We return to the Gospel of Matthew this evening as we have topical sermons. And as I might have noted this morning, if not, it was a real busy week. Lots of blessing with my tent making job, but pretty demanding this week. and it was necessary to go to topical sermons to kind of pull it off. The Lord guided me with what to preach this morning, actually kind of second in terms of what I was thinking about. What I want to share with you this evening is coming from a number of things that I was just hearing this week that was really profound to me and kind of seemed to go together, and I want to bring that together in this topical sermon this evening. But there is, by God's blessing, some connection to the morning sermon about wide is the gate that leads to destruction. Many go that way, and the wide way is the wrong way. There's an overlap of that thought, and there'll be an allusion to that in some of the quotes this evening. But tonight we go to Matthew 16, verse 25. This is Jesus speaking. We will look at briefly a little context before and after. Matthew 16 verse 25, hear now the word of the Lord. For whosoever shall save his life shall lose it. And whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. Again, admittedly, I'm bringing some thoughts to you together, thinking of this verse along the way, but thinking of this idea of losing. So I want you to especially give your thoughts to this idea of losing and loss and what that would say about us to the world. Read it once more, Matthew 16, 25. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it and whosoever will lose his life For my sake shall find it I want to share something with you I heard on a podcast this week from the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, Place for Truth, one of its podcasts is called, Theology on the Go. And I think it went up pretty recently, I encourage you to give it a listen. They usually have a guest that they interview, and the guest this time was Stephen Yuley, forgive me I'm not sure if I'm pronouncing his name right, but he's the Director of Puritan Publishing at Reformation Heritage Books, and a professor of church history. And the name of the podcast interview was, Why Should We Care About the Puritans? I recommend it to you, I enjoyed it. I'm not gonna get into the answer to that question as much as something that he said during the interview about halfway through that I found really striking, really made me think in a way I haven't thought. and it'll guide our thinking this evening. He said this, we need to remember the Puritans lost. They lost the battles they were waging. And often then the victors interpret the losers. So the interpretation of Puritans by their enemies is what has chiefly come down to us through the centuries. What battles did they lose? What were they losing? And he defined the battle as ultimately the worship wars. He said it was particularly about reformation, reforming worship per the scriptures as the authority, sola scriptura. But ultimately, he says, they lost. Now we know it was an important movement of the Holy Spirit, and we all benefit from many of their writings as the Spirit puts it on the spirits and hearts of people to reprint works for us. But it struck me the Puritans were losers. He said they lost they were losers Much of what they were working for they didn't get Much of what they were striving for didn't happen So while the Puritans are our heroes, and I think that within our group and such groups as we heard talking on this interview, and I've mentioned a brother who was excited to learn about our church and our church name recently, while we tend to get excited about the Puritans because of the blessing of having the opportunity to hear them directly, of loving God and loving his word and wanting to have our whole life be one of good doctrine and pious living. While there are heroes, we are also their descendants. And so what does that mean of you and me? At least what I think it means to most others, including many in other churches, is this. You and I are losers. We're not going to win. I think we experience that all the time. We hope to have a little influence, we hope to survive, but we're certainly not winning, we're losing, as it relates to things the way that humans evaluate. So as the broader church during the days of the Puritans, in our time, When we are referred to as Puritan, it's a derogatory, pejorative slur. It's an insult. That's where the word Puritan comes from. It's actually meant to be an insult, which is why they didn't want to be called that. As I shared with you not long ago, another Christian I was involved with, when asked, I shared the name of my church and I braced for it, because I almost always get a look, but this time I got an interesting response because of the name Puritan, Reformed Presbyterian Church. The response quickly was, oh, I'm sorry. Pityed me for having the name Puritan. It was essentially a slap in the face immediately. Oh, how pathetic. You're a Puritan church. That is largely the view of the Puritans and churches that would seek to follow by their good and godly example today. Even in many churches, you'll hear the word Puritanical. But the one who is willing to lose his life now for Jesus finds it forever in Jesus. I give that to you as the idea of our verse and its context. The one who is willing to lose his life now, to be a loser now, finds his life forever and wins in Jesus. but it involves being labeled a loser, being looked upon as a loser. The few who are reviled in this life for finding Christ's blessed life. Most will only see you as losers. You could be at so many other churches, you wouldn't have to worry about this or that. Look at the numbers, look at the programs. Sometimes, frankly often, look at that, look at that. Always sweep those things under the rug. Here's what it looks like to be a loser for Jesus. Look at verse 24. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Take up his cross. It's not that we literally crucify ourselves, only Christ is crucified to give us life, but we die to ourselves and we live for Jesus. Which means we identify with Jesus and the world thinks Jesus is a loser. And frankly, a lot of the church, if they're honest, think he's a loser too, and are embarrassed by him. And so change the message, his message, and change the way, his ways, to accommodate the world and be cool. I was at, this is just coming to mind, I was at a training session for para-church organizations, and it was great. But it was interesting because the person teaching shared about another pastor who was very cool, you know, they were talking about different styles and different brands and that kind of thing, and described the clothing, different stuff, and then said, you know, so Grant, you're different, like she knows that I'm a pastor too, and I turned to the people next to me and go, did she just say I'm not cool? She's like, no, no, no, I didn't say that. I thought, I guess I probably don't look cool. I don't think I'm cool. I'm certainly beyond the ability to even pretend I could be at this age and stage of life. But you know, there's always that, I think, desire to want to be thought you're cool and to be willing to compromise to be cool, including in church, including as pastors. But losing is to die to yourself. Galatians 2.20, I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life that I live in the body, I live in the flesh of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. I'm dead to this world. I'm alive in Christ. I'm dead to the need to be liked by this world. I'm ready to be considered a loser by it. And that's how we are a loser for Jesus. And here's what losing will look like later on if we're not willing to be losers for and with Jesus. Now, verse 26, for what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Christ's call upon your life is to be winners in the end by being losers in the meantime, often the moral minority. When we die to ourselves, we're found living in Christ. It is for Christ's sake Matthew 10 verse 39 also. Now that's the thing, it's interesting that all four Gospels have similar things said by Jesus. Not always the case. The Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, sometimes significantly different than what John says. But all four Gospels, they all say the same idea with some different applications or adjustments. But Matthew 10 verse 39 also Mark 8 verse 35 beyond Christ's sake. It's also for the sake of Christ's gospel. Why would we be willing to lose everything and live for him and be considered losers? To advance his kingdom Luke 19 verse 17. It's also to save your life. not just find your life, but save it. Luke 17, verse 33, again, they're all parallel scriptures saying the same thing for the most part. It's also to preserve your life. John 12 verse 25, to keep your life to life eternal is why you would be willing to be a loser now and lose everything. Also in that verse in John, it says to love Jesus is to hate your life in this world. And see, that's the thing, the world and the worldliness in many churches, you have to hate that. and you have to be willing to let it thus hate you. Instead of loving your own life, Jesus says, you don't love your own life, you hate your life in this world. You're now a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, you've died to yourself, you've died to the world, and they think you're nuts. And they think you are a loser for what you're willing to give up, and suffer, and miss out on. Go back to Revelation, the first letters, the seven letters to the churches of Asia. You're willing to lose in the marketplace. You're willing to lose. You're willing to suffer a job, an income, a career, if necessary, for the cause of Christ. And that's often going to be what you're willing to do and not do, such as I will not say that Caesar is Lord. I won't do it. And you only had to do it. I mean, you didn't have to really do it in your heart. Just do it. I won't. I can't. There's no way I'm going to do that. That idea of loving your own life that you are not to do, rather you hate your life in this world, is the Greek word philo, which I think by the definition I'll share is a good example that it's basically a synonym of agape. It means have affection for, you could say kiss, sometimes it could be pray or ask, but befriend is the idea of loving your life in this world. You can't. You have to kiss a goodbye, if anything, to be a friend of Christ. But here's the thing, when you do that, and when we do that, we look like a bunch of losers. And that's the truth, and we're often spoken of as a bunch of losers. And the thing is, we are a bunch of losers. But tonight, I just kinda wanna, I wanna bring that in and own it for myself, and I'm inviting you to join me, that we're a bunch of losers. Praise the Lord. I wanna be a loser for the Lord Jesus. I don't need to be cool. I don't need to have everybody's approval. I just want to live for Jesus. And very often, everybody's gonna think I'm stupid and crazy, especially the more that we would seek to be godly for him and seek to deny this world in our lives and sacrifice it, including in worship, just let alone worship in the calendar year. Oh, how are we thought to be losers, crazy people. But at the end of the day... We need to be more concerned with what Jesus says about worldly winners and their interpretation of you and me. And of themselves, Luke 14 verses 25 to 27, and there went great multitudes with him and he