Don't Settle for Less
a membership in the Bible says morning he will to Luke chapter 9 Luke chapter 9 tonight is the Super Bowl between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs play for the 49ers.
Man Ray there a few Berry for the Chiefs if I don't care.
Anybody know the Super Bowl is tonight? All right. There's a field one or two of those even. All right. I was looking at some stuff about the Super Bowl coming up and I don't keep up with the lock pro football, but I can't see who was there. And what was going on with this a game tonight it all fits like it has been over the past several years, but they'll be about a 100 million people. That's a lot of people I also was looking and you know trying to think and I thought you know, that's a lot of people watching NFL players that are allowed on roster, you know free. So you got somewhere around a hundred football player. Can you take both teams? You got about a hundred million people watching the game that's about 1 million people for every football player attempted tribute to their their success and their sport holding their skills and taking I believe their god-given abilities and building on those things to get to that place where they can play in that game for a moment one of those 100 football players saying today, you know, what, I don't think I want to play tonight. I think I'll just I think I'll just joined by a hundred million and just watch the game tonight. I mean for a for an athlete for a football player, that would be absolutely Unthinkable that you would come to this point that you would duck out of that opportunity to play in that game. Of course. The reality is is they're not going to do that. So you think about their decision to have to play in that football game tonight? Is it taking place this morning? It took place years and years ago did it? Okay when they decided to dedicate themselves and commit themselves to this 46 to build up their skills and abilities to such a place that they could be call this player. They could be a pro player. They could be a successful Pro Player and all of these different things right there a long time ago, you know, it's so they think I have a respect that I have respect for the effort they put in to be a part of that that game but as many viewers does it might have the reality is is the this game and the effects of this game or very temporary are they in the same and it's very fleeting is very temporary and it'll passed away just like any other things pass away. But now you contrast that thing for a moment when you consider the things that God called us to be a part of now, I believe we ought to if we look and we see the commitment of these athletes that they have for their sport UK. I believe us a Christian we ought to have as much or more commitment to our living for Christ is that those things that the Superbowl are fleeting and they'll pass away the things that we do for God. They don't go away. The Bible says they are labor for the Lord is not in vain. Adele says that there's laying up Treasures in Heaven where all the things on earth will pass away of the things and have them do not pass away. And so I wanted you to consider for a moment this morning. You know, what we talked about this near rise up and build this morning, you know, which am I when it comes to the work of the Lord Am I one of the players by one of the participants one of those that are committed and being a part of what's taking place and helping the outcome of what's taking place or mine? Just one of the spectators one of the crowd was just looking on. Don't talk to you this morning about do not settle for less if the title message 20 route chapter 9 verses 23 through 25, if you're willing and able just staying with me for the reading of the word.
Luke chapter 9 started the first 23 and he said unto them all this is Jesus If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me for whosoever will save his life shall lose it but whosoever will lose his life for my sake the same shall see what is the man Advantage if he gain the whole world and lose himself or be a Castaway. Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Philly father's we bow before we thank you so much for this day. We thank you for this opportunity to be here. And I pray this is going to this time of preaching this morning about your situation exactly for your honor and your glory alone or I pray that you give me Clarity of thought and speech Lord. I pray that your Holy Spirit. Would move Among Us this morning. We'll take the words that are red from your Bible Lord that would Preston barnhart's show us the direction that we need to go to the bank just be Spectators involved or realizing that the effort that we put forth Lord that there are Eternal or goddess and pray this in Jesus name. Amen.
