Are You Serious? Looking for a Real Change

Introduction

In December of 1777, following the defeats of the battles at Brandywine and Germantown, PA at the hands of the British, George Washington and his troops headed to Valley Forge to make camp for the winter.

If you know anything about Valley Forge, you know that it is not famous for anything glorious. The encampment for G. Washing and the American troops was horrific.

Dr. Albigence Waldo: “Poor food—hard lodging—cold weather—fatigue—smoke out of my senses . . . I can’t endure it. There comes a bowl of beef soup—full of burnt leaves and dirt . . . There comes a soldier his bare feet are seen through his worn-out shoes, his legs nearly naked from the tattered remains of an only pair of stockings; his breeches not sufficient to cover his nakedness; his shirt hanging in strings; his hair disheveled; his face meager; his who appearance pictures a person forsaken and discouraged” (quoted in Ron Charnow, Washington: A Life, 325)

This scene was not unique; it was the rule. Charnow: “Seldom in history has a general been handicapped by such constantly crippling conditions. There was scarcely a time during the war when Washington didn’t grapple with a crisis that threatened to disband the army and abort the Revolution. The extraordinary, wearisome, nerve-racking frustration he put up with for nearly nine years is hard to express. He repeatedly had to exhort Congress and the thirteen states to remedy desperate shortages of men, shoes, shirts, blankets, and gunpowder. This meant dealing with selfish, apathetic states and bureaucratic incompetence in Congress” (Charnow, 458).

As strongly as many felt for freedom and independence from the British crown—a change in life, from all appearances it did not seem they were serious about it. States rarely gave any financial support or otherwise. Congressmen and other community leaders often stayed home and had lavish parties. Others just continued to live their lives as usual, even buying and selling from the British. Everyone wanted freedom—they wanted change—but not many were willing to pay the cost. Not many were really serious.

In a similar fashion, many want change in their own lives—they know something is wrong, that something is off—they want freedom. In fact, we know this as Christians, don’t we? We know that we are sinners and our relationship with God has been severed. But because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, our sins are forgiven and our relationship with God restored.

But here’s a catch: sometimes we, as Christians, still feel weighted down, burdened, confused why we still go through so many hardships. We still do not see any real change in our relationship with God, with others, etc. Possible Reason: just like many in the American Revolution, we are sometimes not really serious, we did not count the cost, and sometimes we are unwilling to pay the cost.

In our text this morning, Jesus is effectively asking us one question: “Are we really serious?” If we really want a true change in our lives, our selves, our families, communities, etc., we have to make sure that we are serious about the business of following Christ. Are we really serious of being Jesus’ disciple?

1. Get Your Priorities Straight (14:25-27)

Everyone Else is Second to Jesus (v.25-26)

Luke 14:25–26 ESV

Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “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.

Hate?

A word on how to correctly interpret understand Scripture.

Jesus’ use of a Semitic idiom: To love one person more than another or to choose one over another is described in OT language as “loving one and hating another”

In Gen. 29:30-31, it describes how Jacob loved Rachel but hated Leah.

God chose Jacob over Esau:

Malachi 1:2–3 (ESV)

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.”

Matthew’s parallel to Luke’s record makes it clear:

Matthew 10:37 ESV

Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Are you looking for a real change as a Christian?

Get your priorities straight: make Jesus the most important in your life. In short, get serious about Jesus.

How serious? =>

Bear Your Cross and Go After Jesus (v.27)

Luke 14:27 ESV

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

We must be willing to bear our own cross for Jesus: possibly martyrdom. After all, Jesus bore a cross literally to his death.

Matthew 5:10–12 ESV

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 10:22 (ESV)

And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

We need to get accustomed to being uncomfortable.

Open our mouths to speak truth wherever we are.

Bearing our cross may may mean not having certain things that the world has. Go without phones, social media, internet . . . you may be ostracized for this.

Bearing our cross means forsaking many of the social norms that our culture lives by: not talking about faith at work or school or in public, attending certain events, participating in certain events

You know, being different. And, yes, that’s uncomfortable. It’s awkward; it’s odd. But if we are serious about Jesus, this is what is required.

Soft totalitarianism: Rod Dreher, Live Not By Lies: “In our time, we do not have all all-powerful state forcing [anything] on us. [The] dictatorship is far more subtle. Under soft totalitarianism, the media, academia, corporate America, and other institutions are practicing Newspeak and compelling the rest of us to engage in doublethink every day” (15).

