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Amen so the title of the sermon this evening is loss is gain loss is gain and I was thinking about it's kind of a ironic title to preach following up a sermon on tithing so that's not related at all but I was just thinking about it just another dumb joke out there but let's look at Luke 18 verse 18 it says and a certain ruler asked him saying good master what shall I do to inherit eternal life and Jesus said unto him why callest thou me good none is good save one that is God thou knowest the commandments do not commit adultery do not kill do not steal do not bear false witness honor thy father and thy mother and he said all these have I kept for my youth up now when Jesus heard these things he said unto him yet lackest thou one thing sell all that thou hast and distribute it unto the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come follow me and when he heard this he was very sorrowful for he was very rich and when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful he said how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God for it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye then for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God and they that heard it said who then can be saved and he said the things which are impossible with men are possible with God then Peter said lo we have left all and followed thee and he said unto them verily I say unto you there is no man that hath left house or parents or brethren or wife or children for the kingdom of God's sake who shall not receive many fold more in this present time and in the world to come life everlasting so you see here this young man comes to Jesus and he's you know trying to work his way into heaven you know that's that's really the what's going on here but Jesus is telling him you know you need to give up everything that you have and come follow me and this made him very sorrowful and Peter overhears this and he says lo we've left all and and Jesus immediately responds by saying hey I know you've left all and you know what but you're going to gain all those things tenfold more and in the world to come life everlasting so what we're seeing here towards the end there is that though a man might leave house or parents or brethren or wife or children for the kingdom of God's sake there is a loss there is there not and when somebody is leaving behind a family with somebody you know for you know we think about all the families that move to join churches often you know they might believe behind another church they might leave behind familiar surroundings I might leave behind perhaps a place where they grew up they might leave a family members they might leave friends they might leave all these things behind but when they but they're so there is loss in the Christian life but they lose those things and yet there is still gain as well Peter he left his house he left his parents he left his brethren and all these things and Jesus said you know what you're gonna get all those things back and you in this life and you should gonna receive many fold more in this present time you know we might lose we might leave a lot of a close family we might leave you know brothers and sisters and mom and dad behind but when we come and we and we're following Christ often we know we go we join a good church this happens often I know our family that's what we did we left a lot of family behind but we gained a very large spiritual family you know we gained many fold more in this present life you know and then we always have the assurance and the comfort of knowing that not only do we have the spiritual family that we've gained but and you know what in the world to come we have life everlasting so yeah there is some sacrifice in the Christian life and that is the Christian life you know following Christ of course you don't have to do these things for salvation you don't have to you know to give up all these things to be saved we understand that but the Christian life excuse me following Christ often may require us to leave behind people it may require us to leave behind places it may require you to leave behind possessions and give up things you know I'm just thinking about our own move you know when we moved out here we were eager to get in faith forward Baptist Church up there in Phoenix and you know we were counting on a $2,000 tax return to get us out here wife six months pregnant and we packed everything I we owe everything we could fit in the in a Toyota Camry with my wife was six months pregnant and my daughter my oldest was two years old at the time two or three and we moved out here on bald tires and we had a one-bedroom apartment waiting for us and that was it but we were excited to be here because we knew though we were leaving all these things behind all these possessions you know I remember one of the last thing I had just a few weeks before I've always wanted a skill saw I always wanted a nice skill so I always from time to find would want to cut something I can never do it I was at a point in my life where I was just tired of borrowing everyone else's tools so I went by this garage and I found this the skill so I'm like finally I've got a skill saw well then we decide a few weeks later well let's move to Phoenix so I'm getting everything I can in the back of this Camry and I mean we're cramming all of the essentials and I've got this skill saw and I'm just you know I'm trying to play Tetris with this thing and it's just not gonna happen so I had to give it up you