WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?
MATT. 19:16-30
I took my title from verse 27, "What shall we have therefore” Literally Peter said, "What in it for us? Not a selfish question.
THE TEXT:
This statement is made by Peter. It is in connection with the incident of the young lawyer who came to Jesus and wanted to know what he would have to do to inherit eternal life. {Tell the story} Yet you lack.
Then Jesus give the discourse of the Camel and eye of needle. Then Peter realized that they have given up their worldly quest and followed the Lord so he is asking "WHAT’S IN IT FOR US?". A good question.
So, God has provided for us a store house of wonderful gifts and blessings that is ours if we only take them. . . . .
All this and heave too. I would still want to be a Christian even if there was not life after this.
These gifts are vertical and well as perpendicular.
THE GIFT LOVE:
Romans 5:5 . . .the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
Eph. 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Rodney Pickett makes this observation, “Love is the identifying mark of Christianity. In a world of hate, envy, and anger, love sticks out like a healthy thumb. When anyone walks away from an encounter with us, that person should remember our love, not our convictions.”...
A bell’s not a bell until you ring it. A song’s not a song until you sing it. Love in your heart is not put there to stay. Love isn’t love till you give it away."
THE GIFT FORGIVENESS: 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
There is the gift of God’s forgiveness to us but also it is the gift of our forgiveness to others. We must always recognize that the one is predicated on the other.
Lewis Smedes writes in Forgive & Forget: "If we say that the people who do us terrible wrongs are beyond forgiving, we give them a power they should never have…they are given the power to keep their evil alive in the hearts and minds."... We are letting them rent space in our heads. It will eat at us like a cancer
"It can be the death of our faith if we forget that [forgiveness] is literally the life blood of our fellowship with God.."... If we do not forgive others – we cannot ask God to forgive us.
THE GIFT OF PEACE:
There is the peace with God
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
There is the peace of God.
Phil 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
REAL PEACE IS A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE.
Once upon a time, there was a man who lived with his wife, two small children, and his elderly parents in a tiny hut. He tried to be patient and gracious, but the noise and crowded conditions wore him down.
In desperation, he consulted the village wise man about his problem. "Do you have a rooster?" asked the wise man.
"Yes," he replied.
"Keep the rooster in the hut with your family, and come see me again next week."
The next week, the man returned and told the wise elder that living conditions were worse than ever, with the rooster crowing and making a mess of the hut. "Do you have a cow?" asked the wise elder. The man nodded fearfully. "Take your cow into the hut as well, and come see me in a week."
Over the next several weeks, the man--on the advice of the wise elder--made room for a goat, two dogs, and his brother’s children.
Finally, he could take no more, and in a fit of anger, kicked out all the animals and guests, leaving only his wife, his children, and his parents. The home suddenly became spacious and quiet, and he lived in peace for the rest of his days. Real peace is a matter of perspective.
Great peace have they that love thy law and nothing shall offend them.
THE GIFT OF A LIFE PURPOSE:
1 Sam. 17:29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
Jer. 29: 11 I say this because I know what I have planned for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future.
THE GIFT OF HOPE:
Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
THE GIFT OF ACCESS:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
THE GIFT OF A FAMILY ON EARTH AND IN HEAVE:
Heb 2:11 (NLT) So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.£ 12For he said to God, “I will declare the wonder of your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among all your people.”
A church that has passion is a church where "Discouraged folks cheer up, dishonest folks fees up, sour folks sweeten up, closed folk, open up, gossipers shut up, conflicted folks make up, sleeping folks wake up, lukewarm folk, fire up, dry bones shake up, and pew potatoes stand up! But most of all, Christ the Savior of the entire world is lifted up."...
THE GIFT OF DIRECTION:
Prov. 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Psa 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
