The Cost Of Discipleship

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP

IN 2011 WE ARE ALWAYS MADE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT IT COST SOMETHING TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. EVERYWHERE YOU TURN WE ARE CONSTANTLY BOMBARDED WITH THE TRUTH THAT THINGS COST. WATER USE TO BE FREE, NOW WATER COST MORE THAN POP. AIR USE TO BE FREE AT THE GAS STATIONS, NOW IT’S 1.00. PRICES ARE CONTINUING TO RISE AND THE QUESTION IS WILL IT EVER PEAK? SALVATION DID NOT COST US ANYTHING HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT FREE. SALVATION COST, THE LIFE AND BLOOD OF JESUS. GOD THROUGH HIS GRACE GIVES THIS TO US. YET IF WE ARE GOING TO BE DISCIPLES IT DOES COST. IN THIS 16TH CHAPTER OF MATTHEW JESUS DEALS WITH THE PHARISEES. HE CLEARS UP HIS IDENTITY, THAT HE IS NOT JEREMIAH, JOHN THE BAPTIST OR ELIJAH. THE FACT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT HE IS THE CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD AND THAT THE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST IS ESTABLISHED ON THIS FACT. THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP. THE WORD DISCIPLE MEANS A PUPIL, A FOLLOWER, SUPPORTER, A STUDENT STILL IN THE CLASS ROOM. NOTICE IT DOES NOT SAY THEY HAVE ARRIVED, THEY ARE NOT IN FRONT OF THE TEACHER. THEY ARE BEING LEAD BY CHRIST. IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE A DISCIPLE IT IS GOING TO COST. THE SAD TRUTH IS THAT MANY ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE. OUR CHURCHES ARE FULL OF MEMBERS AND EMPTY WITH DISCIPLES. MEMBERS ARE BUSY CAUGHT UP ON TRADITIONS, DISCIPLES ARE CAUGHT UP ON JESUS; MEMBERS ARE CAUGHT UP ON CUSTOMS AND RITUALS DISCIPLES ARE CAUGHT UP ON THE WORD OF GOD; MEMBERS ARE RELIGIOUS AND DISCIPLES ARE CHRISTLIKE; MEMBERS ARE KIN TO THE PHARISEES, THEY ARE CAUGHT UP ON THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE DISCIPLES ARE CONCERNED WITH THE PURPOSE OF THE HEART; MEMBERS ARE LOOKING AT THEMSELVES DISCIPLES ARE LOOKING TO THE HILLS FROM WHENCE COMETH THERE HELP; MEMBERS HONOR HIM WITH THEIR LIPS, DISCIPLES HONOR HIM WITH THEIR LIVES. MANY WILL TESTIFY BUT IT TAKES MORE THAN A TESTIMONY TO BE A DISCIPLE. MANY CAN SING BUT YOUR SONG DOES NOT VERIFY THAT YOU ARE A DISCIPLE. THER ARE THOSE WHO CAN PRAY LIKE HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE COING TOGETHER, YOUR ABILITY TO PRAY DOES NOT AUTHENTICATE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE RESURRECTED REDEEMER. SOME ARE ABLE TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF GOD THROUGH PREACHING, YET BEING ABLE TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE WORD OF GOD THROUGH PREACHING WILL NOT PREDICATE THE FOLLOWSHIP OF THE MESSIAH. JAMES SAYS FAITH WITH OUT WORKS IS DEAD. IF YOU ARE A DISCIPE THERE WILL BE SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE, ON YOUR TREE THAT WILL ESTABLISH WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE A DISCIPLE. JESUS SAYS IF WHICH IS A CONJUNCTION THAT INDICATES THE CIRCUMSTANCE THAT HAS TO EXIST BEFORE SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN. IT IS A CONDITIONAL IN OTHER WORDS THE OUTCOME IS PREDICATED ON YOU DOING YOUR PART. II CHONRICLES 7:14 MAKES THIS PLAIN IF WE WON’T OUR LAND HEALD WE MUST BE WILLING TO HUMBLE OURSELVES, TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS AND PRAY. IF YOU WANT TO BE A DISCIPLE THERE IS CRITERIA THAT MUST BE MET. I REALLY BELIEVE WHAT WANT TO BE SAVED BUT THEY DON’T WANT TO BE A DISCIPLE. SALVATION IS BASED ON WHAT JESUS DOES; DISCIPLESHIP IS BASED ON WHAT I DO. ASK YOUR NEIGHBOR DO YOU REALLY WANT TO BE A DISCIPLE? MANY WHEN THEY DON’T WANT TO BE IN COMPLIANCE TO A RULE OR REGULATION THEY WILL TRY TO AMMEND IT OR CHANGE