know the all the things we give up for God right I left behind a skill saw you know but you know we left a lot of other things behind too you know we left behind family members we left behind aunts uncles cousins all these things and other people in this room have done this and you know what if you were gonna live the Christian life every single person in this room is going to have to give up something to some degree in order to please God it might be you know friends maybe we're living or hanging around the wrong crowd maybe we're mixing it up with the wrong type of people that are gonna lead us down the wrong path and we're gonna be brought to a place of decision we say we're I'm either gonna do what's right and live for God or I'm gonna go live this worldly sinful life well that's gonna require you to give up some friends you know I again think in my own experience when I first got saved about you know got saved out of you know life of sin and and it's you know hanging out with my friends I like to party with and everything and I start talking about Jesus and I had one friend who called me on it I said hey man you know you can't you can't talk about Jesus and keep doing what you're doing you know and I kind of but and I think he was expecting something a different reaction that I would just shut up about Jesus and give it up you know and quit the whole church thing well you know I turned it on him and I ended up giving up all the friends you know then they're like what happened to him you know but that's there is loss in the Christian life and but here's the thing we focus too much on that if we always are just focusing on all the things that we gave up focusing on the friends focusing on the tools or whatever focusing on the relationships and the possessions that we've given up to follow Christ you know we're gonna get depressed that's gonna be that's not the right and mentality to have you need to focus on the things that you're gaining that's what Jesus is doing here when Peter says hey we've left all he quickly reminds them yeah you've left all but you know no man hath left house or parents or brethren or children or wife or children for the kingdom of God's sake who shall not receive many fold more in this present time I mean what we should focus on the latter half of that verse that we're gonna receive many fold more I think you know the thing about recently all the friendships that I've developed since I've moved out here and not just these shallow vein friendships that are just built over the fact that we both like to party we're both into some dumb hobby but actual real meaningful friendships with people that we care about that we love that that we're seeing families grow together real things you know we're gaining real spiritual family when we follow Christ and not to mention the fact that no matter what we have to give up in this life life everlasting waits for us on the other side so loss is gain in the Christian life you're gonna have to give up some things and I do want to focus on that because a lot of people I think also don't sit down and count the cost sometimes they don't consider the fact that you know there is loss to be counted for in the Christian life there are things that you have to give up in order to follow Christ often if you want to turn over to Matthew actually you're there in Luke just go over to Luke chapter 5 go to Luke chapter 5 Luke chapter 5 we see this example over and over again with the disciples I mean he saw it here with Peter saying hey we left all and this happens over and over and over again Luke chapter 5 in verse 10 when Jesus he's walking and and and so also was James and John the sons of devotee which were partners with Simon and Jesus said unto Simon fear not from henceforth thou shall catch men so he's in the ship and he does the miracle of the great you know the catch of fishes and and Peter says it's part for me I'm a sinful man Oh Lord and he says fear not for those from henceforth thou shall catch men and then these men come to shore and when they had brought their ships to land they forsook all and followed him you know they left everything behind these follow Jesus to be close to him to know him and and to to learn from him and to be pleasing to him they wanted to be his disciples they wanted to be close to him they wanted to know what it is he had to teach them and that required them forsaking all you know leaving behind their ship leaving behind their nets and going to do the work of God going to catch men and saying you know what you got to leave all that behind and you know that's that's really true I mean you think about it in the even in this applicant we could apply this to soul winning you know if you're gonna follow Christ the area of soul winning you're gonna go out and catch some men you might have to give up something on Saturday you might have to give up some time on Sunday something else you might rather do so there is loss in the Christian life but it's also gain we give up things you know but then we're also gaining things as well go ahead and turn over to Matthew chapter 8 Matthew chapter 8 when you get to Matthew put something there we're gonna be in Matthew a few times tonight but Matthew chapter 8 you're going to Matthew chapter 8 I'll read to you from Matthew excuse me well we'll just turn there in a minute but Matthew 8 verse 19 and a certain scribe came unto him and said unto master I will follow thee where there so ever thou goest so this guy's got big talk right I'm gonna follow you wherever you go and Jesus