A Call to Forsake All (Pastor Roger Jimenez | VBC Sacramento, CA)

Heavenly Father thank you for tonight you got to thank you for your word Lord and for your house God and for everyone here God just be with us tonight God just give us a tender heart to your word Lord and I ask you be with our pasture fathers just filled with their spirit God and strengthen them today God we love you and we think of everything Jesus name I pray amen amen all right well we're there in Matthew chapter number 19 and I want you to look down at verse number 16 and I'm not preaching on the subject of the rich young ruler tonight but I do want to deal with this rich young ruler for a little bit just so you can kind of get the context of the sermon Matthew chapter number 19 and look look at verse number 16 Matthew chapter number 19 and verse number 16 Michael says and behold one came and said unto him good master what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life this is the passage of Scripture that's commonly referred to the story is referred to this person is referred to as the rich young ruler this young man that comes to Christ and he asks them a couple of questions and I want you to understand something about this young man this young man comes to Christ with some wrong preconceived ideas he comes with some assumptions that are incorrect and he has two of them and I want to just highlight them for you real quickly the first one is it comes with the wrong idea of the Savior he comes to Christ who is a savior but he comes to him with a preconceived idea that is incorrect and Jesus attempts to deal with both of these problems with both of these ideas in this passage now notice verse 17 and he said unto him now if you look at verse 16 the the rich the young man said good master what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life now he comes to Christ with this idea that Christ is simply a man that he's just a good teacher that he's a good master but he does not believe that he is the Christ he does not believe that he is the Anointed One and he does not believe that he is God so Jesus is going to deal with that and the first thing he says in verse 17 is this and he said unto him why call us now me good there is none good but one that is God now you have to turn there but in Psalm 14 is quoted in Romans I know we're familiar with it from the Romans passage but in Psalm 14 and this is what Jesus would be referring to the Bible says this to the sea to the chief musician of a psalm of David the forth in his heart there is no God they are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doeth good the Lord looketh down from heaven upon the children meant to see if there were any that did us understand and seek God they are all gone aside they're all together become filthy there is none that doeth good no not one now that's quoted in Romans and we often will go there as soul winners to teach people about the gospel but the Bible is very clear that we as human beings are not good there is none that do it good when people tell me at the door you know I think I'm gonna go to heaven because I'm a great a pretty good person sometimes I'll take them to that passenger Roman and say look the Bible says there is none that doeth good you're not good I'm not good and here Jesus is kind of highlighting that because this man believes Jesus to be a good teacher to be a prophet maybe to be a good master but he does not believing to be God and then Jesus calls them out he says well why call us now me good there is none good but one that is God and it basically comes down to this if Jesus is good then Jesus is God because there's none that was good only God is good and I don't think anybody would stand up and say Jesus was not good I mean here in the Mormons in the job as witnesses and those who deny the deity of Christ or deny that there's only one God would say well Jesus was a good man but here's the thing if he was good then he was gone because there's none that doeth good you can't say you're good I can't say I'm good there's none that doeth good according to the Bible so he comes to Christ with this preconceived idea and he's wrong on the subject of the Savior and Jesus is immediately just kind of dealing with this individual and you know the idea that I get from this rich young ruler that he's a little bit arrogant and we're going to get that from the passage and you kind of see Jesus dealing with him in that arrogancy he's not telling him like hey you're wrong and in other passages the Bible does that Jesus loved this young man so not that he's mad at him but he's kind of dealing with him in the same way that this young man he comes with these preconceived ideas and Jesus kind of jabbing back at him why call about me good there's none there's none good but one and that is gone and then Jesus answers his questions so he has a pre canal all three days frequency of idea of the Savior but I want you to notice he also has a wrong preconceived idea about salvation notice verse 16 again and behold one came and said unto Him good master now notice the question that he asked the question is asked with a preconceived idea he says what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life now that may sound like a good question but it's not a good question because he comes with the assumption that we get eternal life based on the things that we do he says what good thing shall I do it's not the same as the question by the Philippine general from the Philippian jailer and I 16 what must I do to be saved he's saying hey what then brought them out and said sirs what was I do to be saved and they said believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saying that's not the same questions being asked here he's not simply asking what must I do to be saved he's asking what good thing what good work what good action shall I do that I may have eternal life and Jesus being the master soul winner Jesus being God in the flesh understanding what this young man is thinking begins to deal with him and unravel some things with this young man notice verse 16 again what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life and he said unto Him verse 17 here's the answer why call the zombie good there's none good but one that is God but if that will enter into light now notice he said keep the commandments you say well why would Jesus say that and again I my ideas of this young man's being arrogant he's coming with a very arrogant attitude and you kind of just dealing with him in that same arrogance is a look if you're not asking me how can I save you because you don't even think I'm not Savior you're not