Complete The Cross
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BuyAToyota.com, the official website for deals to find out more. Toyota, let's go places. Residents at Brightview Senior Living Communities enjoy enhanced possibilities, independence, and choice. Brightview Dulles Corner in Herndon and Brightview Great Falls offer vibrant senior independent living, assisted living, and memory care services through various daily programs and cultural events.

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You've heard it before many times, water is life. But do you know that almost half of the homes on the Navajo Reservation do not have clean running water? With your support, St. Bonaventure Indian Mission and School is ready to give water to Navajo families. So we invite you to help provide this precious gift of life to those in need. Contrary to many average Americans, Navajo families survive on just 10 gallons of water per day.

You can help support St. Bonaventure's water delivery program by going to stbonaventuremission.org. Hey, this is Stephen Furtick. I'm the pastor of Elevation Church, and this is our podcast. I wanted to thank you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. Hope it gives you perspective to see God is moving in your life. Enjoy the message. We are in the middle of something, and that's where God is. That really blesses me to know that.

Because waiting for the finished product until I can have joy, have peace, trust God, be happy, that doesn't sound very promising to me. But if God is at ever-present help in trouble, in times of trouble, that's one thing the Bible says about God. If he'll walk up to me in the middle of a storm...

If he'll be with me in the middle of the fire, if he'll split the sea so I can walk through it and drown my enemies behind me, I can keep moving forward with the faith that God has my back in every situation. So I think the idea of process has really been challenging us and celebrating our progress rather than awaiting our perfection.

It's revolutionizing. Like, me and Autumn talk every week. She's been in our church 11 years, and she's like, I never have seen Jesus in the way that I've been seeing him in this series. And she grew up. She's such a church girl, y'all. I mean, seriously. She's got Leviticus memorized in Hebrew. And...

She's like, it's just opening my eyes. And that's the revelation factor. Today I want to talk about revelation in the context of relationship. Please write this down. The greatest pain and pleasure that you will experience in your life will be in the context of relationship. I did you kind of dirty. I didn't give you a chance to get your pen out or get your thumbs warmed up. So I'm going to try to say it again. The greatest pain and greatest pleasure in your life will be experienced in the context of relationship.

So one of the words that Jesus spoke from the cross is commonly called the word of relationship. We're going to deal with that today. But I've been using a flashback technique. I try to be creative in the way I present the word. I don't know if it makes sense to everybody else, but just ways that make it exciting for me, because I figure I'd like my own sermons. If nobody else does, I'll subscribe to the podcast. But I've been looking at Luke 24. These two people, one is called...

We call him Cleo. His full name is Cleopas. He has an unnamed traveling companion. They're going the wrong way to a no-name village called Emmaus. I mean, it has a name, but you can't find it. If you go to the Holy Land today, they'll say, we think this is where Emmaus was, but they don't even really know where it was. It wasn't some metropolitan major village.

where commerce happened. It was where they lived, and they were going back from the scene of the cross where they had watched their hope extinguished, and they had watched the one that they thought might be the one die, and they were burying their dreams along the road when the one whose death they were mourning walked up right beside them, and they didn't know it.

And so they're like walking back the wrong way. And there's this whole thing about why would Jesus follow people who are headed in the wrong direction? Why would he leave the 99 righteous to find the one? Why would he come for the sick and not stay with the well? And I think that's one thing that we misconstrue about God's presence in our lives is that he's going to be with us as long as we're doing what he told us to do and going where he told us to go. And yet we're surprised by the grace of God just like busting up

in the middle of our conversations and our hopeless situations and chasing us down to the wrong destination so he can turn us around. And when they got where they thought they were going, they saw who Jesus really was. And I think they saw it in his scars when he broke the bread, which is an everyday event. You know, you eat every day. And God is often found in the common parts of our life. I'm teaching already, if you didn't know. This is not a review.

