PP0202
DOES YOUR ELEVATOR GO ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP?
John 6:60-66
Joh 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.(KJV)
Jesus is preparing His disciples for the coming deays that would bring difficult time for them. Nearly all of them turned back when the going got real rough.
INTRODUCTION: I know you have heard the various clichés that deal with a person not being mentally stable. Such statements are:
My message has an unusual title:
A. “He Doesn’t Deal With A Full Deck Of Cards.”
B. “He Doesn’t Have A Full String Of Fish.”
C. “He Is One Brick Shy Of A Full Load.”
D. “The Porch Light Is On, But No One Is At Home.”
E. “His Cornbread Is Only Half Baked.”
F. “His Bucket Doesn’t Reach The Bottom Of The Well.”
G. “His Elevator Doesn’t Go All The Way To The Top.”
There are a hundred of such sayings, but I want to use this as a springboard to ask you a question concerning your degree of dedication to the Lord.
“Does your elevator go all the way to the top?
I got the idea for this sermon one day while visiting Baptist Hospital. There are ten floors in that hospital and six different elevators. The person I was going to see that day was on the tenth floor. By the time the elevator came several people had gathered, also waiting for the elevator. I suppose ten, maybe twelve others. The door opened and we got on. We were crowded up like sardines in a can. Various buttons were pushed designating the desired floors. The car stopped at the second floor and one or two people got off. Then it stopped at the fourth floor where two more got off. The fifth and the sixth floor, and so on. By the time it reached the tenth floor I was the only one left on the elevator car. Everyone else had gotten off. Then I began to think it is only natural that the higher the elevator goes the less number of people will be on it when it gets to the top floor. Everyone won’t go to the top floor.
I thought about the same principal in the spiritual realm. A lot of people get on at the ground floor. But by the time we get to the top only a few are left. Most will get off somewhere along the way.
I have noticed this: The further, or the higher I attempt to take our church, or maybe I should say the closer to God, the more holiness, I try to teach it seems like several get off somewhere during the journey. The more committed I attempt to get the membership the fewer who want to make the trip.
(Isa 54:2 KJV) "Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;" When I attempt to enact this verse I always encounter resistance from some. The closer we get to the desired goal the fewer there are that are with me. Some say, “Bro. Ivan, or Preacher, we want to be a Christian, and a church member, we want to go to church, and have all of the fellowship of the church, but we didn’t intend to go this far.”
Mostly, the exit is due to the compromise of the individual, or perhaps it is because of standards exercised by the church. The farther we go into the will, the work, and the word of God the more there are that turn back. (John 6:66 KJV) "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." They got off the elevator at intermediate floors.
Most of Christianity will not subject themselves to the complete will of God. They want to play around on the outer edge. It is easier to get off from the outer edge. Not as many can see them get off. It doesn’t require as much dedication to play on the rim.
Most Christians reserve the option to overrule God, the Bible, and especially the pastor in any matter or course of action. By doing that they can choose only what pleases them, or whatever is less of a requirement. God will not bless that, and as a matter of fact, He will punish you for it.
Turn with me to Luke 14. I want us to look at what is required for “Serving the Lord”. This degree of involvement was for those who were going to follow Him. (Luke 14:18 KJV) "And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused." Notice one very plain fact in Vs. 18. You will either make a disciple or you will make excuses. These people didn’t make disciples, they made excuses.
Involving ourselves in “Serving the Lord”, is more that a four or five week course on Sunday PM to help you better understand the things involved in making a decision for salvation. It is more than carrying food to a hungry family, or visiting a church member in the hospital. Serving the Lord means to surrender yourself in becoming a complete disciple for Jesus Christ.
There are three areas of commitment that I want to talk to you about and in any one of these three areas is where most of Christianity will get off the elevator.
I. THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARD THE FAMILY
(Luke 14:26 KJV) "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."
This verse is not instructing us to hate father and mother, nor any other family member. It is a comparative Scripture. It is saying by comparison our love for the Lord is to be so strong that it makes our love for our family look like hate. (Luke 14:26 KJV) "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."
Too many allow family to keep them from going to church and S/S. When the baby is sick why does the whole family including both grandparents and two sets of aunts and uncles have to stay home to administer medication? Its not like that on Monday.
Let me add this quickly, Many young preachers will make the mistake of putting the church before their family, to the point of losing the family. That’s not what is being taught here. God expects and wants the family to serve Him as a unit – in unity.
I have heard people say that they couldn’t come if there wasn’t a nursery for the children. I realize the comfort and the convenience that is there in having the nursery, but that should not be an issue. The nursery should not be the deciding factor of your faithfulness to church. The children do not hinder from planning your vacation. They don’t keep you from going to Wal-Mart. They don’t keep you from going to the lake on the week-ends. They don’t keep very many from going to little league baseball or football. Don’t allow your family to prevent you from being a disciple.
(Mat 10:35 KJV) "For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law."
(Mat 10:36 KJV) "And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household."
(Mat 10:37 KJV) "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."
Mat 10:38 "And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me."
We are talking about, “It pays to serve the Lord.”
There will be a whole lot of hell filled with people who let their family hinder them from getting saved. There will be those in heaven who go there never having made it to the first step of discipleship because of the family hindrance. You had better have the right attitude toward the family.
Notice Mat 10:36, "And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household." How ironic that the Lord would consider family members to be our “foes”. That would make us ask this question, “How many people do not become committed to serving the Lord because of some or family members?”
