Three Nevers We Must Never Forget, Part 2

As a modern culture were conditioned to pursue our own satisfaction. Above all else.

Our times are marked by fierce individualism, meaning no one takes higher priority than oneself today on Insight for living Chuck Swindoll's teaching from Matthew chapter 16 and in this passage we read about an encounter between Jesus and his disciples during which Jesus says, if any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your own selfish ways, take up your cross and follow me titled today's message three Nevers. We must never forget the deepest part of your being is your soul. There are secrets there. There is reality there is a relates to your life. There are no masks is that which God sees and does it looks within us today, and he sees our souls and you honestly say this so belongs to Jesus.

I've given my life to him. I've trusted him. I believe in him. If not perfect time to do that as we bow for prayer. We began by hearing your attributes, father, immortal, invisible, the only one truly wise in light and accessible hidden from our eyes we acknowledge or you alone deserve the word awesome. You alone. There is not another. There is no other God but you and there is therefore no other Savior but your son in whom we have found a deep sense of satisfaction to the point we can actually sing over and over it as well with my soul. Things are well there are those who could not say that I pray today that you will invade, connect Pierce beyond all resistance and bring that soul into submission, onto the knees, bowing in full acceptance of your son's death on our behalf and we acknowledge the Lord that you remain King of Kings, Lord over over all who would call themselves Lord you are God reigns and we bow without reluctance or resistance before you, thank you for the freedom we enjoy. For those who fought for it and whose remains lie under a white cross. This day I gratefully offer every family suffer through those wars and every brave woman and man who wore the uniform and fought the fight and did it well. My father, we acknowledge that every good and perfect gift is from above, we wouldn't even have breath in our lungs. If it weren't for your grace Norwood we have our occupation or savings account or any anything by way of positions, but because of your grace, we were able to say were able to give, and we thank you for the privilege and we do so now with joy and generosity in the name of our Savior, who brings us nearer and nearer to God. Near we could not be for the person of your son, we are as near as he and his name we pray in his name we give and everyone said amen studying the book of Matthew with Chuck Swindoll sure to download his searching the Scriptures going to Insight world.or/studies. Another message from Chuck titled three Nevers. We must never forget Jesus believes it is time to move into well the absolute unexpected. From then on, he began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem and that I will suffer many terrible things at the hands of elders and leading priests and the teachers of religious law right horizontal thinking. We've seen that before we watch them argue with you, we see them criticize you. You stood toe to toe. They've assaulted you verbally and then he goes one step further.

Look at what it says and then I will be killed. Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him brings us to the first never. We must never think that just because something is unexpected. It's unacceptable. You see, it's unexpected because we operate from a human viewpoint is really just a moment. These things happen and when the human viewpoint kicks in resistant distributors not angry he's flabbergasted.

He's surprised and as a result, he can just see him as he puts his arm around Jesus over Raven for bid Lord. This will never happen to you know what that is that saying this is what I never want to happen to you.

Horizontal thinking that Jesus doesn't mince words, doesn't he turned to Peter and said get away from his seat back off. How dare you speak to me like this. You sound just like the one who tempted me in the wilderness before, minus my ministry, even began offering me all these things that the world would offer if I would simply bow down before and get away from me, you are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's thinking straight is a result of God's working in our heart so that as a result of that we begin to live like we should brings me to the second never.

I hope you will never forget. We must never think that the Lord should alter his plan to fit our preference, regardless of how long we'll walk with the Lord. He has every right to call every shot to move us wherever he pleases at whatever time is in his plan. One response is not to reprimand them. It's to obey to follow and now Jesus moves into that notice. Peter is silent, so he turns and says to the other disciples adverse 24 Jesus said to his disciples.

You want to be a follower of mine, you must take up your own cross, Peter rebuked me reprimanded me for telling you the cross. I will be very not telling you is yours as well go much further in vertical thinking than that living for Christ is really explained in one word and it's done the best servants are those who have died to themselves. The fight is over. The resistance is finished.

I'm telling you that you must bear your own cross, you know, when we turn the cross into something very attractive.

There are beautiful necklaces I've seen.

