Amen so the title of the sermon this evening is loss is gain loss is gain and
I was thinking about it's kind of a ironic title to preach following up a
sermon on tithing so that's not related at all but I was just thinking about it
just another dumb joke out there but let's look at Luke 18 verse 18 it says
and a certain ruler asked him saying good master what shall I do to inherit
eternal life and Jesus said unto him why callest thou me good none is good save
one that is God thou knowest the commandments do not commit adultery do
not kill do not steal do not bear false witness honor thy father and thy mother
and he said all these have I kept for my youth up now when Jesus heard these
things he said unto him yet lackest thou one thing sell all that thou hast and
distribute it unto the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come
follow me and when he heard this he was very sorrowful for he was very rich and
when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful he said how hardly shall they
that have riches enter into the kingdom of God for it is easier for a camel to
go through a needle's eye then for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of
God and they that heard it said who then can be saved and he said the things
which are impossible with men are possible with God then Peter said lo we
have left all and followed thee and he said unto them verily I say unto you
there is no man that hath left house or parents or brethren or wife or children
for the kingdom of God's sake who shall not receive many fold more in this
present time and in the world to come life everlasting so you see here this
young man comes to Jesus and he's you know trying to work his way into heaven
you know that's that's really the what's going on here but Jesus is telling him
you know you need to give up everything that you have and come follow me and
this made him very sorrowful and Peter overhears this and he says lo we've left
all and and Jesus immediately responds by saying hey I know you've left all and
you know what but you're going to gain all those things tenfold more and in the
world to come life everlasting so what we're seeing here towards the end there
is that though a man might leave house or parents or brethren or wife or
children for the kingdom of God's sake there is a loss there is there not and
when somebody is leaving behind a family with somebody you know for you know we
think about all the families that move to join churches often you know they
might believe behind another church they might leave behind familiar
surroundings I might leave behind perhaps a place where they grew up they
might leave a family members they might leave friends they might leave all these
things behind but when they but they're so there is loss in the Christian life
but they lose those things and yet there is still gain as well Peter he left his
house he left his parents he left his brethren and all these things and Jesus
said you know what you're gonna get all those things back and you in this life
and you should gonna receive many fold more in this present time you know we
might lose we might leave a lot of a close family we might leave you know
brothers and sisters and mom and dad behind but when we come and we and we're
following Christ often we know we go we join a good church this happens often I
know our family that's what we did we left a lot of family behind but we gained
a very large spiritual family you know we gained many fold more in this present
life you know and then we always have the assurance and the comfort of knowing
that not only do we have the spiritual family that we've gained but and you
know what in the world to come we have life everlasting so yeah there is some
sacrifice in the Christian life and that is the Christian life you know following
Christ of course you don't have to do these things for salvation you don't have
to you know to give up all these things to be saved we understand that but the
Christian life excuse me following Christ often may require us to leave
behind people it may require us to leave behind places it may require you
to leave behind possessions and give up things you know I'm just thinking about
our own move you know when we moved out here we were eager to get in faith
forward Baptist Church up there in Phoenix and you know we were counting on
a $2,000 tax return to get us out here wife six months pregnant and we packed
everything I we owe everything we could fit in the in a Toyota Camry with my
wife was six months pregnant and my daughter my oldest was two years old at
the time two or three and we moved out here on bald tires and we had a
one-bedroom apartment waiting for us and that was it but we were excited to be
here because we knew though we were leaving all these things behind all
these possessions you know I remember one of the last thing I had just a few
weeks before I've always wanted a skill saw I always wanted a nice skill so I
always from time to find would want to cut something I can never do it I was at
a point in my life where I was just tired of borrowing everyone else's tools
so I went by this garage and I found this the skill so I'm like finally I've
got a skill saw well then we decide a few weeks later well let's move to
Phoenix so I'm getting everything I can in the back of this Camry and I mean
we're cramming all of the essentials and I've got this skill saw and I'm just you
know I'm trying to play Tetris with this thing and it's just not gonna happen so
I had to give it up you know the all the things we give up for God right I left