We were talking about this morning is a matter of commitment a matter of commitment. I was reading about the gurkhas which is a military group from Nepal and I've known for their fearlessness and in 1964 in the war between Indonesia and Malaysia. The gurkhas were approached by the bridge to jump from transport planes against the end of the Asians. Now at first the gurkhas rejected the idea that was kind of surprised because they was known for their attitude but none the less it first and then after a while they came back to the bricks. They said they came back and said well, we will under certain circumstances and certain conditions. Number one that we jump on to soft Brown. Number two that we fly slow over the Jump Zone and number three that we fly only 100 feet. If I came from the British officer and said, well, there's no problem on the 1st to request. Of course, you know, that's always our plan on those first put on the on the third request, you know, there won't be time for your parachute open. And so that they replied parachutes. No one said anything about parachutes will jump with parachute anywhere Anytime Anyplace. Now here's a better of commitment. You know, when the when the calling is strong when the commitment is great. Are you willing to say yes, I'm are you completely sold out and start service to Christ. Are we serving Christ? You know what just a kind of a so so willing to check it out. Maybe I maybe I will maybe I won't are we completely committed to whatever Christ calls you see in our text here Jesus teaches us and shows us as with many other pastors scripture.
You know, it's a late there's there's so much in Christianity. There's so much of this easy believism there so much of this just to stay the way you are. It doesn't matter unless you don't misunderstand me. I'm all about, right. That's the only way that you can come to Christ is just as you are and we sing that song, you know, and so come just as you are but there's a big difference between come as you are and stay as far as we are and then we trust to letting him making a daily change within us to a place that we're not the same we want work. And listen. I'm not what I ought to be in Christ Jesus. I recognize that but I praise God that I'm not what I once was
UC and it ought to be that they're gone is continuing to do a work within us but he count that work if we're not committed to him and allowing, you know, when you look at the scriptures and you started the messages of Jesus his strongest words spoken, I mean words of review one is the religious Elite the Pharisees the Sadducees describe those that seem to be better than everybody else and listen, you know, because I do this because I go here in because I'm around people that I am better than you and in Jesus have strong word for them. The religious leave and the other was is the fickle fans those that follow just you know for what they could get out of Jesus. Am I fear is this my fear is that in modern-day Christianity? What we have is a filling up of those two groups. the religious leaked in the fickle fans. So therefore I see myself as better than you and that's wrong and God has strong language sports that At the same time, you know, well, I am not that I believe you can just do whatever you want to do, you know, just because God loves you. There's no requirements. There's no calling to do anything better or bigger and we're forgetting the spot that is supposed to be.
Don't settle for less the first thing I have you to see this message. This morning is the universal call of discipleship the universal call of discipleship. When you look at burst 23 again of our text. It says Jesus said If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me disciple. What is a disciple very simply a disciple is so when you talk about a disciple of Jesus Christ, you're talking about a follower Jesus ask you a couple questions and make sure you listen to both of them so you don't misunderstand. the first one is
can you be saved a child of God? And not be a disciple, I believe yes, I believe that there are those that accept Jesus Christ as Savior. There was that moment when they were completely crisis that moment but then through the process they stop following God. They still secure security of Salvation is found in the gift and your effort is over still say but they're not following Christ. I believe that when you look in the Old Testament leave lot would be a perfect example. What was the same man? But the Bible says he
Look in the scriptures and we see many occasions were there though that that they at first they trusted Christ, but then after a little more difficult thing stop falling so is it possible?
To be saved but not be a disciple. I think so at the same time. Is it possible to be a disciple and not be safe? No, I do not believe that I do not believe that you see here's what is here's what we seen this face to trust in Jesus Christ as my savior and at that moment you make that decision to follow Christ and it's got to be real. Or it's not really salvation. But then what it says in our texture, is there something we would take up our cross daily. And each day Paul said I Die daily.
But somewhere along the way if you don't you start taking control of your life and you fall on your own desires rather than falling.
Bible tells us officiants 289 may be familiar with those verses that says for by grace. Are you saved?
For by grace. Are you say the Matt? Not of yourselves is the gift of God.
Salvation of Grace. Deserve it. I cannot boast of myself what they look like right now.
