Destined for Victory

Guest (Male): Hello and welcome to Destined for Victory with Pastor Paul Sheppard. It’s our pleasure to study the word of God with you today. Coming up in just a moment, the story of a man who ran up to Jesus and then sadly walked away. The message is called Death Before Life, and we’ll have it for you in just a few moments. But first, our executive director, Alicia Greer, has a few words to share with you about this critical time in the ministry of Destined for Victory. Alicia?

Alicia Greer: Thank you to all of our faithful listeners and supporters for tuning in and being blessed by these teachings. We’re so encouraged and grateful for your continued partnership with this ministry. Your generosity has set us up well heading into what are typically our more challenging summer months.

One question I often get is, how can I support the ministry? We’ve made it easier to find the answer. We’ve updated our donate page at pastorpaul.net/donate with all the ways you can contribute and partner with what God is doing here. We’re excited about these offerings and hope you’ll take a look. Thank you again for your dedication to these teachings. I remain hopeful and confident that God has great things in store for Destined for Victory in the days ahead.

Guest (Male): As you heard Alicia say, we’re committed to continuing to bring timeless truth for victorious life through Pastor Paul’s teaching for many years to come. But the truth of the matter is we can’t do that without your help, and your help is especially needed now.

When you give today, we have a great resource to send as our way of saying thank you. It’s our latest booklet, More Than Conquerors. The Christian life is a victorious life, and it doesn't happen by accident. It’s your birthright, already purchased by Jesus Christ at the highest price in history. And yet so many believers live in defeat, selling their birthright for things worth far less.

In More Than Conquerors, Pastor Paul Sheppard uses the unlikely story of Gideon to outline the path from defeat to victory. If you want to understand how to take on a victor's identity and tear down the idols competing for your heart, you'll want to reserve your copy of this outstanding resource. That's More Than Conquerors, yours this month as our thanks for your generous donation to Destined for Victory.

Give by phone by calling 855-339-5500. That’s 855-339-5500. Or visit pastorpaul.net to make a safe and secure donation online. And you can also mail your gift to Destined for Victory, Post Office Box 1767, Fremont, California, 94538.

Paul Sheppard: Sometimes we try to negotiate with God. Let’s be honest now. You try to negotiate with God. I’ll give you a... all right, how about this, God? No, you can’t work a deal with God. I know some of us are movers and shakers and we’re dealmakers. You can’t do that with God. He said sell everything you have, and the man had to walk away sad.

Guest (Male): You may remember the story, a young man asked Jesus how he can be saved. Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions and follow him. The young ruler couldn't bring himself to take such drastic measures, and he walked away from Jesus, sad and disheartened. His story and a great lesson for all of us comes your way next. The message is called Death Before Life, and here once again is Pastor Paul Sheppard.

Paul Sheppard: The principle taught here in John 12 is an extremely important principle. It tells us that there is no life without there first being death. Death to what I want, death to how I feel, death to being on the throne of my own life. I have to die in order to live. I have to die in order to see the will of God come to pass in my life.

Let’s look at an example of somebody who when he heard this had real difficulty with this. In Mark chapter 10, you have the story of the rich young ruler. In Mark chapter 10, beginning at verse 17, as Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. Good teacher, he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

Why do you call me good, Jesus answered? No one is good except God alone. Pause there for a moment. What Jesus is saying is, I’ve heard people try to argue when they try to make a case from scripture that Jesus is not God. This is one of the scriptures I’ve heard people go to. See, he said why call me good? The only one who is good is God. That means he wasn't God. No, that’s not what it means.

He’s telling this young man just understand that if you’re calling me good, you’re calling me God. Make sure you know who you’re talking to. There’s no question but that the scriptures teach Jesus is God. In the same gospel our text is in, John chapter 1, in the beginning was the word, the word was with God, and the word was God. Same was in the beginning with God.

And later on, it says and the word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth. There’s no question but that the word who is Jesus became flesh. God became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus isn't just some prophet. When you look at what Jesus said, there’s no way he could just be a prophet.

He’d either have to be God or he’s the craziest man who ever walked the face of the earth. When you try to say, well, no, he was a great man along with other great men. No, you got that wrong. Jesus couldn't have been a great man. He was either God or he was wacky. He was either God or he was seriously tripping.

He said things no prophet would ever open his mouth and say. Jesus said before Abraham was, I am. He was talking to them about Abraham like he was a bosom buddy. And they said, what are you talking about? Abraham was our father, and he lived centuries ago. Jesus said before Abraham was, I am. That’s not a prophet. That’s God or crazy man.

And so he’s saying to this rich young ruler, if you call me good, just know that good can only be assigned to God. Now, he goes on to answer the specific question, which was, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Verse 19, Jesus says to him, you know the commandments. And he names a few of them. Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.

Verse 20, the man responds, teacher, all these I have kept since I was a boy. Jesus looked at him and loved him. And then he said, one thing you lack. In other words, he didn't dispute how good a law keeper he was. Jesus said here’s the deal. Go sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.

At this, the man’s face fell. He went away sad because he had great wealth. Now, do you see what happened? Jesus said to him, the issue is not how well you keep external law. The issue is how surrendered to my agenda for your life you are. And the proof with this man who was rich, who was young, and who was a ruler—I mean, is that the American dream or what?

Old folk trying to recapture their youth, getting all kinds of surgical procedures. All kinds of stuff. We’re hoping against hope to go backwards. And just getting everything tucked and pulled and frozen and, you know, all this stuff trying to stay young. Go on help yourself, knock yourself out, do the best you can. Dye your hair whatever color you decide you want.

Do whatever you feel like doing. You lose enough, want to buy some more? Go ahead. Do whatever it is you feel like doing. Whatever makes you feel good about yourself. But know this, you will not add a moment to your life on earth. Know this, that this earthly house is going down. The Bible said teach us to number our days that we might apply our hearts to wisdom.

Don't be a fool. Don't get more foolish the older you get. When you leave one chapter and go to another one, you can think back and look back at the pictures from that chapter, but you don't live there anymore. Don't challenge young folk to stuff you can't win in. Got to be sensible as you move through here. I’m up here in these middle ages and middle age is not like that old chapter.

That old chapter you could just up and do and go and just hang. This one you got to take your time. You can get there, but you’re not as quick as you used to be. I tell them I’ll be there, y’all hold on, I’m coming. And when I was a young person, some of y’all, you know the truth, when we were young, I laughed at folk. I’m not laughing anymore.

Do the best you can, do the best you can. Whatever makes you feel good about yourself. But don't be deceived. That’s just a dream. You have a season of youth. And after that, you move on. Don't try to recapture it. Just thank God you had it. And you know, you see all these people, now you got gospel preachers who have put the American dream to scripture.

And now God is all about you becoming a millionaire. Come on, folks, we got to get our Bible reading straight. Yes, God prospers many people for his own purposes, and I personally believe that especially as one who’s looking to expand ministry and has a big vision and I’m coming to see how much money it takes to get the gospel to people and do ministry on a higher level.

I’m praying God find some faithful stewards who are being faithful over what they have and prosper them. God raise up some folk who have millions that they will give to the kingdom. I’ll be glad to pray more for folk to be prospered who have passed the poverty test. See, Luke 16 said you got to be faithful over a few things.

And that’s faithful by God’s standard, not yours. And I would love to see folk who can have it and it not have them. I’m not against prosperity by any stretch. God over the centuries has blessed his people for his own purposes. But this brand of preaching that you hear where everybody is supposed to be rich is simply not what the scriptures teach.

Jesus didn't die for you to have an Escalade. He didn't die for you to get a Bentley. He died for you to have riches in heaven. And whatever he blesses you with that you can handle on earth, it’ll be a blessing. But some folk, if God gave y’all money, it’d be the worst thing he ever did because some of us can hardly serve him now and don't have anything.

Oh, I know I’m preaching it right. And if you can't serve him and be faithful over what you have now, why would he give you more? It would violate his nature. But here’s a man who is young, he is rich, and he’s a ruler. He’s prominent. Man, that’s the American dream. And too many people are trying to get God to just sign off on that.

But look at what Jesus says to this man. He says, no, you’re wonderful and Jesus loved him. Jesus didn't have an attitude. Loved him, looked at him and loved him. He said but what you got to do is sell everything you have. Why did he ask this man to do that? Because he knew that his possessions were his heart. Now notice when Jesus selected his other disciples.

He didn't ask them for all their money because most of the other folk he selected didn't have any. You know, you tell a broke person the only prerequisite for following me is give up what you have. Bet. There you go. Won’t get you very far, but go ahead. You know for some of us, that wouldn't be the point of testing our loyalty to him.

