Sermon Central
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Did God Tell You To Stop Running?
Contributed by Joe Rowland on Sep 29, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: We should know that as a Christian that we are all running a race that we can all win, so why are we settling for second and why are some of us settling for 3rd when we all run and are able to receive the prize.
Did God Tell You To Stop Running?
17 ¶ And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
In our opening text this morning we have a rich young ruler who came running and kneeled to Jesus.
This rich young ruler is not asking for physical help but he is asking for spiritual help.
The rich young ruler asked Jesus a question, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life.
The first thing that we need to understand is that we can not inherit eternal life it is a free gift which comes from accepting Jesus as your personal Savior.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Jesus in Mark 10:19 says to this man, 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
Jesus drawls this young man to the Word of God both in a positive and negative sense.
Positive because the Word alone holds the answer; and negative because it will show him a mirror to where he is wrong.
The rich young ruler now says to Jesus, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
This man had head knowledge of what the Word said to, but yet there was still something lacking.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Jesus loved this man despite the fact that he had not really kept the commandments.
Jesus knew what was really in the mans heart.
Jesus told the man who had come running up to Him that in order to run this race and be a winner to give all of his wealth up sell it and give it to the poor.
Jesus is pointing at the one thing that was coming between the rich young ruler and Himself.
He was rich and trusted in what He already had, this man had head knowledge and a mouth relationship, but there was no heart relationship.
Jesus wanted him to sell what was coming between them and give to the poor and pick up our cross and follow after Him.
