But Whoever Disowns Me
REVIEW – “But I tell you” message series
• Talking about having a Historical Biblical Worldview – meaning, we evaluate our beliefs and practices based on biblical teaching, not what our culture values
o A recent Barna study shows only 6% of Americans having a Biblical Worldview even though many claim to have it – 69% say of Americans say they are Christians
o #1 worldview in America is Syncretism – a pick and choose belief system
• We’ve been looking at some of the sayings of Jesus where He was challenging the worldview of the people of His time – Those same challenges to their worldview apply to us
• Last week – A person who builds their house on the rock of who Jesus is by doing what He says – that person can withstand the storms and trials of life.
PREVIEW
• Today, another passage where Jesus challenged the worldview of the disciples – specifically in the area of loyalty and devotion
• How we relate to Jesus in this life will be how we relate to Him in the next
• HE is to be most important in our life – this is evaluated based on our actions not just what we say
Matthew 10:32-42 But Everyone Who Denies Me…
1. Workers in God’s Kingdom are valued and have no need of fear
Matthew 10:28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. NLT
• Context: Matthew 9:35-38 // 10:1, 5, 28-31
• Jesus is sending out His disciples to be workers in His kingdom – to bring hope and healing
2. Workers in God’s Kingdom acknowledge Him and have peace about their eternity
Matthew 10:32-33 “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. NLT
• The choice we make in this life will impact our eternity – there is no second chances (Hebrews 9:27)
• Our eternity is secure in Him, we have no need to worry and fear
3. Peace with God only comes when Jesus is in His rightful place in our lives – First and Most Important
Matthew 10:34-37 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.35 ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.36 Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ 37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. NLT
• Jesus isn’t ok with being 2nd place even after something really good and biblical sounding like family
• “We live in an era in the church where family loyalty is sometimes presented as the highest loyalty, but that doesn’t square with either Jesus’ teaching or practice” – Gary Thomas – When to Walk Away
• God gets to define how we relate to Him – He knows what’s best for us (Deuteronomy 5:7; 13:6-11)
4. Workers in God’s Kingdom value His priorities, not priorities of this earthly kingdom
Matthew 10:38-39 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. NLT
• “If” – it’s a choice – this is the heart of it all –we get to choose and our choice impacts our eternity
• Only when we choose to surrender to Him and allow Him to save us, will we experience real life (Colossians 3:1-4)
5. Workers in God’s Kingdom represent the King, no matter where they are and what they’re doing – even in the little things.
Matthew 10:40-42 “Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me. 41 If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs. 42 And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” NLT
• Jesus has such strong things to say because the stakes are high – when we choose to be a worker in His kingdom, we represent Him to the world
• He wants the world to have an accurate view of who He is so that they too might choose Him (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)
Next Steps –
• Have you decided to be a “worker” in God’s kingdom, valuing the things He values?
• In what ways is your loyalty to Him being challenged?
• What is a step of obedience you can make this week to show Jesus is most important in your life?