Don’t miss your opportunity

Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Over the past several Sundays we have studied Mark 4. In the parable the sower starts his day with a single, very intentional focus. The sower goes out to sow! I can visualize the sower tying an apron around his waist and filling the pouches until they could not hold another seed! ( a morning with God in prayer and reading the word). At first light he heads out and at the first opportunity he plunges his hand deep into the bulging pockets of his apron only to discover that his hands will no longer grasp the seed! For the first time in his life he is not able to do what he is called to do. Try as he may he can only gasp one or two seeds at a time.

The sower begins to think of all the places where he was waiting to sow until his sowing technique was better, or waiting on the climate to be perfect and rain eminent. Now he could only regret not going while he was able.

If this were the last day that you were able to share the good news of Jesus where would you go? Would you save anything back or would you sow every last seed given to you. “and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and1 how shall they hear without a preacher (sower)?”

PUT TO DEATH EVERY DAY

and He said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:24

What Jesus was saying must be clearly understood to fully appreciate our calling as Christians.  We cannot follow Him as His disciples unless we do what He tells us to do and in this case the command is clear.  This is conditional statement that defines three requirements for those that wish to follow after Jesus - IF we would "come after" Him, THEN we must:

1. First - Deny ourselves.
2. Secondly - Take up our cross daily.
3. And Finally - Follow Him.

Perhaps the first step is the hardest but Jesus modeled that step perfectly for us didn't He?  It's been the problem of mankind since the Garden of Eden and will always be our problem because our imperfect sin nature is contrary to the perfect will of God for our lives that we were made to worship Him forever and ever.

The second step cannot be taken before and unless we deny ourselves. What can we do to deny ourselves? I'm glad you asked -- here are ten ideas:

1. Pray for God to be glorified in our lives and don't continually ask God for something we need - He knows we needed it before we asked him for it.
2. Find a way to spend more time in God's Word - Give Him the time He deserves.
3. Frequently find ways to bless our spouses instead of doing things that we want to do.
4. Routinely volunteer our time at our local church in it's ministry efforts. 
5. Serve others in our neighborhood and community - Be a blessing for God's glory.
6. Sacrifice some of our spending so as to give to others in need (anonymously of we can)
7. Schedule time to routinely honor our fathers and mothers.
8. Instead of watching a TV show we enjoy, read the Bible or Christian books instead.
9. Recognize and limit those actions we take that can be denied because they simply are only self-serving.
10. Tithe to our church to promote the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We cannot think that doing things on this list or a similar list is by itself is a denial of self - Our denial of self is not just actions taken or avoided.  It is essentially an issue of our hearts.  We must assess why we do what we do and seek to limit those things we think, say, and do that are self serving.  We must deny ourselves so we can serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

We should think about this and meditate on Luke 9:24 so God can reveal to us our self-serving ways so we can limit them and live to fulfill the purpose of our lives - to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. 

It's not about me!

James 1:2 - Consider it great joy, my brothers, when ever you experience trials.

In the midst of our trials has it ever occurred to you that what you are experiencing may be for Christ to be glorified in someone's life other than yours? Consider that someone for the first time may experience a true connection with Christ in prayer, a brokenness that comes from Holy Spirit, while praying about your situation. Or a nurse or doctor that sees tor the first time the faith of a true believer that Christ is sufficient to meet their needs.

Almost 2 years ago my mom was in the hospital in the final days of her battle with cancer. For 2 weeks my sister, father and I stayed with her praying for her comfort and that the Father would call her home. Upon her passing the numbers of people who commented on how they had experienced Christ while visiting mom was shocking. Moms hanging on was for Christs glory. I later recognized that over those 2 weeks we, through words and actions had witnessed of the hope we have in Jesus to a large number of people including nurses, doctors and even the hospitals "non-denominational" chaplain.

God is sovereign! Your situation has not surprised God! The endurance you are learning is secondary to the glory of our Savior Jesus Christ and the work he will do in the lives of those we contact. What are you willing to suffer for the Glorification of Christ in our brothers?

John 15:13 - No one has greater love than this, that they would lay down their life for his friends.

Christ, you alone are sovereign! You alone are worthy of our worship! Lord we are DESPARATE for your presence! Father you have told us that faith can move mountains, then by your word let this mountain move, Father not for our benefit but for your Glory, that we may be a witness to all peoples.

The Command To All Christians

All Christians have been given the command to become disciples AND to make disciples:

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."  Matthew 28:18-20