Are you making the right investments
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Introduction
Introduction
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.
Now
Now
Introduction: Illustration (Football investment vs. School Investment)
-The Secret to this Life is not the pursuit of success, but the pursuit of what’s most important. It is possible to be successful in business, education, parenting, and your religious life and still fail……You would think that success is these areas would be the very definition of “The American Dream”
-A·mer·i·can dream-the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.
-Definition of Failure--to successfully pursue the wrong thing……
…Illustration of the cereal box, Illustration of pursuing bad relationships, Illustration of pursuing careers that you don’t have the talent for.
Illustration of the cereal box, anybody for season chase after the wrong man or women and then at the end thought to yourself “Lawd Have mercy that was a waste of 6 years”
Good investment—Your marriage, your children, your job, education, hobby, finances, free-time. But all of these can turn bad real quick if they are not kept in perspective.
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Then
-Jesus ministry is expanding. He is traveling from city to city healing the blind, feeding the hungry, preaching the word. Whatever city he entered the whole town descended on him, because of the news about him spreading from town to town. But this is a conversation not for the crowds but his followers; the disciples. Look at
21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. 22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” 23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
-In Jesus next sermon he will turn into an investment broker to see
matthew 16
-During this private conversation with the disciples Jesus began to prophesy about his impending death with details(v.21) he even told them he would be raised.
-(v.22) Look at Ole Pete “Peter took him aside” I love that phraseology. How does one pull the coat tail of the one the walk on water, raised the dead, exorcised demons, and feed five thousand, that takes a lot of nerve.
-(v.23) Then Jesus checked him!!! Notice the rebuke at the end this is critical to understanding these next verses “for you are not setting your mind on God’s interest, but man’s”
Audience
After that Jesus says these verse:
-(v.24) Then Jesus said to His disciples-Jesus audience is a lot of religious people, not necessarily saved folks. These are people just testing him out to see if he is the Messiah, or they are following him just to get his stuff….healing, and free food.
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.
matthew
Always
Always
-Your eternal destiny will be determined by your decision to set your mind on God’s interest and not your own.
I. What is the right Pursuit?
I. What is the right Pursuit?
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
-(v.24) “If Anyone wishes to pursue me (make me a priority)” universal call
(v.24) “If Anyone wishes to pursue me (make me a priority)” universal call
(v.24) “he must deny himself” This means to relinquish your dreams, goals, and pursuits for something else…..He must also be willing(salvation like marriage is a commitment to do something) to do something else:
(v.24) Take up his cross and follow Me.
a. Take up his cross-This is to willingly pursue a death sentence or more specifically it is a commitment to live a self sacrificing life. It is a commitment to willingly give up those things that displease God.
b. Follow Me-This is a willingness to be obedient to whatever your new Master ask you to do.
21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. 22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.”
Matthew 16:21
-in (v.21-23) There was a reason that Peter said Jesus you cannot go. Peter believe that the Eschaton was happening and that he would be sitting next Jesus in the New Kingdom.
-in (v.21-23) There was a reason that Peter said Jesus you cannot go. Peter believe that the Eschaton was happening and that he would be sitting next Jesus in the New Kingdom.
-After Jesus Death, Burial and Reserrection Peter was the leader of the NT church. He suffered greatly for the gospel and he was crucified upside down believing that to be crucified right side up would be disrespectful to our Lord.
-You see in the end Peter denied himself his own interest, his own plans, his own destiny and put it into the hands of his Jesus. This led to his death, but it also lead to his exaltation.
II. What is the wrong Pursuit?
II. What is the wrong Pursuit?
25 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
MATT
(v.25) “For whoever” (Universal Call) “wishes”-----Jesus says I have a personal message for you.
-(v.25) “For whoever” (Universal Call) “wishes”-----Jesus says I have a personal message for you.
(v.25) “to save his life will lose it” Those that hold onto their life pursuits, possession, and passions will lose them all. Salvation is essentially giving back to God what’s due him. And that is your life. He created you so he is well within his rights to ask for your life back. But he is so loving that he lets you make that decision.
That word “lose” is: apolumi: which is a permanent destructive lose. Like watching your phone fall in the ocean, or watching your house burn to the ground..This is not like losing your keys, which can be found again. It’s like the end of Avengers when “Thanos” just disappeared.