turned and said unto them, if any man come to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. You gotta be willing to lose it all. Your reputation. your relations. You can't be willing to compromise Christ and the Great Commission. You need to be willing to lose your life to save it. You need to be willing to lose it all and all to be deemed losers. or you might not be there with him yet. Think of the Beatitudes. I want to encourage you to turn with me earlier on in the gospel of Matthew to chapter five. Because you'll notice I'm connecting this idea of being a loser with being blessed. And I have in view what is there, but particularly thinking back to the Beatitudes where Jesus describes, this is what it is to be my people. It isn't so much this is what it is to become, it is this is what it is, this is what it is. But it's not what the world thinks. the citizens of this kingdom is pretty much turned upside down compared to what the world thinks. I wanna read with you verses one through 12, and then I wanna hone in on a few of the verses, but notice as we go through each of the Beatitudes, blessed, it doesn't sound like blessed, I'm pretty sure you and I don't have it on our list if we're honest. And in fact, when I gave an introductory sermon to introduce the Beatitudes before we went through them one by one and following sermons in Matthew years ago, I gave it this title, the summarizing sermon. Cursed Christians, you are blessed. But the world thinks you're cursed. And the world curses you for being like this. But you need to know you're blessed. So let's read. Cursed Christians, you're actually blessed as you're willing to be losers and lose all for the sake of Christ and what you gain in Him. Matthew 5, verses 1 to 12. And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain and when he was set, his disciples came unto him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying, blessed are the poor in spirit. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Before we continue, I've seen a number of folks, I don't think it's unrelated, but I think it's important not to say it too quickly and gloss over parts of the verse. It doesn't say blessed are the poor. It says blessed are the poor in spirit. You could be rich or poor, for that to call you. It's poor in spirit, you're not happy with this world. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Now, you'll know many other sermons and scriptures we read, we know that the scriptures would have us take care of the poor. But it doesn't say blessed are the poor, it says blessed are the poor in spirit. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. But see, that's the thing. Not this world. the kingdom of heaven. Verse four, blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Mourn, M-O-U-R-N, sad. I'm not happy here. This isn't my home. I grieve, as our Psalm says, like rivers of water when I see people not obeying your law, especially those who ought to love your law. This world is not where our full happiness is, it's in the kingdom of Christ and the world to come. But the world is all about now, now, I have to be happy now. I can never suffer, I can never be sad, now, now, all the time, now, that's it. I don't wanna lose, I want to gain it all now. And I will suffer anything and anyone else to get it. Verse five, blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Meekness. I think I've shared with you before, I remember one of my bosses years ago quoted a famous basketball player. Well, the meek may inherit the earth, but they're not gonna get the ball. Sounds cute on the surface, but it's basically contradicting it. You're not gonna get ahead in life being meek. No, maybe not. but that's not the concern. It's about eternal life and living that out in Christ. Verse six, blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. That's so much of the heart of the Puritans, to want Christ's righteousness, to hunger and thirst after his righteous ways. But it's not the appetite or the thirst of the world. Verse seven, blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Well, we know the scriptures say mercy triumphs over judgment, but that's not the way of the world. Verse eight, blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Purity of heart is mocked. Just watch a little bit of any news about anything with entertainment, the idea of purity of practice, let alone purity of heart. What a joke that is. You prudes, if not Puritans, right? You're gonna lose out on knowing and experiencing these things that everybody does today? Well, remember, the wide way is not the right way. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Peacemakers are not pacifiers, you'll remember from preaching through these. Peacemakers are not the ones that say, I don't wanna stick my neck out, and they're willing to let someone else's foot stay on the neck of someone else. Peacemakers get involved to have real peace. Blessed are they, verse 10, which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Yeah, I'm signing up for that. That sounds great. That's definitely what the world thinks, right? I totally want that reputation as a pastor. I totally want that way people think about me in the marketplace. I want everybody saying bad things about me that I don't deserve. Not only that, verse 12, rejoice, be exceeding glad when it happens. Okay, yeah. Come on, you and I are not responding naturally. We need the supernatural work of God to actually say, okay, I'm willing to lose everything. Rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven For so persecuted they the prophets which were before you That is if you're getting persecuted for my sake as Jesus says lose your life for my sake Lose your life for the gospel's sake be considered losers By the world to win for the gospel's sake and enjoy life forevermore with me Let that be the natural expression of who you are in these Beatitudes. Cursed Christians, you are absolutely actually blessed. But I want to highlight verses 10 through 12 again, considering what we're seeing in our main scripture tonight, Matthew 16, 25. Blessed are ye. Losers, you might say. when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake." I'm confused. Isn't one of the Ten Commandments, thou shalt not bear false witness against your neighbor? Yeah, but you're blessed if it happens to you, blessed if you're not doing it. but it's blessed if it's happening to you. