Vision 2017

Opening illustration: I recently read the true story about a preacher who was standing at the door shaking hands as the congregation departed. He grabbed one man by the hand and pulled him aside.

The preacher said to him, "You need to join the Army of the Lord!" The man replied, "I’m already in the Army of the Lord, Preacher." The preacher questioned, "How come I don’t see you except for Christmas and Easter?" He whispered back, "I’m in the secret service."

Apply: The Secret Service? … I don’t think so.

Several years ago, I was exchanging ideas with several people on BibleMaster.com. During these conversations, I encountered a young man who’d just been called up to go to Iraq, because our nation had declared war on Saddam Hussein. The problem for this young man was – he didn’t want to go. He explained that he hadn’t joined the army to go to war... he’d joined because of the benefits: the pay, the college tuition, the insurance, etc.

Now, something’s wrong with that kind of thinking!! One of the primary functions of the military is to prepare for war. You’ve got to know that if you sign up! I’m sure it's somewhere in the job description.

Armies do NOT exist to pass out benefits (those are perks). Armies exist to deal with conflicts. To defend their people. To fight the enemy. And hopefully to contend against evil.

Nevertheless, there are people who actually join up hoping for a free ride. And that kind of mentality undermines the military of any nation.

That same kind of mentality can also undermine the church. Too often believers sign up for the benefits. They expect Jesus to "be there" for them, but they don’t expect to "be there" for Him. That’s the issue Jesus is addressing here in Matthew 16. He’s explaining to His disciples that they’re part of His army. He has called them to war, and there’s a decision to be made.

Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25 (From a sermon by Jeff Strite, Time in the Trenches)

Introduction: We live in a day of "casual Christianity." I heard someone recently say that the average church could drop one-fourth of its members from the membership roll and neither the church, nor the dropped members would notice any difference.

Casual Christians are those who want to be numbered among the Flock, but could care less about following the Shepherd. They want the forgiveness the cross of Christ brings but never intend to carry their own cross. They want warm, fuzzy moments on Sunday mornings but offer no commitment to Jesus on Monday mornings. In short, they want the crown without the cross.

In this passage, Jesus lays out the principle of discipleship, when he says, “If anyone would come after me.” We are not allowed to come to God on our own terms, we must come to Him on His terms. To those who had not yet placed their faith in Jesus His words, “come after me” can be applied to the initial decision to surrender their lives to Christ for salvation. To those who have already placed their faith in Jesus for salvation, the call to “come after me” is a renewal of a call to a life of daily obedience to Christ. This is necessary because we are all under the constant temptation to take back what was given up and to reclaim what was forsaken. It is altogether possible to again place one’s own will above God’s and to take back rights which were relinquished to him.

What does it take to be a disciple of Christ?

1. Self-Denial (v. 24a)

The phrase “deny himself” literally means, “to completely disown, to utterly separate oneself from someone.” It is the same word used to describe Peter’s denial of Jesus outside the high priest’s home, Matthew 26:34! Each time he was confronted about his connection with Jesus, Peter more fervently denied knowing him (vs. 70, 72, 74).

? This is not talking about being materialistic or selfish.

? This is talking about not loving ourselves supremely.

? This is talking about humility. As in humility self does not exist. It is Christ and others above ourselves.

The disciple is to utterly disown himself, to refuse to acknowledge the self of the old man. What does it really entail?

• We are to count the old man as being dead. (Romans 6:11).

• We are to make no provision for the flesh. (Romans 13:14).

• To deny oneself means to follow the example set forth by the Lord Jesus Himself in coming to this world. (Philippians 2:5-8).