IT SO IT WILL BE CONVENIENT FOR THEM. MANY ARE TRYING TO CHANGE THE WORD OF GOD SO IT WILL BE CONVENIENT FOR THEM. YOU CAN CHANGE IT DENOUNCE IT I NEED TO TELL YOU THE WORD IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE BECAUSE YOU DON’T LIKE WHAT IT SAYS. GOD’S WORD IS GOING TO STAND AND REMAIN. JESUS IS NOT DISCRIMINATORY IN WHO CAN BE A DISCIPLE. HE SAYS IF ANY MAN IT MEANS MANKIND. MAN WOMAN, GIRL OR BOY. REGARDLESS OF THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN, NATIONAL ORIGIN, PLACE OF BIRTH, BORN TO TEENAGERS OUT OF WEDLOCK OR TO A MARRIED COUPLE, ACCIDENTIAL OR INTENTIONAL, EDUCATED OR UNLEARNED, FAT SKINNY, UNEMPLOYED OR WORKING. WHOEVER YOU ARE REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE YOU CAN BECOME A DISCIPLE. IT MUST BE YOUR CHOICE GOD IS NOT GOING TO MAKE YOU BE A DISCIPLE YOU HAVE TO DESIRE THIS. JOSHUA ASKED THE PEOPLE TO CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE. HE DECLARED AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE WE WILL SERVE THE LORD. ELIJAH CHALLEDNGED THE PEOPLE ON TOP OF MT. CARMEL HOW LONG THEY WERE GOING TO BE HALTED BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS. IN OTHER WORDS YOU MAKE THE CHOICE. YOU HAVE TO DESIRE THIS. SO IN RESPONSE IF YOU DON’T DO YOUR PART YOU WILL NOT BECOME A DISCIPLE. FIRST YOU MUST HAVE THE DESIRE. TELL SOMEONE YOU HAVE TO DESIRE THIS! SECONDLY YOU HAVE TO DENY YOURSELF. THIS IS ONE REASON THERE ARE SO FEW DISCIPLES NO ONE WANTS TO SELL OUT. WE SING THE SONG I AM SOLD OUT, MY HEART IS FIXED MY MIND’S MADE UP NO ROOM NO VACANCY I’M ALL FILLED UP, HIS SPIRIT LIVES IN ME AND THAT’S THE REASON I’M SOLD OUT. I HAVE TO BE WILLING TO SUBMIT MY WILL TO THE WILL OF CHRIST. YOU CANNOT BE A DISCIPLE IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO SELL OUT. THE RICH YOUNG RULER MISSED BEING A DISCIPLE AND GOING TO HEAVEN BECAUSE HE FAILED TO DENY HIMSELF. JESUS TOLD HIM TO SELL OUT ALL THAT HE HAD. DISICPLESHIP COST MORE THAN HE WANTED TO SPEND. WE MUST BE WILLING TO DENY OURSELVES TH LUST OF THE FLESH, THE PRIDE OF LIFE AND THE PRIDE OF THE EYES. IT COSTS SOMETHING TO FOLLOW JESUS. YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP SOMEHTINGS. YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO STAND THE TEST IF YOU DON’T DENY YOURSELF, IF YOU HAVE NOT DENIED YOURSELF, YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF, CUSSING FOLK OUT, GIVING THEM A PEACE OF YOUR MIND, YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF WANTING TO GET EVEN. IF YOU HAVE NOT LEARNED HOW TO DENY YOURSELF YOU WILL BACK STAB, BACK BITE, CUT THROAT, THROW ROCKS AND HIDE YOUR HANDS. IF YOU HAVE NOT LEARNED HOW TO DENY YOURSELF YOU WILL GET MAD AND QUIT. IF YOU HAVE NOT LEARN HOW TO DENY YOURSELF YOU WON’T GO THE EXTRA MILE, TURN THE OTHER CHECK, BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU, DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO MISUSE YOU. YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO PUSH YOUR FEELINGS ASIDE. FOLK WILL CALL YOU WEAK, THEY WILL CALL YOU A PUSH OVER, AND THEY WILL LAUGH AT YOU. JESUS BECOMES OUR EXAMPLE IT WAS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHESEMANE WHERE THE BURDEN GOT HEAVEY FOR THE MASTER. HE PRAYED FATHER IF IT BE POSSIBLE LET THIS BITTER CUP PASS FROM ME, BUT NEVERTHELESS, NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE. IF YOU ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THE MASTER YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO SAY NEVERTHE LESS NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE. YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO STAND AND WHEN YOU HAVE DONE ALL TO STAND YOU WILL HAVE TO STAND. WE MUST FIRST DESIRE TO BE A DISCIPLE, SECONDLY BE WILLING