kind of puts him in check and says oh really well here's something to consider the foxes have holes and the birds have the errors birds of the air have nests but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head you know Jesus came to do his father's will to do his father's business and for a time you know he didn't have any word even lay his head he was he was you know he was relying on everybody else to provide for him as he went around and ministered and of their substance and he went in verse 21 and says and another of his disciples said unto him Lord suffer me first to go and bury my father but Jesus said unto him follow me and let the dead bury their dead now at first glance that's that's kind of harsh you know and I don't think this is necessarily Jesus is just trying to make a point here that you know he's he that he this is it you know I mean of course this is a very unique time where Jesus Christ is physically on the earth which is you know and it's not gonna be for very long if it's a three and a half year ministry and and you've only got so much time to actually follow Jesus physically in the flesh you know if Jesus were here in the flesh and we were able to go and and actually part of his ministry I don't care what was going on my life I mean I don't care for whose funeral it was you know that it's honestly I mean what a rare opportunity to be with the Son of God and you say well that's kind of harsh to Jesus well I don't think you understand who it is exactly you're you're saying you're gonna follow you know it's seeing all the miracles and things like that and Jesus said look I'm only here for a little bit you know this isn't gonna go on forever let the dead bury their dead you know and when he entered in the ship his disciples followed him so who is it that followed him his disciples those that wanted to learn those that wanted to be close to Christ those are the ones that followed those are the ones that are willing to leave it all behind to just follow Christ in Matthew go to Matthew chapter 9 so this is just something you see over and over again in the scriptures something over and over again in the Gospels people just leaving it all behind forsaking their nets Jesus is telling them you know let the dead bury their dead you know you if you want to follow me you better be prepared to just sleep under the stars and or wherever we can find to lay our head he says in Matthew chapter 9 verse 9 and as Jesus passed from thence he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the receipt of custom and he saith unto him follow me and he arose and followed him so I don't think Jesus was necessarily a stranger to this man at this point this to Matthew he'd probably likely seen and heard of Jesus at this point knew it who it was that was saying to him follow me I mean Hollis you would if some perfect stranger just walked up to you said follow me would you just get up and leave no be like why should I follow you but Matthew here he knew who it was that said to him follow me and that's why without hesitation he stands up leaves everything behind and just follows him without hesitation and this is part if you're going to be a disciple if you're going to follow close to Christ there is going to be to some degree you an element of you having to leave things behind of you having to suffer loss for the kingdom of heaven's sake it's just part of the Christian life and it's important that we understand this because this can be a real hang-up for people some people though this is the line in the sand that they're not willing to cross they say that's that's it I'm not following Christ any further I can't give this up I'm not going I'm not willing to forsake all I'm not willing to just immediately arise and follow you you know the I'm gonna hold on to these things and this can be a real hang-up for people go over to Matthew chapter 19 Matthew chapter 19 we'll read another parable of that or not parable but another perspective of that rich young ruler that we read about in Luke 18 Matthew 19 verse 20 another young man saith unto him all these things have I kept for my youth yet what lack I yet Jesus said unto him if thou will be perfect go and sell what thou hast and give to the poor and thou shall have treasure in heaven and that sounds like a pretty good trade-off that sounds that sounds like a pretty good trade to give up you know give to the poor give you what you have on this earth and have great treasure in heaven you know give up the things where moth and rust off corrupt and where break thieves do break through and steal to give those things up that are gonna rot and corrupt and be taken away from us and in exchange God will give you riches in heaven where neither moth nor rust off corrupt were thieves do not break through nor steal that's a pretty good exchange that's a pretty good deal God's cutting that's a pretty good deal and this guy couldn't handle it this was a hang-up for him well the one verse 22 but when the young man heard that that saying he went away sorrowful for he had great possessions I mean this guy had a lot to lose he said you know what I'm not willing to give these things up to follow Christ so this can be a real hang-up for people and again keep something in Matthew but turn over to Philippians chapter 3 some people are that's it that's gonna be it that's as far as they're gonna follow Christ until it costs them something that that's it they're willing to go as far with Jesus until it actually starts to they start to feel it so it's actually going to