Who is this life for?

Us: “For me!”

God: “For Me!”

Who is right?

Christmas is “for us…”…because God so loved this sick, sin-filled, and sorry

world (US)…that He sent His One and Only Son, Jesus the Christ, to be born of the virgin, to be born in a manger, to show

us who God really is…and eventually…to die as the sinless sacrifice…for

sinners like us…on the Cross!

All so that we could be…FORGIVEN and SAVED!

Christmas is about the birth of God’s Son, the Messiah:

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them.

They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the

Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of

cloth, lying in a manger.”

-Luke 2:9-12 (NLT)

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The disciple’s life is “for me!”

Then 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.”

-Matt 16:24-25 (NIV)

A true statement:

YOU CAN’T BE A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST… UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO…

PRACTICE CHRISTIANITY!!

A disciple must be connected to the vine:

When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples.

This brings great glory to my Father.

-John 15:8 (NLT)

Three things disciples of Jesus must do:

a. Deny ourselves

Three things disciples of Jesus must do:

a. Deny ourselvesb. Take up His cross

Three things disciples of Jesus must do:

a. Deny ourselvesb. Take up His crossc. Lose our lives

What does it mean to “deny ourselves”?

1) It’s acknowledging that it’s not all FOR or ABOUT YOU.

What does it mean to “deny ourselves”?

1) It’s acknowledging that it’s not all FOR or ABOUT YOU.

2) It’s choosing to limit your liberty (like Christ) for the sake of Christ.

“Emptying” yourself like Jesus: You must have the same attitude that Christ

Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges ; he took the humble position of a slave and was

born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

-Philippians 2:5-8 (NLT)

Just because we can doesn’t mean we should:

You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And

even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to

anything.

-1 Corinthians 6:12 (NLT)

A decision to “limit” myself for the sake of love:

“…if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I

live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.”

-1 Corinthians 8:13 (NLT)

Question:

As a disciple of Christ……are you willing to suffer for the cause of

Christ… to possibly even die?

A bold answer, but…“But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he

asked. “I’m ready to die for you.” Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow

morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

-John 13:37-38 (NLT)

God restores and uses us even when…

After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? ” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my

lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I

love you.”

God restores and uses us even when…

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt

that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then

feed my sheep.”

-John 21:15-17 (NLT)

Some good questions:Have you denied yourself?

ORAre you still denying Christ?

Some good questions:Have you denied yourself?

ORAre you still denying Christ?

Have you decided to give and live your life FOR HIM and for His purposes

ORIs it it still, “No ,I’m living my life FOR ME”?

Why this is such a big deal:

If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being

mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you

will find it.

-Matt 10:38-39 (NLT)

It will be worth it when we see Christ:

"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or

father or children or fields FOR ME and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers,

sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come,

eternal life.” -Mark 10:29-30 (NIV)

Joshua chose:“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to

you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your

forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.

But as FOR ME and my household, we will serve the Lord."

-Joshua 24:15 (NIV)

The apostle chose:Yes, everything else is worthless when

compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have

discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become

one with him.

-Philippians 3:8-9a (NLT)

A martyred pastor chose:"I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit’s power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away

or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure.”

A martyred pastor chose:“I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colourless dreams,

chained visions, worldly talking, cheap living and warped goals. I no longer need pre-eminence,

prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognised, praised, regarded or rewarded. I

now live by faith, lean in His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and I labour

with power.”

A martyred pastor chose:“My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is

Heaven, my read is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my

mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned

back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the

enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.”

A martyred pastor chose:“I won’t give up, shut up or let up until I have prayed up and paid up for the cause of Jesus

Christ.

I must go till he comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows, work till he stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no

trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear!"

What will you choose?Then 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 (NIV)