04/30/2023 - Part 2 - Worthy of Jesus

Worthy of Jesus   •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  1:07:31
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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 / 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. 1 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 3 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 4 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. 5 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 6 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]. 7 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 . . . 23 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. 8 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 9 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 10 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 . . . 11
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