I'm saved. There's a big difference. Some people want to tell you that it's kind of you know, well, I understand this by Grace, which is also by your Works. According to Romans 11:6 Romans 11:6 SNF my grace then it is no more of work. Otherwise Grace is no more Grace, but if it be of works when it is no more grace, otherwise work is no more work. It's one of the others with the scripture saying you either believe in salvation by grace you believe in Salvation by works. And we believe in salvation by grace befriend. The Bible goes on to tell us and in response to that. What we're supposed to do is work when you go on and he reversed 10 of pieces to the gift of God, not of Works lest any man should boast diversity goes on to say but we are his workmanship created in Christ.
What's a response to that?
his book in the heavenlies by H a Ironside, he tells the story of an attempted assassination on Queen Elizabeth the first there was this lady to decide to kill the queen so she dressed up as a male page and she made herself as a part of the servants there of the queen and she is laying right there when the queen was to come in and go to bed to where she could be available to stamp with me. But she didn't realize that all of her attendance would come and check the place so well, and then I came and I found a broader before the king before the queen. And I said, here she is she begged for mercy from the queen. The queen said this in response if I show you Grace what promise will you make for the future? The woman looked up and said Grace that have conditions Grace that is fettered by precautions is not Grace at all Queen Elizabeth caught in the moment said you're right. I pardon you out of my grace and a letter away and it was said that she had no fake more faithful servant after that, but I want you to get that she said what do you promise me this if it's not a matter what we're promising got his gift of Salvation by his good grace. We don't deserve it. You can't do anything. no strings attached to trust Christ best response to that friend we ought to seek to live for you. We ought to have this direction that we choose. It says I'm going to build a person they get convicted of their need for salvation and I trust price maybe as a child may be a church can make it a Revival meeting. I trust you looking I realized I recognize the death burial resurrection of Jesus Christ, what a pictures and they go out there and they expect everybody to be as this group is here. Then all of a sudden they find that other friends don't think it's real cool. Summer family don't have nothing to do with them because they're Christians. You know, you're one of those religious people. It's a rather than rather than continuing in their service for Christ alone at half they decide that how you know, what? I'll leave that place of being a participant and I'll just slide over here in with the crowd and be a fan. I'll root for our team. But I'm not really going to do anything to determine the outcome. The Lord's Kingdom work. You see what I'm saying? And so this is it. This is the call that we have in Jesus as if any man will come after me. If any man, it's a universal call that he gives us invite all to follow you. The reality is many are saved. But few, really follow Christ and faithful servant. Case in Point Lookout the New Testament you see many occasions and then the gospel with a lot of people that trust. How many do you find in that upper room after the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ you find 120 what you find? on occasion Jesus even spoke to Peter as he has to work that hard since I started to walk away also.
You see this is the universal call to discipleship. Second-lien have you to see also the expected sacrifice sacrifice and you look their worst 23 again. Jesus said If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow their certain words that are more and more omitted from promotions and messages of Christianity Today words, like sacrifice surrender repentance commitment. These are words that better forgotten too much today because you know today what we're trying to do to you often if we're trying to appeal to the crafts and everybody wants to the easiest. I mean, you know, I want the most comfortable chair. Wait, this one over here may be more comfortable, right? You know? Yeah, we want everything to be comfortable. We will ever be easy.
We want it. And that is filtered on into Christianity and the preaching in church is today where people are presenting a message that says hey, let's just make you comfortable. You know what you don't have to do this. You don't have to do that, you know Christ okay with that.
He calls us to something better. Kenyatta not settle for less
He says deny yourself the denial here. When we consider the scripture tells us in Romans 12:1 and to you therefore Brethren by the mercies of God isn't a reasonable response what crisis keeping you informed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God that denial of cell. What's that mean to deny? Well, it makes you deny that that flips you either driven by the spirit of your Justin by the The Flash and this morning. Let's be honest. Okay, I'll be honest be honest. My alarm went off this morning. The part of me just wants to actually in bed right for me.
