The apostle Paul found out as he lived his Christian life that the closer you get to the cross, the smaller the crowds become

The closer you get to the cross, both the actual one and the daily cross of self-denial, the smaller the crowds you will find around you. When Jesus starts His earthly ministry, He picks 12 men as His disciples, begins preaching, and soon there are thousands following Him. But a funny thing begins to happen, the closer Jesus gets to the cross at Calvary, the more people are offended and leave Him. Why do you suppose that is? This message preached live this morning at the Bible Believers Church at the Bookstore in Palatka, Florida.

“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” John 6:66 (KJB)

SUNDAY SERVICE STUDY NOTES: The Closer to the Cross, The Smaller the Crowd

The Closer to the Cross, The Smaller the Crowd

“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” John 6:66 (KJB)

The true Christian path, biblical Christianity, is so unlike the vast majority of anything being preached or taught in most churches today that when you mention it, it seems like some strange new thing.

Jesus tells us this:

“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.” Luke 9:23 (KJB)

The closer you get to the cross, both the actual one and the daily cross of self-denial, the smaller the crowds you will find around you. When Jesus starts His earthly ministry, He picks 12 men as His disciples, begins preaching, and soon there are thousands following Him. But a funny thing begins to happen, the closer Jesus gets to the cross at Calvary, the more people are offended and leave Him. Why do you suppose that is?

“Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” John 16:31,32 (KJB)

“For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:11 (KJB)

4 Things That Can Keep You From Jesus

AFFECTIONS: The born again Christian has two natures, the old one and the new one. We are told to starve the old and feed the new.

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4 (KJB)

SOBRIETY: The Christian life is one of complete sobriety, and when you start walking this path you will be amazed at how many people will drop off.

“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 (KJB)

HUMOR: A lot of people want to know if Jesus has a sense of humor, He did, but it’s completely unlike how you and I think of humor and levity here in the 21^st century.

“Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.” Ephesians 5:4 (KJB)

MUSIC: Biblical Christianity is antithetical to popular culture especially when it comes to music.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16 (KJB)

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” Ephesians 5:19 (KJB)

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