Him. He wanted them to know there was a cost. They would be outside of the Jewish culture. He said that his followers had to ‘pick up your cross’ to follow him. Luke 9:22-26. The cross is a symbol of pain and it requires a price. He didn't come to bring happiness. Luke 14:25-28.

Has your decision to follow Jesus ever cost you everything/anything? We live in a broken world but we can make a decision that comes with a guarantee for eternity. Others may end with death and destruction for eternity.

Pastor concluded with the question: Believers are you carrying the disciple’s cross every day?

This is a new praise song for us and I thought it was good to share today.

Verses for Today:
Luke 9:23-26 (NIV)
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Thank you Jesus for taking my sin. I made the decision to follow You when I was a teen. Help me to submit to Your cross each day!