behind a skill saw you know but you know we left a lot of other things behind too
you know we left behind family members we left behind aunts uncles cousins all
these things and other people in this room have done this and you know what if
you were gonna live the Christian life every single person in this room is
going to have to give up something to some degree in order to please God it
might be you know friends maybe we're living or hanging around the wrong crowd
maybe we're mixing it up with the wrong type of people that are gonna lead us
down the wrong path and we're gonna be brought to a place of decision we say
we're I'm either gonna do what's right and live for God or I'm gonna go live
this worldly sinful life well that's gonna require you to give up some
friends you know I again think in my own experience when I first got saved about
you know got saved out of you know life of sin and and it's you know hanging out
with my friends I like to party with and everything and I start talking about
Jesus and I had one friend who called me on it I said hey man you know you can't
you can't talk about Jesus and keep doing what you're doing you know and I
kind of but and I think he was expecting something a different reaction that I
would just shut up about Jesus and give it up you know and quit the whole church
thing well you know I turned it on him and I ended up giving up all the friends
you know then they're like what happened to him you know but that's there is loss
in the Christian life and but here's the thing we focus too much on that if we
always are just focusing on all the things that we gave up focusing on the
friends focusing on the tools or whatever focusing on the relationships
and the possessions that we've given up to follow Christ you know we're gonna
get depressed that's gonna be that's not the right and mentality to have you
need to focus on the things that you're gaining that's what Jesus is doing here
when Peter says hey we've left all he quickly reminds them yeah you've left
all but you know no man hath left house or parents or brethren or children or
wife or children for the kingdom of God's sake who shall not receive many
fold more in this present time I mean what we should focus on the latter half
of that verse that we're gonna receive many fold more I think you know the
thing about recently all the friendships that I've developed since I've moved out
here and not just these shallow vein friendships that are just built over the
fact that we both like to party we're both into some dumb hobby but actual
real meaningful friendships with people that we care about that we love that
that we're seeing families grow together real things you know we're gaining real
spiritual family when we follow Christ and not to mention the fact that no
matter what we have to give up in this life life everlasting waits for us on
the other side so loss is gain in the Christian life you're gonna have to give
up some things and I do want to focus on that because a lot of people I think
also don't sit down and count the cost sometimes they don't consider the fact
that you know there is loss to be counted for in the Christian life there
are things that you have to give up in order to follow Christ often if you want
to turn over to Matthew actually you're there in Luke just go over to Luke
chapter 5 go to Luke chapter 5 Luke chapter 5 we see this example over and
over again with the disciples I mean he saw it here with Peter saying hey we
left all and this happens over and over and over again Luke chapter 5 in verse
10 when Jesus he's walking and and and so also was James and John the sons of
devotee which were partners with Simon and Jesus said unto Simon fear not from
henceforth thou shall catch men so he's in the ship and he does the miracle of
the great you know the catch of fishes and and Peter says it's part for me I'm
a sinful man Oh Lord and he says fear not for those from
henceforth thou shall catch men and then these men come to shore and when they
had brought their ships to land they forsook all and followed him you know
they left everything behind these follow Jesus to be close to him to know him and
and to to learn from him and to be pleasing to him they wanted to be his
disciples they wanted to be close to him they wanted to know what it is he had to
teach them and that required them forsaking all you know leaving behind
their ship leaving behind their nets and going to do the work of God going to
catch men and saying you know what you got to leave all that behind and you
know that's that's really true I mean you think about it in the even in this
applicant we could apply this to soul winning you know if you're gonna follow
Christ the area of soul winning you're gonna go out and catch some men you
might have to give up something on Saturday you might have to give up some
time on Sunday something else you might rather do so there is loss in the
Christian life but it's also gain we give up things you know but then we're
also gaining things as well go ahead and turn over to Matthew chapter 8 Matthew
chapter 8 when you get to Matthew put something there we're gonna be in
Matthew a few times tonight but Matthew chapter 8 you're going to Matthew
chapter 8 I'll read to you from Matthew excuse me well we'll just turn there in
a minute but Matthew 8 verse 19 and a certain scribe came unto him and said
unto master I will follow thee where there so ever thou goest so this guy's
got big talk right I'm gonna follow you wherever you go and Jesus kind of puts
him in check and says oh really well here's something to consider the foxes
have holes and the birds have the errors birds of the air have nests but the Son