“The spirit of the therapeutic has conquered the churches as well. . . . Relatively few contemporary Christians are prepared to suffer for the faith, because the therapeutic society that has formed them denies the purpose of suffering in the first place, and the idea of bearing pain for the sake of truth seems ridiculous” (13).

Satan has got much of the church running scared.

Matthew 10:28 ESV

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

2. Consider the Cost (14:28-32)

Can You Finish What You Started? (v.28-30)

Luke 14:28–30 ESV

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a 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.’

Can You Fight the Battle? (v.31-32)

Luke 14:31–32 ESV

Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

Are you serious? Are you “all in?” Are you ready for a real change? Are you ready to commit no matter the cost?

It may cost you: career, social status, reputation, comfort, a sin that you justify that you know God/Scripture would never approve of

3. Give Up Everything (14:33)

Luke 14:33 ESV

So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

“renounce” = detach, separate one’s self from

“cannot” - “dynamis” = power = “he does not have the power to be my disciple”

Are you serious about being a Christian? Are you ready for a real change? Give up everything for Him.

Can You Be Jesus’ Disciple?

Staircase illustration (DO NOT PLAY SOUND): https://www.facebook.com/share/v/LavyNKKp7NPYRAMB/?mibextid=Z719m6

“Anytime you feel like giving up, watch and listen.”

“Lost touch with my soul. I had nowhere to turn. I had nowhere to go. Lost sight of my dream. Thought it would be the end of me. I thought I’d never make it through. I had no hope to hold on to. I thought I would break. [You are not just the one falling; you are also the trampoline!] I didn’t know my own strength, and I crashed down and I tumbled. But I did not crumble. I got through all the pain. I didn’t know my own strength, survived my darkest hour. My faith kept me alive. [Life will always slap us in the face and make us ask, ‘Why me?’ And your answer will be . . .] I pick myself back up, hold my head up high, I was not built to break, I didn’t know my own strength. [I am a Warrior. I will get through this because I am more powerful than I think.] Oh, found hope in my heart. I found the light to light my way out of the dark. Found all that I need here inside of me. [Never give up.]”

The reason why some Christians still cannot “make it” through life—why there is no real change—is because they are still trying to rely upon the Self: either by to conjure up an inner strength and fortitude to get through and change or by gratifying one’s self through pleasures or possessions. Jesus has not become truly number 1—numero uno!

It’s about putting God at the top of stairs and yourself on the back of Jesus to carry you up there.

Extreme, “Am I Ever Going to Change?” I'm tired of being me And I don't like what I see (I'm not who I appear to be) So I start off every day Down on my knees I will pray (for a change in any way)

But as the day goes by I live through another lie If it's any wonder why! Am I ever gonna change? If I say one thing then I do the other It's the same old song that goes on forever Am I ever gonna change? Will I always stay the same? If I say one thing then I do the other It's the same old song that goes on forever Am I ever gonna change? I'm the only one to blame When I think I'm right, I wind up wrong It's a futile fight that's gone on too long

Please tell me if it's true Am I too old to start anew? (cause that's what I want to do) But time and time again When I think I can (I fall short in the end) So why do I even try Will it matter when I die Can anyone hear my cry? Am I ever Gonna change? Will I always stay the same? If I say one thing then I do the other It's the same old song that goes on forever Am I ever gonna change? I'm the only one to blame When I think I'm right, I wind up wrong It's a futile fight that's gone on too long Am I ever gonna change? Take it day by day My will is weak and my flesh too strong This peace I seek till thy kingdom comes

Are you serious? Do you want a real change? Make Jesus the priority in all you do, take up your cross, and follow him. Renounce everything. Ashes Remain, “On My Own”

[Verse 1] There's gotta be another way out I've been stuck in a cage with my doubt I've tried forever getting out on my own But every time I do this my way I get caught in the lies of the enemy I lay my troubles down I'm ready for you now [Chorus] Bring me out Come and find me in the dark now Everyday by myself I'm breaking down I don't wanna fight alone anymore Bring me out From the prison of my own pride My God I need a hope I can't deny In the end I'm realizing I was never meant to fight on my own [Verse 2] Every little thing that I've known is every thing I need to let go You're so much bigger than the world I have made So I surrender my soul I'm reaching out for your hope I lay my weapons down I'm ready for you now