asking me how can I help you because you don't even think I can help you you think you got this all wrapped up and you're ready to go you're asking a very specific question you know what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life in Jesus well if that's all you care about the null answer your question the good thing that you've got to do to have eternal life is keep the commandments all of them and here's the thing that is not an incorrect answer in theory if you or if I were able to keep the commandments we could go to heaven without Jesus that's why works religion is stupid to think you know if I could keep the commandments and go to heaven why would Jesus have to come to desert and that's what he's saying you say look if you want to be saved without a savior then keep the commandments notice the arrogance verse 18 he saith unto Him which he says keep the commandments and he's like what I just told you keeping Commandments well which ones do I have to keep now notice because Jesus was God and Jesus tans everything Jesus understands this young man he be seen he's setting him up and he begins to tell them oh you all know which ones well sure and he tells them the commandments that he knows that this young man has kept notice notice verse 18 he said unto Him which Jesus said okay your honor which ones now shall do no murder jesus knew that this young man had never killed anybody that's the sixth commandment by the way of the ten thou shalt not commit adultery do you view that this young man did not commit adultery that's the seven commandment by the way he says I shall not steal the eighth commandment Jesus view that this young man did not soul thou shalt not bear false witness that's denied jesus knew that this was probably a fairly honest young individual that he'd never stood and testified falsely against somebody honor thy father my mother Jesus must have known that this young man had kept the fifth commandments of honoring thy father name underneath of this and also I love thy neighbor as I said no that's not sound in the Ten Commandments that act that's actually found in Leviticus 19 we're going to get to it in a couple of weeks on Wednesday night but Jesus wants to know here's what Jesus knew about this young man when it comes to the relationship between him and others he was a pretty good person because here's what you need to understand about the commandments the commandments are divided into two parts you've got the first five of the ten that deal with our relationship in God and then you've got the last five or 2/10 that deal with our relationship with men all of the commandments at the end now shalt not murder thou shalt not kill thou shalt not commit adultery thou shalt not steal also not bear false witness all that has to do with our relationship as men men with men women with women people people the first five about about not having idols about keeping the Sabbath all of those have to do with our relationship with God notice that Jesus focuses on his the commandments that have to do with his relationship with men because here's what Jesus view about this young man when it came to being a good person he was pretty good when it came to being a good person to others he was pretty good notice the response for swinging the young men said unto him all these have I kept from my youth youth ah again can you just see the arrogance kind of oozing off the page and then he says this what lack I yet what am I missing I think I'm not at all put together and here's where Jesus is going to deliver the final blow because he's bringing this young man to a place where he basically wants him to come to the place where he will say what must I do to be saved I can't save myself I can't do this on my own notice verse 21 Jesus had unto Him now notice the wording of Christ if thou will be perfect now the word perfect in our King James Bible means complete it means to lack nothing and he just said well what like I get and he says well Jesus you know he's kind of being I think he's being a little sarcastic here anything well I guess you don't like anything I guess you got it all put together I guess you're good enough to go to heaven you don't need a Savior you're not a sinner he says but there's one thing if there will be perfect in any of this go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come and follow me so here's what Jesus knew about this young man though he kept the six commandments and the ninth commandment in the fifth commandment in the eighth commandment so he kept the Levitical commandment he did not keep this commandment thou shalt not covet this was a covetous young man in Deuteronomy chapter number 6 the Bible says this here's another commandment that he had not kept thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all I sold with all thy might Jesus understood about this young man there is one major that you've got buddy and it's this you love your possessions more than you love God and this whole conversation is just one big setup to show this young man you're not as good as you think you are notice we're swinging too but when the young man heard that saying he went away sorrowful for he had great possessions and he Jesus knew exactly what button to press Jesus knew exactly what the need of this young man was and all of this leads into this discussion look at verse 23 then said Jesus unto the disciples verily I say unto you that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven is that true we go soul-winning out in these nice neighborhoods and their life's likely hear the gospel they're less likely to get saved why because they love their possessions because they love their things and again I say unto 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 when his disciples heard it they were exceedingly amazed saying who can be saved but Jesus they helped them and turned to them with man this is impossible with God all things are possible by the way the praise the Lord that rich people can be saved they're less likely to be say but you know what we're not going to ignore the nice neighborhoods because everyone needs to be warned everyone needs to know the gospel and with men this is impossible but all things are possible all of this leads into a question by the Apostle Peter where he asked in verse 27 the cont that's the context the drop of the backdrop of the question as by Peter in verse 27 in the question is written then answered Peter and said unto him behold we have forsaken all he just saw a young man who not willing to give up his possessions to follow Christ and Jesus not teaching that you must give up your possessions in order