January 20 - What Will You Give In Exchange For Your Soul?
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MP3 Audio

Only one life, 'twill soon be done, only what's done for Christ will last.

Matthew 16:24-27, Mark 8:35 and Luke 9:24 are companion scriputres – all speak of the same event.

We will all soon stand before God at the judgment.

Would you give $1,000,000.00 for your soul, or fame, or Hollywood glory, or political strength and earthly glory, or peace of soul?

Luke 17:33 also speaks of seeking to save the life, but losing it. Luke 17:32 – Remember Lot’s Wife – Why? We are living in the last days, therefore Christ encourages us to remember this woman, who knew the truth, yet looked back at this sinful earth, fitted for soon destruction, and turned into a pillar of salt. It is interesting she did not burn up, but was turned into a pillar of salt, which is a benefit for others – compare to a salt block for cattle.

There is a difference between letting people see our good works glorifying God and letting people see our good works so they can glorify us.

Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matt. 6:5 - The Pharisees prayed in public to be seen of men.

Matt. 6:16 - Fasting in the sight of men, but not before god.

I. Saved people.

A. Fear of other people.

1. John 19:38 - Joseph of Arimathaea was a secret disciple for fear of the Jews.

2. John 7:45-53 - Nicodemus was also a secret disciple because of fear. He apparently spoke out more than Joseph, but still not like he ought to.

B. Heb. 11:25 - Moses chose by faith not to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, but to suffer affliction with the children of Israel.

1. Every person must make a choice concerning whether they will serve God or not serve him.

2. Every person must come to the place of analyzing what this world offers, comparing that to what God offers and chose one of the two.

C. Eccl. 2:18-23 - All our wealth will be left to another - but those things we do for God will live on in the minds of those we leave behind.

D. Jonah - Will we place our opinions above God?

II. Lost people.

A. Felix - Acts 24:24-26 - He placed his money and time before his soul, and finally lost them all.

B. Religion.

1. Matt. 6:5 - The Pharisees prayed in public to be seen of men.

2. Matt. 6:16 - Fasting in the sight of men, but not before god.

C. II Tim. 4:1-4 - Many will follow fables and old wives tales -- Preach now for they will soon fall away.

1. I Tim. 4:1-3 - A leaving the doctrines of God.

2. I John 2:19 - They left because they were lost.

3. II Tim. 3:1-7 (verse 5) - A form of godliness, but deny the power thereof.

D. Acts 26:27, 28 - King Agrippa - Almost but lost. Hanging on to ??? (That indefinable something.)

III. How do we save our lives?

A. II Peter 1:1-9 - By accepting the promises of God.

B. Heb. 11:1 - This is walking by faith - not by sight.

C. Rom. 10:17 - Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

IV. Some promises.

A. Salvation. - Acts 16:31 - Believe and thou shalt by saved.

B. Comfort.

1. John 14:1 - Let not your hearts be troubled.

2. John 16:33 - Jesus left us the Holy Spirit as our comforter when he returned to heaven.

3. Rom. 8:28 - Know that all things work for our good and God's glory.

C. Protection - Ps. 34:7 - The angel of the Lord camps around those that fear him, and delivers them from trouble.

D. Long life.

1. Prov. 10:27 - Fear of the Lord prolongeth days.

2. I Peter 3:10 - If you love life, and want to see good days, refrain from speaking evil and your lips from guile.

3. Eph. 6:1-3 - Children ought to honour their parents in the Lord and God will give them long life.

E. Health - Prov. 4:20-22 - The word of God brings health.

V. Matthew 16:

A. Verse 24 is not speaking about material wealth – or Matthew 19:28-30 would not be there. God doesn’t mind us having wealth, He minds us putting that wealth before Him.

B. Verse 24 isn’t speaking about a vow of poverty – there is nothing holy or right about being poor of material possessions. There is a holiness about being poor in spirit so we can be emptied of our wicked spirit and filled with the spirit of God.

C. Verse 24 is speaking about obeying the will of God – see verse 21. Peter wanted his will to be done, not the will of Christ or God. If Peter’s will was done, nobody would have salvation.

D. Deny himself – His personal will and desires – see Luke 14:25-35.

E. Verse 27 – Our rewards come when Christ comes for us, not in the material possessions of this world. The folks who believe in the "name and claim it" game are losers. It is not in this life, or in this world that we look for Godly rewards – it is in the world to come.