Paying the Price - 3

TEXTMatt. 13:44-46

INTRODUCTION:

A.  THESE MEN REALIZED THERE WAS A COST FOR WHAT THEY WANTED.

B.  DAVID REALIZED THE PRICE WAS HIS TO PAY (2 Sam. 24:24).

C.  JESUS TOLD US TO “COUNT THE COST” (Luke 14:27-28).

          1.  Not making discipleship optional (John 8:12;  31-32).

          2.  Talking about the great cost.

          3.  Is it worth it?  (Matt. 13:44-46).

C.  HAVE YOU COUNTED THE COST?

D.  ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE?

E.  FIRST WEEK:  FOR DISCIPLESHIP?  FOR BECOMING A CHRISTIAN?

          LAST WEEK:  FOR BEING MARRIED?  FOR HAVING CHILDREN?

V.    FOR STANDING FOR THE TRUTH? (1 Cor. 16:13-14).

A.  WHAT IS TRUTH?

          1.  is that which in reality really is( Truth has an antithesis - what's not true ).

          2.  is absolute( Relative truth is not truth in reality, not the whole truth ).

          3.  can't contradict itself( i.e., Evolution vs. Genesis ).

B.  WHERE IS IT FOUND?

          1.  Psa. 119:160.  God’s word. (John 17:17).

          2.  The Gospel Message (Eph. 1:13Col. 1:52 Tim. 2:15Jas. 1:18).

C.  THE SOURCE OF OUR SALVATION (1 Tim. 2:4John 8:31-32Rom. 1:16).

D.  THE TRUTH HAS THOSE WHO OPPOSE IT.

          1.  Some turn away their ears (2 Tim. 4:3-4Isa. 30:9-10).

          2.  They have plenty of help (Rom. 1:18Gal. 5:72 Tim. 3:82:18).

          3.  Then there are the empty and deceived (1 Tim. 6:5).

                   a.  They don’t believe sin touches them (1 John 1:8Rom. 3:23).

                   b.  Incapable of seeing its application in their lives (2 Tim. 3:71 John 3:18).

          4.  Therefore they are disobedient (Rom. 2:8).

          5.  We must be ready to stand (2 Tim. 1:13-14Jude 32 Thess. 2:15Phil. 1:27

                   Eph. 6:13-14).

E.  Gal. 4:16.  PASSAGE SUGGEST A PRICE TO PAY

          1.  Loss of friends and even brethren (2 Tim. 4:16).

          2.  Loss of reputation (3 John 9-112 Cor. 10:10).

          3.  A cost to all the apostles as to the Lord (1 Cor. 4:9-13John 15:20).

          4.  We must be like Paul (Phil. 1:16).

VI.   FOR BEING FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH?  (Rev. 2:10)

A.  THERE ARE MEN WHO FEAR NOT DEATH (Acts 20:242 Cor. 4:7-10).

B.  WE MUST CONQUER THE FEAR OF MEN (Heb. 13:5-61 Pet. 3:13-18).

C.  BE WATCHFUL

          1.  For the devil (1 Pet. 5:8).

          2.  For one another (Heb. 3:12-13).

          3.  For temptation (Eph. 5:15).

CONCLUSIONA HIGHER PRICE IS PAID FOR NOT FOLLOWING

        JESUS.

A.  THERE IS NO GREATER TREASURE THAN OUR REWARD IN HEAVEN

          (Matt. 13:44-46).

B.  HAVE YOU COUNTED THE COST? (2 Thes. 1:8-9).