Open up your Bibles to the book of Mark chapter 8 in verse 34. And we're going to read verses 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, and then the first verse also of chapter 9 for our text this morning. The title of the message this morning is The Believer's Daily Death. The Believer's Daily Death. Last week we saw the Lord teach the disciples some hard truths concerning his own suffering, his rejection, his death, and his resurrection. This week we're gonna see that he calls the people who are following them to come in close with him and his disciples so that he can teach them also some more hard truths about what it means or what it will mean to follow him. And just as Jesus must carry a cross, suffer, and die, so too must his disciples. So let's read our text here. Mark chapter eight, verse 34. And when he had called the people unto him, with his disciples also, he said unto them, whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation Of him also shall the son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his father with the holy angels. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that there be some of them that stand here who shall not taste of death till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, we thank you for this beautiful, wonderful day you have made, Lord. And we thank you for this season of Thanksgiving and the celebrations that will occur. And I just pray that, Lord, we would be thankful every day of the year for all that you have done for us. Lord, I pray that your Holy Spirit would even now have begun to minister to our hearts to teach us these truths, these very, very important truths that we need to understand and that we need to be practicing and living out in our everyday lives. Lord, I just pray all of these things in Jesus' name, amen. All right, looking back then to verse 34, let's begin to look at what Jesus is telling these people. and what this means for us as well. We see that in verse 34, when he called the people unto him with his disciples also, you see what he had just told them, what he had just said about his own suffering and rejection and death and resurrection, he had just told to the disciples, the 12, the closest. to him now, and they were traveling. He's telling them this as they're moving along and going into Caesarea Philippi, to the towns of that region. And following behind them are people who have followed him out of Galilee, and they're going where he's going. And so they've been a little bit ahead. Maybe the crowd had sensed that he needed to speak with his disciples more closely. I'm not sure, but they're like lagging back. Now he brings them up so that they can hear what he has to say here. And he tells them this. He said unto them, whosoever will come after me, Let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Now this isn't the only time he says this. We find Luke, in fact, referring to this same thing on more than one occasion. Not only the time that we're talking about here, but on other times when Jesus would say the same thing. And this is something very important for us to see and understand. Because you see, every true follower of Christ must practice self-denial. And so that's the first point here. Believers must put self-centeredness to death. As we talk here, as he says, taking up the cross, let him deny himself. He's gonna talk about being ready to die. We'll talk more about that in a moment, but let's just understand for this message this morning that there are certain things that he covers here that we must put to death in us if we indeed are truly born again and we truly are a follower of Christ. One of these is self-denial. He says there, let him deny himself. And this isn't optional. It's not reserved for the few who become martyrs. It's not reserved for the few who may be leaders in the church or whatever. This is for every believer. It's an absolute necessity. If you've been born again, then surely you see that Jesus has every right to expect this of us. Salvation is absolutely free. Grace is free. Following Christ after you've been born again, though, will come with a great cost. And that's not a popular message in these days, and folks don't want to hear that message. But if you know Christ, it's not a matter of wanting to hear the message. It becomes a matter of wanting to please the one who gives it. In Luke chapter 14, this is one of those occasions where he talks about these kind of things. In verse 27, Luke 14, 27, and whosoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you intending to build a tower sitteth not down first and counteth the cost, whether ye have sufficient to finish it? lest happily after he hath laid the foundation and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, this man began to build and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first and consulteth whether he be able with 10,000 to meet him that cometh against him with 20,000? or else while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassador and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." You see, there's a great cost to following Christ. It doesn't cost us anything to be born again. He gives that freely. But then we are called to follow Christ. And that means we must make sacrifices. That means we must pay a price. And part of that price is putting to death self-centeredness. We must learn how to deny ourselves. We do not pay this cost to get saved or to stay saved. We pay it because that's what is required of us to follow the Savior who has paid the ultimate cost for the sins of his people. It's in this way that we prove the reality of our position and of our faith. Faith without works is dead, and this is what those works are about. He says here, first, that he should deny himself. Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself. This means to give up the right to determine your every step. Yield that to God by living as he directs you to live. We need to learn how to treasure and value Jesus more than we do ourselves, our comforts, and our goals in life. Now that doesn't mean we can't have comforts or goals. It means that you must put what Jesus wants ahead of what you want. And whenever there's a conflict between the two, you choose Jesus. You choose what he wants. It also means that you come to understand that your comforts and goals are often distractions from what Jesus wants of you. It is so easy to become distracted by the things of this world and the wants that we have in this world, the things that the flesh wants and desires. Those things simply distract us from what Jesus really wants of us. And we must learn how to deny ourselves of these things. Then he says, he goes on, it's not just deny yourself, but as he also says, and take up his cross. What is the cross? The cross is an instrument of death. It was the means the Romans used to execute capital criminals, capital offenses. It's ugly. It's full of shame and humility. And what we need to understand here is the believer must die. This could mean your physical life and it being given in service to God in the furtherance of the gospel as a martyr. That may or may not happen to you. You may or may not be called to that. Only a certain number are called to that kind of death. But I'm going to tell you what it means for us every day. It means we must deny ourselves every day. And so essentially what we're saying is we must put to death our flesh daily. And Luke, again, back to Luke in chapter nine, verse 23, and he said to them all. This, I believe, if I remember correctly, is Luke's account that Mark has given that we have read here. It's the corresponding account. And he said to them all, but he adds something. He said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Now, putting your flesh to death is not normal or natural, but it is necessary. Unless I be misunderstood, I'm not talking about literally taking our lives every day. I'm talking about putting down the flesh and the desires of the flesh daily. That's a daily struggle. It's one we wake up with. It's one we experience throughout the day. It's one we're probably battling when we go to bed. and lay down to get sleep. But we've got to learn how to put that flesh to death. So this is a spiritual thing that we're talking about. It is the spirit, your spirit within you that's being given you because you've been born again. It is your spirit exercising control over your flesh. But just like the cross and death on the cross, you understand when someone was crucified, they could linger for days before the person died. In Jesus' case, it didn't. It was just a matter of hours because it was a Sabbath and there was a need for his body to be removed at dusk so that the Sabbath could begin, or for the beginning of the Sabbath. So his death was in a matter of hours. Most people it took days. And it was a long, slow, painful death. And so it is when we're putting to death our flesh. And some people shy away from that. It's much easier to give in to the flesh than it is to put the flesh in subjection to your spirit. It's a hard struggle. but it is one that the believer must learn to practice every day of our lives. And then he says, follow me. Are you willing to believe and follow Jesus? This following Jesus here is much more radical than I believe most Christians think it is. You see, for most Christians, giving up an hour to attend a worship service, and maybe even putting some money in the offering plate, is about as much as they want to follow Jesus. That's about as much as they want to put their flesh into subjection and die daily. They consider that to be a great sacrifice. But we're talking about way more than that. We're talking about living for Jesus and following Jesus every day of our lives. That means through the conflicts that arise in our lives. That means through the troubles that arise in our lives. We must follow Jesus. And we can't take time off. And we can't say, well, I don't think I will today. But that's what we do, in essence, for many, or what many do, in essence. So what does it mean to you to follow Jesus? What does it mean to you? The second point I wanna bring out, going to verse 35 now in our text, Believers must also put the safe life to death. Look at verse 35. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. Verse 34 challenges us. right from the top of our heads down to the very toenails on our feet. If you haven't grasped that, go back and read it again. It is a tremendous challenge to the believer. And what we see brought out in the verses that follow, Jesus kind of explains this even more and brings out in more detail what he's challenged us with there in verse 34. For instance, here in verse 35, we're told that the person who saves or treasures physical life over Jesus will lose it. This means that if you try to play it safe and consider your life more important than Jesus, then you will lose both Jesus and your life. And that is the fate of many in this world. who will die in their trespasses and sins and spend their eternity in hell. They, in essence, are choosing this life over Jesus. On the other hand, if a person gives his life for Jesus and the gospel, he will save it. This means that following Jesus will risk safety, security, satisfaction in this world, but it will also lead to a reward that this world can never provide. I remember several years ago, a dear sweet saint, she's