to be saved but this young man already thought he was saved and he found them oh I guess if you're perfect if you got it all put together then the next step is to come and follow me you got to leave your possessions and he's highlighting from the fact that he's not as perfect and he's not as good as he thinks he is but this causes Peter don't you love Peter he's always kind of thinking ahead he's always kind of thinking of himself and he says well wait a minute this young man left aside he loves sorrowful because he's not willing to per say and Peter says but we have forsaken all those and follow thee what shall we have therefore we're going to come back to that question here in a moment but go over to the Book of Luke chapter number 14 I want you to understand something salvation does not require you to forsake anything salvation is a gift it's free no sacrifice on your part but following Christ does require you to forsake you don't have to forsake anything to be saved but you must forsake certain things or be willing to forsake certain things be willing to walk away from certain things in order to follow Christ so you need to understand that following Christ and being saved are two different things being a disciple of Christ and being a sinner saved by Christ or two different things and today you got the contemporary churches they they're blurring the line between salvation and sanctification they refer to salvation as a relationship with Christ I'm all for having a relationship with Christ but it's not a relationship with Christ that saves you it's the fact that you call upon them to save you it's the fact that you believe on him to save you it's the fact that you receive his gift and after that we should strive to have a relationship but the relationship is not salvation and here Peter is saying then we'll wait a minute we've left all we've forsaken all and followed thee and here's what I want you to send in order to be a follower of Christ in order to be a disciple of Christ you've got to be willing to forsake all and for those of you taking notes tonight I want to just speak to you for a few moments on this idea of following Christ and forsaking on the first thing I'd like you to notice is this number one there is a call to force a call there is a call to force a call Jesus very clearly stated that if you are going to be a disciple you must be willing to walk away from everything Luke 14 in verse 25 notice what the Bible says you got Matthew Mark Luke Luke chapter 14 and verse number 25 Luke chapter 14 and verse 25 the Bible says this and there went great multitudes with him and he turned and said unto them now notice it he says if any man comes come to me if any man come to me and then he says these very difficult words and hey not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters yet his own life also no he says he cannot he cannot he's not saying it would be harder for you to these other thing you think you cannot he cannot be my disciple and whosoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple look at verse three three so likewise whosoever he be of you that forsake is not all that he has he can't not be my disciple listen to me if you're here tonight and I would think you're if you're at church on a Sunday night in the middle of summer there's some desiring you to want to follow Christ or some desire and you don't want to be a disciple of Christ there's some desire in you to want to be a power of the Lord Jesus Christ and I hope you have that desire unless you're just dragged here by your parents or drag you by your spouse or something like that but listen to me the requirement to be a disciple is that you must be willing to sacrifice and forsake all Jesus type if you're not willing to forsake it all you cannot be my disciple and you say well what what is it that I should be willing to forsake go to Matthew chapter 19 we're going to be going back and forth between Luke Matthew Mark John all of the Gospels tonight Matthew chapter 19 you say what is it that I should be willing to sacrifice and here you say well do I have to forsake at all and you think you don't have to forsake at all but you have to be willing to forsake it all you have to be willing to walk away from it you have to be willing to let it go you say what what should I be willing to sacrifice what should I be willing to let go well the first thing that God tells us that Jesus tells us we must be willing to sacrifice is our possessions notice again what he says to the rich young ruler again playing with the young man but saying okay you got it all put together you're saved already it seems like it cuts all the commandments then here's the next step here's what's expected of you Matthew 19 is only one jesus said if that will be perfect go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor also I have treasure in heaven and come and follow me as a disciple of Christ you have to be willing to forsake and to walk away from all possessions you have to be willing to walk away from everything you have everything you own go back to Matthew chapter 6 look at verse number 19 we're going to be going back and forth like I said through Luke Matthew Matthew 6 verse 19 Matthew chapter 6 verse 19 goes what the Bible says Matthew chapter number 6 and verse 19 Matthew 6:19 says this lay not lay not lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth now look is that not a commandment he's telling you here's what I do not want you to do what what Jesus do you not want us to do I do not want you to lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth now look there's nothing wrong with having nice things I believe God wants to bless us and God wants us to have good things but our lives should not be this life of just laying up treasures laying up things accumulating things on this earth Jesus says I don't want you doing that you say why why Jesus why don't you want us to lay up treasures on it he says there's one reason it's a big waste of time he says it's worthless to do that you say well what does resent later on number yourself treasures upon earth why we're marks and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal he says look if you make your life about the stock market if you make your life about your Roth IRA if you make your life about having things and having possession and having vehicles and having houses and having nice things is like the problem with that is that all of that is going to be destroyed it's going to well son it's going to get corrupted or someone's in a stealing from you someone's going to take it from you Jesus that I'd rather you do this