Best Of "No Reserves, No Retreat, No Regrets"- Part #1

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This is part one of a special two-part episode. Do you feel like you're on a religious treadmill, you feel like Christianity is just a system of rules and regulations, I can do this but I can't do that. Do you feel like your efforts to reach God. Find God, and please God, you, do you feel like your faith is dead or alive today. Pastor Russ Andrews will walk us through Scripture to answer these questions join us on finding purpose, glorifying God by helping men find their purpose for living.

For more information and to connect with Russ Andrews and finding purpose could visit us online@findingpurpose.net connect with us on Facebook. Now let's listen to Russ Andrews as he teaches us how to be a Christian without being religious title. Tonight's message. No reserves no retreat will be looking at Luke chapter 9 verse 46 to 52. You may have heard the story of William Borden. He was born in 1987 to 1 of the wealthiest families in Chicago. The Borden dairy family member member of the important milk products. His mother was a devout Christian. Ashley led William to Christ at a very early age. When you graduate from high school, hate, hate, took a trip around the world. It was just a trip of enjoyment.

Here she was going to meet with missionaries in different countries and it while he was taking this trip. His his heart was drawn to the mission field. In fact he wrote back to his mother and he said while looking for years and I have the it seems as though the only thing to do is prepare for the foreign mission field we returned from his travels he entered Yale University, where he attended a conference during his freshman year that would change his life forever.

One of the speakers of the conference was a man by the name of Samuel swimmer who was consider the apostle to the Muslims and he was there, meeting with Christians on the campus, challenging them to sign up for the mission field specifically to reach Muslims in the Far East and he made no attempt to warn him because he said of course it will because life is not in the expedition of ease Neu picnic excursion which recalled joy that following Jesus is not in excess expedition of ease nor a picnic excursion which recalled so we began to pray about serving as a missionary to the mother than in northern China. In one of his notebooks. He later wrote in every man's heart. There is a throne and across.

If Christ is on the throne self is a lacrosse.

If Jesus is on the throne you will go wherever he wanted to go to Nancy who is on the throne your heart you, Jesus.

While at Yale he received word that his father died in this and in that moment he became a very wealthy young man that when a millionaire really meant something. How instead of going off and on fast cars and fancy close, he began to give it all away to various Christian ministries in the back of his Bible hero two words no reserves the graduated from Yale eroding Princeton seminary back. Back then Gaza was a very conservative Bible believing seminary very prepare for the ministry when his graduation approaches family played with him to come join the family business which was foundering, but he insisted that God's call to the mission have priority. Local newspapers caught wind of his decision to give up such a promising future in the life of a loving missionary and what the darkest place of the world. They cannot believe it. The headlines read young millionaire renounces world to be a missionary.

William wrote to Morris in the back of his Bible. No retreat. There is a nurturing if you call to China to share the gospel with the Muslim population. But first he needed to learn the language was Arabic say he went to Egypt to spend time learning Arabic and after just three months in Egypt, something happened that shot the entire world. He contracted spinal meningitis and died within a month. Borden's death became international news is short life's passion for Jesus and missions and his willingness to risk everything became the subject of sermons and most people had a difficult time as to why would God allow this in the eight why would allow that. But another missionary express the sentiment, which I think is the truth, but Apsley no feel of a life cut short a life abandoned to Christ cannot be cut short cut short implies not complete interrupted and we know that our master does no halfway jobs after his death, someone looking through his Bible discover two final words that he'd written just before died while he was in Egypt. No regrets, no reserves, no retreat regrets. This brings us to chapter 9 will close out the year. Funny, I didn't really plan – this is God's providence when I was just dividing up the loop. I went through a beginner. Chapter 1 annuity about 25 lessons and I just will chop it up into how much I want to pray challenge I don't like the cover to chapter 7 [up and it just happened and it looked. Not that I got a 25 lessons. Little did I realize it is such a major turning point in the Gospel of Luke is right here where Jesus turns and heads towards Jerusalem, but first we pick up in verse 46 we learned that an argument had started among the disciples as to which one of them would be the greatest Jesus. No other thoughts took a little boy. He pulled up beside a man that he put his arm around that boy said.