of Man hath not where to lay his head you know Jesus came to do his father's
will to do his father's business and for a time you know he didn't have any word
even lay his head he was he was you know he was relying on everybody else to
provide for him as he went around and ministered and of their substance and he
went in verse 21 and says and another of his disciples said unto him Lord suffer
me first to go and bury my father but Jesus said unto him follow me and let
the dead bury their dead now at first glance that's that's kind of harsh you
know and I don't think this is necessarily Jesus is just trying to make
a point here that you know he's he that he this is it you know I mean of course
this is a very unique time where Jesus Christ is physically on the earth which
is you know and it's not gonna be for very long if it's a three and a half
year ministry and and you've only got so much time to actually follow Jesus
physically in the flesh you know if Jesus were here in the flesh and we were
able to go and and actually part of his ministry I don't care what was going on
my life I mean I don't care for whose funeral it was you know that it's
honestly I mean what a rare opportunity to be with the Son of God and you say
well that's kind of harsh to Jesus well I don't think you understand who it is
exactly you're you're saying you're gonna follow you know it's seeing all
the miracles and things like that and Jesus said look I'm only here for a
little bit you know this isn't gonna go on forever let the dead bury their dead
you know and when he entered in the ship his disciples followed him so who is it
that followed him his disciples those that wanted to learn those that wanted
to be close to Christ those are the ones that followed those are the ones that
are willing to leave it all behind to just follow Christ in Matthew go to
Matthew chapter 9 so this is just something you see over and over again in
the scriptures something over and over again in the Gospels people just leaving
it all behind forsaking their nets Jesus is telling them you know let the
dead bury their dead you know you if you want to follow me you better be prepared
to just sleep under the stars and or wherever we can find to lay our head he
says in Matthew chapter 9 verse 9 and as Jesus passed from thence he saw a
man named Matthew sitting at the receipt of custom and he saith unto him follow
me and he arose and followed him so I don't think Jesus was necessarily a
stranger to this man at this point this to Matthew he'd probably likely seen and
heard of Jesus at this point knew it who it was that was saying to him follow me
I mean Hollis you would if some perfect stranger just walked up to you said
follow me would you just get up and leave no be like why should I follow you
but Matthew here he knew who it was that said to him follow me and that's why
without hesitation he stands up leaves everything behind and just follows him
without hesitation and this is part if you're going to be a disciple if you're
going to follow close to Christ there is going to be to some degree you an
element of you having to leave things behind of you having to suffer loss for
the kingdom of heaven's sake it's just part of the Christian life and it's
important that we understand this because this can be a real hang-up for
people some people though this is the line in the sand that they're not
willing to cross they say that's that's it I'm not following Christ any further
I can't give this up I'm not going I'm not willing to forsake all I'm not
willing to just immediately arise and follow you you know the I'm gonna hold
on to these things and this can be a real hang-up for people go over to
Matthew chapter 19 Matthew chapter 19 we'll read another parable of that or
not parable but another perspective of that rich young ruler that we read
about in Luke 18 Matthew 19 verse 20 another young man saith unto him all
these things have I kept for my youth yet what lack I yet Jesus said unto him
if thou will be perfect go and sell what thou hast and give to the poor and thou
shall have treasure in heaven and that sounds like a pretty good trade-off that
sounds that sounds like a pretty good trade to give up you know give to the
poor give you what you have on this earth and have great treasure in heaven
you know give up the things where moth and rust off corrupt and where break
thieves do break through and steal to give those things up that are gonna rot
and corrupt and be taken away from us and in exchange God will give you riches
in heaven where neither moth nor rust off corrupt were thieves do not break
through nor steal that's a pretty good exchange that's a pretty good deal God's
cutting that's a pretty good deal and this guy couldn't handle it this was a
hang-up for him well the one verse 22 but when the young man heard that that
saying he went away sorrowful for he had great possessions I mean this guy had a
lot to lose he said you know what I'm not willing to give these things up to
follow Christ so this can be a real hang-up for people and again keep
something in Matthew but turn over to Philippians chapter 3 some people are
that's it that's gonna be it that's as far as they're gonna follow Christ until
it costs them something that that's it they're willing to go as far with Jesus
until it actually starts to they start to feel it so it's actually going to
cost them something whether it be a relationship whether it be a possession
whether it be a place whatever it might be they're not willing to give that up
that is their hang-up so why is it that some people they don't get hung up with