-Can you imagine all of your life pursuits just going up in smoke. Everything you have accomplished reduced to rubble. I was a good father rubble, I was a diligent worker rubble, I was a gracious philanthropist rubble, I was a watchful neighbor rubble, I earned a PhD rubble,I retired with over a million in my 401k rubble, I was faithful to my wife our whole marriage rubble, but I thought that’s how you enter the pearly gates or whatever heaven is, nope Rubble..... tells us how you enter in and none of it is based on the previous stuff I just mentioned.
(v.25) “but whoever loses his life for my Sake will find it” Jesus promises life to those that pursue his dreams, passions, and desires.
(v.25) “but whoever loses his life for my Sake will find it” You must make decision to put all of your pursuits to death, and then take on the pursuits of your new Husband(Jesus). You see marriage and children are the best way to understand Salvation via analogy. Being married says “I cannot live like a single person anymore, It says my hopes and dreams must be sacrificed if they conflict with the purposes of my marriage.(Let me get messy,,married people keeping separate accounts) The Marriage supersedes your personal life pursuits because your marriage has a higher priority than personal life pursuits.....Same with your children.
Illustration
Illustration
16 And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. 23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 “Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
16 And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. 23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 “Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” 28 And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. 30 “But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.
16 “The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’ 18 “The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’ 19 “And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 “Another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 “He said to him, ‘By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? 23 ‘Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’ 24 “Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 “And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’ 26 “I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 27 “But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.” 28 After He had said these things, He was going on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here.
matthew 19
-Jesus then asks two penetrating question. These questions are not meant to be answered but meditated on.
a. Question #1-“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?”
What stands out to you in this question?
-Jesus wants you to meditate on the stupidity of chasing all this world has to offer, at the expense of your relationship to him, then losing it all when you die!!!! That is a bad investment because there is no return on this!!
b. Question #2-“Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Jesus is essentially asking you to come up with at least one thing that you would exchange your eternal destiny for. What in your life is keeping you from making a decision to follow Christ? What thing in your life are you holding onto that’s worth eternity in Hell rather than eternity in Heaven with God.
III. Why Does it Matter?
III. Why Does it Matter?
Investment forecasting---is the science of predicting where the financial markets will fluctuate in the future....Yall remember the commercial “When E.F Hutton talks people listen”
-E.F Hutton was a brokerage firm who where supposed to be expert in predicting where future markets would go. So if you had money and you where investing it in stocks you had better listen to E.F Hutton.
27 “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.
“27“For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.
-(v.27) “for the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels” This is a promise from Jesus himself, that I am going to die, then I am coming back not alone but with the Holy Angels. I am not coming down as the humble carpenter from Nazareth, but as the ferocious Lion of Judah.
-(v.27) “for the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels” This is a promise from Jesus himself, that I am going to die, then I am coming back not alone but with the Holy Angels. I am not coming down as the humble carpenter from Nazareth, but as the ferocious Lion of Judah.
-(v.27) “and will repay every man according to his deeds” This part right here is terrifying. Especially if you have spent your life pursuing your own desires, needs, and passions. You might say well I should be alright I am a good person: “There is none good no, not one!
-No one is in hell now because of greed, lust, pride or anger. These are all just symptoms. People in hell because of idolatry. The root cause of all sinful behavior is idolatry. When a person rejects Jesus hand in marriage they are saying other things are more important than Jesus, which is idolatry.
Illustration
MATERIALISM
MATERIALISM
When a person loves earthly things so much that he can't get along without them, he opens himself to much suffering, both physical and mental. Some people, for example, have taken foolish risks to keep their riches intact. They have died rushing into burning houses or were killed because they stubbornly resisted armed robbers. Apparently they felt that without their material possessions life would not be worthwhile.
Others, when forced to part with their wealth, have been thrown into agonizing despair, even to the point of suicide. In 1975, six armed gunmen broke into the deposit boxes in a London bank and stole valuables worth more than $7 million. One lady, whose jewelry was appraised at $500,000, wailed, "Everything I had was in there. My whole life was in that box." What a sad commentary on her values!
Our Daily Bread.
-I am afraid that many our lives are wrapped up in things, dreams, pursuits, and people. All of things will pass away.
-Explain what an investment banker does!! explain the stupidity of you trying to invest your money without any counsel of help from a seasoned broker.
-Then contrast that against what the eternal investment banker does when it comes to soul’s.
-An investement banker invest your money
Open the Doors