There are there are symbols on the Bible covers. There are chrome crosses the goal on cars. I even spent seen crosses on the pelts. There are not decorative pieces of jewelry, their places of death of never seen an electric chair on the on the lapel never seen a hypodermic needle full of lethal solution never seen a rifle for firing squad never seen crosses as if this is a fun thing to wear nothing fun about it, you take up your cross, you are saying I die willingly to his plan for me to his will for my life. I take up my cross look at this get this turning for my selfish ways.

I take up my cross and I follow him and follow him. I never leave him.

I never even hit on the way he should be leaving me on this roof closely. I come to terms with what he's saying.

Then I adapt accordingly.

How unlike any of us. Patsy says this look if you want to hang onto something you lose it, and if you really really want to save something you given up. Nobody ever said it better than the martyred missionary Jim Elliott he is no fluke gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

That isn't just nice little bit of poetic verse its crew. The photos of those who hang on the one who adds to his license plate. The frame, the one who dies with the most toys wins when I see that always one up cradle thing at the bottom it says you fool. In fact, you by giving that life you take on the real real life. Third thing never to forget. We must never think that being a close follower of Jesus can happen without self-denial. Yeah, that's right, there's a big word self denial how we did all this time to use the word because it's everywhere and I'm up to here with it. Narcissism. Another way of putting it.

Entitlement and I'm told you it's not just among millennial's is not just among the kids growing up its among middle-aged its among older people who want my way don't get in the way of thought about me me a smile when I read to Gallagher's on answer to question three a on his college application to get into New York University. The question three a is an essay question, meaning take time in answering spell it out.

Here it is. In order for the administrative staff of New York University to get to know you, the applicant better. We ask that you answer the following question.

Are there any significant experiences you have head or accomplishments you have realized that it helped you to define you as a person about got question we got help us know who you really are will hang on. This is a answer like I've never read in my I would love to have been a member of the admissions committee that rent is answer angle on the dynamic figure often seen scaling walls and crushing ice.

I've been known to remodel train stations on my lunch breaks making things more heat efficient translate for Cuban refugees right award-winning operas manage time efficiently. Occasionally I tread water for three days in a row. I cook 30 minute Brownies in 20 minutes. I'm an expert in stucco in a mama veteran in love, and an outlaw in Peru.

I played bluegrass cello.

I was scouted by the Mets. I am the subject of numerous documentaries when I'm bored Bill Lord suspension bridges. I am an abstract artist, a concrete analyst and a ruthless bookie. I don't perspire children. Trust me, I can hurl tennis rackets at small moving objects with deadly accuracy. I once read Paradise lost Moby Dick, and David Copperfield in one day and still had time to refurbish an entire dining room that evening. I know the exact location of every food item in the supermarket I sleep once a week when I do sleep I sleep in a chair while on vacation in Canada. I successfully negotiated with a group of terrorist who it sees the small bakery the laws of physics do not apply to me face to I balance. I will even dodge. I frolic in all of my bills are paid. I have one bullfights in San Juan done Cliff diving competitions in Sri Lanka and the spelling bees at the Kremlin. I played Hamlet I performed open-heart surgery and I've spoken with Elvis but I've not yet gone to college really what would've been your answer. Would you have dared said I'm learning to die every day.

I learned about you giving up my will learn how important it is to say no to what I want and yes to what my master wants is a matter of fact I am in the process of losing my life. I want lots way with an easy tread.

I travel the pleasures and comfort lit until one day in a quiet place and that the master face-to-face my towers built to the blue sky. I'd enter to win with Alexis in when the slide cement race when I met the master face-to-face I met him and know him and I blushed to see his eyes full of sorrow were fixed upon the unfolding fillets feet the day while I my castles belted and vanished away melted and damaged in their place. Nothing else could I see but my master's face. My thoughts another the souls of men.

I've lost my life to find it again. Ever since that day in a quiet place and I met the master face three Nevers I hope you never forget everything that just because something is unexpected. It's unacceptable. Never think of the Lord should alter his plan to fit our your preference.