TO DENY OURSELVES. THIRDLY, WE MUST TAKE UP THE CROSS. THE CROSS REPRESENTS TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS; IT MEANS BURDENS WE MUST BE WILLING TO BEAR. KNOW THIS IF YOU DECIDE NOT TO TAKE UP THE CROSS IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT YOU WON’T HAVE BURDENS. JOB HAS REASSURED US THAT MAN THAT IF BORN OF A WOMAN HAS A FEW DAYS AND THEY ARE FULL OF TROUBLE. HOWEVER IT HAS MORE TO DEAL WITH HOW YOU CARRY YOUR BURDENS; HOW YOU DEAL WITH YOUR TRIALS; HOW YOU RESPOND TO YOUR TRIBULATIONS; IT HAS TO DEAL WITH YOUR REACTION TO THE ACTION. THE SCRIPTURE SAYS IF WE LIVE GODLY WE SHALL SUFFER PERSECUTION; THE PSALMIST SAYS MANY ARE THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE RIGHTEOUS. JAMES TELLS US THAT WE ARE GOING TO FALL INTO DIVERS KINDS OF TEMPTATIONS AND YET HE TELLS US TO COUNT IT ALL JOY. THOMAS SHEPHERD IN 1693 WROTE MUST JESUS BEAR THE CROSS ALONE AND ALL THE WORLD GO FREE NO THERE’S A CROSS FOR EVERYONE AND THERE ACROSS FOR ME. NO CROSS NO CROWN. THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP. WE MUST DESIRE TO BE DISCIPLES, WE MUST DENY OURSELVES, WE MUST TAKE UP OUR CROSS AND LASTLY WE MUST FOLLOW HIM. WHEN YOU DECIDE TO BE A DISCIPLE YOUR SONGS WILL CHANGE, YOU WILL START SINGING HAVE THINE OWN WAY LORD THOU ART THE POTTER AND I AM THE CLAY, YOU WILL START SINGING WHERE HE LEADS ME I WILL FOLLOW. I NEED TO TELL YOU THAT SOMETIMES YOU WILL HAVE TO GO TO THE CEMETERY AND MEET SOME FOLK WHO ARE DEMON POSSESSED. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU FOLLOW JESUS YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF ON A SHIP IN A STORM, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF AMONG FOLK THAT HATE YOU WITHOUT A CAUSE SOMETIMES YOU WILL COME TO YOUR OWN AND THEY WONT RECEIVE YOU. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU FOLLOW JESUS THEY WILL BLESS YOU ONE DAY AND THEN TURN AROUND AND CURSE YOU THE NEXT DAY. I HAVE TOLD YOU ABOUT THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS. BUT LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE PAY FOR SERVING HIM. IF WE SUFFER WITH HIM WE SHALL REIGN WITH HIM. WHAT WE GO THROUGH ON THIS SIDE DOES NOT COMPARE TO WHAT GOD HAS FOR US ON THE OTHER SIDE. WHEN WE HAVE FINISHED FIGHTING ON THIS SIDE THERE IS A PAYDAY. THE REWARD, IS WHEN THIS EARTHLY HOUSE OF THIS OLD TABERNACLE BE DISOLVED WE HAVE ANOTHER BUILDING NOT MADE WITH HANDS ETERNAL IN THE HEAVENS. THE PAY IS I’M ON MY WAY TO A LAND WHERE WE WILL NEVER GROW OLD. A LAND WHERE THE WICKED SHALL CEASE FROM TROUBLING AND THE WEARY SHALL BE AT REST A LAND OF NO MORE, NO MORE PAIN, HEARTACHES, NO MORE CRYING, NO MORE TRIALS, NO MORE TRIBULATIONS, NO MORE, CANCER, NO MORE DEATH, NO MORE SUGAR DIABETES, NO MORE BILLS, NO MORE DOCTORS, NO MORE HOSPITALS, NO MORE COURT HOUSE, NO MORE CEMETERIES, EYES HAVEN’T SEEN AND EARS HAVE NOT HEARD WHAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM. MY CHECK IS GOING TO SAY PAYABLE TO EMERY WELL DONE THY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT YOU HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL OVER A LITTLE COME ON UP AND I’LL MAKE YOU RULER OVER MUCH. THE BEST PART OF THE PAY IS I’LL GET A CHANCE TO SEE, THE ONE WHO WAS HUNG HIGH AND STRETCHED WIDE, I’LL GET A CHANCE TO SEE, THE NAIL PRINTS IN HIS HANDS AND FEET, I’LL GET A CHANCE TO SEE MY SAVIOR FACE TO FACE. YOU MAY ASK MY WHY I SERVE THE LORD IS IT JUST FOR HEAVENS GAIN OR TO WALK THE STREETS OF GOLD AND TO HEAR THE ANGELS SING. IS IT JUST TO DRINK FROM THE FOUNTAIN THAT NEVER SHALL RUN DRY OR TO LIVE FOREVER AND EVER IN THAT SWEET OLD BYE AND BYE? IF HEAVEN WAS NEVER PROMISED TO ME NEITHER GOD’S PROMISE TO LIVE ETERNALLY IT’S BEEN WORTH JUST HAVING THE LORD IN MY LIFE.