Dying to Self

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I Cor 13 Matt 77"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.  9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!  II Cor 4:8 – always perplexed, but never despairing How do we respond when Jesus says: Matt 10 37"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matt 1624Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life[h] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?  How did Jesus respond to that? In the garden, “Not my will but Yours be done” Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus saw bigger, from the Father’s perspective… My death takes place in everyday situations How do I respond? 1. I have to see what Jesus saw “for the joy set before Him”  What are my priorities? 2. I can’t fix it Vine analogy – force 1000 times greater There is nothing the presence of Jesus can’t cure 3. He replaces it with something far greater than what I have let go   I John 512He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. John 10 – Religion is the thief and the robber, it robs me of life.
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