1. Earthly wants and the devil on our shoulder.

Matthew 16:22-23 “22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Jesus had just told the disciples of how He was going to suffer and be killed and rise on the third day. Then Peter says no way you can’t! You see Peter is a lot like us. We want, want and want but God knows better. He knows what He wants for our lives and that’s why Jesus tells him to stop and change his mindset! We have to throw off this generation and thought of “want want want” and change it to “what do You want God”!!

2. Take up your cross.

Matthew 16:24-28 “24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Once we change our mindset we are able to do what the second set of verses says. We can carry out that question of what do you want God? We have to deny ourselves and give up our lives to Him and by giving up our lives to Him we are saving them. Submitting to God daily is a struggle.

Not sending that mean text because we are angry, not doing those things God clearly says is a no-no, but turning to Him and doing His will! It’s a struggle but that’s why we are brothers and sisters in Christ, so we can pick up each other when we fall and carry out His will together!!