Then he said to them, little boy. Similarly, probably eight years old. Like my grandson welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, for he who is least among you all. He is the greatest in the eyes of God. I talked to a young man today struggle with is working for what he's wasted some of his life. I talked a lot a young gossip feel that way. He's a strong Christian Scott, great marriage sit you get caught up in all the wrong things got cities that he doesn't look at the outside appearance of a man that's what we look at he looks at the inside of a man she cannot measure success so differently than we do. So what I want to show you tonight is man and then listens to me for a subtle grant Castlebar this afternoon. Was talking to's apparatus of this message is challenge me more than any method of ever given. I don't feel like I'm worthy to get it so I gotta get seller to show you man how we can live allows for Christ and Christ alone who we want to live your life yet we don't have money you know of tillage and we got to get your around her neck. September they say that eight audience ages without speaker, but is nowhere like his old job. Who wants to live the rest of your life of Christ and turn away from this godforsaken world. The his help. Three decisions that you and I must make in the question still remains. I share with you guys if you wish to member from the Untouchables.

What are you prepared today so if you want to follow Jesus. Here are three things you got a date for tomorrow. You got to humble yourself. Second, you have to be willing to follow Jesus wherever he leads you in third you want to pay the price cost is always a price whether it is the deal. To do this we have to do exactly what Jesus said in Luke chapter 9 verses 23 and 24 if anyone would come after me is what he told his disciples if anyone would come after, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me, who have the most to lose his life sees me save his life will lose it, but who most whoever loses life vote for for my psyche says will save it.

But you got a new element to lose your life. I've gotta be willing to do this and think about this exactly what Jesus did when he left the glories of heaven. He did so because he was willing to submit to his father's will and he think about. He left the glories of heaven when he was in a resplendent glorious body and he came to this earth and confined himself into a lowly human body flesh and blood, suffering, pain, just like you in the and he could find himself in a body. He nearly died to self, so ironically here in verse 46 we found the disciples organ about which of the of them will be the greatest so mousy they missed the message of losing a life of Christ that was so caught up in all that he was doing CV. These are the 12 by the way, at this point they can follow Jesus for about two years over two years and basing his power on full display in feeding the 5008 I got the stomach feel they like that they witness his authority over demons and then Jorgen associated with all this power and three of them of just what is his glory on the Mount of Transfiguration and ugly like everybody else. They wanted to crown him king right dinner right there and they would just try to figure out where they will be sitting this new kingdom will be the greatest how much power model have John, you have more than they Peter said probably remember, on the one Jesus loved so much. The city failed to understand the real mission of Jesus the crown man could never cross this all about the cross. The prophet Isaiah says in chapter 53 verse 10 unit was the Lord's will. It was the father's will to crush him to Lily crush him and calls him to suffer into the Lord make his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring. That is the resurrection and prolong his days forever, and though the will of the Lord will prosper in all his land is usually in his hand to his. The deal no cross, the resurrection. The resurrection, the crown, but it all begins man with the cross. The cross is the pinnacle of history, everything changed. At the cross. See, this is the way of the Christian life the way up is down. Everything is turned upside down in terms of the way the world or to the things of the will and way God looks at them, so you must want it. We got this welcome everyone it.you know what you got there did not get to get yourself out of the way, I started doing this. See Jesus knew what lay ahead for both himself and his disciples, and he also knew they were not even close to being ready. They had no idea what was coming, so he had a lot of work to do in them. They were so busy think about themselves and how they would be honoring this, new kingdom that they fail to see what lay before them, and a heavy price that Jesus get her to play. If they will befall him. They want to pay it today is this Amanda closely you follow Jesus, the more you go suffer and be persecuted why he was the more you identified with the name of Jesus, the more you want to say the name of Jesus in public.