gone on to be with the Lord now, gave me a little plaque to hang up in my office. And when I say plaque, it was just kind of a knick-knack, a little thin piece of wood with something written on it. And what it said is, Serving the Lord does not pay much, but the retirement plan is out of this world. And that's true. You're not, if you serve the Lord like you should be, things that other people crave, like wealth and fame, those are gonna be difficult for you to acquire. But what God has in store for you in heaven is of far more value than those things possibly could be anyway. There is a life that's worth giving for the glory of God and the gospel. The Apostle Paul understood this in Acts chapter 20 verse 24. He would say this, but none of these things move me Neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God. You see, Paul was speaking there and he was letting the people he was talking to know, I believe it was the Ephesians, he was letting them know that, hey, he's been told, people have prophesied before him, that he was going to Jerusalem, that he was gonna suffer. And that this path would eventually lead to his death. And Paul was ready for that. Because he understood that what he had been called to do here on this earth was of great value to the Lord and to his kingdom. And that it was more important than other things, such as continuing to live in that world. He understood that the Lord was preparing for him a great reward and he was ready for that. There are a lot of Christians that are trying to live the safe life. They're trying to do just enough to serve God and keep God happy and in some ways their attitude is keep God off their backs. and still enjoy what this world has to offer. And that's not what we're called to do. Not at all. We're called to sacrifice. We're called to give. That which God has given us, we're expected to give. And that includes our everyday lives. That doesn't mean we can't live in this world. It doesn't mean that we can't work in this world. It doesn't mean that we can't have hobbies in this world. What I'm saying is it means that we must always put Jesus first and serving God first. In fact, you can serve God on your job. You can serve God in your hobbies. Just serve God. And when called to choose between that which God directs you to do and that which your flesh wants to do, choose what God wants. And this brings us to the third thing in verses 36 and 37. For what shall it profit a man, verse 36, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? You see, here's something else we must put to death, and that is self-service. This truth is hard. But again, it's absolutely essential to us. Your life is set free to live Christ-like when you learn to see death as a reward. This is what Paul meant in Philippians chapter 1 verse 21 when he said, for to me to live is Christ. and to die is gain. To live in this life is Christ. It's about Christ. It's focused on Christ. It's doing what Christ commands. It's going in the direction that God sends you. It's all of these things. But then to die is gain. To leave this earth and to enter into that rest that God has prepared for you It's gain. You enter into the very presence of God. Unlike what we are here, God, we're in God's presence now, but it's an ever more of a, an experienced reality for us when we get to heaven. And that's great. That's good. And that's, that's great joy. And we'll get to experience that then. But what we got to understand is that That means putting self-service to death now. Look at verse 36 again. For what shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul? That's a question that Jesus proposes there to the disciples and those that are following him. And the answer is what? Nothing. There is no profit. to gaining the whole world and losing your soul. The same for verse 37. What shall a man give in exchange for his soul? The answer to that is nothing. There is an unspeakable value in the soul that this world and its inhabitants cannot appreciate. That's why taking the taking of life by murder is so heinous. whether it be the life of someone born or someone unborn. You see, God has created within everyone something that lasts for eternity called the soul. For the lost, they will die here on this earth, their body will expire, and they will spend eternity in hell where their souls shall suffer and die for eternity. It's not only suffering for a little while and then dying there, it is dying for all eternity. As hard as it is for us to see someone here on this earth die, it's so much worse for that person who will be in hell for eternity. For the saved, your soul will live forever in the joy and bliss of heaven. Just as tremendously opposite as the one who will die and spend eternity in hell is the one who will live forever in heaven. In the presence of God, experiencing the joys that he has for us there. Therefore, what indeed would it profit a man if he were to gain everything in the world, from fortune to fame, if he loses his soul in hell? What good will those profits do him then? What good will his fame do him then? It will gain him nothing in hell. It will purchase no more favorable spot in hell. It'll be worth it, that stuff will be left behind, as a matter of fact, and gain that person nothing. Oh, how sad it is to know that there are many who are in pursuit of everything that this world has to offer, who are going to lose their soul to hell. Even sadder is, they're never going to find any real satisfaction in the things of this world that they are pursuing with such intensity. They may gain wealth, they may gain fame, but they'll be left feeling empty, without purpose, because those things cannot satisfy the