but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt where thieves do not break through nor steal for where your treasure is for where your treasure is there will your heart be also go to Matthew chapter number four here there in Matthew 6 Matthew chapter 4 I heard of a story of a Christian millionaire and I'm not advocating that people should do this was just something I heard but I heard a millionaire who decided that he wanted to flip the tiding around because he made so much money every year he decided you were going to live off of 10% and give 90% now look I might not you might not be able to do that I might not be able to I couldn't support my family owns 10% but this guy makes so much money that his 10% was enough for him to live off him and somebody asked him well why would you do that the Bible only person you got to give 10% and here's what he said if I put that money anywhere else it's not going to bring me any value but if I can invest it into souls being saved if I can invest it if the church is being planted if I can invest it into the cause and the work of Christ that's a reward that no one can take from me you know there's some truth to that and I think in our lives we just get so attached to things and gets so attacked to possessions and the thing is the possession we think we possess them but they really put that on and we're not willing to walk away from and we're not willing to part from them there should be nothing in this world that you're not willing to lose there should be no possession on this earth there should be nothing that you own that you're not willing to just walk away from it at any moment when Jesus our God would say that's enough so all that you have and come and follow me there should be nothing that you're that you would have to sit there and think about it well I'm not sure if I can that everything should be on the table as far as what we can get rid of and what we can walk away from Matthew 4 and verse 18 those with rival sense and these are they which are sown among thorns such as hear the word and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches in the lusts of other things entering in choke the word and it becometh unfruitful the only way that you can be a disciple of Christ the only way that you can be a disciple of Christ is if you're willing to walk away from any possession that you own go to Luke chapter number 5 Luke chapter number 5 you've got Matthew Mark Luke so here's the question for you what do you own what do you own that if you have to get rid of it if you have to forsake it in order to serve Christ you would not be willing to do is there anything you own and people you know you asked that question we were like oh well no I mean that's not there's nothing I own that I wouldn't be ok let me ask you this what is he that sued for the console Christ will that cause you to quit Church will that cause you to quit living for God well I don't know about games maybe you lost your job I'm just saying the requirements the Partlow Christ to follow God is that you got to be willing to lose it all willing to give it all a thing there's nothing there's no job there's nothing that I oh there's no conviction that possesses me more than the love of her see in the Bible the disciples the disciples were asked by Jesus to forsake at all are you there in Luke 5 looking for Solomon Luke chapter 5 and verse 11 or thousands when Simon Peter saw it he fell down at Jesus knees saying depart from me for I am a sinful man O Lord for he was astonished at all that were with him at the drought of fishes which they had taken and so also James the son of James and John the sons of Zebedee which were partners with Simon and Jesus said unto Simon if you're not from henceforth that's what catch man and when they had brought their ships to land notice what the Bible says they forsook all and followed him and I don't have time to get into the context of story but they just got the biggest paycheck of their lives they just caught the most fish they'd ever caught I mean this was the biggest bonus the best day at work that they'd ever had and at that moment when she gave him the biggest catch he says you're not going to fish for you're not going to fish for fish anymore you're going to come and fish for man and you say why was Peter used why was James used why was John used here's why they were used because they were willing to falter they forsook all and followed him they were willing to walk away from all of it look down at verse number 27 same chapter verse number 7 27 and after these thing he went forth and saw a publican named Levi sitting at the receipt of custom and he said unto Him follow me here he goes to Matthew and Matthew his job he's at his work he's a tax collector and he said to him follow me notice the response for a 28 he didn't sit there and saying we'll wait a minute geez I got to think about this well wait a minute I got to calculate this thing out I gotta figure out if this thing's gonna work out no no no no no there's not and he left all rolled up and followed him I mean one of Jesus that walks up Z and said if you're going to follow me you can no longer work at this bar if you're going to follow me you can no longer work at this casino if you're going to follow me you can no longer work at this place of employment this is not what I want you to do I want you to walk away from it I want you to start me and follow me the disciples were used of God there the disciples why because they were willing to forsake all there's no job there's no possession there's nothing that they owned that they were not willing to walk away from at a moment's notice see if you're going to be a disciple you must be willing to sacrifice your possessions here's a question is there any possession you own that truly possesses you anything you only you're not willing you're not willing you say I wouldn't I would not be willing to lose my house I would not be willing to lose my car I will not be willing to lose my business I would not be willing to lose if there is that I'm just here to tell you you can't be a disciple of Christ go back go you're there in Luke chapter 6 go to Luke chapter 14 Luke chapter 14 you say what was we be willing to give up to be a disciple of Christ well you must be willing to give up your possessions but there's another thing you must be willing to give up you must also be willing to sacrifice your own family you say what possessions are easy but my family what the Bible says are there in Luke chapter 14 look at verse 26 Luke 14 in verse 26 the Bible says if any man come to me is Jesus speaking you have a red-letter addition Bible these words should