And Jesus called the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to follow Me as My disciple, he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will eventually lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake and the gospel’s will save it [from the consequences of sin and separation from God]. For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world [with all its pleasures], and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” — Mark 8:34–38, AMP
Introduction
The title the Lord placed on my heart this morning is: Does your yes really mean yes? When you say yes, do you really mean it? And are you willing to pay the cost? Saying yes to the Lord will cost you something. You may say yes with your mouth, but your actions do not always show it. Saying yes is not easy, but Jesus said yes to the will of the Father.
Discipleship means denying yourself — dying to self — for Christ’s sake. It means telling your desires “no” when they conflict with the will and Word of God.
Understanding the Call of Discipleship
The message of the Gospel of Mark is that Jesus is the Son of God who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. — Mark 10:45, AMP
In Mark 8:34–38, Jesus teaches that discipleship comes with a cost. Just as He suffered, we too will suffer for the sake of the Gospel. To take up our cross is to deny ourselves and live a life that is pleasing to God. We are in the world, but not of the world. If we shy away from identifying with Jesus publicly, we risk losing the fullness of God’s promises and purposes for our lives.
What Hinders Our Yes?
Fear
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. — 2 Timothy 1:7, AMP
Trusting Ourselves Instead of God
Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth. — Proverbs 3:5–6, AMP
Trying to Figure Everything Out
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. — Isaiah 55:8–9, AMP
Lack of Faith
But without faith it is impossible to walk with God and please Him. — Hebrews 11:6, AMP
Disobedience
For rebellion is as serious as the sin of divination, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols. — 1 Samuel 15:23a, AMP
Final Exhortation
Do not say yes to God if you do not truly mean it. Jesus said yes to the Father in obedience, and because of that, a way was made for forgiveness of sins. Saying yes deepens our relationship with God. Even though it may cost us, we must be determined to step out of our comfort zones, submit fully to God, and give Him a genuine yes.
Father, we thank You for Your Word. Help us to give You a wholehearted yes — not just with our mouths, but with our lives. Teach us to trust You, to obey You, and to stop trying to figure everything out on our own. Bring us to the place where our yes truly means yes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.