this some people they don't have this hang-up it's because in order to not get
caught up in this in order to be able to do this and they be able to be able to
be the type of person who's willing to just follow Christ no matter what it
takes the proper attitude to be able to do that you have to have the proper
attitude you have to have the right mindset you have to go into it
understanding following Christ is going to cost me something but it's not going
to stop me you have to have that proper attitude that's what Paul had I mean we
think about all the things that Paul gave up we're gonna look at him here
Philippians chapter 3 and the things that he suffered for Christ is because
he was able to do that because he had the proper attitude look at verse 4
though I might also have confidence in the flesh if any man thinketh that he
hath whereof he might trust in the flesh I more circumcised the eighth day
of the stock of Israel the tribe of Benjamin and Hebrew of the Hebrews as
touching law of Pharisee concerning zeal persecuting the church church
touching righteousness which is in the law blameless so Paul is like he you
know he's kind of trying to remind them you know that if somebody's gonna glory
about something you know I could glory to you know if you know don't get be
impressed by these people I could also get up and tell you about all my
accolades so he's kind of glorying here as a fool to make a point but I mean
when you think about it Paul was somebody Paul was a somebody Paul wasn't
just some in the world he wasn't just just you know just some regular guy and
he was a Hebrew of the Hebrews I mean he was he had some real pull in the fit
with the Pharisees he was a man of influence and he says but in verse 7 but
what things were gained to me I counted loss for Christ he said you know all the
things that I had in the world that everyone say oh Paul you've got it all
you've got the world by the tail you've got so many great things going for you
Paul and he's and Paul says I counted him loss for what for Christ and he goes
on and says yay doubtless verse 8 and I count all things but loss for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord why was what was Paul a
willing to give it all up for just for the knowledge of Christ just for the
knowledge of the excellency of Christ Jesus my Lord he didn't give it all up
for fame he didn't give it all up for fortune he didn't go give it all up to
be known of man he gave it up all to to know Christ that was more important to
him that mattered more to him than all the other things that he had in his life
he said he goes on and says for whom I have suffered the loss of all things I
mean he this he had the proper and mentality he would have had the proper
perspective on life he was willing to suffer the loss of all things and look
what he says here and do count them but dung okay and if you don't know what
dung is you know have a conversation you know we could talk about half church
right you know but we know who probably know what that is you know a manure you
right he says that's what he that's what he counted all those things all the
accolades of man all the the prompt and the prestige and all the things he all
the popularity all the things he had going for him dung that's that's the
proper attitude friend that's having the proper mindset to say you know what
compared to the riches that are in Christ Jesus dung it means nothing to me
he says I count them the dung that I may win Christ and be found in him not
having my own righteousness which is of the law but that which is through the
faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by God of God by faith that I
may know him in the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his
sufferings being made conformal unto his death if by any means I might not attain
on the resurrection of the dead Paul was willing to give it all up and follow
Christ just so he could attain under the resurrection he wanted a better
resurrection to be rewarded on that day go ahead and turn over to 2nd
Corinthians chapter 8 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 so we see that the Christian
life is there is an element of loss to it there are things that we have to give
up at some time or another and we're all probably gonna be brought to this place
in our life where it's going to be Christ or this whatever it might be
whatever relationship possession might be a job who knows what it could be and
we're gonna have to decide and this is a lot a lot of people this is where they
this is where they stop this is where they get hung up they don't go any
further than this and it's because they don't have the proper attitude look over
at 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 verse 1 moreover brethren we do you to wit of
the grace of God bestowed to the churches of Macedonia how that in a
great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty
abounded under the riches of their liberality for their power a bare record
and beyond their power that they were willing of themselves praying with much
in treaty that we would receive the gift and take upon us the fellowship of the
fellowship of the ministering of the Saints and this they did at not as as we
hope at first gave their own selves the Lord and unto us by the will of God so
what you have here is that the churches of Macedonia and a great trial of
affliction and their deep poverty these people were very poor they had deep
poverty like we say in America old people reporting we don't even know what
it's like to be poor I mean the for there's parts of this world where it's
