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Trust in the Lord Message 05 of 11
Winning by Losing
Pastor Anthony King· January 29, 2023
Matthew 16:24-26
In Matthew 16:24-25, Jesus challenged his disciples with a call to take up their cross and follow him. This call to sacrifice and commitment remains just as relevant for us today as it was for the disciples two thousand years ago. In this sermon, we will explore what it means to take up our cross and follow Jesus and what that means in reaching the world with the Gospel.
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
Matthew 16:24
The world will be won to Christ not by nameless “missionaries”, but by sold-out disciples of Jesus.
It is foolish and lazy to assume someone else will do it.
It is foolish and ignorant to assume that it not our responsibility.
If not us, who?
A disciple must:
Confess Jesus and renounce self.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.Galatians 2:20
Be willing to pay any price to pursue Jesus.
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,Philippians 3:8
Live a life of complete obedience.
And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.Acts 20:22-24
Death to self is not simply a prerequisite of discipleship, but an ongoing commitment.
If we will have an eternal impact, we must be willing to give up our self-centered life to find the joy in Jesus.
What is our part in the Great Commission?
Pray • Give • Go
If missions is a team endeavor, what is my role on the team?
What is my specific part?
Pray, for what purpose? Give, to what extent? Go, to what end?
Am I willing to lay down my life, that I may find it?
If not, what am I clinging to that is of such great value?
24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26
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