What's Left For the Preacher?

I Left Everything

  Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 

  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, 

  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 

  But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. 

We find in our opening scriptures in St Mark, a common question in that is thought upon when making a decision by the urging of someone.

“What’s in it for me?”

We as humans have been socially trained to look out for self.

I will do it but what am I going to get out of it.

Many of us will negotiate the perks before we even agree to submit ourselves.

We even attempt to bargain our salvation with God. Lord I will give you my life if you........

Lord is you get me out of prison I’ll go to church every Sunday.........

We now choose our church membership according to the amenities that the worship places have to offer.....................................

But I ‘m glad that God is not like man. He doesn’t have that gotcha moment. He doesn’t have the fine print that you always never read in our contracts.

But rather God is upfront.

a. Let even look at Moses when he was journeying to Canaan, He spoke to his father in law;

We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel. 

b. God makes it clear to the Children of Israel:

Deu 30:19  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 

c. Jesus knew before hand his reward for his earthly mission:

  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

The preacher has to look ahead and not at what he left behind..................

Paul says I’m forgetting the things that are behind....but looking forward.....pressing....

8. In our text we find Peter the disciple having a popcorn, instant dilemma.

Jesus as usual is debating with the Pharisees and this time its about marriage and divorce.

Then next his disciples try to hinder him from laying hands on the children. (It was against the Jewish Oral Law for a single man to touch and be contact with children not his relatives) the by-laws you know gets in the preachers way of ministry sometimes.

the children wanted Jesus to touch them as He touched others (blind, lame, deaf, demon possessed)

children like to play church.....just make sure when they play your church they don’t end up playing dead.

After this comes the rich young ruler asking what must he do to inherit eternal life.

Jesus tells him to sell, (leave some stuff behind) all that you have and follow him and he will have treasures in heaven. (the rich young man did not like those choices and went away sad)

9. Jesus then tells his disciples how hard it is for a rich man to enter heaven. (easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle) to get through the eye the camel has to leave some stuff behind him.

Then the disciples became a little troubled. They asked among themselves now who can be saved.

All of a sudden Peter began having issues about his life choices;...........(Expound on this)........

a. If it is hard for the rich then what about me’’’

b. I don’t have any wealth now. I left it to follow you.

c. Now what have I done to myself?

d. Peter says to himself, before I go another step, I need some clarity

Mark 10:28 KJV 1900

Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

Sometime the pastor- preacher finds him or her self in this exact drama.

a. Now exactly what have I done to my self?

b. I left that for this?

c. WHAT THE PASTOR LEAVES FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHURCH.

Income

Private life

Quality time

Family time

Sleep time

No longer being myself

sometimes a pastor may ask this? Why did I give up ..................for the church.

Have you ever gotten to that point in life and it seems that now you need to question why you are holding on.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Explain....

Jeremiah......

But Jesus calms Peter’s anxiety....

Mark 10:29–31 KJV 1900

And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

Theme: (KJV 1900)

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