The Cost to Follow Jesus Today

Story

Introduction

Aim

Text Luke

Discipleship

Meaning: The concept of disciple is expressed in the NT through the word mathētēs.

Meaning: 1. Main Characteristics of Discipleship. One becomes a disciple when called by Jesus himself (e.g., Mark 1:17; 2:14). The initiative lay with Jesus alone; apart from his call, there is no recognizable motive for one to become a disciple and follow Jesus. The synoptic tradition contains instances when the would-be disciple takes the initiative, but all of these attempts fail, and there is no evidence that discipleship would have resulted. In Mark 10:17–27 the rich young ruler turns to Jesus, but when the call to discipleship confronts him, he goes away sadly. According to Luke 9:57–60 Q, several came to Jesus with the intention to be his disciples, yet failed to become disciples because they remained bound to their past. We should take note that the stories for every one of the disciples have not come down to us. The self-understanding of Jesus, who saw the embodiment of the breaking in of the entirely new (the Kingdom of God) in his own person (cf. Luke 11:20 Q; 17:21), was reflected in the call which created the discipleship existence. This call is the indication of the nearness of God, who anticipates the human search for him and unexpectedly and uninvited enters the human life.

Today’s Disciple (overhead)

Cost

Who is Jesus talking to?

What was Jesus speaking to them about ?

Requirement are for everyone

Hindrances

Thought: here are three general thing that hinders so many from doing the LORD’s will

Follower number one

Follower number two

Follower number three

Question? if you had to do some soul searching right now, what would you need to to bring your life in line with the will of Jesus Christ?

Looking at Luke 14: 26, 27, 33, what must you do today in order to be a disciple of Jesus Christ today?

Vs 26

Vs 27

Vs 33

The Price

To follow Jesus , He spells out what it would cost:

Vs 26, “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.

Hate: μισέω: to dislike strongly, with the implication of aversion and hostility—‘to hate, to detest.’ οἱ δὲ πολῖται αὐτοῦ ἐμίσουν αὐτόν ‘and his fellow countrymen hated him’ Lk 19:14. Expressions for ‘hatred’ frequently involve idiomatic phrases, for example, ‘to kill in the heart’ or ‘to spit at someone in the heart.’

Hate in this verse is a comparison type of love, in other words, the love you have for your family member has to be awarded to ME, (Why) because complete loyalty to Jesus is what it will take to do the work that you will encounter. If not, a family member would be able to persuade one to the contrary.

Hate or comparison love for ones self: the value that you have placed on your own life would now have to be place under the will of Christ, it could not be above the loyalty for the Savior. That level of loyalty (the lose of ones self) is achieved when regeneration. The Disciple gain so much more when giving his whole life to Jesus Christ, (Mt 10:39) 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Vs 27, 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Cross: Here, the cross is an instrument of torture and execution , however the goal of the cross is to cause extreme suffering and so, the target of the cross is suffering

Jesus exclaims that “ to follow his you must bare your cross! which simply means that you will suffer for is sake; furthermore you must bare the burden of that suffering!

Please Note, once again, the enablement to bare your cross (sufferings) that comes upon us is due to the fact that Jesus is in you and have already bore your suffering and have already overcome them, you will conquer over them all. (Gal 2:20) So, when faced with sufferings, began praising the LORD now, because you are more than conquers.

1 Peter 4:12-14, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”

Rom 8:37, “37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me (Vs 27)

We seen above that there were those who would not be able to bear there on cross because the price was to high; however, this is a must in order to be a disciple of Jesus Christ

1 Peter 4:12 NKJV

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

All (whoever)of us have a cross to bare, some small some big depending where your at in your spiritual growth and love for Jesus !

Please note: this is for whoever!

Vs 33, “33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. (NKJV)

NLT, says, “33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.

Reward

Thought: you need to know that the LORD is not mad at you for anything! if you decide not to do his will,

Bottom-line

If you gave your life to Jesus Christ He

Challenge

Conclusion