So seeing where he had been wounded and now seeing his scars, which were the greatest demonstration of his strength that proved his resurrection, they had their eyes open and he was revealed and recognized by them in that moment. One thing I didn't point out

that I think is very important. And I'm going to read the text, and I'm going to emphasize certain words and see if you can find the theme. The Bible says in verse 32 that after they recognize Jesus, you know, you have these moments where you're like, oh yeah, that was God. Oh yeah, that was God that had him break up with me. He was broke. God was looking out for me. But sometimes you don't see it on the road. You only realize it in reverse. You like see their picture 10 years later, and you're like, oh, thank you, Mother Mary. Now,

So they're like, oh, that was him. That was the one we were crying over, but he's not dead. He's risen. And look at this. I'm going to emphasize certain words. Verse 32. They asked each other, were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the scriptures to us? Are you noticing anything? Okay, one more verse. Make sure you get it. They got up.

and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven, and those with them assembled together." The revelation of Jesus was completed, not in the context of their conversation with him, but in the context of their conversation with each other. This message is called "Complete the Cross," and it is meant to confront some of the things that we say in church that sound spiritual but really make no sense in real life.

Things like, you know, all I need is Jesus. As long as I've got Jesus. I don't need anybody else. And I understand the spirit of that, that he is the most important. And seek ye first the kingdom of God, his righteousness, all these things be added unto you and my mother and father for saving me. Then the Lord will take me up. I know those Bible verses too. But even Jesus needed a team. And it is significant, I think, maybe you don't think so.

that he revealed himself to two people and they talked with each other and it was in talking with each other that they figured out who he was. Because for all of us who think all we need is God and all we need is Jesus, the last time I checked, the cross had two beams. This one, that's the main one. Gotta get that right. But it's not a cross until it does like this. And sometimes the reason we like to say things like, all I need is Jesus and Jesus

All I need is God is because as long as we keep the context of our relationship limited to an invisible God, we don't have to deal with people. We can kind of manipulate our image of God into somebody who is comfortable for us to relate to. Then you'll start saying things like, well, nobody else gets me, but God does. So you're all this. All this. That's awesome, and I love it, but I want to talk a little bit about this, the relationship, the

the relationship that is a little bit harder. So to do it, I want to remember what happened on the cross. And I wonder when Cleophas and his unnamed companion are walking back, because the Bible says they got up, they turned around, they thought it was the end, it was really the beginning, they had watched Jesus die on the cross, watching him die, they thought, this is it, but heaven is watching and saying, no, when he said it is finished...

That was just the beginning. Come on. I need somebody who travels six hours or more to know that where you are right now is not the end of what shall be in your life. I feel like preaching to somebody who has your head hung down. You've been in Emmaus long enough. Come on. You've got a round-trip ticket. They turned around and they went back.

The Bible says that the road they walked was seven miles, so we've been using each of the seven miles to represent a different word that Jesus spoke from the cross. There were seven of them. The word of forgiveness, Father, forgive them. They know not what they do. Or the word of salvation, today you will be with me in paradise. I wonder, were they having a flashback of what happened on the cross? That's not a bad thing to do, by the way, to have a

flashback every now and then to strengthen your faith, to remember what really happened on that cross. I mean, what really happened beyond the crown of thorns that marked his brow.

Beyond the sign that Pilate put above him in three different languages that said king of the Jews the the title that he used to mock him which was actually Announcing him because sometimes the insults that people will say about you are the greatest compliment they can give you I mean beyond that what really happened on the cross What happened down in my soul when my shackles fell off when my shame was nailed to those beams?

When the chastisement that brought my peace was upon him on the cross. Somebody say on the cross. On the cross, that's where my sin is. On the cross, that's where my mistakes are. On the cross, that's where my second guessings and second givings. That's where all of my regrets are redeemed. On the cross, that's where I hung all my fears and all my doubts and all my failures. It happened on the cross. And I wonder, did they reflect on the road?

