Sacrifices for the kingdom of God
1. Sacrifice. This single word is packed with about as much meaning as any English word can convey.
2. In Mt. 18:9, Jesus referred to the sacrifices that people might make to enter heaven.
TODAY WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT SACRIFICES THAT PEOPLE HAVE MADE IN THE PAST, MAY BE MAKING AT THE PRESENT TIME, OR MAY MAKE IN THE FUTURE TO LIVE A FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE AND ENTER INTO ETERNAL LIFE.
a) Our starting text comes from the book of Philippians, Phil. 3.
b) Paul wrote this book and he described for the Philippians his former manner of life.
c) What he told them involved his career choice.
d) Paul told these brethren he had sacrificed some things.
e) Phil. 3:4-6 – READ.
f) Paul spent several years training to become a “Hebrew of the Hebrews.”
2) If we needed a specialized surgery we might seek out one of the top specialists in the nation.
3) There are people who are at the top of their career field.
4) Paul wanted to be at the top of his career path, and he had achieved that status.
5) After he reached that top level, he gave it all up – verse 7 – READ.
a) Paul really did lose some things and he had not forgotten what he had forsaken.
b) Verse 8 continues the thought – READ.
c) “All things” from Paul’s first career choice were set aside for the kingdom of God.
d) How many in our day and time would be willing to sacrifice a top level career for Christ?
e) Would we say that a job we have worked hard for is worth the kingdom of God?
f) Would we be willing to give up a good paying position and take something lower for heaven?
6) We sing a song that has some pretty powerful words.
7) “I sacrifice a lot of things along this narrow way. I gave up fame and fortune.”
8) Are those idle words, or do we really mean them?
WE MAY NEVER BE CALLED UPON TO SACRIFICE A CAREER, BUT WE MAY BE PUT IN A POSITION TO DECIDE SOMETHING ELSE.
a) I want to approach this topic by looking at some descriptions of Christianity.
b) These illustrations will be mentioned individually and somehow associated with sacrifice.
c) Our first description is found in the word “few.”
2) In Mt. 7:14 Jesus promised that “few” will enter into eternal life.
3) In other words, most people will not spend eternity with God.
4) Jesus could have made this point and went on to something else.
a) Before He left this thought He added something.
b) He said the way to heaven is “narrow” (strait), hard to navigate.
c) At various times I must walk through a gate with bars (turnstyle).
d) This gate has a very limited amount of room.
e) A person with a small box in their hands is about all that can pass through the gate.
f) Someone with a suitcase could not pass through this entrance.
g) The gateway is not large enough for two people to pass through at once.
5) Close to this gate is a slider bar; if this is opened there is plenty of space for people and supplies.
6) A lot of people seem to have a slider bar view of heaven.
7) God is going to have a large gate and just about everyone will glide right on through.
8) Jesus said it will not be that way.
9) For us to enter into eternal life, we will have to take the narrow way.
a) This imagery tells us we will make some sacrifices in this life.
b) What others are hoping in, hoping for, and clinging to cannot be our hopes and desires.
c) While the world lives for today, God’s people live for eternity.
d) We may sacrifice relationships, a job, a house, a country, or something else for Christ.
e) We may give up most of what the world is trying to hold on to.
f) Jesus gave us advance warning about this in Mt. 19:29 - READ.
g) Few are willing to make true sacrifices, but Jesus said only a few will be saved.
10) Are we willing to sacrifice? Are we willing to be one of the few?
11) Something that goes right along with being willing to sacrifice is being like little children.
12) Jesus said it is necessary to “turn” and become “as little children” (Mt. 18:3).
a) Without this change the Lord promised we will not inherit the kingdom of God.
b) Without this we will miss that narrow gate.
c) Small children are, at times, left out of things.
d) In amusement parks there are age and height restrictions.
e) There are times when small children are treated with contempt.
f) In some cases people may simply overlook small children.
13) Becoming like small children will mean that we make some sacrifices.
14) Right after Jesus said what He did in verse 3, He spoke about humility in verse 4.
a) Many who work in the world are in highly competitive environments.
b) Not long ago a man who often seeks me out said, “It’s every man for himself.”
c) It sounded like we were on a sinking ship.
d) Humility and an unassuming nature are not always the quickest paths to success.
e) We may be around others who boast of their accomplishments or embellish their work.
f) Refusing to always put ourselves forward may mean that we will not get as much attention.
g) Avoiding bragging about ourselves is a form of sacrifice.
h) Few are willing to do that, but Jesus said only a few will be saved.
i) Having the right characteristics of small children is not always easy, but it is right and required.