Nothing should stand in the way of a Christian becoming a committed servant. “It pays to serve the Lord”
II. THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARD PERSONAL SURRENDER Luke 14:27.
(Luke 14:27 KJV) "And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple."
Over the years I have been fearful to preach on this subject. That of bearing the cross. When I do someone always leaves the church over it. When I preach of giving your life totally to Christ there are those who refuse to do so and if their refusal is great enough they will end up leaving the church rather than have to listen to the preaching on the subject.
Recently, at our church, I did a series entitled “MY LIFE ……FOR HIM!” That is the concept of this Scripture. I urged whatever sacrifice is necessary just so each of us can give “MY LIFE ……FOR HIM!” Your own theme would fit here very well: “IT PAYS TO SERVE THE LORD” - We see here a crucified man. A man that has been crucified for Christ. That’s what Paul said about himself. (Gal 2:20 KJV) "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
(Mat 16:24 KJV) "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."
What is the cross that Jesus is talking about here? It is the cross of holiness and righteousness. The Cross Of Complete Surrender. If we would draw close to God in the manner in which is required to be a disciple as described in these scriptures it will be a heavy cross to bear. Because of what is required most people will shun a completely crucified life.
What is so difficult about that? Here it is:
A. A Crucified Man Is Not Coming Back After The Crucifixion. He knows he will die at the cross. He doesn’t announce, “I will be crucified at 3:00 PM tomorrow, but I will be home by 5:00”. No! A crucified man never comes home.
A crucified man gives all he has at the crucifixion. This means that the “old man” that once lived in that body no longer lives there. This means the “old man” dies.
B. A Crucified Man Holds On To Nothing. What is there for him to hold on to?
Everything is turned loose. Nothing in this present life occupies him.
C. A Crucified Man Makes No Plans For Tomorrow.
I have seen members walk the aisle at church giving themselves to be crucified with Christ, but next week they would call the church office saying they would be out of town on Sunday and couldn’t be in church. That doesn’t make good sense, does it.
D. A Crucified Man Has No Feelings For Himself.
You can go to the funeral home and view a body that is there. It matters not what you may say about the body it has no response. You can’t hurt its feelings – you can’t get any kind of response from it. Why? Because it is dead.
E. Crucifixion Changes Your Life Style.
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers.
David was exiled from his kingdom by his son.
Paul bore the marks of buffeting of Satan’s messenger.
John the Apostle was left on the aisle of Patmos. These were all examples of a crucified man. One who picked up his cross and wholly followed the Lord.
(Mat 16:24 KJV) "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."
“If any man…..” Not just the twelve, but any man since the twelve disciples could so choose to be that man. It is not a popular choice – it is not an easy choice.
(Luke 9:62 KJV) "And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
To the soul yielded to Him absolutely and unreservedly, consenting to the death of self, He gives the joy and blessings of being a disciple.
Where are you on the upward rise? Are you still on the elevator?
III. THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARD POSSESSIONS
(Luke 14:33 KJV) "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."
This is the stopper. Most Christians never become disciples because of this verse, or this requirement. We have so many toys and it takes most of our time and effort caring for the toys. There is no other picture or application that is intended here except what is literally said. The requirement is plain and easily understood. It is this:
Listen closely:
There must be a clean severance from all entanglement, and an utter uncompromising abandonment of ourselves to Him. We can see why Christianity was stronger fifty years ago. People had less then than now. Most have to much to really sell out totally to God.
(Mark 10:21 KJV) “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.”
Disciples don’t make excuses. Disciples don’t question standards. If a person is serious about discipleship, he/she has no problem with standards. He has no problem with requirements. Only rebels question standards.
(1 John 5:3) "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."
THERE ARE THREE QUESTIONS TO ASK OURSELVES: I will close with this.
A. Am I In The Right Relationship With The Master Teacher Today?
Do I still live at the foot of the cross and know the power of its cleansing moment by moment, and so am I walking in the light, without which all the words of Jesus are dark sayings, and His testings crosses, burdens out of which I can only gather reasons for murmuring?
Question #2.
B. If I Am Not In This Place Of Maintained Fellowship, Where Did I Depart There from?
What word of His have I disobeyed? To that point let me return, whether it be but an hour ago, or years, and there let me absolutely surrender, at whatever cost, and do what He requires, however small, or however irksome it appears to be.
Question #3.
C. Am I Content To Wait When His Voice Does Not Speak? Or when I cannot find the reason in myself; until He has accomplished His present purpose in me, even though I understand it not just now? My own life in 1986 and 1987 – God was silent – I resigned the church where I was serving and left – not knowing where God wanted me to go. For several months God did not speak to me.
The Lord will not give up on us. He will continue until He has conformed us to His image. For many that conforming will not come without breaking. YOU ARE NOT FINISHED UNTIL YOU ARE CONFORMED.
Notice this: Jesus is the One who determines who will be a disciple. “Ye cannot be my disciple.” He makes the final decision.
Let me return to the very beginning of the sermon. I asked you a question, “Does your elevator go all the way to the top?”
What I am really asking is this: “Are you going to stay on until you get to the top?” Or do you plan to get off on some intermediate floor?
Our text verse was: (John 6:66 KJV) "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him."
They got off somewhere along the way. They didn’t take the elevator all the way to the top.
To accomplish the goal of our pastor will take the efforts of all – especially those younger. It must be an unified effort.
How many today commit to go all the way to the top. You say, “Pastor, you can count one me staying on until we arrive at the very top floor. We will get off at the top, together!” Is there anyone like that?
Is there one here that is not saved. You are not even on the elevator yet. If so, you need to come and place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior.
INVITATION
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