What happened on the cross and I wonder now in the light of his resurrection did they reflect on his death differently? To know that what had caused him to hang their heads and walk away was actually the greatest proof of his love When I need to know that God loves me, I don't look at what's happening in my life. I flash back to what happened on the cross That's where it was settled. That's where it was nailed down forever. He's always good and he does good I

And he showed it to me on the cross. On the cross. That's where that thing that the devil is tormenting you with, that's down deeper than anybody else can see, that's where it should be hanging. It shouldn't be hanging around in your heart and in your soul. It should be on that cross. I feel kind of old-timey today. I don't feel very modern today. I feel like going and putting my eyes on the middle man, the one who hung there because he loved me.

could have dispatched 12 legions of angels but hung there on that cross for me. It was his love that held him there on the cross. That's the first picture. I wonder, did they remember what happened on the cross? They were actually at the cross, maybe not actually in the general vicinity, but they were at the cross. I've heard sermons, seen movies about what happened on the cross. Sometimes it makes you feel kind of sentimental

Sometimes it makes you feel kind of sick. What happened on the cross went far beyond what a film camera can present in 24. What happened on the cross is the release of the freedom that God wants to produce in my life. But I think there's something to be seen, not just what happened on the cross, but who was at the cross. I mean, we know who was on the cross between two thieves, but at the cross. Now, to get a clear picture of this

You kind of have to do a little bit of study and don't worry, I already did it for you, so I'm gonna tell you. You don't have to look anything up. I looked it all up this week while you were doing your real job. It was interesting because I was putting together what Matthew said and what Mark said and what Luke said and what John said. And so Matthew, who is one of the disciples, they're all telling the same story but from a different perspective and they're describing the cross. And when it came to exactly what happened at the cross, Matthew didn't have a lot to say because he wasn't there.

He was there for the fish and the loaves, so he can tell you about that. He was there for that water walking thing where Peter got out of the boat because he's kind of crazy and isn't content to just sit in the boat. He has to do something special and spectacular. He was there when Peter almost drowned himself and Jesus gave him CPR. But when it came to the... Isn't it funny how the cross will thin out a crowd? Because it was really loud on Sunday when Jesus came into Jerusalem. I mean, deafeningly.

They were crying out something. They were saying, "Hosanna." It means, "Save now." And that's what they wanted him to do, to save now. But when he died, it deferred their hope. And so as he hung there at the cross, the crowds that were there to be fed and taught by his hand were kind of quiet at the cross. Kind of quiet where he died. Kind of quiet where he suffered. It was real loud when he was teaching.

"Preach Jesus!" Can you imagine Jesus' front row? "Blessed are the poor in spirit." "Preach Jesus!" I mean, if the Word was preaching the Word, that would be kind of cool to witness. It would probably be exciting. I'm just saying, you'd probably shout. You'd probably jump up. But when he came to his cross, the crowd wasn't so loud. Oh, by the way, something that Peter proves to us is that those who are the loudest are not always the most loyal.

Because when it comes to the cross, Matthew tells us something so disturbing. I imagine it must have hurt him to write this, you know, because Jesus had done so much for them, and they really believed in him, and I think they really wanted to follow him, but they could only go so far, and then he came to the cross. And the cross is confusing, because it's not supposed to end like this. And the cross is confusing, because if he really is who he says he is, how can he be hung up there to die in this kind of humiliation?

And so Matthew says that at the cross everybody deserted him. All 12. Because remember, he had a team. A really big team. A really big team. Touch somebody and say, "A really big team." Until it came to the cross. And then sometimes circumstances in your life will show you who was really with you because they loved you and who was really with you because there was something that they got from you and the moment they don't get from you what they wanted from you. Now that's really painful. That is, that's a hard thing. Some people

Will be will be with you. What's what's the saying? They'll ride with you in the limo, but they won't take the bus when the limo breaks down I don't know who said that I think that's from the book of Oprah But but Matthew says it's a good one. But Matthew says they all left him now. Here's what's interesting There's one disciple. His name is John and I love John because he gave himself a nickname There's a lot to love about John because at the Last Supper when Jesus is telling the disciples you're all gonna leave and

Peter's like, "Not me! I got you, bro!" And John isn't saying much, but John, he saw himself a little differently. Here's what he called himself, okay? How many of you have a nickname that your friends call you and stuff? How many of you gave yourself a nickname? Okay, John is so confident. He gave himself a nickname. And let me tell you what he calls himself when he writes about himself in the gospel according to John. He calls himself, how's this for a nickname? "The one Jesus loved."

