What Would You Give God To Make A Difference
For Your Soul?
Matt. 16:26
Matt. 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
In this world today we need to know…
Many try different approaches to arriving in Heaven (which will
not work)
Good deeds and works - Many think God is keeping a running total
and they will be blessed for their great ones.
Religious heritage - Why would God not respect what their grandparents
and parents have done?
Religious memberships - In churches and organizations
Monetary gifts - They think why would God not reward them???
Church attendance - Many think that evens them up with God
Sacrificial living - like a monk
I want you to know…
There are some things, which we must understand about salvation
God must draw us - we cannot just pick a date in the future to
turn to Him
Jn. 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw
him: and I will raise him up at the last day
We must hear Him – give Him time
Heb. 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his
voice, 8Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation
in the wilderness:
We must answer his call with obedience (not just hear it)
Jn 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
God does not vary we must meet His requirements. He cannot change
His requirements for us. He is constant
Let me now read Lu. 14:15-24
Luke 14:15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these
things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in
the kingdom of God.
16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade
many:
17And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden,
Come; for all things are now ready.
18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first
said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and
see it: I pray thee have me excused.
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove
them: I pray thee have me excused.
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot
come.
21 So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the
master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into
the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the
maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and
yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and
hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall
taste of my supper.!
Knowing God must draw us, and we must hear God, and we must heed
His call,
As we read this scripture from Luke, we can see:
Examples of God drawing people
Examples of people rejecting God
Examples of people not heeding or obeying God's call
Examples of God's discontinuance of drawing people to Him
When we look at this we get an idea of how God feels about our answer
to Him concerning our entry into heaven.
We need to understand…
There are many things that WE ALLOW to hinder or prevent us from
serving God
Possessions – vs. 18
Time – vs 19
People – vs 20
Treasure - Matt. 16:19-21
Matt. 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and
rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth
nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also
And another hindrance is…
Pride - people let pride prevent salvation from entering their lives.
They are too proud to call upon Him early in life
They are too proud to call upon Him late in life
They are proud and feel unworthy, as they feel they have little to
give Christ
1 Jn. 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh,
and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father,
but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth
the will of God abideth for ever.
I ask you the question…
Just what do we give God that will make a difference?
It is really not very complicated.
We simply give Him…
Our belief:
Belief in His Son’s mission to earth and mankind
Belief that His Son was who He said He was
Belief that His Son can save our souls from hell
And we give Him…
Our call:
Call on His Son for Grace
Call on His Son for Mercy
Call on His Son for Salvation
And then give Him…
Ourselves:
Available for service
Willing to follow
Excited to tell others
Ask yourself today…
Just what would you give God for your soul?
Just how much do you value your soul?
How much longer can you reject God? Safely?
You may not feel worthy, but do you understand, He is worthy!
Will you accept Him now?
Gary Marcum - East 38th Street Free Will Baptist – 042901am