cost them something whether it be a relationship whether it be a possession whether it be a place whatever it might be they're not willing to give that up that is their hang-up so why is it that some people they don't get hung up with this some people they don't have this hang-up it's because in order to not get caught up in this in order to be able to do this and they be able to be able to be the type of person who's willing to just follow Christ no matter what it takes the proper attitude to be able to do that you have to have the proper attitude you have to have the right mindset you have to go into it understanding following Christ is going to cost me something but it's not going to stop me you have to have that proper attitude that's what Paul had I mean we think about all the things that Paul gave up we're gonna look at him here Philippians chapter 3 and the things that he suffered for Christ is because he was able to do that because he had the proper attitude look at verse 4 though I might also have confidence in the flesh if any man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh I more circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel the tribe of Benjamin and Hebrew of the Hebrews as touching law of Pharisee concerning zeal persecuting the church church touching righteousness which is in the law blameless so Paul is like he you know he's kind of trying to remind them you know that if somebody's gonna glory about something you know I could glory to you know if you know don't get be impressed by these people I could also get up and tell you about all my accolades so he's kind of glorying here as a fool to make a point but I mean when you think about it Paul was somebody Paul was a somebody Paul wasn't just some in the world he wasn't just just you know just some regular guy and he was a Hebrew of the Hebrews I mean he was he had some real pull in the fit with the Pharisees he was a man of influence and he says but in verse 7 but what things were gained to me I counted loss for Christ he said you know all the things that I had in the world that everyone say oh Paul you've got it all you've got the world by the tail you've got so many great things going for you Paul and he's and Paul says I counted him loss for what for Christ and he goes on and says yay doubtless verse 8 and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord why was what was Paul a willing to give it all up for just for the knowledge of Christ just for the knowledge of the excellency of Christ Jesus my Lord he didn't give it all up for fame he didn't give it all up for fortune he didn't go give it all up to be known of man he gave it up all to to know Christ that was more important to him that mattered more to him than all the other things that he had in his life he said he goes on and says for whom I have suffered the loss of all things I mean he this he had the proper and mentality he would have had the proper perspective on life he was willing to suffer the loss of all things and look what he says here and do count them but dung okay and if you don't know what dung is you know have a conversation you know we could talk about half church right you know but we know who probably know what that is you know a manure you right he says that's what he that's what he counted all those things all the accolades of man all the the prompt and the prestige and all the things he all the popularity all the things he had going for him dung that's that's the proper attitude friend that's having the proper mindset to say you know what compared to the riches that are in Christ Jesus dung it means nothing to me he says I count them the dung that I may win Christ and be found in him not having my own righteousness which is of the law but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by God of God by faith that I may know him in the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformal unto his death if by any means I might not attain on the resurrection of the dead Paul was willing to give it all up and follow Christ just so he could attain under the resurrection he wanted a better resurrection to be rewarded on that day go ahead and turn over to 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 so we see that the Christian life is there is an element of loss to it there are things that we have to give up at some time or another and we're all probably gonna be brought to this place in our life where it's going to be Christ or this whatever it might be whatever relationship possession might be a job who knows what it could be and we're gonna have to decide and this is a lot a lot of people this is where they this is where they stop this is where they get hung up they don't go any further than this and it's because they don't have the proper attitude look over at 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 verse 1 moreover brethren we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed to the churches of Macedonia how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded under the riches of their liberality for their power a bare record and beyond their power that they were willing of themselves praying with much in treaty that we would receive the gift and take upon us the fellowship of the fellowship of the ministering of the Saints and this they did at not as as we hope at first gave their own selves the Lord and unto us by the will of God so what you have here is that the churches of Macedonia and a great trial of affliction and their deep poverty these people were very poor they had