So not, "Hey, I'm John." "Hey, I'm his favorite." I love John. It's a certain kind of confidence that he has that he doesn't need to say much with his lips to prove his loyalty. He's just there. And so when John writes his gospel, he's like, "Hey, wait a minute, Matthew. We didn't all run." And he describes for a moment who was at the cross, and it's not who you would expect.

Because you're looking for Peter at the cross, but Peter isn't at the cross. He couldn't get past the courtyard. It became scandalous to stand with Jesus, and Jesus didn't do it like he thought. Peter started cussing people out. And maybe you're looking for Andrew at the cross, because Andrew was Peter's brother. He's the one who came and got Peter and said, Hey, you've got to meet this man. He's amazing, and he was amazing, until he came to the cross, and then Andrew was absent.

And so on the day that Jesus did what he came to do to begin with, he's calling the roll and no one is present. That's a bad day for the teacher when the whole class is gone and the loneliness of hanging there all alone. No Bartholomew, no Nathaniel. Because when I read it, John tells us who was at the cross. Everybody say, at the cross. At the cross.

There's soldiers gambling for his garments at the foot of the cross. Everybody grabbing what they can from him, just like they did while he was living, just grabbing what they wanted from him. Just like sometimes we come to church, just grab what we want from God. Just grab a goose bump. Just grab a word. Oh, I came to get a word. But when it came time to... It was kind of... Nathaniel! Andrew! Simon the Zealot! James, son of thunder! John! Don't you appreciate the people who are just there? Amen.

It's not who you expect. It's not even the loud ones. Look who's at the cross. Look, John tells us because he was there. Matthew can't quite tell us because he wasn't. Again, he can tell you how delicious the bread was. He can tell you how delicious the fish tasted. But John tells us who was at the cross. I'm going to give you something right now. God gave me something to give to you. You're about to be set free from some things that you didn't even know had locked you inside of yourself.

You are about to get something from God that is going to release you to love like you haven't been able to love and enjoy the life he died to give you. So John says that near the cross of Jesus, remember, he's on the cross. And now let's see who's at the cross. First of all, his mother, the one who carried him, now had to watch him carry her cross that she deserved that he did not.

And I think there's a whole message, maybe I'll preach Mother's Day on this verse one time, because it would be a great Mother's Day scripture. What kind of strength does it take for a mom to stand there and watch her son die? Completely unable to do anything about it, just standing there. It says that near the cross of Jesus stood his mother. It does not record one word that she spoke, but she stood with him. She stood with him. Sometimes the greatest testimony of your loyalty is not what you will say to someone.

but how you will stand with them. Because we've all got a cross. We've all got seasons that we will go into that will divide those who are loud from those who are really loyal. And who I see at the cross is and who I expect to see at the cross. Here's Mary, the mother of Jesus. There's her sister. There's Mary, the wife of Clopas. And there's Mary Magdalene. She had a rough life. Jesus really helped her. He cast some demons out of her that nobody else had been able to deal with.

That created a kind of loyalty within her that she was like, "Even if all I can do is stand here and cry, I'm not leaving." I wonder, could you get there with God? Even if all I can do is stand here and wait to see what will become, you can't run me off. You've been too good to me and done too much for me going anywhere. You have the words of eternal life. I'm staying.

Near the cross. And when Jesus saw his mother there, John tells us, "And the disciple whom he loved," John says, "That's me, standing nearby." He said to her, "Woman, here is your son." And then watch this. He looked at the disciple whom he loved, the self-proclaimed favorite, and gave him a job. "Here is your mother." Let's skip the fact that none of us in the room would be able to put aside our own selfishness enough if we were suffering like that to think about anyone else.