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Okay, who persecuted the prophets? It wasn't the Babylonians. It wasn't the Persians. It was the Israelites, it was God's people. Stop telling us what to do. We want our idols. We want the idols of this world. We want to know how they worship them, and we want to do it ourselves. So be it, we'll eventually sacrifice our very own children literally on the altars of these pagan idols and gods. Don't tell us what to do. waves and waves of that God sent them out because they wouldn't listen to the promise of being punished if they wouldn't change. But what they did to the prophets who were speaking the truth compared to the false prophets you've been warned about recently in Deuteronomy, and how do you know? If it tells you to do what the Word of God says not to do. What or tells you not to do what God says to do. That's how you know if they're false prophets. But those are the prophets that people pay really well for. Getting what their itching ears want them to give them. I mean, beloved, you could go be in a lot of other churches and have it easy. I could go make a lot of money in a lot of other churches if I would simply just be willing to tell the people what they want to hear. And not proclaim, thus saith the Lord. But that's to win with the world. It's not to be a winner in Jesus. That's to win temporary things now and not be willing to lose for Jesus. Jesus says, how blessed are you? Because you're like the prophets before who are pointing to in like me, Jesus, the final prophet of Deuteronomy 18, verse 18, that Moses points to. They did the same thing to him. He said, the world hates me. It will hate you if it hates your master. So you're blessed to be a loser if people see Jesus in you and don't like you because of Jesus Now The Beatitudes are the way of being a blessing to the world, ultimately, for the other losers that Jesus will draw to Himself and actually be winners in Him. Look at verses 13 to 16. Ye are the salt of the earth, you losers. This is what you need to remember. The world doesn't want you. The world hates you. The world wants to stamp you out. But what these verses are saying, you are the only reason the world still exists. They don't know it. But the only reason this world has not yet been destroyed is because you are the salt and light here that preserves it. And when you're gone, they are going to the lake of fire and darkness. You have the opportunity to draw a few more losers with you to lose it all and then be in their lives with Christ. Ye are the salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost of his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick. And it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." The world's going to hate you for your good works. The world's going to want to step on your necks and knock you down for your good works. But don't be ashamed to be a loser for Jesus, because that is the way He's going to bring other people into eternal life. For those he's going to call, it's going to be those who call you bad names, where Jesus will bring others to have their names written in the book of life through you. So embrace it, you bunch of losers, as I'm seeking to embrace it. Because when we're afraid to be losers, we risk not bringing the gospel to others who might respond to it. because we're too concerned what the world will say about us being that light, what the world will say about us, what worldly churches will say about us for being that light and salt. But that is what will bring them to come and know and worship God. William Secker's book, The Consistent Christian. You'll remember a section recently, we're actually still in, entitled, It is dangerous dressing himself for the heavenly world by the looking glass of this present world. You cannot judge yourself based on reality of spiritual things because of what it looks like in the world and what the world looks at you like. Thinking, if not saying, what a bunch of losers. He says this, William Secker, Satan's herd of swine is larger than Christ's flock of sheep. I mean, that's reality. And there are many birds of prey to one bird of paradise. And lastly, he says, the scripture not only presents us with an account of the purity of those who shall be saved, but also with the smallness of their number. And he references Matthew 7, 13 to 14, our text this morning. Narrow is the way that leads to life. Few there be that find it. But you've got to be willing to be seen and labeled and treated as losers for others to find it through you as you do good works. What were the Puritans so concerned for? Pure and pious worship, pure and pious living based on good and holy doctrine. But pure and good and holy living. And that's what people are gonna say, why are you such a prude? Why are you worried so much about purity of worship? Come on, we can do some things, we don't have to worry about it all. God says constantly, don't add or take away, right? But you know, okay, but that's Old Testament, right? Why are you so worried about it? I've said before, I think it's worth saying again, losers, because a lot of people won't wanna be numbered among you or named among you. One of the folks that used to be here years ago went to Dr. Bacon's church for a conference on the Puritans in Texas, and they asked him, look at all these people here, but they don't usually come to your church. Why is that? And Dr. Bacon's answer is people want the theology of the Puritans, but they don't want their practice. But that's where the rubber meets the road, beloved. I want you to remember 1 Corinthians 1, verses 26 to 31. