Sermon on Jesus | “I’d Rather Have Jesus”

1. Wealth has always drawn the allure of men.

1) Many think that wealth can solve all of life’s problems.

2) They pursue wealth at all costs including their personal lives, families, and belongings.

2. But wealth is fleeting.

1) Matthew 6:19 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal.”

2) 1 Timothy 6:17 says that riches are “uncertain.”

3) 1 John 2:17 says that the world passes away.

3. Moreover, one can’t pursue both wealth and God.

1) Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

2) 1 Timothy 6:9 “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”

4. Jesus offers so much more than wealth.

1) Happiness, Contentment, Love, Hope – these are all things that Jesus has that wealth cannot give.

2) Consider John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.”

3) Jesus also provides for us salvation which all the wealth of the world cannot buy.

4) Consider Psalm 49:6-7 “They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:”

1. There are many today who desire popularity.

1) We are social creatures.

2) We desire interaction with other people.

2. People, however, are fickle.

1) Friends come and go. Friends today may not be friends tomorrow.

2) Popularity often turns upon one or two individuals’ opinions.

3) Pilate allowed his fear of being unpopular to crucify Jesus.

3. The Bible teaches that we are to please God, not men.

1) Galatians 1:10 “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

2) Acts 5:29 “We ought to obey God rather than men.”

3) 1 Thessalonians 2:4 “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.”

4. The Christian would rather have Jesus than all of the popularity in the world.

1) Jesus gives friendship that never ends so long as we desire His friendship.

2) John 15:14-15 “Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you. No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father, I have made known unto you.”

3) Like Abraham, we can be God’s friend if we have constant faith in Him ( James 2:23).

4) And if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

1. Sin is very alluring.

5) Sin never says “I a sin.”It always presents itself as something attractive.

6) Sin offers pleasure.

7) Sin doesn’t warn us regarding its consequences.

5. The Bible teaches that sin separates us from God.

1) Isaiah 59:2

2) Romans 6:23

3) When we come into the bondage of sin, we are slaves to it. “Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin.”( John 8:34)

6. Jesus, however, provides deliverance from sin.

1) Jesus provides the truth which sets us free: John 8:31-32 “If ye abide in my words….”

2) Romans 8:36 “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

3) Romans 6:17-18 “But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.”