really poor like the poor people here in America for the by and large have it
pretty good compared the rest of the world but these Macedonians they had
deep poverty right and they and they had a great trial of affliction but their
deep poverty abounded on the riches of their liberality this is a group of
people that were willing to just give whatever away for Christ they were just
generous they were willing to there was nothing they weren't willing to part
with for their power and Paul here's bragging a bragging on he says for their
power I bear record bear record yay and beyond their power they were willing of
themselves they were willing to give it all up give me whatever they could know
they didn't work there was no limit to what they were willing to give for the
cause of Christ praying us with much in treaty that we would receive the gift
they're trying to give Paul the gift they're trying to give him you know
money and and and to minister to the Saints saying Paul we want to help take
this that this money and help the Saints with it and the and I could just see
Paul saying no you guys are you guys are poor you guys need it more than they do
they say no we want to give we want to give this up see this is a group of
people that there was no limit to what they were willing to give up for Christ
that doesn't just happen that isn't something that you're just going to end
up you're gonna stumble into in life you have to have the proper attitude you
have to have the proper mindset you know to have that level of generosity or that
level of willingness to just give up things like that even when it's gonna
hurt you I mean something I gave up a skill saw moving out here I mean do you
think that really hurt me I mean it probably might even save me a few
fingers who knows you know what I mean maybe I wouldn't be here if I had
brought that skill saw a freak accident right but I mean that was pretty easy
but what about can we say we're like these people where we're in deep poverty
we're still willing we're still going to just pull it out and say here take it
help somebody else with it and we say well how can somebody have that that
kind of an attitude how do you get that prop that kind of a mindset it's when
you have the proper perspective you know that this attitude like these
Macedonians this only comes when we have the proper perspective when you start to
see things for what they really are for what really matters in life that's when
you start to this this kind of an attitude can develop where you can give
like this the Bible says in Romans chapter 8 in fact turn there to Romans
chapter 8 Romans chapter this is a great verse when you look at this Romans
chapter 8 it takes a proper perspective to have this attitude to where you're
not going to get hung up when we're following Christ cost you something in
Romans chapter 8 in verse 18 Paul speaking says for I reckon that the
sufferings of this present time the sufferings of this present time whatever
things he has to go through and did not Paul suffer I mean just read his life
Paul suffered greatly and you know he's even said I bear my body the the bear my
body the marks of our Lord Jesus Christ you know he was always you know
suffering at the hands of the Jews you know he was in prison I mean he was in
peril of it and all types of different ways I mean the man suffered in life
there's no denying it he said I reckon that the sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us Paul
had the proper perspective and that's why he was able to have that right
attitude that right mindset toward nothing was gonna hinder him from
following from following Christ he had that proper attitude he said you know
what there's nothing you can compare in this life to what I'm going to inherit
the glory that shall be revealed in us you can't even compare it at all you
know we're gonna get to heaven you know and think back and all the things we
gave up in life for Christ all the things that we suffered it's gonna seem
like nothing you're gonna laugh you're gonna say that's it that's all I had to
do for this for all of this for all of eternity for these eternal riches to be
in the presence of a glorified Christ in heaven with all the Saints throughout
all ages and all I had to do was suffer for this little while on earth and I get
all this reward for having given all this up for Christ that's it it's gonna
be laughable friend it won't even be it can't even be compared with the glory
you can't even put it on the table with it if you were to weigh the two in
scales you couldn't even put the sufferings on the scale Paul said you
can't even compare it it's you it's not it's as if it doesn't even exist there's
no comparing it he's saying here so he's saying here you know he there were
things that he suffered make no mistake about it the Christian life is suffering
to some degree you know but that's that's not get all you know boo-hoo
about it because we also see in this verse that yes he suffered but there was
glory which was revealed right the Christian life is not only a life of
sacrifice it's a life also of reward why is it some people it just seems like
they did nothing's gonna stop them nothing there's nothing they're not
willing to give up for Christ what these Macedonians that just here out of even
out of our deep poverty here Paul take it how does a person get to that place
they have that proper perspective they understand that it's not just all
sacrifice that there's a reward that awaits every single one of us Jesus said
in Revelation and go ahead and turn it back to Matthew chapter 16 he said and
behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man according as
his work shall be there is a reward that Jesus has he's bringing it with him
Bible says the first Corinthians 4 therefore judge nothing before the time
until the Lord come will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will
make manifest the counsels of the heart and then shall every man have praise of
God we all know the parable of the of the of the faithful servants that were
given the talents and one you know went and made more talents and gave him unto
his Lord and when the master came back to see what was done with what he had
given the the one good he said and he says Lord said unto him well done good
and faithful servant thou has been faithful over few things I will make the
ruler over many things enter thou in the joy of thy Lord so it was very few
things that he had to take care of and that led to him getting many things and
him being able to be rule over many things and yet the joy of the Lord you
know that's one thing we should want to hear in life at the end of our life if
there's one thing we want to hear when we get to glory it's well done I mean
that's gonna be worth anything you give up in this life to hear to see Christ
come to you and say well done thou good and faithful servant now is everybody
gonna hear that not everybody's gonna hear that there's gonna be some servants
that are gonna just be like well what'd you do well you know I was following you
but then you know these friends well you know you could add all this but you know
go on in here you can have a little bit of that I guess you know and then first
you know first Corinthians talks about when our work shall be tried by fire the
wood the hay and the stubble is gonna be burned up and all that's gonna remain is
the gold the silver and the precious stone this is an illustration I think
about all the time I don't know exactly how that all that plays out but think I
heard this illustration by a preacher once and it stuck with me if you think
about when you get to heaven and everything that you've done with your
life being tried by fire God burns it to see what what what really mattered how
much precious gold there was how much precious jewels and gold and silver there
was in your life the things that you did for Christ you know those are what
you're gonna have for all eternity some people aren't gonna have any of that
some people it's gonna be all wood but they shall be saved so as by fire
they're still gonna go to heaven but they're not gonna be rewarded like
others are no no it's not it this isn't you know heaven isn't some communist
paradise where everybody's equal some will outshine others you know and those
and some are gonna be rewarded more than others some will be closer to God than
others some will have you know greater responsibilities in God's kingdom than
others and just imagine being that guy had all his works burned up and for all
eternity all you get all here's some ash here's your wood hey in your stubble
bag and other people are just walking around just like oh man look all these
crowns just a wheelbarrow full of crowns you know just running around what do you
got Oh ash don't sneeze you know I better hope there's no breeze in heaven you
know first thing you're gonna do is find a ziplock bag like huh well I got my
ashes and what a shame that's gonna be some people's reality I mean obviously
I'm not that literal but you know that's the illustration that's given there that
some people's works will be burned up and some people's works will last
throughout all of eternity look there in Matthew chapter 16 verse 24 you know the
curse your life yeah so there's a lot of sacrifice there's a lot of giving up with
things there's a lot of hard decisions that we have to make you know and if
that's what's gonna stop you then you know what you're never gonna experience
the reward because the Christian life is not just sacrifice it's also a life of
reward sometimes that reward comes at the end of that life he says in Matthew
chapter 16 verse 24 and then said Jesus unto his disciples if a man will come
after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me for whosoever
will save his life shall lose it and whosoever will lose his life for my sake
shall find it for what is a man profit if he shall gain the whole world and
lose his own soul or what shall a man give in exchange for soul now we often
use this to apply to you know salvation some people they don't want to get saved
because they they they think they have to do all these things you know they're
they're gonna have to you know give up all these things and stuff like that but
really what he's he's talking about here is you know if you hang on to your life
you're gonna lose it you know if you're if even if for those of us that are
saved those of us that know Christ and we're born again you know our life is
hitting Christ the Bible says what God has for you is what you're gonna find
when you follow him and if you hang on to your life what you want for yourself
you're gonna lose it you're gonna lose the life that God could give you to use
you in a mighty way I mean think about getting to heaven and God saying I mean
I could if you had just followed me and been willing to give these things up I
could have done this with you I could have done this with you I could have
done this with you I could have done this with you and just seeing it all
before you and you know what and you'll say you know what that was your that
could have been your life but you lost it because you held on to your own and
