Pay The Price

Intro:

This past week we jumped into a brand new sermon series called “Your Move”. In last weeks message Critic or Contributor we took a dive into the prevailing culture of criticism in America, and how the culture of criticism has left many with a critical spirit that seeks to tear down and not build up.

I shared that the aim of believers is to live according to the kingdom of God and not prevailing culture. Jesus said we are to live in the world, but not be of the world. Meaning we don’t drift with the current of Culture. Instead, we are called and commanded to express God’s nature to the world.

To express God’s nature believers must live from a place of presence and revelation. We must learn to live a lifestyle encounter. Seeking God in the secret place through worship and the study of scripture.

When we actively engage the scripture by doing what it says we are transformed. What begins as an inward change is ultimately displayed outwardly to the world. The outward display is a visible representation of the work God is doing in your life. This outward change is your testimony.

Your testimony represents your reputation, and it is a reflection of your character.

The process of building character and reputation is the very thing God wants to use to impact others around you. Often people are waiting until they have it all together to be used by God.

Front Row Leadership isn’t about having all together to be used by God. It’s learning to use your story for God’s Glory.

Wisdom that helps others comes from walking with God. Kingdom impact is found in the sharing of lessons learned. Gaining this wisdom has personal cost attached.

Critics are willing to live at the expense of others on the back row. Front row leaders are willing to pay the price to build good character and reputation.

My prayer today is that we would be a people willing to pay the price for growth and maturity for the benefit of others.

{Pray}

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Submit:

1. Godly reputation and character come at a price.

There are a few different areas of price.

First, You hear us say often that we are to die to self. Ephesians 4:22-23 tells us, “that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,”

The old way of thinking and living that leads to corruption is what we call the works of the flesh. The price of dying to self is seen in the battle to do it. Galatians 5:17.

Galatians 5:17 says, “For the flesh (the old man) lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”

Reputation and Godly character are built through consistency and discipline over time. Changing the way you think and live will often cost friendships, habits, and a sense of personal rights.

Second, Jesus makes a pretty direct about counting the cost of discipleship. Luke 14:26-30.

I am going to spend a little more time here.

Jesus says this in Luke 14:26-30 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

Wow isn’t this scripture direct! Jesus is certainly not mincing words here.

What is Jesus is saying here?

He is alluding to the fact disciples must be all in. The words he uses reveals very clearly that He isn’t second place to anything. It’s not that he is literally telling you to hate your family or yourself, but what He is saying is that He comes first.

He follows up His direct statement with an illustration of someone intending to build a tower. Do they not sit down first and count the cost. You see that His desire in this passage is that we would live un-divided for Him. This means that you now live from a kingdom perspective that is counter cultural.

There is always resistance to those who live in opposition to what’s popular. When you add the name of Jesus to that equation it elevates the opposition further because of people’s hatred for Christ.

Don’t let the this discourage you. God said He will give us everything we need to be successful! 2 Peter 1:2-4.

2 Peter 1:2-4 “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Becoming a disciple means that I move from the back row to the front row. Let me encourage you this morning, the price is worth it.

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Apply:

God through the power of the Holy Spirit has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness. This means that we lack nothing.

We have the person of the Holy Spirit to help us gain understanding of the knowledge of God.

We have exceedingly great and precious promises found in the word of God.

2. The Cost of discipleship.

The cost of discipleship is the process. Reputation and Godly character are built through consistency and discipline over time. There is nothing instant in the kingdom of God. Discipleship is more than a prayer at an alter during a service.

Discipleship is the process of learning to become Christlike.

For a moment I want you to consider the disciples that walked with Jesus.

Jesus over a period 3.5 years preached and demonstrated the Gospel to them.

He taught on right and wrong mindsets. Provoked wrong mindsets.

He put them in positions that would make them have to walk by faith. (Feeding of the 5000. you give them something to eat Matthew 14:13-21, the boat is sinking, they think they are going to die, and he is sleeping Mark 4:35-41)

He put them in position to have to learn how to lay hands on the sick and cast out devils. (Matthew 10:7-8)

The right attitude to have when demonstrating the kingdom in power. (Luke 10:20) “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

The Disciples were jockeying selfishly for position in the kingdom. For one to sit on His right and the other his left in the kingdom. The other disciples upset that they asked, because they wanted the same spot. (Matthew 20:21, Mark 10:37)

In the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus is praying in great distress before He was betrayed finds the disciples sleeping, and asks them could you not pray with me one hour. (Matthew 26:40-45)

Spiritual foundation in the disciples took time, effort, and the gaining of experience. They had to be tested and tried. They were questioned by Jesus “Who do men say that I am?” Mark 8:27-30.

Discipleship also required them to ask and answer questions.

Lord teach us to pray. (Luke 11:1-4)

How come we couldn’t heal the guys son. (Matthew 17:19) To which He responded because of your doubt and unbelief.

A Village doesn’t receive Jesus and two of the disciples James and John ask if they were to call down fire from heaven? (Luke 9:51-56) Jesus rebukes them saying, you do not know what manner of spirit you are of.

At the mount of transfiguration God descends in a cloud, Jesus is transfigured before their face. Moses and Elijah appear in glory, and all peter can think to say or do in the moment was to ask Jesus if he wanted him to build houses for the three. (Luke 9:28-36)

Jesus asks, who do men say that I am followed by who do you say that I am. Peter responds from great revelation one moment and then is immediately rebuke by Jesus and called Satan in the next. (Matthew 16:13-20)

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Closing:

You look at all the things they experienced that were recorded. Imagine what they experienced that wasn’t recorded in the scripture. We only see a glimpse of the process.

What I want you to see is the result. They were willing to pay the price resulting in the world being turned upside down. The gospel that we have today is a direct result of their willingness to lead from the front.

It cost them everything, but they knew it was worth it.

Peter and Paul were both martyred in Rome about 66AD.

Andrew was said to have been crucified in Asia Minor.

Thomas was pierced through with spears.

Philip was put to death by the Romans.

Matthew was stabbed to death in Ethiopia.

Bartholomew was martyred.

James was stoned and clubbed to death.

Simon the Zealot was killed in Persia for refusing to sacrifice to the sun God.

Matthias who replaced Judas Iscariot was burned to death.

John was cast into a boiling pot of oil, only he did not die. He was exiled on the Island of Patmos where he received the revelation of Jesus Christ that we have as the end of our bible giving understanding of what is to come in the end.

What then shall we do? How will we respond?

My prayer is that we each would determine in our hearts to pay the price.

Let’s Pray!

Holy Spirit search our hearts.

Lead us to desiring Jesus more than anything.

Give us courage to lead from the front.