The Journey of Winners and Losers

Luke 9:23-27

"I do"

We wouldn't decide without knowing the destination.

Christianity and following Christ are about faith.

#1. There are losers.

#2. There are winners.

We find that, following Him, we face a dilemma because someone must die.

Either Christ is going to rule, or I'm going to rule.

What matters is, “Am I ready?”

The dilemma was – salvation is free; it costs you and me absolutely nothing.

Refusing to follow Christ will eventually cost you everything.

“Don’t give up anything.”

Luke 16:28, “Go tell my brothers; please tell them whatever it takes, to give it up, to become a follower, to understand what that means, lest they come to the same place that I have come to.”

Luke 9:23 “Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.’”

“God, if that’s where You want me to be, if that’s what You want me to do, here am I.”

“There’s going to be a death, and you’re going to feel like you’re dying, but if you take up your cross with a positive attitude, and with a spirit of celebration, realizing that this moment of denial is nothing compared to the fulfillment of the divine blessing of God, you’ll carry that cross with pride.”

You will be the winner, and not the loser in the end.

“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

Luke 9:24 “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me, will save it.”

"No, this is my life. I want to preserve my life for myself."

“If you try to preserve your life, if you do it your way and you fail to listen to Me, you will lose your life every single time.”

Anytime an individual gives himself away for something or someone else, he is a winner.

“If you want a wide-open life, with an ultimate journey, act in faith.”

Luke 9:25 “What good is it for man to gain the whole world and yet lose, or forfeit, his very self?”

What He is asking is that we have the same heart.

Luke 9:26 “If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of Him when He comes in His glory, and in the glory of the Father and of the Holy angels.”

“If you’re going to come after Me, deny yourself and follow Me.”

If the game of life is still being played, there is an opportunity to win.

Let’s be winners!