said you weren't willing to give these things up but if you would just lose it
for his sake the cause of Christ you could give up your life for his cause
you know what you'll do you'll find your life you'll get to heaven and you'll say
you know what there was a point in my life where I had to make this decision
and I gave it up for Christ and I followed him and I had the right
attitude and I had the right perspective I understood and God used me
to do this and God used me to do this and God used me to this I saved all
these souls and people could grow up be preachers and people could raise
families that that serve Christ and people could be used in so many great
ways but they'll never do it if they're not willing to lose their life if
they're not willing to suffer some loss yes the Christian life is lost but
that's how you get the reward that's what you're rewarded for what you gave
up they say well I don't know that's kind of a raw deal that seems kind of
harsh why does it have to be that way why can't I have both I don't think
that's very fair of God to ask me to give up things and then he'll reward me
but hey that's how it works that's the scripture and you know before you get
too bitter about it you need to consider something consider this that Christ is
asking you to do anything in this regard that he hasn't done himself is that not
exactly what Christ did I mean he sacrificed more than anybody he left
behind far more than we ever left behind he's made more sacrifices than we'll
probably ever make and he also grained great things and he is our example that
was the example that was given us go over to Matthew chapter 10 Matthew
chapter 10 thank you
Matthew chapter 10 in verse 34 he said think not and come send come to send
peace on the earth I came not to send peace but a sword for I have come to
set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother and
the daughter law against her mother-in-law that's not very hard right
and a man's foes shall be they of his own household he that loveth father or
mother more than me is not worthy of me he that loveth son or daughter more than
me is not worthy of me he that taketh not his cross and follow with me is not
worthy of me he that findeth his life shall lose it and he that loses his life
for my sake shall find it you know people have a real some people have a
real misconstrued idea what Jesus is supposed to be like and I've even had my
own family members like that's what Jesus means to you you know it came to a
point where it was you know we there was some separation between in the family
over some things they said oh that's the Jesus you follow yeah that's because
Jesus said the Bible that's what he said that he said look I'm I bring a sword
I'm gonna set you at variance if you're gonna follow me you're gonna have you
know it's gonna cost you some relationships maybe even your own family
now praise God if it's not the case but for a lot of people it is they have to
go through that look at Matthew chapter 13 this was and you say well how is it
that he could ask us of that to be at variance even within our own family to
have to be put at odds with people that's not fair but that's what he did
that's exactly what happened to him look at Matthew chapter 13 verse 54 and when
he was coming to his own country so he's going back home right where he grew up
and he taught them in their synagogue in so much that they were astonished and
said whence hath this man this wisdom and these mighty works is this not the
carpenter's son is not his mother called Mary and his brethren James and Joseph
and Simon and Jesus and his sisters are they not all with us whence then hath
this man all these things so these people know who Jesus is there they know
very well who he is and they were offended in him but Jesus said to them a
prophet is not without honor save in his own country and in his own house and he
did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief Jesus knows what it's
like to be at variance with other people to have them disapprove of you because
of what you believe and have to suffer that go ahead turn over to 2nd
Corinthians chapter 8 2nd Corinthians chapter 8
this is the example of Christ he is the example of somebody who was willing to
sacrifice everything I mean there was you know he left glory and came down to
earth you know he left it all behind for our sakes he was willing to sacrifice
and now you know he acts us asks us to do the same and I'm telling you it's not
anywhere near to the degree that he did it you know for some of us it's kind of
an easy call you know leave behind a life of pain and sin and iniquity and
and and and on sorrow and hurt yeah well how is that we can even begin to hang on
that you know Jesus left glory he left heaven he left perfection he left the
father and came down here for some of us we should be like thanks Lord thanks
for calling me out of that thanks for asking me to give that up 2nd
Corinthians chapter 8 look at verse 7 therefore as he abounded everything in
faith and in utterance and in knowledge and in all diligence and in your love to
us see that you abound in this grace also I speak not by commandment by
occasion of the forwardness of others and to prove the sincerity of your love
for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich yet for
your sakes he became poor that through he that ye through his poverty might be
rich I mean Jesus was rich you want to talk about you know some true riches
that guy had it you know Jesus had some real riches you know they're you know
the the the Bill Gates and the Donald Trump's and all the billionaires and