deep poverty like we say in America old people reporting we don't even know what it's like to be poor I mean the for there's parts of this world where it's really poor like the poor people here in America for the by and large have it pretty good compared the rest of the world but these Macedonians they had deep poverty right and they and they had a great trial of affliction but their deep poverty abounded on the riches of their liberality this is a group of people that were willing to just give whatever away for Christ they were just generous they were willing to there was nothing they weren't willing to part with for their power and Paul here's bragging a bragging on he says for their power I bear record bear record yay and beyond their power they were willing of themselves they were willing to give it all up give me whatever they could know they didn't work there was no limit to what they were willing to give for the cause of Christ praying us with much in treaty that we would receive the gift they're trying to give Paul the gift they're trying to give him you know money and and and to minister to the Saints saying Paul we want to help take this that this money and help the Saints with it and the and I could just see Paul saying no you guys are you guys are poor you guys need it more than they do they say no we want to give we want to give this up see this is a group of people that there was no limit to what they were willing to give up for Christ that doesn't just happen that isn't something that you're just going to end up you're gonna stumble into in life you have to have the proper attitude you have to have the proper mindset you know to have that level of generosity or that level of willingness to just give up things like that even when it's gonna hurt you I mean something I gave up a skill saw moving out here I mean do you think that really hurt me I mean it probably might even save me a few fingers who knows you know what I mean maybe I wouldn't be here if I had brought that skill saw a freak accident right but I mean that was pretty easy but what about can we say we're like these people where we're in deep poverty we're still willing we're still going to just pull it out and say here take it help somebody else with it and we say well how can somebody have that that kind of an attitude how do you get that prop that kind of a mindset it's when you have the proper perspective you know that this attitude like these Macedonians this only comes when we have the proper perspective when you start to see things for what they really are for what really matters in life that's when you start to this this kind of an attitude can develop where you can give like this the Bible says in Romans chapter 8 in fact turn there to Romans chapter 8 Romans chapter this is a great verse when you look at this Romans chapter 8 it takes a proper perspective to have this attitude to where you're not going to get hung up when we're following Christ cost you something in Romans chapter 8 in verse 18 Paul speaking says for I reckon that the sufferings of this present time the sufferings of this present time whatever things he has to go through and did not Paul suffer I mean just read his life Paul suffered greatly and you know he's even said I bear my body the the bear my body the marks of our Lord Jesus Christ you know he was always you know suffering at the hands of the Jews you know he was in prison I mean he was in peril of it and all types of different ways I mean the man suffered in life there's no denying it he said I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us Paul had the proper perspective and that's why he was able to have that right attitude that right mindset toward nothing was gonna hinder him from following from following Christ he had that proper attitude he said you know what there's nothing you can compare in this life to what I'm going to inherit the glory that shall be revealed in us you can't even compare it at all you know we're gonna get to heaven you know and think back and all the things we gave up in life for Christ all the things that we suffered it's gonna seem like nothing you're gonna laugh you're gonna say that's it that's all I had to do for this for all of this for all of eternity for these eternal riches to be in the presence of a glorified Christ in heaven with all the Saints throughout all ages and all I had to do was suffer for this little while on earth and I get all this reward for having given all this up for Christ that's it it's gonna be laughable friend it won't even be it can't even be compared with the glory you can't even put it on the table with it if you were to weigh the two in scales you couldn't even put the sufferings on the scale Paul said you can't even compare it it's you it's not it's as if it doesn't even exist there's no comparing it he's saying here so he's saying here you know he there were things that he suffered make no mistake about it the Christian life is suffering to some degree you know but that's that's not get all you know boo-hoo about it because we also see in this verse that yes he suffered but there was glory which was revealed right the Christian life is not only a life of sacrifice it's a life also of reward why is it some people it just seems like they did nothing's gonna stop them nothing there's nothing they're not willing to give up for Christ what these Macedonians that just here out of even out of our deep poverty here Paul take it how does a person get to that place they have that proper perspective they understand that