How To Miss Jesus
Matthew 19:16-22

Pastor Rev. Dr. Jonathan T. Phillips, Jr.

We miss Jesus because we feel we need to do the right thing to inherit the kingdom.

In this passage we see where the young man wanted to know what must he do to have eternal life. Jesus reminded him of the commandments: no murder, no adultery, no stealing, no bearing false witness, honor your parents, and love thy neighbor as thyself. He stated that he had kept all of these from his youth up. He then asked Jesus what did he lack. Jesus told him to sell what he hast and give to the poor and he would have treasures in heaven and follow Him. The young man heard this and left sorrowful for he had great wealth.

Salvation has nothing to do with what we do or have, but it has everything to do with what He did.

We miss Jesus because:
1. we have the wrong understanding about salvation. Some of us thing we can get in on the buddy pass, the work that we do or what we have. We can’t do enough to get into heaven. We need to know Him.

2. we have the wrong understanding about who Jesus is! Some of us have “lip service” but He’s not in our heart. We need to live so God can use us. Good deeds, going to church are only outward. We need to believe in God, that He was born of a virgin, died on the cross and rose on that third day morning! We need to trust God.

3. we hold to tightly to your  stuff. As this young man in the passage of scripture, he had finance, had gained popularity and he did not want to lose that position. We hold onto the gift and not the giver. God is the source of all things! We own nothing, God gave us everything. We are only stewards. God can “recall” or “take back” what He has given us at any time.

Don’t miss out by holding on to stuff: pride, malice, bitterness, or unforgiveness. God wants to live in us. He stands at the door and knocks for us to let Him in.

Don’t miss Jesus by holding on tightly to stuff, If you are saved stay saved or if you want to be saved, give up your life, deny yourself, and follow Christ!