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things of the world, and things which are despised hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not to bring to naught things that are. that no flesh should glory in his presence, but of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, that according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. Remember James chapter one, verses nine to 11. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, but the rich in that he is made low. Because as the flower of the grass, he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass and the flower thereof falleth and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth. So also shall the rich Man fade away in his ways. Isn't so much of not being willing to be numbered with Christ, not being willing to seek these pure things and sacrifice and be crucified to the world, isn't it wanting one way or the other to have the riches of this world for a moment, and yet they'll look up as the rich man did to Lazarus, and the answer would be, well, you had the good things for a moment in this life. Wouldn't have been better, though, had you had them now forever with Lazarus. And remember that it is we losers who will inherit the earth and all things through Jesus Christ. Yes, who came on a donkey, and they treated him like a loser all the way to the cross and upon it. He's coming back on his white horse, conquering and to conquer, having made you more than conquerors. And so beloved, let Philippians 3 verses 78 be your life's motto. Now remember, Paul gave everything up. He had, he goes through his list of here's all the reasons I could boast. That being said, here's my life's model. May it be yours, Philippians 3, 7 to 8. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless. And I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and to count them but dung, that I may win Christ. Back to our text. Matthew 16, 25, for whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it, and elsewhere in those parallel verses shall gain these things. Remember that Christ's crown of victory was gained through the cross, which was reserved, as Paul also says in Philippians, for the lowest losers. Remember all that we studied about Christ's humiliation in the larger catechism not so long ago He couldn't have gone lower Your way is the same Hebrews 12 1 to 2 looking to Jesus the author and finisher of your faith who? Faced and went through the cross because of the crown set before him so the same for you But remember following the example of all the loose of Hebrews 11, who went before you and before him, but when in the end, who were sawed in half, some literally, not metaphor, were sawed asunder into. Moses, who gave up the riches of this world to be found in Christ. But to the world, what a bunch of losers. Why would you give that all up? So far ourselves as well have lost. People look to our graves and say what a loss what losers they could have had all these things and that's what they chose to have their life be about Christ in his church and Sacrifice so many things they could have done and enjoyed but what they don't recognize is you will be raised from those places on the last great day and invited into Your father's house that's been getting prepared for you with your room since the foundation of the world where there is great and eternal, unspeakable joy, while those who win in this world will be with the rich man screaming from hell never to enjoy a drop of anything ever again. Still, also consider the end of the narrow way. Many losers now and shall be victors, surrounded by angels, shown to us in the book of Revelation. After this, I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands, and cried with a loud voice, saying, salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. Chapter 7, verses 9 to 10. And Revelation 19, verses 6 to 8. And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thundering, saying, Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come. and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. Who is the wife of the lamb? It's you, the church. Do you understand he's the king of kings? And so Psalm 45 declares of you, as you know, that you are the queen. of the universe. This is where it is all leading you bunch of losers. Glorious victory forever. But you gotta wait for it. You gotta be willing to lose your life now. And you gain everything in return. You may be losers, but you are wise and you will win. And you are no fools. Think of the Ecuadorian missionary, Jim Elliott, who said this, he's famous for saying this, who died in his missionary service. He is no fool who gives away what he cannot keep to gain what he can not lose. But it turns out he's not the first to say that. This is the other thing I came across this week and said, boy, that just, I'd like to think about being a loser together with these thoughts. Douglas K. Kudalik, I don't know that I'm saying his name correctly, on his sharpeniron.org website explains that phrase, Jim Elliott, he is no fool who gives away what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. I share from Douglas K. Kudalik that quote is universally associated today with the name Jim Elliot, one of five American missionaries who were martyred in South America in the 1950s. He had indeed written them in his journal and they convey a profound truth, but they did not originate with Elliot. almost those precise words were spoken and written centuries earlier. He goes on, to find the original or perhaps yet one more preacher who borrowed these words from someone else, we must go back almost 300 years to the mid 1600s, to the life of Philip Henry, who lived from 1631 to 1696. father of Matthew Henry. 