Dealing With Loss

“Dealing with Loss?"

Philippians 3:7-9

See Loss in Our view

See Loss as Christ’s Gain

See Loss in Christ’s View

We find ourselves in an interesting time in our churches history again.

We are losing for a season Sherrie, Becky and the kids, this after just losing David, Juliann and Wyatt, boy it would be easy to lose heart.

Yet God keeps giving me great expectation for this upcoming year, something that amidst what is happening might be difficult to explain apart from Christ and the "Hope" that He brings.

I know that Christ is in the midst of all these happenings.

Let’s look at our scripture and see what God desires for us…let’s listen and learn…

See Loss in Our View

Philip. 3:7-8 (NIV)

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. [8] What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.

"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss"

As basic man, we first consider ourselves and our profits or losses…

Jesus even asked those around Him to consider the cost…

Luke 14:16-33 (NIV)

Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. [17] At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ’Come, for everything is now ready.’

[18] "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ’I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

[19] "Another said, ’I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

[20] "Still another said, ’I just got married, so I can’t come.’

[21] "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ’Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

[22] " ’Sir,’ the servant said, ’what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

[23] "Then the master told his servant, ’Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. [24] I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’ "

[25] Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: [26] "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. [27] And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

[28] "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? [29] For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, [30] saying, ’This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’

[31] "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? [32] If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. [33] In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

Right now we are considering the losses we have before us.

This is difficult for a small "pioneer" church on what more closely resembles a foreign mission field than one anywhere else in the United States.

It seems we gain some then we lose some and the cycle is even more visible here.

Two years ago we put forth a faith budget. We were blessed with many great testimonies of faith and growth and over 70 salvations in it’s first year.

We have seen some loss here but we have also witnessed a great deal of profits for God’s kingdom, we also need think of where and how these brothers and sisters who are leaving might benefit the Kingdom of God in other areas of this state and the world.

I see Sherrie and Becky’s move as one beneficial to God’s Kingdom in Southeast Alaska and look forward to reports of their great accomplishments for the cause of Christ within that region.

Can you count our loss against the gain for the cause of Christ?

[8] What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord