A Question of Profit and Loss

=MsoNormal style='text-indent:-1.25in'>Why should I commit my LIFE to Jesus?  From WORD BIBLICAL MATT 16:21-28 

Sentence     21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that

Elaboration     he must go to Jerusalem

Elaboration     and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes,

Elaboration     and be killed,

Elaboration     and on the third day be raised.

Sentence     22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying,

Sentence     “Far be it from you, (G Lord! G)

Sentence     This shall never happen to you.”

Sentence     23 But he turned and said to Peter,

Sentence     “Get behind me, (G Satan! G)

Sentence     You are a hindrance to me.

Sub-Point     For (B you are not setting your mind on the things of God, B) but on (A the things of man.” A)

Sentence     24 Then Jesus told his disciples,

Sentence     “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself

Sentence     and take up his cross

Sentence     and follow me.

Support     25 For whoever would save his life will lose it,

Sentence     but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Support     26 For what will it profit a man

Sub-Point     if he gains the whole world

Sub-Point     and forfeits his soul?

Sentence     Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

Support     27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father,

Sentence     and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

Sentence     28 (N Truly, N) (V I say to you, V) • there are some standing here

Sub-Point     (B who will not taste death B)

Sub-Point     (A until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” A)

[1]

• 25 The first reason (γάρ, “for”) for this death to self is presented in the articulation of the paradoxical principle that the attempt to preserve one’s life (σῶσαι, lit. “save,” is to be understood in this sense) results in the loss of it (ἀπολέσει, “will lose,” with overtones of eschatological judgment;[2]

• 26 A second reason (again γάρ, “for”) for heeding the instruction of Jesus concerning discipleship builds upon the first one. If it is a matter of nothing less than gaining or losing one’s “life,” what could be of more importance to an individual? Thus if a person were to “gain the whole world” (τὸν κόσμον ὅλον κερδήσῃ) but “suffer the loss of life” in some fundamental sense (τὴν δὲ ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ζημιωθῇ; the only occurrence of this verb in Matthew)—ψυχή, “life,” here again understood as more than physical life—what would be the good of that [3]

• As a third reason for the commitment of full discipleship (again, γάρ, “for”), building on the preceding material, Matthew has placed special emphasis on the reality of the coming of the Son of Man and human accountability at that time.

Illustration from Frank Pollard – where is your treasure – we are citizens of 2 worlds – Jesus told us “lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven…”

assure in heaven.

Luke 12 Jesus tells story of a rich man growing richer.  I have read the story all my life and I like to call it the story of a small barn and a big fool.  This farmer had bumper crop after bumper crop.  As he one day surveyed the lay of his land and the length of his crop.  He said it this way, “I shall build bigger and better barns in order that I might store all MY grain.”  Get it:  this farmer has an “I” problem.  Self keeps getting in his way.

He forgot to take into account that there is NO BARNS big enough to store a SOUL in. 

·        No institutions

·        No businesses

·        No careers big enough to store your soul.

Jesus said to him, “You fool, tonight your soul is required of you – now, who is going to get your barns?”

The biggest investment of your life is the ETERNAL INVESTEMNT!!!

Intro:  Begin with - is it possible to GAIN the whole world?

Has anybody tried?

 Caesar- Nebuchadnezzar;

Napolean; Hitler; Marylin Monroe?  Liberace; Muhammed Ali;

Contrast these people with Jesus..."The son of man has no place to lay his head..."

Jesus never owned any land. Jesus did not own a home. 

Intro to Textual material...

·                        Matthew Henry went to London and met a beautiful young lady of the nobility. They became
friends and, eventually, sweethearts. When he proposed marriage, the young woman went
to her father to prepare him for the coming visit of her young suitor who was about to ask
for her hand. Her father remarked to her, “But my child, he possesses no background of
note. You don’t know where he’s come from.” She replied, “Yes, I know. But I believe I
know where he’s going and I want to go with him!”
Jesus had been talking with his disciples about very harsh realities: his betrayal, trial,
crucifixion and resurrection. He wanted those who followed to know where he was going

Matt 16:21 - From that time Jesus began to show his disciples He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things - and be killed; and on the 3rd day be raised...

1. If you could GAIN the whole world - you wouldn't know what to do with it!

There is enough documentation on this to prove it!

Lottery winners (pocket papers)

So much of what is being preached in America today frightens me. What I hear more times than not is a kind of "things go better with Jesus" theology.  Like the soft drink that is the perfect compliment to a meal or recreation, so is Jesus to the rest of our lives..He adds just the right touch.

Folks, that sounds so very very good - one problem - its BLASHEMY!

Jesus is not the compliment to the meal - He IS THE MEAL!

·                        God gave us His SON not so we can become BETTER people but that we might become NEW PEOPLE - HIS PEOPLE. 

