the greatest reason for living

“THE GREATEST

REASON FOR LIVING”

MT. 16:24-27

Matthew 16:24-2724 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

INTRODUCTION:

SALVATION IS A GIFT THAT CAN NOT BE RESISTED AND WILL BE SECURED TO THE RECIPIENT.

John 6:4444 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Ephesians 2:8-98 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Romans 11:2929 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

THE “GRACE” OF GOD IS IRRESISTIBLE AND EFFICACIOUS!

EVERYONE HAS A PURPOSE FOR EXISTENCE.

TO SOME…A.) FOR FAMEB.) FOR FORTUNEC.) FOR SELF GRATIFICATIOND.) FOR LOVED ONESE.) FOR SURVIVAL

BUT THE GREATEST REASON FOR LIVING IS FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!

Philippians 1:2121 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

HOW CAN WE LIVE FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST?

THE SEVEN (7) BIBLICAL

PRINCIPLES IN LIVING FOR

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST:

Matthew 16:2424 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

I. IT NEEDS A DELIBERATE PERSONAL DECISION:

Luke 14:3333 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

II. IT NEEDS A DENIAL OF SELF:

Philippians 3:7-87 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

III. IT NEEDS A LIFETIME COMMITMENT:

Philippians 3:12-1412 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,

but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

IV. IT NEEDS A WILLINGNESS TO SACRIFICE:

James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

V. IT NEEDS A FULL SURRENDER:

Ephesians 4:11-1311 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

VI. IT NEEDS AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP:

John 10:3-53 To Him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear His voice; and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when He brings out His own sheep, He goes before them;

and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. 5Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

VII. IT NEEDS A WHOLE

LIFE OFFERING:

Romans 12:11 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 service.

CONCLUSION:

WHAT ARE THE GAINS IN LIVING FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST?

Matthew 16:2626 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

EXPERIENCED THE INNER ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE WITH GOD!

John 10:27-2927 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

EXPERIENCED THE JOY OF THE LORD IN THEIR HEARTS!

Philippians 4:44 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

EXPERIENCED THE INNER PEACE FROM THE LORD!

John 14:2727 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

EXPERIENCED CONTENTMENT THROUGH THE LORD!

Philippians 4:11-1311 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all

things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Matthew 16:2727 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

EACH WILL RECEIVE THEIR

REWARDS!

Revelation 22:1212 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

Matthew 16:2727 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

WILL PARTAKE OF THE LORD’S GLORY!

Colossians 3:44 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

EXPERIENCED THE PROMISED “MORE ABUNDANT LIFE”!

John 10:1010 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

the greatest reason for living

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