Because you know when you're going through something, you don't ask anybody how their day is. And if you do, you really don't want to know and you hope they don't answer you. All you can really handle is fine. I'm telling you, when you're going through something, and you really need to watch for this, because I went through something a couple years ago with my dad, and somebody gave me good advice. They said, don't tell a lot of people what you're going through. Find a few people you can tell what you're going through. Most people are going to ask you. They really don't care.

That would have been worth your trip to church today just to know that they really don't mean tell me all about it. They really don't. They see you coming, they dodge you because your knees have been hurting six months and it's all you talk about. Your sore back, it's all you talk about. How hard it's been with your kids. Most people don't want to know all that because they've got their own stuff. They've got their own things they're dealing with.

And to me, the presence of mind of Jesus, and I want to be more like this because I'm really not here yet, nor am I in the vicinity of this kind of Christ-likeness, but that he was able to look to the needs of others while he died for them, not after he got up. While he's bleeding for their sins, he says, hey, look out for her, and you look out for him. And he's doing in his death what he did in his life, bringing them together as he dies.

Hey John, I need you to do something for me. Look out for her and he's your son now. That's crazy. Isn't that crazy? Because I would have been up there. I would not have even seen John standing at the cross because I would have been so mad at Peter. I would have been so mad at Andrew and Nathaniel. And don't even get me started on Judas. Oh my God, I would not have seen John because I would have been mad.

my plan for how I was going to get back at Judas. Sometimes we don't see those who are with us because we can only think of those who left us. But I want to declare over your life today, God will always leave a John at your cross. You got who you need. You got what you need. If they left you, who was that for? Be honest about it.

You have been so upset about the encouragement that you're not getting from somebody, you are tripping over the encouragement of 16 other people because you're mad at Bob. Well, what about Bob? If Bob left the cross, reach out to John. There's a John at your cross. There's something happening in your heart right now. That just sets you free. You don't have to worry about who left. If they left, they're gone. If John is at the cross…

Why would Jesus be mad at Judas? He needed John to be there at the cross, but he needed Judas to get him to the cross. This is a hard one. This is a hard one. You might have to realize that some of the people you hate the most actually helped you get to the place where you needed to be to do what God called you to do. Do you believe that? Can you receive this? This is a hard say.

This is the kind of stuff Jesus would say and people would just walk away. But Jesus wasn't cursing Judas. It took Judas. It took a broken heart. It took a betrayal. Some of the left you were teaching you to love the people who are still there. It took that. It doesn't justify what they did. But maybe I'm going to get mature enough one day where I can be like Jesus. And I won't miss John cursing Judas. Yes, it is.

I'm going to say this about six different ways before I close to make sure you get it, because that's my message, is that it takes two. It takes two. It takes two. I want to rock right now. Touch somebody and say, I'm not internationally known. When you got it like this, come on, somebody say, I got it like that. Jesus so knew who he was, and he had so received the affirmation that could only be given in the baptism at the Jordan, this is my son, and I am pleased with him.

that no matter who wasn't there, he was so convinced about who was that he could look at John and look at Mary and give like that. And when you really get it like this, I mean, when you wake up in the morning and know that God has blessed you to see another day, you will not be needy anymore. I'll say it just like that. You're too needy. And you're too blessed to be this needy. I'm just telling you what God told me

You think it's hard for you to hear? I had to hear it all week. God kept me up all week getting this message ready for you. And he said, I need for your validation not to be in somebody else's mouth. I need your validation to be in that cross. I need you to be complete in that cross so that if you don't get it from your mom, if you don't get it from your daughter, listen, sometimes people are giving you all they can give you. They can't give you any more. And if you don't get it like this,

You will never get it like that. You need to set some people free today from not giving you keys to your freedom that they don't hold. You have got to release some people from the expectation of perfection. They can't be everything to you. Even John couldn't get him down. All he could do was stand there. So I don't want to look to people to do for me what only God can. I don't want to be grabbing for garments at the foot of the cross. If I got it like this, I can give it.

