This is Message # 211 in the Restoration Series.
Introduction: Jesus has finished teaching and instructing His disciples the necessity of His having to die. Now Jesus is instructing all the people the importance of dying to self and taking up the cross and following Him. Jesus is pointing out the radical difference between living and dying for God.
I. Jesus spoke to all, both the disciples and the people. Vs 34
A.
WHOSOEVER means all whom will follow
Him.
II. The issue of
discipleship = Indulgence vs. denying self
Vs 34b
A.
Jesus is saying that there
are two life styles.
1.
One of self indulgence
2.
The other is the life style
of self-denial. Romans 12:1-2,
2Corinthians 6:17-18
3.
Each person has to make a
choice:
a.
loving comfort and ease or
commitment and discipline
b.
loving wealth and property
or work and compassion
c.
loving recognition and fame
or humility and sacrifice
d.
loving position and power or
service and ministry
e.
loving pleasure and feeling
or righteousness and self control
B. The question for is “How do we
make the right choice?”
Jesus said four things
1.
Man must will to come after Him.
a. Wills = to desire, wish, design, purpose, resolve, determine
b. It is a deliberate choice, a deliberate will, a determination to follow
Jesus.
c. When one chooses to follow, one must do three things: deny self, take
up the cross, and follow.
2.
Deny = to disown, disregard,
forsake, renounce, reject, refuse, restrain,
disclaim, do without.
a. It means to subdue, to disregard oneself and one’s interest.
b. Simply put, it means to say NO.
c. Not so much to others but to SELF.
d. This means to act positive, to say yes to Jesus and no to self.
e. This is letting Jesus rule in your life.
f.
This is a now thing, begin
at once to deny self.
3.
Follow = To be a follower or
a companion, to be a disciple.
a. Following Christ, to be like Him.
b. Not a passive behavior, but an active
commitment and walk.
c. Pursing
Jesus with zeal and energy, seeking to follow His footsteps no matter what the cost.
d. It takes energy and effort, action and work.
e. NOTE: His steps lead to
death before they lead to GLORY.
4. Take up “your cross” and follow ME.
Vs 34c
a. All of us has a “cross to bear”
b. Not sickness, troubles, heartaches, ect.
c. Your cross is what God has called you to do.
d. Your ministry is “your cross”
III. Your life, to save it or to lose it - Vs 35
A. Jesus made a surprising statement: “If a man wishes to save his life he
must
lose it.” Note two phrases:
1. “For my sake” Vs 35b
a. One who abandons this life, sacrifices and gives all to Jesus shall
save his life.
b. But, one who keeps and seeks more and more of this life shall loose it
eternally.
c. When all their efforts are directed to gaining health, wealth, power,
fame, thrills and excitement of this world shall loose his life eternally. Luke 12:19-20
2. “- - - - - - and the gospels sake”
Vs 35c
a. Losing our life to Jesus is to save it eternally.
b. NOTE these contrast in living for self or dying for Christ.
1] The person who saves his
life: 2] The person who
gives his life
a. One who lies around home a.one who becomes an explorer and a
and its comfort shall loose his life. Pioneer for Jesus shall save it.
b. Who spends all on self and family b. Who sacrifices and gives all he is
shall loose his life. and has to the gospel shall
save it.
c. Who takes all his time for his own c. Who gives his time for the gospel,
affairs shall loose his life. [your ministry]shall save his life.
3. Matthew 19:29, 2 Corinthians
4:11
IV. To deny Jesus for the
world Vs 36-38
A. Today is a day of choice, life or death.
1.
There are two lives we can
live.
a. Two stages, two beings, two existences to the same life.
b. Life eternal with Jesus or eternal life with Satan in hell.
c. What master will you serve?
Conclusion:
Restoration. These are eternal choices
of each individual. Are we to choose
the things of the world or the things of God? Proclaim or deny Him before all
men? To be denied by Him is to spend
eteprnity in hell.