Season 8 Episode 2, The Cross and The Armor

72,8-2, SHOW  NOTES & COPYRIGHTS  (Scheduled 9/1/2022)Today we are going to talk about taking up our cross and following Jesus.  I was given a wooden cross that gave me the inspiration for today’s podcast.We’ll start with three times in The Bible Jesus tells those He is with to do this.Matthew 16:24-26 NKJV, Jesus is with His disciples after feeding the four thousand.24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?Mark 8:35 NKJV, Jesus and His disciples were at a house in Capernaum.When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.Luke 9:23 NKJV, Jesus is with His disciples after feeding the five thousand.Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.THE CROSS OF JESUSHow do we react to the cross?Yes, there is death and loss.And beyond in our strifeThere is a promise – eternal life.The Son of man, living as one of us.The Son of God, the God/man JesusShowed the wayAs He did prayOn that fateful nightWhen good an evil did fight.His prayer:“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”(Luke 22:42, NKJV)Dying for the sins of others,His sisters and brothers,He gave of HimselfFor our Heavenly wealth.No, not money or fame.Nor words that do not rhyme.It was for the forgiveness of our sinSo forever we might live with Him.We must also commit to the cross.Overcoming sin is not a loss.No, we take up our cross for gainKnowing God’s protection always remains.Jesus said, “Take up you cross and follow me.”On that fateful day, He took up His cross for all to see.Taking up our cross we follow Jesus.We die to self in absolute surrender.We will lose the live we lived on this earth,We will follow as Jesus walkedAnd greet others as He talked.We will find our Heavenly worth.      (tcarter, 8/19/2022)Discussion:I would like to follow this with the Armor of God.  As we take up our cross and follow Jesus, I believe it helps to also put on the armor of god, so we are able to stand against the forces of evil.  I have no poem for this, I am just going to read the verses from the Bible.Ephesians 6:10-20, NKJV, 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [a]wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [b]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked...