04/30/2023 - Part 2 - Worthy of Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Grace Place Atlanta COGBF
4700 Mitchell Street
Forest Park, GA 30297
Website: atlantacogbf.org
Email: info@atlantacogbf.org
Phone: (404) 241-6781
Wayne D. Mack, Pastor
2023-04-16 After
Easter - Post Ressurection.docx
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Pastor Wayne D. Mack Sermon Notes
April 30, 2023
Worthy of Jesus (Part 2)
~ God’s Way of Ensuring Everlasting Life
Matthew 10: 34-39
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring
peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a
daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-inlaw’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’
34
37
He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he
who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who
does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who
finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
Luke 14:25-35 NKJV
25
Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 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. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be
My disciple.
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28
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— 29 lest, after he has laid the
foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30
saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or what king,
going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider
whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with
twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a
delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does
not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
“Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 It
is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who
has ears to hear, let him hear!”
34
Luke 14:25-35 Amplified Bible
25
Now large crowds were going along with Jesus; and He turned
and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his
own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and
sisters, yes, and even his own life [in the sense of indifference to or
relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward
God]—he cannot be My disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own
cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and
follow after Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in
living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in
Me] cannot be My disciple.
2
28
For which one of you, when he wants to build a watchtower [for
his guards], does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he
has enough to finish it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation
and is unable to finish [the building], all who see it will begin to
ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to
finish!’ 31 Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in
battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong
enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one who is coming
against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else [if he feels he is not
powerful enough], while the other [king] is still a far distance away,
he sends an envoy and asks for terms of peace. 33 So then, none of
you can be My disciple who does not [carefully consider the cost and
then for My sake] give up all his own possessions.
“Therefore, salt is good; but if salt has become tasteless, with what
will it be seasoned? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure
pile; it is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear and
heed My words.”
34
Begin Here . . .
This week’s message is a continuation of last week’s message which
challenged each of us to examine our hearts as to whether we were
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Worthy of Jesus based on our love for Him versus the love we possess
for family – that is, our own fathers, mothers, sons and daughters.
This morning, I want to focus on why Jesus issued such a strong
demand.
Let’s first be reminded of what Jesus’ demand was, then shift to a
similar passage that gives us greater insight and understanding as to why
He came off so strongly.
By the way, in this message, we will not only see what makes a person
worthy of Jesus, but also NOT Worthy of Him.
Here’s the reminder of Jesus’ strong demand from last week:
Turn with me to . . . Matthew 10: 34-39.
Here Jesus is speaking to the 12 disciples . . . He admonished . . .
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come
to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against
his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of
his own household.’ [Here Jesus was setting family members
against each other by challenging each one to decide [or test] where
their true love really resided.].
34
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Here's the test:
37
He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.
And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of
Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not
worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses
his life for My sake will find it.
These are strong words coming from Jesus! But they’re coming from a
heart of pure love and concern for wanting every man, woman, boy and
girl to be saved and have eternal life. [If interpreted any differently than
that, then confusion will control your thoughts].
Jesus is coming hard and truthful in this passage to dispel any confusion
in the hearts and minds of would-be followers -- especially as to what is
required of them to be true worthy disciples.
He knew there would be people who liked what they saw in Him and for
that reason would want to follow Him – but on their own terms. The NT
is replete with examples of such people. Tragically, many people want
to get close to Jesus today in the same way, for the same reasons -- but
again on their own terms.
In the interest of Jesus not wanting any man to perish, but for everyone
to come to repentance and have everlasting life – His motive in this
passage is to ensure that no one is confused about what it takes to be a
true follower of Christ.
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Plainly said, Jesus is saying . . .
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me;
and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38
And he who does not take his cross [expressing a willingness to endure
whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to
My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying
because of faith in Me] is not worthy of Me. 39 Whoever finds his life [in
this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], and whoever loses
his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for
all eternity].
