The Secrets Of True Living

The Secrets of True Living

Luke 14:25-35

October 5, 2003

Morning Service

“If you’re not doing something with your life, it doesn’t matter how long it is.” Peace Corps Commercial

Life without Christ is merely existing

There is no possible way to truly express what belief in Christ does to a person’s life. When Jesus enters into a persons life, they cannot remain the same.

Life without Christ is not living, it is just being alive. There are so many people going through the routine of existence that they miss out on living. They get so busy searching for something to fill their emptiness that they completely miss the true meaning of life.

Mere Christian existence

Once Christ enters into a persons life they can truly experience life. Let me ask you a hard question: are you really living out the life that Christ has given to you or are you just going through the motions.

There is a massive difference between living the Christian life and just doing a bunch of Christian “stuff”. We sometimes become so busy being active in the church that we miss out on the deeper realities of walking with Christ. We sometimes become so comfortable with our Christian routine that we miss out on truly knowing Christ

In the movie, Angus Tuck told Winnie “Do not fear death but fear the unlived life.” This morning I want to run with that thought and ask you some important questions about life and how we are meant to live it as followers of Jesus.

So let me ask you two important questions: What does it mean to truly live for Christ? What are the secrets of truly living for Christ?

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. 34 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.

"He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

I. The first secret to truly living for Christ is dying to ourselves (25-27)

Jesus is searching the world for people who will follow Him with a single minded dedication and a whole hearted passion.

It was in 1873, in Dublin that D.L. Moody heard British evangelist Henry Varley utter those life changing words: "The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him."

The simple fact is that Jesus wants to be first in your life. He wants to hold the primary place in every area and every aspect of your life.

Does Jesus actually want us to hate our family? Absolutely not! Jesus is making an exagerated statement to make the point that our supreme loyalty belongs only to Him.

Jesus wants to hold the primary place in your relationships

 He wants to take precedence in your relationship to your parents

 He wants to take precedence in your relationship with your spouse

 He wants to take precedence in your relationship with your children

Jesus wants to hold the primary place in your priorities

 He wants to take precedence over your family

 He wants to take precedence over your job

 He wants to take precedence anything and everything in your life

Jesus wants to hold the primary place in your dedication

Jesus calls you to a complete and absolute dedication. He wants nothing to come before Him in your life. The reality of Christianity is this: Jesus died to be your savior and lives to be your Lord