·                         

·                        Jesus did not come so that we might get on better in this world - He came to TRANSFORM us so that we'd be ready for the NEXT WORLD.

2. If you LOSE your SOUL - you've LOST what matters MOST...what lasts FOREVER!

A man can lose his health - but with care of doctors and a watchful eye over his daily disciplines - eat right, exercize, get enough sleep - a man can regain SOME measure of his health.

A man might lose his marriage - or be on the edge.  In our country one out of every two marriages will fail.  Did you know that if a couple loves each other and loves their childrne and loves God.  And if that couple practices the disciplines of the faith - read the Bible - oray together - attend church MOST every week - the divorce rate is 1 out of 1,105.

Listen, no one wants to give you joy and happiness in marriage than Jesus Christ.

A man might lose his job - and this is a most devastating experience.  I have heard this story about a hundred times - someone comes along and says, "I hear they hiring over there...get your resume to them..."

I've heard it said, "It's not WHAT you know but...WHO you know"

That is so often true in the world of career advancement.  No where is that more true than in Christianity - "It's not WHAT you know - IT'S WHO you know.

Why don't more people come to know Jesus in a personal way?

·                        They are too busy trying to "GAIN" the world.

·                        They refuse to ADMIT they are sinners.

·                        They are waiting till they can have their "fun".

I wonder this morning - do you KNOW Jesus? 

Not do you KNOW ABOUT Jesus?

If God could ask you one question this morning - could you hear Him say - Why haven't you commited your life to my SON?

God places HISHIGHEST PRIORITY on your soul - are you?

Your SOUL is going to last FOREVER.  Your soul is your identity.  My identity tells me who I am and when I have Jesus He changes me to be like Him.  (I'm not there yet!) 

My identity is not in the kind of car I drive.

My identity is not in how big is my house.

My identity is not in how nice/expensive are the clothes I wear.

My identity is not in this pulpit!  I preach because God has called me to preach - but first and always first - God calls me to walk with Him daily just like you!

Ask Muhammed Ali.

You know Ali, the unprecedented three-time world heavyweight boxing champion. His face has appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated more times than any other athlete. When he was “floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee,” he was king of his profession. An entourage of reporters, trainers, and support staff tailed this comet as he raced around the world.

But that was yesterday. Where is Muhammed Ali today? Sportswriter Gary Smith went to find out.

Ali escorted Smith to a barn next to his farmhouse. On the floor, leaning against the walls, were mementos of Ali in his prime. Photos and portraits of the champ punching and dancing. Sculpted body. Fist punching the air. Championship belt held high in triumph. “The thrilla in Manila.”

But on the pictures were white streaks—bird droppings. Ali looked into the rafters at the pigeons who had made his gym their home. And then he did something significant. Perhaps it was a gesture of closure. Maybe it was a statement of despair. Whatever the reason, he walked over to the row of pictures and turned them, one by one, toward the wall. He then walked to the door, stared at the countryside, and mumbled something so low that Smith had to ask him to repeat it. Ali did.

“I had the world,” he said, “and it wasn’t nothin’. Look now.”

The pole of power is greasy.

The Roman emperor Charlemagne knew that. An interesting story surrounds the burial of this famous king. Legend has it that he asked to be entombed sitting upright in his throne. He asked that his crown be placed on his head and his scepter in his hand. He requested that the royal cape be draped around his shoulders and an open book be placed in his lap.

That was a.d. 814. Nearly two hundred years later, Emperor Othello determined to see if the burial request had been carried out. He allegedly sent a team of men to open the tomb and make a report. They found the body just as Charlemagne had requested. Only now, nearly two centuries later, the scene was gruesome. The crown was tilted, the mantle moth-eaten, the body disfigured. But open on the skeletal thighs was the book Charlemagne had requested—the Bible. One bony finger pointed to Matthew 16:26: “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?”

[4]

Matthew Henry went to London and met a beautiful young lady of the nobility. They became

friends and, eventually, sweethearts. When he proposed marriage, the young woman went

to her father to prepare him for the coming visit of her young suitor who was about to ask

for her hand. Her father remarked to her, “But my child, he possesses no background of

note. You don’t know where he’s come from.” She replied, “Yes, I know. But I believe I

know where he’s going and I want to go with him!”

Jesus had been talking with his disciples about very harsh realities: his betrayal, trial,

crucifixion and resurrection. He wanted those who followed to know where he was going.

----

[1]Runge, S. (2008; 2008). The Lexham High Definition New Testament: ESV Edition (Mt 16:21-28). Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[2]Hagner, D. A. (2002). Vol. 33B: Word Biblical Commentary : Matthew 14-28. Word Biblical Commentary (484). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.

[3]Hagner, D. A. (2002). Vol. 33B: Word Biblical Commentary : Matthew 14-28. Word Biblical Commentary (484). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.

[4]David Harp. (2008). Illustrations of David Harp.