be in rent Jesus said these words if any man comes to me notice what he says and hate I was in the word hate a strong word and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters you say does God expect me to hate my family and I want you to when you connect for you when you when you compare spiritual things with spiritual they kind of make sense because you say well what does Jesus mean here when you use the word of hate keep your blazer and Luke 14 go to Matthew chapter 10 Matthew chapter number 10 and I want you to understand what he's saying I don't believe Jesus is telling us that I got saves I got start hating my parents well I got a fire hating you know my my brother I got to start eating by my sister here's what he's saying though if there comes a point where I must decide between me and my brother or me and my sister or me and my parents or me and any other relative I have if I'm going to be a disciple of Christ I have to be willing to walk away from family not just possessions family notice Matthew chapter 10 verse 35 notice what Jesus had matthew 10:35 for I come to set a man at variance the word variance means disagreement jesus said when you get saved your your family is not going to see it the way you see it anymore they're going to look at you and say you're doing why you're moving where you're taking them out of what but they were doing well in school they were doing well in sports but they were do it in this is what Jesus meant Bryan comes instead of man a variance against his father and the daughter against her mother and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law notices and a man's foes shall be they of his own household and notice you said well what does he mean when he says hate notice verse 37 he that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me see when he says and Luke 14 and go back to Luke 14 when he says to hate father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters when he says hey he's talking about that when I have to make a decision here's what you and I would say we would say listen mom I love you but I love Jesus more listen dad I love you but I loved you more let listen children I I know we've been going on this road and I'm messing it all up for nothing but here's what you guys it's not that I don't love you is that I love Jesus more because she's a pet he that loveth father or mother more than me is not one of me but please understand it you say I love you but I love Jesus more and they're gonna say you hate me they're your family's not there and say oh I get it you love me but you love jeez no you can say why do you hate us why do you hate me why are you doing this and this what you think you have to be willing you have to be willing to live in a relationship where the word hate would be used about you and your family and you would say well I don't hate you I love you I just love Jesus more I don't hate you I love you I just I just want Jesus and what he's done for me more and they're not gonna say that whether is that you hate me your wife may say you hate me your husband may say you hate me and listen to me the only way you can be a disciple is if you're willing to live with that so I have to walk away from my possessions to be a disciple yeah you don't and you have to be willing to walk away from family now look hopefully you don't hope you get your family paid hope you get your family Church hopefully you can serve God with your family but you cannot be a disciple if you're not willing to walk away from your family there's a third thing that you must be willing to walk away from and this also kind of puts that into context notice verse 26 again if any man come to me and hate not his father and mother and wife and children brethren his sister is that I can't believe I'm supposed to hate my family but notice what's at the end of list J and his own life also see you're supposed to hate your own life also today well what what does that mean they hate my life I go around and just telling everybody how terrible I am some of you do that anyway but that's not the point okay it's not that you go around hating yourself is that you love Christ more than you love your own life and then you preach things that you should have preached and a lawsuit comes and people say you just hate yourself and then you precinct then you get arrested one day if you're like why do you hate yourself so much Paul why are you putting yourself through this everywhere you grow you get beat everywhere you go you're going to rest every time people say why do you hate your life and they're like not that I hate my life this is that I love Jesus more and his own life also notice what he says he cannot be my disciple go to Revelation chapter 2 Revelation chapter 2 verse 10 revelations have the to verse 10 revelations have the two-percent funeral things without salt suffer behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tried and he shall have tribulation 10 days be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life seek to be a disciple you must not only be willing to walk away from any home any place any possession you also have to be willing to walk away from anybody any person any relationship father mother wife children brothers and sisters and to be at the time where you must also be willing to be faithful unto that willing to even sacrifice your own life go to John chapter number 3 John chapter materiai no we're looking a lot of passages this morning I stayed basically in one passage the whole time so tonight we're going to flip back and forth but we're going to be in the Gospels but look at John John chapter number three as a pastor I've realized that I need to be willing to lose any church member I have to be willing and listen to me I love you something a passion hates me not that I hate I just love Jesus more I've learned that I have to be willing to walk away from any church member at any time any church member at a time and look I've developed in my ministry and here we see this in John John chapter 3 notice of the traits of John John chapter 3 and verse 26 John 3 26 and they came unto John and he said unto him rabbi he that was with devient Jordan to whom thou barest witness behold the same baptizeth and all men come to him there telling your churches dwindling while in searches growing everybody used to coming here you freak now they go and hear him preach and notice the response the great response by John in verse number 30 he must increase but I must decrease here's what you saying John saying I have to be willing to lose any church member and listen to me I love I love all of you but I as a pastor I've learned