Intro. There are many ways mentioned in our society about how to gain happiness. All kinds of help books and products are produced for our gaining something that brings happiness, success, etc. Do they? Is there really happiness in what the world has to offer? I do not think so!
What about what Jesus has to offer? What does He bring to the table
for our lives? What can He do for me? Just how can He make a difference
in my life? Is this Jesus we hear about the answer?
Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words
in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of
man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy
angels.
I. Decide you want the things Jesus has to offer.
A. Eternal Life that is good
John 3:15-21 15That whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his
Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him
might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned:
but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed
in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the
condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness
rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For every
one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest
his deeds should be reproved. 21But he that doeth truth cometh
to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought
in God.
B. Eternal Happiness that will be so wonderful - no problems, no tears, no expensive bills, no heartaches,
Rev. 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
C. Life with the Father
John 14:2-3 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were
not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,
and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
D. Peacefulness that cannot be duplicated
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
E. Joy, Joy, Joy that won't let go
1 Pet. 1: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than
of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto
praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not,
yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls..
II. Decide to let go of the things the world has to offer.
A. Fame & Fortune?????
2. How many of you can name the vice-presidential candidate of McGovern in 1972?
(I voted for him and had to look it up!) - R. Sargent Shriver.
John N. Garner (1933-41); Henry A. Wallace (1941-45); Harry S. Truman (1945).
5. What things will people try to do to have fame today? Just watch some of the shows where they get their 15 minutes of fame.
B. Good times?????
D. Temporal things which we cannot keep…
Possessions - cars, homes, clothes, jewels,
money
Physical appearance - hair, teeth, plastic surgery (all left behind)- Christians will have a new body
III. Carry through with your decision.
A. Look to Him