1662 to 1714, the famous Bible commentator. And can I also say a Puritan and Presbyterian. In Matthew Henry's biographical account of his father's life, he notes his father's practice while pastor in Woodenbury, England, 1658 to 1662, to set aside a 10th of his income for charitable purposes. notably the relief of the poor. So keep that in mind with my disclaimer in the Beatitudes. Matthew then states regarding his father. Before I read, I think it's very likely accurate to understand that when he's talking about giving 10th of his income to the poor, that would be a cheerful gift in addition to 10th of his income as a tithe to the church first. Matthew Henry states regarding his father, again, Philip Henry, who until now I couldn't have even told you his name. Could you? Did you even know he was a pastor? I didn't. I should've. Matthew Henry writes this of his father, Philip Henry. To encourage himself and others to works of charity, he would say, he is no fool who parts with that which he cannot keep when he is sure to be recompensed with that which he cannot lose. What might the Lord do in all kinds of amazing things if that is our theme in life? but everybody will think we're a bunch of losers for giving up whatever it would take to do that kind of influence in the world, of our time, treasures, and talents. Matthew Henry. Douglas continues, Matthew Henry being famous and his works well known, at least to former generations, it is quite possible that Jim Elliott read these words himself, found them quoted in a book or heard them in a sermon with or without a scription and adopted them as a personal motto. It's very likely that Jim Elliott came across that phrase, adopted it as his own, getting it from Matthew Henry, from his father, either attributed to him or over time, possibly not. But the point is, likely the world at that time and certainly now would think of Philip Henry as a loser. Just like those who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem with Nehemiah that we looked at last week in chapter three, so you ultimately win for all you lose to rebuild the walls. Your names are known by God, if not the world, and if they are known by the world, simply to mock and jeer at them, which we'll see that when we get to chapter four of Nehemiah. You may not realize how your obscure names and journal notes or perhaps daily nuggets may just feed future losers with Puritan hearts that cause them to actually become more than conquerors and rebuild the walls of the temple of the Holy Spirit in each of their generations awaiting Christ's return with the new Jerusalem. Once you realize you are losers, at least this is the way I'm processing it, and you realize you can't win for losing. I don't know about you, but I often say I feel like whatever I touch turns to dust. Two steps forwards, three steps back. But when you realize you can't win for losing, you can't lose. There's no fear of risking failure. You are a failure, you're going to fail. Humanly speaking. Very little to write about it. Maybe one little phrase you might have something to do with might make it hundreds and hundreds of years later, but they won't even know you said it. But you can have more confidence and be conformed to Christ. knowing you ultimately win and are in good company. Such were the prophets, such was and is your Savior. Remember, in Christ, you have gotten the victory. Though most will look down on you as losers, you look up to Christ and say, for his name's sake, for the gospel's sake, for your own life's sake and the life of others, thinking of the reformers and the martyrs and the Puritans, we are blessed to belong with the losers. That's where I've gotten. I hope that you'll go there with me. This is the message for you this evening from the text. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. Amen and amen. With Jim Elliott, with Matthew Henry, with Philip Henry, with all the prophets before us, with Nehemiah, with the Lord Jesus Christ, I promise you, beloved, we are blessed to belong with the losers. And we do, if the Lord has truly given us a Puritan spirit, we'll always be losers. We'll always lose in this life, but not in the life to come. Oh, how blessed we are to belong with the losers. Let us pray. Almighty God, we do thank you for bringing us to lose our life, that we would save it, that we would gain all things in you. Help us to be willing to identify with you, Almighty God, Jesus Christ, and indeed let our life's motto truly be that we are Christians who are cursed, but we are blessed, and that the Beatitudes do describe our life in Christ. And let our motto be that of Paul's indeed, But what things were gained to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and to count them but dung that I may win Christ. And Lord, with all of those, the reformers Berean spirits. And those were the heart of the Puritans. May we all trust in the end in Christ, we win. And so for now we are very happy to be numbered with him and among one another and the prophets before us and lose. For we gain all and we cannot lose. We pray these things through Jesus Christ and we pray in the spirit, come Lord Jesus, come quickly. All your people saying, amen.