if I'm going to do what God has called me to do I have to be willing to walk away from any church member at any time and in my ministry you know I just and I'm not saying this was the right thing to do it's just what i decide to go I don't go chasing after people when they leave I don't call them I'm like I'm sorry and I send them flowers please come back I literally know pastors you do that so I'm just saying right because people they're like I'm gonna keep a selection I'm going to go click the church and go to lectures down the street how's that teaching me a lesson that you have to go to the lane trip down the street I'm not the one have to put up with that Lane preaching you know I'm just telling you before you make that decision just realize you're not getting a call from me you're not I'm not look there is one person in this church there is one member of Verity Baptist Church that they left I would call them and catch them and send them flowers and try to get them to come back and that one person is my wife if my wife quits this church I'm going to send her flowers and say would you please come back you know everybody misses hue or whatever other than that don't expect flowers and live God because look I'm you say what because look as a passengers have to be willing you have to really get up and preach the sermon and people leave and they get read and you're just willing to have them walk away you're just willing to have them go you're just willing to have them go away and you know I just in my in my in my ministry there's basically let me just give you some hints all right there's something there's three stages and church members you know their stage number one where I would say like 96 percent of our church people are and that's basically you're good people I love you I hope you love me but I'm willing to walk away from you and I'm not trying to offend you but I'm going to preach the Bible and if that offends you if you got to go you got to go I don't want you to go I want you to say but I'm gonna do the best to keep you around but if you gotta go we're not going to chase after you well you said why because we have to be willing to just walk away because what as soon as we start changing the sermons changing the stands changing the position go because I don't want to offend so-and-so over there and and that guy he gives a lot and I don't want offended as soon as you start going down that road there is no end to that you say what stage number two your stage number two problematic people now problematic people actually I love the problematic people they're probably like 1% of our church they're problematic people but I love the problematic people because the pressure is off because with them I'm just like they're either going to get right or they're going to get out but either way I win like I'm just going to preach what needs to be preached I'm not going to deal with them with kid gloves they're either going to fix their attitude or they're going to get out but either way I don't have to deal with it and then there's the liabilities the liabilities are a problem liabilities are the ones that are bringing prop you're bringing more problems than you are an asset and when you know some of your thinking about why do you know when you're a liability you'll know you're some of you're like wow I wonder if I'm in that category if you got to ask yourself if I'm in that category you're not in that category because that's what I'm that's what I'm actively trying to run you out of church some of you're like oh go back to Luke chapter 14 you say pastor I can't believe you say that listen to me people come in here we got young punks that come in here or bossy women that come in here and they think they're going to talk to me the same way they talk to their parents well they may they're going to talk to me the same way they talk to their spineless husband listen to me I'm not you're spineless husband and I'm not you're spineless parents either you're not going to come to me with attitude and think I'm doing it well honey no you know I'll be gentle and kind of love would you come at me hard I'm going to come harder and guess what I've got the mic Luke 14 verse 28 Luke 14 say professor don't you want people to love you I'd rather they fear me then love me honestly we cannot have chaos we cannot allow people to just be actively just look you you want to get on my bad side disrespect me and this is like my wife and you'll see how things go Luke 14 verse 28 or my children of course Luke 14 verse 28 I said number one there's a call to forsake but I like to notice number two there's also a cost to forsake you preach sermons like this people are like ah let's sleep at all you know let's move to you tall and buy some property listen before you decide and I'm not saying this in a wrong way but I do want to understand it before you decide to forsake it off you must sit down and count the cost because there's a cost to forsaking all Luke 14 2007 for which of you intending to build a tower said it not down first encountered the cost whether he has sufficient to finish it let's not Lee after he lays the foundation is not able to finish it all that behold it begin to mock him saying this man began to build and was not able to finish before you go off and start making all sorts of decisions and making all sorts of announcements and consoling your family how you gonna do this you're under that and you're going to do all these great things for God hey before you start doing that just do me a favor sit down and count four calls because if you start building you're not able to finish it they're just going to market you they're just going to laugh at you we knew it was a phase when you was a fad we knew he didn't mean it we knew they weren't really going to live it knows verse three one what keen going to make war against another King said is not down first and consulted whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that comes against him with twenty thousand or else while the other is yet a great way off he sends us an ambassador in his arse conditions the peace and it's interesting because Jesus uses these two analogies go to Luke chapter nine each chapter nights he uses these two analogies about building and about battling he says you better not start a building without counting the cost and any says you better not start a battle without counting the cost you know what the two things are that we do in the Christian life there's two things we do we build and we battle we fight we fight the world and we fight the flesh and we flight fight the devil and we also try to build people and build