It isn't about you and never think that Doug being a close follower of Jesus can happen without self-denial and by the way, would you teach your children that and if you missed would you teach your grandkids. Freeman concludes his great book on Robert E Lee with a moving story that I've always loved. I sometimes turn to it again just to be sure I read it correctly. The great Confederate Gen. to come to the end. Still, beloved by those in the South, a mother of a little baby stepped out of her house that had been pretty much destroyed by the union trees burn crops burned walking out toward the general who would come to agree with her over the loss of her two sons are as I recall a son and a husband holding the baby in her arms with tears. She held the baby out to the general and Lee took the child love this looked into his face and said simply teach him that he must deny himself, teach that this power hits. Teach him that he must deny himself. These are not popular words to here in our day where the narcissist gets to the front of the line and the one who lives for what he is going to get her. She is going to get off and gets Jesus's telling is not how to be popular, but how to be a follower of his.

If you've never submitted to the cross before you think of bearing your own cross, I suggest you come to the cross and release your will to his.

His will is that you take the son of God is your own personal Lord and Savior that you trust in him. Now put that off no longer remember the unexpected.

You might not be alive a week from now for you would hear this again. Do it now.

If you have met the Lord and you're still strutting, still fighting for your way.

Still looking for your name and the lights still it still expecting to be seen or pleased your next May God teach you to down on yourself.

Whatever it takes. By the way, he never runs out of ways to do that we can help you in any way we exist. For that reason, thank you father for connecting with us because given our own way would would never live right.

We would would never think straight would be so busy filling out application forms to impress others would even lie to look good so I pray that you will deliver us from looking good or desiring to be seen or heard or quoted may be fine, great, great joy in following your son Jesus wherever he leads wherever whenever now to him who is able to guard you from stumbling and present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding great joy to the only wise God our Savior be glory and majesty, giving power forever and ever and ever and all got sick a man a man denying so is not something that comes naturally to us.

Our human inclination is to chase our selfish desires with little regard to how we impact others you're listening to a message from Chuck Swindoll and this is insight for living. To learn more about this ministry or to see what resources are available for today's topic, please visit us online@insightworld.org will how do we take our next steps in becoming more like Jesus. Well, if there's one book in Chuck's collection that's been known to liberate readers from narcissistic living. It's the one I recommend to you right now called the grace awakening. Too many people have allowed their selfish desires to sabotage their most cherished relationships with family and even with God. We believe the biblical principles in the grace awakening if applied will guide you toward a God centered lifestyle fully focused on the one who calls us to follow him to purchase a copy of the grace awakening go to insight.org/offer or give us a phone call if you're listening in the US dial 1-800-772-8888 and then as God prompts you to give a donation, please follow his lead, which are voluntary donations that make it possible for us to provide these daily visits with Chuck to get a gift today. Call us once again, if you're listening in the US dial 1-800-772-8888. Rest assured, your gifts are truly making a difference. Recently we heard from a widow left and affirming no responding to a particular message about the struggles in many home. Chuck, thank you for this rare and beautiful comfort 75-year-old hard. I'm a devoted Christian widow living all alone even though I've been rejected by my own children come to terms with my life and your message about the family suite refresh my soul. Let your donation that allows us to reach gratefulness. Please, if you're listening in the United States. Call 1-800-772-8888 or you can also give a donation online@insight.more you heard him teach about the holy land using word pictures to make us feel like we are actually strolling through the old city learning about Jerusalem is fascinating for sure but see the land of Israel with your own his his life changed. In fact, is absolutely magnificent.

And now you can see Israel with Chuck Swindoll and the gracious hosts and experts assembled by Insight for living ministries.

Join us on an unforgettable 12 day tour March 6-17, 2022 at special sites along the way, I will teach from God's word will worship at the Mount of Beatitudes and share the Lord's table at the garden to infect Lucille the Sea of Galilee together and will visit places where Jesus walked and talked to learn more, call 1-888-447-0444. Just imagine walking along those sacred sites and seeing the Bible, but come to life before your very mark your calendar for March 6-17, 2022 and make your reservation by calling 1-888-447-0444 or go to insight.org/events insight for living ministries tour to Israel is paid for and made possible by only those who choose to attend. I Dave Speicher inviting you to join us again Tuesday when Chuck Swindoll describes a terrifying glimpse of glory right here on insight for living in the preceding message three never us.

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