15) Third on my list is the word “soldier.”
a) Soldiers are men and women who sacrifice in many ways. They sacrifice some of their rights.
b) If a person enters into the military, they surrender some of privileges you and I have.
c) If we are an adult, we are able to select the time we lay down for sleep.
d) Military members (at least initially) are told when to get up and when to go to sleep.
e) The military controls time off, and if you don’t show up for work, they can arrest you.
f) If you don’t like an order from the workplace, quit. In the military soldiers do not quit.
g) Soldiers have endured many hardships, some of which have been equipment related.
h) At various times soldiers have suffered from lack of food, shelter, clothing, and armament.
i) They have sacrificed time away from their homes and country to do their job.
j) Lives and limbs have been sacrificed for countries.
16) We can look at soldiers, especially during times of combat, and think, “that is not the life for me.”
17) While this may be very true concerning carnal warfare, it cannot be true in the spiritual realm.
18) God’s people are soldiers. 2 Tim. 2:3 says “suffer hardship with me as a good soldier.”
19) We have been “enrolled” as a soldier (2 Tim. 2:4).
20) Since we have signed up in the Lord’s army, we should expect sacrifices.
21) Life will not be fair, always easy, and we can expect one battle after another.
22) A military force does not always win and sacrifices can sometimes be in vain.
23) Such is never the case with the gospel of Christ.
ILLUSTRATION NUMBER 4 IS THAT OF A RUNNER IN A RACE.
a) At least twice in the New Testament we find athletic imagery applied to Christianity.
b) Paul used this picture in 1 Cor. 9:24.
c) He told the Corinthians to “run” so they might “attain.”
d) Heb. 12:1 refers to “running a race with patience.”
2) Athletes who run and run well sacrifice.
a) They sacrifice time because their decision to compete requires training.
b) We cannot be one of the few without also sacrificing time.
c) Athletes may sacrifice their bodies. The extra wear and tear on the body takes a toll.
d) Such is also the case with the gospel. There is often extra strain on the body.
e) It may be mental, physical or both.
f) True athletes are willing to give all of themselves to do well.
g) Nothing less than that is required of God’s people if we walk the narrow way.
3) Closely tied to athletics is the wrestler.
4) I had to take this sport for a quarter late in high school and found out I was pretty good at it.
5) Unfortunately it was too late to get started in the wrestling program.
6) Wrestlers sacrifice. They make sacrifices concerning weight and training.
7) They work to do what it takes to win.
8) Eph. 6:12 says we are “wrestling” against spiritual forces.
a) If we choose to engage in this battle and walk the narrow, it will take some things from us.
b) This is not a struggle that can occur without our being personally involved.
c) For us to succeed in the spiritual battle, we will make sacrifices.
d) These sacrifices will differ from person to person just as they did among the apostles.
e) Whatever they are, we are called upon to do our duty and persevere.
9) To all these sacrifices a person may say “okay. I would and will make them.”
10) In my life there is only one sacrifice I would not consider or do.
a) “If I were somehow asked to make a sacrifice about my family, that would not be okay.”
b) “I could never move to a place where my parents were not close by.”
c) “We could never go to an area where our son or daughter is not closeby.”
d) “I could never be more than a few miles away from my sister or brother.”
11) In the first century, family relationships were very, very important.
12) In a culture where family mattered as much as if not more than now, Jesus had some strong words.
13) He said (Mt. 10:37), READ.
a) If asked or required, would we somehow make a sacrifice regarding family for the cause of Christ?
b) Before we answer that question, think back to a previous point from a soldier’s life.
c) Soldiers can be ordered to go on a “remote” tour of duty.
d) They may receive orders that say they must go to a new area and be there for at least a year.
e) During this year they will be by themselves.
f) Their wife will not come with them and neither will their children.
g) Perhaps during the year there will be no opportunities to return home.
h) In today’s culture, there is e-mail and other services to maintain daily contact.
i) 20 years ago these items were not available; most of the contact was by overseas mail.
j) Soldiers have sacrificed family ties for the United States of America.
k) Is the United State of America deserving of a better sacrifice than the God of heaven
14) Is not Christ more important than America?
15) Have we sacrificed at one time and stopped?
16) Have we never sacrificed even one time for God?
17) Are we sacrificing our life to the cause of Christ as a “living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1-2)?
18) We are going to sing a song about sacrifice.
19) If this is an area wherein we need help, will we respond?