it's not just all sacrifice that there's a reward that awaits every single one of us Jesus said in Revelation and go ahead and turn it back to Matthew chapter 16 he said and behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be there is a reward that Jesus has he's bringing it with him Bible says the first Corinthians 4 therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord come will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the heart and then shall every man have praise of God we all know the parable of the of the of the faithful servants that were given the talents and one you know went and made more talents and gave him unto his Lord and when the master came back to see what was done with what he had given the the one good he said and he says Lord said unto him well done good and faithful servant thou has been faithful over few things I will make the ruler over many things enter thou in the joy of thy Lord so it was very few things that he had to take care of and that led to him getting many things and him being able to be rule over many things and yet the joy of the Lord you know that's one thing we should want to hear in life at the end of our life if there's one thing we want to hear when we get to glory it's well done I mean that's gonna be worth anything you give up in this life to hear to see Christ come to you and say well done thou good and faithful servant now is everybody gonna hear that not everybody's gonna hear that there's gonna be some servants that are gonna just be like well what'd you do well you know I was following you but then you know these friends well you know you could add all this but you know go on in here you can have a little bit of that I guess you know and then first you know first Corinthians talks about when our work shall be tried by fire the wood the hay and the stubble is gonna be burned up and all that's gonna remain is the gold the silver and the precious stone this is an illustration I think about all the time I don't know exactly how that all that plays out but think I heard this illustration by a preacher once and it stuck with me if you think about when you get to heaven and everything that you've done with your life being tried by fire God burns it to see what what what really mattered how much precious gold there was how much precious jewels and gold and silver there was in your life the things that you did for Christ you know those are what you're gonna have for all eternity some people aren't gonna have any of that some people it's gonna be all wood but they shall be saved so as by fire they're still gonna go to heaven but they're not gonna be rewarded like others are no no it's not it this isn't you know heaven isn't some communist paradise where everybody's equal some will outshine others you know and those and some are gonna be rewarded more than others some will be closer to God than others some will have you know greater responsibilities in God's kingdom than others and just imagine being that guy had all his works burned up and for all eternity all you get all here's some ash here's your wood hey in your stubble bag and other people are just walking around just like oh man look all these crowns just a wheelbarrow full of crowns you know just running around what do you got Oh ash don't sneeze you know I better hope there's no breeze in heaven you know first thing you're gonna do is find a ziplock bag like huh well I got my ashes and what a shame that's gonna be some people's reality I mean obviously I'm not that literal but you know that's the illustration that's given there that some people's works will be burned up and some people's works will last throughout all of eternity look there in Matthew chapter 16 verse 24 you know the curse your life yeah so there's a lot of sacrifice there's a lot of giving up with things there's a lot of hard decisions that we have to make you know and if that's what's gonna stop you then you know what you're never gonna experience the reward because the Christian life is not just sacrifice it's also a life of reward sometimes that reward comes at the end of that life he says in Matthew chapter 16 verse 24 and then said Jesus unto his disciples if a man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me for whosoever will save his life shall lose it and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it for what is a man profit if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul or what shall a man give in exchange for soul now we often use this to apply to you know salvation some people they don't want to get saved because they they they think they have to do all these things you know they're they're gonna have to you know give up all these things and stuff like that but really what he's he's talking about here is you know if you hang on to your life you're gonna lose it you know if you're if even if for those of us that are saved those of us that know Christ and we're born again you know our life is hitting Christ the Bible says what God has for you is what you're gonna find when you follow him and if you hang on to your life what you want for yourself you're gonna lose it you're gonna lose the life that God could give you to use you in a mighty way I mean think about getting to heaven and God saying I mean I could if you had just followed me and been willing to give these things up I could have done this with you I could have done this with you I could have done this with you I could have done this with you and just seeing it all before you and you know what and you'll