In Luke 9:23, Jesus looks at his disciples and tells them, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."

- Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow him.

- So what does it mean to carry your cross?

1. The cross was equivalent to opposition or execution

2. The cross is a symbol of shame and suffering.

3. Cross equated: death, the sole purpose was to kill

- The execution or plan of order became life instead of death.

- The shame and suffering became honor because he died for all of us, and he now sits with the father

- Death becomes resurrection and victory because the tomb was empty!

- But, we can be encouraged that it doesn’t end there.

- We should be excited that there is more to the story.

Luke 23:26 26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.

Luke 22:41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

- Without Jesus, the execution, the suffering, the shame, and the death are permanent, but with Jesus these do not have the final word.

- With Jesus all things are new.

Psalm 23 (New King James Version)1 The Lord is my shepherd;I shall not want.2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;He leads me beside the still waters.3 He restores my soul;He leads me in the paths of righteousnessFor His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil;For You are with me;Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;You anoint my head with oil;My cup runs over.6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow meAll the days of my life;And I will dwell in the house of the LordForever.

He Sent His ServantLuke 14:16-23(NLT)16 Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ 18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ 19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 Another said, ‘I now have a wife, so I can’t come.’ 21 “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ 23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. 

I. God Prepared!Galatians 4:4-5 English Standard Version (ESV) says, 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.  

II. He Sent His ServantHe sent me! Inviting people to God’s house is a command. 

III. It’s Urgent!The Master recognized the urgency to fill His house with guests.  Bring people to Jesus   There’s still room!  A growing church is a going church.

John 4:35-42 NLT 35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. 36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! 37 You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. 38 I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.” 39 Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” 40 When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, 41 long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. 42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.”I. Keep Drinking!John 7:37-38 ESV “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” “pineto” - continuing or repeated / act of drinking Keep Drinking! If you neglect or disconnect from the source (Jesus) you will dry up spiritually If you are a waterless spring, you won’t be effective in witnessingJeremiah 2:13 ESV says, “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”  II. Additional Harvest Principles1) The generation after us will reap what we have sownII Corinthians 9:6 ESV says, 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. The amount you sow is proportional to the amount you reap.2) The Word will increase your effectiveness in reaping the harvest.   3) We are all supposed to work in the harvestMathew 9:37-38 Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Plant and HarvestJohn 4:34-42 NLT34 Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. 35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. 36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! 37 You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. 38 I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.” 39 Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” 40 When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, 41 long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. 42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.”

II. Wake Up and Look Around!

III. Harvest Principles- Be willing to go wherever the Holy Spirit leads you.  - Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” - You have to go into the field to get to the harvest. - Be willing to break tradition and social and cultural barriers.  - To be effective in planting and harvesting we must  spend time in Jesus’ presence. - When you encounter Jesus it awakens compassion for others.  - Your testimony is crucial to the harvest.- Today is crucial to the future harvest!- Take what you know and go!