The more you will pay the price because the world is not want to hear about Jesus. You can talk about God, but the moment you mentioned Jesus eyebrows were raised. Jesus makes people uncomfortable particular religious people. So how could Jesus best get the point across to these 12 men. That's when he pulled aside a little boy succumb your son limit how to teach this man a lesson that I know you already know pulls him over there and he says whoever welcomes this little boy in my name welcomes me and who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, for he who is least among you, he's the greatest. What did Jesus mean by this. What is it about little children that God so loves whether to things like about it.

Children are totally unpretentious and unassuming did not out to impress anybody like that might come in and out yell get me okay is kill people think they have no sense of selfish ambition or pride. Secondly, children possess a humble truck trust fullness.

They believe whatever you tell them they haven't reached the age where they begin to question everything. That's what happens when you get really educated you think you know so much. See most people not like this. The vast majority of people are prideful, particular the elite of society who they elite them, the wealthy, educated in the religious sense, the group this the most hardest great in the world to reach welcome to the research trying a part of his arrest want you to try to reach some of these rich people get my mesh is not to the rich. Okay, just look at us, but the idea was that is gonna say rich people do that is hard to say this not as mission field on planet Earth.

If everyone have a whole lot of fruit I go to 1/3 world country people hungry but to be honest with you I tried that I did measure sprout such a stunning block is pride blinds a man from seeing who he really is at a scope of pride is the sin from which all of the Sands growth kit. His rights self-importance like about it is a cancerous sin is just hard to get self out the way self keeps growing in the more you get, the more you can send oneself the more you get, the more you will write what you want to see the man he wants to see childlike faith in childlike humility just like that little boy this is always manifested two men get rid several arteries in the way we treat others, particularly those who considered little people, but I made a little people, people who allegedly allows the world poor lady people, unattractive people, unpopular people. Unsuccessful table you talk to somebody who's been real wealth and they lose everything they had at one time had a jihad or whatever the plane in a boat and they lose all their guess guess what happened to their friends think offensive it got planes and boats defined any friends or when you lose everything you people talking about some of the love. It was the same people that you and I were honest. Avoid listed on we we we would never allow them to join a fraternity, what would you got it cool to be enough attorney and they will never be in Outlook click welding slick about it. You see here at this stage the disciples they they associated greatness by the company you keep. Think about the great love to associate with the great and deal with matters that they think are of great significance really have no set. I think I can't think of a more accurate picture of this than the Hollywood elite. If you watch the Oscars. Click on them there so there is a target.

But what about us. We tend to associate with all of your really) well-to-do, successful, unattractive you have any friends who are poor and unpopular and successful. We know how guilty of avoiding the little people the world when you go to a room with you.

My retorts about is very populous about his nothing to do with this. I'm guilty of it. Everything point am I guilty for strengthens 126 to 29 says brothers and talking to you guys now the apostle Paul speaking the roommate is addressing the brothers is white you believers think of what you were when you will call, not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were influential, not many were of noble birth.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise God chose the weak things the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world were in the splash things and the things are not, to nullify the things that are so that no one may boast before what you glad God loves little people like you and me.

The disciples you see that they will really begin to think they will send out a special look. Jesus chose them out of all the people to be special in the service but Jesus you later want their little world. They don't know what their info and that brings us to verse 51 which gas is a major turning point in the gospel a see everything written thus far has been all about Jesus's ministry in primarily Galilee or he's out there speaking to the masses. He ceased stating that the in the pagan them and hang on them and please pull the disciples aside every now the importance of hard truths justice to try to he's plant some seeds because he knows that when he gets to the real truth is, will be very hard to handle, so he bit by bit is taking a little bit more just like you do a little child. Verse 5051 Lily rates like this don't… This is a little translation of verse 51.

Now it came about that as the predetermined days, that is from that your translation is the predetermined ice as the predetermined days before his ascension.

