Untitled Sermon (137)

THE COST OF FOLLOWING CHRIST.

INTRODUCTION:

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO LEAVE EVERYTHING BEHIND THEM AND FOLLOW CHRIST. BUT IN ORDER FOR US TO BE A DISCIPLES OF GOD WE HAVE TO LET GOD BE FIRST IN OUR LIVES.

THE PROBLEM WITH MANY PEOPLE THERE ARE NOT WILLING TO LET CHRIST BE THE CENTER OF THERE LIVES BECAUSE THEY STILL ATTACH TO THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THIS WORLD.

CHRIST JESUS SAID IN ORDER FOR YOU TO BE A DISCIPLE OF HIS

YOU MUST DENY YOURSELF.

YOU MUST SUFFER FOR HIS SAKE.

YOU MUST DEVOTE YOURSELF TO HIM.

A. YOU MUST DENY YOURSELF.

Luke 9:23 “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

THE KEY TO DENY YOURSELF, YOU MUST BE WILLING TO LET CHRIST BE FIRST IN YOUR LIFE. MEANING CHRIST MUST LEAD AND YOU MUST FOLLOW. THE PROBLEM WITH SOME OF GOD’S PEOPLE THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO GIVE OF THERE OWN AGENDA AND GET ON GOD’S AGENDA.

WHEN YOU DENY YOURSELF, YOU WILL SEEK THE WILL OF GOD. BUT IF YOU THINK THAT YOUR LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT THEN THE LIFE THAT YOU CAN HAVE IN CHRIST YOU WILL LOSE IT. YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT LIFE IS UNTIL YOU DENY YOURSELF AND FIND LIFE IN CHRIST.

FOR WHAT IS A MAN ADVANTAGED, IF HE GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, AND LOSE HIMSELF, OR BE CAST AWAY?

THERE IS NO ADVANTAGED IN A MAN THAT GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD , BECAUSE WHAT’S IN THE WORLD IS THE LUST OF THE FLESH, LUST OF THE EYES AND PRIDE OF LIFE. BUT THERE IS AN ADVANTAGE TO GOD’S CHILDREN WHO DENY THEMSELVES. WHEN THEY DENY THEMSELVES THEY PREVENT THEMSELVES OF GIVING IN TO THERE FLESH. MEANING THEY WILL PUT GOD’S WILL OVER THERE DESIRES AND ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BE GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

B. YOU MUST SUFFER FOR CHRIST SAKE.

CHRIST JESUS SAID WE MUST TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY.

THE CROSS SYMBOLIZE CHRIST DEATH AND IN HIS DEATH HE HAD TO SUFFER. BUT EVEN IN HIS DEATH CHRIST NEVER ALLOWED SUFFERING TO DEFEAT HIM. WHEN YOU SUFFER FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST YOU CAN BE IDENTIFIED IN HIM.

GOD NEVER SAID THAT WE WOULD NOT SUFFER, BUT WHAT HE DID SAY BUT THE GOD OF ALL GRACE, WHO HATH CALLED US UNTO HIS ETERNAL GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS, AFTER THAT YE HAVE SUFFERED A WHILE, MAKE YOU PERFECT, STABLISH, STRENGTHEN, SETTLE YOU.

WHEN YOU SUFFER FOR CHRIST YOU MUST BE WILLING TO LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR HIM. EVEN IF THIS MEAN FACING PERSECUTION, ACCUSATIONS, RIDICULE AND EVEN DEATH.

MANY CHRISTIANS LOVE THE BLESSINGS FROM GOD, BUT NOT THE PAIN THAT GO WITH IT, AND THAT IS THE REASON WHY SOME TURN AWAY FROM THE FAITH. SUFFERING FOR CHRIST SAKE COMES WITH COMMITMENT AND MANY ARE NOT WILLING TO COMMIT TO GOD’S CAUSE.

WHEN YOU SUFFER FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST , YOU WILL ALSO REIGN WITH HIM.

Romans 8:17–18 “and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

3. YOU MUST DEVOTE YOURSELF TO HIM.

IN ORDER FOR US TO DEVOTE OURSELVES TO GOD, WE MUST BE WILLING TO LIVE A LIFE THAT REFLECTS GOD’S CHARACTER AND SEEK HIS WILL IN EVERYTHING WE DO.

HOW WE DO THIS,BY STUDYING GOD’S WORD, SPENDING TIME IN PRAYER , HAVING FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND GOD’S PEOPLE.

Matthew 10:37–38 “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”