relationships and he says you don't want to do either one without counting the cost you say why well look at Luke 9 and verse 32 luke 9:62 and jesus said unto him no man having put his hand to the plow now when you put your hand to the pot what do you start doing you start working you get in the word and jesus said unto him no man having put his hand to the pile and getting back is fit for the kingdom about his release saying you better just decide what you're going to do and you better just quit looking back you better just decide what you're going to do and you better just go forward look when I started very Baptist Church quitting was not is not an option say perhaps is the Ameren feel like quitting yeah it's called Sunday morning like every Sunday morning you know I can't believe that look I'm just telling you then we go through times and we go through season when things are hard and we're tired and we're scared and whatever or four-plex look I understand that but when you just hype when you look you walk down that aisle and you make that now and you say till death do us part don't look back you start having those children they'll start well I don't know do we want to look you start homeschooling those Casals goals given time homeschooling and homeschooling misawa you just decide what you're going to do and don't look back if you're going to start living this life and you're going to be a disciple and you're going to start going I'm just telling you if you quit halfway through they're going to laugh they're going to mock and I say you began to build but it's not able to finish he began to battle but he doesn't know what he's getting himself into I'm just trying to tell you there is a call to force a call but before you answer the call make sure you count the cost make sure you understand what you're getting yourself into just this afternoon I was speaking to a young man I asked him permission to say this and I won't tell you his name I'm speaking to a young man who has a scholarship to go to college for baseball and baseball player as a scholarship nice ride to college supposed to show up in two weeks and he got safe and then coming to church and being faithful Lord has been speaking to his heart and the Lord has moved in his heart that college is not necessarily where God wants them and I would agree with that college dorm rooms are not anywhere that some eighteen year old should be in with a bunch of and beer pong it's not a place that God wants you I'm not necessarily saying that you can't go to college but I think you should be at home with mom and dad and a good church where you can be found you know where you can have people protect your lovin on you and his young man is the site you know he's deciding and I'm praying for him but he's what he's thinking you gonna make this decision to walk away from the scholarship and you know it's sending his mom and dad at variance and it's not that Islam and that are bad people they just don't understand they just don't get it if you went somewhere we've been working for we've invested so much time and we've invested so much and they just don't understand it and you know what the probably thing I think why do you hate us you think it's not that I hate you I just love Jesus you know but you say well what do you say is doing right here's what I said to count the cost count the cost because at the end of the day at the end they you have to live with that decision and I hope you make the right decision and I'll be praying for you and I and I and obviously the best thing in the world the best thing in the world for him to just be at home with its parent and and and serve in a good local church and I'm not sure if that's the plan or if that's an option I'm not sure how that's all going to work out but here's what I know playing baseball and not what God wants for your life playing baseball is not what I want gratifying playing you know and it's like even if it works out for you and you go to the major leagues it's not what God wants for you because the answer is no you know and I often tell people you know be wise be like well should I do this right this and what I've learned is I don't tell people what to do I just tell them answer these questions answer these questions for me what would Jesus have you to do I mean if you could ask the Lord Jesus Christ what would you what do you are doing this in the situation what would he say and what's the best thing for you for you spiritually and I'll be praying for this young man I hope he makes the right choice and I told him you know if you make the right choice or the other choice I'm not gonna be mad at you I'm not going to judge you I'm not your grizzly I'm here to love you and I'll I'll be praying for you but listen to me when you're making a decision and no one understands it and other view all your teenagers say what in the world you you were so good and you got the scholarship and you're walking away from it nobody gets it and nobody understands it make sure you count the calls before you make that choice because you may realize that other people just say why do you hate us why don't why won't you just why are you making us look bad why are you making us look like did you waste all the invest what we put in you there's a call to purse a call and there's a cost to purse a call but I like you to notice lastly tonight go to Matthew chapter number 19 Matthew chapter number 19 it looks you gotta make a decision I don't know what you're for this young man it's a scholarship for you it may be something else for some of you it's a home for some of you it's a job for some of you it's a relationship for some of you it's a sin but you've got to decide if I'm going to be a follower of Christ I got to be willing to forsake it all I'm going to be willing to walk away from it and look you don't you're not walking away from it when all you're doing you know after you've taken three steps away from it all you're doing is complaining about it that's not cool that's not walking away from it well we made them sick people come to me like oh we made this big decision break didn't want to complain to me about the decision they made I'm just I want to hear it we just have an usher run around here complained you complain about oh I got show up an hour early from church to church and I got work and I got the Woodward's like look we all have work nobody is that nobody's forcing you to be an usher you know if you're going to do it do it if you're not gonna do just shut up you know get the coat back and quit complaining you want to sit there and and we make this big sacrifice for good and then all we do is complain