That's what it says taken up. This is referred to the cross taken up but it's really referred to as Ascension is the predetermined days before his ascension were running out to the clocks ticking Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Why is on a divine mission. He has an appointment with the cross and gases will take place on the exact day on the exact hour that God the father intended and nothing will get in is what that's why kept saying my hour has not yet come. My hour is not yet come. That's why at the Last Supper. He said the hour is here so Jesus steadfastly set his face you when this is a man sets his face on something that means he is determined. So Jesus turned his attention away from the world and he focused on his one mission in life.

The very purpose for his birth which was what to die. He had an appointment with a cross man if he did not care that appointment. We were not a sin here that that that cross was one of the humiliating he was going to be shamed before the world stripped naked and beaten and all the crap that he was currently Warren was a crown of thorns essay from this point forward most of the people following him, which they would.

They will call disciples, but most of them begin to turn away. I do know why they thought that the kingdom was coming and they will be fed every day by the king and all the decision of the disease will be healed yet what we call that the accounting the prosperity gospel is enough and much is changed, the reason people flock to Benny hand and Joel are staying is because they promise other. They cannot deliver, they promise prosperity, but listen, they never mentioned any cost is all that you can have your best life now really hate I disciples Comeau don't we call that the accounting the prosperity gospel is enough.

Much is changed, the reason people flock to Benny hand and Joel are staying is because they promise other.

They cannot deliver, they promise prosperity, but listen, they never mentioned any cost is all that you can have your best life now really hate I disciples Comeau would you like your best life now.

That's why can't give you best life now did Jesus ever say that no in his last letter before his death Paul wrote to Timothy Paul as Lily get ready.he's in a Roman dungeon. Lily saw a picture of it recently.

JD Greer was over in Rome. He pushed the picture.

He was in the sale as a whole.

Up above them.

He's underground in a dungeon and you literally drop a person down into the dungeon. No windows that only the only upset whole UK climb out. You can get out.

That's what Paul was when he wrote this letter to Timothy and he should pass the baton to Timothy and he says Timothy preach the word was you're not doing eyelash weight preach the word man I wish I could do it occasionally still to long arms but with little head about he lovely in her could you tell everybody in Mexico will get back at least twice next year is he loved and I love having you here but preach the word for the time will come. Men will not put up with sound doctrine did suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

But you Timothy you man, I'm telling you this, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, all the duties of your ministry.

So what about you, you will hear myths and fairytales of the unadulterated truth. So what is the truth here is if you really willing to make a commitment to follow Christ number the cost.

If, like William Borden you want to live with his motto. No reserves. Never treat no regret. Here's what you have to do man is what Russ intercession take and he is what we have to expect first to follow Christ will cost me 100% focused all the time and 100% commitment that what you have to say I'm all in Jesus climb of the boat you got a jump in the boat.

Second, we have the will of Pentecost which will involve rejection at all in varying degrees of know where you are in the on the globe but very very degrees of rejection and discomfort as an approved hit this point.

Jesus sent a delegation to little Samaritan town to get things right of his appearance and he knew ahead of time. They want to be rejected.

They want to teach his disciples a lesson as it is called the background. You know the Samaritans were were put more of the descendents of the Jews who had been captured when the Assyrians came in and capture the northern kingdom. The 10 tribes of Israel known as Israel and they took him back as slaves to Syria knows they uprooted them and they began to live in a Syria and they began intermarried with the Assyrians were who were Gentiles as of the Samaritans were half breeds half Jewish and half Gentiles in the Jews despised and if I could get to Galilee. They would walk around the Jordan River and take a much longer route to Singapore through Samaria but not Jesus said to the disciples in GA Jesus one we just tell them file that would illogically being a Christian is not about being religious but about having that dynamic alive relationship with Jesus Christ you been listening to finding purpose with pastor Russ Sanders glorifying God by helping men and their purpose for living.

You can discover more about finding your purpose in life by checking out the resources finding purpose.net will connect to finding purpose on Facebook pastor Russ would also like to extend a special invitation for you to join him in over 300 other local men to study God's word together every Tuesday night at 7 PM in downtown Raleigh. Find out more finding purpose.net. This is the Truth Network