His text was Matthew 16:24, "If anyone would follow me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me."
He pointed out how the cross has become a piece of jewelry, but it was an instrument of death. When Jesus said "Take up your cross," He meant we must die to ourselves in order to truly live.
He told about two young men who had big dreams. The first wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and take over the family business. He wanted to make it bigger than his father had and leave his mark on the business world. One night at a holiness revival he sensed that God was calling him to lay down his dreams and follow God's call to become a pastor. At the end of the evening he went forward and kneeled at the altar, declaring to the Lord he would do just that. He went on to be a pastor in China in the '20s, planting seeds that have helped grow the Church in China to the millions that are in it today.
The second young man wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and become a preacher. He wanted to have a bigger church than his father had and leave his mark on the world. One night at a holiness revival he sensed that God was calling him to lay down his dreams and follow God's call to go into business. At the end of the evening he went forward and kneeled at the altar, declaring to the Lord he would do just that. He went on to found an insurance company that has helped millions of people.
Dr. Warrick told the graduates that their ordination is a reminder that they laid down their dreams for God's.
Their ordination is recognized by two million Nazarenes in 23,000 congregations in over 150 nations.
Say no to yourself, take up your cross, the instrument of death to self, and do the thing He's calling you to do.
I'm so proud of all Joyce has accomplished since her ordination.
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