Gospel's sake

Our main passage today is Mark 8.

Let’s pray: Lord bless these words and speak to our hearts! in Jesus name!

Thank you God!

Let’s turn to Mark 8:34

Mark 8:34 (KJV 1900)

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Come after Me

God’s way takes us to place where we have not been.

It is an adventure. It is lot of fun.

God wants to touch persons innermost. In John 5 person got healed and his life was changed.

We see that the word is powerful

not only bring salvation

but to change person in this time.

When person has gone on journey with God

it might not be accepted in the society.

John 5:10 (KJV 1900)

10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

We see both

joy but also

new kind of challenges

that the new life brings you as you follow Jesus.

Mark 8:35 (KJV 1900)

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

Saving your life

Mk 8.35 shows us how you cannot save your life.

Save your life if you can. If we are honest to ourselves we can not.

Jer 17.9

The heart of man is desperately wicked.

Jeremiah 17:9 KJV 1900

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

What kind of harvest you can expect without having new heart and relationship with God?

Isaiah 17:11b (NKJV)

11 In the day you will make your plant to grow, And in the morning you will make your seed to flourish; But the harvest will be a heap of ruins In the day of grief and desperate sorrow.

Man’s attempt doesn’t help much, the harvest day will be only grief and desperate sorrow.

Unless we humble ourselves and turn to God.

God’s word has power in our life when it is received. It is able to save.

Mark 8:35 (KJV 1900)

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

A Seed Must Die

John 12:24 (KJV 1900)

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

The old me must die and born again.

The seed falls into the ground and dies - it’s fruit will be the new birth from above as we read from Joh. 3

This is beutiful work of God in persons innermost. That is a gift that nobody can take away.

Losing your life

When we lose our lives for Christ sake we gain something eternal.

The gospel doesn’t promise us glorious life.

We might never success as our neighbor does.

Your soul is much more valueble than the whole world.

We read:

Mark 8:36 KJV 1900

36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Mark 8:37 KJV 1900

37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

What would worth of your soul?

This is beautiful work of God.

God is calling to follow him. Take your cross on daily life.

Mark 8:38 KJV 1900

38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

This is an adulterous and sinful generation. People are ashamed of Jesus and his words. Unfortunately.

But God’s heart is for people. He died on the cross for the whole world.

He is calling you and be to lose our life in his sake, and in the sake of those people who need to hear the gospel.