say you know what that was your that could have been your life but you lost it because you held on to your own and said you weren't willing to give these things up but if you would just lose it for his sake the cause of Christ you could give up your life for his cause you know what you'll do you'll find your life you'll get to heaven and you'll say you know what there was a point in my life where I had to make this decision and I gave it up for Christ and I followed him and I had the right attitude and I had the right perspective I understood and God used me to do this and God used me to do this and God used me to this I saved all these souls and people could grow up be preachers and people could raise families that that serve Christ and people could be used in so many great ways but they'll never do it if they're not willing to lose their life if they're not willing to suffer some loss yes the Christian life is lost but that's how you get the reward that's what you're rewarded for what you gave up they say well I don't know that's kind of a raw deal that seems kind of harsh why does it have to be that way why can't I have both I don't think that's very fair of God to ask me to give up things and then he'll reward me but hey that's how it works that's the scripture and you know before you get too bitter about it you need to consider something consider this that Christ is asking you to do anything in this regard that he hasn't done himself is that not exactly what Christ did I mean he sacrificed more than anybody he left behind far more than we ever left behind he's made more sacrifices than we'll probably ever make and he also grained great things and he is our example that was the example that was given us go over to Matthew chapter 10 Matthew chapter 10 thank you Matthew chapter 10 in verse 34 he said think not and come send come to send peace on the earth I came not to send peace but a sword for I have come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother and the daughter law against her mother-in-law that's not very hard right and a man's foes shall be they of his own household he that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me he that taketh not his cross and follow with me is not worthy of me he that findeth his life shall lose it and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it you know people have a real some people have a real misconstrued idea what Jesus is supposed to be like and I've even had my own family members like that's what Jesus means to you you know it came to a point where it was you know we there was some separation between in the family over some things they said oh that's the Jesus you follow yeah that's because Jesus said the Bible that's what he said that he said look I'm I bring a sword I'm gonna set you at variance if you're gonna follow me you're gonna have you know it's gonna cost you some relationships maybe even your own family now praise God if it's not the case but for a lot of people it is they have to go through that look at Matthew chapter 13 this was and you say well how is it that he could ask us of that to be at variance even within our own family to have to be put at odds with people that's not fair but that's what he did that's exactly what happened to him look at Matthew chapter 13 verse 54 and when he was coming to his own country so he's going back home right where he grew up and he taught them in their synagogue in so much that they were astonished and said whence hath this man this wisdom and these mighty works is this not the carpenter's son is not his mother called Mary and his brethren James and Joseph and Simon and Jesus and his sisters are they not all with us whence then hath this man all these things so these people know who Jesus is there they know very well who he is and they were offended in him but Jesus said to them a prophet is not without honor save in his own country and in his own house and he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief Jesus knows what it's like to be at variance with other people to have them disapprove of you because of what you believe and have to suffer that go ahead turn over to 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 this is the example of Christ he is the example of somebody who was willing to sacrifice everything I mean there was you know he left glory and came down to earth you know he left it all behind for our sakes he was willing to sacrifice and now you know he acts us asks us to do the same and I'm telling you it's not anywhere near to the degree that he did it you know for some of us it's kind of an easy call you know leave behind a life of pain and sin and iniquity and and and and on sorrow and hurt yeah well how is that we can even begin to hang on that you know Jesus left glory he left heaven he left perfection he left the father and came down here for some of us we should be like thanks Lord thanks for calling me out of that thanks for asking me to give that up 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 look at verse 7 therefore as he abounded everything in faith and in utterance and in knowledge and in all diligence and in your love to us see that you abound in this grace also I speak not by commandment by occasion of the forwardness of others and to prove the sincerity of your love for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor that through he that ye through his poverty might be rich I mean Jesus was rich you want to talk about you know some true riches that guy had it you know Jesus had some real riches you