A Man Must Live

A Man Must Live!
December 24, 2006
Introduction

"A man must live! We justify

Low shift and trick to treason high; A little vote for a little gold;

Or a whole Senate bought and sold,

With this self-evident reply -'A man must live!'

But is it so? Pray tell me why

Life at such cost you have to buy.

In what religion were you told?

A man must live!

There are times when a man must die!

There are times when a man will die!

Imagine for a baffle cry

From soldiers with a sword to hold,

From soldiers with a flag unfurled,

This coward's whine, this liar's lie,

'A man must live!'

The Saviour did not live! He died!

But in His death was life -

Life for Himself and all mankind!

He found His life by losing it!

And we, being crucified

Afresh with Him, may find

Life in the cup of death,

And, drinking it,

Have life forevermore!"

On September 11, 4 planes brought death to thousands here in America. It was an event

without parallel! Terrorism was something that was only to take place in other countries.

America was shaken!

Yet somehow almost forgotten was the fact that the terrorist who took over each of those

planes knew full well that they would die, yet they were willing to die for the cause that

they believed in, even though they believed a lie.

For a much different cause, Jesus asked us to lay down our lives.

Body

I. What does Jesus say about dying?

(Mark 8:34-38 NKJV) When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. {35} "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. {36} "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? {37} "Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? { 381 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."

A. How did Jesus mean that we must die?

1. First of all, to ourselves!

2. We must surrender to His will, and give up ours. --We must present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God.

(Rom 12:1-2 NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. {2} And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

"Do not allow the world around you to squeeze you into its mold.

B. A living sacrifice involves giving up our time in His service.

1. Give up the time it takes to study, to pray, and to seek His face.

(2 Chr 7:14 NKJV) "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

a. David said he would seek God's face and asked that God not hide from him.

(Psa 27:8-9 NKJV) When You said, "Seek My face," My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek." {9} Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, 0 God of my salvation.

b. God says sometimes it takes affliction to cause us to seek Him.

(Hosea 5:15 NKJV) I will return again to My place Till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me."

2. Jesus spoke of an irony about losing our lives.

(Mat 16:24-26 NKJV) Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. {25} "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. {26} "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

3. We give up our lives in a sense when we take time to help others whether their needs are physical or spiritual.

II. Many have had to pay the ultimate price.

A. As mentioned in the poem, Jesus died for all of us.

B. Today, many are dying for the cause of Christ.

C. We have a song which speaks to this:

Faith of our fathers! living still, In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword;

0 how our hearts beat high with joy Whene'er we hear that glorious word Faith of our fathers, holy faith! We will be true to Thee till death!

Faith of our fathers, holy faith! We will be true to Thee till death! Our father, chained in prisons dark, Were still in hart and conscience free

How sweet would be their children's fate, If they, like them, could die for Thee! Faith of our fathers! we will love Both friend and foe in all our strife;

And preach Thee, too, as love knows how, By kindly words and virtuous life:

III. The Bible speaks of trying times for the faithful.

(Mat 24:21-22 NKJV) "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. {22} "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.

A. We need to realize that our faith could cost us our lives.

B. We cannot live by the philosophy of "a man must live." There are times when a man must die.

(Luke 21:34-36 NKJV) "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. (351 "For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. {36} "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Conclusion

What are the lessons of 911?

Look what dedication to a cause accomplished!

It was very destructive, and very negative, but ...

Are we as dedicated to the true God and what He asks of us as these Muslims were to their cause?

May we be willing to give our lives in service to God, and to give our lives if we are required to do so.

Is your life right with God?

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