Carrying The Daily Cross
gtcotr/ss020203
Key Scripture: Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
A Testimony: March 1997
Leading an eleven member team, smuggling bibles behind the bamboo curtain into mainland China. (Picture of team - #1)
I was awakened by a dream.
Arose a great while before daylight to pray, brief the team, get saddled up, leave the secret safe house. (Picture of Ashley & Pastor Ron - #2)
We left the house one or two at a time for security reasons.
Got to the train where we would separate
I informed Ashley of my dream.
He told me of his dream.
I made the decision for him to stay behind.
He made this statement to me … it became one point of my many point sermon.
He took me by the shoulders and said - - -
“Dad, what price are we willing to pay to see the gospel go forward?”
Time fails me to tell the rest of the story, how after arriving at our destination I was compelled to send him out late at night by himself to make a clandestine drop way across town and then make his way back. I made a covenant vow with God never to eat again until I sat and ate together with my son safe and sound.
Suffice it to say that God is a good God, full of mercy and grace, Who hears the prayers of His servants and spares them when His will can afford. You can see I haven’t missed too many meals.
“God did not give His extra Son, He gave His Only Son …”
Yes, you say, but that was God.
Remember, it cost Mary her Firstborn Son as well!
In Matthew 27, Mark 15 & Luke 23 There is a story of a man …
Simon of Cyrene who … carried the cross of Christ to Calvary.
Acts 13:1 We find Simeon, most likely the same Simon of Cyrene, here referred to as Simeon that was called Niger - a black man, one of the 5 member council of prophets who jointly set apart, ordain and send the Apostle Paul with Barnabas on Paul’s first missionary journey.
If he is the same man, what brought Simon to Antioch?
After the Pentecost revival, the church grew - Stephen …
Acts 6:9 Tells that it was Jewish men of the synagogue of the Libertines and Cyrenians with others, some from the synagogue of Cilicia, to which the Saul of Tarsus would have most likely belonged to, who disputed with Stephen about his claims concerning Jesus of Nazareth. There were 480 synagogues in Jerusalem representing differing sects and nationalities during the first century. Perhaps those who had stoned Stephen and who were from the same country and culture as Simon, would have made it very uncomfortable for him and his family to have remained in Jerusalem, living in the same confined area with the hostilities.
Acts 11:19-21 Says that after Stephen was martyred, men of Cyprus and Cyrene went down to Antioch and preached Jesus to the Grecians. A great number of them believed and turned to the Lord.
Why do we think that this same Simon remained in Jerusalem after Passover, was converted to Christianity and became a functioning part of the Jerusalem church?
Mark 15:21 Calls Simon of Cyrene the father of Alexander and Rufus
And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
It seems from Mark’s use of this information that he expected the readers of his Gospel to easily identify Simon as the father of Alexander and Rufus, who must have been well known by the intended readers.
Since the first Christian church in Jerusalem often met in the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, he would have been closely acquainted with each member, especially those young boys who were most likely about his own age.
Later we catch up with this Rufus and his mother who are a part of the Christian Church which had been established in Rome. Some believe it was the result of the Apostle Peter traveling from Jerusalem with others accompanying him in the spread of the gospel to Europe. At any rate, Paul knew Rufus personally and counted him as family and esteemed his mother as his own. Paul also had one of Simon’s countrymen, Lucius, accompanying him at Corinth when he wrote this letter to the Christians at Rome.
Romans 16:13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
It may not be completely certain that this Simon/Simeon - refers to the same person, although a majority of the scholars I researched for this message do believe it to be so. However, no one I found disagrees that this Rufus, a young black disciple of the Apostle Paul, is any other than the son of Simon, the bearer of the cross of Christ.
What conclusions can we draw from this information that will uncover the Deeper Truths which scripture is designed to reveal.
#1. Point #103 Our life should be a script that only God can write.
* The most important and profitable thing we ever encounter may at first seem like a terrible and unfair burden.
* Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
* Be patient and wait for the rest of the story to unfold.
#2. Point #154 God does not first seek our permission before He upsets our plans
* Perhaps Simon had planned to return to Cyrene
* Perhaps Simon had thought he would stay in Jerusalem
* Maybe Rufus hoped to be a fireman or doctor or café owner
#3. Point # 177 At this moment perhaps you are the sole reason your ancestors ever existed at all.
* Callings & preparations can begin generations before
* Covenants - God will not forget (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob)
* Generational curses - Spiritual Genes/Inheritance
* Maybe your life is not about you - maybe its to begin a race that others will one day be called upon to finish.
Conclusions: What Have We Learned This Morning?
#1. Remember our key scripture:
Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
* Do not despair when compelled to carry another man’s cross
#2. Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart eyes and lean not unto your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.
* What may seem like a surprise to you is actually a plan to God
* Remember The journey is your friend
#3. Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
* Break generational curses & patterns of sin that control you
* Lay aside every weight and the sin … Hebrews 12:1
* Decide to leave your children and grandchildren a Godly inheritance.
What price are we willing to pay to see the Gospel go forward? …
Whatever it cost to Carry Your Cross and follow Christ.