Not granted. I do put a margin in there for my my snooze allowance. I have a snooze allowance. There's sometimes I can see my allowance, but I set my alarm for such advances that but I don't
And there's that discipline that says, you know, it's worth it. I'm going to I'm going to fight against the Flesh and I'm going to I'm going to get out of bed and I'm going to do the things that need to be done for the Lord's work today. It's denying the flesh. You know, maybe you have someone you wanted to talk to you about their spiritual condition. You want to witness to what your flesh that's what don't do it that flash pulls back doesn't it? And you have that conviction that says I need to
Going to be this denial of Flesh so that I might do. Thank you. Call. Start putting your offering you put in your offering and you go man could go buy me some new stuff. You know this, right? But you say I'm going to deny the flesh. I'm going to do it. Call me today and this is so it goes with so many different aspects of our walk with John that it says listen to listen to those football players that are on the field tonight because they cared enough about football. They stayed committed and devoted to it. We ought to stay committed to Christ. It such a way that says I want to live for him. You mean it's denying my flesh. Emily did I all but you also see it here? Adele deny himself and take up his cross daily. What is the cross, really pretty? But you know, the Cross of Christ wasn't pretty was it pretty at all. The cross was an instrument of death. I thought it was on the cross meant one thing to the people when scripture was written in that one thing it meant death. The Crosman death. So what it's saying here is the things of Steve spires. I've got to be willing to let die so that I might live for Christ and bring this is not just something you do at that moment. He said I Die daily. It was daily 6th at 6 today. I'm going to be tonight.
It's a struggle for and it's a struggle and we're not always 100% success. That was a Paul wasn't other individuals in the Bible weren't you're not always going to be as well, but you got to be willing to say
I'm just going to take my place in the stands and watch from a distance. What are the people doing for the Lord I'm going to live for the Lord.
the expected sacrifice of disciples
third lastly
have you see the undeniable blessings of discipleship? first 24
search for whosoever will save his life shall lose it.
Whosoever will lose his life for my sake the same shall save it. No.
It seems like a contradiction of statements here. If you lose your life, you'll save if you save your life, you'll lose it seem like it's we have this Paradox giving Seems contradictory, but it's not the reality is this all those things that really matter to you? I mean really when it comes down to it. It's not about most comfortable together with the man you want to have a sense of purpose. She wanted a percentage or an influence of those things that really matter. When you lose yourself, you'll find those things are really important. The one you seek to go after those things, you know, I want to find it my way and my past the things that I can do and you shake for your own benefit your own glory and you see to live your life for you and you lose all of those things. You lose it.
See now make sure that you understand something here. I do not believe we ought to serve God and don't leave all to follow Jesus Christ for what we can get. I do not believe that we should serve God. I do not believe we should follow Jesus for what we can get out of it. I don't like it when people come to me and I can I can I give you some help over there and you going out what you really want? Okay. It shouldn't be that why should it shouldn't be that we are Lord, Justina. I'm going to do this living response.
You understand that at the same time you cannot give God. You cannot give God. The more you seek to give to him the more he gives to you in return.
We see This Promise here. Strongest is given to us. That will gain those things Jim Elliot famous missionary. He's a great study. By the way, you start to think you got a tough. You can study some of these individuals and you can look and you can realize that what they went through in their commitment to Christ makes you feel about that small when you start lying about the things that you're dealing with a lost his life as a missionary. He said He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep for that, which he cannot lose? I love that quote. He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep for that, which he cannot lose?
What we looking for security purpose home Joy all those things. We find those things in Jesus Christ. We cannot give God and so when you see the says I'm going to get my life and service and sacrifice to God and there's nothing I'm holding back to you. Buicks not under just he's perfect circumstances. It's whatever you want more. I give you a blank check. Jane says it off the booth that we should say, whatever words with his I'll do this with
it's a surrendered wheel and every way possible.
And when you seek to do that. You cannot outgive God.
closing all read verse 25
What is a man advantage? If you gain the whole world and lose himself or be Cast Away.