soul. Furthermore, there's nothing a man can acquire in this world that he can then exchange for his soul's entry into heaven. You may have all the fame and fortune this world can provide, and you cannot barter it with God to gain salvation and to gain eternal life in heaven, because we cannot buy our salvation. It is given to us. It's already been purchased, in fact. Eternal life can't be purchased by the things of this world. There's only one who can purchase your soul, and that's the Lord Jesus Christ, and he has already done so with his death on the cross, where he died for the sins of his people. You see, anyone can lose their soul, and many do. J.C. Riles says this about this verse and about losing their soul. A man may murder it by loving sin and clinging to the world. He may poison it by choosing a religion of lies and believing human superstitions. He may starve it by neglecting all means of grace and refusing to receive into his heart the gospel. There are many ways that lead us to the pit. Whatever way a man takes, he and he alone is accountable for it. There's not enough hell preached today. There's not enough warning given to many who are chasing after the things of this world right straight down into the bottom of that pit. And there should be more warning. Jesus spoke himself twice as much about hell as he did heaven. He gave that warning as he told people about his kingdom and about his grace. But let me tell you something, it's not enough just to tell someone about hell, we must tell them about heaven. And more importantly, we must tell them about Jesus, who through his grace is the way into heaven. It is Jesus that saves our souls. It is Jesus who has paid the price It is to Jesus that all the glory belongs. It's about Jesus, our Lord Jesus Christ. That's why the believer must put aside the flesh. That's why the believer must follow Christ. That's why the believer indeed believes on Christ for the salvation of their soul. So while everyone can lose their soul, there's only one who can save it. These are words that we need to give great heed to. We should remember them in the hour of temptation, when the soul seems small and the world seems shiny and great. We should remember them in the hour of persecution when we are tried by fear of other people and feel inclined to desert Christ. There is no better time to ask yourself, for what shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul? I ask you this morning, Have you entrusted your soul to Christ because you believe that he died on the cross for your sins? If you have never made that profession of faith, I urge you to do so. If in your heart right now you just feel the pull of God, Know that that is God who has quickened you, calling you to himself. Believe on Christ. And profess your salvation and be baptized and follow Christ. But understand the cost that goes with that. Understand that once we declare that we are following Christ every day, that that's gonna entail sacrifice. And that's gonna mean putting to death the things that you have given great favor to in your life to this point, those things of this world. Christ must be first. He must be first in our lives. He is first. He is the alpha and the omega. He is the beginning and the end. Nothing you and I do in our lives will ever change that. What you're being called to understand is you must demonstrate that in the way that you live your life, in the choices that you make, in the path that you walk, in your time on this earth. Can someone look at you and say, Jesus is first in that person's life? Can they say that about you? Or do they see compromise? Or do they see just an abject lack of putting Christ first? I'm gonna tell you, there are many who profess Christ, that that's what you see. When push comes to shove, when things get down, when the test is on, they choose self over Christ. And if a person consistently does that, and that is their lifestyle, the way they live, then the evidence there is, is that they haven't been born again. For those who have been born again, are there gonna be times when we falter? Absolutely. Are there gonna be times when we miss a step? Yes. But there should also be in your life some consistency about putting Jesus first. And that as you mature in Christ, as you grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ your Savior, that should become more and more the consistent testimony of your life, that Jesus is first for you. Can you say that this morning? Can you say that about yourself this morning? We're going to pause here and we're going to look at verses 38 and then verse one of Chapter 9 next Lord's death. If the Lord's willing and conclude this message. But I want you to. Understand that the scripture, the Word of God has challenged each one of us this morning. How are we gonna respond to that challenge? Let's pray. Our kind and most gracious Heavenly Father, Lord, we thank you for this day. We thank you, Lord, for the blessed privilege of being a child of God, for that free gift of grace and eternal life that you give to your people. But Lord, help us also to understand clearly what we're called to do. A call to put to death the flesh and self, and to exalt Christ, and to put Christ first in everything. Help us, Lord, to do that. Lord, we believe, help our unbelief. We have a desire to serve you that falters sometimes. Lord, please come along and strengthen us. And when we do fall, pick us up, oh Lord, brush us off. Repair us and send us forth. You have that power. And we just worship your name because of it. Oh Lord, I just pray that your Holy Spirit would speak to our hearts here here this morning. We pray this all in Jesus name, Amen. So I'll stay in what number shall we sing?