about it the whole time that's not pleasing to God that's not happy with that one of the priests are griffons on me look at the big thing got big hog right listen to me you've made no sacrifice for God he sacrificed for you he sent his son to die on the cross for you and there's nothing that you've given up there's nothing that you want to wait for us that compares to that just shut up and serve God or just don't or just be happy and be worldly and let the deceitfulness of riches just choke you there's a call and there's a cost but I like your notice thirdly there is a compensation you are not giving anything up for God that God is not going to pay back to you Matthew 19 in persuasive knows aloud says then answered Peter and said unto Him behold remember that's where we started we have forsaken all and followed thee what shall we have therefore jesus said unto Him verily verily I say unto you that ye which have followed me in the regeneration when the Son of Man is shall sit in the throne of his glory you shall also sit upon twelve Thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel nor three sides verse 29 and every one that have forsaken houses or brethren or sisters or fathers or mothers or wife or children or lands does that basically cover it all when I read that always thinking brother Jared says the money in family forms right at the land for my name's sake so having a hundredfold and shall inherit everlasting life you know one hundredfold means means a hundred times I think whether Jared's going to get a farm up in heaven up to a hundred times as big as the one in game on here's what the Bible's saying you can't outgive God you will not out get rotten there's nothing that you will give up on this world that you're not going to receive an hundredfold and shall inherit everlasting life but as many that are first shall be last and last will be first go to village in Chapter three look at two more passages and what we've done Philippians chapter three Matthew Mark Luke John acts Romans first second Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Philippians chapter three here's what I want you to send we must look at the things we are asked to give up in the proper perspective of the Bible what am i gaining in comparison to what I'm giving up Philippians chapter 3 verse 7 knows what it says Philippians chapter 3 verse 7 this will Paul said because Paul had to walk away from a college scholarship but what things were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ the eighth Outlets 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 Paul had an education he walked away from it Paul had possessions he walked away from them Paul had all sorts of things that he why he walked away I'm sure he was very well-to-do man and very successful man and his and he talks about the fact that he was a Hebrew of the Hebrews and a Pharisee the Pharisees and he walked away from all of it you say but what did he get here's what he got like a lot of part of verse 8 that high they went pray there's nothing that you're walking away from if you get Christ if you get to follow Christ if you get to give your life for Christ there's nothing to walking away from that's worth complaining about that's worth whining about that's worth talking about he says look I counted all but lost I counted all he says as dung that I may win Christ would call Colossians chapter 3 his last pipes were looking Colossians chapter 3 if that's why I'm saying it sounds like you're kind of radical is this some sort of a cult there's no kool-aid at the end of service I promise I mean you expect us to walk away from everything we own and everyone we love and be willing to even sacrifice of our own line here's what here's what I you know if you lift your life in this way if you lift your life in this way where you said there's nothing there's nothing that's not on the table I'm willing to walk away from all of it it priced so as you think it'd be hard for you to show up for soul-winning I think it'd be hard for you to show up for Wednesday night Church you think it'd be hard for you to give up at 10% here's what the Bible says Colossians 3:4 one cries notice this this should be our theme of your life when Christ Mosley says who is our life not Christ who is part of our lives not Christ who's part of my life on Sunday morning or Sunday night or Wednesday night but Christ who is our life seek Christ and the Bible should be our lives on Monday and on Tuesday and on Wednesday and on Thursday and I'm finding our entire lives ought to be revolved around Christ it should all be about it I'll try look I'm not you know I'm not trying to pick on anybody but I don't think it's wise for you as parents to be focusing your kids on things I sport why because it's a waste now look I like the kids playing sports but don't put this love it you're going to be a professional there's gonna be a professional that's all that is done our lives should be about Christ when Christ who is our life shall appear then shall he also appear with employing the Bible says I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable to God which is your reasonable which is your reasonable doesn't say you're exceptional we want to sit there and brag about all the things we do forgot he says is what he said if you present your bodies a living sacrifice if you present your bodies a living sacrifice if you give your entire body and life to God as a sacrifice here's what God says based on what I've done for you it's reasonable your reasonable service and be not conformed to this world would be transformed by the renewing of your mind ah Hanson I want to pray Heavenly Father thank you Lord for your words thank you for these admonitions you give us in Scripture and what I pray that you would help us what I offer you to help me I pray you help every single person here every adult male every adult lady every teenager every child when I pray that tonight we would make decisions to say I will enjoy what God has given me I will enjoy all the possessions I will enjoy all the family I will enjoy all the friends I will enjoy everything is given me but if I have to walk away from it I'm willing to forsake it all it's not that I hate them I just love Christ more what help us to learn to be true disciples of Christ to truly follow you with our lives in the name of Christ we pray amen

Channel: Verity Baptist Church

Views: 4,400

Rating: 4.9464288 out of 5

Keywords: christianity, being a disciple, discipleship, how to be a disciple, how to be a disciple of jesus, being a disciple of jesus

Id: -JediRTPjb0

Length: 52min 49sec (3169 seconds)

Published: Fri Aug 11 2017