This week I begin a new sermon series at my church called “ All In”.  Over the next four weeks I will be preaching about how being a Christian requires a commitment to give Christ control over every aspect of our lives.  We live in a time in our society where a lot of people call themselves Christians, but that’s as far as it goes, only nominal ( by name) Christians, there is no surrendering their lives to Jesus.  In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus says ““Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Many people say that they “follow Jesus” but following Jesus is only possible when we first deny ourselves, secondly pick up or Cross and then we can follow Him.

I want to talk briefly this week about the first step, denying ourself.  What does that actually mean?  Denying our self means that we set aside our own plans for our lives.  Often time the path that Jesus has called us to go down is not the plans we have.  Maybe this means you are too move out of state, change your profession and even step out of your comfort zone.  We cannot follow Jesus if we still have control over our lives.  We must surrender to Him and give Him control of our plans and desires and be willing to go wherever He Calls us.  Jesus wants His followers to be “All In”and that is only possibly if we first Denny ourselves and let Jesus direct our paths, which will lead us to “ go into all the World ands make disciples!  

If you do not have a relationship with Christ and haven’t given Him total control you can do that right now.  The apostle Paul says “ If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, YOU WILL BE SAVED!”  You can get right with Jesus this very second.

 

Pastor Jonathon Waterbury

Emmanuel Evangelical Church