We don't have enough to be attached to. But he did call the James and John, the sons of Zebedee, and the Bible says they left their father and followed him. They were proud boys of a man, and they had to forsake their family agenda to pursue the kingdom life. Jesus always found what would challenge his lordship, and that’s what he went after.

And so this young man, he went after his things. He said sell everything you have. And notice Jesus didn't say, sell everything you have and bring it to me. Liquidate all your assets and give it to me. That would have been a charlatan. That would have been one of these folks who just get rich at the expense of the people. Jesus said, no, I don't want your money.

He said I want your heart. Sell it, give it to the poor. Then take up your cross, come on and follow me. And the Bible says the young man walked away sad. There was something in him that wanted eternal life, but that surrender was not there. His attitude was, I’m sorry Jesus, I’m not giving up my money for you.

I’m sorry. We can work a deal. I’ll give you a cut. Sometimes we try to negotiate with God. Let’s be honest now. You try to negotiate with God. I’ll give you a... all right, how about this, God? No, you can’t work a deal with God. I know some of us are movers and shakers and we’re dealmakers. You can’t do that with God. He said sell everything you have, and the man had to walk away sad.

Guest (Male): In case you joined us late, you’re listening to Destined for Victory featuring the teaching ministry of Pastor Paul Sheppard. Stay with us, the second half of today’s message is coming right up. One of the things we love to do for friends and listeners is to pray for you when you’re in need.

So, if you have a prayer request, please visit pastorpaul.net and use the contact feature to share it with us. Our ministry team is always happy to lift you up in prayer. And of course, when you stop by our website, remember that’s where you can listen to the broadcast on demand at your convenience or find out how to download our free app, pastorpaul.net. Many things are impossible for man, but nothing is impossible for God. For more on the rich young ruler and what his story means to you and me, let’s turn our attention to the rest of today’s Destined for Victory message, Death Before Life.

Paul Sheppard: Now, here’s what I want you to see. Keep on reading. After this encounter, then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. He said the disciples were amazed at his words, and he said again, it’s hard to enter the kingdom of God. It’s easier, in fact, for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

The disciples were even more amazed and said to each other, who then can be saved? Did Jesus set it up this way so that they would become curious? Well, wait a minute, how in the world is anybody going to live up to that standard? Jesus said with man this is impossible, but not with God. All things are possible with God.

And then Peter got the revelation that he’s not just talking about rich people and their money. The point is a point of surrender. So when Peter, when the lights come on for Peter, he says, we’ve left everything to follow you. In other words, we weren't rich, but we did surrender everything. We gave up everything to follow you.

And Jesus' response is, I tell you the truth, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age. Homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields and with them persecutions. And in the age to come, eternal life.

But many who are first will be last, and the last first. You see what Jesus said? When Peter said we gave up everything, we didn't have riches, but I had my fishing trade and you said I’m going to make you fishers of men and I had to leave my pursuit to follow you. And James and John had to leave their father to follow you.

And on and on, we have forsaken everything that was valuable to us. And Jesus’ promise was, and because you’ve done that, you’re now in a position to receive a hundredfold in this life. Now, what does Jesus mean by that? He doesn't mean if you give up a home and sign it over to the kingdom of God so that the work of God can be done with the proceeds from that, that God’s going to bless you with a hundred homes with your name on the deed.

That’s not what he means, although unfortunately there are folk who preach it like that. Hundredfold return. Give $5, you get back $500. God doesn't run a pyramid scheme. If that’s the deal, man, I’m signing up. Talk about an investment. See, that’s the carnal mind. Jesus said you’ll get a hundredfold return. What does he mean?

He said I’m bringing you into a kingdom that belongs to the one who owns everything. When I surrender to God, I put myself in a position to be blessed with any and everything I need so that his will is fulfilled through my life. So if I need a home, God will give me a home because I’m surrendered to him.

If I’ve given up something and I need the replacement, God will give it to me because I’m surrendered to him. And he emphasized that he was talking about the surrendered life by saying you’ll get back houses and brothers and sisters and all that with persecutions. In other words, you’ll never be worldly. The world will never see you as one of their own because you march to the beat of a different drummer.

A Christian millionaire doesn't look like a worldly millionaire because their millions are dedicated to the purpose of God. Sure, they can live in a nice house and enjoy whatever trappings of their success God allows them to enjoy. But many of them, their greatest fulfillment is in giving into the kingdom so that the work of God is done.

And because your life is marked by kingdom priorities, Jesus said, you will face persecution. One of the signs that you walk with the lord is that there will always be some set of folk in your life who just don't get it. They look at you and say, what is your problem? Why are you always at church? Why are you always have your nose in that Bible?

Why are you always praying? What is your problem? They won’t get it. They’ll despise you, they’ll resent you. Some of them will persecute you, they’ll come against you, try to make trouble for you on your job because they resent the fact that you are sold out to God’s purposes for your life. And so Jesus said, if you surrender, there are great blessings coming your way.

If you surrender, there is something that you can always be assured of and that is that God will supply every one of your needs. Folks, I want to let you know that this principle is powerful. The way to live is to die. To die to the self, to die to my own will, to die to what I want, to trust that God has the ultimate plan for my life.

I say it often, when we get the understanding that God is not a little bit smarter than we are, that he is infinitely more wise. Imagine how insulting it is, thank God for grace. Imagine how often if it weren't for grace, we would insult God over and over and over again when I fail to trust him. Lord, if I give this, am I going to make it?

You told me to give generously to the kingdom and oh, Lord. I’m saying to God who owns the heaven and earth, I’m not sure if I do what you told me to do that I’m going to make it. And about every area of my life, if I give my career... well, God’s leading me in this direction but, you know, I’ve always had my heart set on another career.

Now I feel God calling me in another direction and I don't know, went on the internet and there’s not a whole lot of money over in this. How insulting to our God that you’re checking the internet to see if you can do what God said. And you’re reading behind worldly people who don't listen to God, who don't do his will.

Because listen, tell you truth, godly folk can think you’re crazy for doing his will sometimes. Sometimes people who know God, they just don't have the understanding of what he’s doing in your life. And they’re wonderful people. I had a whole lot of folk who when I told them God’s leading me to California, they said, what is your problem?

Everything you need is in Philly. Your blessings are in Philly. Your future’s in Philly. Everything’s looking up in Philly. And came out here to a little scouting trip looking for a house and you heard the story, to take a pay cut and go from $200 a month in Philly to $1,000, 995 a month in California and taking a pay cut.

That doesn't make any sense. So some folk would say, oh, see, that’s proof that’s not God. God’s not going to send you somewhere to make you starve to death. But I knew that I had heard from God and had to say, okay, Lord, I preached faith for several years as a concept. Concept in scripture. I believe the word and I believe God supplied need, but I never had to live it because the paycheck was cool.

So I preached it faithfully because it was in the book. But driving out here, I said, okay, now I’m going to find out. And only then when you’re surrendered. See, you can’t put one foot in the boat and one on the water and try to walk on water. That’s tempting God. That’s presuming that you have to stay in control until God proves to you.

No, no, if you want to walk on the water—John Ortberg wrote the book—if you want to walk on the water, you have to get out of the boat. Have to get out of the boat. You got to make a full commitment. Okay, God, I’m going. And only when Peter got out there, out of the boat, away from safety, the only security was Jesus' word, come.

I’m in the book, Matthew 14. Jesus' word, come. That’s the only thing he’s standing on. He’s not standing on water. You can’t stand on water. But you can stand on come. And he got out there, said look at this, I’m going on the water, up and down with the waves. But just like I said earlier in the message, you have to keep that surrender and you got to constantly renew it.

He got out there and started looking around and his natural mind said, what are you doing? Have you lost your mind? And he became afraid, and fear is not a kingdom concept. Fear militates against the way the kingdom operates. And as sure as he began to think from the natural perspective, he went down. Jesus had to reach down and save him.

I want to tell you folk, the surrendered life is the blessed life. It’s the life where God will have his way.

Guest (Male): The world tells you that self-love leads to self-improvement, but in the kingdom of God, the road to self-improvement is paved with self-denial. It’s a death before life paradox, one of many you’ll find in God’s word. We’re so glad you stopped by for today’s Destined for Victory message, Death Before Life.

To find out more about Destined for Victory’s mission and purpose or about the special gift reserved for you when you give generously today, please come see us at pastorpaul.net. That’s pastorpaul.net. One of the toughest areas for us to experience death to self and gain the life that God has for us is the area of holding onto things that God has called us to let go of. That's next time in our message, Dying to Move On. Until then, remember, he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. In Christ, you are destined for victory.