A New Year
2020
Text: Matthew 16:21-28; (vs 24)
Thesis: Jesus instructs us “to deny oneself” (vs24) and if followed will produce eternal life.
I. Jesus makes it very clear to his disciple for them to “take up his cross and follow him” they must “deny” themselves. (vs 24)
A. One of the hardest things to do in life is to deny oneself.
1. It will take the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish this.
“Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19: 26)
2. Jesus made this clarification to his disciples when the rich young ruler “went away sad” (Read Mathew 19:16-26)
3. Wealth in itself, is not bad. It is only harmful when your desire for wealth or material things are greater than your love for God.
B. Jesus wants his disciples to identify the things that will hinder their relationship with God.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” (Hebrews 12:1)
1. The things that may “hinder” you in your devotion and service to God may not be wealth.
a. It maybe misuse of time or poor planning.
“Teach us to number our days aright, (brevity of life)
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalms 90:12)
II. Jesus wants them to “save their lives by losing their lives” (vs 25)
A. Our investments in Christ Jesus and His Kingdom are eternal.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Mathew 6:19-20)
B. Jesus can take the life fully surrendered and multiply it.
C. Jesus states if we seek to gain all that the world has to offer we will “lose our Souls.” (vs 26)
“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”
(John 12:24)
Deny Oneself and Seek God in 2020!
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