I read about. Amman
I trusted Christ many years ago. The name was Douglas Macmillan. It became a great evangelist in England actually died in 1991. He was led the faith in Christ by man named David Patterson David Patterson explain to to Douglas Miller gospel gospel that he'd already heard many times before but this time was different Douglas. His heart was moved and he said you said are you telling me it's as easy as that. I am very surprised and receive that he receives me because of the work that he has done on the cross.
David said yes Douglas that's here. That's true. I said wait a minute. This is a this is a connection that I've seen many people girl. When you're sharing within the Plan of Salvation that holy spirit's conviction their heart helps them to make this connection. He says wait a minute. He says I'm going to have to change the way I live or die. I can't go on living the way I've been living this. Is that right? Now that point what's your answer? If you're David, what's your answer to Douglas you seem because at this point he's saying I can't go on living in my sin and Trust pride and that's absolutely true. But it's not based upon this commitment of what we're going to do in the future. But at that moment at that very moment friend, it's absolutely true. If you're going to trust Christ to save you this morning, you got to be really return. And reach out 100% to God.
He said that's true. I didn't want to say this David said to Douglas his friend that he was witnessing to set Douglas. He says this hand I'll give you everything you think you're going to have to give up. When you trust grass. This head I can give you everything that you think you got to give up. He said put it in his hand. I can give you Jesus Christ. I said which is it going to be?
It said that at that point the Douglas looked at him for several minutes, and he thought no doubt in his mind. He was mulling over do I really want to do this then finally he said I'll take rice. I'll take Christ. I forgot to tell you that's the same decisions you have before you this morning. Everyone of you that are some of you that's never trusted practice saying was ever been that point in your life. When you repent of your sins you put your face in. Salvation and right now you have a decision. Blakeslee comes with Have control over my life or I'll choose to take Jesus Christ. That's your decision. We accept salvation. We were checks out. Listen to safe. I'll tell you the same thing and choose to follow and what you choose to live for. You can take your spot in the stands with the crowd. And watch what other people are doing for Christ and you can all those things that you think that you're getting by the way, you're not really. You can have those things. Are you can say I'll take Jesus Christ. I'll take Jesus Christ. Rain this morning. If I got Jesus I got everything that matters. Try everything it really matters if I've got Jesus. If I don't have Jesus Christ brand it don't matter what else I have. I have nothing. Nothing, that's going to last nothing. I said the colonel consequence.
What's your choices morning? I'm asking about your hair to musicians come forward to prepare for this invitation. What's your decision as it's held out before units not held out by me. It's not my offer. It's not my invitation. What is held out by Jesus Christ and some of you some of you have been saved but you've been living for yourself. You have been denying self. You haven't been dying to self is all they all been about what you want. How you feel and when it suits you. this morning the decision stands before you Are you live for Christ for yourself? If you never been saved listen friend. Don't reject this wonderful opportunity the gods give you today. That tugging on your heart. That's not me. I don't have some power of persuasion that's having your heart. That's the Holy Spirit that's got himself touching your heart says that's just this is for you. This is what I want you to do. And you need to be willing at this time to repent of your sins and put your faith and trust in Christ involvement between you and God but you can pray right where you're at and make that decision for salvation. You can stay right where you at you can pray and you can trust cry in your daily life and your daily walk that says daily. I'll Die daily. I'll deny myself daily. I'm going to eat that when I get up I make that decision to follow Christ. The only father for bow before you or we thank you so much for your love for us. And when I pray that you have your will and your way with every part every individual here today or those are not say that right now, they're take that opportunity and Trust in your salvation. Your Saving Grace Jesus Christ is done at Calvary north of those that are saved. I don't want to be a religious Elite. But I also don't want to be a Fickle fan what I want to be committed. I want to be a part of what you do and I want to be a part of your kidneys cause or don't be used. I don't know how I can be the Lord. I willing willing to surrender myself willing to commit myself to fall on you. Whatever was calling you to I just pray Lord that you can get their hearts. They make that decision in Jesus name we pray. Amen.