37
Given that, now let’s shift to a similar passage that gives us greater
insight and understanding as to why Jesus’ words seem so harsh, but
really aren’t. Rather – His teaching is intended to help us understand
what it takes to totally and sincerely surrender to Him/Jesus without
being deceived that you’re alright with Jesus when you’re really not.
Here, Jesus is trying to head off anyone making a false start (or multiple
false starts) in following Him because you have not understood what is
required to live Worthy of Jesus.
By the way, the title of today’s message is:
Worthy of Jesus ~ God’s Way of Ensuring Everlasting Life
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Here’s today’s text:
Turn with me to Luke 14:25-35 NKJV . . . Listen to how it reads:
25
Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to
them, 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. 27 And whoever does not bear his
cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
Sound familiar?
This is the same teaching Jesus was doing over in Matthew Chapter 10.
This passage is probably more harsh because it minces no words. The
word HATE is used by Luke to communicate Jesus’ intent. Notice first
that back in Matthew, Jesus was speaking primarily to the 12. But here,
He is speaking to the crowd – the multitude. Listen to it again from the
Amplified Bible:
25
Now large crowds were going along with Jesus; and He turned
and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his
own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and
sisters, yes, and even his own life . . . he cannot be My disciple. [Not
worthy of Me].
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To begin with, Jesus’ intent was not to gather appreciative crowds, but
to make true disciples – that were worthy of HIM.
Luke 13: 23, 24 says . . .
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Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”
And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate,
for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
Jesus never adapted His message to majority preferences, but always
declared the high cost of discipleship. Here He made several bold
demands to discourage half-hearted discipleship.
In Jesus’ use of the word “HATE”, it is to be translated “a lesser love”.
(Example: Love for Mom vs. friend; Cousin vs. Stranger; Wife vs. Coworker or Neighbor; Blood thicker than Water).
[Hatred here is to be interpreted in the sense of “indifference to” or
for people dear to us in comparison with our attitude toward God].
Jesus was calling for His disciples, and now us, to cultivate such a
devotion to Him that our attachment to everything else – including our
own lives – would seem like hatred by comparison.
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To conclude Jesus’ final test and requirement of being worthy of Him,
look at verse 27 . . . it reads . . .
27
And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be
My disciple.
In other words,
27
Whoever does not willingly carry his own cross [expressing a
willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow after Me
[believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need
be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] cannot be My
disciple.
Now, we come to the place of why Jesus expresses so strongly the
importance of possessing a love and commitment that is worthy of HIM.
Did you know that if you don’t live worthy of Jesus, that is, in a way
that He says represents unparalleled love for Him verses your love for
mama or daddy or sister or brother – you can’t be His disciple because
you won’t endure to the end – nor through thick and thin – to finish
following Him.
In essence, the love you have for family or others that is more than for
Christ will control you and dictate how far you will go with Jesus. If
Jesus isn’t in the driver’s seat of your life, then the one under the
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steering wheel will take you wherever they choice. Don’t let the devil
drive.
When Jesus says, “You’re not worthy of Me – He’s really saying:
You’re not ready for me, that is, to serve uninhibited or without
condition. You’re not ready to be sold out, or to go all the way with me;
to finish with Me.
Listen to the Amplified Bible Version on this passage – Luke 14:28-35
28
For which one of you, when he wants to build a watchtower [for
his guards], does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he
has enough to finish it?
29
Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is unable to finish
[the building], all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying,
‘This man began to build and was not able to finish!’
31
Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will
not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten
thousand men to encounter the one who is coming against him with
twenty thousand?
32
Or else [if he feels he is not powerful enough], while the other
[king] is still a far distance away, he sends an envoy and asks for
terms of peace. 33 So then, none of you can be My disciple who does
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not [carefully consider the cost and then for My sake] give up all his
own possessions.
“Therefore, salt is good; but if salt has become tasteless, with what
will it be seasoned? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure
pile; it is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear and
heed My words.”
34
Worthy of Jesus ~ God’s Way of Ensuring Everlasting Life
END . . .
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