millionaires in this world you know Jesus like yeah well I paved that I
paved the cities up there or the streets with gold up there you know the all your
precious jewels that's what I used to build the foundation of my city all
those jewels that you all will put in museums and ooh and aah over and wear
around your necks and sell for millions of dollars and everything yeah that's
just the foundation where I live I mean that's but that's what he left that's
what he gave up he became poor I mean he came and was born in a manger you know
when that really set in that story you know we're coming to Christmas season
we're gonna talk about that where he Kate was born in the manger that lowly
birth that he had has anyone ever seen a manger what that's really like that's
where they feed animals I remember working on a dairy farm and you know you
go out you get a big scoop of silage and you go out and you dump it for the cows
I mean it wasn't exactly the most sanitary of places it wasn't exactly the
most welcoming environment for a newborn but that's where he was born you know
Jesus Christ who had all the riches of heaven left all that for what for your
sakes and now he asks us to just give up some things in our life to suffer a
little loss for his sake and we can't even begin to compare it to what he gave
up turn over to Philippians chapter 2 we'll wrap up in Philippians you know if
you're gonna suffer you know if you're gonna have the reward the Christian life
you have to have the mentality and the ability and the willingness to suffer
some loss in your life to give up some things you know and like I was looking
through earlier some of those things would probably be good for us to give
them up there'd be some things that would probably do us a lot of good to
just quit doing and it would benefit just doing that would benefit us you
know God asked us to give up sin and to follow him you know that that that in
itself is a reward because now you're not gonna suffer the results of sin in
your life he says in Philippians chapter 2 verse 5 let this mind be in you which
also was in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it not equal
not thought it not robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no
reputation and took upon the form of a servant and was made a likeness of men
and being found and fashioned as a man he humbled himself and became obedient
unto death even the death of the cross Jesus isn't asking us to do anything
that he himself hasn't already done you think about all the things that he gave
up what did he cry on the cross my God my God why hast thou forsaken me you
know God who he'd known through for all of eternity that he had been with from
the very beginning of creation and even beyond that and and all the glory that
he had with him there was that moment where he saw he was for the first time
separated from the father and I mean it was such a profound thing that it caused
him to cry this out why hast thou forsaken me so he's given up a lot for
our sakes and now and he's asking us to give up some things too so so that what
so that he can reward us it's like if the deal is too good to be true folks
it's it's a good exchange you got a good exchange rate you're right you know
that you're giving up a little and you're gaining so much more you know and
he is our example not only of sacrifice but he is also the example of our reward
I mean Jesus gave up a lot of things you're there Philippians look at verse
9 wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and give him a name about which is
above every name that the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in
heaven and things in earth and things under the earth and that every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father so we see
sacrifice in Jesus's life but we also see the reward we see him giving up all
these things and humbling himself and taking on the form of servant and when
he goes through all that and he's willing to suffer all that then we see
him highly exalted and given a name above every name so that's we see that
example of sacrifice that example of loss and gain even in his life so here's
here's what we have to this this is the kind of the crux of the whole sermon is
that you know the the Christian life is loss but it's also gain and you have to
really wait you know we got to get the proper attitude we have to get the
proper perspective and understand that what we're being asked to give up cannot
compare to what we're going to gain go ahead and turn back to where we were
should I stay there but go back to Luke chapter 18 because this whole prince of
that principle we found in the very first scripture that we read it's a
principle that we find all throughout it that yes we're giving up things yes
there's loss that we're suffering but there's also a great gain he says there
in Luke chapter 18 there's no man excuse me go back to verse 29 was where we are
he said verily very saying to you there's no man that hath left house or
parents or brethren or wife or children for the king of God's sake who shall not
receive many fold more in this present time and in the world to come life
everlasting even if you don't receive all these other things in this earth you
still have received life everlasting and if we could just wrap our minds around
that and understand what we've already gained in Christ and what little he's
asking us to to to to to to give up you know it will have an easier time of
suffering loss you'll have an easier time following your example of Christ
when you consider how disproportionate your losses to your game let's go ahead
and pray