Whoever this is for you've been trying to get affection from the wrong direction You've been reaching for validation and all the wrong places. You're not gonna get it like this. That's where you give That's where Paul said if there's any comfort from being united with Christ what she's drawn across He's saying this Philippian Church You can look it up Philippians 1 and chapter 2 verse 1 and 2 something like that. It's in Philippians somewhere Google it It says you got it Oh if there's any encouragement from being united with Christ somebody say I got it like that. I

Okay, that's the part we're good at in church. He forgave me. He saved me. He loves me He accepts me but Paul says if you got it like that any comfort from his love how many are comforted by the love of Christ in your heart today? If you got it like that having the same love being one in spirit and of one mind I love this next instruction then make my joy Complete if you got it like that give it like this So I want to wake up this week

And I want to see all of my shame, my need on that cross. I want to receive all of my validation at that cross. I want to carry whatever cross God has given me and not resent the people who didn't give me what I thought I needed. Because I am complete in that cross. I don't need you to tell me that I'm loved. Maybe it's time for me to tell you that you're loved. Maybe I've lived my life doing this long enough. Maybe it's time to live like he died.

At the cross, there's John. On the cross, there's Jesus. In the cross, here's us. That's where our strength is, you know. Not in what people say or don't say. You feel the release in that? When I receive it, I can release it. God, show me who to encourage today. I don't need anything from you today. Here, I got mine at the cross. I got mine.

the presence of God in his presence is the fullness of joy I am complete in him I am the righteousness of God I am come to somebody shout I am complete I am complete I don't need you to complete me I am complete in the cross of Jesus Christ where he bled is still flowing today and it's flowing through me come on give him 60 seconds of praise cross at the cross

Receive this ministry. God is trying to get you to release what you have received. You've been doing it the wrong way. You've been trying to receive it. Release it. From him. Don't try to receive it from them.

They are unpredictable, and they got their own stuff and their own reasons. Receive it. Release it. If you receive this word, lift your hands. Lift them high like you have a father who loves you and made up his mind about you and isn't trying to decide whether or not to accept you on the basis of your performance. Somebody say, My righteousness is in the cross. Keep your hands stretched. This is how you live. This is how you get it.

This is how you get it. This is how you get it. This is how you get it. Not when a group accepts you. Not when a promotion comes. This is how you get it. You're going to go into this week with something to give. You're going to go into this week knowing who you are. Lift your hands.

Thank you for joining us. Special thanks to those of you who give generously to this ministry. It's because of you that this ministry is possible. You can click the link in the description to give now or visit elevationchurch.org slash podcast for more information. And if you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. You can share it with your friends. You can click the share button, take a screenshot and share it on your social stories and tag us at Elevation Church. Thanks again for listening. God bless you.

This is Shirley Strawberry from the Steve Harvey Morning Show. Toyota has been building a legacy of excellence for years, from developing hybrid technology to upping the standards of safety and efficiency. Toyota is always innovating, always making progress. And with a superior lineup of in-stock SUVs, including the adventure-ready RAV4 and capable, affordable Corolla Cross, you can experience the legacy of Toyota for yourself. Visit

BuyAToyota.com, the official website for deals to find out more. Toyota, let's go places. Residents at Brightview Senior Living Communities enjoy enhanced possibilities, independence, and choice. Brightview Dulles Corner in Herndon and Brightview Great Falls offer vibrant senior independent living, assisted living, and memory care services through various daily programs and cultural events.

Chef-prepared meals, safety and security, transportation, resort-style amenities, and high-quality care. Everything you need is here. Discover more at brightviewseniorliving.com. Equal housing opportunity.

To'a'ina. We all know that water is life. An average American household consumes over 300 gallons daily. 40% of Navajo families residing on a reservation the size of West Virginia struggle to survive on less than 10 gallons of water per day. Yearly St. Bonaventure Indian Mission and School delivers over 1.5 million gallons of clean water to these families. You can help support St. Bonaventure's water delivery program by going to stbonaventuremission.org.