know they're you know the the the Bill Gates and the Donald Trump's and all the billionaires and millionaires in this world you know Jesus like yeah well I paved that I paved the cities up there or the streets with gold up there you know the all your precious jewels that's what I used to build the foundation of my city all those jewels that you all will put in museums and ooh and aah over and wear around your necks and sell for millions of dollars and everything yeah that's just the foundation where I live I mean that's but that's what he left that's what he gave up he became poor I mean he came and was born in a manger you know when that really set in that story you know we're coming to Christmas season we're gonna talk about that where he Kate was born in the manger that lowly birth that he had has anyone ever seen a manger what that's really like that's where they feed animals I remember working on a dairy farm and you know you go out you get a big scoop of silage and you go out and you dump it for the cows I mean it wasn't exactly the most sanitary of places it wasn't exactly the most welcoming environment for a newborn but that's where he was born you know Jesus Christ who had all the riches of heaven left all that for what for your sakes and now he asks us to just give up some things in our life to suffer a little loss for his sake and we can't even begin to compare it to what he gave up turn over to Philippians chapter 2 we'll wrap up in Philippians you know if you're gonna suffer you know if you're gonna have the reward the Christian life you have to have the mentality and the ability and the willingness to suffer some loss in your life to give up some things you know and like I was looking through earlier some of those things would probably be good for us to give them up there'd be some things that would probably do us a lot of good to just quit doing and it would benefit just doing that would benefit us you know God asked us to give up sin and to follow him you know that that that in itself is a reward because now you're not gonna suffer the results of sin in your life he says in Philippians chapter 2 verse 5 let this mind be in you which also was in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it not equal not thought it not robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation and took upon the form of a servant and was made a likeness of men and being found and fashioned as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross Jesus isn't asking us to do anything that he himself hasn't already done you think about all the things that he gave up what did he cry on the cross my God my God why hast thou forsaken me you know God who he'd known through for all of eternity that he had been with from the very beginning of creation and even beyond that and and all the glory that he had with him there was that moment where he saw he was for the first time separated from the father and I mean it was such a profound thing that it caused him to cry this out why hast thou forsaken me so he's given up a lot for our sakes and now and he's asking us to give up some things too so so that what so that he can reward us it's like if the deal is too good to be true folks it's it's a good exchange you got a good exchange rate you're right you know that you're giving up a little and you're gaining so much more you know and he is our example not only of sacrifice but he is also the example of our reward I mean Jesus gave up a lot of things you're there Philippians look at verse 9 wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and give him a name about which is above every name that the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father so we see sacrifice in Jesus's life but we also see the reward we see him giving up all these things and humbling himself and taking on the form of servant and when he goes through all that and he's willing to suffer all that then we see him highly exalted and given a name above every name so that's we see that example of sacrifice that example of loss and gain even in his life so here's here's what we have to this this is the kind of the crux of the whole sermon is that you know the the Christian life is loss but it's also gain and you have to really wait you know we got to get the proper attitude we have to get the proper perspective and understand that what we're being asked to give up cannot compare to what we're going to gain go ahead and turn back to where we were should I stay there but go back to Luke chapter 18 because this whole prince of that principle we found in the very first scripture that we read it's a principle that we find all throughout it that yes we're giving up things yes there's loss that we're suffering but there's also a great gain he says there in Luke chapter 18 there's no man excuse me go back to verse 29 was where we are he said verily very saying to you there's no man that hath left house or parents or brethren or wife or children for the king of God's sake who shall not receive many fold more in this present time and in the world to come life everlasting even if you don't receive all these other things in this earth you still have received life everlasting and if we could just wrap our minds around that and understand what we've already gained in Christ and what little he's asking us to to to to to to give up you know it will have an easier time of suffering loss you'll have an easier time following your example of Christ when you consider how disproportionate your losses to your game let's go ahead and pray